This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
This week we are featuring Amanda Assheton as our Woman of the Week. Amanda is the founder of the successful online company Bridge in the Box.
Family life & career I am married to John, with three children (actually Cost Centres, they are 18 and up!) and together he and I run The Mullet Press (click here) and I have my own company, Bridge in the Box (click here). I love my work, it enables me to indulge in my love of colour, design and new product development. I am a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and am the only female ‘maker’ in the Company. A highlight for me, was the honour of being given the ‘freedom of the City of London’. But in general, a happy customer, who rings up to say how much they loved their parcel is the best thing.
What age do you feel right now? Funnily enough, I was just chatting about this exact thing the other day with a girlfriend. I don’t really feel any age. But I do feel content in that I know what I like and what I don’t. I am happy to do my own thing and don’t really mind what others might think. I like doing the occasional challenge (cycling Lands End to John O Groats) and I’m sure some people might think I am a bit mad!
Where you would like to live? I’m lucky enough to love living where I am – in a cottage in north Oxfordshire with a cottage garden (I love my gardening – we have little garden ‘rooms’ with different places to sit, depending on where the sun is!) We used to live in London – I love to visit the city to see an exhibition or go to the theatre but then I love coming back home.
What do you like to do in your free time? Reading, walking, cycling, cooking and seeing and doing new things. My new challenge is going wild skating in Sweden in January, so I am busy learning to skate properly!
What are your fashion stand-bys? My favourite shop is Zara, they have a good website, deliveries are efficient as are returns. Their stock changes regularly and they are priced reasonably. Most useful items in my wardrobe are a really good pair of navy trousers and a white shirt (both from Zara).
What is your favourite app/website? What I really adore is how good the camera is on an iPhone. I can take pictures of our products and post them online.
Top beauty product It is a scent from Sisley, called Eau de Campagne – I love it and wear it everyday.
Your best beauty tip I do think the good old fashioned ‘drink lots of water and get enough sleep’ makes all the difference – and a good moisturiser for the backs of your hands!
Do you cook? I love cooking. I tend not to follow recipes but get inspiration from them, tweaking them to adjust to what I have actually got in the fridge! Nigel Slater is my favourite cook. He writes in a very inspirational way, generally using only a few ingredients and always buys seasonal produce.
Favourite food and/or drink All my family would say avocado – I’m amazed I don’t look like one. Mixed with wasabi on toasted sourdough and a delicious glass of chilled Voignier is my idea of heaven.
What do you read? Oh lord, all sorts of things. So, I don’t have a specific genre I love. Currently re-reading the Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard.
What do you love to watch on TV? Scandi crime has to be a favourite. But love this time of year when Wimbledon is on; essence of British summertime.
What music do you like? All sorts of things – our youngest son is good at giving me playlists to listen to. Favourite artist: Emilia Mitiku.
What can’t you live without? My family – even though we are generally spread all over the place doing different things, we meet up often, chat often and tell each other our adventures.
Who are you grateful to? My wonderful friends, who are constant, kind, inspiring, thoughtful and wise. Playing bridge with girlfriends after supper is one of the most cathartic things to do.
Your top tip for #womenover50 Enjoy every moment – whether it’s that first sip of coffee, cooking something everyone in the family says is delicious, finding a flower has just come into bloom which you thought never would, a lovely bath, or drifting off to sleep in a comfortable bed.
Did you read Woman of the Week: BackPacking Granny? Click here if you’d like to