Congratulations! But you are so busted. I mean, come on…
“Particularly nice to receive this sunny award as we trudge from November into December!”
Such a hardship! I walked amongst you for 18 years - LA and environs are beautiful this time of year - especially the views of the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains as you head down the 101 from the VC… And sure it can be a bit chilly in the morning, but it’s still jeans, t-shirt and perhaps a sweater weather (atmospheric rivers not withstanding).
Well, it's all relative, isn't it, Steve? For my first couple of winters in LA, I was frolicking in shorts and t-shirts and soaking up the warmth, but quite soon I started to bundle up with everyone else. Meanwhile, the chilliest, most bundled-up Angeleno I ever knew was my mother-in-law, who grew up in North Dakota! Thanks for the kind words along with the busting and stay warm ...
It’s a fair cop… when we first arrived we went for a walk Chrimbo Day along Hollywood Beach in The ‘Nard - the aforementioned jeans and T-shirts - having a chuckle at the locals in their coats and fleeces. Give it a couple of years and I’d upgraded to a chunky hoodie, although in my defence (or is it defense?) the Pacific is colder than it sounds…
I'm on Sharon's list, so you have encouraged me to get mine done this afternoon. But... One of YOUR questions grabbed me!
> Why were you given your first name, and are you happy with it?
When I was born, my mother and father couldn't agree on a name for me, so my mum called me Kevin, and my dad called me Bill, and that's the way I have been my whole life!
I lived in America for 25 years, and I came back just before my dad died — it was a surprise visit — and, when I got out of the car, he said "Bloody hell! It's Bill!!!". But then he said, "I suppose I should be calling you Kevin, shouldn't I?" That was the first time in fifty years that he called me 'Kevin'.
Ragged Clown, what an extraordinary story! It raises so many questions I beg you to write a full blog post on it because I'm longing to hear more. Looking forward tto reading your own Sunshine answers, because I'm sure they'll be good ones ....
So I am writing my memoirs on a separate Substack. Lots of good stories already, and lots more to come! I haven't written the Goodbye To Dad story yet, though.
Sharon came up with some incredible questions and your answers are epic. There are so many good ones, but that is one of the most unique death row meals I've ever heard and I especially love your choice of a bone-dry martini (or two or more?). I too like a good bone-dry martini, as well as ingesting copious amounts of gin as you said in another post.
Interesting to hear about your grammar pedantry. Many of my original pet hates have dissipated, I've mellowed somewhat over time but there are so many vocabulary expressions or phrases that irk me to no end. I must also check out that potato recipe (I do like mine with rosemary, and always roasted of course, there's a time and place for mashed - there's a Northern Irish dish called champ that I sometimes make).
I find it so amusing btw that you refer to your husband as Mr Los Angeles 😂
And thank you for the nomination! Your questions are stellar, up there with Sharon's. I've been nominated a couple of times now so I wonder, maybe I'll cherry-pick my favourite from each nominator? (if that's allowed)
Daniel, I think one of the joys of a blog is that we're allowed to do what we bloody well want to! I'm greatly looking forward to reading your answers to whichever questions you choose. Just to be clear, I am a stalwart supporter of the mashed potato in any reasonable form - I had an Irish schoolmate whose mother used to make champ, which she called calley (I think she was from Galway) over which we used to swoon - but I will never agree to it as a mate for roast turkey. Thanks for the kind words meanwhile and I'm looking forward to your own post.
Ha! I was reading this, thinking, what brilliant and impossible to answer questions, and then I saw my name! Curses, Gabrielle! And also thank you :) Love your thoughtful answers.
Congratulations! But you are so busted. I mean, come on…
“Particularly nice to receive this sunny award as we trudge from November into December!”
Such a hardship! I walked amongst you for 18 years - LA and environs are beautiful this time of year - especially the views of the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains as you head down the 101 from the VC… And sure it can be a bit chilly in the morning, but it’s still jeans, t-shirt and perhaps a sweater weather (atmospheric rivers not withstanding).
Well, it's all relative, isn't it, Steve? For my first couple of winters in LA, I was frolicking in shorts and t-shirts and soaking up the warmth, but quite soon I started to bundle up with everyone else. Meanwhile, the chilliest, most bundled-up Angeleno I ever knew was my mother-in-law, who grew up in North Dakota! Thanks for the kind words along with the busting and stay warm ...
It’s a fair cop… when we first arrived we went for a walk Chrimbo Day along Hollywood Beach in The ‘Nard - the aforementioned jeans and T-shirts - having a chuckle at the locals in their coats and fleeces. Give it a couple of years and I’d upgraded to a chunky hoodie, although in my defence (or is it defense?) the Pacific is colder than it sounds…
Well deserved....and I'd also select the cat as an animal that I would return to life as.
I'd want to be a cat of yours Karen!
I'm on Sharon's list, so you have encouraged me to get mine done this afternoon. But... One of YOUR questions grabbed me!
> Why were you given your first name, and are you happy with it?
When I was born, my mother and father couldn't agree on a name for me, so my mum called me Kevin, and my dad called me Bill, and that's the way I have been my whole life!
I lived in America for 25 years, and I came back just before my dad died — it was a surprise visit — and, when I got out of the car, he said "Bloody hell! It's Bill!!!". But then he said, "I suppose I should be calling you Kevin, shouldn't I?" That was the first time in fifty years that he called me 'Kevin'.
Ragged Clown, what an extraordinary story! It raises so many questions I beg you to write a full blog post on it because I'm longing to hear more. Looking forward tto reading your own Sunshine answers, because I'm sure they'll be good ones ....
So I am writing my memoirs on a separate Substack. Lots of good stories already, and lots more to come! I haven't written the Goodbye To Dad story yet, though.
Come take. look!
https://scatteredmemories.substack.com/p/all-about-me
Sharon came up with some incredible questions and your answers are epic. There are so many good ones, but that is one of the most unique death row meals I've ever heard and I especially love your choice of a bone-dry martini (or two or more?). I too like a good bone-dry martini, as well as ingesting copious amounts of gin as you said in another post.
Interesting to hear about your grammar pedantry. Many of my original pet hates have dissipated, I've mellowed somewhat over time but there are so many vocabulary expressions or phrases that irk me to no end. I must also check out that potato recipe (I do like mine with rosemary, and always roasted of course, there's a time and place for mashed - there's a Northern Irish dish called champ that I sometimes make).
I find it so amusing btw that you refer to your husband as Mr Los Angeles 😂
And thank you for the nomination! Your questions are stellar, up there with Sharon's. I've been nominated a couple of times now so I wonder, maybe I'll cherry-pick my favourite from each nominator? (if that's allowed)
Daniel, I think one of the joys of a blog is that we're allowed to do what we bloody well want to! I'm greatly looking forward to reading your answers to whichever questions you choose. Just to be clear, I am a stalwart supporter of the mashed potato in any reasonable form - I had an Irish schoolmate whose mother used to make champ, which she called calley (I think she was from Galway) over which we used to swoon - but I will never agree to it as a mate for roast turkey. Thanks for the kind words meanwhile and I'm looking forward to your own post.
Love this, but goodness, responding and thinking about these questions will take time!
Congratulations dear Gabrielle!
Glad you enjoyed it, my dear friend, and looking forward to whatever answers you feel inclined to share!
Thank you so much for the shoutout! That’s so sweet of you. And I loved getting to know you through these questions. 🥰
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lindsey, and am looking forward to getting to know you too, this is a fun one!
Ha! I was reading this, thinking, what brilliant and impossible to answer questions, and then I saw my name! Curses, Gabrielle! And also thank you :) Love your thoughtful answers.
Looking forward to reading your own contribution, Louise!
I am enjoying writing it! It will probably debut next weekend rather than this, precisely because I’m enjoying thinking about the questions!
I agree.
Thank you, Jennifer!
Absolutely delightful!
Many thanks, Clare, this was a lot of fun to write, so I'm delighted you enjoyed it!
Thank you for nominating me Gabrielle, & I will do my best to rise to the sunshine challenge!