This time ten years ago, I was painting my stand at the Spirit of Christmas fair, my friends Harry and Anty, my sister Liv and brother-in-law Tom all rolling away...

The inspiration for this vase came from two places: Dutch Old Masters and the streets of Burma. A curious combination.But isn't that life? Random threads often combining in delightful ways.

Somebody once said to me that people rarely notice the curtains in a hotel room. They won't see the carpet, or the headboard. They'll know if the bed is comfy,...