Take all of me

I have inadvertently got an award - simply by being one of the first five folks to comment on Scarlet's blog. I get to post the award picture, which is nice.



However, I also have to list 10 true facts about myself. I did something similar a few months back at the behest of Kevin. As I am not a very interesting person it is going to be tricky to find more to say about myself, but here goes....taking more than a little inspiration from Scarlet's "truths":

1) I am not ginger either. No, seriously. I really am not, but I always wanted to be. I love red hair. Then my daughter was born ginger, or orange, as she likes to call it. Be careful what you wish for.

2) I have two scars under my chin, both about 1 cm long, parallel. Both childhood accidents - one from slipping in the public swimming pool and banging my chin on the edge, and on from hitting my chin on one of those 70s standup ashtray things.

3) In my job I get to visit lots of buildings and organisations that many people wouldn't get access to. I didn't go to the Lloyds of London meeting, but I have been to the Bank of England and the Lebanese Parliament, to name a couple.

4) I too got Unclassified in my maths O level, despite a home tutor as well as regular maths lessons. I was supposed to retake it the following january but didn't even bother to show up. However, it has been one of my many hang ups about my lack of academic prowess. Despite doing (and passing) statistics as part of my degree, I eventually took an OU maths course a couple of years ago, and PASSED! It was one of the happiest days of my life.

5) I am crap at sport. I was always one of those sad ones picked last for teams along with the fat girl. I was on the arts side - but I was always picked for the school play, so that was good!

6) I am a glasses wearer because I can't really get on with lenses. I have several pairs.

7) I have never been to a Cure concert. I did, however, dress as a pirate for a Bow Wow Wow concert.

8) I am a voracious reader - cannot be without a book anywhere. My dad used to help me with my reading when I was younger by getting me to read hymns - that's left footers for you!

9)I have never been a contestant on a game show, but my husband was a contestant on a radio music quiz. He was knocked out in the first round, but we had great fun at the recording, and had drinks and nibbles with Ned Sherrin.

10) I went for a riding lesson once with a horse mad school friend. I fell off, and thought it was hilarious. I wasn't a horsey type. As with the sport, I was too busy doing plays, doing dance classes or reading a book.

Fame...I wanna live forever

So, my words of wit and wisdom are to be published in another professional journal. I get to be interviewed, by phone, and comment on l*br*ry M*n*gem*nt software. I need to comment on the industry in general, while getting in numerous plugs for the product I manage. This is an intimidating situation already. Usually I give the lovely marketing people a vague idea of what I would like to say, and they go away, craft a masterpiece, then it gets published with my name on it.

But that is not the worst of it. A photograph is required to accompany the article. Of me. Now, I try to avoid having my photo taken at the best of times. The photo I supply is going to have to make me look (in my opinion and in no particular order): intelligent, approachable, authoritative, honest, kind but firm, concerned, articulate, witty, supportive, attentive, friendly....but most of all, NOT FAT.

I'm thinking this one will not do....

The story of my life

Apparently this is the type of blogger I am....sadly, it would only be true if I actually blogged all the interesting and funny entries I write in my head when I can't sleep!

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And you make it as entertaining as possible. You may be guilty of over-sharing a bit on your blog, but you can't help it. Your life is truly an open book. Or in this case, an open blog!

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

Young at heart

Bit of a shock today when I went t'dentist. For the first time I was really aware of quite how young my dentist was...as in....obviously significantly younger than me.

Then my cyber-chum Kevin from Helminthedale publishes a post about a seventies children's programme and I am too young to remember it. Hurrah! I feel so much better now!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it...

Not me, I should point out. Laura. She slept with me last night, because Peter was getting up at the crack of sparrow fart to go to London. Anyway, she woke up when the alarm went off (result!), leapt on me, and proceeded to inform me why she was so excited:

1) she is starting packed lunches today. She is absolutely giddy about this. Her best friend, Christina, who is the benchmark for everything at the moment, has packed lunches, and for the summer term, so will Laura. I do feel a little guilty that she is so happy to take sandwiches. Mostly she has had school dinners since starting school because I can't be arsed to make her lunch....ho hum!

2) now this one is a massive working-mummy, guilt-trip jobby. She was beside herself with joy because i was taking her to school this morning. Not just dumped early in pre-school club, but actually taking her to the classroom, and helping her hang up her stuff on her peg. Actually, i enjoy it too. It's nice to see some of the other mums, and the weather was lovely this morning, so it was a very pleasant stroll back to the car. When I did a bit of pick up and collecting after I came back from South America I resolved to try to re-jig my working hours from time to time...y'know...do a long day one day so I can do the school run the next day. But it is difficult to be consistent - I'm off again for three days next week....

Can this much introspection be good for you?

So, according to a personality quiz on blogthings, this is me:

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's Your Personality Type?

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Right now I am at this Hotel. I am on leadership training (!), and there have been a few of those "what style of ???? are you?" type tests. Apparently, I avoid conflict. I knew that. I didn't need to come here to find that out!

Also, I forgot to bring my little camera that was purchased for the express purpose of taking photos on my (frequent) trips away. So I can't show you that I have a seaview from my room.

Slightly tipsy post

Does anyone really say tipsy anymore?

So, I started drinking at about 4.45pm today, when I normally have a rule about not starting till 6pm...i.e. Laura is home, and Peter is due through the door at any moment. Today Laura was at mum's and being picked up by P. It was my day off, and yet still my work colleagues (shan't mention names - can't remember who knows about this blog) managed to p*** me off so much that the bottle was out the fridge significantly earlier than usual.

Veronica was drink in hand when I spoke to her at 5.30, which was justifiable as they'd just had OFSTED, but also made me feel less guilty!

So, I've been reading loads of other blogs, and feeling inadequate. Therefore, in a bid to appear more interesting, here is a fact about me that you won't know: I am synesthesic, or perhaps, blessed with synesthesia. It's a nice thing to have, although weird when you realise that it isn't the same for everyone else. It is strongest for me for days of the week. If you didn't click on the link immediately I bet you are intrigued now - to see what I've got...is it catching....can you tell just by looking at me!

So, I read this blog, which reminded me that I treated myself to a pair of purple kickers for my thirtieth birthday. I did wear them a bit, but I recently gave them to my niece, so clearly they came back into fashion. I also threw a Northern Exposure party, which gives a hint as to how long ago my 30th was....