What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, its sense of restraint.

There is certainly a satisfaction and dignity to be gained in coming to terms with the mistakes one has made in the course of one’s life

I can't even say I made my own mistakes. Really - one has to ask oneself - what dignity is there in that?

You say you’re sure? Sure that you’re in love? How can you know it? You think love is so simple?

So why not become a mongrel? It's healthy

I half closed my eyes and imagined this was the spot where everything I'd ever lost since my childhood had washed up, and I was now standing here in front of it, and if I waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy, and he'd wave, and maybe even call.

What I wished more than anything was that the thing hadn't happened at all, and I thought that by not mentioning it I'd be doing everyone else a favor.