Always Write As If You Are Talking

I Believed That Old People Never Laughed. I Thought They Sighed A Lot And Groaned. They Walked With Sticks, And They Didn't Like Children On Bicycles Or Roller Skates Or With Big Dogs.

Because I Saw My Parents Relaxing In Armchairs And Reading And Liking It, I Thought It Was A Peaceful Grown-up Thing To Do, And I Still Think That.

When I Was Younger, I Avoided Exercise Or Anything Strenuous. I Didn't Even Enjoy Walking. As I Got Older, I Spent So Much Time Marking Books Or Sitting At A Desk Writing That There Was No Room For Exercise - Not That I Would Have Bothered Anyway.

On The First Day Of School, My Father Told Me I'd Be The Most Popular Girl And Everyone Would Love Me And Want To Be My Friend. It Wasn't So, But It Gave Me An Enormous Amount Of Confidence.

If You Woke Up Each Morning, And Immediately Dwelt On Your Ills, What Sort Of A Day Could You Look Forward To?