Survey-age!! in Hot town, summery in the city - 2017

What battery percentage is on your phone right now?

It was 20% when I started this but is now 19% and this is an ooooillldddd phone so I may suddenly did disappe….

Do any medical afflictions run in your family:

Not to my knowledge, other than dementia but I’m hoping I’m more mum’s side than dad’s when it comes to that…

Who did you last talk to in person and what did you say:

Probably R as we’re in the conservatory together. Oh yes, I asked him how many degrees were left before the oven heated up and he said “20 miles per hour” 🤣🤣🤣

What’s your great Mexican food:

Nachos. Oh Em Gee I LOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEE nachos!!! They have to be fresh and good and I recently found an amazing recipe which really filled a nacho hole that is usually left wanting.

How far do you live from New York City?

3409.34461651 miles, as the crow flies and not really taking the curvature of the earth into consideration.

How often do you talk to your parents?

Missing my dad quite a lot. I usually visit 3 or 4 times a year but haven’t been up since Christmas 2019. I don’t often talk to him because of dementia but I email (he’s more likely to remember) often. My mum died 20 years and 7 months ago. I talk to her far more often but I don’t get her insights.

What was the weather like in your town today?

It’s warm, humid and overcast.

How many boyfriends or girlfriends have you ever had?

🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ Only one important one, but the frogs that came before taught me what I didn’t want in my life partner so that when I met him, I knew he was right.

Have you ever ordered a specially made cake from a cake shop?

Why would I do that when I can make my own? I did order cupcakes from a friend when she was making them as a business.

What accent do you have?

British… 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I grew up in the north so I have flat vowels but I lived in the north for 24 years and have lived in the south for 25 years (with a year in Florida wedged between) so I have a lot of southern intonations.

What’s the best job you have ever had?

That’s tough. I’ve had a lot of jobs. I would say, though, that the nanny job I was doing when I first started writing at Open Diary in 1998 was at the very top of the list.

What’s the worst job you have ever had?

Waitress. I loved the job but the head chef was an utter bastard and I think the entire culture around chefs being allowed to be utter bastards is utter shite.

Do you have naturally straight hair?

I always thought I had until my host mom in Florida laughed at the concept 🤣🤣 it’s wavy and has become more so as I’ve grown older.

What is your ultimate goal in life?

Hmmm. To be happy, for my children to be happy and to live near the sea.

Do you write down your passwords in a physical place to prevent losing them?

Yes. They’re in my orange a purple checkered notepad that I keep in the third drawer down of the maple unit in my living room. There is Only one problem. I don’t own the aforementioned notepad nor the maple unit. What do you think I am? You’re the unit for asking that question.

What are your three favorite vegetables?

Broccoli. Broccoli definitely takes top place in this list,. Hmmm. Asparagus. That’s in there and… and… onions. Without them so many dishes would be lacking.

What colour are the socks you’re wearing today?

I’m not at the mo but I have a friend doing Race To The Stones (an ultra that goes quite near here) today so I will be putting some on to go and support her in a while.

What did you have for dinner last night?

Fish and chiiiiips!!! With loads of Mayo and Nando’s hot sauce.

Do you do anything to groom your eyebrows?

They’re quite pale so I dye them every four weeks. Just so my expressions are more obvious. 😉😣😤😠🤔

Who was the last person you sent a Facebook message to and what did you say?

Cinammonia. We had a little natter about a bloke who said mean things to me on FB yesterday. I admitted to her that I like to bait him.. 🤣🤣

Do you prefer sweet or savoury breakfast?

Why? Why would you ask me this? Breakfast is amazing and I shouldn’t have to choooooooose!!!

What is your favorite berry?

I think it’s raspberry. But that could change quite easily.

Do you prefer Prince or Michael Jackson?

Why would this even be a question? It’s Prince, by a looooong way!

Is there anything you absolutely refuse to eat?

I love trying new food but…. R and T tried jellied eels one while I refused to go near them. Apparently they weren’t very nice.

How far away from your house is the closest grocery store?

For a small, everything you need but not everything you want place, half a mile. For a bigger, more choice but not a wide variety, one mile. Bigger supermarkets are two to three miles.

Have you ever lived in university/college campus housing?

No. I don’t feel I missed out though.

Who was the last person you complimented?

That’s a good question and I don’t know. I do usually compliment people but I’ve been a little grumpy of late. Oh yes, I remember, a local friend and it was either yesterday or the day before. I said she was gorgeous.

The age old question: dogs or cats?

I grew up with cats who (mostly) deal with their own shit, can be left home alone, don’t need fuss aaaalll the time. I can have a wee cuddle then leave them to stalk butterflies in the garden while I do my own thing. Perfect.

Do you like spring rolls?

Yes. I like the texture combo of crunch on the outside and soft in the middle.

What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

T lost her glasses last Wednesday. She had them for 6 days and I had spent more than I had intended because they looked so damned good on her. She went for a long walk so she could talk in the phone without me hearing (aka wanting to slag me off) and it was raining so she took them off. One of her autistic traits is object permanence (or a lack thereof). Out of sight is, quite literally, out of mind. So I put out sighting requests on Facebook and had a sighting on Thursday morning. I was still feeling pretty crud but I put random clothes on and went out to where the woman said she had seen them. I didn’t find them but really fancied a Diet Coke. I hadn’t taken my purse but by random chance I had a £1 con in my pocket so I spent 80p on a can of Diet Coke on my way back.

What’s your favourite flavour of frosting?

Cream cheese. I love, love LOVE cream cheese frosting especially on carrot cake.

Do you have any plans for three hours in the future?

I’ll be getting ready to get up to Liddington Castle where I shall be proffering pork pies and melon to my friend.

What is a country you would never visit?

I don’t think you can say never. Who know what will change? For example, I would avoid Syria right now but it may be an amazing place to visit in 20 years time.

What sort of car would you choose to drive if money was no object?

I have always wanted a pink mini and I do think that it may be my Little Old Lady car one day.

What were you doing on September 11, 2001?

I was at work in Upper Lambourn as a nanny although the kids were at school. I was cleaning and preparing food. Anyway, I had a text from a friend in London but I didn’t realise the level of the situation until later.

What do you think about gay marriage?

Sorry; the word ‘gay’ seems to have ended up in this question and I don’t understand. The question should be, “what do you think about marriage?” to which my answer would be, “if you want to get married, get married and if you don’t, don’t.”

Are you an open book or do you keep things close to your chest?

I keep my boobs near my chest 🤣🤣 here I let it all hang out. In real life I used to be like a book with the spine so bent it wouldn’t close but I tend to do more listening now, it’s often easier.

Can you swim?

Yes, I love swimming. It’s my favourite and my best. If I could swim like I run (ie exploring the world) it would probably take over from running.

^What are your favorite genres of music?*

Music. 🤷‍♀️ Any music.

Do you wear glasses?

Yes. I have driving/sports watching glasses and nail painting glasses (aka reading glasses but I don’t use them for that).

Do you have an aversion to any particular fabrics?

Not aversions but do you remember those brightly coloured, nylon dresses from the 60s? My nana had a few when I was a kid and I hated the way they felt!

Some questions may have been missed out, I had an issue with copying and pasting accidentally in the middle of it and I don’t know what ended up being deleted!!