ME…. AND MY HOUSEKEEPING!

Singer Kim Wilde on her music-filled home, mastering the art of micro-tidying and gardening in her pyjamas Kim lives in Hertfordshire with her husband, actor and writer Hal Fowler, their children, Harry, 23, and Rose, 21, and dogs Beau and Misty.

I see housework as a gym activity

How would you describe your home? There’s usually music playing somewhere: upstairs from Rose’s boyfriend working on his university music course, Rose watching musician Jacob Collier on TV, Harry playing guitar or Jeff Buckley albums, Hal rehearsing old English folk songs by George Butterworth, and me grooving to anything from Tom Aspaul’s Black Country Disco to old Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It’s fair to say it’s a pretty noisy home, especially when the dogs start barking, too!

How tidy is it? It’s rarely tidy. I see housework as a gym activity; it’s the same with gardening. At the moment, the garden is very tidy at the expense of the house. In winter, it’s the other way around. What are your kitchen cupboard must-haves? Tinned tomatoes, basmati rice, all types of flour, dried chilli flakes and Colman’s mustard. Would you rather cook for friends or eat out? Cook for friends, especially alfresco in our beloved garden.

What is your signature dish? I often cook Ottolenghi recipes. I love his roast cauliflower, chickpea and currant basmati rice with crispy fried onions. What do you always have in your fridge?

Semi-skimmed milk, Cheddar cheese, prunes and carrots (the dogs have a carrot for breakfast every day). What food can’t you live without?

Porridge. I eat it most mornings. What is your guilty pleasure? Chocolate.

I like rose and violet creams. Who are your dream dinner party guests? My besties. I really missed them during the lockdowns and we got so tired of Zoom calls! What is the best bargain you’ve ever

found? There is literally no better bargain to be found than a packet of seeds. What is your biggest extravagance?

Stage clothes. I’ve only really indulged in bespoke costumes over the past five years or so; I have some amazing ones ready for my upcoming gigs, thanks to Wendy Benstead: Costume and Clothing. What did your parents teach you? To trust my instincts. What is your best time-saving tip?

Micro-tidying. Every day, do a small hell hole here and a patch of weeds there. I did that throughout the lockdowns and now have a fantastic (almost) weed-free garden and a house that doesn’t overwhelm me every time I walk into a room. Are you a hoarder or a chucker?

I’m a recycler, if possible, veering towards a chucker. What is your favourite household task? Anything that creates order from chaos! What always lifts you out of a mood? Music and gardening. In fact, I’ve combined them both recently by listening to an old album called Ram by Paul and Linda Mccartney while weeding in my pyjamas! What keeps you awake at night?

Creative planning. Anything from tomorrow’s dinner to a planting scheme or lyrics to a new song.

What helps you stay calm? Yoga, which I’ve been doing online with my sister Roxy, who teaches a class, and my niece, Scarlett, who also teaches. They’ve taught me how to pay attention to my breathing, which calms me down when the going gets tough. What simple thing sparks joy for you?

Being surrounded by nature, especially when I’m out with our two Airedale terriers, Beau and Misty. They make me smile from my heart. What is your favourite home comfort?

A long soak in the bath every night and five minutes in my favourite garden chair in the sunshine. What is your health motto? Drink plenty of water – and remember to keep moving!

 Kim Wilde’s latest album Pop Don’t Stop: Greatest Hits will be released on 6 August from Cherry Red Records. It is available to pre-order now. For details of her tour, visit kimwilde.com