Fun

Welcome to a cloudy South Manchester on day 13 of our clown Prime Minister’s so-called freedom from Covid. I have to laugh when I see July 19th referred to as Freedom Day because I spent six days of it self-isolating even though I didn’t have any symptoms of the dreaded lurgy. The good news is that I am no longer stuck in the house – well I am in the house but I can go out whenever I choose.

Shall we answer some silly questions from Sunday Stealing? 

1. Have your ever driven drunk or even slightly buzzed?

Once but never again - I wasn't drunk but I had had a beer. 

The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, or 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine. I had just finished playing football and was totally exhausted after running around for 90 minutes. The place we were playing at had a bar, so after I had showered and got changed, I joined my fellow players in the bar for a drink. I had one pint of beer and decided to drive home. The bar was about a mile away from my house so I didn’t have far to go. But as soon as I set off I could feel the effects of just that one pint and I didn’t like it at all. I drove quite slowly and carefully and was very relieved when I got home. One pint is below the legal limit so had I been pulled over and breathalysed I would have been fine. But I didn’t feel fine – and so I decided there and then not to ever do it again.

2. What was the funniest moment in your life?

There are too many to recall but as I read the question, one incident did pop into my head. 

Picture the scene. I was with a group of friends sitting in a beer garden outside in a pub on a hot summer day. One of my friends was sitting next to me drinking a pint of coke when all of a sudden, a wasp landed on his ear. This spooked him so much that he just lashed out in shock. Unfortunately, he had the almost full pint of coke in his hand and launched the entire contents over another of my friends who was sitting opposite him. There he was sitting down staring in disbelief as his previously white shirt was now brown and he looked up at the perpetrator of the crime with coke dripping from his hair and nose and said, in the most laid-back way he could – “Oh! Thanks a lot!”

We all howled with laughter. And do you know, when something tickles you so much that you simply can’t stop laughing? That happened to me – and I couldn’t stop laughing for ages. My poor mate had to sit there for another hour or so with a coke-stained shirt and his hair stuck to his face with dried sticky coke. I was still laughing when we left the pub and then again when I told people what had happened.

3. What kind of things really makes you laugh?

Lots of things make me laugh. A good comedian, a good comedy show or film and plenty of other weird and wonderful things. 

4. If you could jump into a pool full of something, what would it be?

Err … water. What else?

5. Which habit are you proudest of breaking?

I probably have broken some bad habits in the past, but what usually happens is that they come back after a while. The best thing to do is to start practicing good habits – all you need is 30 days -and they stick. I guess in theory you could try breaking a bad habit for 30 days and that would stop your habit – but that’s just a theory, Perhaps I should try it.

6. Which animal do you find the sexiest of all?

Probably this beauty.

7. What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever had?

I’ve had several weird nicknames. Possibly the weirdest is Scrumper, which one of my mates still calls me to this day.

8, What do you wish you were really good at?

Playing a musical instrument and speaking a foreign language.

9. If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?

Given the fact that if I grow my hair long it becomes an uncontrollable mess, it would be this one:

10. What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

I don’t tend to do things spontaneously as I am a careful risk-averse person who weighs up the pros and cons of the thing I am about to do before I actually do it. It would probably be something that I did against my better judgement, like climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge – something that terrified me but that I did because Mrs PM persuaded me to.

11. If you had a time machine, would you go back in time or visit the future?

I would visit the future. I am a technophile and I would love to hop forward in intervals of twenty years at a time to see what technical innovations have evolved over the years. 

12. What was the last show you binge-watched?

I’ve just finished the first season of Narcos (Mexico) and am looking forward to the second. I’ve also started watching BBC’s Line of Duty which has been very popular for the past seven years but I have never watched. 

13. If you had to rename yourself, what name would you choose?

I love my first name, which is Dave. So I would probably just change my surname to something crazy for a laugh, perhaps with alliteration – something like Dave Danger.

14. What did you do during the summers when you were growing up?

We lived next to a park so I would spend a lot of time there playing various sports (football and cricket) and basically just hung around with mates. Of course we went on holiday most years too.

15. If you go to a restaurant and have terrible service, is it ever ok not to tip?

Absolutely. I live in the UK where tipping is not mandatory or expected and I usually do tip unless the service has been terrible.

10 Albums That Changed My Life

I came across an article where one of my favourite musicians listed ten albums that changed his life. I found it quite interesting and so I thought I would have a go myself.

First Album Bought

Now you have to realise that when I scrapped together enough money to buy an album for the first time, I was just fourteen years old and I was quite into the pop charts and disco music from the 1970s. I loved one song in particular and it was by Donna Summer. I walked into the music shop and saw “The Greatest Hits of Donna Summer” and it contained the song – which was “I Feel Love”, with Giorgio Moroder. The synthesizer sound was incredible and it helped develop my love of electronic pop music, something that I would get into seriously about four years later.

Album Made Me Want To Play Guitar

Sadly I can’t play guitar and by the time I decided that it was a great instrument to play, I thought it was too late. I was around sixteen years old and I got into heavy metal at a time when it provided a perfect soundtrack for the rebellious nature that was dominating my life at that time. One album stood out and it was the first heavy metal album that I bought – a live album by the British rock band UFO called “Strangers in the Night”, recorded in Chicago. Michael Schenker was the guitarist for the band and on that album is a brilliant but long song called “Rock Bottom” where he showcases his amazing talent. Here is a song called “Doctor Doctor” that also features a great guitar.

Best Album Artwork

Again in the 1970’s I bought an amazing album called “No Mean City” by a Scottish rock band called Nazareth. I played it repeatedly but one thing that really appealed to me was the album cover, which you can see below. At the time I was into horror and fantasy and the sentinel guarding the gates of the city was perfect. My mum’s reaction when she first saw it was hilarious. “What the bloody hell is that?” she said shaking her head in disgust. I just laughed and said “Isn’t it amazing?” “No!” she said emphatically. Here is the title track from the album.

Album to Be Romantic to

I like soft music when I am in the mood to be romantic but as a grizzled old rocker, such albums are few and far between. However, my taste is quite eclectic and I will select a more recent offering, an ambient pop album by Zero 7 called “When It Falls”. This album is brilliant and although it is perfect for romance, I also love listening to it when I want to just relax and escape into a calm and peaceful place. Here is a great song called Warm Sound.

Album to Break the Speed Limit to

I am a fairly sensible driver so I would probably not break the speed limit that often. However, I have been in the car listening to music and only barely realized that I have slightly popped over the limit, particularly on a motorway. I have an album in mind – “Addicted!” by Devin Townsend. It is full of driving rock songs, ideal for a long car journey. Here is the title track.

If You Ask Me What Heavy Metal is I hand you a Copy of

“Defenders of the Faith” by British Heavy Metal band Judas Priest. The lead singer hails from my home town and they have been at the forefront of Heavy Metal since the beginning. This album is one of their best. Here is “Love Bites”:

The Album that No One Will Believe I Own is 

I stand by this choice. I heard the song “That’s Not My Name” and it is such an infectious pop song that I just bought the album, which is “We Started Nothing” and the band is, of course The Ting Tings. I wasn’t disappointed because it is full of similar songs that are, quite frankly excellent.

Here is the song that started it all.

The Album I Would Have Been Proud to Have Made is

There are lots of albums in my collection that I would have loved to have made had I been a musician and there are just too many to choose from. My favourite band over the past few decades have been Rush who are sadly no more. However they have left an incredible legacy and I will always love their music. The album I shall select is “Moving Pictures” – a classic from 1981. Here is a song about a car called Red Barchetta. 

Rest in Peace Neil Peart.

The Album That I Want Played At My Funeral Is

For me, I am torn with what I would like at my funeral. Part of me wants a celebration of who I am but part of me also wants a solemn occasion of reflection. Thinking about it, I think I am going to cheat and select two. My first is the slightly more ambient one with lovely songs  “Shepherd Moons” by Enya with the incredible song Caribbean Blue, reminding me of holidays in southern Europe.

The second is a proper progressive rock album that will keep the funeral party going with some brilliant and tunes. It is my favourite album by Dream Theater and is called “Images and Words”. Some of the songs are melodic, some atmospheric and some are just rock classics. Like this one:

The Album That Should Not Be Is

There are lots of albums that should not be (including most jazz, hip-hop and country albums) but I will choose one that I actually bought and, because I hoard CD’s, will not get rid of. Don’t get me wrong – there are some good songs on it (well one or two) but I just wish I hadn’t bought it. It is of course “Rattle and Hum” by U2, and it marks, for me at least, the point where Bono’s ego grew out of control. I am sure U2 fans love it and I am certain that some U2 fans might hurl abuse at me if they come across this particular post. Nevertheless, in my opinion it is full of self-indulgence and not a patch on “The Unforgettable Fire” which is my favourite by the band. Still, here is a song I like off the album.

And Finally …

I hope you found this post interesting. It would be fun to see what albums you would put in each category so if you feel inclined, please drop me a line – or feel free to steal the idea (which admittedly I stole).

Some Favourites

Welcome to a cloudy but warm South Manchester, seven days after our incompetent and moronic government lifted almost all restrictions, despite rising infection rates. The argument is that the majority of adults have now been jabbed so you might well get the virus but will be spared the worst symptoms of the disease. 

So now we can all go to crowded pubs, crowded sports events, gigs etc, without masks and social distancing. 

The world is watching with interest.

As for me, well I am annoyed because I am self-isolating for the second time. 

We have this app on our phones for track and trace and if we have been within a certain distance of anybody who later tests positive for COVID-19 we are pinged and told to self-isolate for a number of days – a mini lockdown if you like, with the app telling us how long we have left. 

In June I was pinged to isolate for four days and this time it is six and I have four days left. I have no symptoms but I am stuck in the house and, being a sensible chap, I will remain stuck in the house until Wednesday morning when I am liberated. 

A lot of people are being pinged at the moment and the media are referring to it as the “pingdemic” – it is crazy because in many ways it is because of the freedom that has been bestowed upon us by our clown leader that so many people are having to lock themselves down again.

Still – never mind. Let’s answer some questions from Sunday Stealing shall we? This one’s about favourites and I have had to go through and correct the American spelling “favorites” to the British spelling “favourites”. 

I am pedantic that way – a little OCD I guess. 

1. Your favourite songs

There are far too many to mention in a short post like this – I could write a book about them all. Instead, I will list three of my current favourites for you.

2. Your favourite bands

My all-time favourite band is Rush, the world’s greatest progressive rock band, now sadly no more. My current favourite band is Riverside, a progressive rock band from Poland but there are loads of other bands from all over the world in many genres that I love. I could write a book about that too.

3. Your favourite actors or actresses

I wouldn’t say that I have a favourite actor or actress but a few keep cropping up in favourite films. Despite being a weirdo, I actually think that Tom Cruise is a good actor as is Brad Pitt, Robert de Niro and Al Pacino. I also have to say that I love Clint Eastwood too – and Samuel L. Jackson.

As far as actresses are concerned, I like Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron and Natalie Portman – there are many more to be honest.

4. Your favourite books

I love spy thrillers and espionage, for example those written by Robert Ludlum. I am also a big fan of classic and contemporary science fiction, for example H.G.Wells, Peter F Wilson, Stephen Baxter, Dan Simmons and Blake Crouch. You can't beat a good horror novel either, for example Stephen King, James Herbert, Graham Masterson, Brian Lumley, Dean Koontz. Finally, I like a good comedy novel though I haven’t read one for ages. “The Throwback” by Tom Sharpe is my all-time favourite in this genre and I made a complete idiot of myself on a long haul flight once, laughing raucously and uncontrollably while people were trying to sleep around me. It is hilarious – very British – but whether it will appeal to Americans I don’t know. I think Australians would get it.

5. Your favourite movies

I am such a geek when it comes to movies. I love superhero films and science fiction – the Marvel and DC films have been amazing recently (well some of them have). Give me a StarTrek movie and I am happy – though I can easily tolerate Star Wars too. I love action thrillers too, like James Bond, Jason Bourne and similar. I’m not a huge fan of horror films, bizarrely – I prefer books. I find a lot of comedy films a bit hit-and-miss to be honest. Some are brilliant (like Shaun of the Dead and Planes, Trains and Automobiles) but others I just don’t get – particularly some American comedy movies.

6. Your favourite TV shows

There are too many to mention but they are similar to films. I like a good comedy show (Blackadder, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and a good science fiction series (Dr Who, Star Trek, Babylon 5, The Expanse). Other favourite shows include (off the top of my head) Dexter, Game of Thrones, Lucifer, Vikings, Stranger Things and many many others too numerous to mention.

7. Your favourite foods/drinks

I love Italian, Chinese, Indian and Mexican food – anything really apart from Thai which has a taste that doesn’t really float my boat. To drink, I love tea and fruit juice, though I drink water and coffee too. Alcoholic delights include beers (ales, lager and continental beer such as Belgian, German and Czech beers) and wine, both red and white (though I prefer red and I don’t like dessert wines).

8. Your favourite kitchen appliance

What a strange question. I don’t think I have ever been asked what my favourite kitchen appliance is. I would have to say a Microwave Oven because I am fascinated with the effect it has on food.

9. Your favourite animal

I love both dogs and cats. Unfortunately Mrs PM prefers cats so that’s what we have. In my life I have lived with two dogs and ten cats. The current two are black one year olds called Ziggy and Star(dust).

10. Your favourite scents

I like most perfume that women wear but I don’t like having it sprayed into my face by over-zealous shopkeepers in department stores. 

I love the smell of freshly mown grass (as long as it isn’t in June because that’s when my hay fever kicks in). 

I love the smell of food cooking, particularly bacon. 

The smell of the British countryside in summer is also amazing. 

11. Your favourite things you do in your free time

I like to do something constructive most of the time. Currently I am still trying to teach myself Spanish, I am reading a lot of books about creative writing, as well as writing daily (mostly utter garbage but at least something is pouring from my brain onto paper in cyberspace). I maintain this blog, of course and when I am feeling lazy I watch TV, read and play the odd computer game. I am a huge fan of music as regular readers will know so there is always music in my vicinity when I am at home (for example I am currently listening to a Queen song). I love to go to concerts too and I would have been at an open-air tribute band festival today had I not been self-isolating (my first gig since the pandemic). 

I love sport, particularly football and am looking forward to the new football season in two weeks. I also like cricket – which is where I was when I was in the vicinity of a positive COVID-19 victim, even though I was outside and socially distanced (the nearest person apart from my mate was about five yards away).

Finally of course, I love to travel and I am missing that more than anything.

12. Your pet peeves

I’m not going to rant about politics and the mess that our country has been in for 11 years because of the Conservative government we are currently suffering under – but that is one of them.

People who are late, people who are unreliable, nasty people, arrogant people, those who have reached their level of competence and managed to claw their way into incompetence making a mess of things and the people around them, psychopaths who have no empathy (and I know a couple of people like this), liars and people who think that the only way to resolve and issue is with violence. 

13. Things you collect

I collect CDs and music generally. I collect books too (in that I don’t throw them away which is much easier on a Kindle). I used to collect football programmes and I have quite a few upstairs in the loft that I won’t let Mrs PM throw away (though she has tried).

14. Things you like to swap

I don't think I would swap anything apart from contact details.

15. Places you've been

I’ve travelled all over the UK of course apart from Northern Ireland. I’ve been to the Republic of Ireland though. I’ve travelled on all continents apart from Antarctica and been to some memorable places like Russia, China, USA, Canada, Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, Oman, the UAE, the Caribbean, Iceland, Japan and most of Europe. 

16. Places you'd like to visit

I’d like to go back to Japan and Australia. I would also like to go to New Zealand, Egypt, Morocco, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Hawaii and other places too numerous to mention.

17. Classes you liked in school

I loved chemistry, physics and maths. I was less keen on English, French and German but if I could go back I would concentrate on those subjects more.

18. Crafts you would like to learn

I would like to be able to paint and also build things from wood. I am absolutely hopeless at both.

That's My Answer

 

Welcome to a cloudy South Manchester with some quite pleasantly warm sunny intervals on day 481 of restrictions due to this annoying virus that is going around.

Apparently freedom day, as our resident clown is calling it, is July 19^th when all restrictions will be lifted. Given that the so-called Delta variant is running riot in our country giving us a daily infection rate of 35,000 you may well think that this is a stupid idea. However, the hospital admission rate due to Covid-19 and daily death rate is not following the rise in infections. And those who are getting ill with the disease are generally those who haven’t been vaccinated or have only had one of the two jabs.

In fact, about four weeks ago, Mrs PM and I were asked to self-isolate for a few days because the track and trace app on our phones had informed us that we had been in close contact with somebody who had later tested positive for the disease.

The crazy thing about this was that we were only told to self-isolate for four days. I did some research on this and the recommendation is ten days. So why four? Well apparently, we had been in contact with this person six days beforehand and we had been allowed to walk around the streets for six days potentially spreading the virus (if we had it).

The good news is that we have both been fully vaccinated and during that ten-day period there were absolutely no symptoms in either of us.

It is a bit crazy when you think about it.

No harm was done – apart from to my step count average because I couldn’t go out.

Anyway, enough Covid-19 nonsense. Let’s answer some silly questions from Sunday Stealing. 

1. Do you ever feel completely rested and unrushed

Of course I do. I am a fairly laid-back kind of guy and I try not to let myself spiral into the dark place caused by overwork and worry. When I shut my work laptop at the end of the day, I also shutdown any thoughts about work that will ruin the rest of my day. Rest is massively important and I do so whenever I can. Of course, there are times when I am rushed either with work or even outside when something is going on, but for each of these times I try to compensate for it by relaxing whenever I can.

Life is too short to allow yourself to be rushed off your feet all of the time.

2. If you had to wear all white for the entire day, how long before you spilled something on it?

Probably after five minutes.

I wouldn’t wear all white anyway because my skin is too pale. White and yellow look ridiculous on me – all white makes me look like a milk bottle and all yellow would make me look like a radioactive ghost.

3. What would you include inside of your emergency kit?

A spare pair of glasses. I am Mr Magoo without them and if I were to lose them I would struggle. Whenever I travel anywhere that is not within easy reach of home, I always take a spare pair with me just in case.

4. What’s more fun than a barrel full of monkeys?

A bag of frogs. Actually, I have seen a bag of frogs in Hong Kong. When I was working there for three months, I decided one day to go to an area that is outside of the usual tourist areas and saw a woman walk out of a shop with a white bag full of frogs that were hopping about inside. It looked funny but I guess it wasn’t because I know why they were there; they were dinner or at least their legs were.

5. Is it hard for you to let go of certain things, even if you have too many of them?

Yes. Mrs PM thinks that I am a hoarder. I don’t think I am but I do have a lot of things that are off limits to Mrs PM’s desire to get rid of them. Early in our relationship, she persuaded me to get rid of my collection of paperback novels and I regretted it because I have had the inkling since to reread some of them. It wasn’t long before I realized my mistake and from that point onwards I told her that she has to ask me before she gets rid of anything.

And to be fair she does. The worst thing is that she wants me to get rid of my CD collection, which to me is a heinous crime. She just doesn’t get it.

6. When was the last time you were ready to throw in the proverbial towel? Did you end up letting go, or decided to fight on anyway?

I am quite stubborn, a flaw that I don’t really like in myself. Sometimes this stops me from giving in and just letting things happen when perhaps sometimes I should. My tendency is to fight on but on rare occasions I do throw in the towel. I can’t really recall when that last happened though.

7. What is the colour of awesome?

Teal is the colour of awesome.

8. What is your favourite black and white movie?

I love Laurel and Hardy films but if you pressed me on my all-time favourite full length movie it would have to be “Some Like It Hot” with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. I love that movie.

9. If you could describe your mood in a colour today, what colour would it be?

Black … Black … BLACK!!!!!!

Only kidding. I would say a yellow orange because I am reasonably happy and content.

10.  If you could wish for anything and it would come true, you wish for?

Probably immortality and the ability to travel in time. Okay – that’s two things but I think each would be necessary for the other.

11. What are some of the wacky things that you like to do?

I used to like doing wacky things but now, as an older man, I have calmed down to the point were most of things I do are considered quite normal. I guess when I am away travelling though (do you remember when you could travel?) I am more likely to do wacky things, like wearing traditional Japaneses clothes while staying in Hakone, climbing tall buildings when I am scared of heights, going out clubbing in Reykjavík and staying out until four o'clock in the morning, spending the entire day walking around Hong Kong (clocking up 15 miles) and then letting my hair down with Mrs PM in Wan Chai as if I were a man 20 years younger. Those kind of things. 

12. If you could have any author –living or dead – write your biography, who would you choose?

Myself – I have already started one actually. Primarily it is intended for my kids and any kids they have (as I think it would prove interesting no matter how badly written it is). 

Actually, I’m not a very good writer so I would probably select somebody like H.G.Wells. It wouldn’t be Shakespeare – that much is definite.

13. If you could be a “fly on the wall” anywhere and at any time in history, where and when would you choose?

I think I would probably go back to spend 55 years following Henry VIII around his life. The man was as mad as bag of badgers and a ruthless dictator – but he was interesting.

More recently I would love to be a fly with a lot of recording equipment to capture what has been going on in the life of the clown that we have as our Prime Minister and let all of those people who love him know what a chancer and malignant narcissist he truly is.

14.What is the last thing you made from scratch?

Yesterday I wrote some software. Actually, today I wrote this blog post. So this blog post is the last thing I made from scratch (at the time of writing).

15. When we are able to travel again, where would you love to go?

Anywhere. Absolutely anywhere. Actually, thinking about it, Spain would be the first place I would go – but really I don’t mind where.

Wattpad

 

Welcome to South Manchester on a rainy afternoon where we may even see a thunderstorm later. It is 4th July today so I imagine that there will be lots of celebration across the pond. But far more importantly than that, England have managed to reach the semi-finals of the delayed Euro 2020 football tournament beating Germany in midweek 2-0 and last night thrashing Ukraine 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering game with Denmark on Wednesday. I can’t wait. 

Come on England!

And I hope American readers are enjoying a nice day.

Anyway, as I watch the rain outside, I think I will answer some silly questions from Sunday Stealing. 

Let’s hurl ourselves into this, folks.

1. 3 things I love

By “3 things” I assume that you mean three objects rather than three people. And by “objects” perhaps you mean both physical and abstract things too. With that in mind …

(a) I love my house. We live in a lovely part of South Manchester close to a suburban village with great transport links into the city and also close enough to the lovely county of Cheshire so that we can drive just a few miles to enjoy the great British countryside. My house is about 120 years old and I have lived here for 19 years. I don’t plan to move house again.

(b) I love music. Regular readers will know that my favourite genre is progressive rock but I am partial to heavy metal, industrial metal, electronic pop music, ambient electronic pop music, ambient rock music, hard rock, some AOR, 1970’s disco, blues, blues rock and some classical music as well as various other genres and subgenres. 

(c) I love travelling. The pandemic has screwed this up recently but I am hoping that 2022 will see me leave the shores of the United Kingdom for Europe, resurrecting three trips that had to be abandoned last year, to Belgium, Italy and Greece. I can’t wait.

2. Last song I listened to

You are probably not going to like this. It is a song from a German industrial metal band Rammstein and is called Benzin. 

I have seen this band live a couple of times and they are absolutely amazing. 

3. Turn offs

Lots of things turn me off but none more so than people who alter their bodies unnecessarily, for example by getting collagen injections or false boobs, especially if they are young. People should grow naturally and gracefully.

Also, arrogant people who love nothing more than to talk about themselves. 

4. What colour underwear are you wearing right now?

That’s a bit personal. But if you must know – blue.

5. How many tattoos do you have?

I have no tattoos and I don’t ever plan on getting any thank you.

6. How many piercings do you have?

I have no piercings and I don’t ever plan on getting any thank you.

7. Meaning behind my URL

I masquerade in Blogland as The Plastic Mancunian, a man who has lived in the city of Manchester since 1984 but isn’t a true Mancunian because he was born in Walsall, a town in the West Midlands. My URL reflects this.

8. What I find attractive in other people.

I love people who are kind, friendly, funny and intelligent.

9. Something that’s currently worrying me.

The main thing is that after this pandemic is over we will see the true effects that Brexit has had on the United Kingdom. I think even the most ardent Brexiter is beginning to see the consequences. It is times like this that I wish I were Irish.

10. Something that’s constantly on my mind.

Retirement and retirement plans. Not long to go now.

11. My favourite store.

I don’t like shopping at all but I guess if you press me it would either be a bookshop, a music shop or a gadget shop.

12. What I did yesterday.

I went to Manchester with some mates to have a couple of beers and then we returned to one the house of one of them where Mrs PM and the other wives were waiting for us, having been out themselves, and we spent an enjoyable evening watching England beat Ukraine 4-0 in the Euro 2020 tournament. 

13. My favourite blog

I have loads of favourites – too many to mention but you all know who you are because I comment on them fairly regularly. 

14. Someone I miss

I miss both of my parents. Rest in peace.

15. Reason why I follow Sunday Stealing

I have dipped into Sunday Stealing over the years but am back to doing it regularly because it helps me to have a bit of writing fun and also introduces me to new brilliant bloggers.