That image of the countryside being a threatening place still exists. People continue to resist the challenge of learning about aspects of life they don't understand.

Looking back, I understand that I was teaching myself to write.

Unimaginative people are spared quite a lot. They're often much happier, because they don't go through all the variety of conceptions of the person they love.

I remember the evacuee children from towns and cities throwing stones at the farm animals. When we explained that if you did that you wouldnt have any milk, meat or eggs, they soon learned to respect the animals.

We all lie to each other, present some sort of front.

They may turn out to be a great disappointment, or perhaps they may be full of enchanting surprises.

I have a garden, and I'm passionately interested in young people.