In 2003 while I was researching A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian I posted an appeal on a Russian family-search website (www.vgd.ru) asking for information about my family. To my astonishment, I got three replies. This is the story of how I met up with my Ukrainian family.

A short history of tracking down my family in Ukraine http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2005/oct/16/ukraine.generalfiction.observerescapesection

OK, I admit I have some funny hobbies.

So, I’m a skip addict - avocado bath suite, anyone? http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23714626-details/So%2C+I%27m+a+skip+addict+-+avocado+bath+suite%2C+anyone/article.do

Why saying goodbye is so very hard…

After 14 years together, my mossy old motor and I have finally reached the end of the road

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/sep/18/comment.comment

Why is comedy still seen as a male preserve? Is being funny ‘unfeminine’ – in fact should women be attempting to write comedy at all?

Now take that Jane Austen, what a laugh she washttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1878528.ece

George Eliot wrote with passion and a strong moral commitment. My introdcution to The Mill on the Floss (link below) quotes her famous polemic on the ‘emphasis of want’ which marks her out as a great political writer, as well as a great story teller. It’s one of my all-time favourite paragraphs of English Literature.

Introduction to The Mill on the Floss

Tolstoy

This year is the anniversary of Tolstoy’s death. A number of contemporary writers, including me, contributed to this piece in the Guardian about his lasting influence.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010/jan/06/leo-tolstoy-greatest-writer

Shopping at Oxfam

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content/books/author-marina-lewycka.html