You enter a state of controlled passivity, you relax your grip and accept that even if your declared intention is to justify the ways of God to man, you might end up interesting your readers rather more in Satan.

Be wary of too much calm, particularly in your mid-fifties.

She loved him, though not at this particular moment.

The world should take note: not everything is getting worse.

Looking after children is one of the ways of looking after yourself.

And feeling clever, I've always thought, is just a sigh away from being cheerful.

And though you think the world is at your feet, it can rise up and tread on you.