Around the House Meme

Okay, I'm recovering from a rancid cold, I am 12000 words down on my uni assignment and I have finally got all of the lodge paperwork out the way. Joy.

I've still go to do the ironing and a bit more writing to do, but as always, it is good to get Sunday Stealing's questions out of the way. You're doing a great job, Bev.


Bedroom: what’s your sleep schedule? 

In bed by 11 pm, wake at six on weekdays, out of bed at seven. That is about normal.

Kitchen: favorite comfort food?

Cheese on toast. Baked beans on toast.

Washroom: showers or baths? bubbles? bath bombs?

I love baths, but I only have a shower in my flat. Nice soap always can be found in the shower stall.

Closet: sum up your style in a few words.

Black, grey, red, simple.

Parlor: favorite party or board game?

Monopoly - though I'm known to cheat. I like playing pool too if there is a table available.

Living room: what do you like to do with your family?

We normally sit and watch telly or talk around the dinner table. That is when I am over with them.

Dining room: favorite special occasion food?

Roast lamb. Love's Mum's roast lamb.

Garden: favorite tree? flower?

I'm a rose fan. Love roses.

Attic: what’s one thing you have a sentimental attachment to and you will never throw away?

Possibly my flute. I never play it, but I still have it in the cupboard. That at the teddy my grandfather gave me at birth.

Library: favorite book genre?

Literary fiction.

Office: if you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

Writer.

Guest room: have you been to a sleepover? if so, when was your first? do you like them?

Of course, but I can't remember the last time I slept at somebody else's place. Ages ago it was.

Foyer: do you like small gatherings, large parties, or one-on-one meetings?

Small gatherings. Much better at those.

Pantry: favorite meal to make?

Chicken meatballs and pasta. It's a Gary Megihan recipe.

Laundry: favorite and least favorite chore?

Anything to do with cleaning floors.

Garage: favorite mode of transportation? favorite car?

I love travelling by boats - ferries are great.

Panic room: what was the most nerve-wracking experience you’ve had?

I was stuck in a moving lift (elevator) for about half an hour. That was really scary. Got out unscathed thank goodness.

Powder room: do you wear makeup? if so, what one item can’t you live without? what’s your favorite look? 

I only wear a little make up - eyeliner and mascara, with a bit of lipstick. I only put on foundation for special occasions.

Firsts

I'm supposed to be doing a lot of things, but my dinner is cooking, so this is a good time to get this done.

So, the questions have been supplied by Bev at Sunday Stealing. Bev, you are doing a great job.

First Job:

I used to work at the local general store when I was at high school over the holidays.

First Real Job: 

My first full time, permanent job was at Lehman Brothers in London where I did data entry, then went from there.

First Favorite Politician: 

Gough Whitlam, though I have always had a soft spot for Tony Blair. In his early days, he was good - much needed.

First Car: 

An EJ Holden, named Edna. The first car I purchased on my own was a Ford Fiesta called Phoebe. Again that was in London.

First Record/CD: 

ABBA, Arrival - like all children of the seventies.

First Sport Played: 

Probably pool - other than gyming and running, I've never played sport.

First Concert: 

Elton John and the Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra

First Foreign Country Visited: 

New Zealand. I was seventeen.

First Favorite TV Show:

I used to love Hogan's Heroes and MASH as kid.

First Favorite Actor:

Cary Grant

First Favorite Actress:

Audrey Hepburn

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend:

Oh, spotty Simon. Joys of having boyfriends when you are a teenager.

First Encounter with a Famous Person:

I stood behind Emma Thompson in the supermarket queue once - again, in London.

First Brush With Death:

I drove a tractor into a deep drain when I was about 12. That was a horrible near miss.

First House/Condo Owned:

Still don't own. I rent. Property is far too expensive over here on one salary.

First Film Seen:

I remember my father taking me to see Disney's Robin Hood when I was about five.

First Favorite Recording Artist:

Skyhooks

First Favorite Radio Station:

107.1 SAFM - Adelaide's first FM station.

First Book I Remember Reading:

The book that got me back into reading was Donna Tartt's The Secret History. As a kid, I read everything. I loved Golden Books.

First Meme You Answered on Your Blog:

No idea. Too long ago.

Put Your Questions in a Box Questions

Running late for this week as there are things to do - 7000 words down on my big assignment, and we've seen a very good Macbeth and visited my friend the cat.

Questions are from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. Where were you three hours ago?

Sitting with Barney watching the footy while the Maow Maow sat on my lap.

2. Make a confession.

I went over the speed limit on the way home from Barney and Blarney's - not by much, but I did.

3. Bad habits?

I love a good fart.

4. Favorite color?

Pillarbox Red

5. Can you drive?

Of course, I'm from country South Australia. I've had a licence for over 30 years.

6. 3 pet peeves.

Rude people.
People who don't indicate when changing lanes.
People who don't let people get off the train before getting on themselves.

7. Last person you hugged.

Georgie from book group. We met up at the theatre last night.

8. Something you miss.

Reindert. Being thinner than I am now.

9. What song is stuck in your head at the moment?

The last song that played in the car, which was this:

10. Favorite quote.

"The lunatic, the lover and the poet, are of imagination all compact." Shakespeare.

11. Favorite band.

The Pixies

12. Something your excited for.

Finding a new job in early/mid August, with good pay, nice people and a bit of longevity, in the city,with maybe a little bit of travel involved which is a challenge that can be done in an eight hour work day.

13. Favorite movie.

Probably Three Colours Blue.

14. What type of phone do you have?

IPhone 6

15. Favorite animal.

Do I have to choose one. I'm a bit of a cat lady.

The Last 40 Questions from Bud

The magnificent Bev has taken over Sunday Stealing, which is most excellent, as she is a most excellent person.

I should be writing proper stuff. Five questions and a hundred words I reckon. That is a good way to go.


1. My uncle once : lost to me playing pool. He's never forgiven me.

2. Never in my life : have I taken intravenous drugs. No thank you.

3. When I was seventeen : I really have no clue at all as to what the world was about or who I was.

4. High School was : incredibly awful, but a good proving ground.

5. I will never forget : the first time I slayed a huntsman spider. I was so proud of myself.

6. I once met :Jeremy Clarkson at a restaurant. I bummed a cigarette off of him.

7. There’s this girl I know who : has the ability to turn people against her in less that 30 minutes. It's very sad to see.

8. Once, at a bar : I saw an elephant being lead in for the pleasure of the patrons.That was in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was very sad.

9. By noon, I’m usually : Two coffees down.

10. Last night : I got a lot of kitten cuddles. That was grand.

11. If only I had : won lotto last night.

12. Next time I go to gym/church : Will be tomorrow night - as we are without a trainer, Jay and I have to fend for ourselves.

13. Susan Boyle : is a bit of an enigma - pity people are so mean to her.

14. What worries me most : is where society is going. It's very scary. America elected Donald Trump - you don't get much scarier that that.

15. When I turn my head left, I see : curtains.

16. When I turn my head right, I see : my ironing board and ironing pile.

17. You know I’m lying when : my cheeks go red.

18. What I miss most about the eighties : the energy of being a teenager.

19. If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be : Do I have to choose one? Juliet's Nurse? The fool in Lear (Love him), Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Too many good ones to choose from.

20. By this time next year : I want to be ready to go on the Camino.

21. A better name for me would be : Trellawney Tom. That's my poet name.

22. I have a hard time understanding : conservatives. And anybody who is cruel to animals.

23. If I ever go back to school, I’ll : do Law. I'm nearly finished with this Masters in Writing.

24. You know I like you if : I smile at you. If I don't like you, you'll know about it.

25. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be : My Mum.

26. When I compare 80’s rock to 90’s rock : I think about the hair. 80s was much better, but 90s British Rock is great.

27. Take my advice, never :  Oh - just follow Dave Shrigley's Donts...

28. My ideal breakfast is : Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon and Hash Browns.

29. A song I love, but do not own is : this:

30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest : visiting the bakery. The Myponga Bakery is very good.

31. My favorite Beatle is : Paul. but I love all of them.

32. Why won’t people : be nice to one another.

33. If you spend the night at my house : you will be sleeping on the couch as I gave away my fold up bed the other day (need to get a blow up mattress.

34. I’d stop my wedding for : nothing. Never thought I would get married.

35. The world could do without : Donald Trump and Tony Abbott.

36. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than : vote for the Liberal/National party.

37. My favorite blonde is : a golden retriever.

38: Paper clips are more useful than : Jam jars. just.

39. If I do anything well, it’s : write.

40. And by the way : it is lovely that Bev has taken over Sunday Stealing. Thank you, Bev.

The Greenish Questions

It will be interesting to see if anybody takes over Sunday Stealing, as the present person running this is signing off. It has been a great few years of doing these quizes. Thanks Sunday Stealing.

I'm writing this from my mother's kitchen table in Country South Australia.

1. What is your current obsession?

Probably Orange is the New Black.

2. What’s your go-to coffee place?

Depends on the day of the week. Weekdays it's either Dom in the foyer of the building, or Andrea a Foccacino for my coffee. On weekends, it's Cafe Krifi near the gym.

3. Who was the last person that you hugged?

Mum. She and my step-dad left on a bus to go out to lunch. I have to lock up when I go soon.

4. Do you nap a lot?

No. Rarely sleep through the day.

5. Tonight, what’s for dinner?

No idea. Probably nothing as I get back to Melbourne mid-evening. They might feed me on the plane - so plane food.

6. What was the last thing that you bought?

I bought some Farmer's Union Iced Coffee at the service station when I filled up last night on the way to a friend's place. Manna from heaven that stuff.

7. What is your favorite weather?

Cold, slightly damp, with a bit of sunshine - like it is now.

8. Tell us something about one blogger who you think will play this week?

Bev is really cool.

9. If you were given a free house that was full furnished, where in the world would you like it to be?

Hampstead, London.

10. Name three things that you could not live without.

Friends, coffee, sleep.

11. What would you like in your hands right now?

A kitten, a decent book and a gin and tonic.

12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures?

Tattoo shows. They fascinate me.

13. What would you change or eliminate about yourself?

I'd love more time to get the body I really would love to have again. Love to be thinner. Just have to work at it.

14. As a child, what type of career did you want?

I wanted to be a doctor or a writer. I am a writer.

15. What are you missing right now?

I could use a day at home to do some cooking and cleaning, but I am interstate. Missing having the time to potter.

16. What are you currently reading?

Just started Liane Moriarty's "Truly, Madly, Guilty" for book group.

17. What do you fear the most?

Falling. Commitment. Open water. One of those. Depends on the day.

18. What’s the best movie that you’ve seen recently?

I adored Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume II. I also loved Their Finest. Very cool English film.

19. What’s your favorite book from the past year?

Hanya Yahanigara's "A Little Life". It was a slog, but it was brilliant. Just finished Zadie Smith's "Swing Time". Really enjoyed that too.

20. Is there a comfort food from your childhood that you still enjoy?

Too many of them. Beans on toast. Chocolate donuts. Fish fingers. They all still rate highly.

The Ginormous Questions

As these are questions mostly about relationships, and I really, really don't like answering questions about relationships this will be a quick week. There are some things I don't need to talk about much. Relationships are one of those things.

On the good side of things, I had a lovely time at a friend's 40th yesterday out in the Yarra Valley, went to a party for a book launch and journal launch in which I have two stories placed, then went and saw Alan Cumming sing Sappy Songs in the evening. He was awesome. He also sings in a Scottish accent which was really cool too.

A great yesterday has let me exhausted and happy. Happier than these questions have made me. But you have to take the good with the not so good. Ah well.

Questions, as always, from Sunday Stealing.

1. Are you single? 

Yes

2. Are your parents still married? 

My mother has been remarried for over 25 years. Father died 20 years ago.

3. Are you in love? 

No

4. Do you believe in love at first sight? 

Yes.

5. Who ended your last relationship? 

He went back to his former girlfriend. It was a good thing.

6. Have you ever been hurt by a break up? 

Of course.

7. Have you ever broken someone’s heart? 

No idea. maybe.

8. Have you ever had a secret admirer? 

How should I know?

9. Prefer love or lust? 

Love, but lust is fun.

10. Prefer a few best friends or many regular friends? 

A few good friends. I'm lucky, I have a wide circle of acquaintances.

11. Wild night out or romantic night in? 

Romantic night in.

12. Back in the day: Been caught sneaking out? 

No. Too much of a goody goody and lived in the country.

13. Ever wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? 

No.

 14. Who are/is your best friend(s)? 

I'm not 13. Next question.

15. Ever wanted to disappear? 

Yes.

16. First attraction: Smile or eyes? 

Eyes.

17. Prefer intelligence or attraction? 

Intelligence wins over every time.

18. Last phone call you received? 

It was a work call on Friday afternoon. Fun.

19. Last thing you drank?

Iced Turkish Apple Tea with some lime and soda water.

20. Before your current one, when was your last relationship? 

Eight years ago.

21. Do you and your family get along? 

For the most part. They live interstate so that helps.

22. Would you say you have a "screwed up life"? 

No. It's busy and varied but not screwed up.

23. Have you ever gotten kicked out somewhere? If yes, do tell. 

No.

24. Do you trust all your friends? 

Yes, but there are definite boundaries about who knows about what.

25. Who knows the most about you?  

Probably Jonella and Blarney. They see me the most.

The High School Questions

I blame the new season of Orange is the New Black for the lateness of this.

But I have binge watched it all and can get on with other things now.

Questions, as always, from Sunday Stealing.


1. Did you date someone from your school?

Yes. That's all you need to know.

2. Did you marry someone from your high school?

No.

3. Did you car pool to school?

No. A bus picked us up at the front gate every morning.

4. What kind of car did you have?

A 1966 EJ Holden. They are very cool now.

5. What kind of car do you have now?

A red Mazda CX3.

6. Its Friday night...where are you now?

Home watching telly. That is most Friday nights.

7. It is Friday night...where were you then?

Home watching telly. That is most Friday nights. That's always been my Friday nights.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school?

Worked in the local store.

9. What kind of job do you do now?

Writer. Corporate fixit person.

10. Were you a party animal?

No.

11. Were you considered a flirt?

No. I still don't know how to flirt.

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?

Yes. I played flute in the school concert band.

13. Were you a nerd?

Yes.

14. Did you get suspended from school?

No.

15. Can you sing the fight song?

I'm Australian - we don't have stuff likes that.

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher?

My French teacher was awesome.

17. Where did you sit during lunch?

Again, not American, we don't have a cafeteria, but I was often found in the library.

18. What was your school's full name?

Willunga High School.

19. Where did you party the most?

I didn't party. No friends and I lived out of town.

20. What was your school mascot?

Again. I'm not American, we don't have that stuff in Australian public schools.

21. Would you do it again?

High school? No way. It was awful.

22. Did you have fun at Prom?

Again, Australian - when I went through school we didn't have a prom culture - I believe that has changed.

23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with?

See above.

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion?

We had our 30th reunion late last year. Once was enough.

25. Do you still talk to people from school?

There are one or two people I am in loose contact with.

26. What are/were your school's colors? 

Royal blue and gold. I didn't wear blue for a decade after school.