GRAPEVINE

By DAVID ELLIS

Margaret Thatcher once confidently predicted that her political reign would "go on and on." Now chafing in forced retirement, the former British Prime Minister apparently intends to apply that philosophy to the writing of her memoirs. Thatcher is talking about dividing her life story into three or four volumes, more than potential U.S. publishers hope to see -- or sell. Perhaps the Iron Lady wishes to continue emulating her idol Winston Churchill, who wrote more than two dozen books during his lifetime.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart