Ten for '04

There are many ways of trying to improve our everyday existence. Take ten:

1 Increase self-esteem so that we matter more to others

2 Be aware of the genius within ourselves that needs releasing

3 Being responsible for ourselves includes choosing our own moods

4 Being responsive to others involves interest, conversing and smiling

5 Taking action needs to start with the easier, confidence-building tasks

6 Taking risks within the parameters of common sense is vital

7 Working out what works for us can reduce investment in wasteful activities

8 Repetition reminds and prompts actions

9 Watching our words and rephrasing our thoughts releases new insights

10 Devise measures of personal happiness to indicate degrees of success

The Ultimate Press Pass

The late Margot Lawrence, freelance journalist and former secretary of the Prayer Book Society, used to say that when she arrived at the gates of Heaven she would tell St Peter, I'm not here to be judged. I'm from the Press.

Toys 'R' East

Apparently the Chinese city of Shenzhen is the source of 75% of the world's toys. One million people work in 5000 factories and supply, at the height of dispatching goods for the Christmas market, products that fill a quarter of a million containers. 1000 of these containers leave the port of Yantian every day on their way to Southampton, Rotterdam and New York.