HOW'S July working out for you? Apparently it's the grumpiest month for Brits.

According to a poll, lack of sleep during the hot humid nights takes its toll, with 78 per cent admitting July makes them feel moodier than any other month. I'm smiling though, because I have discovered the criteria for the perfect life this week and began my quest for it.

The results of a survey revealed that we need to earn £100,000 per annum, own an Aston Martin, go on two foreign holidays a year and be married. As I've only managed the last one, I've started to save up to get to the rest. Every penny counts and finances are an issue.

Reader Pamela Bottomley wrote this week, on the Echo letters page, how much she enjoyed the free activity at this year's Summer Festival. I agree, why pay to attend an event (unless it's for charity) when there is a free one happening down the road?

Last weekend we could have parted with £7 each to go to a classic car show or, for gratis, watch the dragon boats on Exeter Quay. Okay, so it's a bit like comparing oranges and apples. What swung the decision for us was the fact that, with £14 saved, we could spend our money at the Quay instead. Maybe to grab a bite to eat and a coffee.

Had the organisers of the car show offered free admission, I would have happily spent £14 or more there! As it happens, we enjoyed a bit of the dragon boats and saw a lot of classic cars chugging along the A30 heading to or from their venue.

School holiday activities this summer will cost parents more than £5.5bn. A study says parents will part with £330 per family on activities. Theme parks, swimming and tenpin bowling are the most popular trips.

We went to Fingle Bridge. Isn't it pretty there? When are they going to close it to traffic though? I watched two 4x4s on separate occasions try to negotiate it. One got half-way across before his lack of spatial skills forced him to reverse. By the way, children feel safer when mum is behind the wheel. Six out of 10 under 16s say they're generally happier and more relaxed. Most feel their fathers drive too fast and are more prone to road rage. Especially in July! Ciao