However much we moan about gay rights and attitudes to homosexuality in this country, often a trip abroad makes me thankful for the progressive society we live in.

I've just been in Egypt where, in mainstream society, homosexuality just doesn't exist. I don't doubt that plenty of it goes on behind closed doors but there's no such thing as being out and openly gay - it's all suppressed.

Imagine not being able to be yourself in life, to live a lie with no hope of ever telling the truth... it doesn't bear thinking about.

I remember one news story about 14 men being accused of being gay, they were arrested for "crimes against their religion" and sentenced in a closed court without legal representation.

Having said all that, I do like Egypt and I've just got back from a cruise on the Nile. I took my mum, who hasn't been very well for a long time, and my nephew, who's 14. Mum was in hospital right up until the day before we flew - thankfully she was well enough to come with us, and the heat and sunshine did her the world of good.

Cruises are great, everthing is laid on for you and the sights just sail into view.

I fulfilled a particular ambition when I went up in a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings, it was amazing.

One nice thing about countries with less techology is that people haven't lost the art of communication like you sometimes feel they have in Britain.

Children aren't preoccupied with gadgets and TV, they play out in the street, the sort of games I used to play, way back when, like hopscotch. Kids and adults all shake hands when they meet and they actually have time for each other, to chat and socialise.

You never see kids who are overweight - I know there's a lot more hardship there, and food's less plentiful than here - but I think they're happy and healthy because they're outdoors, getting fresh air and exercise. There's something we can all learn from them...

Regular readers will be a bit surprised that by this point in the column, I've done NO celebrity name-dropping at all. That's because I literally haven't seen any celebs this week! Not one!

Sorry to disappoint... I try to get away on about 10 holidays a year, but never, ever, have I spotted anyone famous when I've been abroad, apart from things like Pride events. I don't know why this is - perhaps I just go on cheaper holidays to less fashionable places than they do!

One day I'll touch down at Manchester Airport with my camera memory full of images of A-listers, I'm determined...