Friday 16 February 2007

Tag-I'm It!

Hello!

I do worry that with the time I have been away, refurbishing the library and moving shelves, and shelves of books, that when I come back here, there will be no one left. If I promise to come back on Wednesday, and to be really chatty, and to give you some nice recipes and things, will you stay? Go on, please!

For you see, the end of the re-furb is in sight. I have got grubbier hands moving more books that I ever thought possible. But best of all I am responsible for two of our pillars being painted a bright lilac colour!

Now lovely Alison at Brocante Home has tagged me with this questionnaire. I have just spent an enjoyable tea break filling it in, and I am glad to finally get a chance to post on my blog. You would not believe how much I miss my little ramblings and meanderings. So here it is- oh, but before I do that, Vintage Pretty, I tag you! And I love, love, love your new blog. Go on everyone, go visit www.vintagepretty.org and say hello from me!

Oh and before you start reading, you might want to make yourself a cup of tea, and perhaps a teensy slice of scrumptious cake...

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
Ooooh. Now I have a real broodyness for a house going on at the moment. I have only been living ‘away from home’ for three years, and all of them in a rented little one bedroom flat .Which although cosy and divine as it is, does not satisfy my yearning for somewhere old…so rather than building my house, I would need to find an old one. I want somewhere where I can paper one wall in flowery wall paper, and paint the others in Cath Kidston paint. Make it my own, you know? So my lovely house, in my mind, is somewhere in the country. With a big garden-allotment, and chickens clucking about, and a little village. Where going to town is an event, but I have a little village store to keep me going. Maybe Turnham Malpas, if you have read Rebecca Shaw, or Hazy Hassocks if you have read Christina Jones, or even the Cotswolds of Agatha Raisin….

2. What's your favorite article of clothing?
My wedding dress. Does that count though, as I have not ‘officially’ worn it yet? I have a black galaxy-style dress that I always feel a million dollars in. But I wear more often a Victoian-style white nightie. I like to drift about the place in it on summer evenings.

3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?
Hmmm. Well I like how they are just bigger than us. And stronger. I guess I am just a damsel waiting to be rescued, really! There is something quite swoon-inducing in struggling with a huge trug of books, and then a nice man coming over and lifting it down for me as if it were a feather pillow!

4.What's the last CD that you bought?
Deary me. Confession. One of the perks of working in a library is that I am surrounded by music! So most often, I borrow something from work. Currently I am just LOVING the Puppini sisters. But the last album I bought? Hmmm. I have to say though that since I have been living in our little flat, I don’t listen to music as much as I used to. Now there is someone else to consider- his taste, mood etc. But I have planned as part of my ‘making life scrumptious’ campaign to have more music- soothing stuff to sleep or relax to and so on.

5.Where's your favorite place to be?
Bed. With a cup of tea, radio 4, a pile of books that I cannot wait to read or re-read, (think Mrs Miniver, The Enchanted April, etc) some magazines, and the newspaper. Ohh, and my feather pillows all fluffed up, and my peppermint and nutmeg pillow spray scenting the air. Mmmmmm.

6. Where is your least favorite place to be?
The Hairdresser. Oh, it is torture for me. I never, EVER like the way they have cut my hair. Even though it needs a trim to keep it tidy, I still wish I hadn’t. And being a bit deaf in one ear, and not having the best hearing in the other, it is really, really hard for me to hear what they are chattering about. It gets worse when they put the hairdryer on. And why do they get you a cup of tea, and then put a cape thing on you, so you cannot drink it? So many times I have sat there and watched it get cooler and cooler, along with my spirits!

7.What's your favorite place to be massaged?
My feet. Oh, how I love a foot rub. And oh, how dear Carl hates giving them to me! He has been known to say, in response to my hopeful sliding-of-feet into his lap, ‘take those trotters AWAY!’. Poor me.

8.Strong in mind or strong in body?
Am I, or would I like to be? I like to think both. But then I do have an awful weakness for violet creams, and lindt chocolate. Then again, I have been low-carbing for nearly 4 weeks now (and eight pounds down, hurrah!). As for the body- well, again, I like to think perhaps yes. I did do the Moonwalk Marathon and live to tell the tale. But I do get an awful lot of ear infections, and my joints are ever so creaky.

9.What time do you wake up in the morning?
Some time between 6:00 and 6:30. Radio 4 kicks in at 6 and I am usually awake before my alarm clock goes off at 6.35. Even when we have a treat of a lie-in sometimes on a Saturday, I never seem to sleep after 8:00 or 9:00. In fact, I totally shocked myself by sleeping till 10:30 boxing day- although I think it was 2:00 before I had made it to bed…

10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
My multiquick. Oh, I love it. Normally, I dither over buying most things. Not this. Sainsburys had it for half price (still £30ish I think) but I just marched right up to the display, seized it, and paid for it. The thing with a dear little flat is that they tend to have dear little kitchens, and not much room for such things as food processors. This magical thing is a stick blender, whisk, and food processor all in one. Ok so the food processor bit only has one blade and the bowl is about as big as a cereal bowl, but it is just right for two. Egg whites for macaroons? Done! Breadcrumbs for chicken kiev? Done! Soup blended? Done! I could go on…but suffice to say that when I am in my flowery pinny with my Multiquick at my side, there is no kitchen adventure too big to tackle! (Apart, perhaps, from cleaning the oven!)

11.What makes you really angry?
I try not to get angry too much. All the obvious things, like racism, ignorance and so on. Quite often myself- when I realise I just can’t do everything I need to in the time I have got, or my memory has let me down, or I have to ask someone to repeat something for the third time, and I can feel my face get all hot. Oh and bad punctuation. Signs that say CD’s and bra’s fitted now and euro’s exchanged here. Ridiculous, but true. Bad punctuation makes me angry! I have had to restrain myself from correcting signs before now…but before you sign me off as a punctuation-hitler, I am not angered by people who punctuate badly in personal correspondence, blogs and so on. It is more public signs and books and things.

12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
The piano. I have a vision of myself, in my little farmhousey-cottage in the country (see question one!). It is Christmas Eve, and the place is all lit with candles, and I am playing carols on the piano while my family sings along. And of course, I could also pretend it was the pianoforte, and I am Lizzy, and Mr Darcy is just over there…

13. Favorite color?
I like the many shades of pink and red. I have a red wrap dress that I wear with red patent high sling-backs with a bow on the peep-toe, and red lipstick. I love that. But when I chose my wedding colours, I went for blue and pink. My tea-towels are blue with pink roses. So perhaps blue, as well.

14.Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV?
Gah. I know nothing, NOTHING about cars. When a customer asks me for a workshop manual, and reels off a list of random letters ‘gti s type e series’ my heart just sinks. And I don’t drive either. (Although I guess I should learn before buying that house in the country!). If money were no object I would have a little vintage sports car. Maybe bottle green, but oooh, how about red?

15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
I think so. I hope so.

16.Favorite children's book?
Dear readers, my name is Mimi, and I am a bookworm. Always have been, always will. How can I possible choose one favourite from all the squillions that I have devoured? My frequent complaint, even now, is that books run out of pages. I loved so many. There was one about a giant jam sandwich which was used to trap some bothersome wasps (and I do hate wasps!) and the one that starts ‘In a dark dark wood, there was a dark dark house, and in the dark dark house was a dark dark room’ and on it goes, to reveal that the thing in the dark dark box is….a little mouse!

17. What is your favorite season?
Any and all except for summer. It is no use, it is just too hot. I never feel very elegant in the heat. Spring is lovely- daffodils and baby lambs and warmer days and blossom (I saw my first crocus last week!), little dresses that it is warm enough to wear, Easter, my Birthday. What is not to love? Autumn- all those scrunchy leaves, wearing snugly scarves, darker nights and candlelight. Pumpkin carving and sparklers. Winter- Christmas, stars bright in the sky, wrapping up warm, and buying hyacinths. Oh, such bliss. But Summer? Well there is ice cream, I suppose!

18. Your least favorite household chore?
The shopping. Well no, I actually love the shopping. What I hate is always, ALWAYS being the one to plan out what we are going to eat for the week, make a shopping list for it, buy some bits in my lunch hour from the lovely market greengrocer, and then go to the supermarket, and then put it all away, and then cook it. Before I give the wrong impression, Carl does do the washing up quite often, and all of the laundry. I just wish sometimes that I could go home and have no idea what is for dinner- and not because I have not thought ahead, but because someone else has.

19.If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Ooooh. One super power. Hmmmm. I think I would like to have a magical nose, just like in Bewitched. Wriggle wriggle, the shopping list is written! Wriggle wriggle, the boring bit of my crochet is done, and I am on to the fun pattern part again. Wriggle wriggle, a white china cup of perfect hot chocolate appears, without any sludge in the bottom at all, and just the right amount of chopped nuts on top.

20.If you have a tattoo, what is it?
I love that no one would ever, ever think I have a tattoo. But I do. I got it five years ago, when I was nineteen. It is a tiny rose, with the words ‘Carpe Diem’ around the edge, and it is on my left ribs. I love it. I am not really a ‘tattoo person’ if such a thing can be defined. No one can see it unless I choose to show them. I showed Mum the other day and she was really nice about it. (I guessed she would see it when I am getting into my wedding dress, and I would rather her know before then!) She asked when I had had it done, and then said I should show my little brother as he will be rather impressed!

21.Can you juggle?
Mais oui! I can do three balls tolerably well! Although I do have sudden attacks of dropping them everywhere. Ever since I was young, I have liked acquiring random skills. So I can juggle three balls quite well, crochet doilies, and abseil down a 200foot building. I can order a hamburger in Spanish, and bake perfect macaroons.

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
I could not possibly choose between my grandma and my granddad. So I won’t. I will be greedy and say both.

23. What's your favorite day?
My Friday off work, every other week. I usually spend it with Mum, and we often end up in a craft shop, or having lunch, knitting together or something. I also like Sundays as I never ever have to work on that day. Monday nights one of my best friends comes to visit and we craft together. I like most days, really.

24. What's in the trunk of your car?
See question 14- no car. But in poor Carls car there is often a pile of books. In my little vintage sports car, the one that I would have if I could have any car, and could, in fact drive, there is probably a picnic hamper, a bottle of champagne, and some embroidery. Oh, and a book. Or two…

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
There is an amazing place in the town where I live, called Ancient Lights. It is painted deep red, and there are crystal chandeliers, and huge gilt-framed mirrors inside. There are lots of candles, and they do real, proper cocktails. The barman does all the throwing-the-bottle-over-his-shoulder thing. And as well as fabulous cocktails, they do gourmet burgers which are to die for. Organic meat, and then you choose your roll, goats cheese or cheddar, and they come served with a jenga stack of chunky hot chips. And two evil dill pickles that I only tolerate for as long as it takes me to evict them on to Carls plate. But on the strength of this, a real proper burger and a minty mojito cocktail, I take the burger over the sushi please!

See you Wednesday!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you, that was extremely valuable and interesting...I will be back again to read more on this topic.

Anonymous said...

Top web site, I hadn't come across littlesipsoftea.blogspot.com earlier in my searches!
Keep up the superb work!

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Thanks for sharing this link - but unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anybody here at littlesipsoftea.blogspot.com have a mirror or another source?


Thanks,
James