Over to my left is the big grey wall in front of the church. Are we the Thoughts of God? a poster asks. No, I realise. It's the reverse.

I wonder if the reason I tend to say yes to everything is because I deeply believe that I can survive anything.

Homeopathy seemed . . . both mathematical and poetic.

Some writers, notably Anton Chekov, argue that all characters must be admirable, because once we've looked at anyone deeply enough and understood their motivation we must identify with them rather than judge them.

If something wants to be a story, it will be.

I wonder at what point my life swerved to avoid that, and if that life would have been nicer than the one I've got.

Most people would look at an animal in a cage and instinctively feel that it should be set free. . . . It's a dangerous world out there, filled with predators. . . . What would you prefer? A comfortable, safe, warm, cosy life in a cage, or an uncertain life of freedom.