The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne, When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman, One Day by David Nicholls, Jane Eyre, any book of Tana French’s or Roddy Doyle…

Beach. Specifically this little beach in Connemara on the west coast of Ireland which is always deserted except for the occasional cow that wanders onto it. 

Video rental. The joy of going into a Blockbuster and browsing all the new releases just to settle on The Bangles Greatest Hits for the 32nd time in a row. 

Starting at Daily Maverick. I couldn’t talk about it for the first 3 months without getting choked up. It was pretty pathetic. 

Too many – On the Waterfront, La La Land, Neverending Story, Good Will Hunting… 

Jon Favreau, Obama’s Director of Speechwriting. Some cracking lines knocking around in there that I’d love to steal. And, I imagine, some pretty spectacular memories. 

Slow internet connection. Or Cape Town traffic. Slow internet connection in Cape Town traffic. (I know, I shouldn’t be allowed to drive.)

Scrabble. I’m really good at it. Oh, and throwing wet cotton balls into a bin from a distance. Never miss. A formidable combination of skills. Don’t be intimidated. 

Branko.

Where’s my letter for the Insiders?!

My Mum. She was the kindest person I’ve ever known. The #GuptaLeaks whistleblowers. And my colleagues for turning up every day and doing their jobs as well as they do despite everything. 

Apathy.

Fresh crab on Irish soda bread. 

Finally losing it with a ‘service provider’ who possesses that unique blend of incompetence, laziness and nonchalance. 

I once had to dress up as a showgirl, complete with 10kg feather headpiece and 6 inch heels for an event. The resultant compression injuries on my spine didn’t make the €25 worth it. 

Free will.

I’d rather be hopeful and wrong than cynical and right.  

Efficiency. Their first mandate would be to stand over every employee at Home Affairs and make them do their jobs. 

Houses for those in need… And a pair of Malone Souliers shoes. A girl’s gotta have shoes. 

Arguing my way out of being suspended from school at 17.