Former tennis pro Annabel Croft shares her favourite place to buy homeware and the chore she loves

I take my coat off and then usually make a cup of tea. If it's late at night, I go straight to the kettle to make my hot water bottle. I make one pretty much every night, other than in the summer, when it's hot.  It’s comforting.  I can't really sleep without one.

When I’ve had a good day, it's not too late, and it's tea and cake time. I like that period of time before cooking dinner when I relax by reading or I might catch up on a few emails.

In bed. [My late husband] Mel always used to say to me, ‘I'm in my happiest place with my favourite person’ so we would always be very happy going to bed to wind down by watching something. I’ve got a nice big screen in the bedroom. I know people say not to have a TV in the bedroom but I like nothing more than going to bed early and watching something.

Some crystals. I think they bring good energy. I've got my side lamp, a picture of Mel and a box of tissues.

I've now switched from plastic food containers to glass. It's like an obsession because there's always something you need to put in one! Microplastics worry me. The more you can avoid all those plastics, the better.

I've always loved John Lewis. It’s a very cosy, safe place where you feel looked after. I love the way the staff are trained and make you feel important; they have very high standards.

Ironing. If there's a massive pile, it gives me the time to listen to a podcast. I genuinely love it!

Taking the bins out. I do it through gritted teeth. I hate it. 

At the moment, I’m obsessed with decluttering in anticipation of moving house soon. Yesterday, I went to the tip again and the charity shops again. I've got a whole garage and shed to clear out but I’m really enjoying it. I'm finding it very therapeutic. I wish we’d done it more through life because it feels good. I can feel the energy of the house change as I do it.

I loathe one corner in the kitchen - the pile-up corner where letters and envelopes go or empty milk churn rings or bottles. I hate it and it's annoying, but who can be bothered to take it out to the recycling bin straight away?

I can't start the day without a cup of tea. Even if I'm leaving for the airport at 5am, I'll make one. My dad used to bring me a cup of tea every day. I have happy memories of him coming in to get me up for school and he'd always put a cup by our bed. 

Other than my wardrobe, my routine of tea in bed. I now travel with a cup and tea from home, then the first thing I do wherever I go is buy water and milk so I can have tea in the morning in a nice cup!