I have tried to make the sitting room show how both the old and the new in decor often sat side by side in a 1950's house. The old fashioned fireplace, mantle clock, picture rail, wallpaper, horse brasses and "flying ducks" are coupled with fitted carpet, modern wall unit, freeform coffee table, television and the ubiquitous "Green Lady". In addition, to reflect the times cigarette packets are placed on the coffee table with an ash tray and stubbed out cigarette resting on the arm of the settee. The settee has antimacassars, very necessary for protecting it from the Brylcreemed male heads of the time whilst the newspaper urges Princess Margaret to make up her mind about Group Captain Peter Townsend.

I have tried to make all areas of the house reflect my other interests and hobbies and the sitting room is no exception. I listen to classical music and am a very keen admirer of the Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan. Therefore, beside the 1950's style portable gramophone are early 1950's Karajan recordings which I actually own. Crime novels by John Creasey are on the book case and a "Paul Temple" novel is sited appropriately by the radio. A 1950's novel of "The Archers" radio serial is also on the book shelves. My interest in old films and television is illustrated by the copies of the "ABC Film Review" in the magazine rack and by copies of the "Radio Times" on top of the television which is showing a 1950's test card. On the mantelpiece is a 1955 TV Licence or should I say, Broadcast Receiving Licence including Television, which cost £3-00. Finally, as a keen jigsaw puzzler I have placed jigsaws of the period on the shelving unit.