Beslan, where the Russian authorities stopped live coverage of the school being stormed, was an illustration of the progress we still have to make.

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

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

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

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.

I've never been one to sit around and eat my heart out. Life's too short.