Friday 10 December 2010

On Facebook Tagging

It happens from time to time, I get “tagged” in a “note” and invited to answer various questions and so on and then to “tag” my friends and ask them to answer the same questions. I don’t mind being “tagged” at all, but I’m always nervous about “tagging” anyone else in case I upset them.

So, since I’m me, and I sometimes do things a bit differently from usual, I thought I’d turn my answers from my three most recent “taggings” into a blog post. That way, if you’re interested you can read it, if not, then you needn’t. If you wish to play the facebook game, then you can always do the pasting and notes bit, but this way I don’t have to “tag” you, just in case you don’t want to be “tagged”!

1. What time did you get up this morning?
6.00 a.m.

2. How do you like your steak?
Mooing!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The first few minutes of a Harry Potter (about 6 years ago). We had to leave though because I had a panic attack. I’m not fond of the cinema.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Too many to list – I love the TV and watch loads and loads. I adore science documentaries, anything with David Attenborough, anything about weather, entertainment shows like Dr Who & Strictly Come Dancing, The Mighty Boosh, Eastenders, Ice Road Truckers, televised Proms and so on and so on and so on…

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
House in London suburbs, flat in central London, villa in Menton, riad in Marrakesh. These residences would be used at different times of the year depending upon weather!

6. What did you have for breakfast?
Cup of tea, caramel crunchy nut chewy cereal things, glass of smoothie, tin of Ambrosia custard!

7. What is your favourite cuisine?
Lots of them: the Wonderspouse’s cooking, French, Chinese takeaway, Curry etc. etc. etc.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Tomatoes. YUK!!!! Not really a fruit eater generally, wouldn’t get excited about celery.

9. Favourite Place to Eat?
Lots of them, including: The Waterside Inn, Restaurant at the Sofitel St James in London, room service at the Regent Esplanade hotel in Zagreb, Chef’s Cottage Chinese Takeaway, Pelmeni XL in Riga, my sofa at home!

10. Favorite dressing?
Olive oil & balsamic vinegar.

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?
Suzuki Wagon R+

12. What are your favourite clothes?
Shorts, t-shirt, sandals. Swimming costume. Old fleeces for cold weather.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Almost anywhere – I’ve only been out of Europe twice & would like to see the rest of the world.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Given to the Wonderspouse for a refill!

15. Where would you want to retire?
Retire? Hmmm? Wasn’t really planning on retirement because that means I need a pension and I haven’t got one!

16. Favorite time of day?
Evening time – in that space between not being exhausted in the afternoon and not falling asleep yet because it’s bedtime!

17. Where were you born?
Sacriston, County Durham

18. What is your favourite sport to watch?
F1, golf, swimming, athletics, gymnastics, diving, rowing, most winter Olympic sports.

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
Can’t imagine anyone will tag me back. In fact, I’ll be surprised if anyone’s still reading by this stage!

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
Nobody.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
Curious to see whether there is any response at all!

22. Bird watcher?
Absolutely – fascinating to watch how expertly our cats can tear them apart and get the tastiest bits to eat! Also great to see the weekend duck or Christmas goose crisping up in the oven!

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I am a lady of the night! ;-)

24. Pets?
Five cats!

25. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share?
I want to have pet rats for my next birthday. Just trying to work out how we can fit them in with the cats!

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
An astronaut or a clarinetist!

27. What is your best childhood memory?
Holidays with my Granny.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Cat (but not averse to dogs either)

29. Are you married?
Very

30. Always wear your seat belt?
Yes, absolutely.

31. Been in a car accident?
Yes, several. Last one was when a deer ripped the side off the car. Cost a packet to fix & insurance went up. My plea: everybody eat more venison!

32. Any pet peeves?
Chewing gum, people eating with their mouths open. People who don’t THINK!

33. Favourite pizza topping?
Prawns, tuna, meat!

34. Favourite Flower?
Erm, not sure I have one. Passion flower maybe?

35. Favourite ice cream?
Something really creamy with caramel & white chocolate & maltesers & stuff in it!

36. Favourite fast food restaurant?
Lots of them: fish & chips, McDonalds, Subway etc. etc. etc.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
Once – reversing round the corner! Passed second time!

38. From whom did you get your last email?
WHSmith – something about deals on greetings cards.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Musical instrument shop, HMV, Blackwells, somewhere that sells Airfix model kits.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Turned these questions into a blog post!

41. Like your job?
I don’t have one!

42. Broccoli? Cauliflower?
Both! And crinkly cabbage. The best veg look like trees!

43. What was your favourite vacation?
Lots of them. Marrakesh with the Wonderspouse. Iceland – blue lagoon & aurora. France – many times. Zagreb – several times.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Lunch with Parents & Wonderspouse. Can’t remember dinner – was too long ago.

45. What are you listening to right now?
Satie – piano music – Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc.

46. What is your favorite colour?
Red, purple, blue.

47. How many tattoos do you have?
None – keep thinking about it though!

48. Favourite drink?
Tea, wine, beer, whisky.

49. How many children do you have?
None, sadly.

50. Last good book you read?
Lee Child – 61 Hours

***
So, that was the first thing I was “tagged” in. The second asked me to list 15 fictional characters who have influenced me, which I find rather more difficult – I don’t really read a lot of fiction, and what I do read doesn’t generally influence me much. Anyway, here goes!

Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne

Kinsey Millhone – Sue Grafton

Dirk Gently – Douglas Adams

Inspector Morse – Colin Dexter

Jack Reacher – Lee Child

Nicole des Jardins – Arthur C. Clarke

Gustav von Aschenbach – Benjamin Britten / Thomas Mann

Leonora – Ludwig Van Beethoven

Francis – from Felidae

Aleksandr Orlov – from A Simples Life

Jack Hall – from The Day After Tomorrow

Vince Noir – from The Mighty Boosh

I know that’s only twelve, but I really can’t think of any more! Pretty hopeless really! I keep thinking of influential people, but they all turn out to be real!

***

The third thing I’ve been “tagged” in is a music-related thing where, apparently, I’m supposed to go into “shuffle” mode on my MP3 player or computer and write down the first 15 songs that appear.

Since I hardly ever listen to music on my computer, use Spotify only very very occasionally to look up things, and my MP3s are sorted tidily into different genres on different sticks in different places, I wasn’t going to find it easy. I don’t think my MP3 player even HAS a “shuffle” mode, and I haven’t actually got round to putting much music onto my iPhone yet.

So the best I can do is to list the CDs that are currently on my desk, starting at the top of the pile and working down. Either that, or tip the CD shelves over and pick 15 at random, but since I don’t have time to pick them all up again I’m not going to do that!

1. Satie – Piano Works, Gymnopedies, Gnossiennes etc.

2. Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms

3. Handel – Zadok the Priest and various arias etc.

4. Bach – Musical Offering

5. The Velvet Underground – White Heat / White Light

6. Kasabian – Kasabian

7. Shostakovich – Viola & Violin Sonatas

8. Feldman – The Viola In My Life

9. Mendelssohn – Elijah

10. Schubert – Symphony No.9

11. Beethoven – Violin Concerto

12. The Beautiful South – Blue Is The Colour

13. Britten – Death In Venice

14. Beethoven – Complete Symphonies

15. Bach – Christmas Oratorio

So there you are! A random blog post if there ever was one!

3 comments:

  1. Hooray for random! I rather like your taste in music and can understand wanting to be an astronaut (me too!) but a clarinetist? I'd have thought a violist would think about being an oboeist. Hee hee! Just kidding.

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  2. Och, Ann, *I* tagged you, and would have tagged you right back! but I love your lists! :)

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