But hard bitten cynicism leaves one feeling peevish, and too much of it can do lasting damage to your heart.

The blog is certainly another tool for writers out there to break their way in. But being a blogger does not make you a great writer.

The road to hell is paved with leeks and potatoes

It's sad, but a relief as well, to know that two things so closely bound together can separate with so little violence.

Nowadays anyone with a crap laptop and an Internet connection can sound their barbaric yawp, whatever it may be.

Sometimes, if you want to be happy, you've got to run away to Bath and marry a punk rocker. Sometimes you've got to dye your hair cobalt blue, or wander remote islands in Sicily, or cook your way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year, for no very good reason.

But hard bitten cynicism leaves one feeling peevish, and too much of it can do lasting damage to your heart.