My father is a decurion on the city council, and he collects taxes for the Roman emperor. We have a villa in the country, but we spend several months each year in the city, Noviomagus (Chichester). It is a much more exciting place to live than the country, which is so quiet. There is so much to see and do. Many people live here - soldiers at the fort, shopkeepers and merchants, and all sorts of craftsmen - jewellery makers, potters, weavers, leatherworkers, bakers and brewers.

There are some huge buildings in the centre of town around the marketplace (forum). These include the temple to Neptune and Minerva, the basilica where my father works, and the council chamber (curia). Other buildings are used as offices, storerooms and schoolrooms. Nearby is the public bathhouse, which I visit every week with my mother. It is very relaxing and a good place to meet friends, but I don't like the cold plunge bath - it's freezing!

Once my father took me to the amphitheatre to see wild animals and gladiators fighting. It was very exciting, and I hope he will take me again.


Although the streets can be noisy, our house is quiet inside. We have no windows onto the street and the front door shuts out the noise, dust, and unwanted visitors. We have beautiful mosaic floors and wall-paintings, and underfloor heating (hypocaust) in the dining-room. Fresh water is piped into the house from the city water system, and drains take away dirty water to the sewers. We have a small garden at the back of the house.
I spend most of my time at home learning to read and write. I practise my spinning every day, which is boring, and my musical instruments, which I like.