• Why do radio and TV pundits all begin their sentences with the word, “so”? Robert Peston and scientists are the worst offenders – (I’ve also noticed that there are a new breed of Robert Peston imitators appearing on the media now). it has a way of making the questioner seem stupid and the person making the statement aloof. Worse than that, it make them sound impatient with the questioner and as though they haven’t really listened to the question – as though they are spinning a line and hope you don’t see the joins.

    Please stop it, everyone! (Now you’ve read this, you will hear it all the time and it will become very annoying for you too!)

  • My daughter doesn’t really get politics. My Wife says she has to vote – people have died so she can. My daughter thinks she might vote Liberal Democrat. My wife says that’s a wasted vote around here – but is it?

    The problem with our system is that the boundaries get re-drawn by each new government to aid their re-election. If a party is in third place in a constituency, it seems like a waste of time voting for them, so the temptation is to vote for the second party in an attempt to unseat the Government. But all this does is give moral power to another party that you do not support.

    It would be possible for the party with the most votes not to form a Government at this election, but they would have a moral majority that would have to cause some kind of change.

    If everyone actually went and voted for the person or party they really want to represent them, then the parties that don’t get power will at least have the moral backup of real voters behind them.

  • Here’s a video that shows you how to draw a crab. This is based on my book, Nip! Nip! a very early phonics book that I’m really quite proud of. It has only three letter words made out of the letters SATPINMD and I think it’s quite a fun story! I show it to year six and beyond and they all really like it!

    You tube has changed things recently. If you see a thumbs up anywhere, please click it if you like the video.