I would like to thank my agent, Patrick Walsh of Conville and Walsh, for his unflagging enthusiasm and support, as well as his colleagues Jake Smith-Bosanquet and Rob Dinsdale. Venetia Butterfield of Viking saw potential in my blog, www.wifeinthenorth.com, and her insights and friendship helped me turn it into a book. The team at Penguin were a joy to work alongside and I am also grateful for the advice, guidance and generosity of friends and family during the writing process, in particular my technical wizard, Michael Reilly-Cooper. I owe a debt of thanks to Tom Watson MP, Iain Dale and Andrew Sullivan for first linking my blog to theirs, as well as those who take the time to read me in cyberspace. Finally, I would like to thank my beloved parents and of course my Husband in the South.