Not another tag!

Mimi from Screaming Mimi tagged me. I like Mimi, so I couldn’t refuse. Could I? No. I couldn’t. And besides, this tag only has 5 questions. Easy. If you aren’t as demented as I am and still remember your schooldays ;-)

1. What was your favourite back to school item to buy? Uhm… gosh… what was it? Probably a new calendar (I’m not sure what it’s called in English; we call it an ‘agenda’). The trick was to buy a cool one that had lots of cool information about cool things. Yep. It definitely had to be cool. And then you’d stick all kinds of cool cut-outs in it, so it was at least three times fatter and bursting at the seams at the end of the school year. And the cut-outs had to be from cool magazines about famous cool dudes and beautiful girls. Such a shame you had to write down your homework and other ‘important’ school stuff in it too.
2. What was your favourite subject in school? 
   Art. And Dutch and English. But Art was definitely top favourite!
   Least favourite subject was maths. I do not have a mind for numbers. Although at one time we had a really wonderful maths teacher who made the lessons really fun. But still… I couldn’t understand any of it. Geometry I did understand (up to a point). Algebra = abacadabra to me. Doesn’t make any sense at all. My mind just shuts down. Hugely frustrating, even now.
3. Did you ride the bus or get a ride from Mom/Carpool?  
   Bicycle. I cycled to school. When we moved from Amsterdam to a small town in the country I could walk to school. It was close to our house. But there were a lot of pupils who lived in surrounding villages. They had certain ‘bikepool spots’ where they all gathered and then cycled to school in huge groups. Sometimes they had to cycle about 12 miles to and 12 miles from school. There are no dedicated school busses in the Netherlands as far as I know, only for children who go to special needs schools because of a physical or mental disability, which I’m glad to say I haven’t. Although you might think otherwise, I’m mentally quite sane. At least in my world I am.
4. Do you have a sack lunch or cafeteria food? 
   In my time everybody brought their own lunch to school. Most school cafeterias didn’t provide meals. Only drinks and perhaps fruit. I think. You know, I’m not quite sure anymore. I’ve just asked hubs, who went to the same school (only years earlier) and he doesn’t remember either. We think there might have been soup too.
     
5. What is your favourite memory from your school days? I don’t really have good or bad memories from my school days. I took it in my stride. Went because I had to. Always passed. Had one or two best friends, whom I’ve lost contact with almost immediately after the exams because we all went our own ways, and generally got on well with everybody. That is about everything I remember.
   I might have blocked out a lot and the rest is a blur ;-)

Now I get to tag 5 friends to play along!
I’m a spoilsport so I won’t do that, but if my faithful readers like this tag, please pick it up and play along ;-)

Tag. Shit, I’m it!

Monique, who’s Dutch and moved to Canada a couple of years ago, tagged me. I forgive her. We didn’t know each other before she tagged me actually. At least, I didn’t know her. Perhaps she has been stalking me without me noticing, but I don’t think so. Anyway, she seems nice enough, so I’ll be nice too (as if I’m ever not) and join in the ‘fun’. Which means that I have to answer 10 questions she made up and then make up 10 new questions myself and tag 5 other people. Do not be afraid. I’m not going to tag 5 other people. Perhaps I’ll make up 10 questions that you can answer if you like. I’m not sure yet. Let’s see what happens. First I have to answer her questions. Actually, I rather liked her questions and I don’t think I can come up with better ones.

Monique’s ten questions:

1 How do you drink your coffee?
I drink my coffee black. No sugar, no milk. And I like it strong please. Preferably with a nice fresh slice of cake (baked by hubs who is a master cake baker) on the side. And a dog (or two or three) at my feet. The sun shining. The French windows open. Birds singing, the scent of elderflowers and wild roses….

2 What's on top of your bucket list?
I didn’t know what a bucket list is, so Monique had to explain to me that it is the list of things you want to do before you die. And almost immediately after she’d explained it, the weekly newspaper about our village was delivered and what was in it? 
A column about…

And that everyone should have one. Because if you have no dreams and no goals, your life will always stay the same. Says the woman who wrote this (she’s a life coach).

Perhaps I need to visit her since I don’t have a list of things to do before I kick the bucket. I simply like to live before I die. I believe that if you really want to do something, you should do it nów. I have no wish to accelerate my dying process by bungee jumping or skydiving or performing a similar stunt. I’m quite happy with the way things are.
Nice and boring ;-)

3 what is the best advice you ever got?
Relax.

4 I never want to....
eat snails.

5 What is the silliest thing you have ever done? 
Synchronised walking with my sister in Paris. Do you know the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a hat a stick an umbrella and front behind left right song/walk? No?
Okay, you start walking with your left foot while counting to 7 (se-ven takes two steps), walk on while you say: a hat (point to your head) a stick (gesture as if you’re holding a walking stick) an um-brel-la (gesture as if you’re holding an umbrella) ánd front (step to front) be-hind (step to rear) left (step to left) right (step to right). Singing this song while walking gives you an energy boost and my sister and I were really tired when we were in Paris so we started doing this ‘walk/dance’. After a while we did it in silence, but still synchronised, which must have been a silly sight for the Parisians.

6 What song makes you happy?
Do you know the 1 2 3 4 5 …? No, just joking.
This song makes me happy. I defy you to sit still while listening to it.

Also a happy song:

A little bit of feelgood by Jamie Lidell:

 

7 My favorite book is....
Almost everything by John Irving, but ‘A prayer for Owen Meany’ springs to mind. I also like Stephen Fry’s books.

8 Have you ever used a Ouija-board?
No. And I’m not sure if I’d dare to….

9 When I was a child, I thought that.... 
I slept with my eyes open. Because I could see what I dreamt (or dreamed?).
I know. I’ve learned a lot since then. Except how to spell dreamt. Or dreamed. Or both? 

10 Worst song ever....
’Hello’ by Lionel Richie. Aarrgghh!

 

So, that was that. And it was quite fun to do actually. Gave me a headache thinking about my ‘happy song’, because there are so many. I love the Stereophonics too for instance, great band. The sound of the guitars in the song I’ve linked to makes me smile and dance stupidly through the room. Picture that and it’ll make you smile too ;-)

And now I have to think of 10 new questions and tag 5 other people. But I won’t. Sorry for being a spoilsport.

Would you like to know even more about me?

Beyond all hope and expectation, yesterday afternoon the washing machine repair guy arrived! He turned out to be a really nice guy, so I didn't have the heart to kill him in a medieval way. Or in any way really. So he's still alive and kicking. And the machine is too. So, dear Jinksy, I'm happy to say that we are no longer honorary members of The Knights Of The Square Drawers. Last week Cece tagged me. Thinking about describing personal things, like for instance: 'things that make you happy', gives me a headache. Which in itself says a lot about me I guess. But, although this one is about 'personality' too *sigh*, and I already felt a headache coming up, I'm still posting it. Because suddenly I remembered that I am 'a Doris'! And the 'what makes me a Doris'- characteristics describe me better than I could have ever done myself. And I like Cece. So if you want to get to know me better, read on. (The personality traits are listed in no particular order and I have personalised some of them even more. Well done to me!) Seven Personality Traits 1. I have low self-esteem. Odly enough most people think I have a lot of self-confidence. 2. I like people to take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours. I don't like to talk about me. I'll tell you what happens to me, but I won't tell you how I feel. 3. I am able to relate easily to people and to make friends. But I won't let anyone get too close to me. 4. I'm sensitive and perceptive about others' feelings. 5. I'm enthusiastic and fun-loving, and have a good sense of humor. 6. I need constant reassurance. Yes please. 7. I am very sensitive to disapproval and criticism. Handle with care. I would like to refer you to points 1 & 6!

A- Available/Married? Neither. But 'hubs' and I have been living together for about 24 years now. B - Best Friend? Me. C - Cake or Pie? Difficult choice to make. If I choose cake I feel sorry for the pie. And the other way around. Honestly, I like them both. D - Drink of Choice? Water and wine. E - Essential item you use everyday? Towel but I so would like to say washing machine ;-) F - Favorite Color? Another difficult choice to make. I like them all, except Tax Office Blue. G - Gummy Bears or Worms? What, to eat? I guess Gummy Bears. Although I don't particularly like them (sorry Bears). But I prefer them to worms. Or did something get lost in translation here? H - Hometown? Amsterdam (birthplace), Edinburgh (great place), a little village in Groningen (house place) I - Indulgence? Crisps, but the low-fat variety. I like to cheat myself into thinking that it's not thát bad for me. J - January or February? Definitely February because I hate January with a passion. K - Kids and their names? No, but if you count the dogs, cats, horses and pigs: Phoebe, Holle, Biggles, Bengeltje, Petje, Mozes, Snoesje, Naloma, Willem, Evie, Nufnuf and Tumtum. And a rooster called Van Woerkom and six nameless chickens. L - Life is incomplete without? Me. M - Marriage Date? Not married, but if I were I'm sure I couldn't remember the date anyway. I can't remember birthdays or other dates people find significant. N - Number of Siblings? I always find that a difficult question. I have a sister. But I also have a brother who died about 10 years ago. I can't even remember the date he died. Don't be shocked. I just don't think a date is the most important fact to remember. O - Oranges or Apples? Oh dear, another choice. Probably apples. Especially in pie ;-) P - Phobia's/Fears? I'm always afraid that something happens to the animals. And I so dislike loud chewingsounds made by people (not by animals, I don't mind them having bad table manners) that you could call it a phobia. Q - Quote for today? Shit happens but there is always hope! R - Reason to smile? Come to think of it, the animals often make me smile. S - Season? All seasons or seasalt and black pepper. T - Tag 3 People? You see, I'd rather not. But if someone wants to get a headache, be my guest and answer these questions. Be tagged! U - Unknown fact about me? I hate (and I mean: h a t e) going to parties. V - Vegetable you don't like? Broccoli. I eat it because it's healthy, but I haven't found a way of making it taste nice yet. So, if you have a great broccoli-recipe... W - Worst habit? I burp. But not in public. And I often use the word 'so'. X - X-rays you've had? Teeth, wrist, a couple of fingers. Y - Your favorite food? Apart from Broccoli and Hutspot (a mash of carrots, onion and potatoes) I like most things. I don't eat meat. Z - Zodiac Sign? Gemini. IF YOU LIKE ME, HAVE SYMPATHY AND PLEASE DON'T TAG ME AGAIN. IF YOU DON'T LIKE ME, OR IF YOU ARE HAVING A BAD HAIR DAY, FEEL FREE TO TAG ME. I WILL PROBABLY IGNORE IT ANYWAY.

Awarded and tagged

I've got an awahard, I've got an awahard, tumtetumtetumtum.... Yesterday Barb from Skittlesplace honoured me with this lovely award:

Which is very nice of her. Don't you think? And she called me a LADY!!!!!!! It takes one to know one. There are however some strings attached. I have to mention 7 things that make me happy. And I have to honour some other bloggers with the same award.

First things first. Seven things that make me happy (in no particular order): 1. receiving awards for my blog 2. getting compliments 3. working in the garden in dry weather, preferably when the sun is shining 4. walking the dogs in the rain without encountering another human being 5. my friends (who are very forgiving and lovely and warm people) 6. all the inhabitants of our private little zoo 7. but the happiest I will be if my horse has her foal some time at the end of this week and both mare and foal are healthy and happy And now I have to award others. Hmmm. Who will we honour with this lovely image with the creative spelling (not unlike my own mistakes that are of course only due to typing errors ór to a creative use of words)....... Okay, so I would like to give this award to: Bodie and Doyle A very KREATIV blog about a dog (and his man) that makes me smile. And I'll leave it at that. Now, that does not mean that I don't think any of you other Bloggers deserve an award (does this mean what I think it means? I'm confused.). I mean: you are all Kreativ Bloggers and therefore deserve an award. Far more Kreativ than I am (fishing for compliments now, because they make me happy). But I've seen this award already on most of your blogs and I think an Award is worth even more if you only honour ONE blogger/blog with it. And now for something completely different...... Write Away! Mimi tagged me. With something I haven't seen before. As far as I understand it, I have to write down (using an actual pen or maybe a pencil, and paper) the following things: 1. The name of the person who tagged me. 2. My name. 3. Right handed or left handed? 4. My favorite letters to write. 5. My least favorite letters to write. 6. 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.' 7. The three people I want to tag (I will only tag one). Which is a bit awkward. Because not long ago I was boasting about my very neat and lovely handwriting, but now I will of course 'val door de mand' as we say in the Netherlands. Meaning that you will find out that my handwriting isn't actually as nice as I've led you to believe. It used to be, I assure you. But I don't write as much anymore. So my hand doesn't follow my brain the way it used to. But what the heck, here it goes:

So, sweet Mel, I'm sorry, but you have to see if you can find some paper and a pen or a pencil - whatever rocks your boat - and write away, so that someone who practices chirogrammatomanty can find out what you are all about.