I have a jewellery box inherited from my mother, she set such high store by it. Those were the days when carpets, fur coats, china, jewellery and such like were so important and were considered family heirlooms. Now, my children absolutely don´t want the persian carpets or the ornate dinner service. Their homes are clean and airy, without stuffy sofas and moth-eaten carpets, china is plain white and put through the dishwasher. Times move on. I permanently wear a pair of diamond studs, I have always hated droopy earings, on account of my mother always wearing them. I love beads and have a huge collection. My favourite is a string of pearls given to me by my parents.