“I remember reading a fascinating article in the New York Times Magazine once where this guy said... Every woman has the exact love life she wants”

“If you ask me, it's all these skinny models that make girls anorexic," she went on, to Auntie Barbara. "Ican't think why they don't use real girls with a few curves.""Stands to reason, Jenny." Auntie B. was as pinkly flushed as Mum. "All the designers are gay—theydon't want bosoms in their clothes, or bottoms, either. Not proper, girls' bottoms.”

“Shoving the ends at him, I headed for the common. It wasn't far away: a green, tree-lined oasis, brightened with many seasonal varieties of Coca-Can discardus, Crisp-packetus-cheese-and-onionus, and the occasional, fragrant dog turd underfoot.”

“I feel so lucky at being able to do what I love. Writing has proved to be a fascinating journey – without maps and compass at times – but it is one where I am continually learning.”

“A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one.”

“My archive project is a multiedged sword. It is something I love doing, but it raises some questions about my motives in doing it. A writer accused me of building my archives just to further my own legend, whatever that is. I hope you don't believe that. What a shallow existence that would be! I remember reading that article saying that about me. It pissed me off. It's my life, and I am a collector. I collect everything: cars, trains, manuscripts, photographs, tape recordings, records, memories and clothes, to name a few. The fact that I want to create a chronological history of my recordings and supporting work is proof positive that I am an incurable collector, confronted with an amazingly detailed array of creations that I have painstakingly rat-holed over the years.”

“Because, worst of all, I remember every second of what it was like to lose my life.”