Miranda's questions

Miranda at Little Gold Pocket watch chose me as one of the 10 people to pass on the Liebster tag onto, so I am thanking Miranda (who is very sweet and pretty) and answering her questions.

1) What is your personal style like?

Usually girly. A bit hippy, I like bright colours, patterns but not neon. I like florals and vintage-style but not the whole hog. 

2) What got you interested in blogging?

My friend Rach sent me her blog link and I loved the fun and the dialogue and the fact it was your space to say whatever you wanted to the world.  As a relatively new Christian then, I loved interacting with other young Christians of my age.

3) Any pet peeves?

Are we talking about blogging or generally in life?

Blogging, I had to think about this one- it's a small thing,not even a peeve but I somehow notice certain stock-phrases that repeatedly crop up in sponsored posts- I don't know I'd like to see it said in a different way but that's just me being a pedant.  Admittedly, I am just a trifle hypocritical saying this as I am quite sure I use the word 'lovely'  in blog comments about 10 million times a day, but still, I just notice certain phrases! Anyway, I usually like the rest of the post...

In life- when children repeatedly ask me, "Miss, can I go toilet?"- it REALLY riles me-  I am really picky about it and then make them repeat it with the oh-so-crucial  missing preposition and definite article (and the please if that is also missing), and perhaps substituting Can for May which I understand to be more grammatically correct.

Also, I cannot stand spitting  on the ground. I don't care if you have a mouth full of phlegm, you WAIT until you can find a bin, a piece of tissue, a toilet, something BUT I DO NOT WANT YOUR FILTHY NASTY YELLOW SECRETIONS just spat into my path, you animal! (see, I really don't like it)  I often get really bad mucus, much of the time (sorry TMI) and  I manage to adhere to this conduct and have never spat on the ground so everyone else can manage it.

4) Celebrity crush?

JJ Feild who played Mr Tilney in Northanger Abbey. He was also in Austenland, Ruby in the Smoke, Telstar, Death on the Nile and various other things. He's so cute and has the most gorgeous twinkly eyes when he smiles.  I have had the privilege of meeting him when I went to watch him in a play in London and I met other members of the JJ Feild fan forum. I wonder if it is still going? It was great fun!

5) If you could go back in time, which era would you choose?
Much as I love Regency books and things, I think it would be a tough time to live- if you weren't rich, it would be hard, as a woman you were dependent on the whims and mercies of men.  So, I wouldn't go too far back.  Again, I like the idea of the roaring 20's but not so sure I could do without all the mod cons so I am going to plump for the 1950's as it's a bit further back before all the madness of the 60's but not too far back!

6) Morning hair and makeup routine?

I am always running late! Make up is zero- I do moisturiser and that's it! Hair, is brush it and add a headband!!

7) Favorite movie?

Hmmm, I love lots of films- I love Ever After with Drew Barrymore, The Slipper and the rose, Ella Enchanted, Legally Blonde, Roman Holiday....

As long as it is not gory, scary or too full of gratuitous sex, then I am bound to like it, especially if it is funny or has a romantic plot line (or Anne Hathaway!)

8)Where have you not travelled that you would like to visit and why?

Well, I am off to Croatia soon and I wanted to go there because it looks interesting and relaxing and sunny as well. I'd love to visit Thailand because it sounds interesting and I had some lovely Thai friends who studied with me in Bali.   I'd love to visit  New England in America or St Lucia just because they look gorgeous!

9) Morning person or night owl?
Well, I don't like getting up but I am pretty chirpy once I am up and going.  I am also ok at night, I can keep working. I must say though, I do hate going OUT till late.

10) What's something you're passionate about besides blogging?
Ha, you must know this already unless you only just popped in here (in which case HI!)- music of course- I love my flute, orchestral-playing, reading and of course, as a Christian, I am passionate about Jesus!

11) What is one of your life goals, big or small?

I'd love to have some more music published. At the moment, I only have one piece published and I'd love to publish a song book or orchestral pieces for primary school or even a serious orchestral piece or a flute sonata.

If you want to answer some questions, please feel free to attach a big imaginary shiny pink rosette saying Liebster award winner to your imaginary blog chest and get on and answer Miranda's questions too- I like hers!

Wither where I wander?

Tell me your favourite travel story. Or what is on your travel wishlist? Or what do you think about travelling?

I LOVE small islands. I like the idea that you can discover most of a place and get around it. The fact that you are never too far from the sea. The fact that you can never have places that are too big!  The fact that you tend to not have too many scuzzy places which all cities have! I love natural sights- trees, water, It's not that I don't enjoy a city-break: I do, but I do like being surrounded by nature. If I could, I would love to visit Polynesia or Micronesia. I went to a fascinating talk once on the islands of Ireland- visiting some of these small places would be fascinating (in good weather of course). I don't know if I could live there long term, in the winter- that's a hard one to know: I suspect not. The isles of Scilly have long held a beguiling charm to me. An ex-boyfriend took me to Herm, one of the smallest Channel islands and it was really beautiful. I'd love to visit Aldernay and explore Guernsey a bit. My friend Kathy told me about Frazer Island in Australia, which sounds really beautiful. If I didn't have to contend with Australia to get there, I'd consider visiting. Forgive me if you are Australian but a) it's just too far to travel and really, I have been totally put off by the wildlife- by which I mean- spiders and snakes and other insects- Kathy has shared stories with me of her time there and I've seen TV programmes. I know that Spider incidents are few and far between but somehow, I just don't want to go! Anyone who has read the Anne of Green Gables series will identify with my longing to visit Prince Edward Island- that would be an amazing experience. The Isle of Skye would be wonderful. And yes, anyone of those Caribbean islands would be rather marvellous!  Not really fancying Easter Island or Christmas Island though- yep, migrating crabs and creepy statues aren't my thing!

I've travelled a fair bit in Europe- France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium (Bruges), Greece (Hydra), Italy (Florence, Lake Garda and Como regions) and visited Rejkavik, Iceland and Lanzarote but my only non-European trip has been my two stays in Bali/Java- the first being of a year's duration and the second, 3 weeks- both of those being working/studying holidays.  Therefore, it would be lovely to explore some non-European destinations:  I like the idea of Canada, New England, USA would be exciting and perhaps Thailand- some of those little island (the island thing again).  In some ways, I'd love to visit Malaysia as I speak Indonesian which has its roots in Malay.

This year, CBC and I are wondering whether we could make a trip to a Greek island.  We visited Hydra in February and it wasn't particulary warm, so we'd love to experience the summer there.  Any suggestions?  We don't like the clubby touristy thing?  Where might you recommend? Sicily? Sardinia?

I enjoy travelling but I have been conscious of my carbon footprint and try not to fly too much. If possible, CBC and I like taking trains.  We've only flown a couple of times- most of our honeymoon was done 'on the trains' of Switzerland and a post on that is long overdue.  It seemed a rather arduous task- how does one summarize 16 days of much travel into a blog post?

Many of my holidays over the past 10 years have been my annual summer Music Camp and visiting friends and family around England. I think that we have many, many beautiful places here so I am glad there is so much I haven't seen and there's always something new to look forward to.  I've still never visited Scotland and Kielder and Alnwick are about as far north as I have ever been.  We have friends in Ireland who have invited us to stay- I used to walk their dogs as a teenager and I love them dearly- wish they still lived round the corner from me!


Anyway, I'd love to know your take on travel.

With love,
Kezzie x

Ponderings, a Mohican, a card, a vintage skirt question! Take your pick!

I have a question! 
I was watching Have I got news for you?  just now and someone was asking if anyone had any button anecdotes.  Do you?  I'd love to hear them!
Apparently, it's really hard to get rid of your grandmother's button collection.
I also have another one!
I was just typing up my 400+ comments for all the school's music reports.  And if any of you are parents, how closely do you read and take note of subjects like music, art, geography.  Really I am intrigued to know.  What do you think of reports?  Which bits do you pay closest attention to?  What would you most like to read.  And if you aren't a parent, what's your opinion?

I have a third question:
I am going to karaoke tomorrow and I might have to sing. What would you sing?  I'm thinking of doing a silly mock-Shirley Bassey Diamonds are forever if I HAVE to choose something (cringe!) but I feel silly!

My swap-parcels are sorted so I don't have to stress anymore about those- just school stuff!!  I  am having a lovely time at my sister's this evening despite having to sit and type reports!  
We've just eaten a life-time supply modest amount of  of Chinese and we may make cards as we've BOTH forgotten about a certain family member's birthday!  She thought it was the 8th, I thought the 7th but apparently it's the 4th!  Oops!

 I bought this cute skirt in the charity shop the other day for £2.  I'm presuming it is vintage because of 2 facts:
1) the Windsmoor label looks old
2)  It's a size 10  but I can barely breathe it fits my waist so snuggly so it feels like a size 6 feels on me!
Could you hazard a guess for me on how old it might be? 

 I teamed it with yellow licorice allsorts earrings (no picture) tied my Cath Kidston necklace in a knot

 Oh and my lovely Mummy came over yesterday and taught me how to use a lawn-mower.  She didn't quite trust me to do anything more than do more than mow a little patch.  She said she wanted to get on with it but I know it's because she wanted to cut the grass into a Mohican!  Loook!!!

 I made a card (and MANY other things which have taken 3 days to do for swaps- ahgrh!) late in the evening- this took 5 minutes!  The obligatory recycled element is the rainbow background- an old tissue box!

 And here's something else I was going to make...

How was your day!?