18 Mar 2024
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Alex Assadian of The Aide of Herts, an administration aficionado who offers executive support and copywriting in a variety of ways. See theaideofherts.co.uk
Where do you walk when you want to think?
I love doing a loop from our home on Harpenden Road, to Chidwickbury, via Stanley Kubrick’s house and out at Batchwood then down through the town (up Verulam Road) via the Cathedral, St Albans Museum and back to the house. We live in a gorgeous city.
Were you well behaved at school?
I was massively a goodie two-shoes and was always eager to please. I loved primary school and was always being selected for school and class rep duties which I was thrilled to do. It went downhill after that at secondary school and although I was deputy head girl for a bit, I would get in trouble for going rogue with my school uniform or chatting in lessons!
How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Too many according to my husband and not nearly enough according to me! I’ve got a particularly fondness for trainers and with sites like Vinted now, I could get all too carried away if I’m not careful…
CD, vinyl, download or streaming?
Streaming all the way. I LOVE music and I have BBC6 music or Spotify on constantly in the house. My 45+ hours running playlist is a total lifesaver of mine.
What is your favourite single item of clothing?
A petrol blue leather jacket from a Dutch brand Mays & Rose, that I bought for my 30th birthday when I lived in Amsterdam. I can hardly zip it up now and there’s a metal label on the back that scratches my neck, but I love it. Brings back happy memories of a wonderful time!
What’s your favourite St Albans pub?
I like The Mermaid – it’s simple, cosy and traditional with a great range of guest ales, nice hospitality and some good live music from time to time.
What’s your worst habit?
Caring far too much what people think and jumping to conclusions. But it definitely gets better with age and I certainly care way less than I did in my 20s!
Which three people, living or dead, would be your ideal dinner party guests?
An oldie but a goodie! I’d be fascinated to know if Elvis was actually a creep so he’d be first on the list. I love Irvine Welsh’s works and I’d like to delve into his dark and delicious mind for a bit. And it maybe a cliché but I’d love to meet a humanitarian, someone like Mother Theresa, to know just how they kept up such resolve to give and give, over and over.
If you could have a conversation with someone who had died who would it be?
It’s a bit morbid but I just found out that my great grandfather committed suicide. He was a farmer from Newcastle and in those days, mental health and especially men’s mental health, was just totally swept under the carpet. I’d love to know what he found so unable to overcome. I find it so moving he succumbed to his troubles and must have struggled alone for such a long time.
What’s your favourite meal?
It’s been a while but a really good ceviche with a delicious pisco sour is perfection!
