Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts

8 April 2010

The Random Photograph Meme

I have been tagged by The Moiderer and Nickie from Typecast for the random photograph meme. Admittedly they tagged me ages ago, but better late than never!

Here are the rules:

1. open your first photo folder in your computer library.
2. scroll to the 10th photo
3. post the photo and the story behind it
4. tag 5 or more people to continue the thread

Here is my photograph:


This was taken in Spring or early Summer 2006 at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.

Andy and I had not been together for long. I was living in Bedfordshire and he was in South London. From the day we met we spent every weekend together, usually alternating between our two locations. This was obviously a weekend in Bedfordshire. We liked to walk, arm in arm, and talk and take photographs.

I remember this day well, or did looking at all of my photographs from that day jog my memory? There was an impressive lake, a folly to explore and plenty of newly hatched chicks to look at - from a distance. We saw a swan carrying four cygnets on its back, so cute. I also remember it was warm and sunny and we had an ice-cream before we went home.

Happy days.


I'm going to break the rules, as usual. As I took so long to do this meme I won't tag anyone. If you would like to join in please let me know and I'll add you in.

Edit:
The lovely Em tagged herself, you can see her gorgeous cat on her blog Diary of a Young Mum





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5 April 2010

Singalongasandy












The lovely Liz at Living With Kids has tagged me with her Infinite Playlist Meme.

The rules are to choose five songs that you can listen to over and over again.

Despite ten hours in the car this week (i.e. plenty of thinking time), I struggled to narrow my favourite songs into a top five. There are so many great tunes to choose from. I've done it though. These are my favourites as of today. Ask me again tomorrow and it could all change!

There is a theme to my infinite playlist. All of these songs can be sung along to at the top of your voice, especially in the car.

Here they are:

The Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Jam - The Bitterest Pill
Queen - Don't Stop Me Know
The Flaming Lips - Race for the Prize
Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman - Come What May (from Moulin Rouge)

What's on your infinite playlist?

I'm tagging the following five bloggers:

Sally at Who's The Mummy?
Carly at Wives and Daughters
Beth at My Good Life
Heather at Notes From Lapland
Nickie at Typecast


Photo credit
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28 February 2010

Vlog: What's in Your Bag?

The lovely Carly from Wives and Daughters tagged me with the What's in Your Bag? meme.

Ooh, I thought, a perfect excuse for a vlog!


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4 February 2010

My Word!




I've been tagged by Claire at The Life of the Twenty Something Mum to come up with my word of 2010.

The word I have chosen is FOCUS.

I need to focus. I'm always flitting from one task to the next, rarely completing anything. If I'm online I tend to flick between Twitter, Facebook, my Google Reader, my site stats (I know I shouldn't look, but I can't help myself), my various email accounts, British Mummy Bloggers, Judith's Room, the news, the weather and anything else I'm currently distracted by. This takes up so much time, but I'm not doing anything productive.

In my free time there are jobs that I have to do (housework, paperwork, dentist appointments, etc.). I leave everything to the last minute. I make endless 'to do' lists. I copy tasks from one list to another. Eventually some become less important and fall off the list. I know I'm procrastinating, but I love making lists!

I also have several hobbies. I don't really like the word hobby, it's a bit twee. It's the things you list on application forms to make yourself appear interesting (job seekers please note: we all know 'socialising' as a hobby means you go down the pub a lot, this doesn't make you out-going, it makes you unreliable). I'll get off my hobby-horse now. Sorry, couldn't resist it.

So, my hobbies interests are: reading, writing, blogging, card-making, yoga, song writing and recording and fannying about on the computer. Unfortunately the last one eats into my evenings and takes up far too much of my precious me time. 

So, I need to FOCUS. I want to make the most of my free time and enjoy it more.

How do you focus? Do you allocate blocks of time to different activities? Do you go cold turkey and just turn the internet off for a while? All suggestions welcomed.

One final aspect of focus that is particularly important, I'd like only soft focus photographs of me from now on!

As usual I'm not going to tag anyone specifically (you know I hate to leave anyone out). Instead this is open to everyone. If you would like to join in please let me know in the comments and I'll add your link here.

So, what shall I do next? I'll just have a quick peek at Twitter, then I'll phone the dentist!



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28 January 2010

The You're Welcome Meme




I was delighted to be tagged by Mum at The Mad House for the You're Welcome Meme started by Sally at Who's the Mummy?.

These are the rules:
Recommend three new blogs you've discovered and loved
Tag three other bloggers and ask them to do the same

I love finding new blogs to read. It's difficult finding room in my Google Reader, but there are some blogs that are 'must reads'.

The three blogs that are new (to me) are:

This is a busy and entertaining blog. It's occasionally outspoken, but always a good read.

This is a wonderful blog written by Nova. She is a mother of five beautiful children. She has only just started blogging and I think she deserves more readers.

The Moiderer
This is a new blog written by an old blogger! Dawn writes from the heart, I love her emotional honesty.

So there are my three choices. That's the hard part over, I could have recommended another twenty new blogs.

Ooh, that reminds me. I accidentally lost my blog roll and I need to put it back. [Memo to me]!

I'm going to tag three fabulous bloggers who I hope will take up the challenge:

Fraught Mummy at Brits in Bosnia
Liz at VioletPosy

***



Ages ago the wonderful Mum at The Mad House gave the the Circle of Friends Award. I was touched by this. Thank you Mum!

I have to list five things I like to do. So, off the top of my head, five random things:
Walk
Talk
Read
Write
Sing

It has taken me a while to accept this award because I was worried about passing it on. You see, I don't want to leave anyone out from my circle of friends. In the eight months that I've been blogging I have found a wide circle of blogging friends. I couldn't possibly narrow this down to just five people. I can't tag everyone, that would take all day and I'd still probably leave someone out. So, my circle of friends, this award is for you. I hope you know who you are x





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18 January 2010

Stories and Songs Meme


I've been tagged by the lovely Mum at The Mad House for the equally lovely Fraught Mummy's Stories and Songs Meme.

Music is an enormous part of my life. One of my earliest memories is of playing singles on Mum and Dad's record player. It must have been the Christmas when I was three that I played Wizzard's 'I wish it could be Christmas every day' over and over again. I still love that song, although I'd imagine they were a bit sick of hearing it!

I could never go on Desert Island Discs. I would never be able to list my top ten, there are too many to chose from. There are so many songs that can instantly transport me back to different times in my life.

I find it difficult to listen to the songs we played at my brother's funeral, or my Dad's funeral. Music was important to them too. I want 'Do You Realise?' by The Flaming Lips played at my funeral - it's my favourite song of all time. We had it at our wedding too.

We spent longer choosing the music for our wedding than I spent choosing my dress. We chose songs and music by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, The Flaming Lips, Elton John and Albert Ammons. Occasionally I hear the instrumental version of 'Your Song' from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack playing underneath an interview with someone who desperately doesn't want to be voted off some TV show or other. It makes me smile. I walked down the aisle to that music.

'Yes' by McAlmont & Butler is the soundtrack to my twenties. Despite going through some difficult times then, that song always cheered me up. 'My Happiness' by Powderfinger is the song I associate with living in Australia for a year.

When I met Andy I started singing again. He had been writing and recording music for a while and, after a nervous start, I joined him.

The song I've chosen to play on here is none of the above. I've chosen the first song I sang to baby Presley. I didn't know many nursery rhymes back then, but I wondered if he would like me to sing to him. He must have only been two or three weeks old and Andy was back at work.

I cradled my new baby and started to sing to him. The words caught in my throat and I started to cry. I sang through the sobs. It hit me that he was mine, I was his mother. I was a mother singing to her child. This made me enormously happy.

This is the song I sang:



So, who wants to join in? If you would like to be tagged for this one please let me know and I'll add you here.

Tag, you're it:









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8 January 2010

Happy Happy Joy Joy



The gorgeous Wife of Bold tagged me in her happiness meme. The title is 'the ten best things in my life that are free'. I love the idea of this one.

So often I find myself inwardly complaining that life is tough, that I don't get enough sleep, that I have too much to do. It's good to reflect and think about what makes you happy. Like counting your blessings.

I struggled to cut my list down to ten, you will see from the last two that I bunched a few together.

  1. The smell of sweet peas. These remind me of my Grandad.
  2. Sleeping in clean sheets. This doesn't happen as often as it did Before Children.
  3. Singing. The louder the better, like noone's listening .
  4. A nice cup of tea and a sit down. Yes, I'm getting old.
  5. Loading the dishwasher. I pretend I'm on The Krypton Factor. It will all go in. It will.
  6. The Flaming Lips. I never get tired of listening to 'The Soft Bulletin' in particular. I went to see them last year, for the third time. I envy people seeing them live for the first time. It is an amazing experience.
  7. Long Summer evenings. Sitting in the garden until it eventually gets dark. Feeling the gentle, cooling breeze in your arms. The delicate scent of Summer blooms and cut grass.
  8. Doing the Rubik's Cube. Andy found one out today for the boys to play with. I learnt how to do it when I was ten. I felt my age today when I realised I'd been able to do this for nearly thirty years. I still got a great deal of satisfaction as I made the last few turns and saw the colours come together.
  9. My husband. Andy totally gets me. With him I can relax and be myself. I'm comfortable, safe and loved. He makes me happy.
  10. My children. They amaze and delight me every day. Their personalities are developing along with their speech and movement. They are cute, especially when they play together, and they bowl me over with kisses and cuddles. They make me happy.

I'm very lucky.

The photograph above is me, bursting with happiness, about to give Presley his first bath.

I'm passing this meme on to ten bloggers, most of whom are new to me - all members of Judith's Room. Finding fabulous new blogs to read should probably replace the Rubik's Cube on my list as I probably won't do it again for another few years!



Enjoy!




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30 December 2009

Baby Baby Review of the Year


It's that time of year again. The five days between Christmas and New Year, Twixtmas as it is now known.

It's the time of year we reflect on the previous 12 months. I don't know about you but hasn't 2009 flown by? I know, we say it every year!

Thanks to the lovely Sam from Mum's The Boss who has tagged me with the High-5 Meme.


The rules are to thank the person who tagged you, list your top 5 highlights from 2009 and then tag 5 more bloggers to do the same.

Off we go...

1 - Getting Online
2009 was the year I joined the modern world. I joined Twitter in February and have made some wonderful friends, some of whom I now know in real life. I totally 'got' Twitter straight away, I still don't really 'get' Facebook in the same way. Joining Twitter was key to me finding the Preston Writing Network (now The Lancashire Writing Hub), The Continental pub and arts space and starting Baby Baby.

2 - Starting to Write
In January I wrote and recorded a song called 'Meteoric' (with Andy's help on the recording side, oh and he played all the instruments for me, but I wrote the words and the melody)! This was the first song I had written since I left school. I wrote another four songs this year, two are duets with Andy. This was a great way for us to spend time together.
In May I started this blog. I re-discovered a love of writing that I hadn't known since school. I've enjoyed being part of the blogging community and again have made many friends.
In July I had a go at creative writing. I started with a 1600 word short story, written in just 2 hours. I joined a local creative writing group and have now written many pieces, including some creative non-fiction. I've had one story published online, I got totally over-excited when I got the email telling me I was successful!
In November I started a creative writing course that I loved.
Last week I started writing my novel. I'm still in shock that I had an idea for a book and started writing!

3 - Performing Live
Andy and I are now regulars at open mic music nights in Preston (baby sitters permitting). Andy almost always writes new material for each gig. Together we have performed my songs, duets and one cover. People clapped, I shook, but the buzz from singing live stayed with me for days! I'm tremendously proud of the way Andy had developed as a live performer this year.
I also read a short story at a live literature night. Again, this was nerve-wracking but exciting too, especially when several people came up to me afterwards with positive feedback and encouragement.

4 - The Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show
My best friend Amanda, a breast cancer survivor, was one of the catwalk models at the 2009 Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show. Amanda looked gorgeous. I cried buckets. We got dressed up, got drunk, spotted celebs and all for a great cause.

5 - Going to Number 10 Downing Street
This was another night to remember. My Twitter friend, Sarah Brown, invited me to a party at her house. This was not just any old house party. It was The Downing Tweet Christmas Party in support of a Million Mums. I got dressed up, got drunk (again), chatted to celebs and all for another great cause. This really was the opportunity of a lifetime, and all because of Twitter!


That's my top five highlights of 2009. Obviously being a wife and mother has been amazing all year and raising two small boys has been hard work all year too, but I wouldn't swap my life for anyone's.

There was one low point in 2009, losing our lovely old cat in July.

Otherwise this has been an amazing year for me.

I'm going to tag the following fabulous five:


Apologies if you have already been tagged! I look forward to reading your High-5's.





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19 October 2009

Words and Pictures





I was tagged (oops, ages ago) by the lovely Kelly at A Place of My Own with the Photo Tag.

Here are the rules:
  • Mention who tagged you.
  • Go to your photo files…Select the 6th photo folder.
  • Select the 6th photo in that folder.
  • Post that photo along with the story behind it.
  • Then challenge 5 blog friends to do the same!
This is a photo of Presley taken by Andy about a year ago. I must have been out, or feeding Cash or something. Andy thinks it's hilarious to give the boys guitar magazines to read. This is one of Andy's technical manuals. Presley looks quite interested - or perhaps he's contemplating what it will taste like!

Rather than singling out five of you, I'll throw this open to anyone who fancies it.

***

Far more recently Kelly also tagged me with the Randomness of the Book Meme, as did the wonderful Lorraine at Ramblings of a Mum on the Run.

So here are the rules…
  • Collect the book that you have most handy.
  • Turn to page 161.
  • Find the 5th complete sentence.
  • Site the sentence on your blog.
  • Pass it on to 5 other bloggers.
Funnily enough the book I'm currently reading, 'The Philosophical Baby' by Alison Gopnik', is the book Kelly used for her tag. So I'm going to pick up the next book I'm planning to read.

"Describe the problem:
'I'd like to help you out. The problem is the electrician is coming in the nest half hour' "

This is from 'How to talk so kids will listen and how to listen so kids will talk' by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish. This book has been recommended to me by so many parents. I'm looking forward to reading it. When I get a minute!

Again I'm going to pass this on to anyone that fancies it, but I would specifically like to invite those who have contributed to the "What are you reading?" stream on British Mummy Bloggers.




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14 October 2009

Proud to be Meme

Thanks to the lovely Linda at You've got your hands full for tagging me with the 'proud to be meme'. You can listen to Heather Small singing 'Proud' while you read if you like. Isn't youtube wonderful?!



I'm proud of so much in my life, but I also have a few not so proud skeletons lurking in the Calico closet. What do you mean you want to hear about those? No!

I' ll stick to listing five things that I'm proud of today:
  1. Presley walked to and from playgroup today. He held on to Cash's pushchair all the way and stopped patiently on the kerb as I taught him the Green Cross Code.
  2. At playgroup the boys were spectacularly well behaved, (if you ignore Presley trying to open the main door - my 'UH UH' cut through the hubbub and he walked sheepishly back). Today was the first time Presley asked to join the craft table. He glued some paper and felt on to a squirrel-shaped piece of paper. It's lovely *wipes away a tear*. Yes, child art work is still a novelty. Yes, it's going on the fridge!
  3. I managed not to pass out with the pain when Cash whacked me round the face with the potty. I saw stars. Unfortunately not the George Clooney/Johnny Depp kind of stars.
  4. We survived day five without CBeebies. I will write a post on this soon. Incidentally, our television was unplugged before the news report about the Aussies banning it for the under-twos. I just couldn't watch another episode of 'Big and Small'.
  5. I'm proud of being involved in all this blogging erm... stuff:
  • The Best of British Mummy Bloggers Carnival is being held by Antonia at Family Friendly Working.
  • A Mother's Secrets has a collection of posts on pregnancy lows.
  • I've written another Blogger Basics post for Carol at New Mummy's Tips, this time on adding images to posts.
  • I've reviewed the best children's dressing up costume in the world ever on the Great Toy Guide. If you're looking for a Halloween costume you'll find the best twelve here.
Now to pass the meme on to five unsuspecting bloggers, off the top of my head:


Consider yourselves tagged!







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29 September 2009

This is My Dream - A Meme



The lovely Zooarcheaologist from Being A Mummy has started a dream meme. She wrote beautifully about her dream life in a dream house. She kindly tagged me.

I'm quite behind with all these memes, tags and awards. I had intended to do a mega-meme post and list them all, but for some reason this dream meme got me thinking. I've been thinking about it all morning.

I've had a bleugh few days. I'm not well. Before you reach for the disinfectant, it's not swine flu! I suppose I have some virus or other. For some reason one of the symptoms appears to be extreme grumpiness. Another is a complete lack of tolerance for my children's behaviour. I feel like a rotten mother.

When I was pregnant with Presley, my colleagues referred to me as Earth Mother. I'd expressed a desire to: have a natural birth, breastfeed, babywear, use washable nappies, cook wholesome organic food from scratch. I did all of these things, some for a lot longer than others. This doesn't make me an Earth Mother, but there are worse labels.

Then I had another baby, Cash, less than a year later. Thirteen months on and some aspects of parenting are getting easier, but others are still firmly in the 'it's really hard work' category. Maybe it's because I'm 39 and not as fit as I'd like to be. I get tired. CBeebies is my friend and part-time babysitter.

What I've been dreaming about all morning is being Supermummy. I want to be a fragrant yummy mummy, a domestic goddess. I want to be Mary Poppins and Nigella Lawson all rolled into one Supermummy package.

My dream is to always have a smile on my face, have the patience of a saint and the clean, organised house of Anthea Turner.

My children will be bright, enthusiastic learners with excellent manners. They will not poke each other in the eye, push each other over, turn the TV on and off and on and off repeatedly. They will eat everything they are given and play together nicely.

Back in the real world, forget all the labels. All I really want is to be a good mum and to have happy children.

When the boys wake up from their naps I will be their smiling, loving mum. I will not be the shouty old moo of a mother they had this morning!

I would like to pass this meme on to a few bloggers who I'm sure have dreams a plenty.

Fraught Mummy at Brits in Bosnia
Hazel at Hot Cross Mum

***


I know Josie doesn't get much sleep, but I hope she gets enough to have a lovely dream. She is hosting a fantastic sleep deprivation carnival on her blog. She also has a sleep deprivation gallery, where you will see some very tired parents. I'm on there if you fancy a giggle.

***


The best of British Mummy Bloggers carnival is being held by Gigi at Mums Rock. She has very kindly included one of my posts. There are some great blogs listed if you fancy a read.



Mug photo credit: www.Amazon.com



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7 August 2009

Tara Tara Tara



The fabulous Tara from Sticky Fingers decided to 'thank' everyone that had given her a blog award by giving them the The Blame Tara Meme to complete. I like a good meme. She is going to see how far it will spread throughout the blogging world and beyond. I have also been tagged by the lovely Clare at Clareybabbling. Be sure to pay them a visit!

The rules, such as they are, quite frankly you make it up as you go along:
Thank Tara - check
Complete the meme - see below
Pass on to some other brilliant blogs - see even further below

OK off we go!

1. Who is the hottest movie star?

I have had crushes on movie stars (and the like) since I was a little girl. Here they are in chronological (you will be able to guess my age from this) order:
Lee Majors
John Travolta
Adam Ant
John Taylor
Tom Cruise
Kevin Costner
Keanu Reeves
Nuno Bettencourt
Robert Downey Jr
John Cusack
David Tennant

2. Apart from your house and your car, what's the most expensive item you've ever bought?

My engagement ring. This is a long story that I will save for its very own blog post. Suffice to say it was also the most expensive item my husband has ever bought too!

3. What's your most treasured memory?

The day I met Andy was pretty special, as was our wedding. I wouldn't say that I treasure the memories of the births of my children, but I can certainly remember the second I fell head over heels in love with them.

4. What was the best gift you ever received as a child?

This answer is inspired by/copied from the wonderful Gaelikaa, in her answer to question 4 she said Enid Blyton books. I think this is the same for me. I have always loved reading and devoured all of Enid's books. I particularly liked the Mallory Towers books, the Castle of Adventure series and The Secret Island series. I was over the moon to complete my Famous Five collection too. A few years ago I re-read all of the Mallory Towers and St Clares books. Still great reads!

5. What's the biggest mistake you've made?

Have you got all day? The general theme of all my mistakes has been poor choice of friends. I guess in the past I must have been too trusting, naive and easily led. I think that's all behind me now. You lot are lovely people, aren't you?

6. 4 words to describe yourself.

I am a chocoholic!

7. What was your highlight or lowlight of 2008?

My highlight is definitely having Presley, the lowlight would probably be the way I was treated by the hopsital when I was pregnant and the trauma of the birth itself. All worth it though :-)

8. Favourite film?

This is a difficult question. Off the top of my head: Moulin Rouge.

9. Tell me one thing I don't know about you.

I HATE moths. Oh, you mean a proper secret?

10. If you were a comic book/strip or cartoon character, who would you be?

Garfield!


I enjoyed doing that.

I hope the following splendid bloggers will also take up the challenge!


Of course, lovely reader, if you would like to take up the challenge and I haven't tagged you, please feel free to join in and you can blame Tara too.

Bonus points are available for identifying the image above!!

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22 June 2009

It's All About Me Meme


I've been tagged by the lovely
Brit in Bosnia, please check out her wonderful blog.

Here are the rules:
  1. Mention the person who tagged you.
  2. Complete the lists of 8's.
  3. Tag 8 other bloggers and let them know.
8 Things I'm looking forward to:
  1. The toddler deciding that the kitchen bin is no longer his favourite thing in the world.
  2. Getting rid of my cold.
  3. Going to the Word Soup Poetry evening tomorrow night.
  4. Performing my songs at an Open Mic night in July (I think I'm looking forward to this)!
  5. Using the Pamper voucher my husband gave me for Christmas!
  6. My Mum coming to stay for a month in August.
  7. My husband's 40th birthday, we're going to London (without the boys - thank you Grandma) to meet up with friends, eat, drink and do karaoke.
  8. The Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show, my best friend is modelling. I will be taking tissues, plenty of tissues!
8 Things I did yesterday
  1. Cleaned the bathroom.
  2. Changed all the sheets.
  3. Washed and dried a load of washing.
  4. Wrote a short blog post about Father's Day.
  5. Went shopping on my own, I haven't been clothes shopping for AGES :-) I bought five tops in the sales and three books for the boys.
  6. Had a coffee and a muffin in Debenhams cafe.
  7. Peeled my finger instead of a carrot.
  8. After I put on a plaster, I cooked a curry from scratch.
8 Things I wish I could do
  1. Cook a proper Yorkshire Pudding
  2. Play the piano really well
  3. Get more sleep
  4. Sew
  5. Write a book
  6. Speak other languages fluently
  7. Lose weight and keep it off
  8. Ensure my family's health and happiness
8 favourite fruits
  1. Strawberry cheesecake
  2. Banoffee pie
  3. Fruit cake
  4. Jaffa cakes
  5. Toffee apples
  6. Orange ice lollies
  7. Strawberry daquaris
  8. Raspberry ripple icecream
8 Places I'd like to travel
  1. Safari in Africa
  2. Galapagos Islands
  3. Madagascar
  4. Sri Lanka
  5. New York (again)
  6. Australia (again)
  7. New Zealand (again)
  8. Japan
8 Places I've lived
  1. Bedfordshire
  2. Hertfordshire
  3. Sydney, Australia
  4. Christchurch, New Zealand
  5. Hertfordshire (again)
  6. Bedfordshire (again)
  7. Surrey
  8. Lancashire
8 people tagged

Who to tag? I'm trying to find out who hasn't already been tagged and who hasn't already done this meme. Apologies if I make a mistake, you're under no obligation to do it, or do it again! I blame 'Baby Brain'!



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