What’s your nickname
and why?
‘Spikey’ - I think it referred to a ridiculous hair style I supported at one time
 
If you had an open plane ticket, where would you go?
I would go for a world ticket, but if pinned down, then India
 
If you could only pack
three items, what would
you take?
Shorts that double as bathers. Swiss army pen knife, including a bottle opener of course... and the complete works of JK Rowling to help start the beach BBQ

Pasta or rice?
And miss out on fettuccine Vongole, It¹s got to be pasta!
 
Stones or Beatles?
Watch ‘Gimme Shelter’ from Woodstock - The Stones are still the world’s best band

Favourite word? 
Mellifluous - hope that spell check is on
 
Favourite colour Smartie?
Yellow - there are always more of them in the tube
 
Animal you most resemble?
A dodo
 
Where do you go / what do you do / who do you turn to for inspiration?
The young, my grand children. If they have lost the plot, then we really are b******d
 
The best advert of all time?
The Martini ads with Joan Collins and Leonard Rossiter