Frauen sind doch bessere diplomaten

Whilst we get on with our day, Mrs May is in the Trumped-up White House for her first meeting with the new US President. No doubt she is feeling ready having spent a goodly time prepping and practicising for this big event. But, whether she likes it or not, her gender has a big part to play.  "Fat." …

Embracing the public life of a president’s wife – would you?

On the face of it, there's not much about the First Lady role (nickname FLOTUS) that suggests glamour or pleasure.  It's unpaid, you have to manage a staff— of around 15 people, be an all round charming White House hostess and then champion a cause or two, usually related to women or children. (www.theatlantic.com).  But as we watch Donald Trump …

We love trains – why don’t they love us back?

"Have a bacon roll, you c..." said a buffet car attendant irritated at his customer's dithering over the "pile of cack" offered for sale. The customer was Matthew Engel - at the time researching stories for his book,  Eleven Minutes Late, a laugh-out loud history of our railway system.  If you are a regular rail traveller, you will recognize …

Self-help in a selfie world

Post Christmas, it's not just us that's feeling a little sluggish, our media organizations are too.  And with columns and airwaves to fill over the holiday period, it's so much easier to plump for the same old resolution type stuff (usually a quick dusting down of last year's output). Turn on your radio or TV or …