As Evelyn Waugh penned 'The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder ', so too have I 'The Quirky and Inane Memories of Doctor Lucy Alford '. So, behold, a selection of random facts about me...
- My hero is George Mallory. His determination to succeed was inspirational. Perhaps admitting that I went to the University of Cambridge purely to follow my hero (albeit 100 years too late) is not the most academically respectable of admissions.
- Growing up, I was greatly inspired by the artwork of Bonnie Maclean and Wes Wilson. I now design psychedelic / art nouveau gig posters in my spare time.
- My two favourite songs are 'When the Levee Breaks' by Led Zeppelin and 'Hounds of Love' by Kate Bush.
- As a child I idolised Emma Peel from the Avengers (strong-willed physicist, what is not to like?). As a result I aspire to one day own a Lotus Elan so that I may whiz around the English countryside wearing a catsuit. Should I happen upon John Steed along the way, I would not complain.
- I have a nerdy collection of carnivorous plants, many of which I have grown from seed. Sarracenia leucophylla is my personal favourite.
- My husband is a rock guitarist and was quoted as being 'the best up and coming guitarist this century' in Classic Rock magazine. In 2017 he won the title of 'Best New Guitarist' by Total Guitar. In 2019 he was voted the 'Best Blues Guitarist' by Music Radar. He really is that good.
- I one day hope to climb Mount Elbrus and the Vinson Massif.
- My favourite TV programmes are Twin Peaks, The Avengers or Jonathan Creek. But I am also powerless to a British crime drama and Scooby Doo (I never claimed to be cool).
- Abereiddy in Pembrokeshire is my favourite place on earth.
- I love a good pub. My favourite pubs include The Sloop Inn (Porthgain), The Skirrid Mountain Inn (Abergavenny), The Turf Tavern (Oxford), The Lamb Inn (Great Rissington) and The Anchor (Cambridge).
- I was an extra in the Welsh soap Rownd-a-Rownd, even though I cannot speak Welsh (dwi'n hoffi coffi anyone?).
- I have also appeared in a music video for rock group The Answer although, disappointingly, this did not involve cartwheeling over the bonnet of a Jag. Maybe next time...
- My favourite animal is the damselfly Calopteryx splendens.
- I would like to invite Egon Schiele, Marc Bolan, Jean-Michel Basquiat and George Mallory to afternoon tea.
- If I could survive on Earl Grey tea and 85% dark chocolate alone, I probably would.
- After attempting to learn Serbian for almost a year, I can still only introduce you to my husband Zoran. Drago mi je. Da vas upoznam, ovo je moj muž, Zoran.