Saturday 17 January 2009

MeMe My Favourite Subject

I've noticed a meme going round where bloggers have to say ten honest things about themselves. This strikes me as a good way to introduce myself, so here goes.

1. My Paramour and I have been together for 13 years and are happily child-free. Also, we live in the arse end of nowhere: a small town that hardly anyone has ever heard of, which has very little to recommend it.

2. As a result of having no children to spend our money on and living somewhere unpopular, we were able to buy a big ramshackle Palace a few years ago. It's rather less ramshackle now. We sometimes have a friend living here, if someone we know needs space, but at the moment it's just the two of us.

3. Oh yes, and the three cats.

4. I'm a professional researcher. I've been self-employed for 15 years. I don't want to have a proper job ever again.

5. I'm also a doctor, but only the academic kind. I dread being approached on a plane by a steward/ess asking me to help with someone who has been taken ill. I wouldn't know where to start.

6. I make part of my living by writing. Mostly non-fiction: research reports, occasional articles, a co-authored book back in 2003 (very nerdy research reference book, not an exciting read, trust me on this). And a little fiction: I sold my first short story to The Weekly News in autumn 2008, and hope to sell more this year.

7. I'd like to make more of my living by writing. I write a short story for a women's mag every week or two; I enter travel writing competitions; I'm working on a travel book proposal; and I'm also working on a novel.

8. I also write and deliver scripts for humanist funerals. I love doing this, but I don't do many, because (a) it's seriously demanding work and I couldn't do it well if I did it a lot, and (b) the pay isn't great. I don't do it for the money, but I do need to earn a living, so the research work takes priority and I fit in funerals where I can.

9. I think fast, read fast, talk fast, and touch-type accurately at 80-90 wpm - but I usually keep to the speed limit when I'm driving.

10. I'm tall and confident. I suspect the two are connected: I know not all tall people are confident and not all small people are shrinking violets, but I think the connection is true for me. Despite my confidence, I'm primarily motivated by fear. I need to challenge myself to do things that scare me emotionally. However, I have no interest in challenging myself to do things that scare me physically. I have no idea why.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And I would like to offer public thanks to two bloggers who have been instrumental in encouraging me to start this blog (although if you feel the last thing the Internet needs is another flippin' blog, you may wish to go and hurl rotten tomatoes in their comments boxes). I've been reading blogs for years, but I wouldn't have started this one without the wonderful Zinnia, best humanist celebrant blogger on the planet, and the lovely Leigh, who could not have been more helpful, even if she was competing in the Helpfulness World Championships.

21 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

Brilliant! Welcome to the wonderful world of blog!

Karen said...

Great post Queenie! I have no interest in challenging myself physically either.

Looking forward to reading more :o)

Queenie said...

Ooh look, real comments in my comments box!! Thanks so much, Helen and Karen.

Sherri said...

Welcome to Blogland!
Lovely to find out so much fascinating stuff about you and I'll look forward to visiting again soon.

Leigh Forbes said...

Welcome to the blogsphere, Queenie!

I always used to do 80-90 too, but I've slowed down (a lot) since I had the kids ;-)

Queenie said...

Thanks, Bernadette! Leigh, I'm curious - why does having children slow down your typing? Is it just that you don't get much time at the keyboard, or is it more complicated than that, e.g. hormonal effects on finger movements? (I did say I wasn't a medic!!)

Jen said...

I do believe that beginning one's blog with a meme is quite the perfect choice. Yes indeed.

Hello. I like your tiara.

Leigh Forbes said...

Ha ha! I was talking about my driving! But, now you come to mention it, they have considerably slowed down my typing speed too - because of all the bloody interruptions!

Leigh Forbes said...

And don't let Jen nick your glittery things, Queenie. She'll have 'em off you like a shot.

Kath McGurl said...

Hi Queenie! Welcome to the world of bloggers. Love your first post!

Queenie said...

Oh, your driving - I see! It was the 80-90 bit that confused me, Leigh.
Nobody may nick my tiara, sorry, crown. The very suggestion could get you sent to the tower, so watch out!
Womagwriter: thank you!

Pat said...

Welcome and I hope you get out of blogging what some of us are lucky enough to have - friendship, encouragement and stimulation.
Zinnia came into my mind half way down the page:)

Tamsyn Murray said...

Welcome, Queenie, what a great introduction :-)
Looking forward to reading more

Queenie said...

Thanks, PI and Tam, lovely to meet you!

Jill Steeples said...

Lovely to see you in Blogland, Queenie. Will look forward to reading more.

Pat said...

Queenie: I obviously made a mistake as I always want to know the sex of the writer and I think I have got it wrong. You're not a man are you?

Jenny Beattie said...

Just popped back to say I enjoyed your answers, Queenie. I like getting snippets of people's lives through memes.

I look forward to reading more.

Queenie said...

Thanks, Maddie. PI, no, not last time I looked! I love shoes and chocolate, so I think I must be female. JJ, thanks, so do I, and I'm glad you enjoyed - seeing this meme on your blog gave me the idea to start with it here.

Quillers said...

Hey, Queenie! Welcome to blogland. What a fascinating introduction.

I'm with you on not wanting to challenge myself physically. Why I almost tripped over going to the kitchen for another biscuit the other day. It's a jungle out there ;-)

Anonymous said...

Hello and welcome! Great to meet someone else connected with the humanist funeral celebrant thingy... was beginning to think Zinnia had made it all up. ;o)

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Ooh, fantastic, you've finally started a blog! Sorry I didn't notice straight away but I haven't been paying much attention. It's looking good.