The name Baxter in Baxter, Baxter and Smythe was taken from a local solicitors’ office in the village of Polesworth, Warwickshire.
Jemima is named after the rag doll in my favourite childhood TV show ‘Play school’. I also named a cat after her.
I owned a duckling called Crispy – found on an allotment plot.
I named five chickens: Kiev, Nugget, Tonight, Madras and Korma.
The owl story is true.
The wooden door in the wall comes from one situated by council buildings in North Warwickshire.
Lerwick Manor donating land for allotments mimics Mere Vale Hall which did exactly that during the Great war – they’re still used as such today!
My nan lived at number 51 and her front door was inserted into the story.
The exploding pumpkin jars is a true story – I’ve never roasted, pureed and seasoned pumpkin since.
The unruly goat comes from a childhood memory of my primary school teacher, Mrs Salter – who kept a goat and would gaze/tether it on the cul-de-sac island on the housing estate.
Stained-glass – Lerwick Town Hall