Becoming 60 – twenty more objects which have been wonderful in my life (part two)

As the big 6 0 approaches I’m sharing another ten objects/things/possessions that I have loved and love in my life.

Spring is my favourite season, so it makes sense that fresh flowers are significant to me. My camera roll is often full of flower photos. They add life to any room you enter so I try to always have some fresh flowers around the house. Ironically though, I have zero interest in gardening and just have few pot plants that I try not to kill each year. I often buy flowers for others too and I often expect close friends and family to know which flowers I love -and more importantly which ones I hate! Where has this come from? My Grandad, my Grampy Horler, was not a demonstrative man but he often brought me flowers when I was a child – often bluebells or tiny poses of violets which smelled divine. Fresh flowers remind me of being loved by someone who found expressing love difficult.

Honestly, anything that glitters earn a place in my life. My sparkly crocs are a clear example of this – equal parts comfort and chaos. I like to wear them to dress up any outfit and they’re completely outrageous, which I love. They are a complete ice breaker and whenever I’m wearing them people often stop to comment on how nice they are or to ask where I got them from – or they feel the need to tell me that they hate them (at least they’ve noticed).

Another object that I use daily is my car. It allows me to attend meetings and to help my daughter who is currently learning to drive. It literally keeps me on the move and I wouldn’t be able to work without it. Within my car, I keep a bag of mints. Anyone who has been inside it will know why I do this. As someone who is always meeting others, I need to have fresh breath. If I’m about to sit down with someone I need to feel approachable and my mints allow me to do this. It’s only a small thing but it is an essential item in my working day.

Then, there’s my Stanley cup. Like the mints, I need to be able to stay hydrated and I always have water or squash round me – I tried to cut out fizzy drinks some years ago. Whether attending Zoom calls or in person meetings I always have it with me. I’m convinced I drink more because of it and I like that it’s in purple, like my business logo!

Of course, some objects are not considered exciting or worth any attention, but they serve an important purpose. One of these objects would have to be my glasses. After contracting measles in childhood, my eyes became slightly deformed and this means I’m now terribly short-sighted. When this was spotted at the age of ten, I had my first ugly NHS glasses and the world came into focus. For some years I wore contact lenses but as I’ve got older, I need vari focals which would mean lenses with glasses anyway. So what’s the point? Without my glasses, I would not be safe.  They’re the first thing I reach for in the morning and the last thing I put down before bed so they have earned their place on the list.

Finally, there are the little sensory things that make life feel a bit nicer. My Nina Ricci perfume is one of them – it always makes me feel more put together. The smell is nostalgic and brings back many memories of Christmas. Two of my daughters also love the perfume and we often gift perfume to each other when we can. Again, not considered an essential to all but is an item that I enjoy. And then there are the Christmas baubles. I’m utterly addicted to them and probably have 100s.Anyone who visits our home around December, knows how much we enjoy lights and decorations. They remind me of festive chaos and cosy evenings. They also remind me of my childhood and anything that brings you small moments of joy in life must be celebrated.

Other things I love around my home include some artwork from local artists including Joanna May, David Bent and our own daughter Sammie. Most original artwork is beyond what we can afford but I believe art should be accessible to all and should bring you joy. We also have a wonderful picture painted by Steve’s uncle Jim. Art runs throughout the family and it’s something which adds depth and colour to our lives. Finally it’s our home itself in Swindon. When we moved in to our house in 1997, it felt so huge for two people and now we’ve filled it with love, laughter and a homely feel and we feel very blessed to live in our home. Yet it also reminds me that home is really where you live with yourself and your family – be it people or pets or both – that is the most important thing.

After all, it is the small things in life that add up to big things, isn’t it.

Next week – I’ll talk about 20 important people in my life…