What's fascinating is where they come from in the world. People in Bangladesh, a chap in a fire-base in Tikrit in Iraq. Chap in an Irish pub in Dublin. And lovely to think this literary network - or rather network of readers - is well spread out.

I'd like to write fiction. Perhaps at some stage.

I often think I would like to come even closer to home and write about somewhere like Wales, for example - which we in England tend to be a little snooty about. That's where the coal comes from and that sort of thing.

I think one should express opinions and these books are relatively opinionated. They would be a bit dry without it.

The noise that we can expect in the future will only increase and we'll be wishing for rural Portugal or something like that.

There is a very big difference between American and British travel journalism, and that's this whole business of the assisted or freebie trip. In Britain we are unashamed about any travel company paying for you to go and then writing about it. That's the only way we can do it. But I have tried the same in the States, and I can't write for any sizeable American newspaper because they tell you to do it on this basis.

I am always surprised when people do get upset. Perhaps its just the nutty people who write to newspapers who get upset.