Ellee Seymour

I can only imagine the euphoric delight experienced by the latest female descendents of our esteemed Chinese philosopher Confucius.

A fifth-update on the family tree is being currently carried out which will include women for the first time after 2,500 years. The 77th generation descendant of Confucius agrees they have to “adapt with the times”. Up until then, their existence had been ignored.

It doesn’t sound as if Confucius had a high regard for women, he was quoted as saying:

“Women and people of low birth are very hard to deal with. If you are friendly with them, they get out of hand, and if you keep your distance, they resent it.â€?

The family tree is a mammoth task, regarded as the world’s longest, recording more than 80 generations. The descendants will number about 1.5 million when it is completed and published in 2009.

Here are some of Confucius‘ wise words of wisdom which might help you get through the day, and please feel free to create some of your own own via the comments:

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have.

If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

The superior man is firm in the right way, and not merely firm.

I think my advice to Confucius would be :”Understand women, make them your friend and enjoy the rewards and wisdom this brings you.”

David Cameron must be delighted with the speed that an EU-India free trade pact is coming to fruition.

My MEP Robert Sturdy (pic)is Conservative International Trade spokesman and naturally delighted. We are already India’s biggest trading partner at some 40 billion euros annually.

Our press release today endorsed plans to strengthen and develop strategic trading links, which will be mutually beneficial.

Robert said:

“British Conservatives are particularly fond of India for historical reasons and we are proud of the legacy of freedom and democracy the UK left behind at independence. We strongly support freer trade globally and believe in India’s economic dynamism. As India’s traditionally foremost economic partner within the EU is Britain, we will champion the cause of closer trade ties if an EU-India FTA is agreed”.

I’m hoping this will not only benefit the big boys in business, but our smaller traders too.

The crusade to oust St George as England’s patron saint is gathering momentum and will be heard in Parliament.

Conservative MP David Ruffley also believes it is time to restore the title to St Edmund (see pic). He plans to raise it as a debate in the House of Commons on behalf of his constituency.

He said:

“I’m going to be reading the petition to the speaker and the members of parliament in the House of Commons.

“I believe, as a Cambridge University historian, that the true and first patron saint of England is not St George but St Edmund.

“About four decades before St George we had our own martyr - St Edmund.

“If we can get a really big petition from right across East Anglia, I’m sure it will get the fur flying.â€?

Whatever the outcome, I’m sure the Sicilians will want to keep St George, who is also patron saint of the town of Modica, where there are some splendid statues dedicated to him. Many thanks to Welshcakes Limoncello for this fascinating info.

I’m afraid I agree with West Suffolk MP Richard Spring, who does not believe St George will be toppled, that St Edmund is a great figure of local history - and should be celebrated as such.

And Croydonian raises an interesting question, why not St Alban, the first martyr of Britain? So many worthy saints to choose from, but I think St George is safe for now…