I'd lost my mobile phone. Couldn't find it anywhere - despite looking through every drawer, on every shelf and under every table. 'Am I going mad?' I asked my wife, as she stepped out into the garden with the laundry. 'Where did you last have it?' said Lara. 'I have no idea,' I growled, proceeding to check all the places I'd already looked for the second time. Have you ever experienced this? The lost car key moment? It's as if an entirely d ..

More ...

There are three things that I'm known for in my household: ONE: I live in hope that Wales will win the Rugby World Cup. TWO: I always do the washing up (a day late!) THREE: I'm always talking about doctors. I believe that in a civilised country, doctors aren't just there to get you better. They are there to help you prevent illness from striking in the first place. But perhaps I'm asking too much of the NHS, because the reality is rather dif ..

More ...

I feel like I ought to write today's letter in Old English… Sorry, Ye Olde English… Because a surprising number of Good Lifers have written in about gout. That's right - gout. That staple of black and white comedies. In fact, one of my favourite Laurel & Hardy films is based around one of the boys' uncles getting his goutridden foot trodden on, slammed in car doors, and attacked by a dog… Hilarious. So for years, if I heard about anyon ..

More ...

So we were about to sit down for our evening meal and my daily glass of wine, when Lara said... 'White?' 'Yes,' I declared. 'It's time for a change. And anyway, I've found out something about white wine.' 'Right...' 'It's quite interesting, actually... it's really good for your lungs.' 'Oh no, Daddy,' said my eldest, clamping his hands to his ears. 'Not at the dinner table,' said Lara. 'But' 'Put it into one of your letters,' she said. 'T ..

More ...

You've heard of masochists, right...? They're people who enjoy pain. Some even pay to have pain inflicted on them. 'How crazy can you get?' I said. 'You wouldn't catch me doing that in a million years', I said. So what did I do last Saturday...? I forked out £110 to be stabbed with a needle and attacked with a drill. I am, of course, referring to our family 'fun-day' at the dentist. I had a scale and a polish (and that was before they even ..

More ...

How's this for an introduction... 'When my Dad went to the toilet it was like a gas attack in the First World War. We would rush outside gasping and choking for air. Even the dog ran outside!' Now, you might think I've just met Bernard Manning, or I've been watching Carry On films for the past few days. But in fact, this was a confession from a chap called Ron Gellatley, a remarkable Naturopath, Nutritionist, Medical Herbalist and Homeopath. ..

More ...

Is it just me, or is everyone tired these days? Whenever I say, 'How are you?' to a friend, or an elderly Aunty, or even a teenage relative, I get the same answer. 'Oh, tired. You know...' Well, as a matter of fact, I DO know. Society is becoming ever more prey to fatigue, thanks to our heavy, irregular diets... our late-night television watching... and our over-prescribed drugs... How about you? Do you seem to feel tired all the time? Then ..

More ...

Tomorrow I face one of the worst ordeals known to man. No, I'm not visiting the mother-in-law... or watching a video of the recent Lions rugby tour. It's much worse than that. You see, Lara has arranged a 'family day out'... to the dentist. Can you imagine anything so twisted? She says it's the only way she can get me to step inside one of those places, and I guess she's right. Truth is, I've avoided going to the dentist for years. It's som ..

More ...

I am not normally a man to complain... But... OW! This trapped sciatic nerve in my lower back is causing the most intense pain I've ever experienced. Even more than the time at school when Edmund Sampson whacked a cricket ball into a place where no cricket ball should ever go. Until now that was my number one... But no longer. It's been four weeks now since I trapped it while wallpapering my friend's house and it still hurts. When I say 'h ..

More ...

I've been getting a lot of emails about my earlier Good Life Letters regarding dementia and Alzheimer's. It's not surprising... Dementia is a serious issue that could affect any one of us, or a loved one, at any time. I've written a couple of times that the best way to ward off dementia in later life is to take regular mental exercise, like learning to dance or playing puzzles. Some of you wanted to know more about the research behind this. ..

More ...