I visited my friend XiXi’s home country of China in 2010, and together we took silly photos in a photo booth in Nanjing. She was murdered by her boyfriend in 2016, and I wore the photos to her funeral as a necklace. Only eight people attended because her family wanted to stay away from the… Continue reading A photo keyring
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A cap
My Grandad’s blue Hollister cap. When Grandma bought it for him, she told Grandad how much I would love it. I now have that cap hanging on my wardrobe door. Every now and then I pick it up just to hold it. The inside still smells of him and in my mind, I’m hugging my… Continue reading A cap
A tarnished silver cameo necklace
It isn’t really a true cameo, but silver shaped like the side of a woman’s face and a swirl around the outside. The chain is very, very long and when I wear it the pendant sits halfway between my chest and my belly button, which is far lower than it probably ought to. But I… Continue reading A tarnished silver cameo necklace
a pottery plate my mother made, which I recently broke
I used to use it as my breakfast plate every day until last month I dropped it and the rim broke. I bought some ceramic glue on the internet to stick the small pieces back on but it was tricky and there are gaps where I didn’t fit the bits back right. I’m trying to… Continue reading a pottery plate my mother made, which I recently broke
Two coat hangers
They are bright pink, plush and hideous, with empowering slogans emblazoned across them: “You’re gorgeous!”. They are too short and thick to hang anything properly. But every time I consider getting rid of them, I remember that they were a gift from my late Grandpa, who was stubborn, rude, loud and brilliant. This makes me… Continue reading Two coat hangers
Writing in a notebook
My dad was a barrister. He stood up in court and, in his stuttering speech, prosecuted people who contravened Customs and Excise laws. In a random notebook (of which my mum refused to throw away any, including old diaries from the 1930s – unwritten in) was one page that was written on in my dad’s… Continue reading Writing in a notebook
Teeny tiny spoons
They’re really small, and all the colour has gone, but they are perfect. I keep them in the box they came in, with the note saying you wanted them to come to me.
a pair of white Birkenstocks
Given to me before he passed in return for ruining my trainers at Glastonbury. I wore them for 6 months in Asia and both have been superglued back together but then he passed away. I can’t seem to get rid of them.
A shiny silver vase.
It was a Christmas present from my best friend, and while it isn’t something I would have chosen for myself, it has had a home wherever I have lived since. My friend was one of the shiniest, friendliest people I have ever known, so while she is no longer with me, the vase is an… Continue reading A shiny silver vase.
My Grandma’s Dressing Table
When I was little, I would go and stay with my Grandma. She would give me and my sister her bedroom to sleep in as she only had a one bedroom flat and she would sleep on the sofa. her dressing table was pride of place in the room and in it’s kidney shape beauty… Continue reading My Grandma’s Dressing Table