WORDS TO THE WISE: Favourite quotes from February 7 edition

She was not just my sister she was my best friend. I feel I owe it to her to find out if anything could have been done to help, that wasn t. Sally-Anne Marsh, whose sister Terry-Anne Smyth died of a blood clot at University College London Hospital, has d

She was not just my sister she was my best friend. I feel I owe it to her to find out if anything could have been done to help, that wasn't.

Sally-Anne Marsh, whose sister Terry-Anne Smyth died of a blood clot at University College London Hospital, has delayed the inquest into her death so the hospital can review its practices.

I got the train to Nottingham, the bus to Ilkeston and then a taxi to the bed and breakfast I had to stay at because I was due in court at 10am the next day. The hearing was delayed for an hour, then I swore on oath that I wasn't the owner of a red Volvo and I wasn't Christopher Mason from Stoke-on-Trent. The judge said: 'This is ridiculous, you are obviously not the man we want' and after four and a half months of letters and phone calls it was all over in two or three minutes.

Christopher Mason (pictured left) who was sent on a wild goose chase by the DVLA.

Despite a nervous start to the session, from the first moment I tapped the chisel into a block of wood the appeal was obvious. The way the wood peels back from the blade, the feel of the mallet hitting the chisel and the surprising amount of control you have over the cuts - it is all strangely engrossing.

Ham&High reporter Tan Parsons gets to grips with his inner whittler.

As burlesque has got bigger the venues have got bigger and the costumes and props have got bigger. It's really a case of whatever fantasy you can dream up, you can make it happen.

Immodesty Blaize on her new cabaret show, compered by Julian Clary.