For Elizabeth, who asked so nicely. Answers to her eleven questions:
1. If you were invited to make a piece of art, what medium would you use?
Paper – there’s something so soothing about cutting, folding and sticking. I think it brings out my inner toddler. And if it all goes horribly wrong, it’s so easy to scrumple it up and begin again.
2. What clothes are you most comfortable in?
Scruffy, baggy, old ones. I am one of those people who comes home for the evening and immediately takes off their day clothes and puts on ‘loungewear’. Only that word seems to conjure up visions of wafting about in White Company cashmere, whereas my reality involves ancient flannel trousers and a sweatshirt dating from the late 1980’s. I am very loyal to certain items of clothing. They become like old friends.
3. If you had an unexpected afternoon to yourself and not a care in the world, how would you spend it?
I would visit somewhere new – a garden might be nice, this time of year, or in the autumn some woodland with a nice tea shop. Perhaps a gallery in bad weather, or exploring a new city. I don’t mind doing that sort of thing on my own. Particularly if I have my camera. It’s a treat to just let my mind wander free and see different things.
4. Do you have things you "don't do" and if so, what are they?
Insurance renewals. I could do it, I just don’t want to. So I shan’t. I also try at all costs to avoid mowing the lawn, but that is because hubby laughed at my efforts when I last did it. If he didn't mow, I would dig up all the grass and just plant more flowers instead.
5. What do you panic most about losing?
My sense of taste. I lost it for about a month one Christmas a few years ago and I was utterly devastated. I could not believe how down it made me feel and what a soulless experience it was to eat without perceiving flavor.
6. What is your favourite quotation?
Far too fickle to have just one favourite. Whatever chimes with me and what I am doing or feeling at that moment. The last one which caught my eye says “No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch” - running motivation. It spoke to me.
7. What is your ideal holiday?
I am still searching for it. But I suspect I cannot afford to go, or that it is already fully booked by people who are more organized about planning these things than we are.
8. If you wear lipstick, what shape is the end, once it's no longer new?
I never wear lipstick as it makes me feel as if I have a cartoon pout. It is with high heels on my list of things I will master when I grow up. Does chapstick wear in the same way? If mine is in a stick, it has a flat top. If it comes in a tiny pot, I use it from the middle until a hole appears at the bottom, then work my way out to the sides.
9. Do you have a habit you would like to drop or one you would like to adopt?
I would love to be compulsively tidy.
10. What everyday article would you most miss if it were suddenly unavailable?
Cotton buds. Must clean my ears every morning.
11. What is your favourite perfume?
After being a 'seldom without it' perfume lover, I gave up wearing it when I was breastfeeding and have never really got back into the habit. Perhaps I ought to address that. I favour clean and green sort of scents – currently have some Eau Dynamisante, which I like because it doesn’t smack of trying too hard.
Those were good questions - I'm meant to make up some of my own and tag some of you, but, I haven't. I've also used some exceptionally randomn photographs. Clearly, today is all about channelling my rebellious streak.
