What did you want to be when you grew up?
A forensic scientist.
Do you have any siblings? If so, tell us their name(s) and a fun fact about them.
I have an older sister, Trudi. She cannot take alcohol at all, but whenever we go out she thinks she’ll be fine. We went to a house party once, and she fell asleep amongst the pile of coats after just two glasses of wine. We’d only been there for an hour.
Who was your childhood hero?
Margaret Thatcher because of her patriotism, conviction, and passion. She had a brilliant mind and showed that women do not need patronizing by special treatment. She showed that hard work, determination and sheer grit will get you to where you want to be, and above all, the value of individual responsibility.
What was your favorite childhood food? Has it changed as an adult?
My mum’s toad-in-the-hole. Now I love Thai food or a perfectly-cooked steak.
List up to three of your favorite childhood books.
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
- Choose Your Own Adventure books by R.A. Montgomery and Edward Packard, because if you didn’t like the ending you could just go back and choose another one.
Tell us an embarrassing or little-known childhood anecdote about yourself.
My sister and I, along with a couple of other friends, used to put on Mini-Pops (look it up!) shows in our local village hall. People would actually turn up to watch us dress and sing like Cyndi Lauper, Bananarama and Madonna. Today, I’m not even brave enough to do karaoke.
Tell us about your parents’ quirks and how they’ve shaped you.
My mum is very sociable, but a little bit ditzy sometimes. I have those moments too. My dad is a planner and an organiser. My need to have plenty of lists on the go at any one time definitely comes from him.
How many kids do you want?
Two – and I have them already!
beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.
