Questions and Answers

I’ve been a Guardian reader for a good few years now, especially the Saturday edition (although currently it comes to me via iPhone app rather than delivery boy). So when I saw this Q&A meme flying round the blogosphere, for once I was actually hoping to get tagged. And tagged I was, by Penny (always one of my favourites) at the Alexander Residence, the lovely Bumbling who is still at Bumbling Along as well as her new blog Moo’s News, and Cassie at Surfacing, home of some stunning photos and happy times just now.

So, as I’m sure you’re all dying to read, here’s my Q&A. What do you reckon? Would you go for a pint with me?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

This is really hard! There are lots of people I admire: people who tell the truth, who tell it loudly and clearly in spite of anybody else’s reaction. There are so many people living well and doing important things, sometimes small things that we never hear about. I admire people who are true to themselves.

When were you happiest?

As a student. There were hard times feeling lost, lonely, inadequate or super-stressed about my finals, but there were also some amazing times: meeting amazing, inspiring people, feeling full of life and full of potential. Dancing to cheesy music in a sweaty nightclub with a bunch of other inebriated students, I’d sing “I am the one and only” at the top of my voice and really mean it.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Falling down the stairs at school, aged about 14. I didn’t hurt myself, but I sort of tripped a bit and toppled some more in a way that was so amusing, my friends even drew diagrams and laughed about it for months.

Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

Household purchase: our computers. Personal stuff: my charm bracelet keeps increasing in value every time I get a new charm; it’s probably the most expensive thing I own that’s just ‘mine’.

What is your most treasured possession?

My iPhone. I use it so much for so many things. If I didn’t have it I’d have far fewer photos and would have no idea what’s going on in the world. I also have a pair of jeans that I love very much, but they’re falling apart… I’m considering cutting them up and putting them in a frame.

Where would you like to live?

I love it here, if we could magically make our house twice as big and add a medium-sized garden. Failing that, somewhere that’s sunny all year round.

What’s your favourite smell?

Red wine. After two long pregnancies and breastfeeding spells, I really savour my wine and love smelling it and relaxing.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

I used to think Julia Roberts, but she’s getting old now. Michelle Williams maybe.

What is your favourite book?

Usually I always say Wuthering Heights. It’s my ultimate comfort read and I love returning to the characters. But I also love The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. It’s a collection of tales in very different styles, all perfectly executed and compelling in themselves. But it also investigates a big picture, of how man and society works, and what it means to have power. It’s fascinating and beautiful and very re-readable.

What is your most unappealing habit?

Being very messy, but also quite controlling with it. I don’t like people rooting through my piles of junk.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

1920′s flapper.

What is your earliest memory?

Being driven away from home in the back seat of my grandparents’ car, with my duvet, as my parents went off to hospital to meet my baby brother.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Spoonfuls of Nutella.

What do you owe your parents?

A lot of money.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

To my brother, for a lie I told when we were small that he probably can’t even remember. I turned the taps on in our grandparents’ caravan. I panicked and turned things the wrong way and it wouldn’t turn off. It was me. Sorry.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My little baby children. I love them more than I ever thought possible. I think they’re the most beautiful creatures on the planet and I can’t imagine why everyone else wouldn’t think so too.

What does love feel like?

It can feel like all sorts of things. Sometimes it’s very confusing. It always feels powerful.

What was the best kiss of your life?

With my husband, some time near the start of our relationship. (Not that we don’t have good kisses now, but these things are earth-shatteringly important in the early days.)

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Coolio. And if my toddler’s speech is anything to go by, I seem to start sentences with “Right!” quite a lot.

What is the worst job you’ve done?

Selling shoes in Houghton-le-Spring for £1.89/hour in 1998. We were supposed to meet targets for extras like shoe polish but I was dreadful at it. I once managed to convince someone to buy a cheap white handbag to go with her cheap white sandals and I felt so guilty about it I remember all the details to this day.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

I’d revise more for my Latin GCSE. I’d work harder at uni too, and believe in myself while I was there. In a way I feel I missed a big academic opportunity, as I didn’t engage with my course as much as I could have (although I engaged with a lot of other things and developed some great skills).

What is the closest you’ve come to death?

I don’t feel I’ve ever been close to death. I had a post-partum haemorrhage, but it was relatively minor. I drive on the motorway every week; I guess that as a 20-something with no family history of cancer or early heart problems, statistically that’s probably my biggest risk.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

This is a very tricky question for me, as I often beat myself up for having achieved nothing much at all. I am pleased to have maintained my marriage, and to be raising good children. And I’m happy to have a degree that makes my CV stand out a bit. But I don’t think I can cross ‘great achievement off my ‘things to do’ list yet; I need to try harder to leave a positive mark on the world.

When did you last cry, and why?

I cry a lot these days, at happy things as often as sad. This morning I cried at a blog post about a little baby who died.

How do you relax?

This was a question on the health questionnaire before I had a massage on holiday and I huffily wrote “I don’t”. But I suppose I drink wine, watch Masterchef and try to ignore my messy house. I used to read and have baths, before I had children and started to feel guilty whenever I ‘waste’ time. I cling to the hope that one day I will read and study properly again.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Some time to myself, ideally on a regular basis.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Do not let anyone else be in control of your happiness. You have to take control of your life and make decisions for *you*.

 

And now I’m tagging…

My fab mate Laura who writes about her upcoming wedding and other bits and bobs at Parliament of Owls. I’d love it if some of you pop over and have a read – she writes brilliantly and is cool and lovely – if you like me, I think you’ll like her. Actually, as she’s a wedding blogger, maybe we could see a guest post and get Adam doing the Q&A too?

Becki at Pelvis, Interrupted, who is always so lovely and supportive of my blog, and who gets on with living despite her horrible, unfair pelvis problems.

Octarine Fire at Things’n’ Stuff, a blog that I’ve started reading recently and find really interesting.