From the archives: Top eleven fictional places I would like to visit.

Here's a fun post I wrote back in October 2015. I love lists like this- I find them really interesting to read.  I'd love to see anyon else write this post also!

Top eleven fictional places I would like to visit.

I like a good discussion over fiction and when I saw that Bevchen had done a post entitled, Top 10 fictional places I would like to visit, I knew this was something I would be doing!
https://confuzzledom.wordpress.com/2015/09/08/top-ten-fictional-places-i-would-like-to-visit/

So, without further ado, here are my choices:

1. The chocolate room in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

You know the one.  Now, I confess, I SAW the Gene Wilder Willy Wonka's  Chocolate Factory BEFORE I read the book.  Thus my choice is is a combination of the film AND book version.  Here is the extract from the book I am talking about. In the book, I wanted to drink the hot chocolate river, straight from that frothy waterfall! Because that hot chocolate wouldn't be a mediocre Coffee-shop/Cafe let-down, it would be made of real milk with real chocolate blended beautifully! And trying that minty grass!  And in the film version, I too,like Violet Beauregard would pull one of those giant jelly bears from a tree and eat a lemon cup like Mr Wonka. I'd lick that cream from the NICE mushrooms like Mrs Mike TeeVee, stuff an enormous red licorice rope in my rope like Mr Beauregard!!! Oh this place was my place of wonder as a child!!!



2. The land of treats, The land of take what you please and The land of wishes from the Faraway tree! 
The Faraway tree also features in BevChen's choice but I am quite sure it will be in many Blyton fans' lists. These lands were amazing as you could do what you want, eat what you want, find what you want.  If you don't know the book, strange lands would appear if you climbed a ladder into the cloud at the top of the Faraway Tree, a magical tree. There were some horrid lands too but these ones were the best!

 3. Tom's midnight garden 
I only read Philippa Pearce's book as an adult but it is one of my most favourite books in all the world now.  Tom is having to stay at his Aunt and Uncle's dull house whilst his brother has measles and when the clock strikes 13 after midnight, a beautiful garden would appear in the back garden when he opened the back gate. It was a vast garden from the Victorian era, it would have so many beautiful areas to it and Tom would play with Hattie, a sad little girl he meets there. The descriptions of that garden were so vivid, I longed to be there.  Also, in my mind, the garden was rather like my Grandparents' beautiful, huge garden so it has happy memory associations too!  I saw a beautiful film version of the book too and the garden they used in the film surpassed my imagination. Not often that happens in an adaptation!

 4. Perelandra when it was first formed in C.S. Lewis' Voyage to Venus.
C.S. Lewis wrote a beautiful Sci-fi trilogy and in the second book, Voyage to Venus, Ransome, the main character travels to Venus to try to stop this evil character from ruining the new paradise.  The description of Perelandra (the old universe language version of Venus), is just so imaginative.  The land is made up of sea with islands that float and move with the waves,so the land ripples as you walk on it. And there were these trees with these bubbles on them that when you walked through them, refreshed and cleansed you as an alternative to a shower.  These seemed so amazing, I longed to try them. Perelandra did not fall to temptation so it remained a beautiful place which Ransome longs to return to, the true fulfilment of what the garden of Eden could have been. He is truly changed by his visit to Perelandra and I long to go there to a place without sin and illness.

 5. Kirrin Island. from Enid Blyton's Famous Five series
I strongly suspect that the reason I adore visiting small islands is that in my subconscious, I am seeking Kirrin Island, the small island that belonged to George Kirrin. It had a ruined castle with dungeons that concealed gold (1.Five on a Treasure island), an underwater tunnel from the mainland that was naturally formed (6. Five on Kirrin Island again) , a wonderful perfect cave with a hole in the ceiling for light (3. Five run away together)and a natural stone shelf round the edge, a perfect swimming pool amongst the rocks and tame wild rabbits! And the children had it all to themselves!

 6. The Wandering shop. 
Ankh Morpork sounds a bit grubby and dangerous for me BUT In Terry Pratchett's books:

Certain constants apply to these shops. They carry exactly what the person is looking for, even if they aren't looking for anything particular; Out of all the myriad items, most of which are broken, the most powerful and mystical one will be the most ordinary looking, and the most affordable; and the shop owner will be older than mud, but sharper than flint.

These shops will appear in rarely travelled side streets, and will look as though they have been there forever. The next time the customers return (often to return the purchased items) the shop will be gone, the space it occupied looking as though it has been that way forever as well.

Quantum is suspected to play a large part in this, though some people believe it's just a clever way to avoid various Sunday Closing laws, while others believe these shops form an Emporium, a galactic empire controlled by shopkeepers.

Tempting thought these explanations are, and while noting that they seem to fit the observed facts, they are almost entirely wrong.

This description is borrowed from Wikilspace.

I loved the idea of a shop that was only there sometimes and then disappeared! To actually find one of these would be very exciting, even if I did end up buying a whole load of tat!

7.  The Room of Requirement.   First seen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  
When I read the description of the Room of Requirement, I knew this was a place I wanted to visit.  The place of lost things which was piled up. I'd love to go there and have a good rummage through! When I read the last Harry Potter book, as soon as the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw was mentioned, I said it had to be the tiara on the bust where Harry hid the Half Blood Prince's spell book! I always wanted to read the Half Blood Prince's spell book too!
I'd love to visit the room where the DA met as well and have a lovely long read without being disturbed! It would have all the tea I could possibly want to drink and copious bags of Wotsits!

8.  Northanger Abbey.  
I'd love to go and stay in Northanger Abbey with Catherine Morland and Mr Tillney. To see if it was really very ordinary or very scary.  I'd also love to visit the Lower Rooms in Bath with them to experience the assembly!

9.  The Land of Oz.
I did wonder if I could narrow down one place in Oz I'd like to visit but there are so many interesting places within Oz, that I couldn't choose.  I've read all of the 15 original Oz books by L. Frank Baum and the places within were so exciting! Even though, strictly speaking, it was in the Land of Ev, rather than the land of Oz, I'd love to visit the Nome King's land where the ground was made up of precious gems (Tiktok of Oz) and visit the cavern filled with all his treasures (Ozma of Oz), I'd pick a lunchpail and a dinner pail from the trees in Ozma of Oz. The Emerald City would be amazing to see as would Glinda's palace and I always fancied visiting Miss Cuttenclip's (The Emerald City of Oz) where all the people are made out of paper and Bunnybury (ibid) where all the inhabitants are rabbits!

10. Smuggler's Top.
Enid Blyton has a lot to answer for.  Smuggler's Top is a mysterious old house surrounded by marshes absolutely riddled with secret passages galore. Top of my bucket list is to find a real secret passage, and this place was where I got that zeal from!!! I would love to explore all the passages with my torch, the Famous Five and a nice big picnic!

11.  Narnia when it was formed.

Of course I'd love to climb through the wardrobe and find that amazing land, but I'd also like to visit the wood between the worlds and see Narnia as Aslan formed it in the very beginning by singing that song. What would that song sound like, a song which brings stars, entities, plants and animals into existence???? It would be the most beautiful, glorious song ever heard.   It would be glorious to see that and have that privilege to witness that!

It's very hard to narrow it down, but these immediately came to mind.
I would LOVE to read your post if you felt compelled to write one too so if you do, please leave me a link and I will be there like a shot!!!
xx

A series of unfortunate events

 Hey there!

Thanks for your kind comments on my recent post- I'm glad you liked the idea of writing a list of things you've done for the first time this year and was glad it was inspirational too.

I had a good day today at school (3 lessons of teaching the Year 5's an introduction to Medieval sacred singing and listening to Hildegard Voin Bingen and one lesson of year 6 listening to the music from other 'horrid' sounding music (including Psycho theme!) and and trying to use dissonance to create our own atmospheric music.

However, there were a few little things that happened that made me laugh but were rather unfortunate.

Number one was the ridiculous downpour of rain that hit me as I left the house.  It was quite simply ridiculous.  As I cycled down the road, I couldn't believe how drenched I was getting and could barely see my way.  A few metres later, it seemed to increase until the raindrops felt the size of buckets, each and every one of them and I started laughing, it became so hard to cycle.  As I reached the train platform and hauled myself panting in the carriage, I dripped muddy water all over the carriage floor.  Another girl was similarly soaked and we laughed as we tried to sit down- every single part of me was utterly saturated- skirt, leggings, coat, even down to my underwear!).  My barkcotton skirt is practically teatowel material and it felt like a soggy one.   The rain completely stopped after about 5 minutes of being on the train so to all the bone-dry people that got on at subsequent stations, I looked a sorry sight as did the brown floor beneath me. An hour and a half later and standing in front of hand dryers, I was still wet and spent my first our of teaching feeling very gross.  The only dry part of me was my feet- clad in very expensive Goretex boots which I am thankful I bought last week.

Number two occurred as I left the station at my destination.  As I cycled down the main road and onto the side street, I was suddenly aware that my pedal action was somewhat restricted- I glanced down whilst trying to keep an eye on the road and noticed that, in a freak, couldn't-possibly-make-it-happen-on-purpose occurrence, that the very end of my shoelace (DONE UP, I hasten to add) had somehow caught between the perpendicular pedal and pedal shaft join- I tried to pull over to untangle it and as I did it, fell completely off my bike.  Luckily, I'd braked and didn't hurt myself but was a bit shaken.

Fast forward to home time at 6.30pm, I reached the station near work and put my paper ticket into the ticket barrier slot.  It make all sort of nasty, churning munchy-noises and no ticket was returned!  I had to alert a guard to this fact and had to wait as he opened the machine which had munched up my ticket and didn't want to give it back.  It gave up eventually.

Waiting on the platform for my train, I suddenly heard a massive splatting noise!  I glanced forward and saw the most enormous spread of white bird boo, just centimetres from me.  Looking up, I saw a Pigeon's derriere poking out from a joist. That bird had SERIOUS quantity and aiming skills! It almost got me and most of a square metre and a half around me.

I had spent CBC various messages about my various misadventures and he told me he was coming to collect me from the station rather than me cycling home! Obviously didn't want to chance another mishap!  Perhaps it was wise....?

Butt!!!!

You know how some things change when you get older?

For instance, I used to dislike olives as a teen but in my 30's, I discovered that they are, in fact, delicious!

And, I was really not fond of vegetable soups and stews as a child, but from my 20's, loved them.

Now that I own my own garden and have water butts, every time it rains, especially in the Summer, or it looks imminent, I am cheering the rain on!  "COME ON!!! Fill the waterbutts!"

I gleefully text my Mum (noting she has done the same reciprocally) saying, "Freee water!" and "Yay, don't have to water tonight!" and we both gleefully compare waterbutt quotas.  And, when you discover that accidentally, you have left the waterbutt tap ON (because it had emptied and you can't quite remember what the 'OFF' position is when there is water to show you), and after a night of rain, you have missed the opportunity of a free 100l of water- it is quite simply, the worst thing and you feel wracked with guilt towards your poor garden!

And there, I find myself, dressed in my nightie and bare feet with a cursory raincoat thrown over the top, out in the pouring rain, filling up buckets from the connected waterbutt to the unconnected one, getting absolutely soaked in the process,  to maximize on the rainfall!  

You know you've grown up.

You know you've turned into your Mother!!!

Hazel's 33 random questions

I like answering random questions. I stole these from Hazel!

1. Who are you named after?
No one. My mum chose my elder sister's name from the Poldark books (and the original TV series she was watching in the 70's) and it presumably stayed in her head to name me a Cornish name also.

2.  Last time you cried?
I cried yesterday reading about a Royal British Legion man who died and won't get a funeral - he has no living relatives.  I also cried after hearing the testimony and thought of the day from the pastor of Sutton Vineyard today. I cry for other people's feelings and hurts quite often. I also cry easily for my own.

3.  Do you like your handwriting?
Well, let me tell you, I SORT of stole my neat handwriting from my friend Punam at school. She had the most immaculate handwriting and I loved it. So I copied it and adapted it to my own style and now it's mine! I have struggled with cramp and RSI in my wrists in recent years though so I struggle to write neatly for a long time. My exam handwriting (i.e. when writing quickly) is horrid!

4. What is your favourite sandwich?
Hmmm, I like DIFFERENT sandwiches at different times. Firstly, I prefer a good old crusty white roll than actual sandwiches.  One I love (which we've been eating this week) is hummus with grated carrot and cucumber. Also nice with Avocado. A recent surprise like is egg mayonnaise.  At WOMOTM's funeral, the egg sandwiches were amazing. I also like the Bacon, Brie and Avocado rolls that the Hutton Bakery does.

5.  Favourite drink?
Earl Grey tea, fresh Lemon Balm tea, Wagamama Raw Juice and Tropical Juice.

6.  Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes, though they misbehave sometimes like in January.

7. Would you bungee?
No flippin way! I hate heights!

8. What is your favourite kind of cereal?
Generally boring things like Branflakes, shreddies or All Bran. I like porridge cooked in a particular way and I like Cocoa Pops but rarely eat them.
The nicest cereal I had was a homemade Granola with chocolate chips on our Honeymoon in Spiez, Switzerland.

9.  Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes.

10.  Do you think you are strong-willed?
Yes, I am. Though I struggle with decision-making sometimes.

11.  Favourite ice-cream?
Ben and Jerry's Phish Food, Stracciatella and ultimately Mint Choc Chip. I'd choose Mint chocolate Viennetta if we are being specific and I am gutted I didn't buy the one they had in the freezer in Londis the other day. I went in today to get some frozen fish fillets and was very sad when the Viennetta had gone!

12.  What is the first thing you notice about a person?
I genuinely am not sure but I will always notice an open, genuine smile.

13.  Football or Baseball?
Neither. Yuck. Though is Baseball like Rounders? If so, that.

15.  Last thing you ate?
It was either a Fudge bar or a gummy bear or some rice scraps from the saucepan from CBC's delicious dinner which I scraped into a plastic box.

16. I WISH I were listening (good use of the subjunctive there) still listening to The Good Place on Netflix but CBC got tired of it and now some horrendous thing called The Tiger King is on in the background. I might continue watching Sunset Beach on YouTube as I type (been working my way through Series 2 of it whilst I write letters and do school work or do washing up for days)

17. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?

I would be turquoise.

18. What is your favourite smell?

Hmmm, I have lots of smells I like- I like the smell of Garlic cooking, fresh bread, onions cooking, Dettol (the original), Lemon Balm and Wild Garlic.

19. Who was the person you talked to on the phone?

My Dad.

20.  In a relationship?

Yes, married to my husband for 6 years and 8 months.

21.Eye colour.

Emphatically brown.

22. Favourite food to eat?

Thai food- Thai Green Prawn Curry, Thai fish cakes, Chinese Salt and Pepper prawns or chicken wings, Chivey omelette, Anna Jones Red Lentil, sweet potato Dhal with coconut Chutney  or my Stepmum's Roast Chicken or my Mum's  Spaghetti Bolognaise. I adore food!

23. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy Endings. I LOVE happy endings and do not like scary movies. The end.

24.  Last movie you watched in a cinema?  Was it Frozen 2 with my niece or was it Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker with our friend Nathan? Not sure which way round it was.

25. What colour shirt are you wearing?

Er- why assume I'm wearing a shirt. Actually, I am but it is undone, worn like a cardigan. It is shades of blue checked with a pink thread running through it. Worn over a navy dress with swans on. Yes, it sounds a horrendous mix- I just threw the shirt on for my walk, just in case it got chilly.

26.  Favourite holiday?

As in EVER or one I like going on repeatedly?  If repeatedly, I love going to Northumberland and I love my music camp in the Chilterns.  Amazing holidays include our trip to the Greek mainland a couple of years ago, our honeymoon all around Switzerland, amazing tour to Italy with my orchestra when I was 13.

27. Beer or wine?

Neither. Yuck.

28.  Night owl or morning person?

Not sure.  I tend to stay up late and struggle to get up early but I do actually function really well in the morning so....?

29.  Favourite day of the week?

It depends what  year it is?

For example, at the moment, I like Mondays at school because I have my favourite year groups on a Monday- Year 4 and 6. I also like Tuesdays for the same reason. But I love Saturdays because I don't have to commute (unless I have a rehearsal)

30.  Favourite animal?
Domestic- Cat.  Wild- Squirrel, fox, Lemur.

31. Do you have a pet?
No, but actually, as of next Saturday, we were supposed to have a pet for 8 months as we were supposed to be cat-sitting for my sister-in-law whilst she and her husband went off on Sabbatical to do the Pacific Crest Trail.  Sadly, for them, that isn't happening now because of the current crisis.

32. Where would you like to travel?
Right now, up to Northumberland to pick Wild Garlic to make pesto and walk.  I'd like to go to Taiwan or Norway or Switzerland again.

33. Favourite Joke?
Hmmm,  I don't have a classic favourite but cheese jokes came to mind when I read this such as.
What do you call a Mexican cheese thief?
Nacho Cheese!



Thanks to Hazel for her inspiration.  If you answer these, let me and  Hazel www.hazelsworldofjoy.blogspot.com  know so we can read them

Three Things (stolen from Bev- as usual!)

Bev always posts great tag ideas. Things, when you're not inspired to post, that you can post about.  After all, it's easy to talk about yourself isn't it!

Three things I liked about February:
1.  Northumbrian half-term:
I hadn't been to Hexham since last Easter and though the weather was egregious, it was SO delightful to return to this wonderful country.  We had a great few days of delicious food, rest and relaxation with CBC's mum.  We ate some gorgeous food at the Beaumont hotel, Bouchon, at home & my dear friends J&K, who moved to Hexham last year came round for dinner.  It was so nice to see them and I really enjoyed quite a restful holiday.
2.  My Flautista flute recital at Chelmsford Cathedral:
We had SUCH a good audience!!! At least 200 possibly, though I'm not so good at numbers!  We performed well, we performed the premiere of my flute trio, Flautistic, which was exciting. I've not had a non-school-based composition performed for a while. I was supported by lots of friends and family and even a blogging friend, which was honestly such a delight when I received a text from Hazel who told me she was on a train on her way to Chelmsford!!!
3.  Teaching the Pentasong in all its myriad permeatations! Honestly, it is one of my favourite lessons to teach and it is SUCH  a versatile, simple song with so many teaching points:  Through this one simple song, you can teach such concepts and techniques such as:  Unison (monophony), polyphony, rounds, 2 part, 4 part, octaves, transposition, pentatonic, intervals, major/minor/tonality, effective melody-writing and obviously, pentatonic music.

Three things I'm looking forward to in March:
1.  Performing Shostakovitch's epic 11th symphony with Kensington Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. It's bloomin' hard and relentless, loud, difficult and turbulent but it's such a treat to play Shostakovitch esp with such a wonderful orchestra.  Also looking forward to having two BBC symphony orchestra players performing concertos with orchestras I'm playing with this month!
2. A day off on Sunday!!!
3.  I WAS looking forward to the biennual Royal Albert Hall choral festival with my school choir but that was last week! So instead..I was also looking forward to eating Malaysian food at Warisan Café near Paddington on Saturday but that's also happened too!

Three vegetables I eat the most:
1.  Courgettes:  they are my go-to vegetable. I cook them with everything. Funny to think I didn't like them as a child.
2. Tomatoes (I know they are a fruit but anyway...)- they also feature in everything.
3.  Peppers:  These are my third most prolific vegetable purchase.  I think I buy these three the most because they are the most likely not to be in plastic.

Three groceries I buy every week:
1.  Milk: delivered in glass by Milk and More.
2.  Apple Juice- also delivered by the milkman
3.  Bread of some sort. Ideally loose.

Three things we go through like crazy in our house:
1.  Tea (that said, my Mum bought us SUCH a big bag of loose leaf tea (both Earl Grey and English breakfast) that they are lasting absolutely yonks and I foresee no running out in the near-distant future!
2.  Cheese.  I barely ate cheese before I met CBC. He is an absolute cheese-hog and I have also increased my cheese-consumption drastically in the decade we've been together. As a little aside... CBC was sacked for eating too much cheese once!
3.  Crackers: to go with aforementioned cheese. Or tomatoes.

Three things I always have time for:
1.  Reading:  I commute for at least 10 hours a week. There is MUCH reading time!
2.  Moaning about annoying children (need to stop this!)
3.  Sitting down with a cup of tea.

Three things I never have time for:
1.  Urgh, housework!
2.  Going to bed early! What is wrong with me!??!!
3.  Tidying up the massive pile of mess beside my bed! Relates to point 1.

Do let me know if you answer these!
x

60 questions Part 3

Here's Part 3 to those questions I've been answering.


41. Cooking or baking?
Cooking definitely. Am extraordinarily resistant to baking.

42. Favourite Baked goods?
Bread rolls? Or nice oaty biscuits. If I'm cooking, Roasted vegetables! See question above.

43. What is something you wish you could be good at?
Not worrying. I stress out far too easily. I also wish I were good at going to bed and managing my time better.

44.  Skiing or surfing?
Neither.  Both are likely to result in broken limbs or a head injury. I am clumsy and a wuss.

45. First celebrity crush?

Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, John Hasler who used to play T-shirt in T-bag on ITV.

46. Most recent celebrity crush?

JJ Feild who played Mr Tillney in Northanger Abbey.  Phwoar!

47. What colour was your prom dress?

I never went to the prom. We had discos at school which I never went to as I was always at a concert.  In sixth form, I also had a concert for the prommish event. 

48. How do you manage stress?

Talking to people, walking, praying, reading, playing my flute. I'm not so good at managing stress. 

49. What do you do to relax?

Read, go for walks, drink tea, sleep, play music, dance, blog - mostly the same as Bev.

50. Shoes or bags?

I have lots of shoes, less bags nowadays as I have a train journey and cycling and a rucksack is essential (though lots of reusable ones) so I will say shoes. I would say Dresses instead!

51. How do you know if you’re in love?

Worrying about that person, wanting to make things better for them, still loving them even when they are mean to you or drive you mad.  Not sure really.  Only been in love twice!

52. Who do you turn to when you’re sad?

CBC, my sister, my Dad, my Mum.

53. What are you most enchanted by?

Nature… water, the sea, the trees, the mountains, great expanses of beauty.

54. What is your biggest strength?

Well, I am not sure I have HUGE strengths but my musical ability to be able to write down a tune and rhythm when I hear it and sing something straight off without any other instrumental support at pitch (and play) are incredibly useful skills in my life. It saves me a lot of time and means I can compose on a train platform.  In terms of things other people have said, Empathy.  I feel things deeply though this can be a bind. Stacks of energy- I seem to be able to operate on very little sleep and a great enthusiasm for things.  Apparently I am a good listener though I'm not sure  I always am.

55. What is your biggest weakness?
I stress out really easily and cause other people to stress (mainly CBC). I worry endlessly about things until I have a resolution for them.  I care about what other people think too much and this makes me a bit paranoid at times if I think I have upset someone or someone says something which I read too much into. Also, I am really messy and a bit of a hoarder.

56. What are 3 words to describe living in your city?

I live in a town.  Chelmsford is the nearest city to me and that isn't that close.  

57. Cutest thing on planet Earth?

I find these questions really hard.  Er, seeing a couple really in love who are really good at interacting with their children.  Cats tucking themselves into a ball.

58. Favourite colour?

Kingfisher blue.

59. Favourite time of day?

The moment I get home and sit down with a cup of tea.

60. Favourite band?

No idea though I did really like a folk duo called Cardboard Fox.

And that's the end! Tell me your answers to some of these questions in the comments if you wish. Or let me know if you’ve done/are going to do this and I’ll come and check out your post as I love nosy posts!

60 questions Part 2.

Here's Part 2 to the 60 questions quiz I began.

21. How do you start your day?
Usually trying to ignore the alarm clock then leaping out of bed frantically after drinking a class of water and medication. I then get into the shower, get dressed and cycle to work. At the weekend, drink tea and read if I have no other plans.

22. Would you ever live anywhere beside where you do now?
I would live in Northumberland.

23.  What is your favourite dessert?
I love Chocolate eclairs, Strawberry Pavlova (you know, meringues, strawberries and cream)

24.  Is there a dessert you don't like?
Most of them!  I don't like stodge, none of those traditional suet puddings, Spotted Dick, Bread Pudding. Bread and Butter Pudding, Summer Pudding, Banofee Pie.

25.  It's a brunch! WHat do you eat?
Mmm, I like this:
Well, I'd like an English muffin, lovely sloppy scrambled egg with chives OR a crispy fried egg with a soft yolk, Avocado, Halloumi, fried cherry tomatoes with Marjoram, Courgette Fritters maybe, spinach, tiny cubed fried potatoes with Paprika and salt.  I'd have Apple Juice and then Earl Grey tea. Or a lovely chocolate milk shake! 

26.  Where was the best vacation you've ever taken?
I adored Croatia  and it was a very happy holiday. Though I have to say, our honeymoon in Switzerland was amazing except for being unwell at the start.  We visited and stayed in Geneva, Zeneggen, Zermatt, the Engadine, Guarda, Lake Como, Lugano, Lucerne, Spiez, Interlaken and Basle all by train!

27.   Favourite Disney animal?
The Fox Robin in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

28. What is a book you are planning on reading?
That's like asking what I'll eat! Well, I've just downloaded ALL the GK Chesterton Father Brown mysteries onto my Kindle for my holiday in Italy.  I would never have bought a Kindle but my friend was getting a new one so she gave me her old one and I am only downloading free books onto it so I decided to get all these!

29.  What did you read most recently?
Well,currently reading Where the River runs gold. But I JUST read Thunderhead by Neal Shustermann which I ordered from the library- second in the Arc of a Scythe. It was brilliant but devastating. I am so compelled to read Dystopian fiction like this (think Hunger Games) but it is always scary.

30. Favourite solo artist?
I rarely listen to solo artists.  

31. What is something you're tired of?
I'm so tired of Brexit. It's SUCH a waste of time and money and energy and passion.  Life has been absolutely fine being part of Europe all my life. I do not feel hard done by or cheated in any way. 
I'm also tired of Climate Change deniers.  It's just laziness in terms of responsibility for our planet. If I deny it long enough, perhaps it isn't true?  No, it is!

32.  What is a city you want to visit?
I'm more of a countryside type but I would like to visit Oslo, Barcelona, Antwerp and Edinburgh or Glasgow!

33.  Heels or flats.
Er, no contest. Flats.
34.  Where does one go on a perfect toad trip?  
Northumberland or Germany or Iceland!

35. What do you do on a rainy day?
Read! Drink tea or go walking in it!

36.  What is your favourite exercise?
Swimming or swing dancing.
37.  What was your worst subject at school?
Like Bev, I hated Design and Technology because I was so scared of all the machines, the glue pen, the soldering iron and all hot things that might maim, scar, burn or cut me.  Similarly, the Bunsen burner in Science was the thing to be avoided at all costs for the same reason. I liked the theory but not the Bunsen. I got good grades for both but did not enjoy them.  In terms of what I was worst at- probably PE!
38.  Which animal do you identify with most?
Cat and squirrel.  I like having my back stroked or scratched lightly and enjoy curling up in the warmth.

39.  What do you usually eat for breakfast?
In term time, I often don't get anything.  Since the school has started doing the free Magic Breakfast, I have managed to snag a free wholemeal bagel (without anything on it) as the ones that haven't been claimed/eaten go back to the kitchen rather than being chucked out. That or Bran Flakes.

40.  What do you usually eat for dinner?
Although we have a variety, courgettes, peppers, tomatoes feature extensively on the menu! Often with pasta. Sweet potatoes too!

That's the end of Part 2.  Remember to tell me if you attempt these!
x

60 questions: Part 1

Bev shared these questions recently as she was feeling uninspired about blog posting so I thought I'd give it a go too! I am, however, going to split the 60 questions into three posts.

1. What's the best thing that happened to you this month?
I got to play 1st flute for William Tell overture and play the big flute solo after waiting 20 years to do so (all due to being devious and opportunistic!).  A very critical conductor who I have known for 20 years told me I played beautifully a day later.  Also, the words of parents and children who thanked me for my support means a lot to me.

2. What's your favourite game?
Oooh, difficult!  I THINK I would say, The Big Taboo as it has a bit of everything in it but I do love The London Game, Slam, Scrabble and Articulate. I am a bit obsessed with Bananagrams at the moment too and am itching to buy it so might say that too!

3.  When are you most inspired?
It just happens.  Sometimes I think about something and then the creativity just flows. It usually comes from an enthusiasm for something be it something I've seen, something I've taught or something someone has said.

4.  If you could teach one subject at school, what would it be?
Hmmm, obviously, I teach Music every day so I guess this but if it wasn't that, I'd say English. I've also done this.

5.  Favourite beverage:
Earl Grey tea!

6. What's the best compliment you've ever received?
This is difficult to say.  When I was 14, I was in a competition called The Audi Junior Musician of the year.  A professor from the Royal Academy of music came up to me and told me that she thought there was an inate musicality about my playing and I will always remember that. Similarly, Ian Clarke, who is a very well-known flute player, composer and teacher told me that I was player 11 in the world of his famous piece Zoomtube.  Nowadays, stacks of people play this piece, but to be told by the composer in the early days of publication that you've are the 11th player of his piece in the world whose playing you approve of is pretty amazing for me.

7. What is your favourite birthday cake?
I'm going to say that I loved that 1980's Freezer classic Sara Lee chocolate gateau but nowadays, I ADORE a supermarket fresh cream Victoria sponge or just a Chocolate Eclair.

8. What is one thing you still have from childhood?
Well, I have a couple of rings that my Mum gave me and a pair of Crystal heart earrings I wore as a Bridesmaid for my Mum's wedding when I was 7ish but the main thing is my Pink Panther, Pinky, who I wrote about in a blog post.

9. What is your favourite film?
I really like watching Ever After, The Slipper and the Rose, Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang but I honestly can't think of a real favourite nowadays!

10. What is something you can't do?
Like Bev, I cannot touch my toes- I am not even anywhere near them. I've also never been able to do the splits for the same reason (Hypotense muscles), I cannot drive or do those 3D book things.

11.  Window or aisle seat?
Aisle definitely. I am far too fidgety to sit by the window! I'd prefer to have no one next to me so I can move!

12.  What is something that makes you laugh no matter what?
Watching that Nicola Sturgeon gorilla clip.

Watching other people try to guess Articulate or Pictionary is also a sure fire laughter situation for me too.

13.  What are your favourite lyrics of all time?
Not a clue! I am not so good at lyrics! I do love the lyrics of How Deep the Father's love by Stuart 
Townend, particularly the last verse:
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.


14.What is your favourite holiday?
I love the 6 weeks holiday! I know that's not what is meant by this question but there!

15. What's heavily played on your music play list right now?
Firstly, I don't really have a play list or really listen to music lots. But I was recently listening to Shostakovitch 15 and Dukas La Peri as I was about to play them.

16. If you could raid one woman's closet, who would it be?
I have to say very happily here, that Bev cited ME as her one which I was very touched about. Other than that, I would say, I would gladly raid @aclotheshorse, @KatieLovesKittyKats on Instagram's wardrobe or @passingwhimsies. 

17. Must have purse item?
I carry a rucksack- it is heavy. I have lots of must haves. Purse, phone, keys, train ticket, work ID, Spork, stainless steel straw, paper bag to reuse, pen, handkerchief, book to read, water bottle, reusable cup, reusable bag.

18. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 12?
I remember writing about this in PHSE lessons when 12. I said then, ahem... musician, music teacher, artist, art teacher, cartographer, actor.

19. What is something you will not be doing in ten years?
Ahrgh, I don't know what I am doing in a year, let alone 10. I'd like to say, I would like NOT to be so worried about the environment, confident that all the earth are doing something about it. But I am not sure.

20 What is an important life lesson for someone to learn?
That you do not have to follow what everyone else is doing? You can do something you feel very strongly is morally right, even if it makes you unpopular. If you do it, others will start to get it eventually. But, to try and be kind when doing it. Also to trust in what you believe.

Part 2 is coming soon.  Tell me your answers to some of these questions in the comments if you wish. Or let me know if you’ve done/are going to do this and I’ll come and check out your post as I love nosy posts!