"You Like Me.....You Really Like Me!!!!!"

So, whilst I was away I was given four awards by my lovely friends Wendy and Louise....my first recognition!

and two lots of this one!

Am I not the luckiest gal? Now I have to give you twelve obscure facts about me - that's seven for the 'One Lovely Blog Award' and five for the others. Hmmm. Let's see.

I was the drummer with an all-girl punk bank (the only one in Dublin at the time) whilst still at school. The nuns loved that! I started by practicing with two rulers and a bucket then the other three punkettes bought a drum kit - they'd left school by then. The cows threw me out of the band when I became a skinhead. I had shocking pink hair, then black with a white streak down the centre, just like a skunk....I had a #3 at the time.

I had a weekend job in a barber's shop when I was still at school (nothing as mainstream as hairdressing salon for THIS rebel lol!!) so I have always cut hair for the men of the house. Big Man doesn't have masses left so he's a quick run over with the clippers but both Mr Charming and Carb Addict have fauxhawks.

This isn't either of my sons btw, it's just in case you don't know what a fauxhawk is...

I know how to communicate using Makaton. This is a combination of signing similar to BSL, and symbols and is very useful for people who have little or no speech. I first started using it as a way of communicating with Carb Addict though he has no interest in it whatsoever.

I own and have read many times every Agatha Christie book. David Suchet and Joan Hickson are my ideal Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple though I also love the films of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile with Peter Ustinov.

I love films about the Mafia and I also watch The Shawshank Redemption every time it's on.

My favourite film ever is The Mummy. The rest of the family laugh at me whenever I watch it, saying 'do you remember the time we went on holiday to Egypt and you expected the inside of the pyramid to be like it was when Rick and Evie went in one?'

Doesn't everybody book holidays based on what they've seen in a film then??

My only claim to sporting fame is winning the egg and spoon race at the Sports Day in the last year of junior school. All race winners went on to compete against winners from other local schools to find overall champions in each event but sadly my folks had decided to move us to Ireland (again!) so I never got my big chance to shine....I went to 13 different schools in England and Ireland.

I understand French, Spanish, German and Polish better than I speak them. But my Polish is getting better every day, thanks to my lovely colleagues Staś and Kasia. Also I can sing two songs and count to 10 in Irish, which will be useful if I ever find myself forced to take part in Riverdance.

I did a tandem parachute jump to raise funds for the Hampshire Autistic Society a couple of years ago and it was the most exhilirating experience of my life. The following year I entered the Great South Run, again to raise funds for HAS, and it was ghastly. That's all I'm saying.

I was once thrown off a horse into a massive patch of nettles but it didn't put me off horse riding!

I met Prince Charles when he came to open the new head office of B&Q where I was working as an accountant. Driving home afterwards a lit cigarette end that I was trying to throw out of the car window blew back and set my new, specially bought skirt on fire. Nobody mentions things like that when they talk about the dangers of smoking, do they? 

I have to pass these awards on now so I've picked some blogs I think are entertaining. Feel free to accept one, all or none, if you so desire - I realise these are not up everyone's street, so I understand if you decline. Either way it is an opportunity for me to say how great you folks are and how much I love reading your blogs. 

My charity shop swap partner, the funny and clever Lucy at Being Of Sound Mind

Fee at Chipper Nelly

Becky at Hazel and Blue

The supemely talented Viv at Hen's Teeth because I love the way her post titles are always song lyrics

Lisa at Jumble and Jelly - her blog is so positive and enthusiastic

Loo at Jumbles and Pompoms

Elsie at The Kitsch and the Curious...I totally covet her collections and stufs

The admirable Alex at Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks. I'll be going to her for a list of Liverpool 'must-sees' next month!

I'm not sure Jane at Rattlebox will approve but that's too bad!

Liz at Shortbread and Ginger  always has something interesting to say

Thanks again Louise and Wendy!!