78 Days: The From Friday Five Meme

So I am getting some time at home. So far this weekend I've seen a play, gone to meditation, breakfast, had a haircut and colour, picked up a gown for a ceremony on Wednesday, seen a film (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - loved it), slept, had breakfast and saw another film (Solo - the latest in the Star Wars back story films - a bit meh - but not awful) done my food shopping and started preparing lunch and dinner for next week. I think it has been a productive weekend.

Questions, as always, are from Bev at Sunday Stealing.


1. Is there a smell that will immediately sicken you?

Human vomit will normally turn my stomach. The smell of dead things is awful too (I was brought up on a farm - I know what long  dead things smell like) And as I found out yesterday in meditation, geranium oil did nothing for me either. It wasn't that it made me feel sick - it just reminded me of my grandmothers toilet.

2. When you want quiet, where do you go?

To bed or for a walk in a park.

3. Do you need/prefer total darkness when you sleep?

I need darkness. I rarely go to sleep if it is not dark and I am horizontal. I have a bugger of a time on planes.

4. What is your least favorite taste?

Banana. Okay, that is a lie - over ripe banana. Not overly fond of pesto or anything overly aniseedy either. Ouzo is fine - Pernod not so much.

5. How heavily do you rely upon your sense of touch?

Very heavily. Other than I'm a very tactile person, I'd never find anything in my handbag if I didn't have a good sense of touch. My handbag is a veritable tardis or Mary Poppin's  carpet Gladstone bag.

6. Do you mostly prepare your meals at home or do you eat out more?

Half and half. It depends on the day and the timing and the activities. I eat out more than I should - I blame a lot of that on laziness.

7. Is there a time of day when you are more likely to buy food already prepared?

Weekday lunchtimes. I have to forage around the city for something gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol free. It's not as hard as it sounds.

8. What is your average weekly grocery bill (for how many people)? What is your total restaurant/fast food bill for an average week?

Oh, that is a loaded question. I just spent $150 on groceries, but that was a big shop with lots of cleaning products and nuts which now need activating. It's normally around $80 just for me. Do remember that I cook from scratch and need healthy stuff.

I'd easily spend $100 a week on eating out - and that is a slow week. This weekend it was more like $150, but I haven't been home all weekend.

9. What is your favorite meal to prepare at home?

Chicken meatballs and pasta - not that I can have that any more. I do a wicked chicken and roast pumpkin stir fry too.

10. What is your favorite meal to order in a restaurant?

I will more often than not get lamb or duck if it is on the menu. Fish or Kangaroo are also favourite. And I am a sucker for creme brulee - though anything with passionfruit or yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit which tastes like a mix of mandarin, orange and lemon - and it is awesome) and I'm in.

11. Do you believe in fate?

Yes, unfortunately.

12. If Karma was to visit you now, would it be kind or kick you in the butt?

I'd like to think it would be kind to me. I make an effort to tread lightly on the earth.

13. Do you believe you have lived another life previous to this one?

 I do. I'm a great believer in reincarnation. I've also done a couple of past life regressions and come up with some seriously freaky stuff - a herbalist / witch in Toledo Spain, and and English woman who was shot by the Germans in WWII. Interesting and very freaky stuff.

14. What do you believe in with an unshakable resolve?

I believe that compassion and kindness will never, ever lead you astray.

15. What one factor influences your life the most?

Literature. Words actually do have power. People have forgotten this, but words matter. Words matter more than anything else in the world.

Today's Song: