Who Do You Think You Are?

14. Write a list of 30 things people might not know about me

 

This is replacing the original no. 14, which was 'Read the instruction manual for my camera and finally learn how to use it properly'.  I'll get round to it one day... perhaps.

 

Recently on Facebook, a post was doing the rounds where you wrote 7 facts about yourself and then nominated someone else to do the same.  I was nominated, but never quite got round to it.  So here is my contribution, albeit slightly longer!

 

1. My real name is Catherine.

2. I did a solo skydive in 2003.

3. My current favourite films are The Shawshank Redemption, Back to the Future trilogy, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Silver Linings Playbook and Crash.

4. I became a Christian when I was 5.

5. I have weird pinkie fingers - one cracks every time I bend it, and the other has a scar down it with a lump from where it was shut in a gate.

6. I can't stand my graduation photo and have banned my parents from putting it up in the house.

7. I'm scared of eating prawns.

8. I don't drink tea or coffee, but sometimes wish that I did.

9. I have my grade 9 (out of 10) in figure skating.

10. I used to take tiny bits of artificial flowers that had fallen on the floor from the local garden centre.  I still feel a wee bit guilty about it.

11. I've never broken any bones.

12. My dream job is to be a photographer for National Geographic.

13. A lot of the time I don't actually enjoy being creative, but feel I need to pretend that I do.

14. I used to think horses was spelled hourses.

15. If I could choose a superpower it would be a close call between flying, being invisible and hearing what people think.

16. I had nits just before my 18th birthday.  It was a very traumatic experience.

17. My first job was in Clinton Cards.

18. I broke the roots of my upper two front teeth playing rugby in primary school - my teeth collided with Christopher Scotland's head.

19. Earlier the same day I had fainted in the bathroom by holding my breath to see what colour I turned.  The answer is red then purple.  I don't remember what colour came after that.

20. I burned my leg on the exhaust pipe of a motorbike in the Dominican Republic.

21. I saw my first 15 rated film at the cinema when I was 14.  My parents took me.

22. I used to know the American states in alphabetical order.

23. I once put lemon juice in my brother and dad's hot chocolates because I was annoyed with them.  My mum got the blame for having sour milk in the fridge.

24. I don't have 2 complete eyebrows.  Some of my right eyebrow is missing from where I was hit in the face with a football.  By Christopher Scotland.  Was he trying to tell me something?

25. I was obsessed with 'The Animals of Farthing Wood' when I was younger - the books, magazines, TV series, VHS, toys, clothes...  I cried when Vixen got swept away by the river in the TV series.

26. My favourite book is 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee.

27. Sometime I wish I was a bird, like Jenny in 'Forest Gump'.

28. I once took a banana for a snack without asking my mum, and ate it hidden behind the sofa in case I got caught. (Yes, I was that kind of child)

29. A few years ago I nearly drove into a street sweeper vehicle.  It was such a near miss, and I feel sick every time I think about it.

30. There's a part of me that would like to get a tattoo, but my mum won't let me.

 

So, how well did you know me?!

King Charles

27. See a band I've heard of before

 

The last gig/ concert I went to was 'Rwanda Superstar' in June 2012.  So it's been a while! 

 

I'd been putting off doing this item on my list - there's definitely more of a risk in going to see someone you know nothing about.  I must admit that I did have a quick look at some YouTube videos, just to make sure I wasn't letting myself in for any heavy metal/ rap/ dance music.  I saw that this guy, King Charles, had been on tour with Mumford and Sons, and was playing at Oran Mor in Glasgow in February, so that was good enough for me.  I booked a couple of tickets, and hoped that I would be able to find someone to come with me.  Thankfully my good friend Lynsey offered.

 

It was exciting to be at a gig again.  I did feel like an old lady at points - remarking on what some of the girls were wearing, trying not to yawn (in my defence, I had just driven 250 miles that day to get home in time for it), trying to avoid getting trod on by the couple dancing in front of us, being blinded by the lights, holding onto the jacket that I'd worn because it was cold outside (my pride is no longer enough to keep me warm)....  But I had a lot of fun, and it was good to be out with a friend.

 

I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy King Charles' album, but I would quite happily listen to his music on the radio.  And I enjoyed hearing some live music.  There were obviously some proper fans in the crowd, who were singing along, which always makes for a good atmosphere.  I did go onto the Ticketmaster website as soon as I got home and bought a ticket for another gig in March (Nick Mulvey) - I blame the guy who handed us a gig listings flier on the way in!

 

King Charles, with impressively big hair

Blinded by the lights

By the tour bus - Lynsey's 'discreet' face and me just looking like a weirdo



Where Trouble Melts Like Lemon Drops

13. Learn to play the ukulele

I would love to have the confidence to post a video or sound clip to accompany this post.  In fact I’ve recorded multiple versions of me singing and playing the ukulele, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.  Ever since I heard my voice on a recording at Primary School and the class laughed at me, I’ve never liked hearing my voice played back to me.  And it’s even worse when I’m singing.  I could just post a clip of me playing the uku and not singing, but that wouldn’t be particularly interesting.  So you’ll have to take my word that I’ve completed this.

 

But I feel I can now say that I can play the ukulele, after buying myself a lovely metallic blue Makala back in November.  My fingers have toughened up and I’ve been practicing a lot, having found a great website which has the chords for numerous songs.   I’ve been using that to learn everything from Coldplay (of course) to Paramore, Adele, David Guetta, Train, Semisonic, Alicia Keys…  The first song that I was able to play was Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of ‘Over the Rainbow/ Wonderful World’.  A lovely wee tune, which makes me wish I was lying on the beach in Hawaii.  So rather than listen to me squawking away, click here and come and join me in the sand.

 

13 down, 17 to go....

 

 

Sugar and Spice

Two in one day, woop!

 

26. Get a make up lesson

 

I'm not a particularly girly girl, and have never been all that confident with anything to do with my looks (or most other things for that matter).  So I thought it would be a good idea to visit my friend Sarah, especially given that she's just finished a Beauty and Spa Therapy course!  We looked at my skin type, face shape, proportions, colours etc.  Then Sarah looked through my current make up (which thankfully all seemed to be along the right lines), and showed me how to put everything on properly and in a better order.  I'm not claiming to be any expert now, and don't expect this to be a daily look, but here are the results from Friday...

 

Keep an eye out for Sarah, hopefully coming to a salon near you very soon!

 

 

11. Invent a flavour of ice cream

 

This was in replacement of the original item on my list, 'do an evening class in something I haven't tried before'.  I decided there wasn't anything I wanted to do enough to merit the cost.  So the alternative is still along the lines of learning, but is cheaper and much tastier!  Given that there are hundreds of different flavours out there, I'm sure this isn't technically a 'new' flavour.  But it's an adapted recipe so that will have to do.  I used an old family favourite recipe and made oreo cookie dough ice cream.  And I can confirm that it tastes amazing, but extremely filling.  If anyone would like to try it, come and visit soon!

 

 

From double cream to oreo awesomeness to a quick taste test

 

 

Yum

 

Beautiful Attitudes - Part 2 of 3

3. Write 30 good memories/ achievements from my twenties

 

This is part 2 of ‘feeling more positive about my twenties’.  Remember that you can click on the photos to see larger versions of them.

 

11. Becoming an aunty to Ishbel, Eryn and Carys, July 2010, July 2012, November 2013

Anyone who knows me well will know how much I love these girls. I don’t know what it’s like to be a parent or a wife, but if it feels anything like how I feel about my nieces then it must be pretty special. I’m so grateful for the good relationship I have with them, and hope and pray that I can be a positive influence in their lives as they grow up.

 

 

12. Taking part in the college fashion show and having my collection in the Evening Times, June 2008

I can’t quite believe I had the confidence to do this! I remember it being very exciting, and enjoying being able to model something that I had made myself. And I was really pleased to be the only textile student chosen to have my outfits photographed for the Evening Times newspaper (the other 2 collections were from fashion students). It was a great atmosphere getting ready backstage, with hair and make-up, running around between outfit changes and practicing our walks. I had a lot of fun.

 

 

13. Going to Rwanda, March to July 2012

An incredible 4 months in a beautiful country with 4 great girls. I had applied to go on a Tearfund team in 2005 to Rwanda, but failed the health clearance so couldn’t go. I was devastated and thought (like uni) it was another failed dream. I remember standing at the top of Zion hill, just behind where we stayed in Cyakabiri, tears running down my face because I couldn’t quite believe I’d finally made it there. It was worth the wait. When I think back on my time in Rwanda, there are many things that stand out and I still feel the impact of that time on my life today. Having my weaknesses and self-doubts totally exposed (for example, leading a group of teenagers in ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ or being asked why I wasn’t married at 26) was very humbling. But I came to a greater level of understanding of who I am and took a step forward in accepting that person. And I made some good friends along the way.

 

14. Dinner with Lynsey, Katie & Kirsty at Lynsey’s flat, August 2014
We spent the evening together eating and looking through old photos of our school days. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time - my face hurt so much. Looking through the photos reminded me that it doesn’t always need to be big ‘moments’ that are counted as good memories. It can be the small things – the trips to Beanscene, all those games of consequences, hanging out in the park. Sometimes it’s more about the people than the event itself.

15. U2 at Hampden Park, August 2009
We were so close to the front, and I managed to take this photo of Bono. Even if I don’t know all the words, there’s nothing quite like jumping and dancing all over the place to live music, surrounded by hundreds of other people doing the same thing.

 

 

16. Overcoming my fear of public speaking
I still shake like a leaf when I have to speak in front of a group, but I know that I can do it, and finally feel like I have something worthwhile to say. Before and after I went to Rwanda, I spoke in front of my home church (about 200 people). The time I spoke for about 15 minutes in March 2013 probably stands out the most to me, as people were so kind about it afterwards. Much like on my blog, I seem to let my guard down a lot when speaking, and was quite open about my struggles to see any value in myself as a quiet person taking part in short term mission, but how God had been teaching me slowly about the place that quieter people have in life. A lady who I’d never met before, nor have met since, came up to me afterwards and thanked me for what I said – she told me that her daughter would love to volunteer overseas but had felt too shy to do it. But after listening to what I had spoken about, the daughter felt encouraged and inspired to go and do something… Wow!

17. Wigwams with school friends, April 2014
A wee trip with some of my oldest and bestest school friends to a wooden wigwam in Perthshire. This trip was made eventful by almost setting my shoes on fire, being rescued by the disposable BBQs in Kirsty’s car, hysterical laughter, plenty of snoring and arguments over having the window open or not.

 

 

18. Getting merit passes in all 16 units for my HND at college, June 2008
I found college pretty stressful at times, and struggled throughout the 2 year course. But I had fantastic tutors, who couldn’t have been more supportive. I remember sitting crying in front of one of them about boy troubles – I wouldn’t have dreamt of doing that at school or uni! They were reassuring without giving me a false sense of hope. They responded well to hard work and enthusiasm, and were willing to give up their time. I will always be grateful for their kindness and encouragement. I was amazed to receive merit passes for all the units.

 

19. La Crosse Terrace days
This is the flat that I lived in with some of my Uni friends during my 2nd year at Glasgow Uni and 1st year at Cardonald College. Those were some of our best and worst days together. I have so many memories of living there with the girls – the broom trick, pile-ons, taking it in turns to study beside the radiator in order to stay warm but keep our gas bill low, staying up most of the night together to help each other finish off assignments, the time I had to kill Jodi's goldfish, birthdays and parties and Beanscene trips, the ‘bunch of roses left at the door’ incident, sharing clothes, the fire in the basement, the quote wall… I could go on. I’m grateful to still have these friends in my life – they had to put up with a lot living with me!

 

20. Cutting my hair short and dyeing it, August 2010
After a difficult few months, it felt like the change that I needed. It helped me to see myself as ‘me’ again rather than ‘us’. It gave me a bit of confidence to go out and face life again, get a new job and make a fresh start.