I sailed through my childhood with a complete lack of any drama.

People always seem to assume that we have a full, back-up support team - make-up, costume and a driver - but usually, in a war zone, there's only me and the cameraman.

I was timid and frightened as a child. Yours truly did not shin up mountains or do any other kind of adventurous stuff.

I was sent to a nice Church of England girls' school and at that time, after university, a woman was expected to become a teacher, a nurse or a missionary - prior to marriage.

No two wars are identical.

I wrote in the book very specifically what I wanted to write about, period, and left it at.

Up until about 12 years ago we never, ever, wore flak jacket or helmets but now the nastiness has got worse.