TAG A - Z

A - Aim

My aim in life is to be happy and not to make others too miserable. Ha, ha.

I would like to write a few more short stories and have them published by the Woman's Magazine who bought two of my stories in the (long distant) past.

I can't see this happening, as I spend all my spare time wattpadding and it is quite an addiction! Lol

B - Books I'm reading

I am reading Jeffery Archer's 'Sons of Fortune'. I have Ruth Rendells' last novel called 'Dark Corners' to read next and also Santa Montefiore's book called 'The Last Secret of the Deverills', which are both library books.

C - Chore I hate

I hate defrosting the freezer and I don't like cleaning out the fridge. It doesn't take long, but to do it properly I have to pull the whole fridge/freezer out from the wall and it is a fiddly, annoying job.

D - Dessert I like

Anything covered in chocolate (but not ants!). I absolute love yogurt and I eat a small tub every day and in fact I could eat more!

E - Essential start of day

A small amount of make up, tidy hair and ear rings. I only don't do this if I'm not feeling well, which isn't very often.

F - Favourite book

I think this has to be 'The Far Pavillions' by M. M. Kaye. It was full of adventure, romance and set in the exotic country of India. The way she writes captivated me completely and every word was breathtaking. But really I have a long list of authors whose books I regularly read.

My favourite children's book is 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

G - Gold or silver

I love both gold and silver. I have always worn a silver ring on my right hand. At the moment my ring finger on this hand has swollen so much with arthritis I can't wear any of my rings. This has upset me as I wear a ring every day and I now have a few rings which don't fit. I intend buying myself a silver ring which will fit when I get around to it! (Ha, ha. See my dusting poem).

H - Heart or brain

I have a brain the size of a pea or like poor old Winnie the Pooh, who calls himself a bear with little brain, or words to that effect. So it has to be heart for me every time. Anyway, common sense is far more important than brains as some very clever people have no common sense (so I've been told).

I - Instrument I play

I did learn the piano as a child. I think I could still play with simple sheet music. My father was a church organist, but did not pass his abilities onto my sister or myself although we can play a bit. His gift was natural and he could sit and play without music. My grand daughter, who is six, seems to have a talent for the keyboard, so perhaps she will follow in my dad's footsteps? It would be nice if she did.

J - Job Title

I am now retired. I was a secretary/administrator who answered the telephone and typed long, long, sometimes boring, documents. I now potter about, enjoying myself and wattpadding.

K - Kids

I have a son and a daughter, both in their thirties.

L - Living arrangements

I live with my husband of 42 years in a ground floor flat. We are very happy.

M - Most used phrase

I was told when I worked that I used the word 'nightmare' quite a bit! I often say 'What's wrong with people?' when they do stupid things, say stupid things, or generally act like idiots! Which, unfortunately, is quite often! (I can be very stupid myself, though. So does that make me a hypocrite? Umm...)

N - Nickname

I had a nickname at school, but I'm not going to tell you what it was.

My grandchildren call me Nanny Pat and I like it a lot.

O - Overnight stay

I stayed in hospital when I was ten. My mum and I got very sick. I had to stay in isolation for two weeks and it was a bit traumatic at the time. I was very home sick. I am going to write this story in my book ...and nothing but the truth.  I was ill for six weeks altogether.

P - Priorities

I love a clean and tidy house and I love my little garden.

Family and friends are very important to me.

I love rules. I would find life unbearable with them! I hate it when people don't keep them. I hate it when they throw litter all over or speed in their cars or do all of those other bad (to my mind!) things. Lol

Q - Quotes I like

I love the bible. To me it is God's word. It is very poetic in some parts. And, of course, it is full of rules, so that is just fine by me!

This is one of my favourite quotes:-

'A good wife who can find? Her price is far above that of rubies.'

My other favourite quote is by Wordsworth:

'Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.'

Isn't that lovely? The best writers do this.

R - Right or left handed

I am right handed, but I don't like wearing a watch on my left hand, I wear it on my right. I always put my fork in my right hand as well, so I am a bit odd (but you knew that already).

S - Siblings

I have one sister who is five years older.

T - Time I woke up today

I woke up at about 8 am and got up soon after. I'm often up at 7.30 am.

V - Vegetables I like

Potatoes are the love of my life!  Roasted, mashed, chipped, boiled or baked, I LOVE them.  A meal without potatoes is not a real meal to me, although I do eat rice sometimes, I feel short changed without a potato!

I like carrots. We seem to eat a lot of them. They're easy to prepare. I like most vegetables. I always start eating the vegetables before the rest of the meal. I don't like turnips. Cauliflower is not very tasty, but I love cauliflower cheese. I can only eat a small amount of broccoli.

W - Worst habit

I have more than one worst habit I am sorry to say. If I have something on my mind troubling me I keep on and on and on about it. It drives my husband to distraction, but it's better than bottling something up, I feel. He sometimes has to tell me to stop. I sometimes have to tell myself to stop! I haven't done this for a while, you will be pleased to hear.

Also, I am not very forgiving. If someone insults me I never forget and find it hard to forgive. Well, perhaps it's not that, but when someone hurts you it is hard to go back to how it was before as their insult has changed your perception of them. Anyway, this is not a good thing for me as I am a Christian and they are supposed to be forgiving. I would never be malicious or pay anyone back by stabbing them in the back or slandering them though, that is really nasty. I suppose I do hold a grudge. Oh dear! But I do try not to....

I am never jealous, never, ever. I am happy within my own skin, although it took many years to accomplish that. I love being retired.

X - X-rays I've had

I had a really bad knee about 20 years ago. It was x -rayed and the trouble was found out to be arthritis. It was bad for about 18 months and then it got better. I was unable to kneel down and thought my gardening days were over. That knee is still a bit stiffer than the other, but I can kneel down to clean the oven, so I am thankful for that.

I had an x-ray on my back. I have arthritis in my back and both of my hips. I also have wear and tear to my spine. Considering all of this, I am doing very well.

Y - Yummy food I make

All my food is yummy (Pat's head swells!). I am a grandmother and they are the best cooks, apparently. My grandchildren go home and tell their parents how lovely my Sunday lunches are.

I make lovely cakes and apple pies.

Z - Zodiac sign

I am Leo the lion. My roar is much worse than my bite. I am not a leader. I like to stay in the shadows or in the back row. I am very self conscious, I hate being looked at. I like to hide behind a book on the bus for example. I am not flambouyant and dress conservatively. I do love bright colours though, strategically placed in my home. I would hate to have a beige room with no colour in it.

I don't like groups of people much. I prefer to deal with people one at a time! Ha, ha. That is why I bought a Creative Writing book rather than go to a writing class. It worked out well for me.

Thank you for reading all about me.

I'm sorry I went on so long, but I really enjoyed doing this and sometimes, just sometimes, I can't keep quiet!

This was posted to me from my friend VioletEden. Please read her lovely poems and stories, you won't be disappointed.

May 2018