Q & A

London City Mum tagged me for this meme, based on The Guardian’s Life & Style Q&A. I rarely partake in these, but having read London City Mum’s answers (and laughed a lot), I thought I’d have a go… (can’t promise to make you laugh, but you might see a different side of me after you’ve read this!):

Which living person do you most admire, and why? Nelson Mandela for personally sacrificing so much for the greater good.

When were you happiest? My wedding day x (and no it wasn’t all down hill from there… more of an up hill climb that keeps getting more interesting with each child!)

What was your most embarrassing moment? Getting caught short at Paddington Station, in the wee hours of the morning (having missed the last train home), and taking an emergency pee in a doorway…(the toilets were all locked!). I was totally unaware it was a doorway to Paddington Police Station; that was until I felt the door opening behind me and saw the black boots of a police officer step out!

Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought? Well, I guess a joint bank account means I have ‘bought’ a car with hubbie (though I’m an unwaged, SAHM, grafting for the love of it!).

The most memorable purchase of great expense was my first ever Christmas gift buying session with my Saturday job earnings when I was 16. It feel so good to be able to buy pressies with my own earnings for my family. I remember coming home laden with wrapping paper, bags of goodies, a satisfied smile… and a very low bank balance, but it was so worth it 🙂

What is your most treasured possession? Just one?! I could be very shallow and say my iPhone! Photographs are pretty high up there. But two items come to mind the most; A silver charm bracelet my dear Grandmother gave me on my 16th Birthday. Every link has a charm with a story to tell from her life.

And, a sketch my hubbie did for me on my 21st Birthday. He sketched a picture that had caught his eye in a magazine. Years later, without realizing the synergy, we ended up at the very place he’d drawn – and on our honeymoon!

Where would you like to live? Somewhere a lot closer to the UK than NZ, that offers a similar lifestyle. I love where we live, but it’s painfully far away from those I love so deeply.

What’s your favorite smell? Rain on a humid summer’s day. When the humidity builds up to breaking point and a storm brings a respite. I love running in the rain on a summer day and smelling nature as it quenches its thirst.

Also ‘hubbie’. I vividly remember my first thought, when being reunited with him after six months living on opposite sides of the world, was, ‘He smells the same’; and that was the scent of love.

Who would play you in the film of your life? I think Amanda Seyfried (from Mamma Mia fame) is beautiful and I’d love to have her voice (& boobs!). But a young Meryl Streep would probably be amazing too!

What is your favorite book? Right now it’s this Birthday book that my daughter orchestrated for my recent Birthday…

What is your most unappealing habit? Scratching my scalp, with my head hanging upside down, over a dark surface, to see how many dead skin cells I can dislodge – urgh!

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice? A dress from the set of Pride & Prejudice.

What is your earliest memory? When I was 4 I remember spending a lot of time in the home of our next door neighbour’s house. Our neighbours were a lovely older couple. They were like surrogate aunt and uncle. I vividly remember a feeling of comfort whilst sitting in a wooden rocking chair by the window, listening to my Mum chatting with our neighbours, whilst I gazed out at their garden.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? Chocolate and wine – but actually I don’t feel guilty at all!!

What do you owe your parents? A lifetime of being the best person I can be, in honour of the incredible love and time they have always unquestionably given with all of their hearts.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? My husband, for never offering him the last chocolate in the box 🙂

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Life itself.

What does love feel like? Every cell of the body resonates at a higher level, and glows in a warm, invisible field of positive energy. I feel this strongly at distinct moments with my husband, my children, my family and also with certain friends or in nature – a love of the Universe if you will.

What was the best kiss of your life? I’m not one to kiss and tell!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

‘In a minute!’

‘I’m coming!’

‘Mummy’s right here… Just doing the laundry, just washing up, just cooking dinner…’

‘I love you x’ – but i would argue that those words can never be overused – just so long as they are spoken from the heart.

What is the worst job you’ve done? Dish washer in a restaurant when I was 14.

If you could edit your past, what would you change? The education system that, at the time, made me choose one of the three subjects I loved at 14 to study for GCSE. I would have chosen all three; music, drama & art. But could only do one. I chose music.

What is the closest you’ve come to death? Saying a final goodbye to my Nana in hospital when I was about 13. She was so visibly weak and yet so incredibly brave with such spirit to the last.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? My children – that is if I succeed in bringing them up to be caring, kind and considerate adults!

When did you last cry, and why? When I ran out of Prozac and waited a week too long to get a prescription from the doctor.

How do you relax? Writing, walking by the ocean and in the bush, and playing the piano. I could think of numerous other ways to relax – but I rarely get the time…. a long, candle-lit bath, a quiet morning in a cafe sipping coffee and reading the Sunday newspapers, a massage, an afternoon sketching, some one-on-one time with hubbie, cuddled up in bed without little people jumping on us 😉 I could go on…

What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Uninterrupted sleep.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Focus on the good stuff and don’t get hung up on the past.

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All done! Now passing on to these lovely people (or anyone that wants to have a go!). I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Exploring Beauty with MNM’s
Moments of Whimsy
Little Gumnut
Kate5Kiwis
Kiwi At Heart
Latte Junke
Snapshots
Tales from a Cafe Chick

The rules? Answer the same questions, and then nominate some other bloggers. Catch!