Blog
How alcohol killed my four friends
Today we are told that alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack. As someone who has lost four dear friends to alcohol - but none to drugs - I can believe it. In all cases, these clever, witty and amusing friends around my age suffered from personal unhappiness and...
The Big Society begins
For anyone who still doesn't know what David Cameron's Big Society means, then watch closely what is happening in Windsor and Maidenhead as the council may launch a scheme where its citizens can earn Big Society reward points redeemable in supermarkets, shops or...
The Queen’s diamond jubilee Blue Peter competition
The Queen has asked young Blue Peter viewers to design the official logo for her diamond jubilee in 2012. It's a canny way of engaging with today's young people who may not have strong royalist views. And it made me think of my husband's Blue Peter moment which...
The great value of university alumni
They say it's not what you know, but who you know, and never has this been more essential than now for our troubled universities facing huge uncertainties over future funding. It means they actively need the support of any influential and glittering alumni - and...
Crucial parliamentary debate on missing people
A crucial parliamentary debate is being held tomorrow challenging the government's decision to axe its charity funding. Missing People is urging as many people as possible to contact their MP and request they attend this debate. The charity has issued a statement...
An inspirational woman sold for £20
I learned about a very special woman last week during a visit to Girton College, Cambridge. This was established as the UK's first woman's college in 1869 and located two miles north of the city centre to discourage "marauding male" undergraduates and it wasn't...
Is Wayne Rooney worth £50 million?
Wayne Rooney brilliantly played Alex Ferguson and Manchester United with his sure footed manoeuvres to score his best victory yet - reportedly doubling his £90,000 a week salary following lame threats to join Manchester City. This has been calculated to equate to...
Blood donors and ME update
This is a guest post by Christine Douglas who is updating us on the important issue of blood donors who have ME which she first highlighted in this post three months ago, and it attracted many comments and widespread interest. Christine is actively campaigning for...
A stabbing, uni visit and ferris wheel ride in Sheffield
My younger son James wanted to visit Sheffield Hallam University's open day to have some back-up in case he fails to get into his first choice, which is Nottingham Trent, a firm favourite with many students I speak to, and well oversubscribed. As we approached the...