Five Questions Friday - 13

1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)?

I am laughing by now, I would actually love to speak and be told I have no accent.  I am French and despite having a good ear and being a good mimic, people still ask me where I come from.  Or maybe they wonder about my looks?   Coming back to the question, I actually love the variety of accents, maybe I could try one a day for a while and confuse people even more...

2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck)

I guess the answer is yes if I feel safe and by safe I mean there is someone next to me (ie: my husband who is not falling asleep).  I only let myself fall asleep in the car if he is driving for instance.  So I guess it is not where I fall asleep but how safe I feel to do so.

3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet?

Yes,  more and more public rooms are upgrading their standards.

I used to not sit on the toilets.  But I had a real good think about this, it actually only touches the back of my legs, unless there is a way to sit on it where other parts of your body touch the seat.  I reasoned that if there were germs, I would wash them off when I got home and had a shower.
And have you ever heard of someone who has caught a bad disease from a toilet seat?  Please do tell me, I will take it seriously.  I guess today with FQF I will learn something.

4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with?

I am trying to think of a celebrity who also plays the guitar really well.  When the conversation dries up, they can still play a few chords and even teach me a few...  I can't think of one.

5. Where did you and your significant other go on your 1st date?

We went a restaurant called "The Clock".  I even remember the dress I was wearing:  a pale grey shift dress.  At the time, this place was quite pricey and up market.  I did not expect to be taken there. I was really fussy about food and aware of the price of stuff, so I only ordered a starter and then some steamed asparagus!  My future husband enjoyed his duck...  We were entertained by a comedian at dessert time and then we also danced into the early hours of the morning.

"The Clock" is recently being demolished to be replaced by an old people home.  Do you think that is where we are going to end up!!!???

Five Questions Friday - 15

1. Do you feel guilty spending money on yourself?

No, because when I do nobody else in my family is missing out.

2. How well do you know your neighbors?

We have live in this little close for 14 years.  I have 9 neighbours.  I know all of them, we talk, we go in each others' houses and I feel safe in my neighbourhood.   Some have moved away, some have died since we have been here but the feel of the close it is still home.  I like my close, it is a mixture of old people, young families and mature families.  Some I consider more friends than neighbours.

What is nice: I can count on them if I need them and I hope they feel they can also ask for help if needed.

3. What age are you looking forward to being?

Is that question for real?  When I was young I kept talking of being in the year 2000 and being nearly 40.  These days I avoid wanting to be any age.  I am not enjoying the aging process at all.

4. Do you get excited when the mail comes? Why?

Not anymore.  My father used to be a regular long letter writer even if I did not always write back.  So to wait for the post was exciting.  Then I started receiving faxes and emails.  Then my father died and the long letters stopped.  I am more excited at opening my email box these days than the postman who tends to only post official letters from the tax man or the banker.

5. What is your earliest childhood memory?

I remember snippets of living in Germany, I was below the age of 5: like bumping my head in the radiator, I still have the scar.  And playing in the playground and going round and round and being ill.  The photos below were taken by my father.  I guess they are my childhood memories.

Yes I am an only child!

My thoughtful mother.

I am amazed by the number of bracelets I have on my left wrist.  And I know they were gold as well.

3 candles on the cake.

Five Questions Friday - 14

1. What do you do when you have time to yourself?

First thing in the morning, when nobody else is awake I definitely like reading my bible and drinking my coffee all by myself. Later in the day I like pottering around my house, when I am on my own, putting things where they are supposed to go.  I also like to be on my computer to edit photos, blog or research.

2. When you look out your kitchen window, what do you see?

I am very blessed with my kitchen, I have three aspects. One window faces the front and I see the road and the roundabout where my children used to play when they were little and where I see my husband arriving from work.  And I still shout "Daddy's here" to see them running to the door.  The other aspect is a white wall covered with wisteria and a big wall thermometer where we all check the temperature before going out especially in winter.  The third aspect is my  double kitchen door opening out unto the garden, we step on the decking and enjoy being outside.

3. Who/What would you want to be reincarnated as?  I do not believe in reincarnation.

4. What is your biggest pet peeve about other people's kids?

The parents' lack of control over their kids.  It is not the children's fault if they do not know and have not been told the does and donts in public.

5. Regular or Diet soda?

Diet coke.

Five Questions Friday - 13

1. Do you have any nicknames and if so how did it come about?

My mother used to called me "Minou", then in my teens years it was picked up by some of my cousins and friends.  Only now one person still calls me by that name.

2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings?

I am an only child.

3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?

Robert Redford: he is such a good actor.
But then he would probably turn the script down, not enough actions, I am happy to say I live a mundane life.

This is as exciting as it gets! :)

4. What is currently your favorite song?

Yolande be Cool Vs VCUP - We no speak americano, it is the tune of the summer.  The video is also funny. filmed in a silent movie style.  I like to listen to recent stuff like my kids.

5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?

I am not saving for anything specific but I know I will have expenses soon with Christmas approaching.  So my account had better stay healthy looking. :)

Five Questions Friday - 12

1. What were your school colors?

I went to French schools, we do not wear uniforms.  Nor did we have  specific colors for sports.  We were given bibs to wear when we had a match , not that I often played in matches!

2. What's the best compliment you ever received?

I have had to learn to receive compliments.  You know like "You look gorgeous in that dress", instead of saying "thank you" I would say, "oh I got this in the sale".  I do not do that anymore, I say "thank you" and smile.

I still have a thing about compliments though,  if it does not reinforce what I already know about myself, I dismiss it internally.  I know I am a good cook, people also say so,  one of the recent one "You are a competent photographer" I liked that, it came from another photographer who exhibits.

But ultimately, the one compliment that sticks with me is the one my Papa gave me without even using those exact words.  He said and I interpret it:  "You are a very capable person".  I like that very much.


3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?

Expensive toilet paper, I go on the principle that if you buy good it is more absorbent and you do not use as much.

4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?

I am slow to change my mind, so I always warn my family not to ever throw me a surprise party.
Imagine getting ready because your husband has said he is taking you somewhere really nice where the food is good and the ambiance great,  and you are looking forward to your date,  it does not happen often, just the two of you.  You then end up in a place where a load of people shout "Surprise"  I am not that fast to change mood, they would have to put up with a rather grumpy person.  Sorry, not for me.

I have been to a couple of surprise parties and the surprised people had mixed reactions and emotions.  One of them swore at his guests and I really did not like it.

5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

I had to ask my children about this one, I could not think I was so attached to a material possession and in unison they answered: "Your camera".  I guess it is true it is like an extension to my eye.  I never come out of the house without it even if it just to go to the supermarket...

Five Questions Friday - 11

1. Do you collect anything?

I used to collect books.  I don't want to do that anymore.
I still collect stamps which I started when I was 10.

I also collect tokens from the top of cereal boxes and supermarket ones, to give it into school, the school can claim back books or sport equipment.

I also like this little character on TV called Fifi and I collected a serious amount of magazines and magnets of this little animated flower.  I have not opened any of the packages.  I am keeping them for my grandchild for some reason.  My kids think I am extremely weird...  I have to go and dig it from the loft to take a picture, will probably add later...!!!


2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.

Catherine Zeta-Jones  (The Mask of Zorro)

Simon Baker (The Guardian)

Marvin Humes from the boy band JLS

They are so many other people I find good looking... but you did say 3...



3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)?

I have a scar on my left index, I was peeling a cassava (exotic root vegetable), and it was old and too advanced to do anything with it really. I got angry, and lifted the knife to hack it and my finger was under...It never bled, my finger was in such a shock, I should have been taken to the hospital to have it stitch up.  I put a plaster on it not to see the bone.


4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird?

I like to eat salty peanuts with lemon juice!

Bombay mix with pomegranate seeds!

It is not gross, it is just odd combination really...


5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?

No, not a tornado, but where I come from we have cyclones (another word for hurricane) from about December till March.  They are named alphabetically.  They vary in intensity from a tropical depression to full blown cyclones.

The wind and rain are very destructive and the sea is not approachable.  The ravines, dry at other times of the year, become very dangerous.

I remember during the Red alert the most dangerous phase of the cyclone, even radios were not working.  We had to stay inside even during the passage of the eye (calmer bit of the cyclone).

This is when I realize how a palm tree is made for such weather.  They bend easily half way in the gusts and come back up.  Other trees bend and snap.  The devastation is enormous.
The sea and beach cannot be used for days afterwards because of the debris and mud.

Somehow I have never felt scared.

Five Question Friday - 10

1. What is one food you could eat everyday?

Rice, I am the product of fusion cooking way before it was called fusion cooking, check out this post about my cooking history.  I promise you it is worth a read.  Food and me...

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?

No, I wanted to go to beauty school,  my parents refused,  I went to uni instead and took English as my major, the rest is history.  I regret it though,  I love to advice ladies and beautifying them...  I guess some of you are going to smile at this and think of the film "Grease" and beauty school drop out!  I was not a drop out on the contrary,  I had done really well with my results, but I always like using my hands,  I could not think of anything else I would rather do.
Then I worked in England as a bilingual PA, then I had my children stopped working and retrained as a psychotherapist, I guessed I encourage people to believe in their inner beauty.  Funny world...

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?

Had singing lessons, I loved singing but was not encouraged to do so... Only when in my forties did someone notice I had a good voice and finally was in the choir and then the worship team.


4. What color are your kitchen walls?

Pale lime green, the photo was taken straight after it was repainted just before Christmas, in the sun in the summer right now, it definitely looks more lime than on the picture.

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

I am French, so a lot of you will not know what I am on about but I am being honest here: my favorite singer was Claude François, he is French and he was fantastic, I used to sing and do all the dance routine, when he was on TV (black/white) or on the radio.  He died too young, tragically.
But somehow, French people even much younger ones than me know his songs, they have been edited for clubs and he is still a firm favorite in France.

Five Questions Friday - 9

1. What is one thing you miss the most about childhood?

Living by the sea, seeing it everyday:  I took the views for granted growing up.  I seem to live in a bucket these days.  I miss the horizon, I miss vast skies, I miss the sea...

South Coast: La Réunion (Indian Ocean)

2. Are you still friends with your friends from high school?

Yes, one of them, we are best friends despite the fact that she lives in the South of France and I live in England.  We are godmothers to each others youngest daughters and we seem to be able to not be aware of distance and time when we catch up.  I tried to find other people on networking sites.  I don't recognize names or persons...

Taken recently during a short visit. ♥

3. Is there a catch phrase, cliche, or word that just drives you bonkers every time you hear it?

No, but I drive my family nuts with "Divide and conquer",  I use it so they tackle the mess in their rooms. They know exactly what I mean but hate it when I keep repeating it...


4. What is one thing that you think symbolizes America...besides "Old Glory"?

As a French person living in England, my knowledge of the United States first came through dubbed films (especially Westerns, which I love)  I then at university decided to take as one of my module American literature,  I have never looked back.  I then visited California for the first time in 2000 and I loved it.  What symbolizes America for me:  You do not put limits on dreams...


5. What are your 4th of July weekend plans?

I live in England, I will have to hunt to find the 4th July celebrations...London will sure put on something, especially by expats.

The restaurant Chicago Rib Shack is putting on a whole weekend of entertainment and delicious food: I am tempted.  There are celebrations in Portman Square but unless an American citizen buys the tickets I can't get in.  Any offer? ;)

To all my American friends, I wish you all a very good Independence Day! 

 Looking forward to all your posts about it in the coming week. xxx

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Five Questions Friday - 8

1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?

I learned to play the piano and I can read music.  I was never a natural and my playing occurs only when I am on my own!

2. What is your pet peeve while driving?

Dare I say it!  Mercedes drivers!  There it is I have said it.  Perfectly nice people, get behind the wheel of their Mercedes and have a personality transplant.  That is why I really do not want my husband to buy a Mercedes at any cost...

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services?

Housekeeper every time!  Could not care less about the spa, I hate massages, facials, people all over me, no thank you very much.  But I love a clean tidy house, freshly ironed clothes, and luxury of luxury: ironed sheets.

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance?

I was a teenager when the disco era was at its most successful.   In nightclubs disco music was the thing to play.  I entered disco competitions.  Yes, I am a pure disco girl.  Put on Disco Inferno and I am 16 all over again.  The funny thing is my youngest who dances was in a show recently on stage and guess what was one of their dances, yes you guessed it: Disco Inferno.  No, I did not embarrass her by joining, I gripped my chair to stay still!!!
If you had told me when I was 16 that it would still be around I might have believed you, but for my children to like it and dance on it, I would have laughed hard.

5. What song best represents your life right now?

I love praising and worshiping my Lord, worship songs are a big part of my life now, it would be hard to pick one but I guess this post here (click) is a good one.

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Five Questions Friday - 7

1. What is your favorite thing about summertime?

I like to live in hotter weather, I like to leave the doors unto my garden opened and this gives me a sense of freedom.

2. What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)?

This question makes me giggle, I often talk about retirement homes with my children:  I am a fussy eater you see.  So it is not so much the location or the money issue but the  menus that I would be looking at.  I love exotic or spicy food, so I often say will they please check out the chef and as long that he is not so much into mash potatoes but more in rice and curries, I will like my retirement home.  In the mean time I also pray that I am totally with it for a long time...

3. Do you live in the same town you grew up in?

Definitely not, my father was in the French army, so I was born whilst he was posted in Madagascar, then we moved to Germany.  When I had to start school, we returned to La Réunion (Indian Ocean).  I finished my schooling there.  Left to go to university in Paris.  And because I was studying English I came to England and decided to come and live here, the rest is history as they say.
I now live in Welwyn Garden City which I prefer to say, otherwise I would have to say that I live in Le Tampon (where my mother still lives)!!!!  I think it is a good move don't you!  Although the word does not have the same meaning, English speaking people cannot get over it!

Welwyn Garden City

4. What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult?

I did not like to go into shops and ask to buy bread for instance.  I hated opening my mouth to ask for anything to "strangers".  Now I talk to anybody, my kids cringe about it.

5. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job?

This is still embarrassing when I think about it.  I was working as a personal assistant to the managing director of a successful company, they bought another company and we went in to see how they worked and get to know their working force.  They had a different switchboard to the one I was used to and it also was an opportunity for me to get to know the receptionist.  So I was sitting next to her and learning the system.  My director walked in from another meeting that day and instead of finding me upstairs at my desk outside his office, he saw me downstairs in reception and he said "Trying a new job!" and me young and stupid said " We all have to start at the bottom"

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah I still feel awful when I think about what I said. I never recovered the lost ground with this particular receptionist.  As I am confessing now,  maybe the feeling of awfulness of what I said will dissipate.  It is not happening so far. This was like nearly 25 years ago.  If one day you are the receptionist I offended reading this, please accept my sincere apologies.  I really did not want to sound snobby.

I have learned since not to be so glib with my tongue!!!

I enjoy answering these questions on a Friday, click if you want to join this meme held by Mama M at

 My Little Life.

Five Questions Friday - 5

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?

I am thinking about the people I call friends as I am typing this.  I realize of course that there are different levels of friendship.  From my experience good friendship is to be able to share laughter and tears.  A bit of give and take.  Distance is not a problem if you are honest each time  you get in touch.  I like depth in my conversation and laughter.  Having similar interests and values are an added bonus.

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?

I deliberate a lot before buying exactly for that reason: to have no regrets.  All my thought processes go before hand.  In England we have the advantage of being able to take things back in the first fortnight as well if we have kept the receipt.

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?

No, I think they are scared of my wrath!!!  I think my kids learned that very early on.  We are not a prank-type family.  We love to laugh but not at the expense of tricking somebody else.

4. What is your favorite theme park?

Disneyland Paris, I have not been to others so I guess I can only like the one I have been to.  Not even for the rides, just because of Sleeping Beauty's castle in the middle and the square trees...

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?

No, maybe my daughters one day...  Do you think they or their husbands will want me there?

Five Questions Friday - 4

1. If you could go back to college would you change your major? Or, if you were to go to college right now...what major would you choose?
That's not a hard one.

If I could go back, knowing what I know I would not change because then I would not have met my husband.  I did Modern Languages and English was my major.  This allowed me to come as a French assistant in England and fall in love with the country first and then with my future husband.

In the meantime, I have also discovered that I could go back to uni to study what I really always wanted.  I re-trained as a psychotherapist.

As guess what I am trying to say is, even if you do not get it right first time, look back on it fondly there was maybe a reason and also never give up on what you really want to do at any age.


2. What do you love most about your home?

My large kitchen/diner:  it is where the life of my house comes from.  It is why we bought this house in the first place.  It needed a major re-fit when we moved in 14 years ago but ever since, it has fulfilled its purpose of  cooking delicious dishes, working place, meeting place, be-friending place, dancing place, sharing place, laughing place, crying place, discussing place.  You get me.  I love my kitchen/diner.

3. What types of books do you like to read (if you like to read at all)?

I love reading.  From classics to best sellers.

4. What is the grossest thing you've ever eaten?

Well I guess it is gross for others but not for me.  One of the delicacies of the country I come from is to eat fried wasp larvaes. (Friture de guêpes)  (Sorry, if you are reading this and eating.)  They are delicious...

5. If you HAD to be a character on a TV show, whom would you be?

I guess I would not have minded working along side Gunther in Central Perk in Friends as a waitress (an extra) to see the antics of our 6 famous friends.

Five Questions Friday - 3

1. Is there something you've always wanted to try but just can't muster up the courage to actually do yet?

I really have to think of this one.  I am out-going and I talk to anybody,  I have learned to stand up for my children and I do not suffer fools gladly.  My motto is : What's the worst that can happen?  I do not take failure to heart anymore, I just try again.  Don't think this has come about easily...

So right now I cannot think of something I actually need courage to do, is this tempting fate?! lol

2. If you had $100 handed to you in cash without your significant other knowing about it, what would you spend it on?

Clothes or shoes that he would see anyway eventually.  I do not like to be secretive about money with my husband.  I am at Stay at home Mum and he goes out to work very hard.  I am blessed and provided for abundantly.  Come to think of it, I would probably tell him what I got before spending it.

3. What was your favorite piece of playground equipment as a child?

The slide, I would go up and down and  up and down.  You could only find slides in the playground when I was a child.   Swings were easy to come by in gardens but slides only in playground.  And they were shiny.

4. Do you prefer a sweet or hearty breakfast?

 I discovered the Full English as they call it when I came to live in England and at the time I wondered how people could eat a savoury meal for breakfast.  Up until then being brought up in a French family,  breakfast was not that important.  A black coffee, and a croissant would suffice.

These days I looked forward to Saturday with my husband who will cook:  bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, sausages, fried bread, black pudding.  It is filling and we are out for the day, it means lunch can be a very light affair.

5. Are you a Neat Freak or a Messy Bessy?

Well if you had asked me that 20 years ago I would have said definitely Messy Bessy.  But being married and having kids has kind of changed my attitude to housework and tidyness.  These days it depends which room and what mood I am in.  I always like coming down in the morning to a tidy clean kitchen, so I will make sure that the night before it is done.

I am learning to let my kids (teenagers) do their own room, that's not always easy!

If I am in a middle of  a project in the lounge it stays put unless I have people coming around.

I like clean and uncluttered rooms on the whole.  But it is not the end of the world if it is messy and we are having fun.


These Five Question Fridays are great hosting by Mama M.

Five Questions Friday - 2

I enjoy answering these questions, they actually make me smile or make me think...

1. Take your pick...date night, girls night out, or night out alone?

Date night:  Good food, my husband's company, chatting or sharing comfortable silences: Priceless...

2. Can you touch your nose with your tongue?

No, but somehow 2 of my kids can, exactly like cows,  I find it fascinating!

3. What is your favorite flower and why?

I love lilies, they do not have to be cut just in my garden.

4. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?  Don't give it away!  You are worth so much more than what those jerks think of you! I say it to my daughters these days, and to my son don't act as a jerk with girls.  And stick to your first passion with what you want to do with your life!  Sorry that's 2 advices already.  Forgive me I am wearing the lamp of experience that only lights the road already walked (Chinese proverb)

5. If you won the lottery, what is the very first thing you would do?  Scream and deafen my husband!  After screaming, I would probably buy a new digital camera to get ready to go on a world tour!

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