I don't remember deciding to become a writer. You decide to become a dentist or a postman. For me writing is like being gay. You finally admit that this is who you are you come out and hope that no one runs away.

I've started looking at my own father a bit funny. He assures me though that I really am the son of a Scottish postman.

I was a postman one Christmas and I developed a morbid fear of dogs.

If efforts to do social work are couched in selfish motives then they will die a premature death. Why would my efforts get politicised? I have values I inherited from my father. He helped many. Anyone even a postman knocking on our door would get a glass of water and some sweets.