How would you describe yourself?
I try to see the positive in every situation and every person, until proven otherwise. I don't take life too seriously and laugh as much as I can.

Happiest childhood memory?
Going on caravan holidays with my mum, dad and brother, usually to Portrush. We would walk along the beach every night with huge coats and scarves on, and get 50p for the amusements. Then all four of us would get into our sleeping bags back at the caravan and eat chips off green plastic plates.

Who was your childhood hero?
I don't think that I had a hero as such, but my brother and I were completely obsessed with WWF Wrestling. I remember wishing that I could either be Hulk Hogan or Macho Man Randy Savage because then I could beat him up.

What was your first job?
I worked in a clothes shop during school and at weekends when I was at university. I hated the boredom because it was never busy.

Favourite book?
Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road. The intricate use of language is unparalleled by anything else I have ever read. His vivid insights into human thoughts and feelings made me feel like he was reading my mind.

Favourite film?
The first one that comes to mind is 'Slumdog Millionaire', probably because I watched it so recently. I will definitely be adding it to my DVD collection, so it could become an all-time favourite in the future.

Favourite television programme?
It has got to be 'The Sopranos'. The series ended a couple of years ago, but I am currently making my way through the box set of DVDs. I still can't work out how I can have so much empathy for a cast made up predominantly of murderers and criminals.

Favourite expression?
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Gandhi

Favourite food/drink?
This depends what mood I'm in. At night I love a glass of red wine, and a big plate of nuts, cheese and fruit. But during the day my staple diet is pretty much fizzy drinks and pick and mix chewy sweets.

Favourite method of relaxation?
Just being by myself. It's great when I know I'm going to have a block of free time. The only rule is that I don't allow myself to think about anything I have to do when the free time is over.

Favourite holiday destination?
Without a doubt, Thailand. It has the most amazing scenery, food and people. I was there almost two years ago and still think about it all the time. Hopefully I will be back in the not so distant future so I can explore a bit more.

Who would you most like to meet? 'Take That'. They are the only group of four grown men that have ever made me cry just by looking at them.

What makes you happy?
Sitting in a room filled with family or friends, everyone is laughing and telling stories, and you know they are all just genuinely happy to be there in each other's company.

What makes you angry?
When someone seems to get pleasure out of belittling someone else, especially in a crowd. I think it is the effect it has on the other person and their embarrassment that makes me most annoyed.

What is the human quality you most admire?
The ability to laugh at yourself.

What is the human quality you least admire?
Jealousy.

What was the worst thing to happen to you in your life?
My grandmother dying before we got to know each other as adults.

What is your greatest fear?
I have a huge fear of being trapped under water, and not being able to breathe. I also have a phobia of open water, the fear of the unknown under the sea, and the deadness in the eyes of sea life, especially sharks. So I suppose a situation that involves any combination of the above would be a nightmare.

What has been the high point of your life to date?
In Thailand one of our 'hotels' was one of only fifteen wooden huts set into the side of a mountain. The nearest village was either an hour's boat journey, or a three hour trek over the mountains. There were only two hours of electricity a day, and we had no running water. There was nothing to do but eat, drink and read.

How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as someone who didn't just talk about what they wanted to do, but did it. No 'what ifs?'

What is your most treasured possession?
Anything personal with memories attached, especially photographs. I also keep all of the cards, letters and little notes that I have ever been given. I love taking them all out every so often and spending hours going through them all.

If you won the lotto, what would you do with it?
Hopefully it might force me to be a bit freer with money, I seem to save for quite a lot of rainy days that never happen. So I would invest enough to ensure that myself and my family were secure for life, spread some out to charities and spend the rest on things you would never otherwise have like a sweet factory, a vineyard, and my own WWF wrestling ring…

If you could be granted one wish in life, what would you ask for?
This is difficult, because my problem is that once I have my first wish I might not be content until I get a second… But I can't ask for anything more than to be happy, in whatever I do, whatever it is. That I remain surrounded by people who love me, and that life never stops being scary and exciting.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it be?
"She lived".