At a time of my life when I can stand quietly and look at the past, I wonder at the way in which I meekly accepted the events of my childhood and my total lack of involvement in the directions they took. For I am not at all a meek person!

Under normal circumstances my parents would never even have met each other! My father was recovering from being divorced by his 2nd wife – his first having been tragically killed in a traffic accident and my mother was deeply involved in the hopeless tangle of a love affair with a married man!

But, theirs is not a unique story and they did marry and embarked on a life which was to bring them tragedy, comedy, highlights and low times, a story played out on a stage replete with Kings and Queens, politicians and paupers, dictators and prima donnas… indeed, they lived fascinating lives.

I am a 'Diplomatic Brat' – as opposed to an Army, Navy or Airforce Brat – but the definition is the same: children born to parents constantly on the move and more involved with their professional lives than with the offspring they have produced. The lack of a traditional family environment probably gave me the tools I was going to need in my adult battles when I eventually took charge of my own life, and promptly proceeded to commit an enormous variety of mistakes.

I may not have understood my parents, but I loved them - despite not having the slightest idea of what to do about it so, inevitably I mostly did the wrong thing. As the years passed by and I grew to adulthood I continued to be confused by my world but a streak of rebelliousness made life uncomfortable both for me and for those around me. I didn't like the cage I was in – however gilded - but not knowing how to find the door, I just pushed the walls down instead, causing grave concern to all!

So life unravels, and repeats the tragedies and comedies of our elders and I have decided to share my family with the world! I am proud of them, both those who came before me, walked a while with me and today come after me.