Often when having a brandy just before bed, I go into my mother’s bedroom which has not changed much from when she lived in it. Mother died six years ago.

It is a big room and is filled with a wonderful cannon ball bedroom set. her grandmother’s desk, a cannonball rocking chair and ottoman and many interesting pictures along with a huge gilt edged mirror.

The floor is hardwood and is covered with Oriental carpets along with one huge mountain goat rug made from seven mountain goats. Mother loved that rug as she suffered from cold feet for a long time and she could put her feet into the l...