Say something about
surprise parties.
Why haven’t I ever had one?! Bummer! Thinking about it, I’ve
never had one and I’ve never been to one! They’ve all be planned. Ah, tell a
lie, I did go to one. It was my boyfriend’s friend’s birthday. It was all
arranged by his girlfriend. She had got a big cake, with lots of chocolate and
cream. Now I’m hungry! We had to meet her outside their flat. On the way, we
bought some booze. Then we waited for the other friends to turn up. When they
did, we tiptoed up these really steep stairs – with me filming from the back
with my camera phone and giggling – to the top, and then down a corridor, and
then into the flat. Birthday boy was sitting with his back to us, watching TV.
He spun round, expecting the usual and got a butcher’s of all us, all grinning
like idiots, and his girlfriend holding a big cake. Then we started singing
“Happy birthday” in Polish, because he is. I only know the first bit, “Sto lat,
sto lat” (which means 100 years), and then I have to go “La, la, la!” Anyway,
safe to say, birthday boy was very shocked. We went to the pub later. It turned
out to be a fun evening.
Tell about a secret
desire that you have.
Ah, my secret desire would be to travel the world and just
keep moving around, seeing something new every day. And then I’d settle
somewhere warm without much rain (not London
then…), by the sea and by a forest. Swimming with dolphins is another one, but
I’m a poor doggie paddler!
Complete the
sentence: “I wish all people would…”
Live together in perfect harmony. Then there would be no
arguments, no wars, no gossips, etc, etc. Everything would go along quite
happily. Eastenders would be very different for a start. So, perfect harmony is
the thing I’d aim for if I ruled the world! This reminds me of a line from a
song by the Wurzels, about a combine harvester, which is now stuck in my head,
for better or worse.
'Cause I got a brand
new combine harvester and I'll give you the key
Come on now, let's get
together
In perfect harmony
I got 20 acres and you
got 43
Now I got a brand new
combine harvester and I'll give you the key.
She might well laugh.
I'll stick by you and
give you all that you need
We'll have twins and
triplets
I'm a man built for
speed
And you know I'll love
you darling
So give me your hand
Oh, the thing I want
the most is all that acres of land.
My granddad used to play it in the car when I was young,
along with ‘You’ve got more rabbit than Sainsbury’s’, by Chas and Dave.
Talk about your
favorite childhood game.
This was Hungry, Hungry Hippo! It was a pretty basic game.
It was made up of a plastic frame with four cute, colourful hippos in each
corner with levers on their backs. You’d plonk these white marbles in the
centre and then bang your hippo as hard as you could to eat as many marbles as
possible. Whoever was the biggest piggy and ate the most was the winner. Simple
but great. I loved it. Happy kids everywhere! I also loved Mousetrap, though it
took a long time to set up and yet took seconds to play, and Kerplunk. Yes, I
was easily pleased as a kid. I probably still would be if I could only get my
hands on Hungry, Hungry Hippo!
Share a family ritual
that has special meaning to you.
I live quite far away from family, so I don’t get to see
them that often, especially with the price of train fares in this country!
Groan. A family ritual? I’m not sure I can think of any here, so I guess it
will be Christmas. That’s the time when I always go home. I think I’ve only
missed two in my whole life. It’s like an unwritten family commandment: thou
shalt return home to the family nest and stuff so much food in your mouth that
you’ll have to roll your way home! I remember, as a kid, being terrified of the
turkey! It just lay there with its stiff, bony legs in the air, waiting to be
stuffed. Don’t mention those giblets that Mum had to pull out! Horrific!
Actually, I think Dad got that glorious job. Now I make do with my Quorn log and
veggies, and I’m as happy as a turkey that still has his giblets and is going
gobble gobble round a field. My granddad would always fall asleep for exactly
half an hour after eating. My grandma baked the best tarts and puddings ever –
I’ve still never had pastry that’s better. And when I was little, my brother
would always be up at the crack of dawn, ready for his presents. Sometimes he
didn’t even go to sleep – he’d be alert, watching... In fact, though he’s three
years younger, he was the one who had the sad duty of informing me that, in
fact, Santa Claus didn’t exist – it was our mum! I think I may have cried!
Other rituals could include watching Eastenders (grimace!),
trying to eat your dinner without feeding the dog who has rather big, brown
soppy eyes, or watching the birds feeding in our garden. My parents have about
three bird feeders joined together, and sparrows and starlings flock to them
like it’s the best restaurant in town. And there’s a pond to make it all so
romantic! And the whole scene is inches away from the kitchen window. Bill Oddie, eat your heart out!
To learn more about Vickie and her work, please visit:
Great stories, Vickie!
I had a Hungry, Hungry Hippo game too – I loved it. Also, I think your dream
location may be Belize
My next guest will be Kev
Tomsett, another UK
