Welcome, welcome to my little corner of the world wide wonderland! Pull up a comfy chair and prepare to lose yourself in the sometimes funny, sometimes sad but always honest and (I hope) helpful ramblings about my experiences and thoughts on the utter bonkers -ness of families, kids, marriage, the school run, nappies, holidays, stretch marks, the tooth fairy, sex and much, much more. Hurrah for all of that! (Except the school run and stretch marks. Boo to those – they suck.)

Everything you find on these pages, from extracts from my books to my journalism and interviews, is done in an attempt to make family life in all its tricky, confusing, tiring and hilarious guises more enjoyable and less daunting for as many people as possible, who all find it as bloody hard as I do.

The truth is that family life is really hard for everyone who experiences it, even if they look like they're coping brilliantly. Through my writing I hope to delve beneath this perfect façade and convince you that, if you find it tough sometimes, you are NOT alone, and there are many way that you can make things easier– for yourself and for your whole family. A pinch of salt is always required, as is a healthy sense of humour!

There is, however, one very, very important thing I have to tell you right at the start, just in case there is a tiny little bit of confusion caused by the titles of my first two books, which may, quite understandably, have given you the impression that I am a vacuous, rich moron more concerned with my manicure than my children. To read this vital piece of information then wiggle that mouse of yours about and please CLICK HERE...

THE FAMILY HANDBOOK ON TV ... Liz is currently developing her second book, The Family Handbook, into a television series with a Bafta Award-winning production company in London.

WRITING

“I have – at last! - completed my third book for Harper Collins. A Spoonful of Sugar – Old Fashioned Wisdom for Modern Day Mothers will be published in March 2009. It is, quite simply, essential reading for any confused, exasperated parents today who would like a return to simpler times, when kids were kids, ‘no' meant ‘no', children had time to play and use their imagination and childhood was valued. The book follows conversations I had with my 84-year-old Grandmother, and transforms her simple, old-fashioned tips into practical methods we can all use in today's fast, busy world. Do not miss!

I'm also starting a major new writing project, and presenting/ producing an accompanying television documentary, which I aim to complete in 2009. Can't say more than that for now, but I'm quietly rather excited about it.

There's a new travel feature about Ickworth House on the Travel Writing page. Check it out if you need a luxurious weekend away without going abroad – even with the kids!

TELEVISION

Continuing to warm a small patch of the BBC Breakfast sofa every week or so, with my enlightening and always insightful comments on all aspects of parenting and family life. Have increasingly been doing GMTV as well, and more BBC radio.