A few of my favourite web sites (in no particular order other than this is how they are popping out of my head):

www.amazon.co.uk
Apart from the obvious… I love the ‘customers who bought this, also bought…’ feature. I have lost count of the number of new authors I have read – and loved, using this.

www.eBay.co.uk
I can’t remember the last time I bought anything new, or full price. Apart from knickers, of course (and other underwear). There are limits, you know!

www.facebook.com
Keeping in touch, sharing jokes, playing Lexulous: inconsequential merry nonsense that makes the day sparkle.

www.iGoogle.com
I love this – I have email; my calendar; Wikipedia; translation tool (I confess!); YouTube; To-Do List and Tao Te Ching quote of the day – all on one page. It’s like my own little study, which I’ve decorated and only I have the key…

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4
The Archers, and SO much more. Great podcasting service as well… The Friday 6.30 comedy slot is always a good one, Sandi Toksvig gets wryer and drier and of course we have the wonderful Paul Merton on Just a Minute. How I miss Sir Clement Freud, though…

www.YouTube.com
Paul Merton! Lots and lots of Paul Merton!! But here is my all time favourite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tdd6-o00Tc
I’m sorry about the corny soundtrack, but as you will cry anyway, it might as well be done properly…

www.Ted.com
Really fabulous, thought-provoking, imaginative, get-those-brain-cells ticking and give us something different-to-talk-about mini lectures. Fabulous – keep them coming… please?!

www.tapping.com
Never ever ever underestimate the power of your mind… This is a great way to work on specific obstacles (insomnia, sinusitis[truly], headaches, procrastination, anger, etc, etc) to leave your mind open for serious life changes. It is all possible – it’s just up to you. I wouldn’t be tapping away on this keyboard if it wasn’t for Magnus: so here is a big thank you from me!

www.khoola.co.uk
The most amazing jewellery – either from the site, or even more exciting: made to order. The prices are pretty unbelievable too, so a real treat for yourself or a favourite someone is suddenly within reach.

www.delia.co.uk
Isn’t she just a love? It’s like having your aunty to stay… Nothing groundbreaking, but even I can get all the ingredients and the recipes always work (apart from her goose which she cremated for me once!).

organizedhome.com
I get lost in here. It can take me days to reappear. There are Lists, colour-coded chore lists, what to eat lists, which wash to put on lists, which knickers to wear lists (OK – I made that last one up, maybe even the last two); there are Instructions, how to clean your house, how to tidy your house, how to pay your bills, how to find your knickers (I know… sorry.); there is EVEN a cleaning pinny… with instructions on how to make it!!!! I mock, I’m sorry – but actually I would like to have a clean, tidy clutter-free home… and one day I will stop giggling and do what these wholesome American lovelies say.

www.misi.co.uk
lots of lovely handmade presents at reasonable prices – and the money goes direct to the crafter, not to some horrid mean baby-eating factory owner.

www.telegraph.co.uk
For years we took The Daily Telegraph: it had nothing to do with class, politics or the fact that the crossword is the only one we can begin to solve – it is just a Very Good Read. Of course there are irritations in there – but there are very probably irritations in here, and I mean no harm… The definitive online point came to me (we had long given up the daily delivery due to expense) after a particularly nasty depression when I finally was able to surface and brave the outside world. I was having coffee with two girlfriends and they were discussing the financial collapse of Iceland. I thought they were discussing the death of that frozen ‘food’ wasteland…

www.private-eye.co.uk
I almost wish I drank red wine to accompany this. Grown-up takes-no-prisoners satire.

www.dilbert.com
Makes me laugh, reminds me of work, reminds me to be very grateful I’m not part of that culture any more!

http://idler.co.uk/news/the-idle-parent/
Hands-off parenting - with a dry dry wit.