This is the personal section of my site where I share my beliefs, think out loud about new ideas and age-old problems, and have some fun.

BELIEVE

I have always had a strong sense of social justice, stemming from my childhood I suppose.

Our family home, as well as household income, depended on my father’s willingness to work 70 hours a week as a farm worker, for very low wages and with little respect from his bosses.

He worked his heart out because he loved us – and he wanted us to have the best life he and my mother could build for us.

It was these core values of family and aspiration, coupled with frustration at a society that valued a land-owning, lazy, rich boy over my poor, hard-working, clever father, that forged my political beliefs.

I don’t apologise for wanting to make the world a better place. I believe in strong, dynamic economies, but those economies should focus on delivering better living standards for everyone.

We all have basic human rights, just as we share a responsibility to build and sustain economies and societies that are sustainable, progressive and fair.

And social and economic progress matters far more to me than national identity.

THINK

I love meeting new people, hearing different views, sharing ideas and opinions, arguing about life.

No one person has the monopoly on wisdom, though there are some people whose thoughts are more interesting, or valid, than others.

The challenge is, of course, turning great thoughts into action that makes an impact.

SMILE

Lots of things make me smile, and sometimes laugh out loud. Just a few…Caitlin Moran’s writing. The Parthenon. My grandson Kyle. Celebrity gossip. Friends. Family. Red wine. Haribo jelly babies.

Greek sunshine. Tulips. My husband Nigel. The West Wing. Fresh flowers. Come Dine With Me. My Malawi family. The colour blue. Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley and Robbie Williams’ Elvis tattoo…