'I found fresh gherkins in a market; it blew me away'

Many people in business talk about their passion for what they are doing. Few exhibit it - in words or deeds - to the extent that David Levin does.

The biggest thrill on a cruise used to be a seat at the captain’s table. Not these days. Kate Simon reports on what’s new in 2010

I don't fancy three in a bed. He's wearing my knickers. I'm scared of flies. My boyfriend keeps prodding me with his fork... Being on the receiving end of 1,000 complaints every week – and finding the energy to answer them – requires patience and compassion beyond most of us. So what drives Deidre Sanders, agony aunt extraordinaire, to keep solving the nation's personal predicaments after 30 years in the job?

Keith Floyd, the chef with a relaxed presentation style who brought the phrase "a little slurp" to television screens, has died aged 65.

Unaware of the volcanic eruption of hurt and indignation at its core, you could easily approach Christopher Hamilton's book, Middle Age (Acumen Books, £9.99), as a mere essay about chaps of 50 buying Fender Stratocasters and wearing denim.

View from the sofa: Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1 Saturday, 6.45pm

The admired Scots-Pakistani novelist Suhayl Saadi and his wife, Alina Mirza, who runs a Pakistani film festival in Glasgow, are dear friends. They got married at the Marriot in Islamabad, just bombed by Islamicist murderers who sent in a delivery of lethal explosives in a lorry, during Ramadan. Nice work, guys. Allah will surely reward you aplenty for the slaughter of the blameless, sent off with less ceremony than goats and chickens who, at least, are prayed for as their throats are cut. Ah but they only razed a temple of Western decadence, and many Muslims who worked or went there weren't "real" Muslims, only Shias and disobedient women, reprobates and sinners for sure.

The Cotswolds is not only one of the most beautiful parts of England, but it is also a culinary hot spot with some of the best dining in the country.

Discreet charm

Four soldiers were wounded in a mortar attack on a British military base in Iraq today, the Ministry of Defence said.

After last month's problems with the MS Aurora, P&O Cruises is steaming ahead with completion of the largest cruise liner yet built for the UK market.

IT COULD already be too late to shop for Christmas presents via the Internet, some of the largest retail websites warned consumers yesterday.

Clarke's 124 Kensington Church Street, London W8 (0171-221 9225). Mon-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner.