I’ve had a varied life – born in Alderney, one of the smallest of the Channel Islands, we moved to England when I was just a baby so my memories of the island are based on summer holidays spent with grandparents.  Alderney was a safe place to be, everyone knows everyone and there is a real sense of community there.

We lived in Leigh on Sea, Essex for the first 4 years of my life, moving next to St. Annes on sea in Lancashire, then on to my beloved Norfolk when I was 11 years old.  Although I spent 3 years working in Paris and 7 years studying for a degree and PhD in Derby I have always returned to Norfolk.  My second love is Scotland and I hope to retire there one day, but that is many years away yet!

My working life started in banking, moving into accountancy after that.  It was at this point that I realised life is for living and I went to Paris for 3 wonderful years.  On my return I went into insurance, then worked as a secretary (with a difference!) for a kitchen firm.  When I say ‘with a difference’ it was very different to the office based roles I’d had previously.  I was often found in the workshop up to my elbows in wax, or helping one of the carpenters with some woodwork, I drove the lorries loaded with equipment and fittings to jobs all over the country, helped the fitters to fit the kitchens, and even painted or wax finished a good number of them!  For the rest of the time I took responsibiity for the office work, wages, letters etc, and I went out to photograph kitchens once they had been finished for our portfolio.  After 10 years in this job I went to Derby and took my degree in Youth Work, then moved on to a PhD.  I never finished the PhD (I still say it is ‘work in progress’!).

I went into Youth Work management for a while but disliked the lack of opportunities for face to face work with young people.  Managing youth projects is more about managing face to face workers than doing the work yourself.  After endless meetings with other youth work managers and very little contact with young people I decided to leave Derby and return to Norfolk.

On my return I bought an antiques centre, then opened another, then closed it, then bought another, then opened an art gallery, and in 2010 sold the gallery – so I now have 2 antiques centres in North Norfolk, and have been ‘in the trade’ for 12 years.

In addition to this I have had part time jobs (at the same time!) mostly in pubs and catering.  My ambition was always to be a hotel manager, but I never got that far!  I also now work part time for the local youth service.  Part time youth work is so much more satisfying as I am now the one doing the face to face work!

In my spare time I run the local Spiritualist group, play and internet game called ‘runescape’, eat out lots, and enjoy lots of time with friends.

I am now looking to expand my horizons and join the world of internet marketing.  Please join me on my journey.