Esther McCarthy: Two weeks in the clink for no TV licence? Sounds heavenly to me 

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions” is a proverb I don’t say very often, but that particular one is well-known in McCarthy family lore. I gather the boys to tell them the tale of The Silly Man Who Went to Jail Because He Failed to Produce His TV Licence..."

Esther McCarthy. Picture: Emily Quinn

As part of my quest to buy nothing for 2025, I’m also trying to bring calm to the chaos of the stuff we already have. 

My house will be an oasis of serenity, dotted with discreet, perfectly-placed pieces that spark so much joy, visitors may spontaneously burst into an orgasmic rendition of a number from The Sound of Music.