MY NAME IS JANE COLLINS AND I AM A LITIGATION LAWYER FOR THE UK GOVERNMENT. I LIVE IN LONDON AND COME FROM A SMALL FARM IN NEW ZEALAND, SO I’M A LONG WAY FROM HOME!
My mum wanted a one syllable name that people wouldn’t then shorten into a nickname. Dad wasn’t sure because he had a horse called Jane. I get called 'Janeo' so no one really won that battle. I’ve never wanted to be called anything else, I love my name.
The best thing about being a Jane is that I get to share the same name as my all-time favourite heroine Jane Eyre and fave author Jane Austen. I also like having songs around like ‘Janie’s Got A Gun’.
The worst thing is that it rhymes with plain!! Argh.
I agreed to be part of this project because of Jane Birkin… and it sounded fun! I know about three to four other Janes. Not that many thank goodness, I wouldn’t want to share it.
A year ago I turned up to a party in London wearing the identical outfit as another Jane in the room. We not only looked similar but we also used to work for the same company back home. A bizarre moment!
I’m not plain Jane I’m Janeo Insaneo.