The letter of application ... should be a masterpiece of fiction, papering over all the cracks. Get it properly typed on decent writing paper. Never let it run over the page, people get bored with reading.

The only thing a whirlwind courtship does is blow dust in everyone's eyes.

Although it is the biggest time-waster in office life, you must never underrate the importance of the memo. You will be judged by the volume of your paper work.

Without doubt, keep a diary. From the day you're born, keep a diary, because we all forget things so quickly.

There is something infinitely dingy about the word workshop. Pray that England doesn't become a nation of workshopkeepers.

I wrote my earliest piece for The Sunday Times about being a young wife.

I'm not wild about holidays. They always seem a ludicrously expensive way of proving there's no place like home.