A day in the life of Lin Hodgkin from The Dolls House

After sorting out my domestic animals, cats, guinea pig and rabbit and doing a few usual jobs at home, I arrive at the shop at around 9.15 a.m.

No two days are ever the same. I have customers from all walks of life, some coming as far from the adjoining counties of Hampshire and Kent. I have a varied selection of dolls houses and accessories, and also some models and hobbies supplies. This includes customers wanting train sets, model boats and aeroplanes. Additionally, I often have people ask me for suitable miniatures to put on hand made greetings cards, and cakes! Now I also stock Warhammer, from Games Workshop, which is very popular with the young lads and also the local schools’ after hours club.

Some of my customers actually turn up with their “doggy friends” because I have a bowl of water available for them. Strange requests crop up now and again such as do you sell toothpaste, balloons, and knitting wool - I send them to the appropriate outlets further along the High Street! Like other High Street traders I also have my share of foreign visitors, especially in the summer who are fascinated by the small items I stock and indeed are very often photographed.

Perhaps this may happen more now, since I have the second Steyning Blue Plaque above the shop doorway. I love it when people just want to come and have a look (even better when they buy something!) as it underlines the interest in my miniatures. I think it is nice to lose yourself into a fantasy world.

Whilst I do not live in Steyning at the moment, I have long term connections with the town. My mother lived in Kings Barn Lane and my daughter currently lives there. Steyning is indeed a lovely place to be and I have many friends and acquaintances from within and outside the town.

Lin Hodgkin, The Dolls House

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