Throughout my life there have been a number of opportunities and that have passed me by.

It seemed like a good opportunity to sit down and review those times and places where life might have taken a different course.

The first clear opportunity occurred in the early 1970s; we had just purchased our first caravan and we had an awning built specially for it in Holland by a man whose name I well recall - Ben Eilers. 

At that time most caravan awnings were green canvas and uninspiring.  We chose orange, and at my insistence the front panels had windows, not only of plastic, but with a square pattern on the window.

"I've never done anything like this before" said the man. 

We kept the caravan for nearly 10 years, in the beginning our windows were a marvel, no one else had them.  Now every caravan has windows usually with some sort of square pattern on them.

Over thirty years later I found myself looking for canvas repairers to carry out some alterations to a caravan awning – I found one close to my home in the East Midlands – but my internet search also revealed that Ben Eilers company still exists – beautiful tents – all with windows!!!!

First missed opportunity.

Quite soon after that we returned to England; looking for a suitable Christmas present for my wife I discovered that a young woman was making ladies underwear in the village close to us.  I went to see her.

The designs and patterns were really quite pleasant and I purchased a number of items.

I wish I had invested money with her at that time, because within 10 years her name was known worldwide, and her underwear worn by Princess Diana