You're the One That I Want (34 page)

For this I’m going to add a few spots that’ll mean nothing to others, but a lot to me … but obviously there’ll be the standard romance-inducing settings too!

Paris

There’s a reason why Paris is known as the most romantic spot in the world – and that’s because it unquestionably is! Everything is in walking distance and there’s nothing better than walking hand-in-hand with the one you love down those Parisian streets – stopping for macaroons or putting your padlock on the ‘Love Lock’ bridge.

Sylvia Young Theatre School (the old building that’s now owned by someone else)

This has to be on the list because I met my husband there fifteen years ago and it’s also where he proposed. You just never know when you’re going to meet the love of your life, or how things may pan out in your future …

One Marylebone, London

This is where I got married, so I think it’s worthy of a place on this list as it holds a whole heap of magical, beautiful and romantic memories. If I could live one day over and over, it would have to be my wedding day!

Jade Mountain, St Lucia

This was one of our honeymoon destinations, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Full of wonder, luscious beauty and zen … I’d love to go back – maybe for our ten-year anniversary!

Walt Disney World, Florida

Yes, to some it might appear to be just a theme park, but really it’s so much more. It’s a place where magical dreams and imagination come alive. Plus, what’s more romantic than running around with your partner without a care in the world as you giddily smile at anyone who glances in your direction? This was the second stop on our honeymoon, and that’s basically what we did. ;-)

The Maldives

I’ve never been, but it’s somewhere I REALLY want to go one day. Just the thought of being somewhere so quiet and tranquil in a little hut over the water … ahh! Delicious!

Byrant Park, New York City

I actually discovered this wonderful little park on my own when my husband was off having a meeting, but I took him back there later on. It’s simply gorgeous with its outdoor library and copious amounts of places to eat and drink. A glorious setting for lovers or happy people!

The cliffs next to Griffith Park, just north of Dee Why, Sydney, Australia

I don’t know the actual name for this location – but short of giving you its co-ordinates, the above description is the best I can do. I spent five weeks in Australia at the start of 2008 and had a gorgeous picnic in the sunshine here (although we did get a puncture driving to it).

The Ivy, London

I just love this place so much… it’s where we tend to go every anniversary. We’re creatures of habit – once we know we like somewhere, we tend to stick to it!

Venice, Italy

I used to go to Venice all the time as a child. However, it’s not somewhere I’ve ever been as a couple. It’s quite similar to Paris in the sense that it’s all about walking down little streets, eating great food and drinking lovely wine. It sure sounds romantic!

Aside from my husband, family and friends …

Smiles

Just like yawns spread, so do smiles. I can guarantee that if you smile at a stranger it’s highly likely that they’ll pass that smile on to someone else … how lovely.

Hugs

Not from strangers (that’s just weird), but there’s nothing better than a good old hug from a friend or Hey, maybe I’ll start up a hugging club … want to join?

Chocolate

Any type of chocolate makes me happy; that is a simple fact that I cannot shake. But if I had to say one type in particular, I’d have to go with Ferrero Rocher – I find them highly addictive and regularly need to hide them from myself if they’re in the house. I’d actually go as far as to say that Ferrero Rocher is one of the best things about Christmas as we always have them in a big bowl in the centre of the coffee table … I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who munches through them!

Nutella

Ahhhhhh … Some might be dubious about the inclusion of hazelnut spread on this list – but it seriously makes me happy. I could eat it by the spoonful. That’s actually how I reward myself after a good day of writing – around four or five o’clock I head into the kitchen, deliriously salivating as I pull out a spoon and reach for my little jar of heaven. Ha!

Elderly People

Okay, this might sound like an odd thing to include, but there’s nothing lovelier than taking some time to talk to an elderly person. They’re more experienced in this game called life than the lot of us – and such conversations (which always seem to be naughtier than I’m expecting) always leave me with a smile on my face.

Children

Yes, from one extreme to the other. I love children. They’re so innocent, truthful and funny. If I’m at a wedding I’d much rather hang out with the children, pulling the craziest moves I can muster, than being all civilized with the adults.

Music

Music is so emotive and freeing – whether you’re bashing (some sort of) rhythm out on the drums or screaming along to your favourite band as you do the hovering. It’s fantastic. Obviously there are happy songs and sad songs, but bizarrely even the sad songs make me happy … funny how they do that. Sometimes wallowing in self-pity is actually quite nice. As long as it’s not a regular thing, of course!

Cats

When people are sick and tired of you giving them hugs (it’s happened) you can always count on a feline friend to sacrifice themselves for your pleasure. Judging by their purring they get a lot out of it too!

Pictures

Whilst I believe that people should make the most of every moment and not be looking at life through a camera lens, capturing special moments is so wonderful. I have loads of photos around my home of my loved ones laughing and being silly – or places that hold a specific meaning. Catching glimpses of them really helps to brighten my day.

Books

From a very young age I’ve been happiest when my nose is buried in a big book. I love reading about people’s relationships, about their hopes and fears, their dreams and aspirations … books are wonderfully inspirational and I couldn’t imagine my life without them!

I haven’t included cake … but I love cake. Cake makes me VERY happy. If a cake happens to be reading this, don’t you worry your fluffy little insides – I love you millions. My love for you knows no bounds. My love for you is limitless.

AND SEEING TWO MAGPIES! This is something that makes me SUPER happy … seeing one just turns me into a crazy nutter.

When I was four years old, all I ever wanted was to have a weeing Tiny Tears doll. I’d never been into dolls really, but when my best friend was given one for her birthday I decided that a doll that cries actual tears and wets itself was exactly what my life lacked. After hassling my parents for a few weeks they eventually caved in – although, if I’m honest, it captured my attention for about a week and then the poor thing was left in a puddle of her own mess (oops!). I have no idea what became of her, but I’m guessing my mum sold her at a car boot sale or something similar.

When I was eight years old all I ever wanted was to appear on
Live and Kicking
and dance with Mr Blobby. There was something about that big dopey pink and yellow spotted blob that had me entranced for hours. Sadly, my desire never came true – but I still hold my Mr Blobby cuddly toy as one of my most treasured possessions and he happily accompanies me to bed every night (despite his missing eye).

When I was ten years old all I ever wanted was to be a Spice Girl. I used to drive my mum and dad crazy, running around the house, shouting out the lyrics to
Wannabe
whilst performing a little dance routine I’d made up. I was constantly putting my hand on my hip and swinging it out to the side, making a peace sign with my other hand and shouting ‘Girl power!’ as loud as I could. I loved them so much that I even named my goldfish Ginger after
Geri – my favourite Spice. I was devastated when she decided to leave. The Spice Girls with no Ginger just wasn’t the same, and so my passion to become one of them simply ended (after crying my eyes out for hours, of course).

At some point that extrovert little girl who used to sing to anyone who would listen and dance without a care in the world, became painfully shy and bashful. I suddenly became less confident at school and around other people – preferring the company of a good book to an actual human. It’s bizarre how everything changed; at primary school I was the girl everyone wanted to befriend, but by secondary school I had become awkward and tried my best to avoid everyone. I hated attention, people asking me questions or putting me in the spotlight; I preferred to blend into the background unnoticed. I felt safer that way. On the odd occasion that anyone would attempt to hold eye contact with me I’d usually end up shaking like a leaf or turning bright red, causing me to stare at the floor for the rest of the day. Actually, I did have one friend, Mary Lance, who was equally as socially inept as I was. I say we were friends – but in reality we hardly ever talked to each other, so I guess she was more like a silent partner. It was just nice to have someone by my side at lunchtimes or in class, someone who wouldn’t pry into my life. I think we took comfort in the fact that we weren’t alone.

At the end of my A levels, when the rest of my year had either secured a place at university (Mary went off to study dentistry at Sheffield) or planned to take a gap year so that they could travel the world, I was still unsure of what I wanted from life. I decided to join those taking a gap year, although not to travel. Wandering aimlessly around the globe and experiencing what the world had to offer did have its appeal, but I just wasn’t quite ready to leave
my home or my mum at that point. I was simply going to stay in my home village of Rosefont Hill, deep in the Kent countryside, and get a little job to tide me over until I decided what I wanted to do with my days.

I started my job hunt by dropping off my CV in the village shops – there weren’t and aren’t that many to target. We have a bank, a library, a post office, Budgens, a florist, a few clothes shops, a hardware store, a café and a teashop … hardly the most riveting high street ever! The last place I entered was Tea-on-the-Hill, perched on the hill’s peak, with great views over the rest of the village.

As I entered the teashop, my eyes wandered over the seven tables covered in mismatched floral print tablecloths, each surrounded by two or three chairs – all different shapes and designs. The cups, saucers and teapots being used by the customers were also contrasting in their patterns. Absolutely nothing matched, but bizarrely it all fitted together perfectly. The smell of freshly baked scones filled my nostrils and 1950s jazz played softly in the background. I was staring at a secret little den for women – why had I never been in here before?

Flying around the room was a woman who I guessed was in her sixties. Her grey hair was set in a big rollered quiff at the front, with the rest of her curls held in underneath a net. I watched her dart between customers – taking orders, bringing out food and stopping briefly for a little natter here and there. She continued to keep a calm smile on her face, even though it was clear that she was running the shop alone.

I stood at the counter and waited for her to come over, which she eventually did whilst wiping her hands dry on her pink floral apron, which covered a glamorous light blue dress underneath.

‘Hello there, dearie. Sorry about the wait. What can I get you?’ she asked, with a broad smile and kind blue eyes.

In the previous shops I’d walked into I had just wanted to throw my CV into the manager’s hands and then bolt for the door, instantly feeling uncomfortable as panic started to consume me, but there was something about this woman that had me rooted to the spot. I even held her eye contact for a few brief moments and almost felt comfortable doing so.

‘Actually, I came to drop off my CV,’ I said, as I fumbled through my bag and pulled out a freshly printed one. The lady took it from my hands and casually glanced over it.

‘Have you ever worked in a shop before?’ she asked, squinting at the paper.

‘Yes, a florist’s,’ I said quietly.

‘So you already know how to greet customers with a friendly smile?’

I nodded politely as I felt her scrutinize me from head to toe, the smile still plastered on her heavily wrinkled face.

Perhaps I should have told her at this point that I’d spent most of my time there washing dirty buckets in the back room out of sight and not with the customers at all; but before I could speak up she’d moved on.

‘How many hours are you looking for?’ she asked.

I hadn’t thought this far ahead, but one glimpse around the room told me that I’d gladly spend a lot of time here. ‘As many as you can give me.’

‘And – one last thing – do you like cake?’

‘I love it,’ I said, giving her a nervous smile.

‘Good to hear! You’re hired. You’ve come in at a very good
time actually, my last waitress unexpectedly quit yesterday – with no explanation!’

‘Really?’

‘Sadly, yes … although she was a grumpy chops so I’m not too bothered. I’m Molly, by the way.’

‘I’m Sophie.’ I offered my hand for her to shake but she looked at the hand, grabbed it and pulled me in for a warm hug instead. I can remember actually gasping at the intimacy, as it wasn’t something I was used to. At first I felt rigid and stiff but once the shock had subsided it became strangely calming and pleasant.

‘Now, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?’ she asked softly, releasing me from her embrace.

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders.

‘Great, let’s class this as your first day, then.’ She slid a tray with a pot of tea and a cup and saucer in my direction. ‘Go take that to Mrs Williams, the lady in the cream blouse with the purple rinse to the left – the one with her nose buried in Bella. I’ll go dig you out an apron.’

Picking up the tray I made my way over to Mrs Williams and carefully placed the pot of boiling tea in front of her. She lowered her magazine and peered up at me over the top of her glasses; I instantly recognized her from out and about in the village.

‘You’re new here,’ she stated.

‘Yes, I’ve just started. Literally.’

‘You live in Willows Mews, don’t you? Your mum’s that lovely lady at the library.’

‘That’s right,’ I nodded, shyly.

‘Aw, she’s ever so kind – always helps me take my books
home. I’ve got greedy eyes when it comes to books, you see!’ She let out a childlike chuckle and screwed her eyes shut. ‘Send her my love then, won’t you, darling,’ she said, whilst pouring out a cup of tea and stirring in two sugars.

‘Will do, Mrs Williams,’ I said, as I walked back to Molly at the counter.

‘You’re Jane May’s daughter?’ Molly asked.

‘That’s right,’ I said, with a slight nod.

‘I thought so. Well if you’re anything like her then I’m lucky to have you on board,’ she said with a kind smile as she held out her hand and gave me an apron.

My first day working in the teashop whizzed by in a blur – there was one hairy moment when a plate managed to slip out of my hand, fly through the air and smash rather loudly into a billion pieces, causing me to blub dramatically – but other than that it went quite smoothly.

My gap year flew by before I’d even had a chance to think about what I wanted to do next, and so I extended it to two years … then three years … then four, until I suddenly realized that I had no desire to go to university at all; I was happy where I was, and am still just as happy eight years later.

Although I’d started as a waitress, Molly put a lot of faith in me and taught me all she knew about baking cakes and service with a smile. Every day we bake fresh scones, muffins and cakes, and experiment with new recipes, whilst putting the world to rights. At sixty-six years old Molly is continually being told by her doctor that she should be slowing down and starting to take things easy – but she’s not one to listen.

I didn’t just find a passion and career path when I stumbled
upon Tea-on-the-Hill that day; I also found a best friend. Looking back now, I know Molly had an inkling of who I was as soon as I walked into the shop. I also believe that, knowing who I was, there was no way she would turn me away without helping me, because it’s in her nature to help those in need of healing; and I certainly needed some of that.