The Ask Game

Let us see how we as do with this one. I'm off to a birthday lunch soon and I want to get a bit of this done before the tram arrives.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.


1. Do you have a passion project? What is it?

Yes, that would be writing - an hopefully publishing, my two novels. They are a labour of love.

2. How many languages can you speak? 

One and a few. Other than English, I've got reasonable schoolgirl French, a little bit of Greek and can understand Spanish and Italian to get by in. Love being a polyglot. I pick up languages like most people pick up a cold.

3. What was the last book you read?

I just finished Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar., Currently reading Liam Pieper's The Toymaker  - the latter is for book group.

4. Where in the world would you most like to visit?

Oh too many places. High on the list - Japan, Cambodia, Spain (again) Italy, (again) Canada, Argentina, Chile, Turkey, England, Ireland, Iceland... oh you name it - love travelling, I'm going to Hong Kong in a few weeks.

5. Top 5 fictional characters?

Oh, literary or filmic?

Literary wise - Billy Pilgrim, (Slaughterhouse 5), Sugar (The Crimson Petal and the White) Antonio Corelli (Captain Corelli's Mandolin), Cal (Middlesex) Most of the Harry Potter universe.

Film wise:  Inigo Montoya (The Princess Bride), Joe Bang (Logan Lucky) Mildred (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri) Mike and Sully (Monsters Inc), Harvey Specter (Suits)

6. Something you miss from your childhood?

I miss having animals around all the time. I grew up with two dogs and two cats. I miss having dogs to play with. I will also say I miss playing down the beach and milkshakes in tin cups with paper straws. They are the best.

7. What skill do you wish you had?

I wish I was tidy and organised. It's a struggle.

8. Tell us an interesting fact

The first thing I can't repeat here as the factoid came from the My Dad Wrote a Porno podcast... but the podcast is the funniest thing I have ever heard.

Okay, so repeatable content. Australia is home to 9 out if ten of the most poisonous snakes. Platypusses are venomous too. There are a lot of animals in Australia that can kill you. It's fun. Thankfully most of them are in Queensland.

9. What was your favourite subject in school?

English. Then French. Then it was a toss up between Maths and Chemistry.

10. Favourite planet?

Saturn. I like the rings.

11. Which historical figure fascinates you and why?

Thomas A Becket. I like to commune with him when in Canterbury. Awesome man.

The runner up is Henry VIII. Love Henry the Eighth.

12. Favourite mythical creature?

Dragons.

13. Do you believe in any conspiracy theories?

Yes and no. Depends on which one. Is MIchael Jackoson and Elvis living on Tristan de Cuhna ? No. Do aliens exist? Maybe. Who killed JFK? Probaby the CIA.

14. What is your favourite word?

Serendipity. Love happy accidents.

15. Do you have any obsessions right now?

Other than Darvey fan fiction and the My Dad Wrote a Porno podcast. Not really. Australian and American politics will always fascinate me too.

16. Do you play any instruments?

I think I can still play the flute.

17. What’s your worst habit?

I still suck my thumb when stressed. (at home, away from prying eyes.)

18. Do you have a collection of anything?

I collect miniature elephants. I have a shelf full of the buggers. People bring me back elephants all the time. It's lovely.

19. What’s your biggest ‘what if’?

Oh, I don't like to talk about it. Mine will forever be what if he who shall not be named got his act into gear 20 years ago, He didn't. I try not to dwell on that.

20. What is your favourite fairy tale?

Cinderella

21. Have you ever dyed your hair? Is there a colour you’d like to dye it?

I have dyed my hair since my teenage years. I would still love to go back to fire engine red one day.

22. If you could learn one language overnight, which would you choose?

I'd love to learn Spanish property. Would make walking the Camino easier.

23. What’s the most useless thing you know how to do?

I can recite Jabberwocky when very, very drunk. That's a bit useless.

24. What’s the most important change that should be made to your country’s education system?

It needs a complete overhaul. I say bring back music, art and languages to the curriculum - and put more of an emphasis on literacy and numeracy standards. A least education is accessible here.

Today's Song: