Sara Playfoot
Sponsorship Team – Finance
What do you do professionally? (inc website if wish):
I am a member of the Associated Chartered Certified Accountants having passed my final exams in 2018. As well as subcontracting to a firm of Chartered Accountants, I also run my own bookkeeping business. www.astonandbridgewater.co.uk
Why did you get involved in TEDxFolkestone?:
I’ve been in Folkestone for 6 years and most of that was looking after my young children and sub contracting so I guess I felt it was time to get out into the world and meet like minded people – particularly as I was starting my own business and TEDx seemed a great way to do this. Plus I love the TEDx ethos so it’s great to be involved in something like this in the local community.
What do you love about Folkestone / why you came to Folkestone?
I’m originally from Oxford and I guess I sort of followed my husband here really – he is from Hythe originally. I just love the quirkiness of Folkestone and how individual it is. My husband and I love eating and drinking out and there are so many lovely little bars and restaurants and pop up places that it just makes it an exciting place to be – the Harbour Arm is just great.
What music cheers you up / where is the place that you feel happiest?
I love all music so this is a difficult one but I guess if I am in a bad mood then some Dance music or Drum and Bass is definitely great for getting me out of it. Anything with a fast beat is sort of helpful in picking you up.
Who inspires you or what inspires you?
My family inspires me but more specifically probably my children. How they have coped with the difficulties of the Covid 19 lock down over the last 3 months has really been impressive and they have shown themselves to be much more resilient than I had ever thought they would be or had given them credit for. Even reassuring me when I’ve needed it. They’ve been fantastic. I have 3 girls who are 11, 8 and 4.
Five favourite books or films?
Okay so I’ve chosen three books and 2 films. The first book is Piece of Cake which I found really inspiring. It’s about a girl that grows up in foster care after the death of her mother at the age of 11. She finds herself in various dangerous and difficult situations, but after hitting rock bottom, eventually becomes one of the most successful lawyers. My second choice is Adam Kay’s This Is Going To Hurt. It’s just both sad and funny and well written all at the same time. My third book is Normal People, I found it to be just so relatable. I could imagine being a 17 year old writing it. It really resonated with me. My two films are Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception for the reason that both of these films just blew my mind in terms of the concepts and structure of the way they were created.
Who would be on your dream dinner party list?
Firstly, David Attenborough is like a God in our house. I would definitely have him around because firstly I love his voice, he has and continues to live just the most amazing life and would have fantastic stories to share. I would then have Michelle Obama. I read her biography recently and she is so much more than just the first lady and her life’s journey so far is just so inspiring. I would next have the Queen. I read once that she is a person that has met the most other individuals from across the world – so there has got to be some good stories there. Then I would have Ricky Gervais, in case the conversation got too heavy and lastly my husband, so we could have a good chat about everyone once they had left.
What is the worst Christmas (or birthday) present you ever received? And why?
This is easy. When I was 17 years old my boyfriend bought me Full Metal Jacket and I had no idea why. I don’t like war stories and had never said it was something I wanted. It turns out he bought it because he wanted to watch it!!! Needless to say we were not girlfriend and boyfriend for much longer after that.
What is your Secret claim to fame’?
When I was younger as a family we used to live in Somerset and my dad managed Butlins holiday camp. Way before he was famous we had Joe Pasquale over for tea. I remember a slightly awkward moment when my mum told him he could put on his normal voice and didn’t have to talk like that only for Joe to say that was his normal voice and he really did speak like that.
What would be your Desert Island Discs?
So I’ve chosen albums that I know I could listen to all the way through as I might be on there for a long time.
- Be Here Now – Oasis
- Nigh Gallery – High Contrast
- Performance and Cocktails – Stereophonics
- Toast to our Differences – Rudimental
- Funk Wav Bounces – Calvin Harris
What’s your favourite TEDx talk and why?
There are so many brilliant ones but probably it’s got to be the Bill Gates one. I mean – if only we had paid attention then, 2020 might have been a completely different year.
