Up early? I get up at eight o’clock. My wife, Clare, and I listen to the BBC World Service on the radio all night and I know when eight o’clock comes because little beeps go off in my ear. Sometimes I wake in the morning having dreamed of a wonderful idea for a story, ask Clare what she thinks… and she’ll tell me the story was on the radio.
How do you relax? I’ll read and listen to a piano or violin concerto in the sitting room – my favourite composer is Mozart – or I mightwatch football. I don’t follow a particular team, but I care about teams that are doing surprisingly well.
Sunday lunch? We might go up to the pub in the village, where I was inspired to write War Horse, after talking to a First World War veteran, Wilfred, who I saw sitting by the fire. It’s the only pub that has changed my life. I’ll order roast beef. I don’t eat meat nearly as often as I used to, but at the pub on a Sunday it feels right.
Sunday afternoon? I go for a walk and always take the same route. I know every inch of the ground, every gate. I like the rhythm of walking, of being out in the countryside. My greatest joy is seeing a kingfisher flashing by, so fast you think you’ve imagined it, this wonderful speck of light like an arrow going down the middle of the river. It fills you with enough joy to keep you going for at least three weeks.
Sunday tipple? We’ve started drinking non-alcoholic Guinness. It’s absolutely brilliant; tastes exactly like a Guinness, but you don’t feel heavy- legged afterwards.
Sunday wind-down? My wife will read a book and I’ll watch Would I Lie to You?, which is the only TV programme I really want to be on, because I’m a seriously good liar. We’re in bed by nine, listening to the radio or reading The New Statesman – except when we have family to stay for the weekend. Then our lives are turned topsy-turvy and we do a lot of talking, drinking, playing games and messing about with the children. Those are the great weekends. The ones that are filled with family.
Michael Morpurgo’s Tales from Shakespeare, the author’s retelling of 10 Shakespeare plays for children (HarperCollins, £20), is available from guardianbook shop.com for £17.60
