In fact the experience at Oxford has really helped me later in life.

If one area I felt it was a tough election was I couldn't see my young son and I couldn't see my wife a lot but apart from that for her also it was an experience.

I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the heart of what it is to be a human being. It's the ultimate experience because it questions everything about who you are. But it's difficult.

I find increasingly that the more extreme are the things going on in your life the more cultural reference points fail you. More mythical reference points actually help and you realise that's what myths are for. It's for human beings to process their experience in extremis.

If you're out there stressing on your pro day then you're not going to perform well so I plan on having a little fun. Play a little music while we're out there throwing the football have everybody tapping their toes and bobbing their head and just go out there and make the most of the experience.

Stories have always been the things that entertain me and make me feel happy and sad and move me and give me the experience of being able to live many lives in one lifetime. It's the best thing about being alive.

For me titles are either a natural two-second experience or stressful enough to give you an ulcer. If they don't pop out perfect on the first try they can be really hard to repair. Or worse if the author thinks they pop out perfect but the publishing house does not agree it's difficult to shift gears. And then? Then you go insane.

I wouldn't say I'm a very original thinker but if I have a good experience with something I'll want to take it further or adapt it in some way.

There's no wrong way to experience a film.

Yes I've listened to just a few audiobooks - but hope to listen to more. I've wanted to investigate how my own books sound in this format and find the experience of listening and not reading quite fascinating.