Out of all the houses I have ever lived in there is only, truly one that is engraved in my memories. It was a farm far out in the country side. I remember when I first saw it: the glistening pool and tall overpowering black slate steps. Which lead to the huge glass French doors. The garden was just as wonderful as the house: the rich green grass, the huge leafy trees, the flowers. The flowers were so colourful reds, blues, yellows, purples, oranges all buzzing with insect life drawn there by the sweet, fresh smell.
The pool was in the centre of the garden and was of course the centre of me and my sister's attention. If I think back I can still see me and my sister paddling round the pool on her giant inflatable lobster, or diving for coins or anything else we could lay our hands on. It was a giant green leafy tree which branches stretched over the pool. This was the tree I climbed countless times and fell out of even more. That tree is also where me and my sister Mercedes, saw our first wild monkey, it was also the first tree I was pushed out of ( Mercedes was to blame as per usual). .
When I stand outside of the big glass door I have a feeling of warmth and security. I always loved my key as a child, although it was nothing special, it gave me a sense of belonging.
Inside there was a slight smoky smell badly disguised by potpourri with the sound of our house keeper Maria puttering about dusting. I always tried to avoid Maria because she would usually get angry and shout at me for not helping her or making a mess. Me and my sister both hated that so one day we decided to get our own back by making her what we called Scottish Herbal Tea (which she believed). This tea had various things in it, each especially chosen from what was in the cupboard. Some of these ingredients were marmite, cocoa powder, vinegar, orange juice, anchovies, and of course some milk and sugar. Maria, ignorant to what was in the tea, drunk a huge mouthful.
