How do you take your coffee (or tea)? Black or with cream and/or sugar?

Coffee: 2 scoops of demarara sugar & a slosh of fat-free half & half

Tea: skim milk, no sugar. Absolutely no cream, no half & half (that's not why they call it a cream tea, people!), but I'll take 2% in a pinch.

Do you believe we control our destiny, or does our destiny control us?

A bit of both. I firmly believe that we get back in life what we put out into the world, so in that respect we can shape our experiences. That said, I have no doubt that our paths are at times immovable - there are things that we are meant to do, places we are meant to go, and no amount of thrashing around will change that We might be able to put it off for a few days/weeks/years, but inevitably we will tread the path meant for us. We can fight it & be miserable, or embrace it & be at peace. There are times when both approaches are warranted.

What one thing that is missing from your life would you like to have above all else?

Ooof. Wow, Bard. This is hard. Really, really hard. I am generally an optimistic & happy soul, but for as long as I can remember, I have held a deep sense of loss. There is a small but howling hole that is wailing for... something. And I will be damned if I know what that something is. Sometimes I think it is tied to having been born outside the UK, where all of my family is from. It's that kind of unmoored, displaced, misunderstood ennui... I have yet to find a place that I really feel I belong.

Yow. Who knew SW would double as therapy?

What's your favorite dessert treat? Ice cream? Cake? Pie? Fudge brownie cake with pie flavored ice cream on top?

Ha. You ask this of a pastry chef? If we're talking *Real Dessert* (as opposed to Sweet Thing I Could Snarf Down with a Cup of Tea, or A Slice of Something to Chase the Diner Dinner), I tend to go with tarts & composite desserts... I like a good balance between sweet & tart/bitter, creamy & crisp, & anything with really dark chocolate, rhubarb, elderflower, blackberries, dried fruit, ginger or cacao nibs catches my eye. One of my favorite desserts that I used to do was a warm pear & frangipane tart with a scoop of nutmeg gelato, a scattering of Sauternes gelee & a gilded pear chip - cakey, fruity, crumbly, creamy, crisp with bursts of boozey gelatine

In your perfect world it is chocolate and...?

Salt. Dark, milk, white chocolate, it's all thrown into high relief by just a few flakes of good sea salt. Runners-up include Vietnamese cinnamon, black pepper, roses, curry, lavender, and peanut butter for when I'm feeling particularly pre-menstrual

How do you scent your home Tarts, reed diffusers, BPAL, candles?

We don't do much, due to DH's asthma, but I use an oil burner & BPTP sprays in my office. We do use copal & sage/cedar incense in the rest of the house when the weather's damp, just to chase away the Old House Funk.

Secret power?

My real one or my fantasy one? My real superpower is remembering faces & minute details about people. I am the one who recognizes all the bit actors in a given movie & what you were wearing last Thursday. Just don't ask me to remember names!

My fantasy power would be superhuman strength - I wanna be like Mr Incredible!

For the tea and coffee drinkers: Opinion on tea- and/or coffee-related accessories/etc? (Teaware, sugar crystals, infusers, tea chests, etc)

I could use a nice over-the-cup strainer - mine is really utilitarian. A cool, retro modern sugar bowl might be nice, something like this, maybe.

If I send you whole spices or coffee beans, would you be able to grind them or would you prefer them preground for your convenience?

Whole bean coffee always! Most spices I use fast enough that ground is fine, but I am partial to whole nutmeg, cinnamon & cardamon...

If you do any kind of craft, could you use supplies? What kind? knitting needles, yarn, amazing fabric, pinking shears, cool thimbles or pincushins, jewelery making supplies, beads, etc.?

I am a Crazy Crafter - I do a bit of just about everything. I looooove Japanese fabrics, so fat quarters are always fun. I have a few craft books on my Amazon list that'd be swell.