Emotional ties with Robert Elms

 I’ve always loved bikes and have quite a collection of them. This one by Tom Donhou is totally bespoke and I use it every day. I’ve never owned a car. I’ve always thought you only need two machines in life: a bicycle and a radio.

I started out as a music journalist; The Face was the first publication I worked for. I wrote the feature ‘Hard Times’ in 1982 – it launched my career and still gets quoted as an influential piece of pop-culture writing. This reminds me of being that brash boy about town.

My 200-strong collection of reggae ‘sevens’ [seven-inch singles] was mostly handed down to me by my elder brothers Reggie and Barry, who were very cool. We grew up in Notting Hill in the 1970s, where there was a large Afro-Caribbean community.

 I used to read this book endlessly to my children [Alice, now 28, Alfie, 22, and Maude, 19]. I can recite every word. It takes me back to that idyllic, exhausting time of having young children. I wasn’t ever sure if I’d have them, but it’s the best thing I’ve done.

 My parents, Eileen and Albert, met dancing at the Hammersmith Palais as teenagers. My father died when I was six, and my mum a few years ago. It sounds mawkish, but I miss them every day. I keep this photo on my desk, so they’re still watching me.

My wife and I bought this bowl in Colombia on our honeymoon 24 years ago. It is at least 500 years old, from Mayan times – a museum-quality piece of pre-Columbian art. It’s beautiful without being flash and reminds me of that fantastic time.