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!
If you are a blogger, or if you want to be and are looking for a way to start, find out more about Blog Every Day in May over on Rosalilium – and if you’re taking part make sure you let me know so I can get to know you a bit better this month.
Shybiker
Wow, Zoe, this is a great post. One of your best yet. I love your honesty and wisdom.
I didn’t know about your eye; that explains a lot. We should all carry around the awareness that our time is limited as an incentive to live fully. Most people take life for granted and discover this too late. We don’t want regrets later on.
I think it’s cool you collected pencils. I have keychains from dozens of places I visited. Mementos are nice.
Your pictures are amazing. Really amazing. Keep snapping away!
Splodz
Oh thanks Ally, I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Yea I was born with a rather problematic left eye and while the doctors here in England did awesome things for me, it is still very weak and my brain has to do a lot of work to work out what it is seeing, which makes me tired. I have always strived to never let it be an issue, but rather to use it as a reason to get out there and do things.
I’d love to see some photos of your keychains sometime – I bet they bring back lots of memories.
And thanks for the photography complement, that means a lot x
Ashleigh Lawrence-Rye
Hi lover!
Thought it only right I stop by and see what you’ve posted today! I totally have no idea what I “am” either, and I often wonder if I’ll ever know. Then I think perhaps I’ll just never grow up, and I’m going to write a bestseller one day anyway so then maybe I won’t need an actual job etc. etc. etc. – the only thing that should settle is dust I say!
http://www.ashleighlawrencerye.com
Splodz
Hey hey! I’m so glad it’s not just me! Growing up is overrated. We might have to do adult things but we don’t have to be adult about life all the time! So this best seller… 🙂
Elizabeth @ Rosalilium
Well, I can say I have never seen a trombone being played in such a stunning landscape. Lovely photos. And your teacher was awesome!
Splodz
It was quite an experience up there – wind, rain, hail, freezing! Was so much fun though 🙂
Yes my teacher was awesome; this small act of chucking balls my way has had such an impact on my life as a whole.
Janet
I signed up again for BEDM mainly because the prompts are so handy to have! Some days I think I’ll go off topic, but having struggled a bit with blogging recently I’m looking forward to having some guidance on what to write each day. Good luck with the challenge!
Splodz
I’m doing BEDM for something a bit different really, and to get me back in the habit of blogging regularly as it’s been a bit sporadic recently. Looking forward to reading more of your BEDM posts this month x
Kezzie
Hi Zoe! I’m also doing BEDM and I thought I’d try and come and visit everyone at some point (ahgh, can’t do 100 people in a day so you’re first!) and I adore your list! We have a few similarities. My left eye is also problematic. I have morning-glory syndrome in it which means the lens is deformed and so I can only see vague shapes and colours, no details. I am also a musician, flautist primarily but also play viola, recorder, piano, Sax etc etc (I have a trumpet too but I am terrible- I learnt it with my kids at school!) That is SO cool you play the trombone! That’s the coolest instrument of all! I’ve played at the Albert Hall (and a few other big concert halls) so I can totally understand the wanting to do that- the first time I played at the Albert Hall, I was SO excited! Now I take my kids there every 2 years to sing and their faces when they first walk into the arena is a picture!
I also love water a lot! I’m definitely going to follow you so I am really pleased to meet you!
xx
Splodz
Hey Kezzie, thanks for dropping by and I’m really glad you like what you read. There are loads taking part this time around, which is awesome, I shall make sure I pop over to your blog today. Sounds like we’d make a right pair – I can see through my left eye but it’s limited and it’s a good job I’ve got a decent right eye. Great to hear you a musical too – I learnt trombone it by accident really, was playing euphonium when my Band Leader told me I wouldn’t be any more and gave me a trombone instead – never looked back (much!). That’s very cool you take your kids to sing in the Albert Hall, my sister and some friends have done it a few times and I’m rather jealous, I want a turn! One day.
Elizabeth
What a lovely post! I used to collect pencils too – while I was studying for my OU degree I’d write out pages and pages of notes, and I saved the pencil stubs in a jar as I was interested to see how many pencil stubs a degree made. 40. 😉 Love that Grand Canyon photo, and I bet extreme tromboning sounded fantastic over the hills!
Splodz
Thanks 🙂 That’s a good idea saving the pencil stubs, what a great way to treasure some memories. 40 hey? That is indeed a lot of writing!
Lauren
It’s great to find out more about you, looking forward to actually meeting you this year! I love your photos, keep snapping away. I always thought that blogging everyday was beyond me, but I’m feeling adventurous these days and might just try it one day!
Splodz
Thanks very much and bring on the get outside fun later this month!
Lucy Edwards
Love these types of posts with random facts, they are always interesting to read. Don’t apologise for having an Essex accent- it’s the best! Where abouts in Essex did you live?
Splodz
I went to School in Romford – Ardleigh Green Infant School and have happy memories from there 🙂