Random Bits and Pieces

"The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow."

A couple of weeks ago Gillian from Tales from a Happy House kindly nominated me for a Liebster Award. 

In the same week, I was also nominated by Jo from The Striped Deckchair, Leanne from Today's Stuff and Jen from My Sentimental Jamboree for the same award. I then realised that I still hadn't responded to Ms George from Life at the Coop and Liene from Femme au Foyer who passed on these awards to me at the end of last year. Oh Dear! Before it gets any more embarrassing I thought I'd better get onto this right away. I apologise for doing this all in one Post but there was no way I was going to be able to come up with any more random facts. My life is really not that interesting! 

So, thank you ladies, you are very very kind.

And here are my eleven random facts:

1. I'm known as Mel but my full name is Melanie (as opposed to Melinda or Melissa) - I was named after Olivia de Havilland who played the character Melanie Hamilton Wilkes in the 1939 Film "Gone with the Wind". It has always bothered me that her character died in childbirth.

2. I don't like raw tomatoes but love Spaghetti Bolognse and anything with cooked tomato.

3. I was going to be performing in the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony but after a few months of rehearsals in 1999 I met The Pianoman. A dream job came up for him interstate in Tasmania in 2000 and I decided to follow him there which meant I had to pull out of the performance. I was to be dressed as a Sturt's Desert Pea and my only regret is that I missed out on having this fabulous head dress as part of my fancy dress wardrobe  :-)

source

4. I've never broken a bone.

5. I drove the entire stretch of the Nullarbor Plain solo - with 4 kids, the whippet and towing a big caravan.

6. Growing up, I spent weekends on a farm riding motorbikes and horses.

7. I'm addicted to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which is problematic as they are not readily available.

8. I travelled beyond the Arctic Circle and skinny dipped in the Arctic ocean. It ended up being the fastest skinny dip in history though, not because of the cold but due to the Mosquitos, which were the size of Tennis balls and would cover any exposed flesh within seconds and sting like crazy.

9. I used to be so shy I was given "off" milk on my breakfast cereal at a friends place and didn't say anything and just finished the bowl. I've since had a thing for smelling the milk every time I get it out of the fridge.

10. If I could wish for a talent it would be to sing. That way I wouldn't be such an embarrassment to the Kids while driving in the car.

11. Art was my best and favourite subject at school....and so I decided to become a Lawyer.

Here are the answers to the eleven random questions.

1. Who would play you in the film of your life?  I'd love a younger Merryl Streep or Diane Keaton to play me. If it was a comedy on my family life then I think Tina Fey would do a pretty good portrayal. Personailty-wise (and obviously not in the looks department) I think Rachel McAdams, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt and Amanda Seyfried would represent me pre-children quite well :-)

2. If you could visit anywhere in the world where would it be? I haven't been to South America and would love to do some hiking in Patagonia.

3. What's your favourite flower? Gardenias - they remind me of my Grandmother.

4. What is your favourite season, and why? I love the cooler months  - after the intensity of Summer, Autumn is celebrated and I adore it's colours. It's nice to bunker down in Winter and the beginning of Spring is heavenly. I think I like all the seasons for different reasons. I like the outdoors and not feeling too hot so Summer is probably my least favourite. I love Tasmania a lot for its mild weather and distinct seasons.

5. Can you speak another language? I lived in Germany for a year so can speak German quite well, a fair bit of Japanese and just enough French to order a Pain au Chocolat.

6. What do you usually eat for breakfast? Generally it's Porridge or Weet Bix on weekdays, Bacon & Eggs on Saturdays and Pancakes on Sundays. 

7. What is your most irritating habit? Staying up too late and then complaining about being tired in the morning. According to my husband this habit is on par with my habit of moving furniture around more than necessary as well as my habit of sighing.

8. Favourite Animal? I adore horses. That is why I love Whippets - they remind me of a miniature racehorse with their speed, agility and gorgeous gentle nature. 

9. What would you do with £1000? Since that wouldn't get all 7 of us to a tropical island for a holiday, I would get an Arborist to come and renovate our line of 100 year old Elm Trees that are in need of some TLC. I would also pay for someone to come and replace every single doorknob in the house as it seems every second day another one falls off and I would buy a year's worth of the nicest yarn available without a single thought of the cost and knit everyone in the family a jumper.

10. What is your favourite quote? I really like this simple quote I saw on Annie's Blog - "Love Life and Life Will Love You Back". It was painted onto an electrical box of all places.

11. Early bird or night owl? A night owl. No question. I am a total grump in the morning but generally come good after the second coffee.

So, apparently the Bloggy Love is not what it used to be so I'm very happy to pass the Award onto the following newish-to-me Blogs - do pop over and say hello! And Ladies, there is absolutely no obligation to do this - I just enjoy your Blogs :-) But if you are interested you could answer the same questions as I did above.

13 Acres - This is Brenda's new "Move to the Country" Blog

Chantille-Fleur
Petticoats and Peplums

A little Bit Country

Zaranne-Handmade

Goosberry Jam

Everyday Miracles