The Favourites Meme

Ah, running late again. Have a huge week at work next week (including migrating one computer to another - always fun) so this weekend has been spent having a nice, quiet, easy going weekend. Got my lunch cooked for the week (Gluten Free pasta and meatballs), went for a float, had my temples seen to at the hairdresser and generally relaxed,

So here are this week's questions. As always, they've been provided by Bev at Sunday Stealing.

  Your favorite songs

Here are three:

    Your favorite bands

Okay other than The Pixies? Here are a few: The Police, Alt-J, The Rolling Stones, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Simon and Garfunkel, early Arctic Monkeys, Talking Heads.

    Your favorite actors or actresses

Other than Clive Owen? Hmmm. Julianne Moore, Juliette Binoche, Kenneth Branagh, Philip Seymour Hoffman (God bless him), Cary Grant, Gabriel Macht - just to name a few. But Clive Owen - phwoar.

    Your favorite books:

There are a few:

• Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres.
• The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
• Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
• The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Love books.

    Books you dislike

I don't generally dislike books, but I've never been able to read The Hobbit - or the Lord of the Rings Series - just boring. I'm not a fan or horror either. Not a fan of badly written chick lit either.

Oh, and Cleo, The Cat that Healed a Family - I've never recovered from that.

    Your favorite movies

Again, a few favourites.

• Three Colours: Blue
• The Princess Bride
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
• Most Pixar animated fare
• Branagh's Henry V
• The Intouchables
• V is for Vendetta
• And I'm becoming very fond of the Marvel Universe - particularly Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Breakfast at Tiffanys
• To Catch a Thief / Rear Window / North by Northwest

    Your favorite TV shows

• The Young Ones
• Outrageous Fortune
• Travel Guides (local fare - ordinary people rate holiday destinations - hilarious)
• The West Wing
• This Life (English Fare - it was awesome)
• Suits

    Your favorite foods/drinks

• Mum's roast lamb
• Flat rice noodles with chicken and hot chilli sauce from the Zen Noodle bar down Centre Lane
• Ice cream
• Poached eggs
• Pasties - when sourced in Adelaide

    Your favorite animal

I love most animals. I'm know as being a cat person, but I also adore dogs too... and horses. And Lions... and seals... and elephants. Animals are wonderful.

My most favourite animal is Maow Maow, my best mate's cat. We have a relationship. He's coming to stay in May for a month. He'll sleep with me. he's just wonderful.


    Your favorite scents

Roses. Dogs paws in the morning. Freshly baked bread. Home cooking. Autumn leaves. The beach.

    Your hobbies/ things you do in your free time

What is free time? When I do get some time you find me in the gym, at a movie theatre, reading a book or writing.

    Your pet peeves

Rude people. People who don't listen. The current Australian Federal Government (hopefully only 21 days left of the f*ckers)

    Things you collect

Books and ornamental elephants. And pens. I pick up pens everywhere.

    Things you like to swap

Books. And movie tips.

    Places you've been

Other than the monthly trip to Sydney. I've visited the following countries:

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Greece
• The Netherlands
• Germany
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Indonesia (Just Bali)
• Hong Kong
• Thailand
• New Zealand
• The United States (New York, Pennsylvania, Massachussetts and California - and maybe Colorado later this year)
• And I've been to South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.

    Places you'd like to visit

Next places on the list to visit:

• United States - hope to visit Colorado in November
• India - may have a wedding to go to next year
• Japan is high on the list
• Vietnam
• South Africa
• Argentina and Uruguay
• Canada
• And there is a lot more of Scotland, England and Wales I want to see. 

    The songs you dislike

I'm not a fan of Country and Western music, nor death metal.

And I really don't like this song. It's just bad.

   The movies you dislike:

I walked out of Sin City. Hated it. I'm also not a fan of anything too violent - So I've never seen Braveheart.

    The TV shows you dislike

Most reality telly. My Kitchen Rules. Anything with a Kardashian in it. Anything where people get too humiliated. Then again - I do watch Married at First Sight and Masterchef.

    classes you liked in school

French, English, Maths, Chemistry. I was pretty good at school.

    classes you disliked in school

P.E. (sport, Phys Ed, what ever you like to call it) and Physics. We were taught by a yeti in Physics.
   
crafts you would like to learn

I can already knit, crochet and sew. I don't mind painting. I would love to learn to play the piano properly. Never got piano lessons. Wish I did.

The Ask Anything Questions

Happy Easter. I've had my hot cross buns, which it appears, are not a big thing in America according to my made in Colorado - and you don't know what you are missing out on.

So it's day three of a four day long weekend.

So far I've seen two films (The excellent Gloria Bell and the lovely, take-your-mother film, The Chaperone, and I'm off to see The Aftermath later today.

Finally, I've finished my book group book - Milkman, by Anna Burns. I'm in about fifty minds about the book. It's a Joycean hell hole in some ways, astounding in others. Probably the hardest read I've encountered in a number of years. Maybe now I'll tackle Ulysses, which has been sitting on my bedside table for years. This would be a good primer. It's been a long time since I've had to read a book with a Belfast accent in my head.

Good questions this week. Thanks to Bev at Sunday Stealing.


1. What Did You Have For Lunch?

Today - I had hot cross buns. Baker's Delight Mocha hot cross buns, heated and slathered with butter. Only at Easter. I'm not even a Christian, but I do hot cross buns.



2.  Do You Dance In The Car?

Sometimes. It's not unknown. The trick is not getting caught.

3.  Favourite Animal?

My favourite ever animal is Maow Maow - my best mate Blarney's cat. We have a relationship - we love each other very much. but I'm an animal lover. Pretty much any animal. I will give police horses a cuddle, talk to dogs on the street and I'm a bit fond of elephants and alpacas. Animals are often a lot nicer than people.

4.  Do You Watch The Olympics?

No - not really. I will dip in an watch the diving and the gymnastics if they are on, but that is it. I used to love watching them as a kid.

5.  What Time Do You Usually Go To Bed?

Normally somewhere between 11 and midnight.

6.  Are You Wearing Makeup Right Now?

No, it's Sunday - I've been to the gym and I'm not going anywhere other than a movie theatre in a few hours. I doubt I'll put on any make up then. I don't wear much makeup anyway - eyeliner, mascara and a slick of red lipstick most days. That's it.

7.  Do You Prefer To Swim In A Pool Or The Ocean?

I like swimming in both. If I want to go for a proper swim for exercise, I prefer the pool, but I love being in the ocean. I don't do enough swimming. Joys of long hair - it's something you have to plan for..

8.  What Was The Last Thing You Ate?

Baker's Delight mocha hot cross buns, slathered with butter.

9.  Bottled Water Or Tap Water?

Tap water. I only get bottled water if it is fizzy.

10. What Makes You Happy?

Baker's Delight mocha hot cross buns. Cool evenings that are good for sleeping (we're having an Indian summer here - it's a few degrees above the normal April temperature, the trees still haven't turned - and they say Global Warming and Climate Change aren't real. Bullshit) Good books. Good cinema. Friends. Gin an tonics.

11. Did You Like Swinging As A Child? Do You Still Get Excited When You See A Swing Set?

I loved swings as a kid. I still love going on the swings. I'm known for going for a swing if there are no kids using them.

12. Do You Work Better With Or Without Music?

Depends on what I'm working on. Generally I'm better off without music, but I work in a noisy office and I'm finding putting on some gentle acoustic tracks on the earphones keeps me focused on what I need to do.

13. Do You Make Your Bed In The Morning?

Yes. Pretty much every morning. Without fail. Sarah Wilson put me onto this trick in First We Make The Beast Beautiful. It sets you up for the day. If you've made your bed, you've achieved something by the time you hop in the shower.

14. Do You Like Your Music Loud?

No. I only like loud music at concerts - even then, it's not the music isn't a loud as it used to be.

15.Do You Fear Thunder / Lightning?

No - love a good thunderstorm. Okay, if I'm stuck in the middle of one without shelter, then I'd be scared, if not, I love them.

Today's Song:

Fill in the blanks

Okay, not the best weekend for blogging. Yesterday morning I woke to find my car had been ransacked - spent the day arranging car glass replacements, talking to the police, coding a new gate opener, mourning the loss of a beloved object the cretins had stolen, the finally, once all had been sorted, a friend and I went out for  a quick dinner and show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. (Gillian English's "10 Things I Hate About The Taming of the Shrew" was excellent - on point, hilarious, and in words I think she'd say, the patriarchy aint going to fuck itself. Just what you need after junkies ransack your car in the middle of the night. I suppose they left the window neatly leaning against the back tyre... give them brownie points for being tidy... NOT!

Today, out to the hills to celebrate a friend becoming an Australian Citizen.

So there you go. Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

It's always nice when ____ your friends step up for you. Thanks, Jonella, for listening to me swear yesterday afternoon. (It would have been better if I could have taken to the person/persons who smashed in my car window with a tyre iron.)

Oh, that _____ is what feminist comedy is like when it is done properly. I really enjoyed Gillian English at the Comedy Festival last night.

It's a sure sign of   rain is when _____.spiders come out of the woodwork.

Are we having  a new Prime Minister again??!. It's only been six in ten years. (In Australia, we have a federal election on 17 May. I'm watching a lot of Netflix over the next month.

My heart _____ is a little bit broken. My work husband left the company on Friday. I'm going to miss him. Just got him trained up.

Do you believe in an interventionist God? I  know, Darling, that you do...!  Nick Cave lyrics. Love Nick Cave.

I'm a witch. I'be been a witch for a long time. I'm used to it now. Some people don't between in witches, but we're okay.

I was an illegal alien for a large part of my 20s. This is another story for another time.

People go batshit crazy  _____ when the moon is full.

When we _____ go to the next election , hopefully Shouty McScummo (Scott Morrison - current Prime Minister), and his crew, will be elected out of office and into electoral oblivion.

Ben and Jerry's ice cream _____ is the best!

Underneath it all _____ I'm a big softy. Just don't tell anybody..

Oh! And thanks for _____ reading my blog. It's nice to think somebody reads me.

And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __going to bed once this is done___, tomorrow my plans include __going to work, getting some work done, walking home, then seeing my trainer___ and Sunday, I want to __sleep is as that is now a week away and next Sunday is Easter Sunday so there is no pump class ___!


Today's song:

The Love Me Some Surveys Meme

Oh it is so nice not be travelling. I just wish I wasn't so blooming busy. Hence, it will be a quick one today.

Questions as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. If you could build a second house anywhere, where would it be?

Here are four places I would happily live:

• Mykonos, Greece
• Hampstead, London, England
• Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
• Cambridge, Boston, USA

2. What are your favorite articles of clothing?

• My biker boots
• A pair of wide-legged 3/4 work pants.
• This one navy and white wrap dress
• My shorty pyjamas

3. The last CD you bought or downloaded?

I listen to mostly downloaded play lists - and I found a great one with acoustic covers of a lot of modern songs.

4. What time do you generally wake up in the morning?

The alarm goes of at 6 am during the week. I get out of bed at 7. Now that daylight saving is over I'll be waking at 5.30 and up at 6.30.

5. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

My colander. It used to belong to my grandmother. It's pretty special. It's also about 70 years old - like the egg beater I inherited too.

6. If you could play an instrument, what would it be?

The piano. I never got lessons as I child. I wish I did.

7. What is your Favorite color?

One of these three:

• Pillarbox red
• Sapphire Blue
• Teal

8. Do you believe in the afterlife?

Sort of. Not in a Christian way. I like to think there is reincarnation.

9. Your Favorite children’s book?

Probably the Harry Potter series. I'm also fond of Lemony Snicket and Artemis Fowl.

10. Can you juggle?

I used to be able to juggle three balls. It wouldn't take much to get it back.

11. What’s your favorite day of the week?

Sunday. It is the day I can do what I want.

12. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?

Hamburger, through sushi is what I would choose eight times out of ten. Better for you.

13. What is your favorite flower?

Roses. And sunflowers are lovely to look at.

14. What is your favorite meal?

My mother's roast lamb is wonderful. For eating out, there is a cheap and cheerful Vietnamese place down the road, and they do this wonderful dry chilli beef dish that is just amazing.

15. Describe your ideal weather?

A London Autumnal day. Overcast, about 15 degrees, gentle breeze. I like winter.

16. What is your favorite Ice Cream?

Oh, do I really have to choose.  Here are a few favourites:

• Maggie Beer's Caramel and Burnt Fig Jam
• Ben and Jerry's Choc Chip Cookie Dough or Half Baked
• Pana Choc Chip Mint
• White Chocolate and Wasabi (Strangely, it works)
• Turkish Delight

17. What is your favorite breakfast?

Anything with eggs. Eggs Benedict - or scrambled eggs (had that this morning) or poached eggs on toast. Eggs are great.

18. Where did you meet your spouse or significant other?

I don't have a significant other. I've never had a significant other.

Bonus: something you’d like to do that you’ve never done before?

A couple if things I wouldn't mind doing:

• Live in New York for a year
• Skydive (tandem of course)
• Learn piano
• Perform stand up comedy

Today's Song: