To some people, the fact that I am not married, or don't have children, would be the reason I have written a book on punctuation,

The idea of withholding a massive secret is obviously quite exciting to some people. It is also the basis of much classic drama, of course, from Sophocles onwards.

I do needlepoint from kits. I give them as gifts to people in the form of cushion covers and they are often speechless with horror.

What I have always liked about Brighton is its impersonality. Since the 18th century, people have come, used the place and gone home again.

I used to help my dad with a stall selling eggs when I was about 12. People were so hard up they would ask for one egg. But mostly no one came by at all. It was very demoralising.

Do you lend books and DVDs to people? If so, don't you always regret it? All my life I have forced books on to people who have subsequently forgotten all about it. Meanwhile, on my shelves sit many orphaned books loaned to me over the years by trusting, innocent souls - some as long ago as the Seventies.