A nervous breakdown

That might sound harsh to someone in the throes of one right now, and some end terribly for people. But mine, 22 years ago, for all that it was hell at the time, led to a positive turning point, and I am convinced I could have not have survived ten years in frontline politics without having already been tested to the limit.

Crying

When my diaries came out, some people were surprised how often I let off emotional steam with tears. Maybe it’s my depression coming out. But I am a regular weeper. Not just at films and books, but memories of sad or uplifting events. I last cried – tears of joy – earlier this month when Burnley beat Chelsea. We were standing in front of the mother of Burnley’s Michael Duff. He took what turned out to be our winning sudden-death penalty. I think her emotion got to me, as well as adrenaline that made me worry I would pass out. When I watched the highlights later, my eyes filled up.

Knowing the difference between strategy and tactics

Successful organisations are strategic and tactical. Weak organisations are tactical. Obama was both. McCain was not. Palin was a tactic posing as a strategy and it deserved to go wrong.

Being able to play the bagpipes

Like most kids learning a musical instrument because their parents want them to, at times I hated it, but I am really glad I stuck with it. As a student it helped supplement my grant when I busked across Europe. I have a charity party piece where I get an audience to pay for me to play, then ask for double to get me to stop.

Swearing a lot

I accept that I swear far too much, but I just don’t buy this line that it’s a sign of a limited vocabulary. I have an extensive vocabulary but swear words are an important part of it. I spent my teenage summers on an uncle’s farm and once heard him say, as he failed to get a tractor to work, “F*** it, the f*****’ f*****s f*****’ f***** tae f*****y.” I refuse to accept that this was anything other than a brilliant piece of communication.

A thick skin

Handy if you’ve been compared with Hitler, Goebbels and Rasputin.

Sometimes changing my mind

I used to think jogging was a ludicrous activity, but once I started running I couldn’t stop. I have also never liked dogs, but our daughter made us get one, and although I still don’t like most dogs I do like ours and understand why other people like theirs.

Thinking there’s more to life than money

I have a golden rule – if you think there is a potential clash between cash and reputation, go for reputation every time. So all those reality TV shows have to bite the dust. It was also what stopped me serialising my diaries, The Blair Years. I was well paid for the book but could have got a lot more from serialisation. It felt wrong and was losing me sleep.

Trying new things

I am amazed that I have written a novel, and am now well on the way to finishing a second. I have been even more amazed by how much I enjoyed it. You get to control everything.

Alastair Campbell discusses his novel, All in the Mind (Hutchinson, £17.99), on November 26 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1 (tickets, 0871 6632500)