So how was it for you? For me, it wasn't as bad as the experts predicted. I managed to get through the whole day with only a few grumbles. Mind you, I barely left the house, except to cycle to the butchers. I have to admit that my wife came home from work almost in tears, 'What's Ray on about?' I hear crowds of people muttering. Well, Monday the 21st was supposed to be the 'most depressing day of the year.' That's according to Dr. Cliff Ar ..

More ...

Watching the Simpsons feels a lot like staring into a mirror a watching my own family from time to time. Of course there are one or two differences... The Collins folk aren't yellow. I don't work in a Nuclear Plant, and I take my health a tad more seriously than Homer. For example, I'd never stuff myself with a box of doughnuts. Not when there's so much chocolate in the world still to be eaten. But there was a scene in a recent episode I sa ..

More ...

In hindsight, here's what I should have asked for for Christmas... One bag of straw Make that two bags One water bottle One large crate Then someone could have nailed me inside and I could have slept away till March or April. Because it's on days like these that I really envy tortoises and wish I could hibernate till the Spring. As I look out of my window I can see... Well that's the point I can't see. It's still pitch black. All I can he ..

More ...

At this time of year, I love reading 'best of' lists. All those 'Best albums of 2007'... 'Favourite films of 2007'... 'Most dramatic news moments of 2007'... Even if I'm not interested in the subject area, I still tend to read them. You know.... 'Best hairdos of 2007'.... I have no idea what makes a good or bad hairdo, but I like reading the list anyway. Yes, of course, it's ridiculous to take a whole year of events and trends and put them i ..

More ...

I realise that my subject line 'a band that gives sufferers hope' sounds a bit strange... It's as if I'm going to talk about The Rolling Stones, or something. Actually, if there were a band to 'give you hope' that age is no obstacle, then the Stones are the guys to pick. Their combined ages seem to have no effect at all on their energy levels. Perhaps I should get in touch with Keith Richards and ask for a Good Life exclusive interview...? C ..

More ...

The other day someone asked me if I enjoy 'surfing' the web. Well, I use the Internet almost every day... but is 'surfing' the right word? Surfing is term that means skimming the surface of something. It's a word for young people with no health worries. People who just want to go faster, look better on the outside. They use Facebook and Myspace to keep in touch with each other (don't worry if you haven't got a clue what these things ar ..

More ...

This week I've been reading some fascinating information about food intolerance. Not that I am intolerant of food, of course. I tolerate it greatly about four times a day with snacks in between, and I dream about it at night. But I know quite a few friends who are simply unable to eat certain types of food. For instance, my friend Emily gets a sore throat every time she eats a nut. For some reason, though, she still can't resist. So she spend ..

More ...

Imagine this... For years you've suffered severe rheumatoid arthritis, and nothing much has helped. Then, on a routine visit to the doctor's, he tells you about a breakthrough new drug that might help you. 'This drug,' he tells you excitedly, 'has proven benefits. In fact, studies have shown it has a massive positive effect on sufferers, and that half of them respond well to this drug. So there's a really good chance this could help you!' The ..

More ...

You know the story about the wolf in sheep's clothing, right...? It's where a wolf dresses up as a sheep, so he can stroll right past the unsuspecting shepherd and kill as many sheep as he wants. Well there's a pill pulling the same trick. All right, not EXACTLY the same... if you opened up a packet of pills and one came out in a sheepskin coat I suppose you'd notice something was up. And it would be a nightmare to swallow. But in every ot ..

More ...

Can you imagine the advert that goes like this...? 'Take two bottles of shampoo into the shower?' 'Not me, I simply take in a bottle of sesame oil!' Well, weird as it may sound (and don't a LOT of my emails?) this is actually a valid remedy for that most embarrassing of minor ailments: dandruff. And yes, though it may be an odd thing to do, it's actually a good natural remedy that doesn't involve buying yet another boastful brand of overpric ..

More ...