Grave of the Fireflies. It's an amazing animation but it's SO depressing. I mean I like grim but I came out from watching it feeling like I had been repeatedly punched and kicked. This was the intention I am sure but I cannot claim to like it.

Have you ever rewatched a favorite TV show of your childhood? Did it hold up?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

About 90% of them. Most of my childhood series were basically toy commercials. To pick one MASK, which is simply a series that was awesome because flying cars, cars with guns etc when I was a lad turns out to be some of the worst "Buy the damn toys, here's a life lesson" rubbish ever made.

A less obvious one that wasn't rubbish but merely not as good was Maid Marion and her Merry men, still had some fun to it but definitely doesn't have the shine it had when I was a kid.

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"There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge. It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." - Worth, Cube

I thought Around the World with Willy Fogg held up pretty well, if you don't mind the 'we need to pad this episode so here's a song and dance routine' bits.

Is there a TV show that you really enjoyed watching while it was on the air, but have no desire to rewatch/revisit?

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twitter.com/lazyhedwig

The one that springs to mind is Lip Service. A bit of soapy fun but it was very much watch and forget.

On the reverse. Is there a show you didn't like when you first saw it but would love to revisit?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

Maybe the West Wing? I've never really tried to watch it properly, but it always comes up on 'best of' lists from people who I generally agree with, which makes me curious. But usually if I give up on something, it wasn't for me anyway.

How often do you go to the cinema?

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twitter.com/lazyhedwig

Three or four times a year :(

Our nearest one is about 15 miles away, and it's SO expensive. It's nearly £30 just for two 2D, standard seat tickets. We only go if it's something we really really want to see. I often look back on the days when I lived within walking distance of an arthouse cinema that cost about a fiver per ticket and rend my clothes in lamentation.

Same question!

Looking back over my bookings I think I have been 13x in the last 24 months so about once ever 56 days. The price less than £7 a ticket if I am careful what I choose to go to so not too bad to go, it is more the time factor that stops me going more often. So many films being 2.5-3 hours and being on the other side of town makes it a 45 minute walk. So going will use up a quarter of the day.

I should probably actually get a bike and learn to ride it again

Can you\do you still ride a bike?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

Yes I can, and on occasion still do. Downside for me now is lack of decent infrastructure. My first flat had a lovely cycle route (On the trackbed of an old railway) which took you completely away from traffic. My current house is on a busy main road. I have considerd cycling to work as opposed to walking but at the moment I would be sharing a main road with a particularly bi hill with lots of traffic and I just don't want that stress so shoe leather it is. I have now realised that I've completely forgotten how to ride a bike now that I am teaching my kids.

Since I've shown off my short, walkable commute, how ling is your commute?

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"There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge. It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." - Worth, Cube

It's a 30 minute walk. Weird, just having this conversation at lunch.

One of the benefits of living in a small city, and working in the city centre.

Same question

It's a 40 minute train ride, followed by about 30 minutes walking, mostly across the park. So at least I get my fresh air (for London values of "fresh air", anyway), and exercise. I have learned to keep spare trousers in my locker, for unexpected rain storms!

Could be better, could be worse.

You can have an endless supply of one food for the rest of your life. What do you pick?
(Full disclosure: I've pinched this one from a work event)

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twitter.com/lazyhedwig

Are we allowed to do recipes and sandwiches or just one type of food? Even as a diabetic, I'd suggest Honey, even if it may miss out on vitamins and minerals. Hopefully there are contaminents that furnish the extra nutrition you might need. Insects are a good source of protein.

But if I am truly honest I am torn between three dishes I miss from the north east of England. Firstly, Cheese pattie and Chips. My American Aunt doesn't get it, but basically a cheese pattie is mashed potato and cheese deep fried in batter. It is potato with more potato and some cheese. Garnishes are optional, but I go with salt and vinegar and Hammond's Chop sauce.

Then there is the ham and pease pudding, with Hammond's Chop sauce, in a stottie cake. The ham has to come from a butcher's, none of that packet shite. Pease pudding should be made fresh, not that tinned shite. And if you have bought the stottie after 11, then eat it that day. But is a beaut of a sarnie.

The last is Tattie pot. Basically a corned beef, potato, carrot, onion and leek stew. It is in a thin gravy, best served in a bowl with a slice of bread on the bottom, and another served alongside.

Of all three, I'd go with the Tattie Pot, stews, taste better when they are reheated, two or three times.

Same question.

Until recently I would have said cream based Pasta but I had an overly rich one on holiday and almost threw up. So I will change it to Roasted Vegetables.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

Definitely a cat person, even before I had a cat of my own. I can be a bit skittish around dogs, because I find their behaviour harder to predict. We never had a dog, but a lot of my relatives did, and even though I appreciate a nice snuggly dog, I'm just much more comfortable around cats. My cat is my second favourite person.

Same question.

Cat. I've had cats since I was about nine, had three litters of kittens born in my bed while I was asleep (and one time when I moved to the old couch that was in my bedroom the mother brought them over, put them all back in bed with me then buggered off for some food), at one point had over 20 cats... yes, definitely a cat person. I can see a sleeping one right now.

Nothing against dogs, I've had a few of those too, but I've always found them too needy and demanding of attention.

We also have a massive fat goldfish, and a housemate in the past had a cockatiel, which was a really sweet and funny little bird; are there any pets that aren't cats or dogs you have/have had that you've really enjoyed?

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No - not an animal person at all
(well, not strictly true - some of them taste wonderful)


Are there any animals that you would never consider eating?

if it isn't toxic and if we assume no animal is endangered then no. There are a few I wouldn't eat a second time (I've tried snake and crocodile and they really aren't that tasty)

Same question

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"There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge. It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." - Worth, Cube

Well I am a vegetarian so the answer would be all. Before I was though I used to eat anything.


Have you ever watched a film or TV series where you have loved the soundtrack more than the actual dratmatic presentation?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

I don't think so. I'm not really a music person, so if I'm not enjoying anything else then I'm unlikely to stick around for the soundtrack.

What's on your desk right now?

EDIT: If you're not at a desk, please make a local substitution for wherever you're sat/stood

_________________
twitter.com/lazyhedwig

I was in a pub when I read this so beer!

What's you favourite book series?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

The Chalet School series by Elinor M Brent-Dyer. They're unbearably twee boarding school stories written between the 1920s and 1970 and I've loved them since I was a little girl. I have about forty of them, and one day I will own them all :D

Whose books have you read a ridiculous number of?

Hmm, probably Terry Pratchet, though Steven King is right up there too. And I've read the wheel of time series by Robert Jordan, which lead me to Brandon Sanderson... Oh, Robert A. Heinlein, Frank Herbert... Lots of authors really.

I'm in Barcelona! Where is the best location you've been in where you've visited familiar websites you'd normally go to at home?

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Probably New York when visiting my dad last Christmas

Do you prefer modern Christmas Pop Songs or traditional Carols

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation

Traditional Christmas Pop songs? I like Christmas songs from the 40s-60s the best. Stuff like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Motown.

Same Q.

I like some of everything, there are some good carols, some entertaining songs through the ages and some fun ones that are a bit obscure (Love "The Stowaway" from voyage of the damned for example) Sadly as a Genre there is some absolute dreck and that is what so often get flayed on an infinite loop (I don't care how much you like Paul McCartney, wonderful Christmas time is bloody awful)

In the spirit of humbug, what xmas song can you not stand?

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"There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge. It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." - Worth, Cube

Which Christmas songs can't I stand?
ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me correct myself, all and any of them when heard before December!
Because of my work (music teacher) I am forced to put up with rehearsing Christmas music (or teaching it) from about mid-October (although one group started in September!!!!) so that it is ready for the Christmas concerts. By the time the concerts come around I am sick of all of them and if you want to annoy the heck out of me just sing anything Christmassy. To give you an idea, this December has seen me participate in approximately 15 Christmas concerts with almost as many different groups, most of whom have played the same music - I've just taken part in the last one of this year and there is no finer feeling than that of putting the carol books away for another year.
If I have to limit it down to just one, it is Walking in the Air (especially the new version that Aled Jones has just released)

Have you finished your Christmas Shopping yet?

Ages ago. Have I finished my Christmas crafting? Well, I've only half a sock left to knit, four cushions to sew up , six to stuff, family cards to make and a couple of batches of sweets to whip up *weeps*

Where does the time go?

Time is an illusion, all moments in the universe happen simultaneously and it's simply a restriction of our own feeble human ability to perceive reality that creates the illusion of sequentuality.

My roast potato method: 1. Peel potatoes and cut into roughly 2 and a half to 3 inch cubed pieces. 2. Add salt and pepper and dried mint to a pan full of water and bring to a rolling boil. 3. Add the potatoes to the rolling boil for 12 minutes. 4. Drain the potatoes, then put them back in the pan, replace the top and give them a violent shake. 5. Meanwhile, have a deep baking tray with about half an inch of vegetable oil heating in the oven 'till it' s very hot, then add the potatoes and turn them so they are completely coated. 6. Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour at 220°, turning them over every 20 minutes.

What's your roast potato method?

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Pre-heat rapeseed oil in the oven. Peel and chop the potatoes. Parboil and rough up. Season. Add to oil, roast until done, turning a couple of times.

Can you make yorkies?

No, but they are a chocolate I like ;)

Thing is from what I hear they are easy, I just really haven't put in the effort.

Anything else you think would be simple but you don't do because you won't put in a tiny bit of effort?

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"There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge. It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." - Worth, Cube

My issue is not effort but risk. After such adventures as inclding the phone in the washing and making curry with crumble mix I have a very specific set of tasks I am allowed to do in the house without extensive supervision.

Time of year for retrospectives. What are your favourite book, movie and TV episode of 2016?

_________________
God of Excel - Hedwig

PEOPLE: You're funny.
ME: Get stuffed!
PEOPLE: Haha! Such a joker! *ruffles hair*
-Dramatised recreation of normal conversation