Wednesday Hodgepodge 19/8/15

Wednesday's Hodgepodge is brought to us courtesy of Joyce at 

 From this side of the pond

Pop over there to see other posts and if you want to join in add your blog post to the Linky List at the end of Joyce's post.

Have fun!

1. Way back when (the Hodgepodge bicentennial to be precise) several of you submitted questions as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I went back to that list for inspiration today and found a question submitted by Marla, who blogs over at Marla's Musings. Thanks Marla!
She asks-At what age did you feel like a 'grown-up'? What keeps you young now?   

I think we all feel grown up before we really are.  When we can drive a car, when we can legally drink, live on our own etc. but to me one memory stands out of having to really be a grown up.  My father was dying of cancer.  I was really just helping out as my Mum was doing most of the caring stuff but their wedding anniversary was coming up.  Dad hadn’t remembered.  Mum didn’t want to make a fuss about it, wanting to just ignore it but I remember making the decision to talk to Dad about it because I knew if he realised afterwards that he had forgotten it he would have been so upset as he always took great care choosing the right card for Mum.  I had to get the card and help him write it.  It was a really hard thing to do but I felt it was the right thing to do.  I was 21 at the time.  What keeps me young?  My kids.

 
2. When did you last buy a vehicle? Was this by design or because you had no other option? Was the car/truck purchased for your own personal use or was it bought for someone else to drive? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being delightful and 1 being 'pass the Excedrin') how would you rate the experience? 

We bought our current car in 2010.  It’s a Skoda Superb and it’s an upgrade from the Skoda we had before.  It was an easy purchase – we bought it from the same dealer, part exchanging our previous car (also from them) so I would rate it as a 9.  We both drive the car but I use it the most.

3. Corn bread, corn chips, corn pudding, corn on the cob, cornflakes, corn chowder-your favourite of the corn-y foods listed? What needs to be served alongside your selection?

Definitely cornflakes which need to be served with cold milk, raisins and a sprinkle of sugar substitute.

4. What's something in your life that regularly requires you to 'put your thinking cap on'?

Hubby brings home the free evening newspaper most nights and we like to sit and do the cryptic crossword together.  I also do the number puzzles as well.  We also do the crossword and a pub style quiz from the Saturday paper which is the only paper we usually buy all week.

5. Share a favourite movie set in a school or classroom, or whose theme relates to school days in some way.

The Harry Potter series.  We have the DVD collection plus the books.  Love them all.  Definitely kept my boys engaged in reading when they came out.

6. Reading, writing, and 'rithmatic' are commonly referred to as the three R's. What are the three R's in your life right now?  

Well those 3 R’s feature largely in my life.  I’m always reading with at least one book on the go if not more.  Plus all the blogs I visit and the newspaper.  I’m writing most days as well and whenever I get the chance I’m doing puzzles, especially number puzzles.  I think part of that stems from having watched my Mum succumb to Alzheimer’s and wanting to keep my mind as exercised as possible.   But of course the most important R in my life is my daughter Rebecca.

7. What's something you've learned or tried recently you can say was as 'easy as ABC'?
My future DIL bought me an adult colouring book and some pencils.  It’s definitely as easy as ABC but it’s also relaxing and very distracting.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m getting used to not having the cat in the house but it’s hard.  Thank you to all those who expressed condolences last week.  Hopefully I got back to all my visitors but apologies if I missed you.  I’ll be cat sitting for my daughter when she’s on honeymoon and then we’re going to look into fostering for the RSPCA.