Love and kindness go hand in hand.

Optimism can be relearnt.

There's no doubt that relationships do suffer when circumstances change profoundly.

I don't like this idea of division: that if you're a clever woman then you've got to be a particular way. Because men don't. Men please themselves.

Although will never love anyone again, don't want to become bitter. Or creative.

In an unpredictable and unpleasant world it was both unusual and very pleasant to hear what I wanted to hear.

... I am more of an ambler. I once overheard my old boss in Dublin describe me as very "hello trees, hello flowers." It was intended as an insult and it fulfilled its brief; I was insulted. I had little interest in greeting trees and flowers but nor did I treat life as a treadmill, on which it was vital to keep fleeing forward in order to avoid being sucked off the back and out of the game.