I came to England in 1964 at the age of 13 years old. I was used to a different way of life in Punjab in India as I belong to a family that were farmers. 

At night-time we as a family slept upstairs under the sky. We told stories to one another in the open air watching the dark black sky and counting how many stars there were in the sky – we would fall asleep until the sunrise at 3.30am or 4am.

I would walk in the open space fields where they grow melons, watermelons, sugar cane, carrots and cauliflower. I loved seeing the vegetables grow and picking them to eat for snacks or my meals.

Arriving in England, it seemed all dark and houses built on one another, no space in between. The nearest park was one mile away and to see green scenery I went to the park regularly as it made me feel happy and good. 

To continue with my good memories of green spaces and vegetable leaves growing, I started embroidery on a material. I created my bedding, bed sheets, pillowcases, napkins by drawing on them and using a machine to embroider with green, red orange colours to keep my memory alive of the flowers vegetable I saw growing in India when I left for England. 

I still use these bed sheets I made and continue drawing them with my finger on anything without thinking what I am doing. I am very happy that my teenage memories are continuing today.