A closer look

In tune The piano was bought on Trade Me from a man whose grandparents had brought it over from Germany – and he knew Brenchley. “He had babysat the seven boys who grew up there many years ago,” says Suzanne.

Collected together Suzanne has several collections of favourite objects. Here a Lladro figure, Italian Murano glass and a Gary Bowden vase share space with an antique lamp and some laughing buddhas found in Penang.

In the swing The grandfather clock is by Enfield, made in London in the 1920s. It was Richard’s 21st gift from his parents. It was damaged in the quakes and has just been repaired with new pendulums from the US.