I have been passed on the meme baton from Jon Bounds- the concept being I need to list seven things you might not know about me. So here goes:
1. I have a pathological inability to stop myself from reading any bit of text I see. This includes roadsigns, boring health and safety posters on office walls, other people’s newspapers, the tiny brandnames on the sides of people’s glasses and so on. I particularly struggle when faced with book shelves as I can’t help but read every single title. I am assured by others this makes me a freak, but I can’t find a way to stop it. It is a serious affliction.
2. I am appalling bad at mental arithmetic. This is a source of great amusement to my family who enjoy giving me sums to do to watch me squirm. I still count on my fingers and am particularly bad at percentages (I can just about do a 10% tip but sale shopping can be tricky!)
3. I have a secret desire to be a proper belting out Christina Aguilera type singer. I would like to do the x factor style key change where an enormous bright light and gospel choir appear behind me. I would be singing ‘Feeling Good’ (the Nina Simone, not Muse version 
)
4. I am very clumsy and have had some spectacular falls in my time. Most notable incidents include slipping on my legwarmers whilst at an 80s fancy dress party, and falling over in the street (unintoxicated) on my very first date with Ed. Not cool.
5. My most embarrassing moment (apart from falling over) was whilst at uni being the only person who turned up for a seminar on medieval farming. I hadn’t done any of the reading and the seminar tutor insisted on carrying on with just the 2 of us. I improvised for about half an hour before he took pity on me and sent me away. The shame.
6. I hate mayonnaise which causes me no end of trauma when trying to select sandwiches in shops.
7. And finally; I was in the chorus for a performance of Cabaret whilst at sixth form college, and at the very last minute was the understudy for the tap dancing gorilla. This combined 2 of my skills; being tall enough to fit into the gorilla suit, and being able to tap dance.
Well that was fascinating I’m sure! I now have to pass this on (although I think most people I know have had it from someone) so here are some twitterers who haven’t: Edward, Fiona, Johnathan, Amy, my brother and my dad!
29/01/2009 at 12:15 am Permalink
I can’t believe I didn’t know about the mayonnaise – despite the amount of food talk we used to enjoy in the office! I think all 6 other facts were new to me to!
31/01/2009 at 10:31 pm Permalink
#1 applies to me, too – my mother says when forbidden to read books at the dining table I would read the labels on sauce bottles.
11/02/2009 at 4:31 pm Permalink
I read everything I see too, it can get awfully distracting sometimes. And as for number two – in our defense it is very funny! : )
12/02/2009 at 11:24 am Permalink
Aah you see I knew I couldn’t be the only one unable to stop reading! Maybe it’s genetic Sophie?!
12/02/2009 at 12:13 pm Permalink
Hi Abby
Just noticed that you’ve passed this one on to me…it can be my motivation for sorting out my site
And I’ve just subscribed to your blog so I don’t miss any of your musings.
And I can’t do mental arithmetic either – although I’m getting better at percentages since working at the RSC.
16/02/2009 at 2:15 pm Permalink
OMG – just properly laughed out loud at #4 and #5. Carl from Tek Response is looking at me funny…
#4 because I’m sure that happened to me at some point (although probably not about medieval farming).
#5 because it’s just so funny anyway.
Following the trend, I’m also rubbish at mental arithmetic and am frequently corrected by Fiona much to my annoyance and dismay. Although now I’ve begun to accept the fact that I’m always wrong with it, it’s really useful to have someone around who can work out my sums for me