Would you buy a house with a stranger?

Posted by on Feb 28, 2007 in updates | 25 comments How do people today manage to get their foot on the property ladder today when soaring house prices far outstrip their salary and chances of a mortgage? Take Cambridge, where average house prices are £277,812 – way beyond the means of the average worker. One answer seems to be doubling up with a stranger to find your dream home, with co-buywithme placing ads along the...
read more

How do you perceive Ipswich?

Posted by on Feb 28, 2007 in updates | 30 comments What is the first thought that springs to mind when you hear the name  Ipswich? I went to a CIPR crisis management event there last night and naturally the  prostitutes murders and recent bird flu outbreak were highlighted. Concern was expressed by some PR practitioners that the reputation of Ipswich might have suffered as a result, that new businesses might be deterred from...
read more

Domestic violence, how can victims be helped?

Posted by on Feb 27, 2007 in updates | 41 comments Let’s hope our jails are never too full for the viscous bullies who beat up women. In Norfolk alone, there have been 10 cases of domestic violence reported to police every day over the last six months – but the real figure is much higher as so many are not reported. In fact, according to Women’s Aid, an average woman experiences 35 violent and abusive attacks in...
read more

Iraq’s future – views sought for Kurdistan magazine

Posted by on Feb 27, 2007 in Uncategorized | 8 comments The deputy editor of a political magazine based North of Iraq has emailed me some questions regarding the future of his country, with an emphasis on Kurdistan, the language in which it is printed.  Farhad M. Hassan has also  interviewed experts from Chatham House and the Council on Foreign Relations for his weekly publication. I thought...
read more

How switched on is the EU?

Posted by on Feb 26, 2007 in updates | 30 comments Germany’s environment minister Sigmar Gabriel wants normal light bulbs to be banned in the EU and energy saving lights used instead. Studies show that carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 25 million tonnes a year if both households and the services sector exchanged traditional light bulbs for energy saving lights. Australia is leading on this and has pledged to phase out...
read more

Dame Helen’s crowning glory

Posted by on Feb 26, 2007 in updates | 18 comments Am I the only loyal subject who has not seen Dame Helen’s Oscar winning performance in The Queen? Is it as fantastic as everyone says? If you have seen it, which do you think was the best part of the film, what made it so...
read more

Let’s talk, small talk

Posted by on Feb 25, 2007 in updates | 18 comments Today, Blogpower’s finest philanthropist Tom Paine, a British lawyer living in Moscow, is my guest author and describes his shyness with small talk. Is that a problem for you too, do you have an opening line that helps to get the conversation flowing? And have you ever made an embarrassing mistake when speaking a foreign language? This is Tom’s story. My fears have set me free. Ellee...
read more

What is your fear, and how have you overcome it?

Posted by on Feb 24, 2007 in updates | 23 comments I have written a guest post for the erudite Tom Paine on my fear of public speaking and how I am conquering it. You can read it here. It will be interesting to hear your advice about this, and whether you have any fears which you have overcome, and...
read more

Two unmissable programmes this weekend

Posted by on Feb 24, 2007 in updates | 10 comments I shall be glued to the TV for the final episode of Channel 4′s The Search this evening which I was invited to audition for at the last minute. Just as well I didn’t join the team, I know I would have struggled to crack those codes as my best friend is my sat nav. However, the locations have been breathtaking, and my money is on Saskia whose multi-lingual intelligence is...
read more

Govt may face £305 million fine for farm payments disaster

Posted by on Feb 23, 2007 in Uncategorized | 13 comments This news almost slipped through unnoticed, but not quite. While the government pleads poverty over compensation for pensioners, it appears that it could be fined up to £305 million for its shambolic handling of subsidies paid to our farmers, which caused much hardship and devastation for many of them. Farmsubsidy.org reports how this news was quietly slipped out...
read more

Is the cost of divorce to blame for fewer marriages?

Posted by on Feb 22, 2007 in updates | 56 comments With weddings hitting an all time low, I wonder if a major cause for men is the thought of getting stung in the divorce courts, like Colin Montgomerie and Ray Parlour, whose ex-wives can continue to live in luxury for the rest of their lives. Mind you, with some women earning more than their husbands, the boot can sometimes be on the other foot. But now our divorce...
read more

It might not be Shakespeare, but …

Posted by on Feb 22, 2007 in updates | 20 comments I reluctantly gave up my salsa class last year as it clashed with a drama group my son James joined and I had to drive him to his acting lessons each week. Now it all seems worthwhile as today he has his first professional role – as an extra on EastEnders. He is naturally thrilled and very excited. We were up with the dawn chorus as he had to leave Cambridge at 6.30am. He was one of six...
read more

Will our Iraq withdrawal spare Prince Harry?

Posted by on Feb 21, 2007 in Uncategorized | 12 comments Will Tony Blair’s decision to begin withdrawing our troops from Iraq spare Prince Harry from being sent to the frontline? What a huge relief that will be for the royal family. With Denmark following suit, maybe Lithuania too, I wonder what Bush really thinks about this. When will American troops begin to return home for good? No sight of that yet as he has just sent another 21,000 troops...
read more

Polite petitions and govt’s deaf ears

Posted by on Feb 21, 2007 in Uncategorized | 12 comments It’s not just the 1.8 million road pricing petitioners who feel they are being given the brush off, how about the 4 million people concerned about the future of their post offices? Are they being heard? There is two weeks left to respond to the government’s consultation on this, with several hundred post offices being considered for closure.  Julian Sturdy is...
read more

I have been included on Miliband’s blogroll too

Posted by on Feb 20, 2007 in Uncategorized | 27 comments I had no idea until now that I had also been included on the Environment Secretary’s updated blogroll. I found out via Guido’s post, and all the hits it was bringing my way. I simply never expected it, especially after blowing the whistle on how much it cost David Miliband to set up his blog. I do have a few green credentials, and enjoy highlighting environmental issues. Minister...
read more

The grass isn’t always greener ….

Posted by on Feb 20, 2007 in updates | 20 comments   I hope today’s women who are dissatisfied with their  appearances will spare a thought for those less fortunate than themselves – and I am talking about Caprice, Britney Spears and Kate Moss. There can be few men who haven’t lusted after the charms of Caprice, now said to be on suicide watch following a suspected drugs overdose. Her friend says: “The...
read more

Farewell to Sue

Posted by on Feb 19, 2007 in updates | 19 comments It’s hard to believe that today my once fun-filled friend Sue will be turned to dust and ashes, that her life ended so tragically. I tell myself that she is now at peace, with no more demons to fight, and I have our happy memories of beach parties and her wicked sense of humour to make me smile. She will be greatly missed, especially by her two whippets, Chablis...
read more

Will planners ever say "no" to Tesco?

Posted by on Feb 19, 2007 in updates | 55 comments Is there a town in England without a large Tesco? At the moment there is at least one, and residents of Manningtree are hoping it will stay that way. This delightful Essex enclave is the smallest town in England with a population of only 900, and is preparing to battle with all its might against a new superstore opening in its historic coastal town. Tesco already has an Express store in the town...
read more

Wifey’s £70,000 book deal

Posted by on Feb 18, 2007 in updates | 11 comments Many congratulations to Wife in the North for landing a £70,000 book deal to publish her poignant blog about life in Northumberland with three young children. Her identity has been revealed as Judith O’Reilly, a former Sunday Times education correspondent who moved to the north because her husband wanted to bring up their family away from east London. It’s all the more...
read more

Carbon free paradise on offer by Branson

Posted by on Feb 17, 2007 in updates | 8 comments If Richard Branson is so keen to promote environmentally friendly holidays, why not buy  a showcase island closer to home than the Caribbean? Won’t the negatives associated with long haul flights  undo any of the positives from staying in his carbon neutral holiday resort? I would have been far more impressed if Branson had looked...
read more

Some climate change answers

Posted by on Feb 16, 2007 in Uncategorized | 9 comments Today’s climate change debate couldn’t have been better timed, hot on the heels of the announcement that international politicians are agreeing on the need to tackle global warming, the need for them all to meet targets to reduce carbon emissions. But the leading speakers, although buoyant at this news were unequivocal about the challenges ahead. Chris Rapley,...
read more

Trudy’s "Inside Out" story

Posted by on Feb 15, 2007 in updates | 6 comments I’ve written about the bravery of Trudy Lapinskis before. Well tomorrow tonight, those living in the East will be able to hear her courageous story on BBC1′s “Inside Out” programme at 7.30pm. I spoke to Trudy this week and for the first time I have known her, she admitted to being in pain following a recent operation, yet she still hardly complains, despite the...
read more

Tom Paine, Blogpower’s finest philanthropist

Posted by on Feb 15, 2007 in updates | 15 comments Within two days of writing about Gordon Brown’s refusal to waive the airport tax for a visit by young children from Chernobyl, Blogpower’s finest philanthropist, Tom Paine, has kindly paid this money himself. He has paid £960 out of his own pocket – an extraordinary gesture of compassion and goodwill. I’m sure his namesake would be very...
read more

Climate change, the questions

Posted by on Feb 15, 2007 in Uncategorized | 21 comments I am attending a major debate on climate change at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge tomorrow. I will be meeting David Buckland who runs the Cape Farewell project. He has spent the past seven years trying to capture public attention on climate change by leading expeditions to the sub-zero wild and beautiful Arctic on his 100-year old Dutch schooner ship. There are still many...
read more

Council staff trained as law enforcers

Posted by on Feb 15, 2007 in Uncategorized | 14 comments I am a non-smoker, but there was a time when I was a fag-ash Lil and would puff away on 20 or more Rothman’s a day, even the odd Gaulois, until my constant coughing and hacking forced me to quit.  I feel so much better for it too, but I have no objection if others choose to fritter away several hundreds of pounds a year on the weed. However, their choice of smoking venues...
read more