Guardian Questions & Answers

I was tagged by Jayne over at Mum's The Word today for this 'Guardian Questions & Answers' meme that's going around.  

I feel guilty as I have a few memes waiting in the wings.  One from ages ago too - sorry Jenny!  I also got tagged in that damn fridge one...I'm waiting until my fridge stocks are low as it's too full to list everything at the moment.  Man I'm so lazy.  Sorry this one has jumped the queue.  I wish it hadn't - the formatting on this post has taken me forever and I almost lost my Mac in fit of rage.

Anyhoooo....this meme was born over at Mrs Lister Writes and it's basically nicked devised from the questions in The Guardian Weekend Magazine.

Here goes...

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

I've left this one till last and I still don't know.  I guess I must admire a few people. What a rubbish start eh!

When were you happiest

Other than when I had Mini Cheddar I would have to say when I was standing on a snowy mountain in the Arctic Circle in the absolute stillness of night with no-one else around (apart from my husband and Kjetil Skolgi) and the Northern Lights appeared.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Probably when I was about 19 and I snogged one of the Land Department guys at a works Christmas party. He must have been in his early 30's!  We were sat at the bar chatting and I was getting more and more drunk.  I can't remember how it happened but next thing I knew we were kissing frantically.  Then I heard MY BOSS say to MY MUM (my Mum used to work at the same place) "Look away Pauline, look away".

Most of my most embarrassing moments are down to my evil vodka twin.  Just ask my friends.

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

My car which I bought about 18 months ago.

What is your most treasured possession?

My photographs.  Just reminded me I'm long overdue a back-up. Geek alert! I had lots of photographs on my old iPhone - some baby pictures of Mini Cheddar and I don't know what happened but iPhoto didn't back them up.  My phone broke and I lost them all, I was so upset.

Where would you like to live?

That's a tough one. At this moment, I'd have to say Norway.  I love that country.  There or Vancouver.

What’s your favourite smell?

The smell of Mini Cheddar (my daughter - not the little cheesy crackers!) when we snuggle up together. That or roast beef dinner! Om nom nom.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Oooh blimey, that's tough...I think I'd choose Emily Mortimer.  

What is your favourite book?

Captain Correlli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres.  The first 100 odd pages I almost gave up on it but it's brilliant.  Unlike the crap film they made with Nicholas Cage.

What is your most unappealing habit?

Biting my finger nails.  Occasionally I stop but then anxiety kicks in again and I nibble at them.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

Anything 80's.  Man I love that decade.  Have I said that before?  80's, 80's and more 80's!

What is your earliest memory?

Probably seeing our poodle rolling in a dead hedgehog in the park.  I also remember the smell.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Going through Silent Sunday posts just so I can be nosey. 

What do you owe your parents?

A lot. They struggled financially when my Sister and I were growing up and they went without to provide for us. They are now very financially well off and are always so generous with their love and support.

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

To my husband for being a bitch at certain times of the month.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Obviously my husband.  Him or vodka/wine/cider.  My love for Mini Cheddar goes without saying, obviously.

What does love feel like?

It feels all squishy and warm but also all exciting and scary - it's a range of emotions but it's the best.

What was the best kiss of your life?

Definitely the first kiss with my husband.  We met online and then went out on a date.  He came back to mine and we sat on the sofa chatting.  He turned to me and said "Can I ask you a question?" So I said yes and he just said "Can I kiss you?".  He had my heart right there and then and I knew I wanted to be with him.  Now he just just grabs my boob or shakes his willy at me *sigh*

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

No. Stop it. Get down. Don't run. Don't touch.

What is the worst job you've done?

Bagging brussel sprouts.  I was 15 and I hated it.  Especially as the boss was a cock.

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

I don't think I'd change anything.  People often ask me if I wish I'd not married my first husband but I think that marriage has made me what I am today.  If I hadn't done all the things I've done in life I wouldn't be at the happy point I am now.  Although I do wish that after I did my CBT (compulsory bike training) I continued to pass my full motorbike test.

What is the closest you've come to death?

When I was about 3 and a biro pen pierced my throat.  The ink infected it and I was about to undergo emergency surgery when it exploded.  Think green goo Ghostbusters stylee.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Without a doubt that has to be Mini Cheddar.  A joint achievement with my husband obviously.

When did you last cry, an why?

I cried watching DIY SOS Big Build the other week.  Look, it was THAT time of the month okay?

How do you relax?

With my husbands shoulder, a good film (or some comedy), a glass of wine and some chocolate.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Some more money? A cleaner? An iPad? Some sunshine?  Do I really have to pick just ONE?

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Just be yourself - don't hide behind falseness and something/someone you're not. Also, no matter how friendly and loyal you are, there will always be a couple of nasty self-important people that are always willing to shit on you.

Now I'm supposed to tag some people, I hate doing this so I did a shout out on Twitter and these silly people said they wanted to be tagged...GO! 

Patch Of Puddles

Carole Finds Her Wings

The Real Housewife Of Suffolk County

The Real Supermum
I Need Curtains For The Window In My Head
Badger Mad
Mama And More
Stephs Diary Of Family Life With Autism
Alysons Blog
Mother Venting

Movie Meme - The 80's!

After last weeks 'Chick Flick' nightmare I'm glad to say Hannah has totally redeemed herself this week haha!  This week she has given us 80's.  YAYE!

Regular readers of my blog will know I adore the 80's (I was born in '74 so spent most of my childhood in the fabulous decade) and have blogged about the decade itself here and wrote a whole listography post dedicated to 80's films as well as mentioned it in many posts.  So it's only natural I pick one from my list...

Can you tell I'm excited by this weeks theme?

Anyway, you probably won't be surprised to hear it's the totally amazing cult film Heathers.

Of course it is?  Why wouldn't I love a film that has my name as the title?  Well, for those who haven't seen it you will wonder why as the main focus of the plot is annoying 'popular' girls...all called Heather, how much they are hated and plans to kill them off.  Brilliant!

This is the film that first saw me fall in love with Christian Slater - he's amazing in it.  It's a brilliant satirical take on life in a high school and what it's like to be popular...and what it's like to not be.  Winona Ryder is fabulous as Veronica who teams up with JD (Slater) who's the new kid at school.

Full of black comedy and lines you will recite for the rest of your life...

"Grow up Heather, bulimia is so '87"
"Heather, why can't you just be a friend?  Why do you have to be such a mega bitch?"
"It's your turn Heather"..."No Heather, it's Heathers turn.  Heather?"..."Sorry Heather".
"I brought you to a Remington Party and this is my thanks? It's on the hallway carpet.  I got paid in puke!"..."Lick it up baby...lick...it...up!"
"I use my grand IQ to decide what colour lip gloss to wear in the morning"
"She's my best friend.  God I hate her"

(quotes copied from my listography post because I'm lazy)

You can buy this DVD from Play.com for a few quid (plus free delivery) so do it now!


What's your favourite?  Head over to Hannah's blog and link up...

Flashback Friday - 'Not Quite' The 80's

Not a massive leap back in time this week but yesterday I was too ill to move and this was the only photo I had to hand this morning. However, it's a flashback in another way.

It was probably taken about 6 years ago I reckon, one of my closest friends had an 80's party for her husbands birthday. It was one of the best house party's I've been to. LOTS of alcohol was consumed (as you can see from the look on my face) and lots of laughs were had.

Everyone made such a great effort with their outfits that night - it was amazing! My husband even joined in the fun Miami Vice stylee. What you can't see properly in the photo is that I'm wearing a pair of bright yellow 4" stiletto heels! Awesome.

This photo was taken at the top of the landing outside the loo - it's not only an 80's thing, it's a girl thing!

Now head over to Karin's place at Cafebebe and check out all the other entries...

E is for...Eighties

Click play to reminisce (may take a short while to load) 

I'm well and truly an 80's girl at heart.  I love the 80's as I spent most of my childhood in them - from the ages 6 to 16 in fact.  I know some people hate the 80's so much that they shudder at the thought of mullets, curly perms and banana clips.  But for me, the 80's was the best decade, the decade of fun, the decade of high fashion and neon clothing, the decade of new romantic music and the decade when my Dad made a go-kart for me that was the fastest thing on earth!

I've already talked about my love of 80's films on my blog and my obsession with the mighty Depeche Mode which started in the 80's but there is so much more that defines the 80's for me.  So much more that even after I've posted this blog, I know I'll think of something else.

80's music played a big part in my life and even now, throw on a bit of 80's 'cheese' and you can never fail to get me up on the dance floor.  In fact, I used to frequent my local nightclub during the nineties and noughties most weekends...would I be on the ground floor listening to the indie tunes?  No.  Would I be found on the first floor raving it up to some club classics?  No way!  No, I'd usually be found in some drunken state getting my groove on to Tiffany or some other cheese-fest musical memory on the 80's floor. Usually after a few too many TVR's!

Tiffany and cheese aside, the thing I love the 80's for most is the new romantic music it brought with it.  Bands like Depeche Mode, The Smiths, New Order, The Cure, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and The Human League were everywhere and I couldn't get enough of them.

The 80's saw the birth of MTV to our screens, I remember a friend of mine who's parents always got the very latest technology.  I'd spend so much time at her house for sleep-overs where we'd watch MTV all night and dance around the living room in our pyjamas.   To sit and watch music videos in your living room was just amazing.  MTV also brought with it a change in fashion.  Most of us wore ski-pants with over-sized shirts or bat-wing jumpers and big thick belts.  Our clothes were bright and in your face.  We didn't just accessorize we excessorized!  We went over-board on big and bright plastic earrings, necklaces and bracelets.  The American influence saw us going big (quite literally) on huge shoulder pads so we looked just like Crystal Carrington.  I think the 80's is such a mix of fashion from one extreme to another...and although I look back at pictures of myself and shudder, I can't help but smile and love the 80's for all it's nuttiness!

I have such fond memories of racing to the local news agents on a Thursday to pick up my weekly copy of Smash Hits Magazine.  I would study the magazine for hours, pouring over the latest bands and heart throbs.  Then, when I was done, I'd rip out the lyrics pages so I could get ready to sing my heart out (badly) whilst listening to the Radio 1 chart countdown every Sunday.  On that Sunday I would get my trusty tape cassette deck out, insert my memorex tape and have my fingers poised over the record and play buttons ready to record the songs I loved.  I remember just how pissed off I'd feel if I mis-timed it and ended up with Bruno Brookes talking on my tape!  I'd be frantically rewinding and re-editing, trying to cut all the talking out and then writing the songs on the label insert.

I'd spend lots of time with my best friend (and she's still my best friend now), looking through Smash Hits and singing along to our newly compiled tapes of chart hits.  We'd sing into hairbrushes.  We'd even knock on her brothers bedroom door and sing to him or plead with him to do his impression of Vivian from The Young Ones.

That's another love of mine from the 80's - The Young Ones.  Maybe it's where my love of toilet humour stems from?  Maybe it's the fact that my Mum didn't really like my older Sister and I watching it but we used to twist her arm - the great thing about your Dad working nights!

To this day, my favourite episode of The Young Ones has to be 'Bambi', the one where they go on University Challenge.  Music also played a huge part in The Young Ones...where else could you get to rock out to tunes whilst chuckling away over jokes about bogies, trumps and crap. Even now I can't listen to Ace Of Spades by Motörhead without giggling like a silly schoolgirl.

The other night my husband was flicking through the TV channels on Sky (typical man) and I suddenly stopped him.  "Quick, quick, go back a couple of channels, I used to watch that programme in the 80's" I cried.  What was it?  Some cool kid or teen programme?  No. I was referring to 'Thirtysomething'.  I used to watch and love this programme in the late 80's.  When I look back, I wonder if the 80's made us all old before our time or is this something that all kids do?  Watch a programme about people so much older than them and so different.  Why would someone in their early teens love a programme about baby booming yuppies in their 30's?  But it made me stop and think about all the programmes I genuinely loved in these years - Moonlighting, The Love Boat, Dynasty, The A-Team, CHiPs, Beauty and the Beast, The Cosby Show, Diff'rent Strokes and The Fall Guy to name but a few.  Perhaps I was old before my time?  Perhaps we all were in the 80's or perhaps it happens within every generation? Perhaps children born in the late 80's used to sit glued to 'Cold Feet'?  Who knows?

This blog post could quite easily go on and on, talking about the kids programmes I loved of the 80's like Metal Mickey, The Adventure Game (remember 'Grandad' the talking plant?), Fraggle Rock and The Moomins.  I could talk about the toys I loved (and loathed) like Cabbage Patch Dolls, Pound Puppies, Glo Worms, Lolo Balls, My Little Pony, Popples and Cindy Dolls.  But I won't...I just wanted to spark some memories.

For me, the 80's have to be the most influential decade of my life and I'll never stop loving them.  Do you love or hate the 80's and what are your memories?

Part of my A to Z posts

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