Sarah's cash takes up too much space in her wallet

In a series of events that made me pinch myself to see if life was in fact some weird dream, I discovered that the Phantom of the Opera star was jetting to the International Space Station in a £35 million tourist flight.

Why?

Well, I don't know. Because she wants to, I suppose. Or maybe it's one of those PR stunts that I hate – has she got an album to promote?

I'm not sure, but I have read that she is currently in training in Moscow and is set to go into orbit later this year.

The 54-year-old has been working with ex-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber to pen a song she can sing whilst being completely out of this world.

She'll enjoy a 10-day stay on the International Space Station, and though it's going to have the best views of any holiday ever, it's a lot of money to spend on mucking about in space, isn't it?

It got me thinking – I'm not even sure I'd jet off through the atmosphere if you paid ME £35m. What if it all goes wrong? I've seen films, I know how dangerous space travel can be.

Also, there are dozens and dozens of places on our very own planet that you couldn't pay me to go to. Blackpool, for example.

Let alone zoom off to the great universe on some strange lavish mission.

Think of all the things you could do with £35m. All the charities you could help, all the instruments you could buy for children in schools. All the local theatres you could refurbish. That'd give you a nicer feeling inside than just seeing earth from 260 miles away, surely?

Think of all the far-flung reaches of earth you could visit.

When I was 20, I went on my first ever holiday. I'd been to Wales once before, but never on a proper holiday. My first flight took nine hours and I visited the Dominican Republic.

There, on hot sands, my milky white English skin frazzled in sun I'd underestimated with my factor 50, I realised that I'd only ever really walked on one beach before in my life, and that was in Rhyl.

I'd never waded through Weston waters, bathed at Brighton or dipped my toes in at Tenby. I'd gone straight from West Bromwich to the Caribbean – do not pass go, do not collect £35m.

I wonder if Sarah Brightman has ever been to West Brom? Or played on the waltzers in Rhyl? I wonder if she's ever been to Guernsey or walked the winding streets of Shrewsbury?

The I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper singer is off to the International Space Station, spending the kind of money that both you and I, dear reader, probably will never see.

It's not for me to say what Sarah Brightman should spend her money on. Maybe she's really scrimped and saved to be able to go on this mission to space and that she'll spend the rest of her life working in a call centre to settle the bills of the credit cards she's paying for it with.

I hope that she has a great time up there.

I wonder if it's possible to see my gigantic hatred of Blackpool from space?