A friend is the only person you will let into the house when you are Turning Out Drawers.

For the sake of the sons - and even for the son's future wives - a woman must keep a part of her mind and heart entirely for herself. Every family is better off with a wife and mother who can astonish and occasionally dewilder.

If your sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and cannot catch your eye, she's wearing your best sweater.

We expect too much at Christmas. It's got to be magical. It's got to go right. Feasting. Fun. The perfect present. All that anticipation. Take it easy. Love's the thing. The rest is tinsel.

Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.

Loss leaves us empty - but learn not to close your heart and mind in grief. Allow life to replenish you. When sorrow comes it seems impossible - but new joys wait to fill the void.

Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, singers of songs.