Alternative Ageing, by Suzi Grant

Brighton is full of theem. You know, alternative therapists.

I am not knocking them, but I have never known anyone to go to one and be told: 'You know, there's nothing I can do for you. Off you go.'

No, what usually happens, it seems to me, is that they ply you with unspeakably-vile herbs and stick needles into unmentionable places. But I know a lot of people who swear by them, and who is to say otherwise?

And I defy anyone who would not like to hold back the ravages of time, without resorting to the knife. Or botox. This is the book for you.

The introduction seduced me from the beginning; Grant states she 'wants to grow old gracefully, disgracefully and, most importantly healthily'.

She was a chain-smoking, hard-drinking journalist. And, although she has managed to give up the fags, I am delighted to tell you that she sees nothing wrong with a glass of red now and again.

The book is broken into helpful sections that tell you how to improve, skin, hair, stay fit, look better, sleep better, and stay healthy.

The section on supplements was really useful, as I am often overwhelmed with spurious advice and bewildered about free radicals, good fat versus bad fat, and what exactly Omega 3 does for us all. It turns out that bee pollen is particularly good for us all and, after reading what it claims it can do, I am racing off to the local health shop.

Must fly, got to go.