Moments

We went into W.H. Smith- which used to be proper bookshop but now only sells books that are trendy- and they had two titles by Dr Peterson on the shelves- in the "Books that'll change your life" category. He's having his moment, isn't he?

Prince Harry's book is piled high and is retailing at half the publisher's price. Does this mean his moment has passed?

Q & A

We are talking about my mother's memorial service- and questions arise that I think I need to answer.

Q1. Why do I so want to concentrate on her early years?

A1. Because that's before I entered her life and she started pissing me off- and I can think of her as I think of any other stranger.

Q2. Do I have any positive, happy memories of her?

A2. Not really. If I scrape around, maybe one or two....

Q3. Why if we choose our lives (as I believe we do) did I choose parents whose values and way of life were so profoundly at variance with my own?

A3. For the same reason a runner uses a starting block- as something to push against.

Q4. What did I get from her?

Q4. Stubbornness, self-reliance, emotional detachment.