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 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.

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

I didn't read at all until I was 12. I just couldn't. It was too frustrating.

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

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.

At 12 I dropped out of school but I had lost interest in it at a much earlier age. For me, school was very very stressful.