From initial ambitions of becoming a farmer to running regional food group Taste North East, Karen Dent meets Jane Hogan and discovers why she believes women really come into their own in their 40s.
QUESTIONNAIRE
What car do you drive?
A Skoda Fabia
What’s your favourite restaurant? I
'm more of a pub girl than a restaurant girl and in my position I would have to take the fifth amendment on favourites!
Who or what makes you laugh?
A dog hanging out of a car window.
What’s your favourite book?
Mrs. Fytton's Country Life. It confirms everything I suspected about country life. As far as I’m concerned it’s a documentary in print!
What was the last album you bought?
Plan B, The Defamation Of Strickland Banks. Mostly I rely on my hubby’s iPod.
What’s your ideal job, other than the one you’ve got?
I’ve always fancied working in an airport or estate agents. I like to idea of turning unhappy people into happy ones – I’m not sure if I could in reality though!
If you had a talking parrot, what’s the first thing you would teach it to say?
It would be something rude.
What’s your greatest fear?
I don’t want to think about it.
What’s the best piece of business advice you have ever received?
You can’t run a business until you’ve had to sell.
And the worst?
You’ll never make it any further unless you develop some gravitas.
What’s your poison?
Very unsophisticated – sweet rose wines like zinfandel, merlot rose and Grenache but it has to be FREEZING.
How much was your first pay packet and what was it for?
About £11-£13 a day including tips. I was a waitress in Warwick when I was 13 (I told them I was 14).
How do you keep fit?
I’m at the gym a lot.
What’s your most irritating habit?
Talking too much, impatience, never doing the washing up – oh crikey, I’ve got loads!
What’s your biggest extravagance?
It used to be owning a horse but once you have children they become your greatest extravagance (one day though.)
Which historical or fictional character do you most identify with or admire?
Becky Sharp (I hope I’m a bit less self-serving but she is very funny girl)
Which four famous people would you most like to dine with?
Donald Trump (he’s hilarious), Carl Hester (our greatest ever dressage rider), Jamie Oliver (the only celebrity chef I can warm to), Bob Mortimer (what’s not to love?!) – I would have included Jim Morrison and Freddie Mercury too if it wasn’t for their unavailability.
How would you like to be remembered?
As an enthusiast and a good all-rounder
