I Think I've Had A Brainwave

Despite cringing when I look at how long ago it is since I last blogged (I can only apologise for being such a slattern), I think it's important to start off a new year with a happy and positive attitude.

So, I'll make this post short but sweet and instead point you to the wise words of the scientists who looked at brain functions relating to addiction.

The Addictive Brain was the first of 13 programmes on BBC Radio Scotland in their Brainwaves series and you can catch it here on i-player.

I might be a little biased as I was one of the contributors, but my contribution was minimal to be honest and it's the science bit that's really interesting. If you're a fellow shopaholic, I'm not giving you this little gem as an excuse to say "We can't help it, we're just wired that way", but there appears to be an element of that and it explained a lot of my obsessive behaviours that my partner and I joke about ie. the nine massive, unopened and all different types of washing powder and liquids currently living in the cupboard in the kitchen, and next time I go shopping, I'll be sure to find another one that might, just might, do a slightly different thing to all of the others.

I might be a little bit crazy, but at least I'll always have clean clothes.

Jenni, Gill & Me

I've always thought the programmers at BBC Radio 4 had incredibly good taste - which was why I was rather surprised to receive a call from them, asking me to take part in Woman's Hour on Friday.

The subject was women facing bankruptcy and I was on with Gill Hankie MBE (Director of the Bankruptcy Advisory Service) to discuss the implications of insolvency and how it's sometimes being portrayed as a 'Get Out Of Jail Free' card by certain publications.

A very serious subject, but I had a super time and feel more than a little honoured to have shared the airwaves with Jenni Murray and Gill.

My only horror moment was on arrival at the studio; realising that I really was the only one there and had to operate the whole set up myself. Having worked in radio, it wasn't too daunting a prospect, until I read the instruction sheet I'd been left.

Number one instruction was: Switch on the 'cooker switch' before entering the studio.

We all know how I am with cooking! I crossed my fingers, flicked the switch, went into the studio and waited for the inevitable smell of burning - which usually accompanies that action - to start...

** You can hear the podcast by clicking the BBC Radio 4 link in the first paragraph