Phil D. Rolls

BBC 2 has been running a series of programmes about mental illness, two, which caught my eye, were [B]A History of the Madhouse[/B] and [B]Sectioned[/B].

It was refreshing to see the subject treated with an objective stance. A [B]History of the Madhouse[/B] in particular was a dry-eyed commentary on the transition from the use of asylums to care in the community. Recounting some horrific stories of abuse of power and cruelty, it serves as a reminder of society is happy enough with ...

Firstly, an apology to younger readers. You may not know this, but in the old days - before PC "went mad" - you used to get your fish supper wrapped in an old newspaper.

The odd case of a lead poisoning was a small price to pay. Given the choice of a chance to catch up on old news, combined with a nutricious and tasty meal meant it was a risk worth taking.

Now, I'm one of those types that likes a good moan. Given the current fashion for healthy eating and ...

"Time to take a breather", as Jeff Stelling might say. As we hear what Filled Rolls in dictionary corner has to tell us today.

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this before, but I used to drive a black cab in Edinburgh. It was the classic Bipolar job, you were either in ecstacy or the depths of despair.

It is the ideal job for a big mouth. It doesn’t matter too much if you put your foot in it, you knew that your chances of meeting that person again were ...

I have an apology to make. It seems I got the wrong end of the stick from my daughter, and the girl is actually in remission, but is seperating from her husband.

I'm sorry to have stirred things up on such a sensitive area, but all I can say is my feelings were genuine at the time, as I really thought it was the end.

I want to reassure everyone that I was genuinely distraught at what I thought was happening. After the Kahoonas incident, I know that some might suspect ...

When you get that new baby and take it home, and show it all the love it needs, and provide and care for it, they also hand you hope and fear.

Hopes for their future that they will be stong and successful. That they will be popular and secure in themselves. They will have all the happiness and opportunities that you can give them.

They will have friends and they will grow up together, and they will have long and proseperous lives. One day they'll have kids of their ...