Selfless and open, freeing.

Like the froth on top of a hot chocolate.

When you’re younger you confuse love with chaos and passion and, as I’ve gotten older, I realise that love is the opposite: it’s peace and it feels safe, like home.

Magical, warm, but also butterflies.

When the surgeon told me I wouldn’t be able to play the cello again, in 2013. I have a herniated disc and it’s pressing on a nerve in my neck. I announced I was stopping playing in 2014. I absolutely did not want to stop.

When I was 16, I’d just won full scholarships to both the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music, and felt like the world was my oyster.

A detective, a train driver on the underground and Leyton Orient’s centre forward.

Seeing Leyton Orient in the premiership.

I’m president of my neighbourhood association. At my first meeting there was a discussion about developments the association should oppose. I said: “Nothing could be as bad as that horrible new house next to the church.” “I designed that,” the chairman replied. I shut up.

Our beautiful cat was so ill that we were hours away from having her put down. Somehow, we’ve managed to nurse her back to full health again.