The Undomestic Goddess

sometimes you don't need a goal in life, you don't need to know the big picture. you just need to know what you're going to do next!

There’s no such thing as ruining your life. Life’s a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.

If I've learned one lesson from all that's happened to me, it's that there is no such thing as the biggest mistake of your existence. There's no such thing as ruining your life. Life's a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.

My life has changed, and I'm changing with it.

Don't beat yourself up for not knowing the answers. You don't always have to know who you are. You don't have to have the big picture, or know where you're heading. Sometimes, it's enough just to know what you're going to do next.

A mistake isn’t a mistake unless it can’t be put right.

We're all confused, Samantha. We all need more time to think. That's life. Get over it.

That's the way it goes. Some things happen and some things don't. This one is obviously just wasn't meant to be. Except deep down... I still believe it was.

Great. Just great. One glimpse of his body and I have a full-blown crush. I honestly thought I was a bit deeper than that.

You don't always have to know who you are. Sometimes, it's enough just to know what to do next.

Our whole family thrives under pressure. It's like our family motto or something. Apart from my brother Peter, of course. He had a nervous break down. But the rest of us.

Um… yes,” I say desperately. “I was just wondering… could we possible put it off for a little bit? Just a few minutes.” Hilary’s face freezes. “What?” she says at last. I have a dreadful feeling she’s going to explode. “I feel a bit confused. I need more time to think…” I trail off at Hilary’s expression. She comes toward me and brings her face very close to mine. She’s still smiling, but her eyes are snapping and her nostrils flared and white. I take a step back, quailing, but she grabs my shoulders so hard I can feel her nails digging into my flesh. “Samantha,” she hisses. “You will go out there, you will read your statement, and you will say Carter Spink is the best law firm in the world. And if you don’t – I will kill you.” I think she’s serious.

Your job is obviously very pressured." "I thrive under pressure," I explain. Which is true. I've known that about myself ever since... Well. Ever since my mother told me when I was about 8.

You never know how things are going to turn out, however much you plan.

I don't know who I am any more. I have no bloody idea. ... I don't know who I am. Or what my goal is...or where I'm headed in life. Or anything

The streak of bleach in my hair is as obvious as ever. Am I really going out in public like this? I push my hair backward and forward a few times - but I can't hide it. Maybe I could walk along with my hand carelessly positioned at my head, as if I'm thinking hard. I attempt a few casual, pensive poses in the mirror. "Is your head all right?" I swivel round in shock to see Nathaniel at the open door, wearing a plaid shirt and jeans. "Er...fine," I say, my hand still glued to my head. "I was just..." Oh, there's no point. I bring my hand down from my hair and Nathaniel regards the streak for a moment. "It looks nice," he says. "Like a badger." "A badger?" I say, affronted. "I don't look like a badger." "Badgers are beautiful creatures," says Nathaniel with a shrug. "I'd rather look like a badger than a stoat.

You're so narrow-minded! You live in the same village you grew up in, you run the family business, you're buying a nursery down the road... you're practically still in the womb. So before you lecture me on the way to live my life, try living one of your own, OK?

Don’t beat yourself up for not knowing all the answers. You don’t always have to know who you are. You don’t have to have the big picture, or know where you’re heading. Sometimes it’s enough just to know what you’re going to do next.

Toda mi familia se crece con la presión. Es como el lema familiar, o algo así. Con la excepción de mi hermano Peter, desde luego, que sufrió una crisis nerviosa. Pero a los demás nos sienta de maravilla, en serio.

Además, todo el mundo sabe que los chinos viven más tiempo que nosotros, así que ¿cómo no va a ser saludable alimentarse de comida china? Y la pizza es mediterránea. Seguro que es más sana que muchas cosas que la gente toma en su casa.

It doesn’t matter,” she says, her voice soft. “Don’t beat yourself up for not knowing all the answers. You don’t always have to know who you are. You don’t have to have the big picture, or know where you’re heading. Sometimes it’s enough just to know what you’re going to do next.

His skin is so hard and rough, it’s like shaking a piece of tree bark.

I look along the endless line, squinting in the sunshine. I'm twenty-nine years old. I can go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone I like. "There's no rush," I say at last, and reach up to kiss him again.

That dream’s over,” I say shortly. “Partners don’t make fifty-million-quid mistakes.

Of course! I’m far more used to working with a … a … a Nimbus 2000.” Trish peers at me in surprise. “Isn’t that the broomstick out of Harry Potter?” Damn. I knew I’d heard it somewhere. “Yes … it is,” I say at last, my face flaming. “And also a well-known ironing board. In fact, I think the broomstick was named … er … after the ironing board.