One day all of us will die but - and this is the important thing - we are not dead yet.

Sybil's female forebears had valiantly backed up their husbands as distant embassies were besieged, had given birth on a camel or in the shade of a stricken elephant, had handed around the little gold chocolates while trolls were trying to break into the compound, or had merely stayed at home and nursed such bits of husbands and sons as made it back from endless little wars. The result was a species of woman who, when duty called, turned into solid steel.

The man gave a shrug which indicated that, although the world did indeed have many problems, this was one of them that was not his.

Things just happen. What the hell.

I'm interested in mythology generally, but India has no special place in my heart - although Hindu gods seem a lot more fun.

They always gives me bath salts," complained Nobby. "And bath soap and bubble bath and herbal bath lumps and tons of bath stuff and I can't think why, 'cos it's not as if I hardly ever has a bath. You'd think they'd take the hint, wouldn't you?

Grinning like a necrophiliac in a morgue.