I lost my dad way too early and it was agonisingly awful. I missed him so much and I hated knowing that I could never again pick up the phone to tell him about my day.

I never really did Christmas before. Christmas Day? I mean - what's that? What's it all about? I was always flying on Christmas Day.

Life is not worth living if I cannot have pasta or bread again.

I never felt I had the kind of relationship with Magic that I could just pick up the phone and call him at home.

Did you know that Christmas Day is absolutely the best day to fly? It is. No crowded airports and crowded planes. I always flew to Australia. That's what Christmas was for me - a plane journey to the next tournament.

I don't believe in playing hurt, in taking injections to cover the pain.