I became a news presenter for Anglia TV. At last, I had found something I loved that other people thought I was good at. It was a huge relief. I had the best time and stayed for 12 happy years.

After Anglia, I embarked on a freelance broadcasting and writing career as a health journalist. I also became an agony aunt for various publications including TV Times, Best, BBC Parenting, The Scotsman and Woman. During these “problem page” years, I decided to train in integrative and cognitive behaviour therapy and worked part time as a psychotherapist in Harley Street, which continued for 20 years

Since 2007, I have become increasingly passionate about the concept of Positive Ageing and helping people to live life as well as possible for as long as possible. In 2010, I wrote Too Young to Get Old – the baby boomers guide to living life to the full. These days I write a weekly column on ageing well for six newspapers in East Anglia and I give around 20 talks a year to organisations such as Women’s Institute and U3A. I am also writing another book on what we can do to increase our health span.

I do my best to practise what I preach; I walk 20 miles most weeks and also do Pilates and ballet regularly.