Im not publicly known for my sentimentality. Im of course very public about almost everything else. I confess I lost my virginity to a man twice my age amongst the football fields of Hagley Park. The only distinguishing feature of this experience was the irony of his forearm tattoo that said ‘with love’. I hardly think this is an exceptionally personal confession. Its utterly unremarkable. Except every time I sign off ‘with love’ it prompts me to remember the metallic scent of freshly churned soil. The smell of iron.