Typing away merrily
1. It's that old fresher question ! You chose to study English for your degree. In the years before making that choice (going as far back as you want), did you consider any other courses ? If yes - which and why did you reject them ?
The only other courses I considered were English related - there was a humanities course at the University of Kent which included English and Philosophy, for instance, which I considered after making pen-pal friends with one of the Philosophy lecturers.
I played with the idea of taking my degree in the States in order to have a foundation year. I liked the idea of becoming a polymath for a year before focusing on English.
Ultimately, however, it was always English and, within that, I always wanted to study Old and Middle English. My university choices and decisions were all based on that. I really, really love words.
2. The BBC decide to make a television series/film out of a roleplaying game you have PCed in or GMed (campaign or one-off of any genre and type). Which game do you pick and why ?
Cool! I'd like a television series based on Disposable Heroes, please, so that I can see the perpetual motion machine for real.
3. As far as I can remember, you have always owned and driven your own car. Do you always prefer it to public transport ? Why / why not ?
I think public transport in this country is disastrous. Long ago I became fed up with trains always delayed or cancelled. At least if I'm in the car I feel that I have some control over my destiny. If I get caught in a traffic jam, I only have myself to blame for not leaving earlier. I can also listen to the radio and change channel without irritating anyone else, and if I need a change of shoes or clothing, a bottle of wine or a couple of good books, I have those in the boot.
In my car, if I want to leave somewhere at 3am, I can. I don't need to wait for public transport to start the morning service. One of my soothing things is to go out for a drive. The concentration of driving and the physical sensation of the car movement drain away some of my cares. This doesn't count for the M25 at rush hour, by the way.
To get down to the real issues, though, I am an extremely irritable person and I don't like other human beings intruding on my personal space. My foibles are primarily auditory dislikes, among them being a horror of people sniffing (why can't they blow their noses? I could offer tissues) and the noise of people chewing gum with their mouths open. These sounds are not avoidable in the confines of public transport.
I am slightly claustrophobic and add to my dislike of the Tube for that reason. I never feel that I can breathe on the Tube's underground sections, even when it is empty. I need to open windows on trains and buses.
I don't mind trains or buses so much, although again I am irritable. I almost shouted at a man who was listening to Radio 4 at that level just on the edge of hearing the other day. I don't mind him listening to Radio 4 - I do it myself on occasion - but either I should not be able to hear it at all or I should also be able to enjoy it.
4. You have (fairly) recently had to cut a large number of foods out of your diet (ie. for allergies). Which did you miss the most ?
My favourite meal ever is a baked potato and cottage cheese. That probably answers the question.
5. A friend of your is a gifted artist. They tell you they are going to paint a picture (not a portrait, unless you particularly want one) for you as a present. They want you to chose a title and up to three things to be in the picture - what do you decide upon ?
Title: The Forsaken Cry
In the picture: A city. A man turning away from the gates of the city. Clouds in the sky.