I lay in the dark debating switching on the light, which, logic told me, would lead the invader to where I am, whereas allowing them to wander around in the dark, downstairs would at least give me time to work out how I would fight them. 

If you know the overwhelming majority of your constituents are on side with the basic concept of assisted dying, why would you, as a politician, not want the matter discussed?

You have to hand it to Boris. In fairness, he pulled off one of the most difficult tricks in the book. The advice has always been that if you want to be remembered, in politics, you need to succeed a fool and be followed by a fool.

'No warning. No time to sort anything. Just the exigent summons: come quickly, because you might be able to help. Come quickly even if you can’t help. Come quickly because one of your own might be there'

Say it out loud. Nay, whisper it low. Because whispering gives the inspired brand name its full comforting resonance. Softenon. The sweet sibilance of it.

It can be surmised, based on Hurricane Charley, that countless island homes will be boarded up or have bright blue roof coverings for months to come.

The rest of the world has opinions, most of them hostile, about everything, but the letter-graffitists, seem opinion-free

A new word, today, for readers to consider. Dementiachondria. A freshly invented noun, describing a condition whereby the sufferer attributes their every ailment to oncoming undiagnosed dementia consequent upon age.

My grandmother described the IRA as ‘our lads’. And yet, at Christmas — as well as the Pope’s urbi et orbi address — she would listen reverently to the queen’s broadcast

US President, perhaps because he’s been in politics for so long, understands the power of a single, carefully staged speech