The TV cook and food writer was named as the replacement for outgoing judge and Cotswolds resident Dame Prue Leith in January.

Ms Lawson read Modern Languages at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall, edited the student magazine Isis, later saving it from financial trouble, and graduated in 1979.

A portrait of the food writer was then hung in the very same Oxford college, installed in 2018, to inspire students.

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Then it was announced in February that Ms Lawson would join the Financial Times as a columnist, leading food and drink coverage.

In her monthly column, she uses cooking as a lens onto all facets of life and joins a line-up of FT Weekend food and drink columnists that includes Jay Rayner and Marina O’Loughlin.

Now, in the latest edition released today (Thursday, June 4), Ms Lawson has given some life advice to her readers.

Speaking on the dangers of pessimism and how her outlook has changed on this, when speaking about the arrival of summer, the 66-year-old spoke of her mood shift on the matter.

Ms Lawson admits that she is allergic to the sun and hates the heat, but still allows herself to be caught up in the “collective rush” of summer each year.

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“It’s like an incantation of optimism, and I want to be an optimist,” she wrote.

“I’ve trained myself to be one. When I was young, I felt that pessimism and dread were safeguards against disillusionment and disappointment, but as I got older, I began to see my ‘every silver lining has a cloud’ approach for what it was: an anxious mask of puny bravado to conceal, even from myself, an underlying cowardice.

“Also, it doesn’t work. Disappointment is an occupational hazard of being alive, as I often — like Mary Poppins’s sour alter ego — reminded my children when they were growing up.

“You can’t avoid disappointment any more than you can avoid making mistakes: it’s how you deal with them that equips you for life.”

Jacob Bally, of Ashmole Place, Oxford, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, June 4.

The 69-year-old is charged with three offences.

He pleaded not guilty to threats to kill and assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, on April 24 last year.

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Bally pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating on October 1 last year.

The court heard he denied punching the complainant, but accepted pushing her.

Oxford Crown Court (Image: NQ)

A trial was put on the warned list for the two-week period beginning on July 5 next year.

This means it can be called on at any time during that period.

The trial has a time estimate of two to three days.

Bally was released on bail, with the condition to not contact the alleged victim.

Thames Valley Police said the reported theft occurred at 1.30am today, Thursday, June 4, in Sinnels Field, Shipton Under Wychwood.

Wesley Smith, a PCSO in the TVP Cherwell and West Oxfordshire unit, said: “Unknown offenders gained entry into the victim’s home via the patio doors, specifically targeting vehicle keys.

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“The offenders subsequently stole the victim’s vehicle from the driveway. A grey Audi SQ5.”

He added that there had been another attempted break-in reported in the area at 1.20am, just 10 minutes before.

Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire (Image: Google Maps)

“CCTV captures masked men with torches appeared to be interested in another high performance vehicle,” said Mr Smith, “however, it’s possible the Smart CCTV deterred them”.

Police are asking residents to check their CCTV for that time frame and if anyone has any further information to contact police on 101 and quote reference number 43260278334

 Following this, the force has also shared guidance on how to discourage burglary and vehicle theft.

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This includes to double-lock front and back doors, and windows, and to install a home alarm system.

Car keys and valuables should be kept out of sight and doorbell cameras or CCTV systems can be used to monitor activity outside the home.

They add that car owners should park in a garage if available, or under motion-sensor lighting and should consider fitting a tracking device or immobiliser to their vehicle.