Wednesday Hodgepodge 2/12/15

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 the link to your Hodgepodge blog post to the Linky List at the end of Joyce's post and don’t forget to visit at least your neighbours on the list.

Have fun!

1. Did you watch The Charlie Brown Christmas special Monday night? Who's your favourite Peanuts character and why? 

I don’t think we had that here in the UK.  Peanuts is not a favourite of mine.

"Most psychiatrists agree that sitting in a pumpkin patch is excellent therapy for a troubled mind."~Linus   Would you agree? 

I can’t imagine myself ever sitting in a pumpkin patch but walking out to the middle of nowhere is definitely a soothing activity.
2. Describe a sound from your childhood. What does this sound bring to mind? 

The school bell which either signified the start of the day or going home time.  No prizes for guessing which was liked most!

3. You've won a trip to a winter wonderland...would that excite you? Which one of the following would you most want to experience (or which one would you dislike the least)-see the Aurora Borealis in Norway, stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel, go dog sledding in Lapland Finland, take a winter wildlife safari in Yellowstone or celebrate Winter Carnival in Quebec? 

I’d like to see the Aurora Borealis in Norway although a winter Carnival sounds fun.  The others just sound like too much time in the cold.  I don’t like to be cold.

4. Who or what keeps you humble? 

Oh gosh, where to start?  With all the media that’s available these days it’s very hard not to be aware of people that are worse off than yourself.  That keeps me humble.

5. What part of preparing for Christmas do you like the most? Explain. 

Hmm those who have followed me through my blogging career will know that I don’t like any of the preparation.   I love when we get to the day itself but I find the lead up to it quite stressful.  Although this year may be different as many of my stress factors have been removed.  Watch this space.

6. Gingerbread-yay or nay? Is making a gingerbread house part of your family holiday tradition? 

I like gingerbread but I wouldn’t make it.  I’ve never attempted a gingerbread house, probably because I’d be the one eating the whole thing.

7. What's one thing you want to start, do, or complete before the calendar rolls into a new year? 

Well I’d like to complete decorating one of our spare bedrooms.  Not sure that is going to happen so I’ll make do with tidying the house and making it look welcoming for Christmas.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Following on from #4, if you are a person who prays let’s pray for those less fortunate than ourselves and be glad we do not have to walk in their footsteps.  (Even shoes would not be relevant in many cases.)  And good to see people like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg giving away parts of their fortunes to good causes.  Imagine what could be achieved if everyone with excesses of money followed suit. (I'm talking of people who have more money than they know what to do with here, not your average person with some savings put away for a rainy day.)