Vex and trip

This column first appeared in Column 8, 8th September, 1993
My self-imposed moratorium on a certain word rhyming with vex must come to an end. The reason? The overwhelming emphasis this week on the word rhyming with vex, and a companion word rhyming with trip.
Can I ask: If you were the mother of seven and came into a load of money after your husband died, what would you spend it on? Most mothers-of-seven would probably answer: On getting the bills paid. Or buying the kids (or grandchildren)...