I have a good collection of cookery books. This is not so much because I like cooking, but because I like eating.

I don't like gourmet cooking or 'this' cooking or 'that' cooking. I like good cooking.

When I was a child and teenager I read whenever I had the opportunity, but since then I've found it hard to read as much as I'd like, children, work, and pets all providing powerful incentives to escape into a book and a practical reason why I rarely do so.

I don't envy men and I certainly wouldn't like to become one now.

I like many types of music and probably too many to mention here.

The importance and influence of books on me has been cumulative: the result of hearing and reading lots of stories about interesting people and places.