Blog
Having the courage to die
I wouldn’t want to end my life as a vegetable and am now able to make legal arrangements to spare myself – and loved ones – this kind of suffering. I hope I will never find myself in the situation of becoming involved in an assisted suicide. But I’m relieved...
Life goes on in murder house
Once again my Cambridgeshire village finds itself in the media spotlight following the 33-year sentencing of Rekha Kumari-Baker for murdering her two daughters to “wreak havoc†upon her former husband, David Baker. I have just walked by the murder house round the...
Successful networking at the Conservative conference
I agree with Heather White that networking at next month’s Conservative Party conference will be the most important as we edge closer to the next general election. I thought her advice for budding political candidates which was recently highlighted on...
Cowardly mugger robs my frail but feisty friend
My author friend Jean Adamson was mugged yesterday. The shameless robber escaped with her purse and left her lying in the road with a broken arm. Jean is 81-years-old and has a frail build, but is full of feisty spirit that I hope will see her through this terrible...
Europe and the Conservative Party conference
I guess most people know as much about the Lisbon Treaty as they do the offside rule in football. And care just as little. However, the implications of the vote in Ireland on 2 October are crucial as they would establish a president and foreign minister for the EU, as...
Did the Derren Brown chair trick work for you?
James (my 16-year-old) and I have just tried the Derren Brown chair trick, but it didn’t work for us. We recorded it on Friday night when half his audience found they were unable to get up again after following his mind games. “I’m worried that I won’t get up...
Francis Maude and Conservative plans for the third “social” sector
Last year I met public affairs chief Peter Bingle who urged charities to "deal with Brown and prepare for Cameron." That's what happened yesterday when Francis Maude, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office with responsibility for the third sector, or "social" sector...
Vera and Liverpool Care Pathway
This afternoon is Vera’s funeral, my mother-in-law who passed away 10 days ago. I thought I would share my experiences of her medical care in her last few weeks following controversial headlines about the Liverpool Care Pathway and reports that one in four families...
Apple magic, a reunion and 5 star reviews
Last night we took my recently bereaved father-in-law, Roy, to a concert performed by his former fellow musicians in the Huntingdonshire Concert Band which he belonged to for many years until stepping down to care for Vera as her health deteriorated. It was a Battle...