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Jo Bruce
Jo Bruce
18th Jan 2021

Team question challenge - Sophie Roberts

Sophie Roberts, Versantus' Project and Office Manager, takes on the Team Question Challenge.

She's a big fan of Gardener's World, but she wouldn't want to meet Monty Don via Zoom! She'd go for cheese over a dessert any day, but would settle for a lockdown takeaway from the local at the end of a busy week...

Meet Sophie Roberts, our Project and Office Manager: 

Q1: What is your favourite film or series?

A: Hmmm, tricky. My most enduring favourite has to be Gardeners World. The year has truly started when Gardeners World is back on the telly again. It’s a sign that Spring is coming and the days are getting longer. I have a love/hate relationship with the ‘jobs for the weekend’ segment though.

Q2: What is the best bit of your job?

A: My favourite bit of my job is organising little treats for the team, like posting out surprise chocolates to cheer people up at home during lockdown.

Q3: If you could start again and had to do something else, what would it be?

A: I’d go for something that involves working with design and colour. I love combining plant colours and foliage and the intricacies of planning a garden to look good all year round, so I would probably design gardens and landscapes. 

Q4: What is your favourite pudding?

A: Cheese

Q5: Has the coronavirus pandemic changed how you see the world?

A: Definitely. The way that someone’s job, business or health can disappear overnight has been a big lesson for me in not taking what I have for granted. The sheer creativity of the last 12 months as people have reconfigured their businesses and their lives has made me feel more positive about the future - we’ve shown ourselves that we can do things differently if there is a pressing enough reason.

Q6: If you had to recommend a pub or restaurant in Oxfordshire, what would it be and why? 

A: The Oxford Arms in Kirtlington. The food is delicious and they’ve started doing takeaways which is heaven on a Friday night after a long week (restaurant quality food but no need to dress up). My favourites are the sea bass with lemon oil, and the prawn and monkfish curry.

Q7: If it was in the name of pleasure – would it be car, bicycle, walk, run, swim?

A: Walking. I go for a walk most mornings before work either around the streets where we live, or along the canal towpath. It’s been a really nice way to start the day compared with my pre-COVID routine of sitting in a traffic jam, and I feel like I’ve got a bit of exercise in for the day. 

Q8: You can invite three guests from any time in history to join you on a Zoom call. Who would they be and why?

A: No more zoom, please! I can’t help but feel it would be a really disappointing way to meet your heroes. Maybe I am just zoomed-out?

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