Blog On MSI Manchester Ice Breaker Linky

I've been to Blog On conference in Manchester for the last 3 years and I've had an awesome time. As was pointed out to me today, I rarely ever get the chance to switch off and unwind, and Blog On is 6 hours for me to just be Jenny. There is a linky to introduce yourself, and I really don't know everyone, so here are my answers the list of questions as set by Chelsea Mamma. 

1.) Share a picture of yourself  - there are very few photos of me - this is the only one taken by someone over the age of 6 in the last 2 years where I wasn't stood next to someone in a costume!

2.) If you had to describe yourself in three words... Truthful, sarcastic, broken

3.) How long have you been blogging and what made you start? I've blogged for a long, long time, but The Brick Castle is 3.5 years old and just celebrated my 1000th blog post - it's all in there. This is post 1001.

4.) What was your favourite TV show as a child? Bagpuss, and when I was older The Wonder Years.

5.) Something you may not know about me? I used to be a serial adult education course participant. I have qualifications in all sorts including Crafts, Training, Computing, Teaching, Business Admin and Aromatherapy Massage. Then I exchanged that for teaching, training and writing courses myself.

6.) What is the weirdest food you have ever eaten ? I am a veggie and have been for about 30 years, so nothing particularly exciting I'm afraid. I used to regularly eat 2lbs of brussels sprouts with salt on  whenever I was pregnant though.

7.) What was your biggest fashion faux pas ? I've never been someone to aspire to fashionwise - I have always done my own thing, so probably most of what I've ever worn!

8.) What are your pet peeves ? People who park right outside school and can't see that they're endangering children, and that they'd have to live with that accident forever. People who lie when I can see right through it, or when they just completely make something up. People who don't realise 'a lot' is two words. People who are mean when it wouldn't cost them to be nice.

9.) Who would you be your 3 perfect dinner party guests (dead or alive) and why? Mary Berry - she is the figurehead of Child Bereavement UK, and she'd bring dessert. Alan Turing - I'd tell him how important he'd been and apologise that his royal pardon came 59 years too late to save him. Michael Rosen - I'd know that he understands about Meningitis and he understands about losing a child, and I would tell him his Sad book is the most perfect book ever, and that I was sorry for him that he could write it.

10.) If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would play the part of you ? Clearly they probably could make a movie about my life, and I'd be played by Cameron Diaz purely on the grounds that she smiles a lot, she's the same age as me, and she's almost as gorgeous.

12.) Name a famous person you have met? Leo Sayer, Carole Smilie, Les Dennis, Alan McGee. No-one reading will know who all of those people are.

13.) Which social media platform best describes your personality and why? Google+. I like to talk, but mostly in small groups and mainly with people who already understand the concept.

14.) What picture do you have on your locks screen on your phone / computer? My phone just upgraded and deleted everything, but it used to be my youngest two in one of my favourite ever naturally snapped photos.

15.) How many pairs of shoes do you own? Quite a few, although I rarely ever wear anything but my Docs, and have no heels and only 1 pair of sensible shoes. 

16.) What period of time from the past would you have most liked to have lived? None of them. I can read about them and hopefully learn from their mistakes. I've lived through the computer age, mine was only the second year at school to study computing, that's pretty special. 

17.) If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? My single bucket list item. I'd go to Iceland and see the Northern Lights.

18.) What is your guilty pleasure? Sitting on my bed working (slowly) in front of a good movie...

19.) What is your favourite tipple? Black Russian with ice.

20.) If you had a magic lamp and genie what would be your three wishes? I would hope that our children could all be happy, and smile often, and that they would not suffer meanness.

I will be going to Blog On conference in Manchester on May 1st - please say hiya, and don't be shy - everyone feels out of their depth. 

This is part of the Blog On Linky hosted by Chelseamamma. 

I helped pack the goodie bags for Blog On - we spent many hours, and Laura spent many more. Here's a sneak peek at some of what you'll find (partly courtesy of the lovely folk at Swizzels Matlow..)