I don't think Tracy realized the paper rifling that tagging me with this thing would unleash. A simple meme. But the first question has got me in a tailspin.
What were you doing ten years ago?
What, in days BC (before children)? I sincerely hope I was living it up, but the sad thing is, I don't really remember the details of my life then. Now, I know the headlines - where I was living (sweet Victorian semi on the edge of a wonderful park, close enough to walk into town) and working (science and engineering based consultancy), but what was I really doing?? I wanted to check, so I tried to find some hard evidence. No e-mails from back then, because I used my work account, pre digital photos only, so no handy dates. I've even binned the credit card bills from way back then, so I have no idea what I was spending money on. In fact, the only paper records I came across which could be positively identified as being from 1998, were a list of seeds I planted in the garden that year (it was deep in my gardening love affair period) and a Project Management award. This is scary stuff. What happens if I am accused of a crime from 1998 and I need to provide an alibi? I'm stuffed. This is why blogging is a good thing. Not that I've done anything illegal you understand. Just for the record.
I am obviously justified in my old diary preserving habits. It's just that pre 2003 got tossed out when we moved house.
5 things on my to do list for today
Buy one of those librarians date stamping gizmos, so I can catalogue the paper elements of my life. To avoid any similar panic 10 years from now.
Put the chicken and ribs in to marinade. For these. Yuuuuum.
Go to work - try to remember how to use the b****y till after 10 days away.
Pay the outstanding balance for our holiday to Cornwall.
Laundry. Today, tomorrow, probably every day until those grubby little boys of mine leave home.
Snacks I enjoy
Leftovers - I rival Nigella herself in my gleefulness at raiding the fridge.
Nuts.
Peanut butter on toast.
Radishes.
Post supermarket treat of whatever looked best that day on the bakery counter, with a coffee. Almond croissant, muffin, tart, doughnut - I'm flexible. Just not thin.
Things I would do if I was a billionaire
Panic, stress, pretend it hadn't happened. Vow not to let money spoil my children. Then go shopping.
Places I have lived
Oh really, I am not the right person to ask. I moved a lot as a child.Do you really want the list? Birth onwards? Hamilton, Bermuda; Broadstairs, UK; Suva, Fiji; Doha, Quatar; Whitstable, UK; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; Folkestone, UK; Benin, Nigeria; Nuku'alofa, Tonga; Dover, UK; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sheffield, UK; Edinburgh, UK; Yokohama, Japan and 3 locations in Oxfordshire. Phew. Let's just say, I'm very adaptable. Not to mention good at packing.
6 people I want to know more about
I want to know more about everyone. I'm congenitally curious. So tell me in your comments, what was the last thing you ate? Or you could 'fess up and do the whole thing, if it grabs you.
I have just finished some buttered rice cakes topped with oak smoked gammon, frilly leaves, cucumber and black pepper. :-D x
Posted by: Kitty | 04 June 2008 at 13:55
cheese salad- healthy but boring! What I really wanted to eat was the last of the boys' jelly sweets, but they've counted them so I couldn't.
Posted by: janet clare | 04 June 2008 at 14:40
You will approve - it was an almond croissant from the coffee shop!
That is the most impressive list of places to have lived too!
Posted by: Dragonfly | 04 June 2008 at 14:44
that's a really impressive list, you've got me panicking as Tracy tagged me too, can I even think of what I was doing 10 minutes ago....
oh yes last snack, a rather nasty cheesy cracker, need to go and find something nicer!
Posted by: driftwood | 04 June 2008 at 16:09
It was a low fat egg mayo sandwich with enough poppy seeds to start an opium industry.
But I am wishing it was Peanut Butter on Toast.
Sigh.
Posted by: Alice C | 04 June 2008 at 17:10
hey! when are you in cornwall? it's just that i want to rob your house, ahem, i mean i'm going camping (near st ives) - 2nd week of august.
Posted by: hazeljoy | 04 June 2008 at 17:11
The last thing I ate was a Quaver pinched from the kids just after swimming. Yuk. How I wish I'd resisted, then I could have told you about the gourmet salad I had at a friend's house for lunch, and you'd have been dead impressed ;-)
Posted by: dottycookie | 04 June 2008 at 17:35
Just had pasta with courgettes and tomato sauce, I put rather too many chilli flakes in I couldn't understand why everyone was drinking so much water ;) If you were to ask me about 10 years ago I think I'd have less idea than you, I think I am starting to get,oh my what is the disease where you start to loose your memory!! Aaagghhh (just kidding)
Posted by: Thimbleina | 04 June 2008 at 18:04
Mine was a big slice of watermelon, which makes me sound very healthy, but it came after a big bowl of rhubarb syllabub! It sounds like you have a very interesting childhood, living in so many different places. My list is quite dull really - 2 places!
Cathy X
Posted by: pinkgreen | 04 June 2008 at 18:27
I have had the day from hell and am currently working my way through the BIGGEST bar of dark chocolate known to man. I am doing this whilst hiding from my children. yes one of THOSE days. All that packing you must have done in your life!!!!!! ps now feel sick after too much chocolate
Posted by: Joanna | 04 June 2008 at 18:28
Peanut butter on toast indeed--but with butter also--I know, a bit overboard--but it is one of my faves!
Posted by: Allison | 04 June 2008 at 18:41
I just had a fabulous brunch that my husband and I cooked together. We deiced to join One Local Summer: http://farmtophilly.com/index.php/C21/
We pledged to cook one meal a week using all local ingredients! This is the first week, and we made bacon, eggs, and toast with jam. Yum!
Posted by: Katherine | 04 June 2008 at 18:56
The last thing i ate was a maple syrup sweet that i won in a giveaway from Lina. I can't believe you have lived in so many places - was it fun? I have always wanted to go to Tonga.
Lisa x
Posted by: periwinkle | 04 June 2008 at 19:12
The last thing i ate was a maple syrup sweet that i won in a giveaway from Lina. I can't believe you have lived in so many places - was it fun? I have always wanted to go to Tonga.
Lisa x
Posted by: periwinkle | 04 June 2008 at 19:12
The last thing i ate was a maple syrup sweet that i won in a giveaway from Lina. I can't believe you have lived in so many places - was it fun? I have always wanted to go to Tonga.
Lisa x
Posted by: periwinkle | 04 June 2008 at 19:13
last thing i ate: conch fritter washed down with a margarita. hooray for vacation!
Posted by: erin | 04 June 2008 at 20:25
A nasty Co-op flapjack - now wishing I'd done as originally planned and made my own!
You certainly had a very far flung and exotic childhood!
I lived in glorious Birmingham until I was 26. Boy, have I lived since then:
Wolverhampton, London, Dagenham, Southampton, Northampton, Southampton again - gradually working my way round all the UK 'Hamptons' it would seem (only had babies in two of them - one North & one South - no Wolves!) :)
Sorry...getting a bit obscure now...
Now going to Google 'conch fritter' to find out what on Earth Erin is eating.....
xxx
Posted by: Lesley | 04 June 2008 at 20:40
I am laughing like crazy at your turn of mind, an alibi??? Hmmm, raises some interesting questions about the bits you've forgotten....
Last thing I ate? While walking through the kitchen I reached up to the top of one of my cupboards where I keep a secret bar of Green and Blacks with cherry, just a square, just enough, just every once in a while as I'm passing.
Posted by: Rebecca | 04 June 2008 at 21:43
Porridge.
It's grey, blustering and miserable this morning here in Sydney.
Posted by: Allison | 04 June 2008 at 23:00
The last thing I ate - a great Indian meal in a restaurant called Malabar - and boy I ate too much!
It was almost 1030 before it got dark tonight - I love long summer nights!
Posted by: Di | 04 June 2008 at 23:19
We had twice fried plantains for dinner. They are really yummy with salt and lime juice.
Posted by: Liz | 05 June 2008 at 01:14
A handful of white chocalate chips from the pantry. (Smack on wrist). Note to self: leave enough for baking white choc and raspberry muffins on weekend.
What a childhood you had, eh?!
Posted by: suse | 05 June 2008 at 01:27
I've been tagged for this one too, but the last thing I ate was a double decker on the way home from being out with my husband. I never need to eat them obviously, but sometimes after more wine than necessary they take on a hallowed glow in my mind and nothing else will do.
Posted by: Jo | 05 June 2008 at 08:05
I have just eaten a bacon sandwich for dinner. By Thursday night it is desperate in our house. It did have avocado, lettuce, mushrooms and cheese as well, so it wasn't all bad. In fact, it was deliciously good.
Posted by: tracey petersen | 05 June 2008 at 10:56
i'm currently eating a macaroon from switzerland...present from hubby on his recent trip. And drinking an Australian Port and waiting for my Russian Caravan to cool down before going to bed.
i love reading memes...just couldn't be shagged doing them!
Posted by: tiel | 05 June 2008 at 12:18
Well I had a huge bowl of spag bol for dinner thanks - cooked by my husband as I had a sick child glued to my lap (again). Now I'm munching on dark chocolate and having a cup of tea. I'm glad you struggle with the cash register too Ali - but I'm a whizz with the bar code reader!
Posted by: Louise | 05 June 2008 at 12:28
A handful of almonds from a jar on my computer desk. Your list of places you've lived rivals my son's...his govt forms were quite long the first time.
Posted by: Maureen | 05 June 2008 at 14:46
Well, these are fun things to know. My "where have you lived" list is long, too, since my Dad was in the Army and my husband was Air Force. That library stamp idea is a good one; I need to do something about the horrid paper stacks that accumulate. One of my hated things is filing, yuck.
Posted by: June | 05 June 2008 at 15:07
oh dear. The last thing I ate I STOLE. Am temping for a company that has a large fish bowl full of murray mints plonked on the front desk. They are just within s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g distance. Crunch. There goes another...
Posted by: anna | 05 June 2008 at 16:22
I just finished a banana and four little nutty/seedy crunchy bite things from Aldi.Very nice.
I am the complete opposite to you and have lived in one place for the whole of my life.Different house but same borough.The last two houses have even been on the smae street (bought from the same people).That maybe why I am no good at packing.
Posted by: Kristy | 05 June 2008 at 17:03
Oh my -- you do get around! That's a lot of moving. I just had a subway turkey sandwich for lunch and I did this meme a few posts back!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 05 June 2008 at 19:14
Spagetti with red onion and sun dried tomatoes! I loved reading this post - I'm always fascinated by what other people have done etc. Just plain nosey I suppose!
Posted by: Gina | 05 June 2008 at 20:43
Wow! That's some list! Mine is VERY boring indeed :) And the last thing I ate was a massive indian take away; saag paneer, navratten korma, garlic naan... I've worked my 37 hours this week and I'm celebrating the weekend :)
Posted by: sarah | 05 June 2008 at 23:39
Hey, I didn't know you lived in Edinburgh! You learn something new every day.
I enjoyed doing the other one (flickr) so maybe I'll give this a go (if I can be a***d)!
Posted by: Zoe | 06 June 2008 at 08:45
How were the ribs and chicken? Looks delicious!
I've been tagged for this one too - on my to-blog list.
What did I last eat? A chinese special curry with egg fried rice at a noodle bar last night with my friend. And it was lovely :D
Posted by: Helen | 06 June 2008 at 09:38
Cheese and broccoli soup (with a spot of curry paste to give it oomph).
Have a wonderful time in Cornwall. We went back for the first time in years last summer and it was super (it helped that we had two weeks of non-stop sunshine), sailing, fishing, and lots of eating and drinking looking out over the sea... I'm getting all nostalgic already!)
Posted by: gillie | 06 June 2008 at 13:37
The last thing I ate was barbecued burgers with olives, capers and just a smidgen of chilli, with a rocket salad and barbecued yellow peppers stuffed with anchovies and other goodies ... having just been a background prop for aforementioned meal for a shoot in a small London garden ... whilst dodging the raindrops. It was well-earned and totally delicious!
Posted by: Julie | 06 June 2008 at 15:58
Delurking here....just eaten a homemade (but not by me!) chocolate brownie. That's a very long and glam sounding list of places you've lived. And you're coming to Cornwall...lucky you, it's hot and sunny down here at the moment so bring flip flops and swimsuits, and fingers crossed it'll stay hot. Have fun!
Posted by: Diana | 06 June 2008 at 17:27
Tick-tock! Just realized you're not coming to Cornwall right now....oops. Oh well, may this summer be better than last!
Posted by: Diana | 06 June 2008 at 17:35
I loved your list, Ali. I did mine last week, I think. And I'm amazed at all the places you've lived. I wonder - do you have something/anything from any of those places?
Posted by: nikkipolani | 06 June 2008 at 21:50
Very dull but the last thing I ate was a bowl of raisin bran. We have the itchy feet, moved around a lot thing in common I see!
Posted by: lina | 07 June 2008 at 00:35
What a great post. I love nosing into other people's lives - the whole point of blogging I feel!
Anyway, haven't eaten yet today despite it being 2.30pm as Aimee had 3 friends sleepover last night and we have just emptied out the house. Phew. What a night!
So am off to Starbucks now without baby, big kids or husband. Will be enjoying an Iced Latte and Muffin or Almond Croissant whilst I ponder what to make for desert tonight as we're over the road to neighbours for dinner.
Ten years ago - easy. I was s***ing myself at the scarily young age of 23 as I grew ever nearer to Aimee's due date. Did get to enjoy all the sport that year though and finally learnt the rules of cricket and footie whilst watching the Ashes and World Cup. (There was a lot of watching TV whilst laid out on sofa at Dr's orders!)
Posted by: Victoria Leather | 07 June 2008 at 07:29
Wow. That's a loooooot of places to have lived- and I thought my record of 3 countries was impressive!
I just ate some blueberry yoghurt with oats and seeds. Very German :)
Posted by: charlie p | 07 June 2008 at 08:48
Oh no - now I have to confess to eating a toasted wholemeal crust with peanut butter and mashed banana.
Oh and a butter minto :(
Posted by: lazylol | 07 June 2008 at 17:22
Pita and roasted red pepper hummus. Rather on the healthy side for me.
Posted by: Anna | 07 June 2008 at 21:52
No claim to healthy eating for me. I've just had 4 After Eights and I'd been resisting them all day. Its all the surfing.
Posted by: oge | 07 June 2008 at 23:10
Hi Ali! Thanks for coming to the shop! The last thing I ate was a Fig yoghurt, actually the last three things I ate have been fig yoghurts! Slightly addicted.....!
Posted by: Sharon | 08 June 2008 at 10:16
Great post.. it made me laugh.
Last thing I ate, some peppermint chocolate with a peppermint tea (not normal tea, otherwise I won't sleep tonight)
Posted by: Serena | 08 June 2008 at 15:17
Ali, the places you have lived! WOW. I so wish I lived in England and Europe. I wish at least I could talk my husband into renting a cottage for a few months in a different place every year.
Do you have a favorite place of all those?
Posted by: Gina | 09 June 2008 at 15:07
Gosh,
I was browsing blogs because I got tagged the other day and thought that only really uncool people (like me) do MEME... I am so relieved I am not alone in replying, hahaha, even though I expect abuse by some I tagged!
So all of my replies to these questions are here if you care to check them out:
http://domestic-miss.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-me-me-mee-me-mee-mo.html
And the last thing I ate just two minutes ago was bulgar wheat with peas and red peppers. In fact... oh no... I should have taken pics of it for the blog!
All the best!
Steph~
Posted by: Stephanella | 04 July 2008 at 18:39