LAST year I wrote a column about the lack of manners in today's society, urging readers to be more courteous to their fellow human beings.

But it seems some may have taken my advice a step too far.

On several occasions recently while going about my business, I have been the victim of overfriendliness.

When I popped into the supermarket to buy a few nibbles for the weekend the lady serving me asked me how I was.

"Fine thanks," I replied with a smile. "And you?"

Now, etiquette dictates that even if you're far from it, the reply to this question is "fine" and there the conversation ends.

Not so in this instance. She told me what time she had started work that morning, how long she had left, what she was doing that evening, what the weather was like, and - the worst sin of all in my book - commented on my purchases.

I don't know about you, but I don't go shopping only to have someone scrutinise every item I buy.

Talk about an invasion of privacy. I was only thankful I was just buying crisps and dips and not something more personal.

A friend of mine was in a queue behind someone buying a pregnancy test who was asked by the assistant "now, is this good news or bad news?"

Back in the supermarket, even my non-committal replies failed to stem the flow.

I was in such a rush to get out of the shop that I practically threw my money at the poor girl.

The relief when I stepped outside was immense - but this wasn't a one-off.

A week later, I nipped into my bank to pay in a cheque.

After the usual pleasantries the conversation turned more personal and I was asked what I was doing that evening.

I said I would be staying at home. He told me I should be going out. When I replied that I had a baby to look after, the man shrugged and said "get a babysitter - you can't stay in on a Friday night!"

I was gobsmacked. I would expect to have this conversation with a friend but not a person I had known for 30 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for polite chit-chat, but there is a line which is being crossed on an all too regular basis.

We Brits are often laughed at for our love of manners but I for one am much more comfortable with the stiff-upper-lip approach than this new over-friendliness.