So this is what I’ve gotten myself into.
I’ll be honest, I’m struggling to know what to write today. And it’s only day 3 of this challenge. Bugger.
Still, when the going gets tough, the tough make lemonade (or something). So my plan for today it this:
Open a random number generator
Pick a random number between 1 and 99
Find the corresponding blog idea from this article as my topic for today.
The number generator says 11, so today’s topic is drumrolllllllllll:
“Share a list of little-known facts about yourself, your business, or your blog niche.”
Well, it’s not what I would have chosen, but I can work with it. Let’s go with 10 facts about myself!
I grew up in Kent
Kent is known as “the garden of England”, and anyone from Kent will profess that if Kent is the garden, their town is the compost heap at the end. Notable places in Kent include Canterbury, Hever Castle, Leeds Castle (confusing, I know), Rochester Castle and Dover Castle. When you get sick of the castles, hop on the ferry at Dover and head to France for a change of scene.
When I was little, I wanted to be a vet
I loved animals as a child. I grew up on David Attenborough documentaries and The Really Wild Show. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), I found that I was scared of animals biting and scratching me. Not great for a successful veterinary career.
I lived in Southampton for 5 years
A port city on the south coast of England, Southampton is probably best know as the port the RMS Titanic sailed from. It’s also a popular port for many international cruises. My time in Southampton was less boat-heavy - I did my undergraduate degree in music there.
As a kid, I was really annoyed when they changed the theme-tune to Card Captors
One thing about my youth is that I loved a show with a banging theme tune. Mona the Vampire, Fairly Odd Parents, Pokemon - absolute choooons! And Card Captors was on that list. I’d rush home from school every afternoon to watch it and sing along. And I still remember the original theme tune - I was THAT obsessed. But then they changed the theme to some ethereal BS with no lyrics (can you tell I’m a singer) and I was FUMIN’! I’m still not over it.
I’m an Aquarius Sun, Libra Moon and Scorpio Rising
Don’t ask me why I know this when I don’t believe in Astrology. Well, let me clarify - I believe that humans are really good at pattern recognition, and if the patterns in the stars galvanize you into getting your shizzle together and living your best life then I love that for you. I think belief can a powerful tool.
Anyway, let’s see what the internet has to say about my “big three”, as the astrology kids say:
Aquarius Sun key words: Altruistic, Humanitarian, Offbeat, Rebellious, Tolerant, Detached, Extremist (not sure how you can be Tolerant and Extremist, but there you go), Haughty, Individualistic, Unemotional
Libra Moon key words: Adaptable, Balanced, Charming, Diplomatic, Reasonable, Dependent, Indefinite, Passive Aggressive, Self-absorbed, Uncertain (ok, I feel attacked by my moon sign, jeez…)
Scorpio Rising key words: Alluring, Determined, Intimidating, Intuitive, Loyal, Mysterious (lol), Persuasive, Private, Withholding
If you know me IRL, let me know if this is accurate.
My first every job was working in Wilkos (R.I.P.)
When I was 16, I got a job as a cashier on the weekends with my friend Emma. It was double-time on Sundays and Bank Holidays (win!) and I cried on my first Saturday shift because it was so busy and stressful. How I’ve grown since those humble beginnings.
Also, when I was getting ready for uni, that staff discount came in clutch.
I once went to school with a fever because I loved it so much and didn’t want to miss it
I don’t remember this, but I’m reliably informed by my mum that when I was in infant school I insisted on going to school with a fever. Guess I’ve always been a nerd at heart. On a related note, I do remember falling asleep in the teacher’s chair after being given cold medicine and my mum coming to pick me up early. Not sure if that was the same incident though…
My favourite food is spaghetti bolognese
Specifically my mum’s spaghetti bolognese (sorry, J - ours is a close second!). I cannot find the words to describe it right now. It’s so rice and lush and then you add cheese and now I’m hungry - IT’S SO GOOD!!!
My favourite pudding is cake and custard
I know it’s giving British school dinners, but honestly if you haven’t tried cake and custard you need to. Here’s the ‘recipe’:
Cut a slice of Madeira sponge cake or your sponge cake of choice and place in in a microwave safe bowl; Pour you’re custard over the cake; Heat in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds or until piping hot; Enjoy with a nice cup of tea!
I’m now worried I’ve over-hyped this… Like, you can live your life without cake and custard. But it’s the ultimate comfort pudding. And what’s a life without comfort?
I’ve never owned a car
There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, I learnt to drive quite late compared to my peers. I didn’t need a car whilst I was at school because everything I needed to get to was walking distance. Then I was at uni in a fairly walkable city with good transport links. I finally passed my test after my first professional acting job (around 7 years after I first started learning), but by then I was living in London. And trust me, you don’t need a car in London.
Secondly, I’m fairly environmentally conscious, and so I’d rather prioritise other modes of transport that are more environmentally friendly. I enjoy train travel (although I wish it were cheaper) and I cycle to my local station. Plus, I’m still in central London most of the time where the tube, buses or walking are all far more practical.
Lastly, my partner has a car so when we need to drive we can. I don’t see the point in having multiple cars when we don’t need them. Obviously if our circumstances change and we find we need two cars, we can reconsider. But for now, one car for our household is enough.
So, there you have it: 10 little-known facts about me! And to uncomfortably stretch my mixed metaphor from the start of this post, writing this turned out to be quite a refreshing experience.