Marilyn French: the author whose novel did change lives

How sad to read in the Guardian today that Marilyn French had died [obituary]. I looked out my battered copy of the 'The Women's Room'. It was easy to find between a copy of a novel by Micheal Frayn which I don't remember ever reading, and my collection of Stephen Fry novels and autobiographies. Like Kate Mosse (Guardian G2 tribute article), I first read 'The Women's Room' as an undergraduate and some of its messages have stayed with me and to a certain extent shaped my life. Mira, the central character of the novel, chooses to pursue her own academic career rather than accept the inevitable compromises of following her academic boyfriend. The ending is a very poignant picture of a solitary female academic watching a noisy family on the beach, the family of her erstwhile boyfriend. I made the opposite decision; my husband's academic career continues to prosper, I've followed him across three continents and we have a very noisy family of teenagers. I don't have any regrets 25 years after I made that first decision to follow my heart rather than my academic calling.

Mothers Day, Jade Goody and smear tests

I had a vague plan to spend today being selfish and just doing what I wanted to do but being a mother doesn't allow you to cut off entirely from the responsibilities of the role.

I woke this morning to the news that Jade Goody had died from cervical cancer at the age of 27 (Radio 5Live 8am alarm) and wondered what advice I should be giving my daughters about having smear tests. Apparently in England screening starts at 25 but in Scotland and Wales it is 20 but this is under review. I recall my first test in the Doctors Surgery on Kings Parade, Cambridge when I was an undergraduate and either 20 or 21 so the advice on age of first testing must have got older rather than younger. I've never had any reason to think about it before. For myself, I've had a letter from my Primary Healthcare Trust sitting in my 'Home Pending' file since January reminding me that my next, 3 year appointment is due on 13th January 2009 so I'll be joining the queue at the surgery over the next week or so.