Sleepy Rambles

Let’s forget what is going on in the world and take a minor diversion to answer a couple of silly Sunday Stealing questions.

Shall we?

1. What is the wallpaper on your computer screen? Why did you choose it?

This is my wallpaper and I chose it because it reminds me of a tranquil place. I took the photograph in Australia on my trip there as the sun was rising in the early morning over the Coral Sea in Port Douglas. It helps divert my mind when I need to relax. I have it on my home laptop and my work laptop too.

2. Who is the person you text the most in your life? What relation are you?

I don’t really text. I use WhatsApp instead, which is, I guess, a similar thing but to groups of people. The people I send messages to most are family and close friends – mainly Mrs PM.

3.Is there carpet or hardwood floor in your bedroom?

It is a fluffy carpet and quite pleasant to put your bare feet on.

4. Do you believe in superstitious things such as breaking a mirror?

Not really. I don’t believe in superstition as a rule. I can’t remember the last time I broke a mirror but it didn’t bring years of bad luck, that much I do know.

5. Do you like those ‘end of the world,’ ‘Armageddon’ movies?

What – like "Coronavirus – The Movie?"

Actually, yes I do and I also love post-apocalyptic novels. I prefer unbelievable ones such as alien invasions or meteorites heading towards the planet rather than outbreak ones.

Having said that, I did like 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later and I am an avid fan of The Walking Dead.

6. Chocolate or strawberry birthday cake? Choose one.

I prefer chocolate cake but if it isn’t available I will happily devour strawberry cake too.

7. Do you eat more vegetables or fruits? What’s your favourite fruit/veggie?

I eat about the same amount of each. I love bananas, apples, nectarines, peaches, plums and citrus fruit. I like most vegetables too, mainly carrots, broccoli, green beans and peas.

8. Does the dentist calm you or does it tend to stress you out?

It depends what I am having done. Mostly, the answer is no. The problem I have is that I hate the sound of metal objects on teeth and I have to endure this both from the hygienist and the dentist. I had a crown replaced a couple of years ago and that was a rather unpleasant experience.  As he was drilling, tugging and generally doing nasty things, I tried my best to push my mind elsewhere. It was difficult but I prevailed.

9. If you had to choose, which is the worst movie you’ve ever seen?

I’ve seen some pretty dreadful ones in the past but the first one that leaps to mind (because Mrs PM dragged me to the cinema to see it) is Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2. It was the culmination of one of the most dreadful series of films I have ever had the misfortune to see. I can almost hear you asking “Why the hell did you watch more than one?”. Let me summarise:

Twilight – I watched it out of curiosity because I love vampires. I though it was awful.

Twilight: New Moon – I was on a long haul flight and I ran out of films. I stupidly thought that it couldn’t be as bad as the first one. I was horribly wrong.

Twilight: Eclipse – I was on another long haul flight and I ran out of films. I stupidly thought that it couldn’t be as bad as the first two films. I was horribly horribly wrong.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1: Mrs PM wanted to see part 2 of this garbage and I had dragged her to the cinema to see one of my films. I decided foolishly that I would need to see Part 1. So I paid for it on Sky Box Office and watched the movie in the comfort of my own home. It was dreadful but I always keep my promises to Mrs PM and reluctantly agreed to pay AGAIN to see Part 2 at the cinema.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2: This film was by far the worst of a bad bunch of films. I hated it. HATED it. Thank God they are not making any more.

10. Have you ever found yourself talking to an inanimate object?

All the time. I talk to my monitor when I am working, much to the amusement of my work colleagues.

11. Do you like movies that are originally based on children’s books?

Not really. The exception is the Harry Potter series. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

12. Is your hair more thick or thin? Is it more curly or straight?

Oh dear – not the hair again. My hair is awful. It is thick and curly/wavy and totally uncontrollable. I keep it short to make it more manageable.

13. Something on the human body that grosses you out the most:

Feet are pretty horrible. I avoid them whenever I can.

14. What is your favourite colour of apple? Red, green or yellow?

I love Granny Smiths – so green.

15. Do you hardly ever remember where you put things at?

I have places for my keys, wallet and various other things. I am slightly OCD and such habits help me recall where everything I need is situated. Mrs PM is hopeless and constantly asks me where her stuff is. Sometimes, she moves my stuff from its usual place too – and then forgets where she moved it to. That annoys me – and she rarely does it now.

16. Do you ever lay in the grass and look up at the sky, just because?

No - which is a shame. The last time I did something like that was in Greece a few years ago. We had a villa and at night time, I lay on a sunbed and just watched the stars. It was a beautiful night with little light pollution and no cloud. It was very relaxing.

17. Are you a controversial person? Do your views oppose others?

Yes I am and I have had to rein myself with things like Brexit, mainly for my own sanity. So far, this year I have tried to listen to the views of other people and try not to be to controversial and, most importantly, not to start to get angry when they start having a go at me for my views. I can talk to most people about anything, even something I loathe like Brexit but sometimes I have to walk away or stop the discussion before I resort to calling people idiots (which I have done in my youth).

18. Have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? Who for?

No. I’ve had a surprise party thrown for me and I hated it so I have no desire to inflict such a thing on another person.

19. What would you say your average word per minute time is on the keyboard?

I had no idea so I have just tried it. I type with two fingers, even though I type for my day job (as a software engineer). The answer is 65 words per minute but I guess it depends on how long the words are.

20. Do you like fiction or non-fiction books more? What’s your favourite?

I much prefer fiction books but I do try to read non-fiction occasionally.

What's my favourite? Too many to mention.

21. Do you know how to play pool? Are you any good at it?

Yes, I do know how to play pool. I haven’t played for years sadly. I used to play fairly regularly when I was in my 20s and 30s and I was average at best.

22. The most painful medical procedure you’ve ever had?

I haven’t had a medical procedure (I suppose I have been lucky). Having a crown replaced at the dentist is the most distressing I guess (see above).

23. Are you someone who tends to take a whole lot of naps?

If I get a good night’s sleep then absolutely not. My ability to nap is directly proportional to the shortfall. If I have 7.5 hours sleep I am fine. Any less than that I and I make it up during the day (usually about 4 to 5pm) dozing in front of the telly.

That said, when I am on holiday in a hot place, I tend to have a nap in the afternoon - perhaps it is the heat.

24. Have you ever been pulled over by the cops for speeding?

No and I have no plans to do so either.

25. Is anyone in your family a firefighter? Who is it anyway?

Nobody in my family is a firefighter.