“I sent you a toothbrush?” my husband exclaimed when I showed him what I’ve been keeping in my sock drawer for 30 years. Back in 1990, while I was getting ready to come to Australia from Canada, I received a parcel in the mail with a toothbrush (a very fancy one made in Italy I must add) and this note: “This is all you’ll need. Love Bryan.”

The toothbrush tells reams about Bryan’s sense of humour, his ability to lighten up any situation and our romance – I was about to embark on a journey that was to determine the rest of our lives.

The fact that Bryan had completely forgotten his funny and heart-warming gesture made me realise the magnitude of my work. I spend my days photographing significant objects, scanning memorabilia and writing the stories behind each item so that it all can be stored in books for my clients and their families forevermore. I am quite literally keeping the stories those objects tell alive.

The pride-of-place objects in your home dig deeply into your story. They reveal your personality and the life experiences that made you, you. Some tell a child’s, a parent’s or a grandparent’s story. Each is a precious nugget.

Have a look around your home now. What objects speak to you, telling your story?