Paddy Ashdown: Five things I can't live without
FORMER leader of the Liberal Democrats party Paddy Ashdown, 75, lives in Somerset with his wife Jane, 76. They have two children, Simon and Katherine, and four grandchildren.
Former leader of the Liberal Democrats party Paddy Ashdown lives in Somerset with his wife Jane
1 - Family
I was only 20 when Jane and I got married and looking back, I didn’t know anything about life.
However, we’ve been married for more than 50 years now and although we are very different, our marriage really works.
Jane and I were as poor as church mice when our son Simon arrived four years into our marriage, followed by Katherine two years later.
Somehow though we muddled through.
Family has always meant so much to both of us.
Now we have four grandchildren, who are only half an hour away.
I enjoy nothing more than being with my family and as Jane always says, it is my role to supply the never-ending adventures while she provides the love.
Mr Ashdown likes to find out what the wifi-password is whenever he goes somewhere new
2 - My village
Jane and I have lived in the picturesque Somerset village of Norton sub Hamdon for the past 46 years and there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be.
It is a beautiful little place and there is such an incredibly strong sense of community.
Everyone gets on wonderfully, regardless of who they are or what they do and I love that feeling of belonging.
We are great friends with all our neighbours and love meeting in the village pub in the evening before going back to one of the houses for coffee and more conversation.
3- The garden
I spend a lot of time writing or answering emails, sitting under a tree in the serenity of my garden.
In truth the garden is something of a partitioned territory.
I look after the vegetables and have an invisible demarcation line cordoning off Jane’s section of flowers and tomatoes.
Mr Ashdown spends a lot of time writing or answering emails when he is in his garden
Anyone who knows me would probably say that the first thing I do when I go somewhere new is find out what the wi-fi password is
Pottering around in the garden is such a relaxing pleasure – although I do take my produce seriously.
The annual village vegetable competition is coming up so the pressure is on.
I have high hopes for my onions and courgettes.
4 - Internet connection
Anyone who knows me would probably say that the first thing I do when I go somewhere new is find out what the wi-fi password is.
I love the fact that we can all now be connected, no matter where we are.
It is a great way of staying in touch with my family and it is wonderful to be able to deal with emails or to read reports anywhere, preferably in the garden.
Mr Ashdown likes to have a project, he has to keep himself busy
5 - A project
I honestly cannot imagine anything worse than an idle retirement.
I find the golf course utterly boring and there is only so long that I can lie on a beach or sit watching sport before I have to get up and do something else.
I just have to be busy.
Paddy Ashdown's apocalyptic warning on Brexit
I love absorbing myself in a new project, whether it is a political campaign or writing a book.
So I fill the quiet corners of my life with activity and instead of sitting doing nothing in the garden, I am often out there writing away.
Death is a very long time so it’s incredibly important to make the very best of every single second of life.