10 Things Not Many People Know About Me

The lovely Philippa from 5ft inf has awarded me the 'Honest Scrap Award'. How exciting...it's always good fun to 'win' something! As the recipient of this award, I must now divulge ten things about myself that no-one else knows (well, not many people anyway). So here goes...


1. I have a green Blue Peter badge...for a letter I wrote into the programme about recycling.


2. My favourite era is the 1930s and '40s (ok, so you might have had a slight inkling about this already!)

3. I love bunting! I think it might have started at an early age...this is me at a street party for Charles and Diana's wedding (with my Mum and Nan). Mum cut the bottom off the skirt she's wearing to make a small-sized version for me!

4. My wedding dress was light pink and 1930s-inspired. It was the ultimate indulgence as I had it made by a couture designer. It fitted perfectly (and made me wish all of my dresses could be made especially for me!)

5. My family owned a paint works in Sunderland. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in May 1943, so we'll never know if we could have been as big as Farrow and Ball!

6. I just love vintage haberdashery. I have all sorts of things in my (ever growing) collection.

7. Things in my textiles collection include a pair of Pretty Polly silk stockings from the 1940s. They have a seam up the back and everything! I'd love to wear them, but I'm too afraid of snagging them.

8. I'm a Bakelite nut! I've collected all sorts of bakelite things over the years and I'm always on the look out for new additions. My latest acquisition is the brightly coloured pot (on the right). I saw it in the window of a local charity shop and rushed inside to buy it before anyone else spotted it!

9. I was the rather proud recipient of the school Textiles Cup in the Lower Fourth and got to keep the little trophy over the summer holidays. I was never sporty at school so this was the only trophy I've ever won!

10. One of my most treasured possessions is a letter from Miep Gies (who helped Anne Frank and her family in the Secret Annex). I've always loved writing letters and was thrilled to receive a lovely response from Miep when I wrote to her.

I had to include this photo as it captures something that made me chuckle yesterday. It's in the very picturesque village of West Wycombe. Do the owners of this house not use their front door, or is it a jolly wheeze to avoid door-to-door salesmen?!