Good morning Splodz Blogz readers! I have decided to take part in Blog Every Day in May this year, as I enjoyed it last time I took part (I did the November version in 2013), and from feedback I think you did too. My aim is to use the themes set by the lovely Rosalilium to inspire a post each morning; although my usual content will no doubt slip in some days instead. I hope that throughout the month you might engage with me on the topics by commenting on my blog posts or chatting to me over on twitter, facebook or instagram.
Introduce Yourself
As is traditional at the start of something, today we are being encouraged to introduce ourselves. I think you probably already know quite a bit about me from my ramblings here on Splodz Blogz – I’m an outdoors loving 30-something-year-old who likes to spend her time trying new things and proving to everyone I know that life is all about the journey. You can find out more about all that on my About page.
Sitting overlooking the Grand Canyon.
In the interests of sharing something new, I thought I’d share ten random facts about me that you may or may not know…
I have a dodgy left eye, which is actually to blame for all this bucket list stuff and trying to fit as many experiences into my life as possible. I’ve had my wonky eye since birth and I guess it’s just part of who I am. Just before my 30th birthday I was told I might only have 10 years left before double vision creeps in, which was enough to make sure I got a wiggle on.
I love to listen to and play music; it is is a big part of my life and I surround myself with it as much as possible. I play the trombone and bass guitar and love them both, but often wish I’d picked something a little smaller. I would love to play in a massive concert venue one day – the Albert Hall would be pretty awesome. Even with all this music, I don’t sing, unless it’s some kind of comedy act.
“Extreme tromboning” in the rain at Buckstones Edge on Marsden Moor.
When I was at primary school in Plymouth my teacher took it upon himself to teach me to catch. This was one skill my wonky eye prevented me from picking up naturally. He spent hours chucking various balls at me so I could work out where my hands should go. It worked and my hand/eye coordination is pretty good today as a result – thanks Mr Haydn!
I have never made real “what I want to be when I grow up” decision, another reason why a bucket list full of all kinds of weird and wonderful things is such a big part of my life. I work in marketing and spend my days advising young people how to decide what they want to do or be, but have never had that focus myself. I am hoping that one day my bucket list will help me discover my life’s goal… I still quite fancy being a Blue Peter presenter!
My favourite places in the world all have water, and I feel an immense connection to it that both stirs me up and calms me down. Inch Beach in Ireland, Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, and anywhere along the Cornish coast all feature on my favourite places in the world list.
One of my car front foglights broke when I hit a pheasant in the outside lane of the A1 on the way to a concert a few years ago. I couldn’t miss it as there was no time to brake and there was a car on my inside. My friend pulled it out of my bumper when we reached our destination – thanks Mark! I am telling you because I want you to know that I know it is broken, and I don’t need to be told every time I park somewhere… although I know everyone that mentions it means well!
I have a snow globe of London on my desk at work. My friend Linda gave it to me when she left where we used to work to move to London and said it was to put on my desk to remind me of her. I’ve moved jobs and desks since, but it stays there, and does indeed remind me of Linda (and her food parcels) when I see it.
I can only speak in my own accent. I can’t even “do” a Scottish accent, which apparently makes me unusual. My own accent is a definite cross breed thanks to moving around to different English counties as a child – a bit of Essex (sorry), Devon, and various middle English twangs. I had elocution lessons at primary school so hopefully everyone I talk to understands what I say!
I used to collect pencils. I had 100s of them – I would buy one from every place I visited and my family would give me them from places they visited. I recently found my stash and have started to actually use them, which is fun as it has brought back so many happy childhood memories of holidays and days out and events I attended. Every child should collect things from places they’ve been – it’s such an awesome way to keep hold of those memories.
I take way too many photographs. The other day on an hours walk I took over 100 snaps on my phone. Most of them are the same. This makes sorting through which photos to share and use on my blog and file away for all eternity a mammoth task and I am way behind! But you won’t change me; there will always be twenty shots of the same thing on my phone.
RSPB Titchwell Marsh, beautifully secluded beach part of a nature reserve.
There… you’ve learnt something today!
