Author Jilly jumps out of the fast lane

Jilly Cooper may have recently suffered a stroke but it doesn't seem to have slowed her down.

She still chats 20 to the dozen about all manner of things, including her health issues.

The highly successful author, who grew up in Ilkley and who has just published her 39th novel, suffered a TIA, or transient ischaemic attack.

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She brushes it aside as a nuisance. "I was just talking to Leo (her husband) and I felt dizzy and keeled over for a few minutes.

"I didn't really realise what had happened at first but, such is my vanity, I did rush to the mirror to check that I wasn't lop-sided or anything. Frankly, if it hadn't been for my son, Felix, I'd have ignored it. But he dragged me, virtually kicking, screaming and protesting, to the hospital."

She says in a matter-of-fact way: "They just cut you open and defur an artery, so I was only in overnight. I don't want anyone to think I'm on my way out because I'm certainly not. I'm fine again now."

But she admits reluctantly: "It was a shock though because I'd thought I was immortal and felt pretty well. I'm just terribly glad it was caught in time.

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"If they hadn't done the op, I would have had a one-in-three chance of dropping dead, but now it's down to around one in 10, which sounds much healthier. I've realised I have to slow up a bit and now, when I start panicking and getting too busy, I tell myself firmly, 'slow down, slow down'."

Jilly, 73, is delighted that she's lost weight following the operation and being on a diet to reduce her cholesterol and blood pressure.

"I've battled with my weight since I was a child. But recently I've lost nearly a stone and am now around eight-and-a-half stone, which isn't bad for my height of 5ft 6in.

"Although I really miss salt and bacon and cheese, my arms, which previously looked like elephant's legs, are now much better, so that's a compensation," she says.

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Leo suffers from Parkinson's Disease and the couple were unable to have children of their own. So they adopted two children, Felix, now 42, and Emily, 39.

"They're so wonderful – they look after Leo and me like mother hens, and they have four children between them who are a delight, and are always doing or saying something funny."

She says she's only ever had a seriously low mood and that was 20 years ago when her marriage was going through a difficult patch.

"A doctor told me I was depressed – I wasn't actually – but I was so pleased to get a diagnosis I cheered up enormously after that.

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"Nowadays, I can get a bit low over a horrible review. It can knock me sideways but I feel it's my duty to read them even when they say something like 'could try harder.'"

She looks far younger than her age. But she says modestly: "My mother was stunningly beautiful but, sadly, I didn't inherit her looks. I had terrible acne as a child and all I can think is the Lord rewards you for that pain by giving you greasy skin which is less inclined to wrinkle in old age.

"Basically, I've just got a jolly, round face that looks like a red Dutch cheese in the morning. I cover that up with a miracle foundation, and slather on moisturiser."

Jilly says: "The best piece of health advice I ever received was that 'woman are either very well or dead' – in other words, in most cases if you're well enough to moan about your health, you're probably all right."

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n JUMP! by Jilly Cooper, published by Bantam Press, 18.99 is out now. To order a copy from the Yorkshire Post Bookshop, call free on 0800 0153232 or go online at www.yorkshirepostbook

shop.co.uk. Postage and packing is 2.75.