Questions and Answers

I was very kindly nominated for this award by Maria at Dotty's Daughter .  There are some things I need to do, which are:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.

2. Copy/paste the above button to your post/sidebar

3. Answer the 10 questions the person who nominated you has asked.

4. Nominate 5 bloggers you would like to share with your readers and let them know you have nominated them.

5. Create 10 new questions for your nominees to answer.

While I am really happy to answer the questions, I won't be nominating any bloggers, although I have added some some questions at the end, so if any of my lovely readers would like to take part, please do.  Here are Maria's questions:

1.  Do you prefer to drive or be chauffeured ?
I prefer to be chauffeured.  I can drive, but really don't enjoy it at all and get very stressed, so have managed to avoid it for five years!

2.  What skill or hobby would you like to learn?
In an ideal world, I think it would be silversmithing, although stone carving or wood carving also appeal. Realistically, I am going to do some crewel work, using wool rather than thread, to complete a Jacobean Tree design.  Judging from the pattern, it will take quite some time.

3.  Who is your favourite female singer?
Ooh, tricky one.  Classical singer - Joan Sutherland or Beverley Hoch (really high, beautiful coloratura soprano voices), and non-classical singer, probably Dinah Washington.

 Dame Joan Sutherland (photo from Wikipedia)

 Beverley Hoch (photo from www.twu.edu)

Dinah Washington (photo from Wikipedia)

4.  Name 3 historical people you would like to have afternoon tea with and why ?
Jane Austen, Anne Bronte and Elizabeth Siddal.  I really enjoy Jane Austen's novels, and I think she would have some wonderful observations to make.  I have always felt that Anne Bronte has been in the shadow of her two talented older sisters. but she wrote about people who did not have a voice at that time (governesses and abused wives), and tackled some social taboos from the point of view of women, so I think she would have been a fascinating person to talk to. Elizabeth Siddal was a Pre-Raphaelite model and and artist in her own right too.  She was the muse of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, became his wife and died tragically young.  I would love to find out more about the Pre-Raphaelite circle and about the models and wives from someone who was there.  

 Anne Bronte by Branwell Bronte (image from Wikipedia)

 Anne Bronte by Charlotte Bronte (image from Wikipedia)

 Elizabeth Siddal (self portrait) (image from Wikipedia)

Elizabeth Siddal at the easel (by Dante Gabriel Rossetti) (image from Wikipedia)

I think there would be some interesting (and strong) opinions voiced over the tea and scones!

5.  Your favourite beach in the UK?
Hunstanton, in Norfolk.  I spent many family holidays there, staying at a great aunt's house and have lots of happy and funny memories.

Hunstanton Cliffs (image from Wikipedia)

6.  Your favourite childhood story or character ?
Tricky one.  I liked E Nesbit's Five Children and It, The Land of Green Ginger by Noel Langley and many others, but if pushed, I think I'd have to choose 'The Children of Green Knowe' by L.M Boston.  I am planning to visit Hemingford Grey, the Green Knowe of the books, hopefully later this year.

7.  Your favourite thing to put on toast?
Raspberry Jam.

8.  What decor  would your "dream" home be..vintage, whitewashed/rustic , classical(Laura Ashley/Liberty) or modern?
Probably Classical - some florals, light pastel colours and nice high ceilings - square rooms would be good too.  Georgian or Victorian architecture are my favourites.

9.  Do you prefer written notes/lists or to record them onto phones/computers?
Written notes, definitely.  While I use my computer diary a lot at work, I still rely on written notes.

10. If you could swap places with someone for one week, who would it be and what would you do (or try to do)?
I would like to do something to help animals in some way, but I think that would need more than just one week.  Also, I'd be in tears most of the time, and if I wasn't crying, I would probably be really angry about all the cruelty.

Thanks, Maria - some really interesting questions there.  Well done for slogging your way through the answers!
Right, here are some questions, just in case anyone would like to answer them on their blogs.
1. What's your favourite colour?
2.  What's your favourite season and why?
3.  If you had a day off, what would you do?
4.  Period Drama or Sitcom?
5.  What's the best book you have ever read and why?
6.  Cats or Dogs?
7.  What's your favourite drink of choice?
8.  What's your favourite painting?
9.  Staycation or holiday abroad?
10. If you could go back to any time, when would it be?

If you do answer any of the questions, please let me know - I'd like to read your answers!