Europeans condemned Chinese foot binding, but any society that had invented the corset had a lot to answer for.

Parents and children were put on earth to give each other grief. You were my punishment for how I behaved to my own father. And I'll have my revenge when you have children of your own.

I love Christmas. A time to slow down and enjoy life and be with my family and friends. In busy years, it keeps me sane. In bad years, it makes me feel whole again.

My brother said that at Eton, students were told caning builds character. I suppose girls are caned less because we aren't thought to have much character." "Which is the sort of thing males say when they don't know any women.

we all grow up thinking our parents found us under cabbage leaves and that sex didn't exist before our personal coming-of-age.

Like cats and ice cream, showers were among life's simple, uncomplicated pleasures.

Enigmatic - the quality of keeping silent and making people wonder if one is stupid rather than opening one's mouth and removing all doubt.