Winnie

I am looking after a friend's dog. He has soft stools which are difficult to pick up. Is there anything that I can give him to make them more solid?

Today in my garden I saw a very large yellow frog (black markings on back) disappear under my hedge. I do not have a pond, the garden is fenced so don't know how it managed to get in.

Are yellow frogs rare, especially huge ones?

I have a new computer and it is Windows Vista and I dislike it. How can I change back to Windows XP. I seem to have lost a lot of my previous data.

Microsoft Word is not the same, either. Perhaps I have it set up incorrectly?

My "son-in-law" is an alcoholic and has been allegedly sober for one year. My daughter has taken him back into her home and life. This state of affairs has been going on for the last six years, to the point of applying for a divorce.

What of the future? Am I being pessimistic and thinking that he cannot change and recover totally?

This afternoon there is a very large, "heavy" plane flying continuously over the Southport area. Is it a Nimrod on manoeuvres or perhaps it is being tested? It is very unusual to see a plane of that size flying so low for such a long time.

I have had pain over the left temple for at least three weeks. The pain involved the right side of my head first and then moved to my left temple where it has remained. I am on various medications and when the sedative wears off, the pain is excruciating and makes my eye water. Any suggestions as to the cause? My doctor does not seem to know.

I am sorting out my drinks cupboard and wondered if the opened bottles of both Martini and Chinzano are OK for another year? They must be at least 5 years old!

I do not agree with Tony Blair being elected European President. After engaging in the Iraq War my opinion of him has sunk to the lowest level. I don't think that he is as sincere as he appears and he is a bit of a megalomaniac. The power would go to his head - and Cherie's.

Who has the final say anyway?

I think that Alesha Dixon is an excellent judge as she has experienced the trauma of appearing as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

It was my birthday recently and I had to collect a card from the Post Office sorting office. The postage was underpaid and I had to pay £1.17 in order to get it. Would you tell the friend concerned?

Am I being stupid moving from a 4 bed house into a 2 bed bungalow. Will I still be lonely.

There are two ways of looking at this: No, it is unfair that their families should not inherit and that the Government (i.e. the taxpayer) should pay for care: or the person concerned should pay for own care and have more choice and respect and leave little or nothing to the families. Perhaps the families have not earned the inheritance, having had little to do with the elderly relation. I, personally, do not get a lot of support from mine and I was left nothing from my parents who were well-cared for by the State. Difficult one!

By nationality I mean from what country does the question come. It is often difficult to answer a question on an American problem if you are British, and likewise.

4 days ago, a bedraggled brown and white homing/racing pigeon appeared on my patio. I fed it some wild bird seed. A neighbour who breeds pigeons tried to catch it but failed as it had got just enough strength to get onto the shed roof. It comes in the morning to be fed and watered and then disappears on to my neighbour's roof. Will it eventually fly on home? I understand that it is a young bird. It has tags on its legs but I can't catch it to read the numbers.

I think that wheelie bins are a bonus. The pavements are much cleaner and free of litter. When black bags are used, the animals attack them and then there is rubbish around. Also I find it easier to wheel a bin than lift a black bag.

In Australia voting in Government elections is mandatory, unless sick.

I think that all eligible British citizens should cast a vote for their political party of choice. In that way everyone is responsible for the result and this, hopefully, would cut down on the whinging.;

I think that Identity Cards are an excellent idea.Those who disagree must have something to hide. It would stop identity theft and illegal immigrants from wandering the streets of Britain.

When David Cameron says that he intends not to introduce identity cards if he gets into Parliament, it makes one wonder if he has a guilty secret.

In the news at the moment is the objection to performing elephants in the Great British Circus. I agree with allowing animals to perform in the Circus because all animals like to be occupied and if they did not want to perform, believe me they would not! Some are still in the wild but they lead a precarious existence because of predators, mostly human.

The animals are well cared for and loved. I have visited the Great British Circus and have seen tigers that are bred there and that are well fed and content.

Children get the opportunity to see animals that they would not otherwise see.

Let the Circus be traditional as well as having humans performing gymnastics

My 7 year old grandson likes to use a new word everyday and, as it is his birthday soon, I would like to buy a suitable book. Any ideas?

Not really a question - more of a statement. My daughter at the age of 17 underwent an abortion from which she has never recovered psychologically and regrets it to this day. She still has nightmares even now that she is in her fifties.

It was a mistake in this particular case.