She frightened the life out of me when she interviewed me for a job in 1997 at The University of Dundee. Brusque, quick witted, direct, challenging. I've since learned how to manage her - unless she's having one of her brusque, quick witted, direct and challenging days that is!

In terms of our writing partnership, we're like two interlocking pieces of a jigsaw which have totally different shapes and colours but fit together to make an interesting picture, each needing the other to complete the image. She's innovative, high energy, analytical and decisive. In true Welsh fashion she isn't slow to sing her own praises. I'm more organised, slower and less confident, yet perceptive and a good completer finisher.

She's a keen cook. I keep the paperwork in order. We make an effective team and have developed a working partnership over twelve years of research, teaching and writing.

What always matters to us is that we produce a quality product, tailored to our audience, whether that be a group of practice managers in a workshop on devising protocols or the readership of the Fate magazine, for whom we are currently drafting an article.

Our taste in books can diverge markedly (Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey - she loved it; I couldn't finish it) and our respective writing styles differ too. We had to make a conscious effort, at times, to aim for a middle ground with Eight of Cups or it might have become very obvious who had written what. So far, no-one has raised the issue as problematic.

I won't pretend to understand her love of horses, and she definitely doesn't share my enthusiasm for The King of Rock and Roll. However, in spite of that, or maybe because of our differences, we have great fun together and have supported each other in difficult times too.

She'll want me to edit this no doubt!!