Ben's Column

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I have just come back from a break during which I read three novels, some travel writing, a book on psychology and an autobiography. It was wonderful.<br> <br> As I have done a number of times before I promised myself to try to keep up the book reading habit when I got home. <br> <br> But, faced with a mountainous in tray, I ask myself how?<br> <br> My daily reading consists of correspondence from individuals and organisations in Exeter and policy documents and briefings from officials in my role as a Minister. The only newspaper I read daily is the Echo. I get a five page summary of the national press to save time, as well as a digest of the regional press articles relevant to my department. <br> <br> Then there�s Farmers Weekly, Farmers Guardian, Fishing News, Fishing Monthly, Nature, New Scientist, The Economist, The New Statesman, The Spectator and a number of other journals and specialist magazines that are essential reading if I�m going to keep on top of what is happening in politics and Government in general and in my own policy areas in particular. <br> <br> The only time I get to read a book is in bed last thing at night where I generally manage half a page before I fall asleep. <br> <br> So, if I�m to stick to my good intentions and read more books in 2004, something else will have to give. It might mean having to do without Fish Fryers Weekly. <br> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td height="-7"><a href="#top"><img alt="Back to Top" src="../../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></td> </tr> </table> </body></td></tr></table>