Ask The Person Below You A Question: that tricky third thread...

Yes. My sisters are great. We support each other for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health , through children, teens and grandchildren and have a really good laugh along with that. Since we don’t live close, WhatsApp has been a blessing. We actually met up yesterday. It was worth the drive.

What about brothers? Are you close?

I am an only child

Are / were you an only, middle, younger, or older child?
Do you think that is has affected your personality in any way?

I am an only child as well - I do have a half brother and sister in Austria but didn’t grow up with them.

Yep it definitely affected my personality - I’m so used to being on my own I get overwhelmed with too many other people around.

Who is at your table for Christmas Day?

Usually 3 of 4 daughters, their husbands and children. One of the daughter’s Mil who is Jewish and doesn’t have Christmas otherwise. This year, who knows ? Damn Covid.

What time do you usually go to bed at night ?

Any time between 9pm and 1am. No TV on the bedroom so if, rarely, I’m engrossed in something, time slips by. When DD has driven 300 miles we are often late, too busy talking. Otherwise bed and a book as early as possible -lovely!

Taking DGC to a theme park tomorrow. Would you ride or watch?

Would definitely have ridden when I was younger. But now I'm just a watcher.

Do you get drunk easily? I don't drink much, but had two glasses of wine with my neighbour yesterday and felt terrible... head spinning and sick

I find half a bottle of wine (3 measures) is my limit. Ive never been a big drinker but I enjoy wine. I share a bottle (over a meal) with one of my nephews once a week. I never drink alone.

Do you like liqueurs?

I am a devil for the odd Baileys.

I’m quite fond of Amaretto but don’t drink now.

Are you looking forward to the autumn?

No, we have lots of large trees so it’s leaf gathering for weeks.

Do you enjoy doing jigsaws?

Cant do them for the life of me, just dont have the patience

Have you ever caught a fish

Yes, as a child.

Have you ever dyed your hair?

Not dyed. I call it replenishing the original colour.

Do you still worry about your children even when there’s nothing currently wrong?

I dont have any children but I sometimes worry about my young grand nieces and nephews because of the way this country is going.

Do you do your own gardening or employ a gardener?

I have always had a gardener - some better than others

I have a very small garden, but I can’t do it because of allergies, so someone mows the lawn and tidies up - £15 every 2 weeks…

Have you written your Will and do you do codicil regularly ?

No.

Biglouis You can make Baileys at home! I used to do it regularly, it’s even better than the real thing!
In fact, it’s probably ‘my speciality dish’; what’s yours?

I don't think I have a speciality dish. But I've always made ice cream with evaporated milk which is a family favourite.
Evaporated milk, a little sugar, vanilla essence. Whisk it and then freeze, then whisk again. It's a bit strange but nice.

Do you have clothes culls twice a year, or at all? Spring and autumn I sort into three piles, one to throw away, one to go to charity, and one to keep.

Not a cull as such because I try not to buy too much in the first place, having used the 'capsule wardrobe' method for a few years but I do chuck some items out now and again.

Is there a specific item of clothing which you'd love to own if only you could find it, which has proved elusive?

Yes - you used to be able to find underskirts which were divided skirts but I havnt seen any for ages. They were useful for wearing under wide legged pants and culottes.

If you were a US citizen would you have voted for Trump or Biden?

I would probably have abstained as I think they are both bloody useless! But I feel the same about our lot.

Biden, but a shame it didn’t happen earlier for him.

Do you read mainly female or male authors? I move pretty equally amongst the two.

Mostly female I think, though for detective novels I prefer men.

Have you ever read any Mills and Boon ?

Yes. I had a whole collection by Betty Neels at one point and loved Mary Burchell.
I moved onto other genres so no more M&B.

My sister is anti any American books/authors. Do you have any objections like that?

Erm, I do tend to go for women authors when it comes to fiction.
But I’ll just mention Nick Hornby here, he is brilliant at writing as a woman. One of my all time favourites is ‘How to be Good’
I don’t like sci fi, or historical fiction. In fact, as time goes on, I enjoy non fiction much more.

Favourite non fiction book?

2. Gloriana: The Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I by Roy Strong (1987)

I am fascinated by Elizabeth I.

If you could invite any historical figure to your dinner party who would it be?

See above for mine.

I would invite Queen Victoria or Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Both interesting to me.

I am also fascinated by anything to do with the Channel Islands being occupied in WW2. Does anyone know or knew anyone who lived through it?

Biglouis I’ve been for tea at Sir Roy’s house, The Laskett!
We met via my aunty, he had bought a cat from her (she breeds Maine coons). The cat is called Tabitha

No connections with the Channel Islands, DanniRae
My WWII claim to fame is that as a young woman, my grandmother met Monty.
She got his autograph and a photo taken with him.

What jobs did your grandparents and parents do?