As a fan of the Saturday Guardian's Q & A section, I thought I'd join in. Here goes....
When were you happiest?
My wedding day and the birth of my babies are difficult to top, but I do enjoy the odd sporadic swell of happiness that bubbles up at an unexpected moment, when all seems well with my world.
What is your greatest fear?
Since becoming a mother I have many intrusive and nebulous fears, all revolving around harm coming to my children.
What is your earliest memory? Lying on my mother’s knee next to the fringed leather ashtray that draped over the arm of the armchair.
What was your most embarrassing moment? Having a bit of an accident when picking up the child benefit from the post office. I was 11 and too embarassed to ask if they had a toilet I could use. Mortifying.
Where would you like to live?
Same place, bigger garden, bigger hallway.
What would your super power be?
Time travel, but only backwards. The future would scare me.
What do you most dislike about your appearance? Lack of a pronounced bone structure. My aging face doesn’t have much scaffolding to hang onto.
What is your most unappealing habit?
Pull my finger and find out.
What is your favourite smell?
Fresh baked goods.
What is your favourite word?
Today it’s truculence. Yesterday it was soporiphic.
What is your favourite book?
Wuthering Heights. Great memories of my 6th Form English Lit teacher and her wafting chiffon scarves.
What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?
Giant pink bunny
What do you owe your parents?
Reslience, independence, self-esteem.
To whom would you most like to say sorry?
An 18 year old Davina F. I had a bit of a snog with her ex-boyfriend in front of her. Having never had a meaningful relationship at that age, I didn’t realise that feelings could linger long after a relationship had ended.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Who - Children & husband (obvs).
What – Books.
What does love feel like?
Home.
What was the best kiss of your life?
Apart from the many wonderful kisses I have received from my loved ones, it would have to be the kiss I gave to the traffic warden so he would let me off a parking ticket. I was skint, and it worked.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Notwithstanding. Therefore. Accordingly. I’m a lawyer and they appear in pretty much every letter I write.
What is the worst job you've done?
Cleaning changing rooms in a leisure centre when I was 17. I became so inured to it that I would think nothing of pulling out the clags of hair and plasters from the drains with my bare hands.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
To Florence; the Palazzo Medici in the time of Lorenzo the Magnificent.
How do you relax?
Many ways, but the common denominator is wine (or gin).
How often do you have sex?
*flushes red and mutters something unintelligible*
What is the closest you've come to death?
The M60, 1997.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Local grandparents.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Let it go.
Where would you most like to be right now?
Eating a sandwich in Walkden Gardens. It’s lunchtime, I’m hungry and it’s sunny outside.
