“When I was a kid, I had a friend who went on holiday to the same place...” — Sarah Millican Quote

When I was a kid, I had a friend who went on holiday to the same place every year and I never understood why. My ten-year-old eyes always wanted new things to look at - new branches of WH Smiths to look for Sweet Valley High books in, and different campsites or self-catering cottages to explore.

I don't worry about a zombie apocalypse. Mainly because it's unlikely, but also because I think I'd be pretty good in that type of emergency.

And bookish people who do their homework and get it in on time and it's good - they don't have friends at school. I never really got in the cliques. I didn't have the right shoes or hair.

In our family, when you have a part-time job you are then responsible for non-essential clothing. Glittery tops, skirts with tassels, clompy patent leather shoes that are the sensible girl's version of stilettos.

The Germans form one of the most important branches of the Indo-Germanic or Aryan race - a division of the human family which also includes the Hindoos, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Celts, and the Slavonic tribes.

The courts are truly the least dangerous of the three branches of our government.

A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.

In the summer of 1997, a little more than half a lifetime ago, I got my first proper summer job. The job, with one of the many branches of Canada's federal government in Ottawa, covered the entire tuition for my sophomore year of college.