Five things I couldn’t live without

If you take away the people and animals in your life, and just focus on inanimate objects, it’s harder than you’d think to decide on just five which you couldn’t live without. But that’s exactly what British Gas have asked people in the UK to do, so I’ve made my decision…

1. My Phone
I know, I know, it’s obvious, and it says a lot about the time we live in that pretty much everyone who has answered this conundrum has included their mobile. But seriously, I don’t know how, in this day and age, I would live without it. It is your social life, your connection with friends and family, your work tool, your camera, your music library and your way of tapping into social media quickly and easily.

2. Chocolate
I am rather partial to other equally naughty food stuffs, such as cake, biscuits, crisps, cheese and chips. Especially in my current pregnant state. But if I had to choose one over all others, it would be the silky, smooth, irresistible taste of chocolate. In any guise, you understand.

3. My saddle
Since I was 11 years old, I’ve had a passion for horses. I can’t imagine my life without them in it, and I’m really not sure what I will do with myself when it’s time to say goodbye to Ben. I’ve tried my hand at most things riding related – dressage, show jumping, cross country, sponsored rides – and I’ve enjoyed them all. Ben is now semi-retired, so there’s none of this high jinks any more, we just occasionally plod around the farm for 20 or 30 minutes. But I absolutely love it, no matter how long or in what style. It restores calm and sanity to my life. Makes me feel like myself again and completely clears my head. Bliss.

4. My car
This may sound really snobby as I know I could use public transport or walk/cycle to get to places, but I love the freedom and independence my car brings me. It means I can get to the stables each day, go to work, visit friends and family, go shopping – literally anywhere I want to go in the UK at ease, without having to plan and consult timetables. I grew up in a village with a bus that ran every couple of hours, so my childhood was spent depending on others, and the minute I passed that test, I was off.

5. Holidays
By holidays, I don’t necessarily mean two-week jaunts to the Caribbean or even getting on a plane (although what British person doesn’t love a trip to the sun?), but I mean a break from the norm. I absolutely love going to Cornwall – it’s so relaxing and chilled and you can shut off from the world there. But I do equally love a few days at home, sorting, relaxing and doing my own thing. I think a holiday for me, is a change to the monotonous routine of life sometimes and without that, I’m pretty sure I’d go crackers.

British Gas have made this video asking the general public what they could not live without to highlight what our energy costs on a daily basis. What could you not live without?