I think what my father appreciated was the science experiment of life. He had these kids, and they had their own experiences. He wanted us to discover the world for ourselves.

My father would often work all night and sleep during the day, so for us, dinner might be pancakes, and breakfast might be beef stroganoff.

I picked books by their covers - the worse the cover, the more I wanted to read it.

I would ask my parents something, but then go to my siblings. We were encouraged to bounce ideas off everyone.

I had this whole ritual with my mother making the bed with me inside it so I would be invisible.

I definitely have managed to overcome dyslexia now to become a fully functional human being but things were a lot more difficult when I was younger.

My parents told us how they felt but never imposed their beliefs on us, although I appreciate I got a healthy sense of democracy from them.