Where does this find you?

Retired, on my mac, in my house in N.Yorkshire with Benji at my feet
and Alan at his laptop. Wondering which of the many jobs that need
doing I should tackle today. I'm good at wondering.....



Tell us the story of how you got there.

To a mac - going back to teaching and ending up with responsibility
for I.T. (as the expert left and no-one else was willing to do the
job.) Bradford moved from BBC, to Nimbus to Mac - a foolish man tried
to move us all on (?) to Dell (I think) but a few stalwarts resisted.
I was one. Never looked back. Now apparently Bradford has gone Mac
again and the suite of imacs that was put in approx' 7 years ago
still look good and work well, new additions include a trolley of
white laptops - very nice. I think of it as my legacy, although the
support assistant - turned technician who I encouraged and set on the
way is my best legacy to my old school!

To Yorkshire - by following my husband of 41 years, Alan! We started
going out when I was sixteen in Manchester. I followed him to many
places, countless pubs, Maine Road.... (Eastlands soon hopefully);
Carlisle - loved it - state brewery and pubs - time warp; Stoke on
Trent, (I cried when I saw it - but we lived in Pipe Gate and Norton
in Hales so it turned out fine); Norwich - very special (Helen was
born there); Bristol - enjoyed that too and Beth was born there, then
23 years ago Alan was made Probate Registrar of Leeds and his
promotion journey ended and we moved here in November '85.



Why do you moblog?

That's on my sidebar. Helen and Beth were busy with their lives in
Leeds and forgetting about their Mum (aah!) so I started 'stalking'
them on moblog (Beth called me Stalker Mum) and I became intrigued by
some of the characters on moblog (particularly Bronxelf) and how
friendly Beth and Helen were becoming with all these people so I
decided to stop feeling voyeuristic and join in!



What were you hoping not to be asked for interview52?

Had forgotten about it - so no anticipation.



Now answer it!

Have no demons - unless its my weight and wouldn't answer anything I
didn't want to anyway!



What would your biography be called, who would write it, and who
would play you in the film?

Oh Jimbo - this is a bit high flown for me! Lets bring it down to
my level!

'Other people make me tick', Victoria Wood, Victoria Wood



Who has been an inspiration to you? Why?

My parents are the roots of me and therefore my inspiration. They
taught me through example, almost osmosis how to love, think, feel,
care, help, stand on my own feet, take responsibility. They never
gave me hoops to jump through or expected too much. They lived life
with a zest and gave their best to all they did and everyone around
them. My children have and do inspire me, as have and do my friends.
People who are not close to me, I might admire but they don't inspire
me. I'm a simple soul.



What book would you recommend to your fellow mobloggers to read and why?

Phew! My first love is children's stories, sometimes just for the
pure joy of the storytelling and for the releasing of the child in
the adult, but I'm going to plump for "Oranges are not the only
fruit" by Jeanette Winterson. A book I first saw as a television
drama, which I now own as a DVD, and one of the few books I have read
more than once. It is beautifully narrated; based in fact; has humour
and pathos; is rich with characters, and it informed and moved me.



What was your childhood obsession? What happened to it?

Don't think I'm the obsessive type! The nearest I get is problem
solving of all types! When I was young I loved those things where
you slid the plastic tiles around the square, and solitaire and
rubik's cube and those problem solving metal things that you take
apart and have to put together, jigsaws were ok - couldn't leave them
if they were out but too one dimensional - I liked to stretch my brain.

I did algebra for fun when I was at school, then I used to do the
Sunday Times brain teasers. At school, as a teacher, if there was
ever an organisational/timetable problem - I would solve it!
Suppose that is why I ended up in charge of the computers! A biggie
was my friend's house - she had had a very bad time and was
struggling to make ends meet and had been given some carpet which
she was quite pleased with, but it was odd shapes and she covered
bare bits with oddments. I measured and planned and cut and matched
and sewed and stuck to make a square, then she got some complimentary
plain carpet and we made a border for the square to make it fit the
room. A challenge on all levels and it is very hard to spot any
joins! Recently it was planning the work on the house and the
storage in the hall (drawing a plan on the computer etc) on a small
scale it's playing Scrabble and Sudoku.

OK Maybe I am obsessive when I get the bit between my teeth :)



Where do you go to my lovely, when you're alone in your head?

Oh FF!

Think it links back to the last question. I plan:- the house;
Beth's flat; possibilities for the future; possibilities for things
we might do as a couple; as a family; people I want to see and places
I want to go; how my friend Karen could use the teaching relaxation
skills I've just found out about..........and sometimes I look back
at the good things and put the bad ones away



If you had to draw a moblog family (and friend) tree, who would you
be linked to, and how?

Helen and Beth obviously. Through them and meetings in Leeds, DJD,
Steve and Jane Doe ( who came to visit me with her girls), Joe and
Suzi, Mr and Mrs FF, Crickson and Spiderbaby, Ninja Code Monkey, OJ
and her friends, Chris, Mr & Mrs Seaneeboy - sorry if I've forgotten
anyone. Through going to Newark to see Paintist - her and the Mr,
Maggie, Dhamaka and Geodyne - all of whom I have now seen several
times and seem to know quite well, and of course Strange Little Girl,
who I bonded with over a beer! Not forgetting Alfie and Uberspy oh
and Spike and friends! Hobo's visit to Leeds also brought Sir Findo
Gask (the man who never sits down and his wife SWMBO)

Cos' he came to see us in Norfolk and for all sorts of other
reasons Euphro. Bronxelf who came to Leeds on her England visit -
that was good. And of course my lovely friends from Canada Swamprose
and Factotum who came to stay with me for 4 wonderful days and whom I
followed to Leeds and then with Helen to Cambridge and Southend,
where I of course met 450Air and the family, and Sprocket.

Then there's Nige a very special moblog person whom I first met in
London, before the exhibition, along with Joker and Anya and Hotdog
was there too. Beth's exhibition brought Judo - Jule up to Leeds with
Alfie.

Then there are the people that I haven't met but would love to and
feel I know such a lot about from their blog - Caine in particular,
but Jigalong who treats us to such wonderful pics of Oz and
Lilitiger who took us round India, Mara and her shadows .... too many
to mention ..... then there's the one near home who always has an
intelligent comment and has never to my knowledge joined a meet yet -
I'm looking forward to that day Hildegard!

Posted by Viv