I met an interesting woman called Carol on the train a couple of weeks ago and we chatted about life, work and books. She then asked me if I had read "The Secret" and was amazed that I hadn't. I was intrigued and ordered a copy which has just arrived. It has...

The hotel in Limerick where I stayed last week had more than the traditional spa and pool - it was also used as a driving test centre. In fact, it is one of three test centres in Limerick, and maybe an explanation as to why some drivers there seemed to have no regard...

It is a time of great change in the Seymour household this weekend following the loss of two of its residents. The first came today when we had a shock following the unexpected death of our beloved cat Jack Morley. Jack - named on a whim by my son James, a good...

Food production faces another major challenge on top of climate change - the ban of a large number of pesticides currently used by farmers. My MEP Robert Sturdy is vigorously opposing EU plans which could result in more than 80% of pesticides, herbicides and...

I'm spending the next couple of days in Limerick researching the book I am writing. And I'm hoping for "the luck of the Irish". I'm going to see a way of life which is totally alien to me - and 99.9% of you too. I know it will be riveting and unbelievable in...

When Fiona Phillips first mentioned that she was quitting her TV sofa because she was shattered, I had an inkling about the real reason behind it all. I didn't think it was just to spend more time with her two sons, 4 and 9, because she would have left earlier if that...

There's no doubt that having babies is an expensive business, but should maternity pay be tripled? The European Commission is proposing changes to give women full pay for the first 18 weeks of maternity leave. This more than triples the amount currently received by...

I felt really humbled after reading the difference one woman has made to improve the lives of others following the catastrophic Tsunami. This is a second guest post by Audrie who describes a charity she set up following a holiday to India. This is her story: Before...