Benedict has until now been my little secret - I'm always Ben to my family, friends and anyone who asks, Benedict only to the electoral register and the DVLA. The sounds "-ed" and "-ict" generally lie unused, like the empty wings of a decrepit stately home.

BBC: Growing up as a Benedict

But my dirty little secret is that I don't particularly enjoy birding in Central Park and have only done so once or twice.

WSJ: Park Filmmakers Wing It

When I meet someone I think I might like to know better, my secret is to share something about myself that is both personal and maybe a little embarrassing or self-deprecating (I often tell people that I am divorced.) That tends to spark their curiosity and open them up.

WSJ: Advice for Making New Friends: Share But Don't Overshare