Meet the woman who'll teach you how to fight; 7; daysin thelife of;

Monday

MY head is buzzing with facts and figures on cosmetic surgery as I make my way to a government panel meeting in Edinburgh to discuss regulating private health care in Scotland.

Working for the Consumers' Association in Scotland involves researching and getting to grips with lots of different areas, everything from freedom of information to surveyors' reports, and then pushing for better protection and more rights for consumers on the basis of our impartial research.

The cosmetic surgery industry is growing rapidly in this country and it is vital consumers have access to the facts and are able to make an informed decision. I push the consumer's case as hard as possible, and feel hopeful we are going to have new regulations soon.

Tuesday The new campaigning office we've set up in Edinburgh has had a great welcome from the Scottish public, and we're getting involved in issues that really matter to people. Today the parliament's petitions committee are giving their verdict on our petition advocating that all food premises should be inspected before they open, instead of afterwards as is the case at the moment.

We are also asking local authorities to "name and shame" restaurants that have had dodgy reports from inspectors. Some of the details I've heard would turn your stomach, and I'm a lot more cautious about where I eat these days. The committee think we may have a point about pre-inspections, and decide to refer us to the parliament's health committee, so fingers crossed.

Wednesday Lots of work to do for tomorrow's big personal finance campaign, which is aimed at encouraging the estimated half a million Scots who may have been mis-sold endowment mortgages to complain and ask for compensation. Not many people have complained so far, I think mainly because there hasn't been enough support for those who weren't sure if they had a right to or how to go about it. You can complain, for instance, if your adviser did not explain the risks of stock- market investment, or if you were told a policy was guaranteed or would definitely pay off the mortgage.

Thursday At a special photocall to launch the endowments campaign, with John Challis, the actor who plays Boycie in Only Fools And Horses, presenting a giant symbolic compensation cheque to a householder. We're using him to represent advisers who mis-sold endowments in the 1980s and 1990s. It is easy to complain - and one- third of those who have done so have received an average of (pounds) 3000 in compensation.

But I do think we Scots need to develop a better consumer culture, one where we expect the best in goods and services and complain more firmly if we don't get it.

Friday Loads of endowments campaign coverage in the media, hurray! But today it's back to working on our dentistry campaign and trying to get people better access to NHS dentists. The whole thing's a geographical lottery at the moment, and it's high time the system was overhauled. Too many families are having to go private - or go without treatment. Everyone knows about the problems but now we're looking for urgent action to fix it. Time for the government to fill the gap, so to speak.

Saturday Take my young son sailing with the Scouts to Largs. Lovely, relaxing and brilliant. The air is bracing and, despite all the blandishments of Disneyland, my youngest is in love with dear old Largs instead. The mysteries of sun and sand - well, sand anyway - retain their fascination for another generation.

Sunday Will tackle the usual family chores today, but not before having a full calorie-busting breakfast. Usually the satisfying rustle of newspapers can almost be heard over the sound of the kids fighting to get their hands on the remote control.

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