I think sometimes we rush through countries, ticking off the attractions, but that's missing the point.

My mother was a very difficult woman to please. She was the sort of woman who thought that if I were praised I would get above myself.

I think that my favourite animal is a baby possum, or a joey. The face of a really little joey is so divine - so, so gorgeous.

I was the most Australian child ever in the world, even though my home was in Africa.

The fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach them to write.

My Mother was a very wild Australian woman. When we were in Africa she could kill a snake with one blow from a crow bar, which she kept at the back door.

I have very little patience with children.