Award

I received another award the other day, given to me by Ginnie Marie, for which I thank her. Another one of those hearts under my belt I can tell you!

However, seven more things to share with you that you didn't already know? That is quite hard, since I have a feeling you know most everything about me anyway! Plus there's always things that I don't want you to know, like my pin number! But I will give it a go.

1. Even with selling a lot of them off (I hope), I still have four large moving boxes full of dvd's. Which means about 450 films and series seasons! Perhaps I should go through them again, but most of them are Christmas and children's dvd's to start with and I will not get rid of those!

2. Some of the films are just for sentimental reasons though and some are just downright wrong! The worst probably being 'My chauffeur'. Bad acting, bad dress sense, typical early eighties film. Look it up and feel sorry for my taste in films!

3. I tried smoking twice. The first time I was drunk (shock, horror, yes really) and put the burning end in my mouth: not a good move. The second time I was sober, but about to get drunk once the taste really hit my palate! Like licking out an ashtray...

4. And before you ask how I would know: I know, I have done it. Perhaps not lick one out exactly, but I did eat an ashtray load of cigarette butts, before throwing them all up again. I must have been about three and the person looking after me was busy playing cards with the other males in the family.

5. I was in severe financial trouble a few years ago, where I would spend more than I would earn. Which meant a massive debt of course. Then when I realised I wanted to move, I also realised that debt would hold me back severely and I worked my derrière off to get rid of it.

6. Well, of course my derrière is still here and it will probably stay here as well. Especially since I finally cancelled my subscription to the local gym. I attended for two months and paid for nearly three years. Showing that my financial sense still leaves a lot to be desired!

7. My favourite colour is blue. Unless it's carnations and then it's dark red. And cars should be bright pink. And any Dutch team should wear orange. Perhaps I shouldn't talk about my favourite colour any further!

I want to thank my first grade teacher...

(Imagine me with a tear on my left cheek and of course this FA-BU-LOUS dress):

 Oh, how unexpected, I am so surprised, the others were so good and I want to applaud them first of all. I want to thank the Academy Lyn at Witch Blog for these awards. Of course I don't deserve them, (but no point in telling everybody else that) and others might have been better suited, but I am not giving them back!

I want to thank Mr Campioni, my former boss who wrote in my reference letter I was always punctual when he knew for a fact I was nearly always three minutes late. I want to thank Mr Visscher, my English teacher, who started my love for English literature. I want to thank Vesna, my former roommate and 'boss' who showed me that not everybody is a nice person (she certainly wasn't). I want to thank my colleagues who put up with  my incessant chatting (unless I don't like them and then I keep schtum).

I want to thank my Dad for giving me one bit of good career advise (become a busdriver) after several bits of bad career advise (eg: become a stewardess). I want to thank my Mum for forcing me to read my books myself (because she hated reading to me). And I want to thank my brother for letting me pound on his back when he was a kid and my sister for letting me boss her around when she was a kid.

(to the side): What? The dress? Well, I made it myself! It doesn't fit in this environment? Who comes up with these ideas? It's too tarty? I like strawberry tarts. Oh, not those type of tarts. Right, I see. Ehm...

Thanks everyone! (she says while running of stage in deep shame)

PS: the awards came with the following attached: thank the person who gave it, tell seven facts about myself and pass it on to .... Grab them if you like.

Another PS: photo taken on December 31st 1992 in Castle Combe, England

Award

It's taken a while, also due to my computer problems, but about a week ago I received an award! Debby at Just Breathe was so kind as to give me one, on account of me leaving a lot of comments. Which I haven't done in the last few days (and I am sorry for that Debby, I will try and 'better' my life).

Anyway, there's not much that's attached to this award, I just have to hand it to between five and ten others! Well, if you want it people, come and get it. But that is basically the only condition attached to this award. And that is kind of boring. So, I thought I would tell you a bit about the newest book I bought: The 'Worst Case Scenario' almanac. Here are three facts about bad things from the past.

1. In 1212 the Children's Crusade failed. The children were expecting the Mediterranean to split in two (like Moses split the Red Sea) and when that failed they took to boats. However the boats weren't heading for the Promised Land, but to Algeria where the children were sold into slavery!

2. In 1853 a new law comes into effect in England: the Factory Act. From now on the working week should stay under 72 hours! That would be six days of twelve hours, since Sunday was the day of rest of course.

3. Vlad the Impaler was born in 1431 in the little town of Sighisoara, Romania. He is mostly known for impaling, decapitating, eye gouging, skinning alive, cutting into pieces and mutilating between 40,000 and 100,000 people during his reign. Oh, and then he held garden parties next to the impaled. His reasons? "I did this so nobody in my country would be poor". He died aged 45 on the battlefield in a fight against the Turks.

Beautiful Blog

Debby at Just Breathe has left me with another award: the Beautiful Blogger award. Thank you so much. One of the conditions is that I have to tell you seven things about myself. Things that you might not know already. That of course might prove a bit problematic, since I don't particularly hold back on information here. But, I will give it my best shot...

Well, it's taken me over an hour and a half to come up with nothing! Absolutely nothing! Nix, nada, zilch. Of course there are things you don't know about me, but those are also the things that I would like to keep to myself. Like my pinnumber (anyone Dutch will nod in agreement now). But, perhaps it would be a good idea to give you a few insights into my younger years. So, here goes (again)...

1. I wore a wedding dress once.

2. I ate an ashtray full of cigarette buds when I was very very very young.

3. I didn't like to play with dolls, I preferred to play outside.

4. In primary school I managed to bag a seat on the 'cool' side of the classroom, even though I never was one of the cool kids.

5. I started naming myself Mara from the age of 15/16 onwards, but only in letters. In real life it took until I was nearly 19.

6. I can only do the most basic of swimming strokes, due to me being quite afraid of the water for quite a while.

7. I used to read after bed-time and did get into trouble several times on account of that.

Well, seven things you might not have known about me (unless you're my parents or my sister, in that case this is all old hat!).

The other condition to this award was to pass it on to seven others! Knowing that other people don't always want to accept awards (due their hair and stuff), I will tell all of you who read my blog: take the award. Please!

Thanksgiving

Apparently it's Thanksgiving Day today. It was in the papers over here, it was in the news on the radio. And whenever I open another American blog I read about it!

Now, since we are a first world country, we never had to deal with Injuns (First Nation Peoples or Native Americans) and were never given a turkey to help us get through the winter. As a matter of fact, whenever we were invaded by those Spanish blokes, we would escape on skates (in winter) or just flood the place! We were able to look after ourselves, as long as we kept the dykes high enough!

This post however is not to make other people look silly because they couldn't look after themselves (they have proven themselves in the mean time), it's just to explain that we don't know much about it.

The award at the top is because Cry is thankful I am her friend! I am thankful for all of you who read, comment to and come back to my blog every (or nearly every) day. Happy Thanksgiving to all who do celebrate!!

Friendly

Just Breathe thinks I am a friendly blogger. At least, she's given me a friendly blogger award, so I guess that must mean she thinks I am friendly.

Anyhoo, another award and this time no strings attached! No truths or dares, no funny photos, no silly questions. Thank you Debbie!

Now, there is someone I think of as friendly as well and if I were to live closer, I would definitely go and visit her someday. Until then: I think you are a friend and a friendly person, so Cry, come and pick up your award!

Award!

Oh my, oh my, oh my! Another award! I love it and want to thank Carolina at Brinkbeest in English for it. As usual there are some rules and regulations attached and I will try to follow as well as I can.

1. As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

The person who first got me blogging is my lovely sister, who unfortunately doesn't blog very often any more. But she is the one responsible in a way for all my blogging and cyberfriends I have found so far.

2. To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

The reason I love blogging is quite simple: venting! My anger, my rage, my joy, my happiness, my work, my cats and my life! Writing about it gives my mind some rest after a hard day at work and stops me from knocking holes in the plaster walls at home (which by the way, I have never done!).

3. Put the award in a post as soon as you receive it.

Of course I did, I am still too proud of any award to not do so!

4. Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

Didn't I just do that at the beginning? Hold on, scrolling back now.... Yep, I did, but to be on the safe side: Carolina at Brinkbeest in English gave me this award!

5. Answer the award's question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

Venting, friends, new things and people and places. Those are the main reasons, there are probably some more, but that means I would have to dig deep into my resting brain! Not a good thing to do on a day off...

6. Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

I will stick to one this time and it will be Crystal at Thru My Minds Eye. She always has the strangest questions she wants answered, which by the way I love doing, because they are fantastically thought off (does this still make sense?). Anyway: Cry, come and get your award!

Number two!

Debby at Just Breathe says she feels I should get more followers because she thinks I'm a great read, I show her the world and more people should get the opportunity to read my brain yarns (my head is just about hitting the ceiling right now)! So, she has given me another award!!! Wow!

Again some conditions attached, but they are quite good fun and I will try to do as asked. I am not sure who to pass it on though, so I will just say: take the award if you please and you pass it on... Anyway, I can only give one word-answers to every question, which will mean I will be in trouble occasionally, but never mind, I will give it my best go. Oh, and I have to have fun. Which is always good.

The fun part:

1. Where is your cell phone? Handbag

2. Your hair? Wet

3. Your mother? Mama

4. Your father? Papa

5. Your favourite food? Home-cooked

6. Your dream last night? Niiiiice

7. Your favourite drink? Cordial

8. Your dream/goal? Emigration

9. What room are you in? Living

10. Your hobby? Blogging

11. Your fear? Alone

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Canada

13. Where were you last night? Here

14. Something that you aren't? Male

15. Muffins? Mmmmmmm

16. Wish list item? Housekeeper

17. Where did you grow up? Netherlands

18. Last thing you did? Zap

19. What are you wearing? Socks

20. Your tv? VH1-Classic

21. Your pets? Monsters

22. Friends? Good

23. Your life? Nice

24. Your mood? Contented

25. Missing someone? Partner

26. Vehicle? Push-bike

27. Something you're not wearing? Mittens

28. Your favourite store? Waterstones

29. Your favourite colour? Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Ehhhhmmmm

32. Your best friend? Choose?

33. One place you go over and over? London

34. One person who e-mails me regularly? Boss

35. Favourite place to eat? Home

Well, that was it. If you have any questions about any of my answers, please don't hesitate to ask.

Oh wow!

Yesterday I got my first award! Ever!!! Thank you so much Debby over at For Your Tears! There is however one condition attached to the award: I have to list ten honest things about myself! Oh goody (said with a downhearted sigh)...

1. I hate kissing
2. I can sit around and do nothing at all for days on end
3. I sometimes wish I didn't have cats so I could travel more easily
4. I will not get rid of my cats to travel more easily
5. I am sometimes scared of ending up alone
6. The only Dutch books I read are Mills & Boon, Dutch version
7. I had my first date aged 18 with a man over ten years my senior: it didn't work
8. I tried smoking twice: the first time I put the burning end in my mouth, the second time I finished a bottle of beer within five seconds! Yuck...
9. I love it when people compliment me on my language skills (English, German, Italian or French).
10. I used to be called Marja.

Well, that's my ten honest facts. Now I have to pass this award on as well (it's not nice to keep it to oneself, even if I would love to do so). I would like to pass it on to the following people:

Carolina at Brinkbeest in English, Sunny at Not Ready for the Pasture, Anne at Strawberry Jam Anne and Crystal at Thru my Minds Eye