Most small boys idolise footballers, many small girls idolise pop stars... but my heroes have always been writers, in particular, journalists.

When my school friends wanted to be nurses, actresses, singers or air hostesses, I secretly dreamed of being a reporter. I didn't know any reporters (maybe that's why!) Maybe what did it was seeing the idealised version on the big screen... even though films usually featured male reporters, such as Jimmy Stewart (Philadelphia Story), Gregory Peck (Roman Holiday), Walter Matthau (Front Page), Dustin Hoffman (All the President's Men). Since the only role model for me in films was Lois Lane (Superman's girlfriend), my adulation's a bit of a mystery to me now. After all, my friends saw the same films I did and none of them wanted to work on a newspaper.

When I was a student, I actually met a real reporter with his own by-line and, wonder of wonders, he took me to the cinema. I was overwhelmed and could hardly believe it. Little old me knowing a real reporter... whatever next?

I don't suppose my younger version had ever envisaged having articles printed in newspapers. Or ever imagined myself having a cup of tea with an editor and chatting away like equals... but there I was last week, dear readers, chatting away to your editor in his very own office. He's ever so nice and a pleasure to talk to and because I'm a big girl now, I wasn't a bit in awe of him. But however blas I've become, I still think being a writer is by far the best thing to be!