Money comes and goes, but time just goes - so time is most valuable'

The first time my heart was

broken ...

I was 20, at university and dating a 28-year-old PhD student. I thought I was in the clutch of the greatest romance. Then in the changing room after an exercise class a girl came up to me and said: "Are you dating 'blah'? So am I ..." I collapsed onto the floor sobbing. I was such an innocent.

The wisest thing my grandmother told me ...

"Chin up." Nana Mary had a tough life, she lost two sons and was divorced in the days when people simply didn't do that. My grandfather came home from the war, couldn't settle and left. He went to the shop one day and never came home. I never heard her complain about anything though. She was an amazing woman.

The biggest adversity I have overcome ...

My own personal sense that if things are going well, then I'm going to pay for it later. I always played down success. Finally my husband, who is a massively positive person, said: 'If you do believe in karma, you are doing a bad thing to the universe because you are not accepting the joys and pleasures when they come along.' So, I have kicked that into touch now.

My motto for life ...

Money comes and goes, but time just goes - so time is most valuable.

My soul mate is ...

My husband, Jim. We have been together for 10 years and married for eight. He is probably the only person in the world that knows everything about me. I always feel comfortable with him. He is incredibly supportive.

Not many people know that ...

I have a geek streak. I know every royal fact you could possibly think of.

The most inspiring book I've read was ...

Once In A House On Fire by Andrea Ashworth. It's a memoir of her life growing up in Manchester. She had the most horrific childhood, her dad died when she was five and she had two stepfathers both of whom were abusive. She went on to go to Oxford and become the youngest research fellow in the university's history. It isn't a misery memoir – it's an inspirational story.

If ever I feel lonely ...

I write - or I go and disturb my husband.

What I look for in a friend is ...

Loyalty, honesty and intelligence.

The first person I ring first when I'm upset is ...

My mum.

I believe the secret to a strong relationship is ...

Honesty and respect. Lusting after them is crucial too.

Something I wish I'd done earlier ...

I wish I'd done things slower.

My all-time favourite YouTube clip ...

A kitten being tickled. .

My childhood hero was ...

Elizabeth the First. What I loved as a kid was that she was the only single, female role model I ever came across. I was fascinated too by the size of their skirts and wondered how they washed them.

The place I most like to call home ...

My bed at home. My husband, our son and I love our duvet days.

About Last Night by Adele Parks is published in paperback by Headline Review today, priced £7.99