Going through an illness and then death of a close friend has changed my attitudes to friendship enormously.

Twice a year, I take myself off to a self-imposed 'writer's retreat', staying at a small inn or on a friend's farm, where I am all alone and do nothing other than write.

I think friendship is more important than love, but that love that grows out of friendship is the very best of all.

I have a business manager and a book-keeper who deals with our household bills. My husband and I sit down with her for a weekly report on how much money is going out, but I'm not terribly interested, and I don't have the patience for it.

I think friendship is more important than love, but that love that grows out of friendship is the very best of all.