25 insights

I've read a number of blogs recently where the author has put up 25 interesting facts about themselves. I can't promise the following will be of interest, but here goes:-

1. I will eat everything except mushy peas, tinned spaghetti hoops and pot noodles. Oh and Turkish delight!
2. I learned to plait hair on my grandmothers hair, which had been cut off when she was a girl and preserved in a long ponytail. Slightly macabre, but at least the previous owner of the hair was still alive and well at that point!
3. I speak fluent French although it's a little rusty at the moment from lack of use. At Uni I spent an academic year teaching in a French school with another English colleague. I was often asked if she was my English pen pal - much to her irritation!
4. I had a tattoo of a rose on my lower back in my early thirties and another one of a bird on my right ankle done about a fortnight ago. If my Mum had even known, I would NEVER have heard the last of it!!
5. My favourite colour is blue but I also love white (technically not a 'colour').
6. I love classical music, but our music collection has everything from Gregorian Chants to Iron Maiden! I don't like Iron Maiden!
8. I am both the oldest sibling and the youngest sibling. I was adopted as a baby and have an older brother. I also have two blood siblings, a sister and a brother, who are both younger than me!
9. I can't ride a bike because I have terrible balance. I was also rubbish at skiing for the same reason. My older brother taught me to ride, but it was a very frustrating experience for both of us!
10. I take sadistic pleasure in dropping slugs into boiling hot, salty water!
11. I am married to an ex stripper. Yes, Mr D once had a sideline, mostly whilst at Uni, as a stripogram. Unfortunately my Mum and Dad found out from the best man's speech at our wedding - oops!
12. My guilty pleasure is watching programmes about hoarding. It fascinates me,  although I err more on the minimalist side of things!
13. I'm rubbish at sport. I was always the last one to be picked for the school teams. I then married a PE teacher.
14. The bridesmaid at our wedding was one of our Year 10 students. She was also a guest at our Wedding Vow renewal in 2012.
15. I haven't bought a single item of clothing for 11 months, having set myself a challenge last September.
16. I have a scar on my right thigh after I caught it on a nail in a fence whilst playing kiss chase!
17. I always wanted to be a teacher, setting up my dolls and teddies as a class and taking registers!
18. In my first year of teaching, I was homeless for a short while, living out of my car and dossing on  people's settees!
19. My biggest fear is drowning. I once wanted to die rather than continue on an horrendous ferry crossing from Roscoff to Plymouth, as my sea sickness was so bad. I still get travel sick on most long journeys. My mother used to give me ground up, pink 'Joy Ride' tablets, mixed in her raspberry jam. For many years, I disliked raspberry jam because of that!
20. As a little girl I had a length of silk ribbon from an old blanket, which I would take everywhere. It was often absolutely disgusting! I wrapped it around my fore finger whilst sucking my thumb. Fortunately I grew out of it!
21. I would love to live near running water and rustling trees - two of my favourite sounds. Despite loving the sun and going brown very easily, I prefer the verdant landscapes of cooler countries to the arid, rocky landscapes of hotter climates.
22. I have no fillings and have strong nails, and until 5 years ago, had never broken a bone. Then I broke my little toe by stubbing it on a dining room chair!
23. I was given a box of chocolates by Jeffrey Archer when I was at University at a charity dinner. He was the guest speaker and I won them in the raffle. He was actually quite entertaining!
24. I worked as an usherette in Paignton Theatre; I taught English to foreign students and gave guided coach tours of London; I have worked as a barmaid and a waitress; I have been a stenographer for a lettings agent; I was a childminder; I did lots of babysitting as a teenager; I have been a PA for a local surveyor and I was an Au Pair in Austria and of course I have been a teacher.
25. And finally, my favourite place to be? My home and in particular, my garden or by bed!

Thank you to Her Indoors, Him Outdoors for inspiring me this morning!