Saturday 26 June 2010

Tattie Tag

The lovely Tattie has tagged me and this one's great 'cause I get to write all about me. By that I mean, I'm an expert on me and no one can tell me I'm wrong or haven't quite got it right. In fact, I could lie my head off and most of my readers wouldn't know. (But I wouldn't.)

1. Which do you prefer City or country?

I'm currently living in the noisiest place I have ever lived in my life and it has me salivating at the thought of a remote location. I love the idea of living deep in the countryside, in a beautiful house with a beautiful garden. The truth is however, that I can walk everywhere here and the thought of getting in the car for every little thing makes me think twice. So - not quite sure.

2. Do you feel old?

Sometimes. When I look in the mirror I feel old-ish even though my friends complement me on my relative lack of wrinkles. In my heart however, I still feel the same as I did when I was in my 20's - only I care less about what other people think. Standing next to a willowy 17 year old doesn't always help.

3. What was your most embarrassing moment and can you share it?

Probably the time I fell down and manhole and had to walk home dripping wet. At 17, this is about the worst thing that can happen. For those who are new to this story, here it is.

4. What was the best thing you ever did at school?

Leave with A levels. In the Upper 6th, as at every other school, we all turned 18. With 60 girls in my year, there was an 18th party about every other night, lasting till the wee hours and involving lots of amber nectar. My parents didn't really put a limit on what I did, probably assuming (often incorrectly) that I would make good decisions. I often wonder what my grades would have been like if I'd stayed in and studied more. I ended up at a good uni, so it didn't matter, but I'm curious.

5. Who do you most aspire to be like?

Someone who can make a huge impact where it's needed. I am currently President of a charitable organization and we're able to make a huge difference to a school in Ghana. I would love to be able to replicate this elsewhere. At the end of the day, she says deeply, none of the other "stuff" matters.

6. Do you think you are ambitious?

Not nearly enough. I spend a lot of time reading about how to market myself as a writer, yada yada, and then something else comes along that seems to be more important. Socially - I don't care about mixing with the right people, and I couldn't give a flying whatever about houses, posh holidays and flash cars. So - no.

7. If you didn’t do what you are doing now what would you like to have done?

I would like to have gone straight into journalism or writing instead of futzing around. In my day, you didn't study Journalism at uni, and it was too much of a gamble for this square peg to take to just leave school and wing it. I studied law then spent the best part of the following two decades in organization development, training and then business writing. My real writing began only when it was financially safe for me to do it and I had left the corporate world. However, the Queenager is going to do photojournalism at college so I can live vicariously through her. Mwa ha ha...

8. What would be your most perfect meal?

Oh yawn.....Not interested enough in food to answer that question. (Anyone who's going to CyberMummy - bear in mind that this doesn't mean I don't eat it.)

9. Have you ever broken the law?

Not wittingly. I am one of the only people my husband knows who's never had a parking ticket. Well, ironically, I got one last year because I pulled over to take a call on my phone. Even though I didn't leave the car and put my flashing lights on, the cop gave me one for stopping in a no parking zone. THAT'S why I don't deliberately flout the law.

10. What songs would be in your Top 3?

Hmmm. Oh gosh. How could I narrow it down to three? OK, I'll do the first three that pop into my head -

- Vive la Vida, by Coldplay. (Love those violins.)
- When a Man Loves a Woman, by Percy Sledge. (Not sure why.)
- Kid, by The Pretenders. (Chrissie Hynde is too cool.)

This is quite fun so have a go if you're in need of blog fodder.

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10 comments:

  1. Have joined in the tag- really enjoyed it X

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  2. Very nice to learn more about you! I did know the manhole story though. Nice to read about someone who is so honest, and not dressing it up for the public--but then, I already knew that about you and its why I keep coming back :)

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  3. Great song choices. They would all go in my top ten!

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  4. You sound very honest in your answers, nice. Especially about feeling old and ambitious. Is socially clibing really that important? I think not, too.

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  5. You are right - you do care less about what other people think as you get older; one of the (only) good things about age!!

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  6. Love it, great answers. Though I'm jealous that you're one of those people at school who didn't work, rather than pretended that they didn't! See you at CyberMummy.

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  7. Oh goodness - I'm not saying I didn't work. I remember putting in some long hours when I was atually in the house. I'm certainly not one of those people who can breeze into an exam having done the minimal. I just know I probably shouldn't have been out on the town quite so much... . On the other hand, we all had a great time.

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  8. You snuck this one in without me looking! I've loved reading everyone's answers particularly about breaking the law: I would always say that I don't as a rule but some laws well...good to know you are a very upstanding citizen!

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  9. And something for you at mine

    http://londoncitymum.blogspot.com/2010/06/blogging-with-substance.html

    LCM x

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  10. Ooh thank you LCM. Will attend to that when I get a moment.

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