You know why I fear people's judgment? Because I know they're judging. I know they are.

I don't go to the gym because I don't have time, but I do pilates workout DVDs for 20 minutes or more every day at home.

Experiencing those moments of being alone... is a very, very weird flooring and exposing position to be in when you're just not used to it. But I've never been lonely. And with my kids Mia and Joe that remains the case.

You can't be a proper writer without a touch of madness, can you?

I simply couldn’t conceive of how devastating it would be not to be able to hear my children’s voices. Not to be able to communicate with them, to hear them learn, grow, and express themselves verbally. How fortunate, how blessed I am. This overwhelmed me. I can talk to my children, I can respond to their needs and comfort them when they tell me they are unwell. I can tell them stories and hear them tell theirs.

I never had crushes on anybody when I was younger; I really didn't.

The whole concept of 'grounding' children is utterly stupid - they just go off and rebel and don't like you. When my kids eventually come along, I don't want them to not like me.