As you may have seen, SnarkierThanYou posted her
"25 Things" on Twitarded last night. I was bored today, so I thought I'd play too. Here goes nothin'.
1. My middle name is Chloe. I used to hate it, but now I kinda like it.
2. I am an only child. I was a very long-awaited baby and was my mum's last opportunity. I used to whinge and moan about being an only child, but in recent years I have realised the incredible fortune I have in my family. (in a non-monetary sense!)
3. I have a paranoid fear of ice skating, roller blading, skiing... you get the picture. I'm quite Bella-ish when it comes to an inability to remain upright when I don't have total control of my limbs. A few years ago as part of a work "team building" exercise, as a surprise we were taken to an ice-skating rink. I nearly vomited. It was awesome.
4. Three years ago, I shaved my head, fundraising for the charity I work for. I raised over $3000. It was the single most liberating thing I have ever done. I did it to show solidarity for the hundreds of blood cancer patients I have worked with over the years, and was overwhelmed by the support I was shown. It kinda suited me, too!
5. After I lived in London for a couple of years I spent two months travelling through Africa on my way home. I visited Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. During that trip, a highlight was spending an hour with wild Mountain Gorillas in Uganda. There are only 300 of them left in existence. It was incredible (but I have no good photos, sorry).
6. I live in New Zealand. I am a New Zealander. Otherwise known as a kiwi. A kiwi is a small, nocturnal, flightless, endangered bird. Those brown furry fruit you call kiwi are actually called KIWIFRUIT. Please bear in mind that me and my countrymen are not nick-named for fruit. It's all about the bird, people. Can you tell this is a sore point?
7. I cannot drive a manual car. I mean, I learned to drive in a manual fifteen years ago, so the theory is there, but by choice? Hell no. Thank gawd there are so many automatics around these days!
8. I can't stand Tom Hanks. Recent THanks, that is. Old stuff (Philadelphia, Big, Forrest Gump) sure thing. But nothing post-2000ish. I haven't seen lots of movies, simply because he's in them.
9. I can remember, quite clearly, in my pre-Twilight time (I was L2P, didn't read books till after first movie came out) hearing the DJs on the radio discussing Robert Pattinson and how he looked like he needed a bath and that they couldn't see how millions of girls were attracted to him. I remember agreeing with them. Forgive me, for I have sinned. I promise I have since seen the light.
10. I am not a religious person. We only went to church at midnight on Christmas Eve when I was growing up, and then it was only if my Grandmother was with us.
11. I do not like blue cheese, anchovies, olives, mushrooms or fish. And probably other stuff too that I can't think of right now.
12. I like things done how I like them done, and get a little twitchy if something's not right. We've been doing Myers Briggs personality type training at work and I have discovered that I am 'typical' for my type (ISFJ, if you're playing at home). I find this all rather fascinating. It also explains why I am such a planner and a list person.
13. I feel like I've told you some of this stuff before. Oh, that's right, I have. Check out my
Ask Me Anything post.
14. I like to iron pillowcases. It's just nicer.
15. I prefer white wine to red, however am expanding my tastes. When it comes to white though, absolutely Sauvignon Blanc all the way, do not come near me with a Chardonnay. NZ Sauv is pretty bloody nice, and Cloudy Bay is about as good as it gets. (27 days, Jen!)
16. Holy crap it's hard to come up with 25! And that's saying something, cos I am NOT one to stop talking, or to run out of things to say.
17. I have been to a lot of concerts. One of my all time highlights was the Foo Fighters, in Hyde Park, London. Brian May from Queen was a guest on one song. Watching Dave Grohl and Brian May jamming = priceless.
18. I once bumped into Claudia Schiffer. Like, actually bumped into her. Nearly knocked her over. In the food hall at Harrods in London (natch). It was totally amazing and completely embarrasing all at the same time.
19. I am both a dog and a cat person. We always had once of each when I was growing up and even though I moved out of home when I was 18, I still consider my parents' pets to be my own. The first cat I owned, when I was five, was named Cinderella Rockafella Arabella. Cindy, for short. May she rest in peace.
20. I have known what my son's name will be since I was in my teens. He will be named after a family friend who died when I was a child. Now, to work on making this a reality...
21. I have owned a house since I was 28 years old. When I bought it, I didn't appreciate the enormity of how much this has helped me find my place in the world. Literally, and figuratively. Sure, mortgages suck, but paying your own sure is better than paying someone else's.
22. I hate candles. OK, I don't HATE them, I just don't see the point. I'm cynical. I roll my eyes when someone gives me one as a gift. The only useful candles are the citronella ones that keep the mozzies away in summer.
23. I kinda like gardening. I like pots that don't get too many weeds, and I like growing things I can eat. Flowers, not so much. I was not a gardener AT ALL until I inherted one with aforementioned house.
24. I am extremely gullible. I know this. Usually I can see when a trap is approaching. Turns out, not always.
LivingwEdward just revealed to me today that the story she told me a month ago about Bruce Springsteen being her childhood babysitter was a lie. Damn it.
25. I have a mini-Edward. His name is Kiwi-Ed. He likes travelling and can't wait to meet his American friends. He uses me as a scribe because he can't type very well for himself, and he can't understand why I won't help him set up a twitter account. He's also kinda vain, as is evidenced here.
So, what don't we know about you?
STY encouraged readers of her post to either leave comments or to post something on their own blog and leave a link in the comments...
So, same here! Tell me more about you, beautiful!
