Various ramblings by the small hobbit

This week's thefridayfive  questions:

1. What do you see when you are looking out of the window closest to you?
Parked cars and two trees.  I'm looking out of the window directly below the one I use for 'View from the Window'

2. Who was the last person coming into your room? 
J - I'm in the living room, which is has both the stairs and the way through to the kitchen.

3. What is the most predominant colour around you?
Yellow/fawn

4. What is right behind you?
The back of my chair?  J's sofa - we have two two-seated sofas, one each, being the best way to fit comfortable seating for four into our small living room.

5. What is on today's calendar sheet?
Church this morning, online courses, fic writing and posting, cross stitch and knitting.  Oh, and I need to prepare tomorrow's post for ushobwri 

This week's thefridayfive 

1. What is your favourite fruit?
Raspberries

2. What is the last book you read?
'The Balkans: Nationalism, War and the Great Powers 1804-1999' by Misha Glenny.  This one took me about 7.5 months, so I'll also say 'Death and the Conjurer' by Tom Mead

3. Do you like any of your school photos?
So long ago, I no longer have any of them and haven't got a clue what I thought at the time.

4. Do you ever blowdry your armpits to get the deodorant to dry quicker?
It had never even occurred to me, so no.

5. What was the last film you watched?
'Mr Burton' back in May, at our local indy cinema

This week's thefridayfive  questions:

1. one place you volunteer (or would like to)? Why?
Gloucestershire Bundles.  Because they're a local charity, which provide clothing, equipment and toiletries to families with children up to the age of 16 who find themselves in crisis situations.  They're a small local charity who seek to make life better for children, regardless of their family situation.  We are a 'baby bank' - a bit like a food bank - but our remit is up to 16.  I'm a trustee, the treasurer, so take care of the finances, make grant applications and speak to groups etc to promote what we do.

2. one book you'd like to see made into a movie? Why?
Karolina, or the Torn Curtain by Maryla Szymiczkowa.  It's set in Krakow in 1895.  I'd like to see the characters, the fashions and the settings.  The plot is both great fun, but also very realistic in its outlook.

3. one creature (living, extinct, or mythical) you'd like for a pet? Why?
I'd like a dragon, please!  'Cos dragons are awesome.

4. one place on Earth you'd like to visit? Why?
Prague.  We were planning on going pre-covid and haven't yet made it.  Maybe next year?

5. one talent or skill you'd like to develop? Why?
I'd never claim to be proficient at what I do, but I find my current abilities are sufficient for the time I have available, and while I could improve some of my crafting skills, the enjoyment is in the doing, so why rush?

Today's thefridayfive  questions:

1. What is your all time favorite book?
Difficult to answer, but generally when I answer this question I say The Seamstress (also known as The Time In Between) by Maria Duenas

2. What is your all time favorite movie?
Casablanca, no question!

3. What are you reading right now?
Their Finest (Lissa Evans), Plenty Under The Counter (Kathleen Hewitt), Mrs Plansky's Revenge (Spencer Quinn), Small Gods (Terry Pratchett), and The Balkans: Nationalism, War and the Great Powers 1804-1999 (Misha Glenny)

4. What is your favorite show on TV?
Call The Midwife, which is about the only thing I do watch on TV

5. What is the last movie you saw in the cinema?
Conclave - at the end of February.

This week's thefridayfive 

1. If you were a crayon, which colour would you want to be?
Bright cheerful orange

2. Which colour do you think you would be regardless of what you wanted?
Probably a sensible blue

3. Would you rather be used and get blunt, broken and lose your wrapper, or not be used and stay pristine?
I'd much rather be used - what is the point of a crayon otherwise?

4. Would you rather be in a small set of crayons or a large set?
I don't think I'd mind - as part of a small set I'd be a standard blue and be used a lot, as part of a large set I'd be a more specific shade and have a more specific role - either way's fine.

5. Would you rather be Crayola, or a different brand?
I'd go for Crayola - if I'm going to be a crayon I'd like to be able to do a good job and not crumble too quickly

This week's questions from thefridayfive 

1. Did the house where you grew up have a newspaper delivered regularly?
Yes, and my weekly comic as well.

2. Have you ever subscribed to an actual print newspaper?
No.  Used to buy the local weekly rag from the local shop.

3. When was the most recent time you physically picked up and read a newspaper?
I don't remember, but it would almost certainly have been a free paper, so maybe the Standard in London

4. Do you pay for news online now?
Yes, but because I use the puzzle page.  I sometimes read the news as well.

5. Do you have any saved newspaper clippings?
A few very old ones, which relate to the family.

This week's thefridayfive questions: 

1. What type of mood are you generally in on a rainy day?
At the moment, fed up, because it seems to be always raining or about to rain.

2. What are your favorite things to do when the weather is gloomy?
Stay indoors!

3. Have you ever been kissed in the rain?
Very probably, but not recently - why get any wetter than necessary.

4. After the rain stops, do you continue what you were doing, or do you run outside to do something else?
Get the bins in before it starts raining again.  Generally continue what I'm doing.

5. What is your favorite drink/food to have when it's raining outside?
Cake and tea/wine (depending on time of day)

This week's thefridayfive questions, since it's NaNoWriMo this month

1. Where do you get ideas/inspiration for your writing?
Quite often I'm working for prompts from challenges, or exchanges with suggestions from the recipient.  Sometimes I'll want to follow up an idea I've had in a previous work, or there'll be a request as to what happens next and I, too, want to know the answer.  And sometimes, as my regular readers will be aware, they'll be from the deepest recesses of my mind, where no-one with any sense would venture.

2. Do you have a favourite place to write?
Generally on my laptop on my table in the living room, but sometimes I'll write a drabble in a notebook while sitting in bed.  And if I'm away then wherever I can find if I'm in the mood for writing.

3. What are your tricks for getting through writers block?
I'll write a set number of words a day, 50/75/100 (remember I write ficlets generally) so they story still progresses.  This works because I write linearly and simply say 'what are they going to do?' and they might drive along the road, turn to someone and ask a question, or put the kettle on.

4. Favorite genre to write? Do you have a different favorite genre for reading?
Depends partly on my mood.  I like writing and reading casefic or action stories (not of the fighting variety).  But also crack.

5. What is something you really want to write but haven't gotten around to yet?
I have an untold story in my Spooks 'A New Start' series, which has been waiting for months for me to write, mainly because I haven't a clue what will happen.  I'll probably use it for ushobwri WiP month next February.

This week's thefridayfive questions

1. Most everyone will recommend a book or two to read, but are there any you would tell people to avoid?
No.  I might say I didn't enjoy something, and even share why not, but my preferences are not your preferences, so unless you ask my opinion and I know specifically what you like then I wouldn't tell you as a general point to avoid something.

2. If you take a book on vacation, are you more likely to take something you haven't read yet or an old favorite?
New - I very very rarely reread.  And when there is limited space for books, since I must take some clothing, they'll be new.

3. Do you read any genres by the season? Like horror around Halloween? Cozy Mysteries in the Winter? Romance in the Summer?
Not genres as such, but December is the time for Christmas stories - I have a number lined up ready for this December.

4. If you read a lot of Fiction do you prefer an author that has a series with the same character(s), or do you prefer stand-alone stories?
Yes!  I like both.  Many mysteries do have the same detective, whether professional or amateur.  Glancing through the books I've read this year, I'd say it's about 50/50.

5. Is there a book that you wish you could read again, but experience it like it was the first time?
Not that I can think of.

Last week's questions from thefridayfive 

1. Have you gotten everything done that you had hoped to do during the first half of 2024?
Generally yes: I've read half the books I listed for this year; I've listened to several audiobooks; made good progress with the online short courses I take; crafting is coming along nicely; writing is on target, including the number of words.  Grant applications both for Gloucestershire Bundles and the church are ticking along.

2. Did anything exciting or unexpected happen to you during the first half of 2024?
Lots of small things.  I've taken part in a baptism service for four people aged from 7 to 18.  I've stood on a tank and handled a decommissioned sten gun.  The Daughter got a first class degree.

3. What big plans do you have for the second half of 2024?
I don't really do big plans any more.  Going to Daughter's graduation this month.  Otherwise just seeing what comes up - it tends to happen.

4. Have you taken, or are you planning, a vacation this year?
Yes, have been to the Ardennes and Normandy and we're booked to go to Chester and Llandudno in October.

5. Have you ever wanted to be one of the people writing and posting these questions?
No, I'm happy answering them, but I already belong to two comms where I need to come up with questions and inspiration, without having more commitments.