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

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.

The back windows looked out over the fields, then the Atlantic, maybe a hundred yards away. Actually, I'm just making that bit up. I had no idea how far away the sea was. Only men could do things like that. "Half a mile." "Fifty yards." Giving directions, that sort of thing. I could look at a woman and say "Thirty-six C." Or "Let's try it in the next size up." But I had no idea how far away Tim's sea was except that I wouldn't want to walk to it in high heels.

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

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

Minsk! How pissed-off that sounded! It was great. You could scare the bejayzus out of someone if you said it right.

Every day I wake up afraid that I won't be able to write, that today is the day it has left me.