English people are famous for never speaking out but only saying what they really feel about you behind your back. Americans believe the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I like exploring those, er, differences in national snippiness.

I want 'The Lady' magazine to be restored to its traditional place in the pantheon of weekly magazines.

I went freelance in 1996 and my children are now teenagers and it seemed right.

Don't worry about never having time to write. Just write what you can in the time you do have and give yourself a big clap on the back, followed by a double latte and a blueberry muffin.

I don't mind being called snobbish, a pain and a social climber, but being called unkind really hurts.

There was a time when no difficult subjects were ever aired in the 'Lady', and sadly, life isn't like that.

I think everyone can recognize the one-upmanship and the competition that go on wherever you are, especially among groups where the women don't have to hold down office jobs and instead get in a total snit about who won the longest carrot contest or took first prize for summer chutney in the August fete.