Grilled

I've been given an 'I Love Your Blog' award with accompanying meme. Usually I do what most of you seem to do, and decline politely, but as this one came from shy and retiring Deleilan, who does not seem overly inclined to such reckless gestures, I thought I would oblige by answering the questions where I could.

So, here goes:

1. Why did you create the blog?

I like to write (and type); I wanted to chronicle for myself the new life of early retirement that followed a long and difficult period of poor health; I wanted to make my computer a more personal tool. I blogged without being aware of having any readers, and with almost no comments, for such a long time, and I still enjoyed it very much. As I still do, especially now that I've stopped caring about grammar and the dreaded split infinitive.

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?

Yours. Cheerful, funny, humane, thoughtful, silly, affectionate, personal blogs that don't promote products or try to be too clever. Blogs that give me a glimpse of the bloggers behind them, and of what makes them tick - children, animals, creativity, emotional intelligence, the ability to pick themselves up when they've fallen over, the gift of sometimes being surprising.

3. Favourite make up brand?

I don't wear make up. But my favourite drink is Ceylon tea, and my favourite fruit is cherries, the blacker the better. Will that do instead?

4. Favourite clothing brand?

'In My Dreams'. An amazingly beautiful range by a magical designer who manages to make short stout women look several inches taller, with delicious in-and-outy bits and long shapely legs, and pertness where it matters. Sadly, I've lost the password to my account, and am reduced to buying supermarket cheap-but-comfy bag lady tracksuit trousers and making everything last for years.

5. Indispensible make up product?

Dispensed with years ago; some may say I've given up. True. Skin care though: Clinique. My generous sister keeps me going every Christmas and stops me from having to moisturise with lard.

6. Favourite colour?

Grey. No, black. No, dark red (NOT maroon!). No, chocolate brown. No, rose....... and so on. Whatever won't show cat and dog hair too much - that's the theory, anyway.

7. Your perfume?

Ah, this is where I'm a fusspot. I often feel queasy with perfume, and for more years than I care to recall, have used nothing but Hermes' 'Caleche' (eau de toilette, not parfum), and very sparingly too. Lovely, old-fashioned, subtle, and ages well.

8. Your favourite film?

'Gosford Park'. Watched at least annually; something new to spot every time, and a superb cast of hugely unlikeable but rivetingly watchable characters. And Clive Owen showing that a man can look extreeeemely good in an old-fashioned white cotton vest.....

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

Sweden. No, Finland. No, Norway. No, Lapland. Oh, you know, somewhere that has trees and water and beautiful light (for part of the year anyway). Denmark. I was fatally influenced by HC Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' when I was a child. I also loved Australia, and would have moved there if I hadn't been too old and poor for their snooty Government to accept me.

10. Devise the last question yourself: What holds you back?

Remaining shreds of sanity. Budgetary constraints. Sensible friends. The risk of smelling awful. Fear of being cleared out by the council's dirty squad every year and having my 378 cats forcibly rehomed....

I'm now supposed to pass this award to 10 other bloggers, but I know what you'll do - you'll sigh, press your delicate hand to your throbbing brow, murmur faintly about being all memed out, and can you be excused, please Miss. So I'll just leave it here on the table for you to pick up with a weak cup of Earl Grey tea should you feel the urge for something to do. Or you could just answer question 10 and post it as a comment.....

Thanks, Deleilan!