We can all reduce our carbon footprint by flying less, and reduce our food miles by buying local produce. Some airlines have schemes now for offsetting carbon emissions.

I must say I don’t miss the rustic charm of life in the back of beyond! For some people Little Snoring is a rural idyll, but for me it was always just a quiet backwater in the middle of nowhere where nothing ever happened and where I was bored rigid.

It’s a bad idea to borrow heavily to repay your debts. Always seek advice from your bank about how to clear outstanding debts and pay back loans. Never run up an overdraft if you can avoid it. If you do need one, remember that most banks will offer students an interest-free overdraft.

In particular, we must now build on the success of the climate-change levy we introduced last year. Another of our goals is to win the battle against the black economy. If left unchecked, the black economy – I think here particularly of the loss to our economy of undeclared earnings and other tax evasion practices – will push up costs and lead to rising unemployment.

When law and order break down, when riots erupt and public disorder threatens the social fabric, politicians tend to take draconian measures which rarely work.

Scientists and technologists are pushing back the frontiers of knowledge every day. We have become very skilled at harnessing technology in all sorts of creative ways. New cutting-edge design is transforming our daily lives and our businesses.

Do you want to enjoy good health? Or perhaps you want to reduce your stress levels? Build up your strength by doing plenty of exercise. It’s better to start with gentle exercise unless you already do a lot of sport.

My view is that if someone is put on trial and is found guilty and given a sentence, then they should have to serve out their sentence. No one should face trial on the basis of unreliable evidence or trumped-up charges.

The Republic claims it was an unprovoked attack and violence erupts along the border. The violence escalates with a spate of attacks on both sides of the border. Both countries claim that innocent victims have been caught in the crossfire. The Republic goes on the offensive and makes a pre-emptive strike on the capital of ...

My grandmother loves her laptop and her mobile phone – she has no problem moving with the times. Penny has been a changed woman since she got the job she wanted. It would make a change to stay in a hotel rather than go camping this summer. In the ten years since our last meeting, Irene had changed beyond recognition ...