5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Designer and TV presenter KEVIN McCLOUD, 57, lives in Frome, Somerset with his wife Suzanna. They have four grown-up children.
1 COFFEE MACHINE
A couple of years ago my best friend Jeremy, who knows how much I love good coffee, gave me a Handpresso, a nifty and portable espresso machine.
It’s a funny little device that looks like a cross between a bicycle pump and a torch but it makes the most wonderful espresso.
All you need to do is fill it with beans, pump it about 20 times and you have the perfect caffeine fix.
I take it everywhere. Nothing compares to the pleasure of drinking a steaming coffee on a beach, in a wood or even halfway up a mountain.
2 MY BELT
I have had my trusty leather belt since 1977 and can’t imagine ever replacing it. I even smother it with moisturiser every six months to keep it supple.
My belt has sentimental value as it has been with me my entire adulthood and has witnessed all the important events in my life.
A few years ago a craftsman, whom I was working with on a show, presented me with another belt. Hand-stitched, he had made it for me to mark the end of filming.
It was beautiful but I couldn’t part with my old belt so I gave it to one of my sons. He is now as attached to his belt as I am to mine.
3 RUCKSACKS
I have a whole range of different rucksacks – from the very smart leather bags I take to production meetings in London, to canvas varieties that I use for adventure.
My only requirement for the latter is that they need to have plenty of pockets and must be waterproof.
I can very happily cram my whole life into a bag. All I really need is my laptop, thermal underwear, waterproofs, a torch, toothpaste and I am good to go.
4 MY INHALERS
I developed asthma at the age of 16 and it has been a constant challenge ever since.
As a result of some truly frightening attacks I wouldn’t risk going anywhere without my reliever and preventer inhalers.
Asthma is a very odd and unpredictable affliction and it affected me so badly in my 30s that I had absolutely no energy.
I couldn’t touch alcohol as it always made me wheezy. But 12 years ago I was lucky enough to come under a wonderful consultant called Dr John Costello who completely changed my treatment plan.
Now I feel really well and although I still need my inhalers, I can drink again and feel full of vigour.
5 HANDKERCHIEFS
My dad had an obsession with clean shoes and nicely pressed handkerchiefs and I seem to have inherited both afflictions.
I always have a handkerchief with me, not just to wipe my nose but also for cleaning up spillages and rescuing damsels in distress.
I normally order handkerchiefs online as they are quite hard to get hold of now. Most people have gone over to the dark side of tissues.
Recently I was delighted to find a pack of new silk handkerchiefs in Oxfam – for only £3.99. It was like discovering hidden treasure.
Kevin will be appearing at Grand Designs Live from April 29 to May 7 at London ExCel. Visit granddesignslive.co.uk for tickets.