Opinion

Do you think the Queen was shocked when David Cameron popped his head around the door this week?

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) was slammed by the national press on Tuesday for overlooking some pretty awful instances of animal cruelty.

Hands up who has heard of Jo Churchill? I would suspect that the majority of Bury Free Press readers now know the identity of Conservative’s parliamentary candidate ahead of us all going to the polls in May.

Earlier this month I had the privilege of joining the judging panel for the Zero Waste Awards, bringing with it a chance to review an exciting range of applications from organisations around the UK that are making great strides in reducing waste.

‘The limits of my language are the limits of my world’. That’s the twentieth century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein reminding us how our language shapes the way we see the world and perhaps the way we think.

There are various givens in life: a buttered slice of bread will always fall butter down in the kitchen, your mobile always runs out of charge when you most need it and you’ll always forget an anniversary (once).

A while ago I was asked to participate in the campaign by the towns branch of the Fawcett Society to encourage young women to engage with politics and vote. I am proud to be a part of it but remain frustrated by the apparent ease by which the anti voting argument appears to shout loudly and more successfully.

You find TLAs – three-letter acronyms or abbreviations – everywhere in life now – countries, companies, science and, of course, social media.

Occasionally, through my day job, I am fortunate enough to be a part of some incredibly uplifting experiences.

By happy coincidence my daughter returned home from ‘The North’ for a short break last week, while I also had a few days off work.

My son and daughter-in law have just bought their first home together and, as for many first-time buyers, it is a small terraced house with a correspondingly tiny front garden and small back garden. Being inexperienced gardeners, they have asked me to come up with some ideas on how to improve it and make it as wildlife friendly as possible.

March 3 was a significant day for University Campus Suffolk (UCS), for me as Police and Crime Commissioner and for Suffolk as a whole. It was the day we published a report into victims’ perception of the support they receive to help them recover from domestic abuse.

The numbers of coot on the local gravel pits have dropped, a sure sign that winter is at an end and that the birds have dispersed to begin the first of their two or three breeding attempts of the year.

Imagine the scene: You’ve got little Johnny up, had breakfast, dressed and got all his kit ready for the Sunday morning football match (after finally finding those boots).

It was half term a few weeks ago and for me it was a lovely opportunity to spend some quality time with my children. As is the way, with every parent, we want to teach things and impart our wisdom to our children – and if we can entertain them and tire them out at the same time, all the better!

Statistics have shown that after retirement, many older people can experience isolation, loneliness, exclusion, cognitive memory loss, and take a more sedentary lifestyle.

Have you ever noticed how, when you see something all the time, you cease to look at it properly?

Periods of spring-like warmth have prompted the resident collared doves to initiate their first nesting attempt of the year.

I have a secret. It’s a shocking secret. I need to share it.

George’s birthday was going so well. My little lad turned three on Friday (where has the time gone) and he is now well and truly into the art of opening presents. So much so that I woke up this morning, five days after the ’big day’, to see our eagle-eyed boy spying more presents when, in fact, they were merely gift bags. Oh, the disappointment.