Eight Random Things About Me

I got tagged by Thayer on this a couple of months and thought it was about time I responded. I'm pretty sure I've had this meme before but it's probably quite a while ago so probably time for a new one. So here are my 'Eight Random Things About Me'. Sorry it's taken me so long Thayer!

1. John Archer gave me chicken pox. Yes, that's right, as in John Archer, from BBC Radio 4's long-running soap The Archers. The actor who played him, Sam Barriscale, was in youth theatre with me and we were both in Peter Pan. I played Slightly Soiled and he played Tootles. Anyway, young Sam had been given the all-clear from the doc re his chicken pox. Only the doctor got it wrong and Sam gave three of us chicken pox, right in the middle of rehearsals. It was touch and go whether we'd be well enough to go on, but we made it!



2. I run a brownie pack in Tooting. And my brownies love doing all the same things that I used to love doing when I was a brownie. Very reassuring in this digital day and age.

3. I'm good with a needle and thread. I started making clothes for my Sindy doll when I was about 7 and then started making my own clothes when I was 10. The first proper garment I made was a blue floral cotton A-line skirt. I did this at school and really enjoyed it. So much so, that my father bought me a sewing machine. I've been sewing ever since, although I don't have the time and space to do this much nowadays.

4. I have a left ear advantage. That means I hear better in my left ear than my right. This is common in women apparently.

5. I have a thing for shoes. I'm trying to control it. It's hard!

6. Barcelona is my favourite city outside of London. Many a good time to be had in that city and many wonderful people to meet and hang out with. Including the inspirational women at Linqia.

7. I had my first TV appearance when I was 6 on Pebble Mill at One. My moment of glory was blowing a whistle to camera to get the litter picking started. (My primary school were drafted in to kick start a pick-up litter campaign).

8. I've ridden an elephant in the Thai jungle and got attacked by ants as a result as the elephant decided to disturb an ant's nest in marching its way through the trees.

9. My favourite place on earth is Port Erin in the Isle of Man. I wish my family still had an apartment there. I miss it. This is me, aged about 6, in Port Erin with my big sister.



10. I spent a summer in Great Yarmouth when I was very small. This is my favourite picture of that summer, taken by my father.



As for tagging other folks, I'm going to leave it to my readers to be proactive and pick up on the thread as they see fit!

8 Random things about me blogtag

Like Xen, I've been tagged before for the 5 things blog tag and now she's tagged me for the 8 random things blog tag so as it's a rainy afternoon in South London, I thought I'd do the honours. However, I believe my original 5 things are much more interesting but in the interests of the game, I'll dig up some new, very random, stuff about me for you.

So, here are the rules of the new 8 Random Things tag game:

• We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
• Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

So, let's see.

1. I love a good festival - namely Glastonbury and the forthcoming Electric Picnic this year. There's something very appealing about hanging out in a muddy field full of music and random folks enjoying themselves, very often wearing wellies. I reckon I dance better in wellies than high heels anyway!

2. I like hats and at the weekend went to deepest Deptford with pal Lisa Devaney for a Cat in the Hat photoshoot courtesy of photographer, Rebecca Portsmouth, and much fun was had by all.

3. I have size 5 feet. I'm not sure why you'd want to know that, but it's random so there you go.

4. I've just started getting weekly deliveries of organic veg to my home so I've been experimenting more with cooking. And I'm very pleased with Farmaround's service, including their lovely driver who delivers to me every Friday morning.

5. I'm an ENTP - well at least I am according to a couple of tests I took on t'internet this week. I don't think many of my friends will be the least bit surprised by the results.

6. I own 2 tents. One is green and supposedly a 3 to 4 person tent but actually accommodates 2 girls and their kit (just) and is extremely comfortable for one girl and her kit, and the other is blue and a cosy 2-person tent so it's really only big enough for one. See point 1.

7. I don't like marmite, goats cheese, mayonnaise or savoury egg dishes. However, I do like my Mum's homemade vegetarian soups *a lot*. She also somehow manages to cook potatoes much better than I do and I've never worked that one out.

8. I was bridesmaid to a stripper in 1996 at Hedonism II in Jamaica during a body art convention. I met Sarah, the bride, when she was my next-door neighbour when I lived in Wood Green. At the time, she was a wig maker and then switched profession to be an "exotic dancer" at a clip joint in Soho as it was seriously better money and a better work environment than making wigs in Covent Garden for the theatre. Anyway, the marriage didn't last, and the now ex-husband, Simon, was featured on a documentary series, Pleasure Island, all about Hedonism II on the tellybox a few years ago.

So, who do I tag.. I reckon random stuff from Lloyd, Deirdre, Sheila, Tom, Sergio, Whatleydude, Lisa and Rachel will be worth a read.