Oh no, not the cushions! Or was it soft cushions? All those old enough to remember the Monty Python sketch about the Spanish Inguisition will no doubt be quoting it word for word now! Anyway, I’ve been tagged ‘for the very first time’ (thanks ‘him up north!) so I’ll just get on with answering the questions.
1. Which (in)famous person (alive or dead) would you like to take out to dinner, where would you go and what would you like to talk about?
This is really difficult, but I think it would have to be Stephen Fry, I would take him to The Lavender House, in Norfolk, he’d love the food. Then I would talk about his love of the area, his passion for music and the experience of tracing his family tree so far back.
2. What is the best gift someone could give you (tangible please)
I would love a horse! When I was young, I asked for a pony every Christmas and birthdayand every time was disappointed. I was unaware of how every year my parents tried to think of possible ways of acheivng this, but it was completely out of their reach. I had lessons, they bought me the kit, I read about ponies, drew ponies and wrote stories about them. It is many years since I have been riding seriously, but it is still my ultimate dream to own a horse.
3. Where in the world would you most like to live?
I have always felt an affinity with the Yorkshire moors and Cornwall, There is someting about the moors, the bleak yet romantic landscape ( though that could owe a lot to Wuthering Heights!) Yet Cornwall, though it has Bodmin Moor, also has more beaches and coves and I would love to live by the sea, so I think Cornwall wins this one.
4. What do you most enjoy cooking?
I LOVE cooking anything and everything! I even managed to get on Masterchef, but got knocked out in the first round as I was SO nervous. I loved helping with cookery club at school and find it exciting getting childlren interested in ‘proper’ food. Not organic, or fancy, just making sinple, straightforward stuff that they want to eat.
5. What is your favourite novel?
Well the first novel I read on my own was Black Beauty – I was about seven. Iit was borrowed from a neighbour and wrapped in paper as it was a prized possession. There were no illustrations, but I loved it, perhaps this is where my love of horses began?! My favourite novel that I have recently read has to be ‘Cloud Atlas’, it was not a book I would have chosen myself, but it was featured on a book club review and I’m so glad I tried it – it was fantastic.
6. You have your own personal Tardis, where do you go first?
I would llike to go back to my wedding day. My dad was so nervous about doing his speech and I wish that during it I’d reached out and held his hand. He died suddenly a few years later aged 48 .
7. How old is the inner you?
The inner me is about 14. I never wanted to grow up and have to learn all those boring things that grown ups have to do, and I don’t like doing them now. I try and keep as physically young as I can through exercise and keeping in touch with the children. However, I can feel myself turning into a ‘grumpy old woman’ and coming out with comments that make me cringe. Still as they say it’s better than the alernative!
8. Theatre or Cinema?
Don’t go much to either. I think in the last 30 years I’ve been about a dozen times to each – and that includes pantomimes! It was difficult to get a babvsitter for four children, and expensive, then on top of the the cost of the thatre or cinema. (They don’t have either where we live and it would entail a costly trip and possibly overnight stay in London). The last thing we went to was ‘We Will Rock You’ at the theatre and it was great, though that was over a year ago. We WILL go more often!
9. Would you be famous, with all that means?
If I became famous because of some skill, or gift, that was helpful to others, then I might. But the chances of that, especially at my age – are pretty dim! Although I did go on Masterchef, it wasn’t to ‘be famous’ I hated that it was on tv, I wanted the competition. I would never want to be known for going on ‘reality tv’, isn’t that a contradiction in terms?
10. You are able to learn anything at all, a skill, a language, whatever, what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to sing, or play a musical instrument really well, or even at all! Or for painting or writing to just flow effortlessly out of me – I suppose I’d better get practising then.
And now for my five ‘victims’ if you’ve done this one before just ignore it!
Victoria at http://www.itsasmallworldafterallfamily.wordpress.com
Clare at http://clareybabble.blogspot.com
http://yummymummyno1.wordpress.com
Emily at http://www.pantswithnames.com
Rachael at www.marathonmummy.com
My lot 