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Sharing My World 2015 Week 21
Everything has changed this week for Cee’s Share Your World! This week Cee has provided a list of list topics, and we must choose four list topics from this list of list topics and make a list of four things answering the question posed in the list topic we have chosen from the list.
Goodness!
Favourite Songs
This list changes over time. I’ve bought a couple of new albums recently so a couple of songs are from those. There are many classics of course which always remain favourites of mine, so these songs are more the ones I currently listen to on a daily basis.
- End of the Dream – Evanescence
- Froot – Marina and the Diamonds
- House on a Hill – The Pretty Reckless
- Wrong Side of the Sun – Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Favourite types of animals
Cute and fluffy :-).
- Monkeys!
- Kitty cats!
- Lemurs!
- Koalas!
Movies to cheer you up
It’s strange the things that make me laugh out loud… though maybe you won’t be surprised if you’ve read some of my stories. Warning – none of these are technically comedies.
- Planet Terror – laughed till I cried
- The Expendables – especially that one scene where the bloke’s head gets completely blown off
- Any apocalyptic zombie/”infected” film e.g. “World War Z”, “Resident Evil” series
- From Dusk Till Dawn – I’m including the Netflix series here, since one episode has heads being ripped off and everything – it’s hilarious!
Things I want to have in my home
Home upgrades.
- Massive home cinema system
- Sound-proof room in which to place said massive cinema system
- TARDIS-style relative dimensional system installed in home in order to accommodate sound-proof room
- Girlfriend with whom to watch films in newly-installed room – note, I also own less gory films e.g. “Pretty Woman”, “Miss Congenialty” and the like
Thanks for reading my world sharing for this week :-).
Sharing My World 2015 Week 20
It’s Sunday, which is the day I write my contribution to Cee’s Share Your World.
What is the most important thing that you ever learned? (I bet it’s not something you learned in school)
Crumbs. I don’t know. Maybe I haven’t learned anything? I suppose, that life happens. It can be shaped somewhat by your decisions for better or worse, but by and large it trundles along and it’s best to just go with the flow.
Some people shape the destinies of many others, but I prefer the path of least resistance. I’m happier that way.
What feeds your enthusiasm for life?
Netflix. Ha ha ha. No, seriously. Netflix. And nice walks around pretty locations.
What’s your most memorable (good or bad) airplane commercial or private flight?
I haven’t been on an aeroplane for years, but I used to travel a bit for work. I suppose it was my flight to a job interview in Cork (Ireland).
The weather was pretty bad. We circled for hours, then diverted to Shannon and landed. We stayed there long enough for a pint of Guinness, got back on the plane and finally arrived in Cork. The best bit was that I was so late there was no time to give my presentation (they’d been tracking me through the day and finally cancelled it) and we ended up having the interview in a very expensive hotel over dinner. And I got the job! Then I spent the weekend there, because it was cheaper to get a longer stay including hotel than the air fare there and back the same day.
If you were a great explorer, what would you explore?
I’d like to go to Central/South America and explore all the old Inca and Aztec temples and whatnot. They look quite impressive, though I would also get kidnapped and held for ransom, I expect, as that happens to everybody in films who go exploring such places.
Bloggity Touring
Tastyniblets over at Tastyniblets was kind enough to nominate me to join in the Blog Tour. I feel a bit bad because I turned it down a while ago, but I’ll give it a go now. The reason I turned it down before is because I’m not really a “writer” in the same way many of my bloggity buddies are, who all seem to be working on manuscripts, or have already published something.
Don’t forget to check out Tastyniblets’ blog for great fiction and photographs :-).
The rules are:
- Post on a given Monday. That would be today.
- Give your nominees the rules. More on this in the next bullet point.
- Pass the tour on to up to four other bloggers. So this is where this gets dodgy. I hate passing things on to people, which is the other reason I declined this before. “Zero” is “up to four people”, right? I realise this is a bit of a cheat, so I’m not going to use the official badge for this challenge.
- Answer four questions about your creative process which lets other bloggers and visitors know what inspires you to do what you do. I can answer the last two!
Q.1. What are you working on at the moment?
Nuffin. Well, I’ll be editing my Mondays Finish the Story in a bit.
Q.2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I don’t think it does. I’m pretty sure most of what I write can be traced back to some author or other. I don’t have a genre, either. Supernatural, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, horror, comedy, dark comedy, whatever my mood is.
Q.3. Why do you write or create what you do?
Because it’s fun! I like making things up. I always loved writing stories at school, and with the advent of the interwebz they are no longer consigned to a notepad in my drawer.
Q.4. How does your writing/creative process work?
I use the “slapdash method”. I write stories for photo prompts, so when the prompt arrives in my inbox, I look at the photo and then wait for inspiration to strike. If it has struck by lunchtime I will write the story during my lunch break and email it to myself. Otherwise, I’ll write it when I get home while watching some soap opera or other.
Once an idea has struck, I sort of write it in my head while doing other things. Since I have the story ready when I start to type, a 100 word story generally takes around 10 minutes to write plus a few minutes to edit. I’ll do everything (once home from work) while watching TV apart from the final edit, which requires the Pause button. I’m currently watching “Chuck” on Netflix.
That’s it!
Sharing My World 2015 Week 19
Here’s my contribution to Cee’s Share Your World for this week.
Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?
My house has a ground floor and an upstairs which is fine by me. I’m a little worried that one day I won’t be able to handle the stairs. Maybe at that point I’ll be able to get a little bungalow instead. Alternatively, my stairs are wide enough for a stair lift…
If you have a TV, would you prefer the TV in the living room or another room?
It’s in the living room. My old TV is currently in the bedroom but it’s not plugged in, it’s “in storage”, basically. My living room has all the equipment – the set-top box, surround sound system and so on. I’m not a “stay in bed and watch TV” sort of person.
Entertainment Corner
When you leave a room, do you turn the lights off behind you or keep the lights on throughout your house most of the time? Explain your answer.
I turn all the lights off. Sometimes when I enter a dark room briefly I don’t bother turning them on if I can see what I’m doing. People who switch lights on randomly and then leave them on wind me up (unless they have young/infirm people in the house and which case it can be safer to leave them on).
Not only is electricity expensive, but I can’t help thinking of all the world’s resources we’re using up. Almost all my light bulbs are “energy-saving”, mind (around 5 Watts), though that’s pretty common everywhere since you can’t buy the old-style 100-150-200W bulbs any more.
What’s your favourite room in your home?
My living room. As per its name, it’s where I do all my living. Reading, watching TV, blogging, eating…
Sharing My World 2015 Week 18
Here’s my post for Cee’s Share Your World for this week.
What type of pets do you have or want? Or do you not want pets?
I don’t have any pets at the moment. If I were to get a pet it would be a cat. Cats are pretty independent and since I’m out at work all day, it would have to be a pet which could look after itself.
Plus, everyone on the interwebz loves cats so I could set up a camera in the hopes I could get a funny video or a meme or two out of it :-).
What was or is your favourite cartoon?
When I was little I enjoyed “StarFleet”, though that might have been puppets rather than a cartoon. Also “Battle of the Planets”. G-Force Fiery Phoenix go! Yay.
When I was a bit older, “Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds”.
Now that I’m all growed up, pretty much the only cartoon I watch (and coincidentally am currently binge-watching on Netflix) is “Archer”. Because it’s awesome.
Copyright FX Networks
I can highly recommend it. However, if you’re easily offended or indeed offended by anything at all, don’t watch it. You have been warned.
When you’re alone at home, do you wear shoes, socks, slippers, or go barefoot?
I wear socks at home. I have a pair of slippers but they’re pretty knackered so I don’t wear them much. If I’m going up into the loft I put on trainers so that I don’t slip on the ladder and end up lying in a crumpled heap until someone notices I didn’t turn up for work :-(.
Are you a traveller or a homebody?
The occasional trip is nice but for preference I like to stay at home.
Sharing My World 2015 Week 17
It’s Sunday, the day I contribute to Cee’s Share Your World, just one of the fun challenges that Cee organises on a weekly basis.
What is your most favourite smell/scent?
My two favourite smells are quite opposite to each other. One is the smell of bacon cooking. Mmm, bacon. The other is the smell of nature. Not cow poo or anything like that, but the smell of the forest, cut grass and flowers.
The Higher Garden at Lanhydrock, near Bodmin, Cornwall
Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?
Well, quite recently I toyed with the idea of having longer hair. I decided it would be cool. However at my age it would probably just look stupid, and when my hair gets to a certain point it tends to puff out. So short is the way to go for me. If I was going to try “going hippy” I should have done it 25 years ago.
Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)
Tricky one. I used to plan everything down to the last detail. I don’t do that any more. That’s not to say I’m a spontaneous person. There isn’t a less spontaneous person on the planet than me!
However, if I’m off somewhere I don’t know, I’ll plan the route, where I can park and if applicable I’ll book somewhere to stay. That’s the limit. I might switch the car display to “map” so I can see roughly where I am but I’ve never actually used the Sat Nav per se.
I’ve discovered that planning everything to the last detail leads to major stress. Knowing where I’m going and that I have somewhere to stay reduces stress, having exact things to do at exact times – well, life’s too short to put myself through that.
What is your favourite outdoor activity?
Walking in the woods, gardens and so on I guess. And I like taking pictures of it all. So in the spirit of that, here’s another picture of Lanhydrock, looking at the main house across the lower gardens, framed by little ornamental battlements.
Sharing My World 2015 Week 16
Here’s my post for Cee’s Share Your World. Be sure to check out all the lovely photos on her blog!
What are your favourite spices?
I’m not a big fan of spices in sweet or dessert type things, so stuff like cinnamon wouldn’t be on my list. I can’t be bothered to Google which things are spices and which are herbs so I’ll go for pepper, chilli pepper, whatever stuff goes into curry powder and paprika. The hot stuff, basically!
What object do you always have with you when travelling and why?
My phone. It’s multi-purpose – good for any emergencies so I can contact people and good for taking quick photos of cool stuff. I haven’t linked it to my bank accounts (yet) but if I did it really would be a device for all occasions!
What is one thing you love about being an adult?
Not having to go to school. School was rubbish. I’d rather have responsibilities, bills to pay and so on than have to go to school again.
What item, that you don’t have already, would you most like to own?
If we’re going down the fantasy route and it’s only one item, it would have to be something which would enable me to get everything else. So some sort of magical “bag of unending funds” would be in order.
As for “real life” (booorrring) I really don’t know. Most things I want at the moment are replacements for knackered things I already own, like a new sofa, new cooker and the like. I very recently bought a “proper” camera as some of you know, so I have that!
Sharing My World 2015 Week 15
Here I am in my regular Share Your World Sunday slot. This challenge is hosted by Cee over on her blog full of lovely photographs.
Regarding your fridge, is it organised or a mess inside?
As far as I’m concerned it’s organised. Everything is in its correct place and there’s no gone off food or leftovers. It could do with a clean out though, I guess, as it’s been 7 years and two houses now (when I moved I defrosted the freezer section but didn’t clean out the fridge). I don’t spill stuff in it, though, so it’s okay.
Have you ever been a participant in a parade? What did you do?
No, as far as I can remember I’ve never been in a parade. I don’t think I’d want to be marching along with everyone looking at me.
How do you stand out from the crowd?
I don’t. My whole plan is to blend into the background. Like a ninja. A barely glimpsed flash of movement in the dark. Was I really ever there? Nobody knows.
How many bones, if any, have you broken?
I’ve never broken any bones. Except, perhaps, my little toe. I read somewhere that little toes get broken quite often, but people don’t realise and there’s nothing to be done anyway.
Sharing My World 2015 Week 14
Sunday is the day that I write my post for Cee’s Share Your World.
What type of music relaxes you the most or do you prefer silence?
Tricky. I don’t listen to music for relaxation all that much. It’s not easy to get me into a relaxed state.
I listen to many different genres. Sometimes I’ll go down the “harder” end – Iron Maiden, The Pretty Reckless, Evanescence. Sometimes in the middle somewhere – Pink Floyd, Florence and the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds, Queen, Status Quo. Currently at work I’m listening to multiple Abba albums on a shuffled loop.
To really relax, I’d probably go for Mike Oldfield. Maybe Enya. Music for me is usually on while I’m doing something else, like driving. When I listen to it at work, it can give me a real boost.
Show us a two of your favourite photographs. Explain why they are your favourite. If you are not a photographer, think of a two favourite scenes in your life and tell us about them.
This is a tricky one. I love scenes around family occasions, but do I have any pictures? Probably somewhere.
I take a lot of photos of the scenery around here. In fact, I went out this morning to Bedruthan Steps, which used to be miles away but is now quite close since I moved house. So here are a couple from this morning, just as the sun was coming up. I wanted to try out my new camera, which arrived last week! For those of you who care, it’s a Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6. I don’t know what the experienced photographers think about this low-middle-end camera, but it’s good enough for me and got good reviews!
I left all the settings on “automatic” as I don’t really know what I’m doing yet! Of course I could have got similar pictures with my phone, but I’m excited to start trying things out, like a slower shutter speed to blur out water. I also have a zoom lens coming next week, so I can try to get close-up pictures of bunny rabbits :-).
What is your favourite tradition? (family tradition, church tradition, whatever)
Family Christmas! It has changed over the years. Granny used to come down from Scotland and she’s no longer with us, and my brother and his girlfriend don’t always make it for Christmas dinner, but I love driving over to my parents’ house in time for coffee, chatting, having Christmas lunch and so on.
If you could go back and talk to yourself at age 18 what advice would you give yourself? Or if you are younger than 25 what words of wisdom would you like to tell yourself at age 50?
I’d probably be better off keeping my mouth shut. Failing that, I’d try “Shit happens. It’s going to happen to you. Just roll with it, it’ll get better.”
Sharing My World 2015 Week 13
Here is my contribution to Cee’s Share Your World, the weekly challenge where we answer four questions posed by Cee.
What was your favourite subject in school?
Definitely not maths or Latin. Yuckity yuck yuck!
I enjoyed Physics, which is what I went on to study. I also really liked English Language – that’s the grammer/composition part. I didn’t like English Literature. Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Bronte(s). I know these are the “classics” but life’s too short. Sorry.
Now if this gang had written “The Taming of the Vampire”, “A Midsummer Night’s Werewolf” or “Wuthering Decapitations” I might be interested.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away” (George Carlin). When have you had such a moment?
Hmm. I’m not sure I ever have. I’ve seen lovely landscapes and such which were “breathtaking” but I never got a massive emotional reaction from them to the extent that this question suggests, just a feeling of contentment. I don’t like sudden highs and lows anyway.
What’s your choice: jigsaw, crossword, or numeric puzzles?
I’ve never tried numeric puzzles – my maths is horrendous. I have no general knowledge whatsoever so I can’t do crosswords (unless they’re aimed at kids). So that leaves jigsaws, though the last one I did was a Star Trek one and that was a few decades ago.
If I did a jigsaw I’d have to put it in a frame, though. I wouldn’t be able to spend hours making something only to tear it apart immediately.
If you found an obviously abandoned car with $50,000 in the back seat, what would you do?
I’d call the police. This amount of money in an abandoned car? It must belong to drug dealers or the mob, and they’d miss even a single dollar, I reckon. Plus it would take ages to convert it all to pounds without “attracting attention”.
Even if it doesn’t belong to anyone, taking it would be theft. The concept of “finders – keepers” doesn’t exist in law (in the UK anyway). I wouldn’t do well spending time at “Her Majesty’s Pleasure”. I’m too pretty :-).
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