Even though Secret Thinker was rudely awoken by clanging bells, he says that we need to make sure we use churches – and pubs – or we’ll lose them.

In a heart-wrenchingly honest account, Melissa Todd describes the visceral shock, guilt and fury she felt in the aftermath of her husband’s suicide.

You wouldn’t do it in the high street, but while on a walk it’s plain bad manners not to give a cheery greeting or smile to those you pass.

Has late-night Christmas shopping in Kent lost its sparkle? Our columnist wrestles with supporting shops while watching his bank balance.

The closure of children's centres, the Rwanda plan and our voting system are some of the topics tackled in this week's letters to the editor.

As service declines and technology takes over, Secret Thinker says it’s only a matter of time before Royal Mail goes the same way as red phone boxes.

Every family has its own traditions, but our columnist believes it’s parents, and not Father Christmas, who should always take care of the big gifts.

The government’s pledge to increase council budgets will undoubtedly take the pressure off – but cuts will still need to be made, writes Paul Francis.

Believe the hype and Kent is going to the dogs – but do we need to take a leaf out of the book of the dreaded Down from Londoners?

After a trip to a justice museum, Melissa Todd considers the value of imprisonment – which often means so much more than just a loss of liberty.

Local news, pub grub, immigration, windmills, antisemitism and Christmas are among topics tackled by readers in this week’s letters to the editor.

As COP28 in the UAE draws to a close, Secret Thinker expresses his lack of surprise at how much the climate talks have achieved – namely, very little.

Joey Barton has hit-out at female pundits but Mary Earps’ shirt sold-out so just how fast are attitudes to women in sport changing?

The state of our country, the Israel-Gaza war, the Elgin marbles and violence against women are among topics tackled by our readers this week.

Rishi Sunak faces a tough week, with division over his controversial Rwanda plan coinciding with questions over his pandemic Eat Out initiative.

Our columnist got a dose of Covid again this week – but have we already forgotten the personal lessons of the pandemic?

Secret Thinker was ridiculed when he predicted in 2005 that Boris Johnson would one day become PM - and now he has a similar hunch about Nigel Farage.

More parents are being offered free childcare but our columnist fears it’s a government scheme about to over promise and significantly under deliver.

We had a paltry sprinkling of snow this week – but back in the day we got no weather warnings; as kids we just prayed our schools would shut.

Your child’s first night in their own room is nerve-wracking, as our columnist has been discovering.