Blog
A Nokia N96 or Apple iPhone
The contract for my mobile phone comes up for renewal soon and I would like to swap it for either a Nokia N96 or Apple iPhone. I always kicked myself for not getting the Nokia N95 when I had the chance, and now it has been improved on with this slick little...
Why do we have such an unhealthy relationship with food?
Why is it that a vastly rich and intelligent man who is married to a divine Domestic Goddess chooses to live on nine eggs a day to lose weight? If Charles Saatchi doesn't know how to eat a balanced diet when he has a personal master chef at hand, what example is that...
Should trustees be paid?
I was in London yesterday for a NCVO Trustee Conference and one of the hot topics under discussion was whether trustees should be paid. Trustees, like myself as vice chair of Headway Cambridgeshire, do this work voluntarily. But Craig Dearden-Philips, founder of...
University initiations
Do those degrading ritualistic initiations take place at all universities, particularly with sports teams? If so, heaven help David who this week passed his football trials at Hull - the university, not to be confused with the top premier league club. David has...
Where are our famous women artists?
I heard a discussion recently on the Antiques Roadshow about the lack of recognition given to women artists. At the same time, I had an email about Theresa May's campaign for Equal Pay. It seems extraordinary to me that art should have an element of sexual...
Discovering The Secret
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...
My hotel with a difference
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...
Two empty places round the dinner table
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...
The new threat to food production – banning pesticides
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...