Weekend Review: Claire Brudenell

The weekend is what you make of it - there's endless opportunities whether you're at work or play. Today we speak to Claire Brudenell.  Blogger, pro crafter and fellow foodie, Claire also knows how to celebrate Halloween in style!

What do you do for work?

I have the rather brilliant job of Marketing & Licensing Manager for Nottingham based craft company Trimcraft. I feel very lucky to be able to combine my love of craft with my Marketing degree. No day is ever the same which keeps it exciting after 4 and a half years, I could be looking for new illustrators for paper collections, filming craft tutorials for YouTube or planning social media and blog posts for the website. I love being surround by so much creativity from our talented design team who make the beautiful artwork that we sit surrounded by, to our group of crafty makers who create amazing projects using Trimcraft products. I love social media and getting to connect with like-minded crafters, we are very sociable and pride ourselves on acknowledging anyone who tags or reaches out to us, and it annoys me when bigger companies with much more resource don’t take time to talk back to their followers.

What is your passion outside of work?

I love food, and luckily so do my friends, so we can often be found checking out the fab restaurants in Nottingham or eating cake. Nottingham has really exploded with the variety of restaurants it has in the last few years, we are spoilt for choice. I also love gardening and growing plants…mainly food like aubergines, tomatoes and herbs, I probably love this as I get to eat the fruits of my labour. This year I grew Okra, I was so impressed when it actually grew! Much to my boyfriend’s annoyance I also love anything vintage, I love to visit vintage markets and reclamation yards to fill our house with quirky finds, I usually sneak them in while he’s at golf then wait to see how long it is until he notices them!

We adore your blog, I heart Maggie, what inspires your craft projects?

Thanks, it’s still quite in its infancy. I used to blog for Trimcraft but as our team grew we took on our talented copy writer Sarah who now looks after that side so I thought why not start my own blog and ramble on there. I also have to give a shout out to my friend and colleague Cat who takes some of the photos you see on my social media. I am trying to get better at photography and she has some great tips! When you are surrounded by craft product day in day out it’s hard not to be inspired to create, I think my main inspiration comes from what I see in the shops, I always think that’s a great idea but I could easily make that myself, so then I set out to do just that! Also if you are wondering the name for the blog, it comes from the street I live on and not my name, it can get confusing!

When is your weekend? 

My weekend starts on Friday evening and ends on a Sunday, pretty standard. I love my job but I also love weekends, they do seem to fly by though.

How did you spend this weekend?

Saturday started pretty lazy with a small lie in followed by a lovely dog walk, we are co sharing Zeus a Rottweiler cross Akita for a few months to help out a family member, he’s huge but very gentle and lots of fun to take walking. As it’s Halloween me and my friends went to a charity event, I love Halloween and dressing up, this year I went as a zombie Geisha, it was a lot of fun. I have a great bunch of friends and we try to see each other as often as possible.

Sunday started with a small hangover, brunch and a bit of cleaning. I worked on a few more blog posts while watching pet rescue reruns, the weather was rubbish so it was nice to be lazy and hang out with the dog! I also made a apple and blackberry crumble we ate it with lots of custard while watching our newest addiction Narcos. 

How typical was it for you?

Yeah, Pretty standard although there was no cake! I try and use my weekends to see family & friends, unwind and plan lots of crafty makes. My weekends are looking quite busy until the end of the year so it was nice this one was chilled. 

What was your highlight of last week? 

I am really lucky that I get to travel with my job and last week myself and our design manager Alice booked a trip to New York for a licensing show in May. It’s one of my favourite places to visit, we have already started planning what we will see, eat and do!

Your ideal Sunday menu... 

I would choose, a big house in the countryside surrounded by friends, we are lucky to have a group of friends we holiday to remote cottages with each new year, this year it’s the Brecon Beacons and I can’t wait to relax, go on long walks and drink some really good red wine by a log fire, I would choose this menu for my ideal day there.
Breakfast: Smoked Salmon on toast with poached eggs with a big mug of milky tea.
Lunch: Naughty but a fish finger sandwich with mayo and lots of black pepper.
Dinner: I just found the most amazing slow cooked BBQ Brisket recipe, I’ll let it cook all day in the slow cooker then make some homemade wedges & coleslaw to go with it. I would wash this down with a nice Malbec

What's in your fridge?

Quite a lot as I have just been shopping, we have lots of veggies and ingredients for paella (You can find the recipe on the blog), salmon, feta, picked onions (a slight addiction), a homemade apple crumble ready for pudding!

QUICK FIRE - without too much thought, name your absolute favourite...

Book: Oooo tough choice One Day by David Nicholls
Film: The Goonies or Beaches…cheesy but I have seen both hundreds of times.
Album: my music taste is quite eclectic but I seem to go back to Jack Savoretti – Written in Scars a lot,  he has a lovely voice.  
Holiday destination: Croatia, I went there for the first time in June, and it really blew me away!
Museum/Art gallery: The V&A in London

How can people follow you?

Blog iheartmaggie.wordpress.com
Twitter @IHeart_Maggie
Instagram i_heart_maggie
Work: www.trimcraft.co.uk

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Weekend Review: Sophie Murray

The weekend is what you make of it - there's endless opportunities whether you're at work or play. Today we speak to Sophie Murray. We love Sophie's beautiful documentation of family life over on Instagram and were keen to find out what inspires the lady behind these beautiful photographs...

What do you do for work?

I'm a part time teaching assistant at our local primary school. I recently left a career at a bank to explore the possibility of going into teaching. It was important to my husband and I that I work part time while the children are young and I feel very fortunate to be able to do this. I cherish my afternoons with my two boys.

What is your passion outside of work?

There are a few actually! For the past 2 years we've been renovating a 300 year old cottage in North West Leicestershire. Having just found out I was pregnant with my second child, we decided to move back to Leicestershire from South Wales where we'd been living for almost 9 years. We viewed a derelict cottage and, DIY being an alien concept to us, lost our minds and bought the place. We learnt on the job and just two weeks before the baby arrived we finally moved in. We had to gut the entire cottage. It had damp, woodworm and dry rot. It needed a full re-wire, new central heating system and a new kitchen and bathroom. We literally started from scratch. Getting creative with the interior has been a dream. Occasionally a nightmare, but mostly a dream! I love trawling antique shops, car boots and eBay for bargains. We're far from finished but things are coming together slowly.

I've been attending a sewing class for a year now and am really starting to get to grips with my machine. I love the sense of satisfaction you get as you see a project come together. I studied fine art at university and I've always painted but having children and renovating the cottage hasn't allowed me the time to do this as much as I would like so it feels great to be doing something creative again. I've enjoyed having to be disciplined enough to see a project through to completion and sewing has given me the determination to find time to paint more. 

We are National Trust members and over the last year and a half we've explored 26 different properties around the country (some multiple times). We love being outdoors, watching the boys exploring and getting dirty. Being a member has enriched our lives so much.

We adore your beautiful photos on Instagram, what inspires your photography?

Thank you! I see my Instagram account as a photographic journal. I'm not the most technically minded person and the lure of the dark room never really appealed to me. As a painter, I do however, understand composition. I try to capture the warmth I feel as I hang out with my family, I like to share funny moments with the boys and of course, my passion for interiors, specifically the cottage. 

 

When is your weekend?

We're standard Saturday and Sunday folk. My weekend starts when we finish school on Friday and usually ends with a slob on the sofa on Sunday night. 

How did you spend this weekend?

Saturday:
I met my brother for lunch and a Camp coffee at 1940s themed The Larder in Ashby de la Zouch. I had bubble and squeak with a poached egg which was delicious.
We recently bought a DVD version of the 90s board game Atmosfear. I spent the afternoon baking and cooking dinner for friends who came over for a game in the evening. It was a late one!

Sunday:
We had a slow morning and after a late breakfast we drove to a garden centre and picked up some bulbs to plant ready for spring. We stayed for coffee and cake and I spent the afternoon curled up on the sofa planning next year's garden with a film on in the background. 

How typical was it for you?

It wasn't! We rarely have a slow day. We are constantly on the go, often driving an hour or more to different National Trust properties so it was a welcome treat putting my pyjamas on at 4pm. 

What was your highlight of last week?

It was my youngest son, Luc's second birthday on Tuesday. Although I worked in the day, we had family over in the evening and a little dinner party. He was beaming all evening, we had a lovely time. 

Your ideal Sunday menu... 

Breakfast: I'd go continental. I'd be sat outside a Parisian cafe alone, people watching with a croissant, a sketchbook and a cup of good coffee. 

Lunch: My favourite lunches are the picnics we share when we venture out at the weekend. Even with a million pounds sitting ready on my America Express card, I would still be sat on my bottom eating sandwiches in the open air with my family. I may treat us to a new picnic blanket though!

Dinner: my husband and I would have a child-free meal at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in London. We love his cookbooks and Italian chain of restaurants so this would be such a treat. I'm vegetarian but my husband loves his meat and Jamie always finds a way to cater for the both of us. 

What's in your fridge?

The fridge drawer is full to the brim with veg which we have delivered by super ethical, Leicestershire-based 'Wonky Veg' on a Friday. This week we received leeks, carrots, onions, potatoes, sweetcorn, lettuce, pak choi and mushrooms along with some sweet recipe cards (which we don't keep in the fridge). Our delivery of vegetables dictates our weekly menu, which is mostly vegetarian although I do cook meat for the boys. 

The staples... Butter, milk, yogurts for the boys, cheese (white Stilton, cheddar, halloumi, feta and paneer), tomorrow's lunch (couscous salad) and a tub of leftover couscous. Oh and yogurt which I eat with homemade granola and figs. We're fairly well stocked today! 

QUICK FIRE - without too much thought, name your absolute favourite...
Book: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. This was my first Vonnegut book and I fell in love with his writing after reading this.
Film: Breakfast at Tiffany's (I'm all about the breakfast!)
Album: This is too hard! Scarlett's Walk by Tori Amos
Holiday destination: Paris
Museum: I definitely prefer an art gallery. The Pompidou Centre in Paris. 

How can people follow you?

Over on Instagram... littledollydaydream (my great uncle used to sing this song to me as a little girl) 

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Weekend Review: Dimple Patel

Had a good weekend? It was a busy one for today's reviewer, Dimple Patel - who is currently preparing to launch an exciting radio project in her home city... (which isn't New York!)

What do you do for work?

I'm a freelance radio producer, I make radio programmes, develop radio projects and train people in audio storytelling.

What has inspired your current radio project?

My current radio project is establishing and running a refugee arts station called Sanctuary Radio. It's a pop-up internet radio station from 18th August to 11th September, with programmes produced and presented by refugees and asylum seekers in Leicester. My inspiration came from events that I'd been to showcasing refugee arts and I remember seeing some fascinating work by artists, filmmakers and musicians, and thinking people should know about this.

What's been your proudest career moment so far?

Probably last year when one of my radio projects was part of an exhibition called Adopting Britain at Southbank Centre in London. The project was a collection of migrant stories of people who had moved to Leicester and the exhibition curators designed a special listening post with my audio stories. I was invited to the launch and I was able to take some of the wonderful people I had the privilege to interview to the exhibition too, including a 93 year old WW2 refugee. She first went to the Royal Festival Hall when it opened as part of The Festival of Britain in 1951, as a 'Tonic to the Nation' after the devastation of WW2, and so to go back again over 60 years later to see people listening to her life story in there was quite special. I felt proud that day. 

And your biggest achievement outside of work?

Having managed to buy a home feels like a big achievement!

When is your weekend?

For the past seven years, in my last job, I worked four days a week and had Fridays off - so I've got used to a three day weekend! It's great because you have one day to wind down and then you still have Saturday and Sunday. I still like to stick to the three day weekend as much as I can.

How did you spend this weekend?

On Saturday I went to Leicester Caribbean Carnival. I was working at a stall with Radio2Funky - which is an online urban music radio station. Luckily my work doesn't often feel like work. The weather was hot, I saw friends, ate some good Caribbean food - tried curried goat for the first time.

On Sunday I went to Crawley in Sussex to see my brother, sister-in-law, nephews and niece as they are visiting from Singapore where they live now. We spent four hours in motorway traffic, so it took twice as long as it should have! But I had a lovely day once I got there. It was the twins' birthday so I bought them Leicester City football shirts, and of course one for their older brother too. They were following the Leicester City story out in Singapore, so the shirts went down well.

I also had the chance to tie a rakhi on my brother's wrists as a sister's blessing for a Hindu festival called Raksha Bandan. It's actually not until next week and normally I'd have to post it, but as my brother was here we did it early. I got a nice gift from my brother too, which is also part of the tradition!

How typical was it for you?

Not very typical - it just happened to be a busy one. 

What's your ideal Sunday menu - with no restrictions?

Breakfast: Eggs royale and a cappuccino - al fresco in a warm climate.

Lunch: Roast dinner - a late lunch - made by Jamie Oliver.

Dinner: I wouldn't be that hungry after a late roast dinner, but I'd have a dessert featuring chocolate and then a savoury midnight snack!

I'd be with loved ones for all the meals.

What's in your fridge?

Not a lot today - broccoli, spring onions, spinach, tomatoes, cheese (feta, cheddar, parmesan), watermelon, raspberries, garlic bread, various chutneys, half a bottle of wine... I need to go food shopping.

QUICK FIRE - without much thought, name your absolute favourite...

Book: 84, Charing Cross Road - by Helene Hanff

Film: 2 Days in New York - it makes me laugh.

Holiday destination: NYC... but also Vietnam

Museum: MIA (The Museum of Islamic Art) in Doha, for the building itself

Exercise: Yoga

How can people follow what you do and get in contact?

You can find me on Twitter @_dimplepatel

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Weekend Review: Yvonne Ellen

Our weekend review this week comes from homeware designer Yvonne Ellen, Yvonne is a girl after our own hearts with a passion for macarons! We talk about how it feels to win the Etsy Retail Star award and the best places to eat out in London and Paris...

What do you do for work?

I design and make a unique range of tableware designed to add charm and intrigue to your home. I have a strong passion for beautiful fine bone china alongside a love of quirky, decorative illustration which I combine to create one of a kind ranges with Yvonne Ellen homeware

What inspired you to start your own range?

It all started with a cake plate that I made as a wedding gift for a friend of mine. After some great feedback, I decided to take the leap into selling online. The thought that my pieces are adorning homes all over the world is a fantastic feeling.

What's been your proudest Career moment so far?

Since launching Yvonne Ellen in 2012 I have been lucky enough to take part in a variety of different and exciting projects. These included live illustration in the shop window of London department store Liberty, running upcycling workshops and even posing in my underwear for a "Women in Making' photoshoot!

And your biggest achievement outside of work?

My biggest achievement outside of work would probably be making my slightly dishevelled little flat into a beautiful home. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears but it is now the place I like to spend most of my time.

When is your weekend?

I try to keep Saturday and Sunday free as this is when my partner's time off work is, but inevitably I often end up packing orders or answering customer emails during the weekend! I try to delegate as much as possible on weekends so I have a chance to gather my thoughts and clear my head, something I feel is extremely important when running your own business.

How did you spend this weekend?

This weekend I actually had my Hen Do as i'm getting married in a couple of weeks! Very exciting times indeed but I must say that planning a wedding alongside running a business has been rather 'challenging'! Many, many lists have been made along the way and I have relied quite a bit on my lovely bridesmaids.

How typical was it for you?

Typically my weekends are spent seeing friends or visiting local shops and markets. I live in London so there is always something amazing to go and see or do. My current favourite market is Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey, the food stalls there are incredible and there is so much variety.

What was your highlight of last week?

My highlight was winning the 2016 Etsy Retail Star award! It is always great to be recognised for my work and makes it all worthwhile.

Tell us about your ideal Sunday Menu...

Breakfast: Brunch (Not breakfast on a Sunday as a Lie in is required!) at Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell, London with my partner. They do the best food ever and the decor is seriously gorgeous.

Lunch: I would hop on the Eurostar to Paris and go to my favourite restaurant Hotel Costes with all of my girlfriends. Followed my a trip to Laduree for some macarons

Dinner: Jerk Chicken, rice n peas at my local restaurant Banners in Crouch end, London. Literally the best food in the world!

What's in your Fridge?

Not very much! I have so many fab restaurants and takeaways near me I tend to dine out a little too much!

Quick fire- Name your absolute favourite...

Book: Me before you, JoJo Moyes

Film: Stand By Me

Album: TLC, Creep

Holiday Destination: Thailand

Museum: V&A

Designer: Givenchy

How can people follow what you do and get in contact?

www.yvonneellen.com
info@yvonneellen.com
https://www.facebook.com/yvonneellenhomeware
https://www.instagram.com/yvonneellen

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Weekend Review: Lucy Stevens

The weekend is what you make of it - there's endless opportunities whether you're at work or play. Today we speak to our friend, Leicestershire based Artist Lucy Stevens, who explores the relationship between Humanity and Nature through environmental soundscapes, digital illustration, drawing and printmaking. Lucy is also very well travelled and takes us on a round the world tour with her ideal menu!

What do you do for work?

I work in Arts Marketing at Attenborough Arts Centre (AAC) and have done now for 6 years. This can be anything from managing the website and social media to writing press releases and developing audiences through creating campaigns. So for example offering loyal audiences rewards for sticking with us or trying to attract new ones (Not actually as dull as it sounds!) I also really enjoy networking, including meeting with similar organisations and arts marketeers and securing partnerships with media and PR agencies to raise our profile. We have a varied year round programme of exhibitions, learning, education and performances so that's a lot of planning and promotion! 

If we're talking artwork then i guess that my job at AAC means that I can pick and choose what I want to do with my own practice, as I'm not necessarily relying on it to generate an income, although that doesn't mean i'll work for free! I'm able to seek out new commissions and funding opportunities to develop my practice and collaborate with new artists, musicians and those who work in the arts sector. At the moment i'm really interested in the notion of the value of nature and the efforts to protect it from extinction through conservation. I've been recording the sound of birdsong and then visualising it using printmaking techniques, with the idea of raising the profile of birds and preserving their songs and calls to present to audiences at exhibitions and concerts.

Where did your interest in birds and the natural world begin?

Oddly enough with pigeons in 2010. I used to walk through the Rally Park when I lived nearby and I noticed a collection of pigeons gathered near the bridge everyday. I was interested in racing pigeons at the time and had met a few people that still raced them. I also took part in a citizen science project led by Cornell Laboratory in New York who were interested in why pigeons existed in so many colours. They were asking the public to count the number of pigeons and note down the different colours for a week or so... but I did this for a year and created two works to visualise this data. 

What's been your proudest achievement in life so far?

Blimey, that's a tough question! I guess if i'm answering this as an artist it makes sense for it to be an artwork I've created and that's usually the most recent project, so it would have to be "The Red Species List'. This was a commission from AAC to respond to the Lucy + Jorge Orta exhibition. I decided to create a concert inspired by the songs of endangered birds in collaboration with musicians. I created over 200 monotype prints in preparation for the accompanying videos, but only used 20. The concert was a sell out, extra seats were added and I had some wonderful feedback from the audience. 

And your biggest achievement outside of work?

Maintaining a great network of friends and family. I try to treat people the way I like to be treated and surround myself with people who have similar morals. These people mean a lot to me and are wonderful supporters of what I do. In particular my boyfriend Ali who is a musician, so understands the artistic temperament! Although my biggest champion is my Mum, she'd literally bend over backwards to help and has done so for many years, her belief in me (Whatever I do) is unwavering.

When is your weekend?

My weekend starts early on a Friday as I work half a day at AAC leaving the other half and the weekend to concentrate on my art practice. If i'm working on a commission with a tight deadline I will work every evening after work, at weekends and take leave from work to make sure its complete. It's a real love/hate relationship sometimes, but i'm not sure what i'd do without it!

 

How did you spend this weekend?

This weekend was my Dad's birthday and we went for a family lunch at the Forge Inn. I have a bit of an addiction to sausage and mash at the moment so that's what I ordered, but was too full for dessert and jealous when I saw what my boyfriend and nephews had ordered; waffles with toffee ice cream and chocolate covered popcorn... I tried a bit and it was gorgeous! After this we went to a friends wedding reception in Foxton Locks. We drank a lot of Pimms, ate a lot of cheese and danced until our feet ached! We (Ali my Boyfriend and I) had a very lazy Sunday, catching up with Game of Thrones by watching 6 episodes and eating pizza... a rarity!

How typical was it for you?

At the weekend i'm usually visiting friends or family, unless I have a project on, in which case I turn into a complete hermit. PJ's on, chocolate stocked, curtains closed (to block out the world) and completely focus on making new work or writing/researching. I can see why this would seem strange as i'm inspired by birds but decide to work in isolation, but it's the only way I can focus!

What was your highlight of last week?

I had the day off on Tuesday to go to a conference about print makers to learn about their practice and how and why they make work at DMU. After the conference I went to the Fine Art degree show. I was really excited by the standard of work on dislay, there were some great, really well thought out and technically interesting pieces. Thursday is always a good day too because I go to yoga after work, its just enough to keep me flexible but is quite gentle too, I usually end up falling asleep at the end of the session!

Your ideal Sunday menu....

Breakfast: In Berlin at the Wintergarten Cafe in Literaturhaus with my Mum. We went for Ali's birthday last year and had poached eggs and Prosecco for breakfast. I also adore the breakfast at Bar Dos Hermanos on Queen's Road, can't beat a half monty and mango juice!

Lunch: New York! We (Ali and I) were running around so much when we visited that we had to grab quick lunches, and we stumbled on the most amazing deli - Dean & Deluca. I had a huge beet (not beef!) burger covered in sour cream with avocado. It was so good I snuck it into the MOMA and continued to eat it out of site of security and my friends. Plus a peanut butter jelly doughnut which we shared at an 'Against Me' gig later on.

Dinner: I'm not a very adventurous eater. I'm the one who will order Bolognese when on holiday rather than try something new because i'm a bit of a fussy eater. I'd rather order a cocktail to try something a bit different. So let's say a traditional spaghetti Bolognese in Italy, somewhere like Lake Garda with a group of friends, not forgetting the cocktails. 

What's in your Fridge?

Vegetables which usually get thrown into a chilli, bolognese, lasagne or curry (I like to make stuff in bulk)

Ready made sauces - i'm a but lazy when it comes to food.

Lots of things in jars - pickled onions, beetroot, piccalilli, strawberry jam, jalapeno peppers, mango chutney, sundried tomatoes, garlic puree, tomato puree, vinegar, tomato sauce, brown sauce, mayo, balsamic vinegar, Lea & Perrins, cheese, milk, eggs, white chocolate mousse, double cream, blueberries, bread, tortilla wraps, potatoes and Brahma Beer.

Quick fire - Name your absolute favourite...

Book: My New Holland concise bird guide, it's pocket sized so it comes with me on every trip to record the sound of birdsong. I'd be lost without it!

Film: Coming to America (I usually lie and say Amelie... which is still up there in my top 10)

Album: Anything by First Aid Kit

Holiday Destination: New York- I've just come back from here and it was bonkers and busy, full of culture, art and naughty food but I loved it and want to go back.

Museum: The Hunterian Museum in London - it's part of the Royal College of Surgeons and its a fascinating macabre collection of human and animal specimens. I also love the Natural History Museum, in particular the birds section (Of course!)

How can people follow what you do and get in contact?

My website: www.lucystevens.co.uk or on Twitter @lucyjstevens

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Weekend Review: Richard III

Before football success sparked the interest of the world's media, Leicester was put on the map by the discovery of Richard III in a car park. Since being thrown (or should that be 'throne' - bad pun) into the spotlight, @richard_third has impressively adapted to 21st century living - picking up thousands of Twitter followers. And now he's our Weekend Reviewer... 

Where do you call home?

Plot 1A (just to the left of the prayer book shelves)
Chapel of Christ the King
Leicester Cathedral
Peacock Lane
Leicester

What do you do for work?

I was the King of England until someone rudely stole my horse. I've recently changed careers to work in tourism. It's proving successful, though my employers are reluctant to share their new found financial gains with me...

What's been your proudest Twitter moment so far?

My work can be found in the New York Times, The Melbourne Age, the BBC News website, The Sunday Times, and I'm followed by Colette Mann, star of well know Australian television soap, Neighbours.

And your biggest achievement outside of work?

It was me and me alone who kick-started the decision to move to Leicester. I set the trend. And now everyone will follow me!

When is your weekend?

Ah, I never really get a weekend off, living in a cathedral means God's house is always open. And sleep on a Saturday night can be a problem due to party-goers and my city centre location. Sunday mornings are quite nice though, I get to hear evensong every Sunday evening.

How did you spend the last weekend?

Well, being buried in a 21st century designed tomb means I'm unable to leave to see much these days. BUT, it was designed with all mod cons, and this I have fibre optic broadband... so I can watch LCFC from the comfort of my bed. And I get a lot of emails from young history undergraduates, trying to get me to write their essays for them.

How typical was it for you?

Sadly the days are a little predictable when entombed. Now I'm formally buried I'm applying for training at Spook School, in the hope of surprisingly a few people...

Your ideal Sunday menu...

Breakfast: I don't need to eat so much these days. But I can smell Maryland Chicken from where I lie. I won't lie to you, it smells fantastic.

Lunch: See previous answer.

Dinner: See previous but one answer.

QUICK FIRE: name your absolute favourite...

Book: Professor Pollard's 'Richard III and the Princes in the Tower' appears to detail my innocence in the entire affairs. And so it's my current favourite.

Film: Richard III of course - any version!

Album: It's a single rather than an album, but Richard III by Supergrass.

Sport: Football! Leicester City til I die of course. Oh... erm... anyhow... I inspire them it seems. I take full credit for the league success.

Museum: My own of course! The fabulous newly opened Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester. See me as an inspiration for a storm trooper, and visit my previous home under space D19 of a car park!

Member of the royal family: They are not the royal family, they are imposters. I was kicked off my own throne you know. So ME (well, I am the king).

What would you swap your kingdom for these days?

Hmm, good question...

How can people follow what you do and get in contact?

I'm available for visits during Leicester Catheral opening hours, and I'm on Twitter! Messages of love and offers of marriage can be sent to me at @richard_third

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