I will die, but not retire.

As I work in the afternoon on committing to paper some of my morning's thoughts, I find myself just about to close on the knotty question of whether or not I believe in God. In fact I am about to type, 'I do not believe in God', when the sky goes black as ink, there is a thunderclap and a huge crash of thunder and a downpour of epic proportions. I never do complete the sentence.

I am not a great cook, I am not a great artist, but I love art, and I love food, so I am the perfect traveller.

I've been lucky to have made a number of travel programmes with the BBC, the object being to see places off the beaten track. As a result, I've often had a guide who's been able to show me things that you wouldn't see with a tour group.

I am very cautious of people who are absolutely right, especially when they are vehemently so.

I want people to know there is more to Somalia than looting and piracy.

I mistrust total competence. I've always felt life is a series of small disasters we try to get through.