Q&A An indepth interview with, erm, me.

The very funny Nickie (or should that be Nickle?) over at Typecast (one of my MADS tips) has tagged me to answer some in depth questions about myself. So being the self absorbed person I am (hey, aren't all bloggers self absorbed? We write on the net about our lives.....) here are my well thought out answers.......





Which living person do you most admire, and why?
This is the question I'm finding hardest to answer. I'm sure most people will say their Mums or a family member, but well, I don't really do the whole family thing on my side. I guess the person I admire most is my sister in law, Elder's eldest sister. She brought the Nephew up as a single mum, worked really hard, put up with Elder in his silly teens and twenties era, ran a business, and now has two other kids with her husband, one of whom is the cutest dancer ever and the other is acting in films and is in Casualty too. She guides the kids, and the Nephew in life, and even though they may not pick the 9-5, she supports them in that. She was also my second in command when I gave birth to Mini and was really scared, and practically bought everything we needed, and then some, before Mini was born. She's definitely the boss and Mother figure in Elder's family.


When were you happiest?
I think in the last few years I've been on the verge of really 100% happy. In my life history, it seems something good is going on, everything is just ticking along nicely, but then some mammoth thing will happen out of nowhere and ruin it for a while. I always say I've never been on a plane because I'm that unlucky it'd crash. Or that the week I'd win the lottery, loads of people would and I'd end up with a tenner. I am a blatant pessimist. Elder is the more optimistic of us two, without doubt.
The kids make me ridiculously happy though, I wasn't the keenest for ages on being a Mum, then I wanted to be one loads and then finally Mini was born, and immediately something switched on in me- having my own family I guess that I could shape and mold.


When was your most embarrassing moment?
I had been seeing Elder for a matter of weeks, and was trying (as 18 year olds do) to act cool and sophisticated as he was older than me. This was on the advice of my Mum, and included changing how I dressed and talked as well. So, out went the combats and funky tops, in came the (Cringe) suits and suit dresses. Not me at all.
Anyway, we had gone back to where he was living the night before, a bit the worse for drink, and the next morning, I had to get home. Can't remember why. Anyway, it was a good 45 minute walk, but being still probably half drunk, and it being 6am there were no buses.
He lived on an estate that had lots of grassy banks down to the main road, and in these were stairs down, but not very often. So, Elder decided to go down the steep bank onto the pavement. It had been raining and was really damp and muddy, and to be honest I had said we should walk to the stairs. Elder said he'd catch me though, and being the misguided trusting soul I was, I started to try and get down. At which point I slipped in my unsuitable foot wear, and Elder, seeing me falling at speed and with force, stepped out of the way, making no attempt to stop me whatsoever. I landed face first on the pavement, my trousers all ripped, my top ripped exposing my bra, my coat was hanging off ready for the bin, I was covered head to toe in mud. Elder asked if I was OK, barely containing his laughter, and so I did the only thing I could- laughed too. I walked home like that as I had no clothes stored at Elder's and he had to move my arm out quick as my Elbow was out of place. Ouch. I still have a large scar on my hip from it too.
In the end, Elder asked why I was dressing so funny, and when I told him my sophisticated story, he laughed at me and told me he thought my flares and tops was much nicer and me.


Aside from property what's the most expensive thing you've bought?
Well, I'm yet to buy my own house, I guess the cars.
I'm not one for spending shedloads of cash, I'm not tightfisted, but I find it hard to switch off from when I was very poor, and had to be careful with every penny, and had powdered milk for when I ran out of money for normal milk. I have eaten my fair share of value pies- eugh.


What's your most treasure possession?
Apart from my photo albums (and the ones on my hard drive) my most treasured possession is a very small ceramic pig. Yes, a pig. It was bought for me, age 6, at Marley Farm on a school trip, by my bestie mate Zoe. I still have it now, and will never give it away. Other than that I have a teddy which I've had since I was born, but Mini has pinched that now.


Where would you like to live?
Edinburgh. Gorgeous place.


What's your favourite smell?
Elder's roast dinner. Yum.


Who would play you in a film of your life?
God knows! I was once told in the Dawson's Creek years that me and Katie Holmes looked alike.


What is your favourite book?
I read all the time, I'm reading David Nicholls One Day at the moment, but I think if I had to pick it'd be Tom's Midnight Garden. For pure escapism.


What's your most unappealing habit?
I'm glad its me being asked this one and not others..... Erm, probably my laziness- there are times when I really, positively should be cleaning the house, or going to the park with the kids, or catching up with writing, but I end up not bothering. Or my ability to think the worst every time. Or my scaredy catness- I am really worried about my Sister-in-laws wedding in July, in so many ways. Will Mini be naughty walking down the aisle as a bridesmaid? Will Littlest misbehave all day like he does here? Will he eat something he has an allergy to and get ill? Will I look OK, or will I show Elder up? Will the hairdresser mess my hair up on the morning? Grrr its all going round my head constantly.


What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?
I once dressed up for a fancy dress party for New Year, pre-children, wearing a leopard print thigh slit dress, with high heels and my hair back combed. I was meant to be Elder's bitch (he was dressed as a 70s pimp in a tonic flare suit, Hawaiian shirt and denim baker boy hat, aviator shades and pointy shoes), but everyone thought I was Audrey Hepburn, and that Elder looked like Bono. So yes, probably Audrey!


What is your earliest memory?
Being scared of Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. And my sister being born because when the neighbour went to answer the phone as my Dad was ringing to tell her she was OK, I was left in the back garden (the lady lived above the shop she owned). I took the time to find her swimming pool, and thinking the cover was on as we used to be allowed to run across it, decided to indulge in my fave past time- and fell in the pool. Opps. Luckily the lady heard the splash, ran downstairs and pulled me out.


What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Barbra Streisand records and films, and singing along to them.


What do you owe your parents?
Sod all! Well, obviously without them I wouldn't be born but thats about it.  Grrrrrrrr.


To whom would you most like to say sorry to, and why?
To Elder, for my occasional ability to be a mentalist. For boring you about blogging and blogging politics. For acting an arse. For liking really crap bands. For saying I was going to take a pic of you in your awful green shirt and put it to blogger vote whether it was as truly awful as I think it is. For posting "please vote for the missus" links on your Facebook wall. For being a shouty harridan once a month. For being a pain in the arse when Littlest came home. For not caring that I'm a bit flabby. For the odd time I've called you an illiterate so and so. For moaning about marrying me. Love you.


What or who is the biggest love of your life?
My babies and Elder. 


What does love feel like?
All consuming. Lovely.


What was the best kiss of your life?
The first time both Mini and Littlest learned how to do baby kisses. Then when they learned to say love you too.


What words or phrases do you most overuse?
Swear words.
Mini/Littlest- no!!!!!!!
Bah. 


What's the worst job you've ever done?
Primark. End of.


If you could edit your past what would you change?
Loads. School, the whole of it, I'd have been a little less like Rachel from Glee (cos you so do not end up with the hot football player really). Some parts of mine and Elder's relationship. 


What's the closest you've come to death?
When I had Littlest, I was very ill. We both were, and if he hadn't been born when he was, the infection would have continued undetected, and could have killed us both. It was only when I researched it online I found out. Scary stuff.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My kids. End of.


When did you last cry and why?
I'm a wuss, some mean things on TV can make me blub. Tuesday was the last time I cried for personal reasons. Its a bad day in general.


How do you relax?
Wine, nice food, music. Repeat until falling asleep. That or reading the paper in bed with toast and coffee. Which I haven't done since early 2007.


What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Owning my house outright. Renting means you're beholden to your landlord managing his finances. Or you're out on your ear.


What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Expect the unexpected. Plan well, live well, be well. Oh and if you tell someone you are something often enough, you kind of end up being that eventually. 


Tagging:
Emma Mellow Mummy as I want to know her inner most thoughts.
Amy and 1 more means 4 as she's a cool woman
Barenaked Mummy cos she's all incognito and I think she may actually be a red head male from Inverness rather than a red haired woman from Wales...