"What is this youngster really going to ask me?"That was the expression on her face as she folded her arms and crossed her legs, eyes intent behind her lenses.
But as the questions were posed there came regular bursts of laughter, with a sporadic pause whenever she felt her answer needed a bit of thought before it left her lips.
Soon the very private Independent Senator Helen Drayton would take me on a journey back to her past–opening up about her childhood, her passions and even talking about her parents and their influence in her life.
Sitting in her study filled with books and paintings (some of the artwork done by her), Drayton began by professing her love for ancient history–the reason for her first novel the Crystal Bird (an epic tale of an ancient civilisation confronting the present), which followed two books of poetry Passages I and Passages II: Brown Doves. All books were published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
"I have always been fascinated by ancient history. As a child I would constantly read history and geography books and gathered as much information as I could on archaeology," says Drayton.
When she was ten, Drayton's family who lived in Belmont, migrated to the UK.
"I was just a child, they never told me why we migrated and I never asked. It was just their decision," said Drayton.
There she continued reading and researching, but was now involved with British history.
On leaving school, Drayton found work at the United Trade Press before moving on to the BBC UK, holding administrative positions at both. But she records these jobs as "brief employment"–just gathering experience.
She returned to T&T in the 70s, in her early 20s, and landed a job at Radio Trinidad in the same field, turning down the opportunity of becoming an on-air announcer, as it was just not her thing.
"My interest had always been more along the line of writing," she said.
Her love for writing was manifested when years later she became a columnist, first as a guest writer for the various newspapers. Today she continues to share her views on politics, life and social affairs in a Sunday column.
Drayton, who has an executive masters degree in business administration from UWI, St Augustine's Institute of Business, has also worn many hats in the corporate world. She's held key positions in the field of marketing and business communications and senior positions in human resource management, RBTT Financial Group, and president of ROYTEC.She has served as director of several companies of the former RBTT Financial Group, including the flagship company, RBTT Bank. Other board appointments included Corbin Compton Advertising, the T&T Tourist Board, and the Caribbean Procurement Institute.
She has also been CEO of United Way T&T, vice president of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, and a board member of humanitarian organisations including the T&T Red Cross Society, Blind Welfare Association, Express Children's Fund and the United Nations National Steering the Environment Small Grants Committee. She currently sits on the board of Servol.
Added to that, she facilitates courses in business communication, corporate ethics and compliance management and has extensive experience in strategic marketing.
Sitting in the Senate, she does not focus on any one particular subject but has long been involved in charitable work, working with various NGOs which focuses on children, youth development and people generally in need of assistance.
She continues to lobby for charitable organisations.
Talk about a "powerhouse"–and that's not all of it. Drayton's aptitude for art and writing made her a poet, artist and novelist without formal training.
"I remember sitting in the kitchen at home in Belmont, there my mother, a beautiful woman, would be making bread and cake. She would give me a piece of dough, and I would be lost in a world making shapes and little people. So it was from childhood I loved to create things, draw, paint...dream.
"I still get lost in poetry, writing and painting–passions of my younger years that has stayed with me.
But where does she find the time to satisfy all these interests?
"Many people have asked me this, but it really depends on how you see time. If you see time in boxes–the work day is eight to four, lunch is at 12 noon–then you would fashion yourself to operate that way.
"And that is just a tradition. Time is really an infinite resource.
"When I was working at the bank, the hours were obligatory, I would get in from 6am and leave 6.30pm–but when I got home I would still paint and write my poems."
She says unless she has pieces that carry a deadline, she never places a timeframe on her work.
"There are particular paintings that I am doing right now that actually carry a timeframe, because they are requested pieces, but other than that I can begin painting from any time, even from 2-3am. Sometimes you are painting a piece and it may take a few weeks–what do you do? Your other things in between," she said in a nonchalant tone.
When it comes to her writing Drayton says inspiration comes from everywhere–from just sitting on the balcony of her beautifully set home in Blue Range Diego Martin, to her garden which includes a number of fruit trees, including sugar apples, talking to her Koi fish, which greet her each time she stands near the pond in the middle of the garden.
"I love to see the mountains, clean environments, the Savannah, the sea," a smiling Drayton revealed.
Her home reveals her creativity, with every room adorned with some of her paintings, which reflect Caribbean culture. In her studio, canvases are stacked against a wall with a table carrying all her art equipment. Everything is looks quite orderly, not to mention the inviting bed tucked away in the corner for a quick nap when tired–but Drayton says it's Mr Drayton who usually lies there, while she's painting in the wee hours.
Much of what inspires her can be found in her book of poems Passages II: Brown Doves.
"The vein of beauty and the environment flows throw the book–it is symbolic of the environment."
She says it is a collection of rich and descriptive verse which borders on themes, customs and her own feelings about culture, love, the environment and harmony in which man and the environment exist side by side.
With such an accomplished woman, the man in the background must also represent strength and Drayton says he does. Her husband Selwyn, is his wife's biggest fan. Even with his demanding job as the Chairman of West Indian Distributors, he is never too busy to spend the quiet moments with his wife.
"Selwyn and I have a great deal of respect for each other. Respecting and accepting each other's goals and aspirations is important, even if you do not fully agree on them. But that comes with a level of maturity that is spoken and unspoken."
Drayton is also big on family. She describes attending to them as her number one, two and three priority. She has raised many children: two of her own, five belonging to her sister, who passed away, and another two belonging to her late brother-in-law.
She credits her upbringing for making her the person she is today. Remembering her parents, she chuckled as she spoke of her father's strict nature. A former agriculturist and journalist with the Guardian, she said he was an academic who would allow no time for skylark. On the other hand she described her mother, who died three years ago, as a "powerhouse" because of her ability to do so much for her children.
She shared the guidance she got from her mother, which has shaped her life.
"My mother often offered simple words of advice that can be termed universal. Just little things like be happy, follow your dreams, do good unto others, live your life with no regrets.
"And more specifically, she told me, one day you're going to achieve all you want."
Helen Drayton's Passages II: Brown Doves is available at RIK bookstores and on Amazon.com