So, thanks Fly, you’ve kept my mind off the Witch and we enabled me to have a peaceful weekend without a visit from the French foreign legion!
Fly’s questions (answers by moi!):
1. What will you be doing while the football world cup is on?
Unfortunately I can’t ignore this as my Dad’s a huge footy fan and I’ll be on holiday at my parents whilst some of the England games are on. Hubby has also discovered a sudden interest in footy and as I’m writing he’s watching it. So I won’t get a look-in tele wise for the next how many weeks (how long does the world cup last anyway?) so I guess I will be spending my time better educating myself in French verbs, cooking healthy meals, working and then spending money! Of course, if England or France is lucky enough to get very far (apparently it’s going to be more luck than anything else) then I will turn into a supporter and will turn my tele on very loudly and watch it from my garden whilst drinking a pint of Rose.
2. What picks you up when you’re down?
A stroll on a sunny day, a cuddle, a smile in the street, a nice homecooked meal with good company – especially when the supermarket has all the ingredients I need!
3. Indian or China…we’re talking tea here, not economics…
I don’t really drink tea, it just doesn’t taste the same in France and I’m yet to get hooked on all the fancy teas available in France. But I looked in my cupboard and my tea is Indian… and the coffee’s Nescafe!
It would be interesting to see the impact of the global tea market on each of these economies compared to other exports. Did you know that just 9 countries receive 60% of Chinese tea exports and in 2009 their tea exports reached a new high of 7.05 hundred million dollars (US). I found some economic facts on China tea exports here.
4. What do you value most about blogging?
Blogging helps me process and get through things; writing is like exhaling air after taking a deep breath. I love sharing and participating with others and I’m always delighted when I get comments here. Making new friends on the blogosphere is great, I’ve always been this lone English girl in Lyon and have never known any other expats so have felt lost with my alien status. I now look at all the people I can share experiences with and learn from and am really grateful internet exists.
5. What can’t you bring yourself to throw out of your wardrobe?
Sore subject. I cannot throw anything out.
6. Would you rather someone didn’t ask your views on controversial issues?
That’s a hard one. It depends on who the person is and how well I know them. If it is someone I know well and I know can take things with a pinch of salt and appreciate a debate then I don’t mind. I remain neutral on lots of controversial issues in France though as I get stressed by how heated the conversations get and apparently I can be quite sec in my answers when speaking in French which people often misinterpret.
7. Do you recommend people… and then wish you hadn’t?
I’m generally the person people recommend things to rather than the other way round. I always appreciate a recommendation and understand that it’s not the person’s fault if it doesn’t work out. I would like to think people think the same when I recommend people to them.
8. Do you own up to reading light novels, or hide them under the cushions if visitors arrive?
Gosh, I’m so into chick lit it’s embarrassing. I’ll read anything I can find: back of cereal packet, Closer magazine (although not at Dr’s surgery, too many germs – hairdressers is okay), thriller novels, French classics… you name it. But anything other than Chick Lit at night sends me to sleep whereas I like to wind down slowly and then snooze off. Chick Lit is perfect!
9. Content with your own company or gregarious?
Own company definitely.
10. One thing which would noticeably improve your life.
First of all I thought what would make me happy, then I re-read the question. The obvious answer to me would be more money so that I could pay off my mortgage. Without debt I would be more able to make decisions about what I want to do with my life, where I want to live etc. But it’s not going to happen so a realistic answer would be more self confidence. This would make it easier for me to do all the things I dream of and would help in achieving the more money scenario…
So, now, I’m to choose 5 people to send this on to with 10 of my own questions:
Rosabell
Merewoman
Sara Louise
Amber
Tanya
Consider yourselves tagged, although no obligation ladies…
I would have loved to send these to some more people, but either they’ve been tagged recently, are really busy or I thought this may not be their cup of tea, so if you want to join in, ignore the five and let me know so I can come and see your answers – the more the merrier!
1. Why did you start a blog?
2. Comfy shoes or killer heels?
3. The funniest moment in the last week?
4. What would have been your dream job?
5. If you won the lottery tonight, what would be the first thing you’d do?
6. Most useless gadget you own?
7. You’re waiting for someone and they’re late. How late is too late?
8. Are you a do it now person, or a It can wait until tomorrow person?
9. If you were a drink, what would you be?
10. What was the first thing you thought when you read these questions?
Merci for the tag!!
Now I’ll have to start thinking up some clever answers… x
Should have some answers soon…soon, I say. Thanks for tagging me.
I also did Fly’s tag..it was a good set of questions.
I like your answers xx
Great answers! I’m always terribly intimidated by the French arguing about testy subjects.
Congrats to everyone who has to answer these new questions.
What fun! I really liked the questions and it was good to know you better from the answers.
World Cup is one month, btw – from June 11 to July 11. It’s a long month, lol. I am having fun with watching too, though, and I am not a giant “soccer” fan (lol). I used to be into it when I was a kid, though — back in the Pelé days of the 1970s when there was a wave of soccer-mania flowing through the States. So I am probably more of a fan than the average American. I also have a couple of blog friends from way back that are HUGE footie fans, and they have infected me with some of their enthusiasm.
I really liked your answers about blogging, too. It’s so true that the internet can connect others in such a wonderful way, reminding us we are not alone. And for more-or-less introverted writer-types (right?) it is a great thing.
I love “Closer” magazine, too. 😀 It’s a good substitute for the American “People” magazine. Thank goodness for the internet for those kinds of entertainment, too. There really is no better time to be an expat than in the information age, IMHO!
Be well, Piglet!
when I first moved to France I don’t think internet existed and I hadn’t even been on a computer (apart from at school) yet alone owned one. I moved here with a book on how to get by in France and it became my bible but I soon learned not to take everything in it as being texto… Internet is great for anyone moving or living abroad now. You can share experiences and it’s just fantastic. It has most certainly made the world a smaller place!
@sara louise, @tanya : you’re welcome! I look forward to seeing your answers and your new set of questions soon 🙂
@Dedene: yes, the French and the ‘best to avoid’ subjects – there’s quite a lot of them I reckon!
Why don’t you join in in answering the questions over at yours and then passing the tag on? The tag I received said 5 and it was so hard to select just 5, I say the more the merrier! I would love to see your answers too 🙂
@Karin: I believe you have been tagged by Amber now as well…
I’m not as keen on the celeb mags as I was, I subscribe to Grazia here but I hardly ever read them from cover to cover. I just don’t know who the French celebs are and there are so many of them it’s unbelievable.
Your answers were interesting..and i liked the questions you are passing on.
I did relate to the response about being wary about entering into debate in French with the French.
When with French friends discussing controversial points, I find that we are all quite ‘sec’, but it seems to be appropriate, given what we’re discussing.
When with French people I don’t know so well, I can see that while they are ‘sec’, they can take it amiss if I am too…as if I don’t ‘know my place’ as a foreigner.
I have news for them…I have never ‘known my place’, in any society or language.
I agree entirely about being sec as it’s appropriate and is adopted by all French when debating. I hadn’t analysed the reaction of people I don’t know as well and I think your analysis has explained why I avoid debating with them – the look I get is that of not knowing one’s place as a foreigner!
thx a lot for being tagged.
These are my answers http://livingromanian.blogspot.com/2010/06/tagged.html
Love your answers and your pictures!
Hope it’s ok that I’ve answered your questions!
I thought your answers were great – your list of things that pick you up when down are all exactly the same as me! Nothing beats a cuddle really. Except a cuddle that comes with chocolate.
xx B