It's been a while since I last wrote -- for many reasons. At first it was hard to write about a year-long journey. Changing jobs was a transitional period that required all of my energy. Then it was hard to write about spring in Iraq. Elections is a frustrating topic I did not want to approach. Then came Mothers' Day... and I did not succeed to write more than one line for a whole week. It was never perfect enough.

A woman in Florida Keys, USA, was arrested recently for dangerous driving, resulting in a crash. Officers expressed their disbelief at what she'd been doing at the time: shaving her bikini line.

Apparently the woman was on her way to meet her boyfriend and 'wanted to be ready for the visit'.

Fair enough, we are all strapped for time, but this lady is clearly a bit barmier than most people. Myself, I confess to having applied mascara in the rear-view mirror (at traffic lights, not on the motorway!)

Spotted in our picture library: is this really the type of thing the pregnant wife of our new Prime Minister should be doing?

If David is now married to a Lib Dem, Samantha seems to have trouble keeping up with Rihanna's w(h)ig.

Children with special educational needs could be left out in the cold under the coalition's push for more academies.

That's the fear of Durham North West's Pat Glass, who worked as a Government education advisor before the election.

Eric Pickles was as ebullient as ever as he went about the business of explaining spending cuts.

Apologising for being softly spoken, the new Communities and Local Government Secretary tore into Labour's spending decisions with a certain Yorkshire charm.

Images of Valhalla and fires in the corridors of Whitehall were conjured up by Conservative Mr Pickles, a close chum of David Cameron.

"The age of austerity is here. The age in which are going to be able to dole out vast sums of money is over.

Thanks to Drummerman, our archivist and webmaster, Tyne Bridge Morris is now on YouTube, click on it to bring on the dancing girls!

Bike ride from Leaplish around the Lakeside Way via Kielder Castle over the Dam and return to Leaplish.

Park at the car park at the lakeside in Leaplish half way around the south side.

Distance - I prefer to talk in time it will take. However plenty of sign posts so you can work it out.
Time Taken - Anything from 5 - 7 hours depending on how many of the Art Treasures you seek out
Special features - Almost too many to count, however my suggestions are the Sculptures, Kielder Castle and the views.
Difficulty - Easy but a long way - Some inclines one or two qualifying as a hill perhaps.
Track - All trail except for a couple of short tarmac interludes.
Advice - I don't normally give, however although we enjoyed the route on our trail bike I think we would have had more fun on a mountain bike.

MY coach Bobby Rimmer got a bit of a laugh at the Press conference for my next fight when he got so carried away talking about my opponent, Matt Hainey, that he swore in front of the TV cameras!

He apologised straight away, but that's Bobby for you. He's a really passionate bloke and what you see is what you get. It's just the way he is.

The young couple next door recently acquired 2 young cats from the local shelter. They are not allowed out as they haven't been spayed yet, and one of them is on heat. Onheat wanders the house yowling loud enough to be heard through the shared wall, trying to flirt with our Felix through the double glazing (an utter waste of time but she's not to know) and desperate to be out.

Late this afternoon I noticed the lady from the last house across the road going up next door's path. Some minutes later she came to my gate so I went out to meet her ...

It has mainly been Tories who have been making noises off-stage about the coalition with the Lib Dems.

Well, perhaps Nick Clegg needs to keep an eye on his troops outside Parliament. Many are unhappy with plans for elected police chiefs and city mayors.

Labour council chiefs have also voiced opposition to elected police chiefs, meaning David Cameron's coalition could have a battle on its hands.