Liebster

 Christina from A Colourful Life has nominated me for a Liebster. For those of you that don't know, the idea is to write eleven 11 random facts about yourself, answer the eleven questions from your nominator, write eleven questions of your own and nominate people you would like to partake. I always like reading these when other bloggers partake. I am just very nosey.... 

gratuitous picture of cake

So eleven random facts about myself. Is there anything you don't already know?

• I have the world's worst handwriting. Everyday I thank God for the computer and word processing.
  
• I loathe having my photograph taken. Whenever I see a picture of myself, my immediate thought is that I can't possibly look like that! But I've been told that yes, I do.
  
• I have five lamps in my living room. They are not necessarily all on at once.
  
• I have decided that the tunic is to be added to my wardrobe staples, along with breton tops, skinny jeans and flip flops. The tunic is my new friend. It hides a multitude of sins, and for that I am eternally grateful.
  
• Although I allow my emotions and feelings to flow here, in real life I am actually very well behaved. I rarely let anyone see that side of me. I'm more of a listener and less of a talker when it come to emotions.
  
• Having said that I can and will talk the hind legs off a donkey. Try and get a word in edgeways. Go on, I dare you.
  
• I am not very well travelled, but I hope to rectify that as I get older. My top three places would be New Zealand, Iceland and Scotland. I've never been further north than Newcastle.
  
• When I was little I used to love colouring books. I still have a fondness for Berol felt pens. I like to sniff them too.
  
• I have twelve loyalty cards in my purse. My favourite is my Cath Kidston 'St Ives Local' one, which I got when they opened a store in St Ives. I get 10% off all purchases. It's come in very handy.
  
• At the moment I am watching Homeland on Netflix. He's a bit of a bugger that Nicholas Brodie.
  
• I really fancy a glass of wine right now, but I am in my pjs and I can't be bothered to change and pop to the shop. I have no mixer for the gin either, so another cup of tea it is.

Christina has asked the following questions:

• What or who inspired you to start your blog?
  
  Anyone who has followed my blog, will probably know that I started it as a way to record and chart the everyday stuff of my life. It was also to document my fledgling garden, and the growing love and appreciation for the wildlife that could be attracted into it. Olly was an outdoorsy baby, and being outside with him made me stop and look and really see the natural world in a way that I hadn't done since I was little myself. But it was actually Sam who suggested that I write a blog, and he was the one that came up with the name. So although there have been times that I have thought about changing 'Today's Stuff' to something else, I never have. It kind of fits, the name. And anyway what else would it be called?
  
  
• Do you have any pet hates?
  
  Well, manners cost nothing. Not offering your seat to people less able than you, whether they are old or pregnant or have a toddler on their hip or are on crutches. I used to work in London and would catch the tube to work. I was always amazed at how selfish people could be, when it came to a bum on a seat. I always offered up mine. When I was heavily pregnant with Sam, no-one ever asked if I would like to sit. I hate seeing people spit. Urgh. In a tissue if you have to please. I don't like it when people talk behind their hand. And I don't like litter. No need. Put it in your pocket and take it home. And your dog's whotsits. Take that too.
  
  
• What magazine subscriptions to you have?
  
  My Mum bought me a subscription to County Living magazine for my birthday. In May it featured a house near Porth Leven. My house is going to look like that one day. I have ripped it out and saved it. It is so pretty.
  
  
• Do you avoid walking under ladders or do you have any other superstitions?
  
  I am not at all superstitious. I don't believe in ghosts or any of that rubbish either. Load of old clap trap!
  
  
• Describe the art on your living room wall.
  
  I have several prints on my walls of art exhibitions, book covers and seaside themes. I have two charcoal drawings by Seb West, a local artist. I also have three clay tiles with pressed flower reliefs. If I had to choose a favourite it would be the framed poster of Virginia Woolf's 'To The Lighthouse.'
  
  
• What was the last concert you went to?
  
  Well I went to Camp Bestival last year and jumped about to various artists, my favourite being The Proclaimers.
  
  
• If you could invite one well known person for dinner, who would it be and why?
  
  This is a tough one. I think I'd like to invite the comedienne and writer Victoria Wood. I just adore her observational humour so much. I can quote whole rafts of her sketches and shows. Do you want me to?
  
  
• What are you wearing just now?
  
  My pyjamas and my dressing gown. I know. What a stunner.
  
  
• What type of holiday do you enjoy most?
  
  One where I don't cook or wash up. I have never been on one of those, but I would imagine that they are quite nice.
  
  
• What is the naughtiest thing you have done as a child?
  
  Oh God! I really don't want to answer this. You'll think I'm really horrible. The absolute worse thing that I can remember is persuading someone to eat a chocolate digestive biscuit. The chocolate was actually wet mud. He ate it too. I did many more more naughty things as a teen and young adult, but you would definitely hate me if I told you any of those. Let's just say that I have reinvented myself over the years. Well, don't we all?
  
  
• Do you have or did you ever have a role model? Who and why?
  
  I have had several role models as I have grown up. They have all been women, and they have all had a huge positive influence over the emerging me. My Mum is the main one. She is selfless and kind. She is very stoic, and always sees things from both sides. She has a great sense of humour and is able laugh at herself. She loves unconditionally, and is generous with time, money, you name it. She has great legs. I inherited her sense of humour.
  
  
  My questions are:
  
• Which activities can make you lose track of time?
• Who is the funniest person you know?
• What small act of kindness were you shown that you will never forget?
• What can you do today that couldn't do last year?
• Who is your favourite literary heroine?
• Name three things that has made you smile this week.
• What is your favourite sound?
• If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why?
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• What do you see when you close your eyes?
• Who was your favourite band or singer when you were sixteen?

I'm really bad at nominating people. But it would be really cool if some of you would join in. Go on. It makes a change. It's just a bit of fun, and it's better than another sponsored post about dish cloths or the latest vacuum. Or the new must have chair...

Have a go. It would make my day. It's not a cop out*. Honest.

Leanne xx

*okay it's a cop out. Creative Academic, Countryside Tales, Notes From Delft.....how about you guys? x