The great question, is there anything at all which is worth fighting such a war about, with the devastating loss it will bring? I believe yes, there are some freedoms which to sacrifice would be EVEN worse.

I work reasonably hard. Though probably not harder than many people. I work probably eight or nine hours a day, six days a week.

I am miles ahead with ideas and excitement in the mind, and that is where it all begins. I feel that when I get myself organized, and am in one place long enough, I will have so much energy of mind and belief that I will be able to accomplish infinitely more. My thoughts will be larger and clearer, and with a renewal of life.

Of course there will be disappointments and the way will not always be as I expected it. But if it seemed easy, then that would be the time to worry that I am on the wrong path.

I was born in London, England, in 1938, a few months before the war, and spent the first years of my life there, although I was evacuated a couple of times for short periods. My schooling was very interrupted, both by frequent moves and by ill health.

I did a complete rewrite of 650 pages in two weeks.