Tuesday 10 December 2013

Ten questions

I was intrigued by the ten questions Jenny Woolf posed to her blogmates. So here are my answers, for what they're worth.

1. If there's one chocolate left in the box, do you have to eat it, or can you leave it sitting there?

I could leave it for years. I'm very strong-willed when it comes to food.

2. What do you want to remember most of all, if you survive to be very old?

My trips to Australia, all the fun times with Jenny, walking in the Mourne Mountains.

3. Would you enjoy being a very rich and famous celebrity?

No. Being pursued everywhere by the paparazzi and demanding fans would be a nightmare.

4. What piece of music do you personally find most emotionally moving?

There are so many, from Mozart's Piano Concerto Number 21 to Goldfrapp's Black Cherry album.

5.  How do you deal with depression, anxiety and bad times?

I never get depressed for longer than half an hour, but anxiety is my middle name. I've tried many many ways of controlling it but nothing works for very long.

6. What do you love doing that bores everyone else stiff?

Grinding coffee, washing up, chopping vegetables, washing my hair.

7. Did you ever encounter an inanimate object that seemed to have a will of its own?

Shoelaces. They knot and unknot whenever they feel like it.

8. What is your very favourite hotel or restaurant?

The San Cassiano Hotel in Venice. It's on the bank of the Grand Canal.

9. Do you think prisoners who have committed particularly vile crimes should be segregated in jail for their own safety?

That's for them to decide. Long-term segregation can be very psychologically damaging.

10. What do you wish you had known when you were 18?

I wish I'd known a lot more about sex!

(There was an eleventh question about the photos in her post, but since you can't see them....)

26 comments:

  1. 1. Cream center, I'd eat eat, caramel, I'd leave it.
    6. Balancing check books and paying bills. I love order.
    7. Mylar balloons have been known to freak me out.

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  2. That chocolate looks tempting, not sure I could resist it for very long.

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  3. John: So, you and me both! My God, I was SO ignorant, it was a joke!

    Bijoux: Good point. If it was a hard centre or a toffee, I would be very happy to leave it for someone else. Yes, I quite like checking the accounts too.

    I didn't know those metallised balloons were called Mylar balloons. Apparently they're a serious hazard to marine creatures that swallow them.

    Grannymar: It's positively mouth-watering. I could gobble half a dozen of those on the trot.

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  4. 4. Tom Waits, Kentucky Avenue
    'Let me tie you up with kite strings
    And i'll show you the scabs on my knee
    Watch out for the broken glass, put your shoes and socks
    On and come along with me'
    There are tears. Every time.

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  5. Cathy: I'm not a Tom Waits fan, but the lyrics to Kentucky Avenue are pretty strong stuff. I can see why the tears start flowing!

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  6. I don't even understand the first question. Why would anyone just leave chocolate sitting there? What's the point of that sort of restraint? Chocolate is a gift from the gods.

    Even in the midst of grieving, I can readily review a near-endless list of wonderful experiences I know I'll never forget, from child-birth to travels.

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  7. Agent: I COULD, but there's no way I would. I can't resist a chocolate for very long.

    That's great that you've got so many wonderful memories. And I'm sorry you're grieving.

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  8. I'm with you on number 3!

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  9. Yes, on your answer to #3. What a horrible way to live.

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  10. Susie and Jean: It must be dreadful. You can hardly get a moment's peace. And all because people feel entitled to stalk celebs as if they're some sort of public servant.

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  11. I love your answers, Nick. I'm intrigued that you like washing your hair. I have been wondering what it is that is so nice about it. YOu know, I have never met anyone who liked washing their hair, although many people love having it washed :) This is why these memes can be such fun, because every now and again a little window into a different avenue opens. Washing hair... hm... I'll think about that!
    It is interesting how few people want to be famous. I would guess there'd be a different response from under 20s. I seem to remember almost everyone wanting to be famous when we were at school.

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  12. I'd leave ALL the candy in the box. Yuck to all that sugar. It's an acquired taste. The more you eat, the more you crave. That's why I eat only Oban -100% chocolate & with some dried fruit.

    bikehikebabe

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  13. Jenny: Ummm, I suppose I like fondling my hair, and I like the sensation of lathering it, and I like getting it clean. How's that? Of course it's quite short, I know long hair is much harder to wash.

    I'm surprised so many people still want to be famous. They may think they'd enjoy being followed around and photographed 24/7 but the reality might be a nasty shock.

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  14. Bikehikebabe: I think you'll find dried fruit contains quite a lot of sugar as well! I like the sound of Oban chocolate though. Must see if I can get hold of some.

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  15. Fruit contains complex carbohydrates which your body stores for future use. It doesn't hit your blood stream like a Wrecking Ball as processed sugar in candy does.

    bikehikebabe

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  16. Nick, you and I are made for each other, chocolate-wise, we are complemetary. I only like toffees and hard centres. In our house, soft centres are known as slimes....if there was one of those left in the box, I'd throw it away.

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  17. Bikehikebabe: Okay, I'll take your word for that. I didn't realise fruit sugars were so different.

    Z: Soft centres are known as slimes? Oh dear me! And how could you actually throw away a chocolate? (Cue expression similar to Munch's The Scream)

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  18. Well, not nice ones like fudge. But artificial strawberry or orange cremes would sit there forever, unless the dog stole them! Real fruit is fine, but I still prefer something that needs teeth.

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  19. Z: Oh yes, I share your taste for fudge! And I don't mind artificial flavours. Most of the flavours in chocolates are pretty artificial!

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  20. Let me help you with something that will forever remind you of me.

    http://www.ted.com/talks/terry_moore_how_to_tie_your_shoes.html

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  21. Ramana: I couldn't work out what he was doing differently to tie his laces. When I tried, I just got in a hopeless tangle! Some diagrams might have helped.

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  22. Put the loop from the opposite side to the side you automatically would want to.

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  23. Ramana: I tried that, but it was so contrary to habit, it was really difficult. Will try again later.

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  24. Double knot Nick, that's what I do, if I have to, I replace short laces with longer ones in my shoes.

    I must try your list on my blog.

    Excellent idea.

    BTW-You and me both, we'd grind enough coffee for Ireland together.

    XO
    WWW

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  25. www: Double knot, huh? Okay, I'll try that.

    Yes, I really enjoy grinding coffee. The smell of fresh coffee is totally intoxicating. And there's something about watching the beans trickle down into the grinder....

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