My Parents & the Maldon Lolly Shop

My parents used to be teachers (yes, both of them). Probably influenced my earlier career as a teacher. Undoubtedly, now I think of it.

However, they got smart before I did and resigned to open up the Maldon Lolly Shop. It's certainly kept them busy, and their grand kids love it! Just the smell of the place is enough to make them ask for their favourites (generally Kinder Surprises) and others. (Excuse the stiltedness here, but I'm trying not to make this too much advertisement-like) - it's not, just one of my favourite places with two of my favourite people.

Personally, I love the English lollies and am also partial to the fudges and so on. I think the best thing about this shop is that I get to eat for free! (Well, sometimes I pay a little)

Mum and Dad live in Maldon in a mud brick house where I spent about 10 years of my life from 1976 to 1986. Initially we didn't have any electricity and relied on gas and kerosene lamps & heaters, wood stoves & hot water, and battery-powered radios. I wrote my first book there. While teaching, they also ran the Porcupine Lane Herb Nursery (with occasional side-trails into Bonsai). They have always loved gardening and the house is set on basically 5 acres of garden (some more covered then others). That's one thing I definitely didn't get from them!

Perhaps the best thing I find about my parents is that no one (sane) has ever said a bad word about them (at lest not to me). Everyone they know likes and respects them - which makes me feel proud and wonderful at the same time. Of course, I then have to live up to their reputation....

I owe them a lot.

And not just for the free lollies. ;-)

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