The But-Kick MeMe

In my in-between contracts state, I'm finding I'm not writing enough, which is daft, as I have the time. So I'm giving myself a kick up the bum and doing a meme to start to process of writing again - and I hope to blog daily until I get my next contract - which instinct says may not be too far away. I've had a  few call backs - one role in particular looks interesting.

So here goes, the "Kick up the Bum Meme" - which I think was stolen from the legendary "Sunday Stealing", king of the useless questions.

Oh, the other thing about doing this meme - for every question I answer, a chore is done after. Means that I get some stuff done as well as writing.

1. Which TV character do you think you are most like?
Ah dear - a loaded question to start with. I have two options here - Phoebe from Friends springs to mind - I can be a bit flaky, a little on the eccentric side - and my singing is diabolical. The other person on telly that I'm told I'm like is Jo Frost, the supernanny - not that I am stern or painful or say ad nauseum, "That's un-ass-ept-able!" but I'm told I sort of look like her. That and the matronly figure and the looking over the glasses thing...

2) What time do you go to bed?
Normally around 11 pm, though now it's winter, and a cold winter at that, I find myself going to bed earlier just to keep warm. When I'm working, it tends to be a bit later to get more stuff done.

3) What was the last meal you made from scratch?
I don't cook enough - or when I do cook, I'm a bit of a one pot wonder. I do cook for myself regularly and made a pretty good Chicken Vindaloo yesterday for lunch - but I'm really struggling to think of the last time I made dinner for anybody else other than myself. I think it was back in January when I went around to Blarney and Barney's and made my patented chicken and roast pumpkin stir fry for them when they and the boys were sick.

When I do cook, I normally cook from scratch - there is really no other way.

This is something I should remedy, I love cooking, I'm not a bad cook  - but I rarely get the chance to indulge in doing anything more than a quick stir fry or steak and salad.

4) What is your favourite type of music?

Rock. I listen to most music but pure rock is up there as the favourite. The Pixies, The Violent Femmes, The Rolling Stones are all up there.

The other favourite type of music are those albums filed under "Adult Alternative" as a second choice. Josh Pyke, Ben Lee, Lisa Mitchell, Sarah Blasko... melodic, interesting lyrics, thought provoking music plays regularly as well.

5) In what position do you sleep?
Sprawled out on my stomach.

6) What is your first memory?
I have a fleeting memory of being in a carry basked in a forest listening to the radio hearing that man had landed on the moon. If this was the case I would have been eleven months old, but my parents reckon that they were out in a national park having a picnic when the news came through.

If this is a false memory then I have some fleeting memories of kindergarten, playing in the cubby house with David Butler - my first boyfriend, aged four...

7) What is your least favourite smell?


After taking public transport for many years, my least favourite smell has to be urine-soaked, vomit-pocked, aged-alcohol-scented wino. I know that homelessness is a dreadful state of affairs, but crap, some of these old boys take the smell to a new level.

8) It's your round at the pub and your friends asked you to surprise them. What drink would you buy and why?


Oh dear, too many drinks, to much to choose from.

It would depend on the friends. For the cultured ones, a bottle of Glenmorangie with a burgundy barrel finish - or maybe a bottle of Laphroaig - depending on whether they like peaty or smooth single malts.

For the beer buggers, Little Creatures pale ale. Nom nom nom.

For the wine drinkers, probably go a nice shiraz - a nice peppery shiraz like Pepper Jack or maybe a sparkling shiraz that tends to go down like raspberry cordial.

And if I'm in an evil, evil mood, then it would be pints of "wife beater" and lime (Stella Artois with a dash of lime cordial) with Baileys chasers. Would serve them right....

9) What was the last thing you read/watched that made you cry?
I remember getting a little teary while watching "Brave" the other week. But the last howl was had a few months ago when Wubbe came over to watch "Red Dog" with me. I shouldn't watch animal films - recipe for disaster. I always bawl through animal films.

10) They say that you learn something new every day. What was the last thing you have learned?
Today I learned that when you're doing something you're not supposed to be doing, you're going to get sprung. Case in point - today. I went into town to have lunch with Glen Waverley. We had a nice sandwich and a chat and I walked him back to his office. On the way back I went through Melbourne Central and took an arty shot of the Shot Tower. I then stumbled across a San Churros outlet. Getting a bit nostalgic, because Reindert and I used to go for churros every now and then, I dropped in, ordered a chilli chocolate and some churros for one - with a side of fresh strawberries to make the whole experience a bit healthier.

Sprung! Some old workmates found me contemplating this divine chocolaty mess.

Despite being sprung, they were wonderful. And churros always remind me of my time in Spain and Reindert.

That and I don't take a bad photo at times.

11) Which Literary love interests would you snog, marry and avoid?

Snog: Henry from "The Time Traveller's Wife". Far too unreliable to get attached to, but damned sexy and very enigmatic. Runner up - Severus Snape - as long as he's in the guise of Alan Rickman.

Marry: Antonio Corelli. I reckon he'd be fun - but you'd have to pin him down (Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis De Bernieres) and ask him to be sensible every now and then. This is not a man who will do the dishes regularly, but he would be loving and fun - he always makes me laugh.

Avoid: So many to choose from. All of the characters in "The Secret History", Mr Rochester from "Jane Eyre" (too uppity) Heathcliff from "Wuthering Heights" (too broody), any of the characters from "Trainspotting" (never know what you would catch.)

12) Paperback, Hardback or Kindle? Which of these is your favorite reading format and why?

I'm a paperback girl - mainly because they fit in my handbag without issue and I don't get too worked up about them if they go walkabout.

14) If you could bring back any cancelled TV series for another run what would you pick and why?


There are a couple of shows that I miss. In no particular order:

Six Feet Under - the perfection that it was is unsurpassed, but I would love more of it - even if Nate is now dead. Great, great show.

The West Wing: Only because it helped me understand American politics better than anything else.

Buffy: Because as alternative realities go, it was brilliant - that and Spike. Ah Spike - Vampire of my dreams...

Drop the Dead Donkey: An old English program that was some of the best satire I've ever witnessed. Sharp. current, topical and at times, hilarious.

15. Are you in a job that you truly enjoy?

At the moment I'be between contracts, but I generally enjoy what I do - I do like the writing aspects of the job. I don't enjoy the politics of large corporations

16. If you could do any job in the world what would it be?


Choice of two things here. Best selling novel writer or doctor. One or the other. I've always wanted to be a doctor but never got the grades to pursue it when I was younger.

17. If you could be a character in a novel who would you be?


Though my imagination wants me to say Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series, as I reckon Hogwarts would be an excellent place to go, I'm going to go with Lizzie Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Spirited, free thinking and forward, she's a woman with spunk and a brain. I've always liked Lizzie.

18. When it comes to spending time with those you love, do you think it should be about quality or quantity?


Hands down, quality. Too much of an introvert to spend a heap of time with anybody, quality always wins with me.

19. Is there a job/career you wanted but realised you couldn’t possibly do for one reason or another?


Other than being a doctor, due to my grades at uni at the time and now the thought of being poor for another ten years while I qualify, the other job I'd love to do is to be a full time healer / massage therapist / holistic healer - but that would mean dealing with the general public - not something I like doing at all.

20. If you could live anywhere in the world or out of this world where would you live?


The romantic in me would love to live in a villa in Tuscany. The normal me would be very happy with a quaint cottage in the Cotwolds in England.

21. Where would you most like to visit and with whom?


I've always wanted to go back to Paris with a lover - always been there on my own and I don't think it's the same as being there with somebody you love.

I also really want to go to San Francisco, Hong Kong, the North of Spain, Canada... oh who am I kidding, I just love travelling - though I tend to travel alone for logistic and realistic reasons.

22. Which skill would you like to learn?


The balance and the courage to ride a motorbike would be great, but I seriously don't have either the sense of balance, or the guts to ever do that.

23. What made you laugh today?


This:

24. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?


Other than nailing a new job (or at least the interview that will get me the new job) I'm going to be a reflexologist tomorrow, and I'm closing off my dream from last week's dream group tomorrow and I'm maybe having coffee with a friend. Lots of nice, little things to look forward to.

25. What is your sign and do you believe in horoscopes etc?


To ordinary people I'm a Leo/Virgo - born in mid to late August, I'm on the cusp - too quiet to be a real Leo, too out there to be a real Virgo.

To astrologers I'm a Leo/Virgo with a Capricorn rising, early Cancer moon and a five planet stellium in the Ninth house in Virgo - with a three planet conjunct (Jupiter / Mercury / Venus) There is no Air in my chart to speak of.

The fact that I know this sort of shows that I have some faith in horoscopes, but more as a personal development tool that a method of divination. I have some good friends who are astrologers. The insights they provide are priceless and extremely valuable .

26. If you could change one thing about your life thus far, what would it be?

There is a part of me who would love to be happily married. But this is something that may come. We will see. You never know - never too late.

27. If there was one charity you could give a huge contribution to, which charity would it be and why?


There are many charities I love and donate to, but if I was to pick one, the Medicins Sans Frontiers do amazing work - tireless, selfless, horrific work at times. Long may that continue.

28. Should smoking be legal?


I used to smoke. I don't smoke any more. If you're stupid enough to smoke, then be it on your head. Sure, let it be legal to those over 18 who are daft enough to do it as adults in their own homes - but fine the hell out of kids found smoking. It's horrible, but like alcohol, it's here to stay. Just let it remain for adults only.

29. What are your views on the smoking ban in public places?

Again, as an ex-smoker, I like that smoking is now restricted in most public places - though it is still legal on city streets when you get a whiff of ash and fumes on regular occasions,much to my chagrin. I do think that now that smoking has been outlawed in pubs life is a lot more civilised, though I was in Ireland a few weeks after the ban took place - and all I could smell in the pub was stale beer, farts and body odour. Never thought I could find a reason for smoking.


30. Why do you blog?


Easy. Frustrated writer in need of an audience, however meagre.


31. Do you have a favorite author?

I have a couple. Louis de Bernieres, Margaret Atwood, Jeffrey Eugenides, Robertson Davies and Salman Rushdie. One of them is my favourite, but I'm not sure which one.


32. Can you play any musical instruments?


I used to play the flute. I now play the flute badly. I can pick out a tune on a piano when required too - damned near perfect pitch.


33. What would your ideal car be?


Neville, my silver Mazda 2 is pretty much my dream car - though I'd kill for a Mazda MX-5. Not in the market for one, but I do like them.


34. Describe yourself in one short sentence.


Hopelessly optimistic romantic with a darker, sarcastic side who's always nice to old people and animals.


35. Worst meal you’ve had?


Normally it's one element or other that makes a meal bad, but there are two meals that stick out. One was a leaving do for a colleague - where the large team went and had Dutch food at a place called Hansie Brinker. The Dutch aren't known for their cuisine at the best of times, but this meal was diabolical. The one man and his deep fat fryer struggled to get our food - and after the meal I had to depart work early and spent the night throwing up. Truly awful.

The other meal that comes to mind was a birthday dinner I had sometime in the mid naughties. It wasn't so much the food, but the inclusion of the present of a sex toy given to me as a present by an acquaintance who wasn't that close - given as a serious gift and not a joke. After wanting the planet to swallow me up (like what am I going to do with a polyeurathane cock ring?) I departed with a bit of ill will. Needless to say, the acquaintance is no longer an acquaintance.



So there you go. And while doing this, the bed has been remade, a load of washing has been done, five job applications have been put in, I've had lunch with Glen Waverley, the cat has been brushed, the hoovering done...

A productive meme after all.

Pandx