Wednesday Hodgepodge 13/5/15

Wednesday Hodgepodge is hosted by Joyce at From this side of the pond

1.     When is your next big deadline? What's it for? 
As I’m not working at the moment I don’t really have any deadlines as such.  This is a whole new scenario for me so I do plan to look at my to do list and try and set out some timeframes for some of the things that need doing.
Of course one date that I do have to look forward to is my daughter’s wedding for which I will need an outfit etc for.  But that’s not until October so I do have plenty of time for that and I’d like to lose some weight by then so that’s another thing that I need to set myself a deadline for.  We’re meeting the in-laws this weekend so at least I’ll know what I’m pitching myself against.
2.       May is National Barbecue Month. Do you prefer cooking indoors or out? What's the best thing about a barbecue? What's the last thing you cooked on an outdoor grill?  
Well British weather* and Barbecues don’t always go together too well so not something we do a lot of.  As it’s not a regular thing we don’t tend to have built in grills so it’s a bit of a faff to sort out the charcoal, get the whole thing going, clean up afterwards….I’m definitely more of an indoor girl.  Having said that I do enjoy eating outdoors on our patio when the weather is good and barbecues are usually nice social events.  Last thing we cooked, probably burgers. *It's making me a liar today - it's lovely and sunny and fairly warm but going to rain tomorrow!
3.       What is one thing on your "never again" list?   
Being in the converted darkroom in our old house.  Hubby wanted to show me the developing process of film to photos.  I thought the walls were closing in on me and I wasn’t prepared for it being pitch black.  I learned the process but I’m never going to be putting it into practice.
4.       What's something that annoys you about people your own age? Something you love about your generation?  
Hate intolerance and bad manners.  Although that’s not limited to my generation.  Love that I feel we’re able to stay younger than our previous generation but then maybe everyone thinks that because we hate getting old!
5.       Lilac, iris, hyacinth, pansy...your favorite purple flower? 
Pansies.  I think they look really pretty and the colour is definitely purple.
6.       What's a song that always calms you down?   
I really love “Chasing Cars” but another piece I like is Pie Jesu which we included in my Mum’s funeral so it’s always very emotive but I do find it calming.
7.       What's the last thing you donated?  
Money.  My daughter is a Samaritan and her branch had an open day last Saturday and I bought a couple of books from their stall.  Prior to that we’d sponsored our son who ran in the London Marathon, also to raise funds for the Samaritans.
8.       Insert your own random thought here.  
I find it incomprehensible that while there are thousands of people in Nepal who have been hit by two earthquakes and people are trying to raise money to provide aid, someone has paid over £100 million for a painting.  Just think what that amount of money could do for Nepal or indeed other situations of need.  True it’s a Picasso but £100+ million?  Really????