Hair is also a problem. I remember once, when I was reporting from Beirut at the height of the civil war, someone wrote in to the BBC complaining about my appearance.

I keep telling myself to calm down, to take less of an interest in things and not to get so excited, but I still care a lot about liberty, freedom of speech and expression, and fairness in journalism.

Now children as young as nine carry AK47s which can kill 30 people in seconds.

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.

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

Having had loving people who brought me up, and then I find another set of people. That really is a double blessing.

I also read modern novels - I have just had to read 60 as I am one of the judges for the Orange Fiction Prize.