It's the latest in my series of interviews with lovely interesting local folk. Here we meet local business woman & mother, Lena Addis from Milo et Mimi online children’s store…
How long have you been in Chiswick?
I have lived in Chiswick my whole life – I’ve literally moved just twice, both times to different streets in Chiswick! I love it here and can’t imagine living in any other part of London.
Favourite place to unwind in Chiswick?
I live quite close to the river near Kew Bridge and love to go for walks along the path with my husband and toddler. It almost doesn’t feel like you’re in London. After a stroll, we often pop into Café Rouge in Strand on The Green for a warming hot chocolate.
What's your top local tip?
Parking in Chiswick can be a nightmare, so my tip is to park at Sainsbury’s and make a small purchase in-store, which can often save you money in the long run, especially if you are prone to making a dash for the meter before it expires!
And what's your Chiswick hidden gem?
Brentford Fountain Soft Play – it’s not so much a hidden gem, as a Godsend to a mother with a small child; I only discovered it recently – it’s affordable, indoor fun, perfect for cold wet days and it’s never too packed.
Vacation or staycation?
Definitely a vacation! As much as I love Chiswick, I often yearn for more sunshine and warmer climes, so somewhere hot and sunny would definitely be beaconing me. We’ve had some lovely summers on Ile de Re, Corsica and Sardinia, so some sun and sand would be the order of the day.
If you weren't in Chiswick where would you be?
I definitely wouldn’t be anywhere else in London. I visited family in LA a couple of years ago and loved the space and open skies, so perhaps I’d give Stateside living a go. Otherwise, I absolutely love Paris! Having studied French at University and spent a year teaching in Paris, it feels like my home from home – somewhere I could easily see myself living again. I love the fact that each ‘quartier’ has its own personality and it’s so cosmopolitan, just like London.
Tell us about the inspiration behind Milo et Mimi?
The inspiration behind Milo et Mimi is my two and a half year old daughter, otherwise known as Cheeky Monkey. My maternity leave gave me the unique opportunity to stop and re-assess my career aspirations and how I really want to spend my time, especially with a little one in tow, so I decided to bite the bullet and do something totally different – something which I’ve always had at the back of my mind. My time in Paris as a student is also a great source of inspiration; the Parisians have such an innate sense of classic style and having taken the plunge to start the business, I wanted to give the website a French flavour and to bring a touch of French flair to the children’s market in the UK.
Contact information:
Visit the website at www.miloetmimi.com
Also:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/miloetmimi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiloetMimi
Google+: google.com/+Miloetmimi
Would you like to be featured in a '5 minutes with…' ? Please drop me an email on chiswickmum at yahoo. Co. uk