unexpectedly - nobody tells me anything! - my opinion piece about the university application form is on guardian unlimited today (YAY!) [can you print it out at work, please mum?]:

Very bad form

While universities claim to encourage applicants from different backgrounds, the Ucas form fails to allow for diversity, writes Diane Shipley

Ten years ago, I started university for the first time, but soon became too ill to continue. I always wanted to reapply, and now feel well enough to do so - if the Ucas form doesn’t finish me off first, that is.

I know the application form is daunting for everyone, but when you’re no longer 18, have spent several years out of education, have long-term health problems and find that almost every question on the form doesn’t apply to you, it’s even trickier…  read more.

i’m also answering a tech question in my guise as “diane shipley, technology expert” in this week’s woman’s weekly, and every two weeks from now on. this is my third time in the mag, and i’ll scan them all in soon. (for people like helen TM who are too cool to buy it…)

hmm. the title of this blog post would be much more relevant if i had another publication to add, but i don’t. (i am on sabbatical, you know.)