A date with Darwin

A date with Darwin

I consider myself so lucky to be surrounded by some of the best brains in the world living close to Cambridge. As well as those from the past, who left an outstanding legacy, like former Cambridge scholar Charles Darwin. I wonder if he realised as a student enjoying...

10-year-olds allowed shotguns

Did you realise there is no minimum age requirement for a shotgun licence, and that children as young as 10 are being issued with them? It was news to me too, and I find it amazing that such a legal loophole exists, which has been highlighted in this report by the...
What makes parents lie?

What makes parents lie?

Q: What makes normally truthful parents start lying through their teeth? A: Meeting secondary schools’ admissions criteria. Schools in Brighton and Hove are the first in the country to this year use a lottery system to allocate places for over subscribed...
Let’s not forget our hostages in Iraq

Let’s not forget our hostages in Iraq

I’m naturally delighted to know that Prince Harry is home safely after fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. But my thoughts are with the five innocent British men who have been held captive in Iraq for nine months in the most terrifying circumstances. While...
Social booking tags and a Daily Mugshot

Social booking tags and a Daily Mugshot

I sometimes lie in bed and think how dull my life would be if I had never started writing my blog, meeting so many interesting people, making friends with virtual strangers (not as sad as it sounds), receiving great invitations and now looking forward to exciting new...