FRIDAY FUN
My Rapid-Fire Answers To Ten Quick “Favourite Things” Questions
It’s another get-to-know-you Writing Challenge
Yeah, OK, I’m a sucker for a writing prompt.
So when my Medium buddy Linda Ng threw out her 10 Favourite Things earlier this week, my interest was well and truly piqued.
And when I saw that my musical buddies, Pierce McIntyre and Paul Combs had also jumped on board, it was a no-brainer that I’d squeeze out time this week to join in.
Yep, it’s my 10 Favourite Things…
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favourite things
…with apologies to Julie Andrews.
1. What is your favourite drink?
Mocha — which is a blend of coffee and chocolate. I drink one each day in one of our local coffee shops.
We favour independents rather than chain coffee shops — but I’ll take Starbucks or Caffe Nero in the absence of alternatives. Especially when they do their Iced Mocha on a hot summer's day…
With my first month’s earnings on Medium, I treated us to a coffee maker. So if we aren’t going out or the weather is foul, I can rustle up my own at home. We keep fresh ground coffee and chocolate beans in the cupboard for emergencies!
2. What is your favourite colour?
Purple.
Not because I ever aspired to the hallowed heights of becoming a Bishop — but instead because of one of my favourite ever bands.
Yes, I’m talking about the mighty Deep Purple.
3. If you won the lottery, what are the top 3 things you would do first?
I’d set up my own charitable foundation to offer seed funding for people to start micro-businesses around sustainability, alternative lifestyle and ecological living.
I don’t need money for myself, really. I mean, it would be nice to have a little more — so perhaps I’d skim a few thousand off the top to help me through my dotage.
But for the most part, I’d want to use it to make a difference.
4. What is your favourite cuisine?
Fish and Chips — preferably served with homemade mushy peas and a couple of slices of bread and butter.
Oh, and lots of salt and vinegar.
5. Would you give up social media or your cell phone forever?
Funnily enough, I was only saying to my wife the other day that I should give her my phone and go without any mobile comms device.
I just don’t need it anymore…
Her phone is on its last legs, and I thought giving her my iPhone would solve the problem!
But we don’t have a landline any longer, and I guess there needs to be some way for the family to contact me in an emergency. My Dad is 88 next month, and I ought to have a way for him to ring me if there is an urgent need.
But apart from those occasions, I could happily live without a phone. I hardly ever check it or use it — which is a complete turnaround from pre-retirement life when it was constantly glued to my ear.
I wouldn’t miss most social media either if I’m honest. Unless Medium counts as social media, in which case, I’d miss it like crazy, of course.
6. One thing you’re really good at?
Oh dear, I always find this difficult — I’m a modest kind of guy.
But people always told me that I was an exceptional preacher — which makes it rather weird that I don’t currently go anywhere near a pulpit and have no plans to do so in the foreseeable future.
I guess spewing out my vitriol on Medium is a way of compensating for not stepping into the pulpit every Sunday and banging out half an hour of biblically-inspired ramblings.
7. Cats or dogs?
Neither.
Every time I see next door’s ginger moggy taking a dump in my wife’s vegetable pot, I strengthen my resolve not to own a pussy.
Unless I could somehow train it to reciprocate in their garden
I did have a vague notion of getting a dog when I retired. And I mean a decent man’s dog — not some skinny little pooch that could be carried in my pocket.
Then I realised that you have to take them for walks every day (even more so with a large dog). Even when it rains. And my desire to own a dog quickly dissipated…
8. Are you a Coffee drinker?
Oh yes. I guzzle down a cafetière of coffee with my breakfast and several more cups throughout the day.
9. What languages can you speak?
According to some people, I can barely speak coherent English!
Does “Yorkshire” count as a viable language?
Honestly, I don’t think I’d get very far trying to speak a different language.
10. Can you use chopsticks?
For what reason? Perhaps for constructing model ships or aeroplanes.
But as an eating utensil, absolutely not!
So, here are my answers to Linda’s prompt. Maybe you learned a little more about me? Thanks for doing it, Linda — I enjoyed it.
And here are a few victims I’d love to see joining in. Grace Bianco, Rodrigo S-C, Katharine Trauger, MaryClare, Catherine Cowell, Susie Kearley
