After that I always retained it right through until we emigrated, sometimes it was on our Jensen 541S and at other times on our Jensen CV8


Asian Antiques

We started collecting Japanese lacquer and netsuke, mainly influenced by my father, but one day, we discovered Chinese snuff bottles (mostly stone bottles) and later we formed a collection of Chinese jade pendants. Fine pendants were far harder to find than fine snuff bottles, but most dealers knew we were the most likely buyers and over several years we created an exciting collection. We were told that no one knew of anyone else collecting them at the time, and it was our collection, when exhibited by Robert Hall, which caused even professionals to start collecting them.

Trudy had been the manageress of a Zurich jewellery shop and had studied various stones (not only gemstones) and so she was much more interested in these Chinese antiques. We continued buying throughout several years, instead of putting funds into pension schemes, now with hindsight I am so glad we did.

Having had success with the 'PhotoBackings' CD-Rom (more details later) I decided to make another one of our collections simply titled 'The Cohen Collection.' We sold one piece having been retired for about 20 years that Richard Marchant sold for us at an incredible price, which meant the whole collection had no longer cost us anything!

Because of these interests we got to know Jensen owners, various antique dealers, and auctioneers some of whom became good friends.


Celebration Weekend at Home

So many friends as well as relatives came to us for Jason's Bar Mitzvah, Michelle's Bat Mitzvah, my Parents Golden Wedding, and our 20th Wedding Anniversary party.

Jason's Bar Mitzvah

We organised a large marquee in our garden and threw a two-day party with live music and kosher food.  We could not rely on the weather, but we were lucky it turned out nice.