OK so Katyboo tagged me on Facebook in one of these silly memes. Well I did sort of invite it really, so it’s all self-inflicted — no change there then!
The meme is about what you were doing at some randomly assigned age …
Age I was given: 44
Where I lived: Greenford, West London
What I drove: Nothing; I don’t drive
What I did: Worked for IBM UK; Project Manager for deployment of laptops to all IBM employees in the UK
Who had my heart: The Norn who must be obeyed
Age now: 62
Where I live: Greenford, West London
What I drive: Nothing; I still don’t drive and may not now be allowed to even if I wanted to (which I don’t)
What I do: Retired; Hon. Secretary of Anthony Powell Society; Chairman of my doctors’ Patient Group; active member of HealthWatch Ealing
Who has my heart: The same Norn who must be obeyed
If you want to play this silly game, leave a comment and I’ll give you an age.

So, at last, we get to the final question of series 4 of Five Questions.

Question 5: What is the biggest obstacle that stands in your way right now?
There is only one possible answer to that … ME!
You think I’m joking? Then you’ve not seen the size of me!
What?! You want a more serious answer?! You mean that isn’t good enough?!
Well if you push me then the answer has to be (a) depression and (b) not enough hours in the day to get done what I want to do.
But isn’t that essentially the same for everyone? … There isn’t enough time and we just can’t push ourselves to do more.
– oo OO oo –
OK, that concludes Five Questions, Series 4. I’ll do another series in a few months.
Meantime, I would like questions to answer — ask anything and I will see if I can answer it. No promises though ‘cos you really don’t want to know about my … TMIA!

OK so I got a covert tag from Katy over at Katyboo1 to do this meme. I can’t resist a good meme.

What I have to do is …

• Post 11 random facts about myself.
• Answer 10 questions set by the person who sent me the meme.
• Pick 10 people to tag myself.
• Set 10 new questions for the people I tag to answer.

11 Random Facts
Those who read here regularly will know quite a bit about me so some of this may be duplication; can’t find 11 totally new ones if only because don’t remember what I’ve used already! So …

1. I’ve worn glasses since I was 14 (that’s nearly 50 years! Eeeek!) ‘cos I’m short-sighted.
2. I have a residual third nipple.
3. I have never broken a bone — and have no wish to! — although I’ve had a couple of close calls.
4. I have known as many heart transplant patients as kidney transplant patients (precisely two of each). Odd considering the high number of kidney transplants compared with heart transplants.
5. I hate formality and dressing up so I’ve never worn a DJ/tuxedo in my life and I don’t intend to start now.
6. I read very slowly; I always have done, and I’ve never managed to master speed-reading.
7. I have never learnt to drive.
8. I was born in University College Hospital (in London’s Gower Street) so on a very good day I’m a Cockney.
9. I terms of doing anything practical I have 10 left thumbs. I can put paint on walls and doors and that’s my limit.
10. My parents were somewhat bohemian so I had a very liberal upbringing which included nudism, being allowed to read whatever I wanted and being allowed to make up my own mind on most things.
11. Consequently, although I have investigated several religions, I’m now an atheist libertarian myself and believe freedom of speech, sexuality, religion, body freedom and lifestyle are all fundamental rights.

Here are my 10 questions from Katy:

1. Cute pictures of animals on the internet, nice or insanely annoying? Cute pictures of anything are insanely annoying.
2. What is your favourite meal of the day, and why? All of them; I just like food. But anything with chips or full English breakfast or curry. That’s why I’m obese!
3. What is your stance on swearing in front of children? They have to learn the words, and they’ll learn them soon enough at school, so better they learn them from me and can then understand when to use them, what they mean and when they shouldn’t use them. And for what it’s worth I feel the same about sex and nudity — they’ll (half) learn soon enough from their mates so better they learn the truth from their parents/friendly adults.
4. Beatles or The Stones? Late Beatles (ie. Sgt Peppers et.seq.) every time.
5. Are you a morning person? If not, what time of day sort of person are you? Neither. I’m good in the morning if I wake up early and I’m wide awake; then I can get going and get lots done. Otherwise forget it. Evenings? Not for anything brainful.
6. Croutons in soup, right or wrong? Yes, but they have to be proper fried croutons; bits of dry toasted bread are just pointless.
7. Favourite moustache. The one I don’t now have. I once had a moustache for about 5 years; it even got on our wedding photos. I grew it for no good reason and shaved it off because I got fed up with it.
8. What do you wear in bed, and why? Occasionally my wife, otherwise nothing. I stopped wearing nightclothes when I was a student. Skin is so much more comfortable than clothes that just tie your dangly bits in knots.
9. Lace curtains or let ‘em look? Lace curtains are the work of the Devil. I need daylight. Al fresco lifestyles are us. If anyone looks too much they get a wave or a finger.
10. Will rockeries ever make a resurgence in these modern times? Probably when some poncy “garden chef” decides they’re fashionable.

Tag 10 people
Like Katy I don’t generally tag people by name. So anyone who wants to do this can post their answers on their blog and post a link in the comments. I promise I’ll come and read yours if you do.  But to encourage you all, if ten people contribute (and do it properly) I’ll give £10 to a UK charity nominated by the 10th contributor posting a link to their contribution in the comments.

10 New Questions for Anyone Accepting a Tag

1. When did you last go to the dentist?
2. Your favourite poem?
3. Something that made you happy this week?
4. Soup or sandwich?
5. What’s the furthest you’ve ever travelled from your home?
6. What’s your favourite sex toy?
7. Science or God?
8. Are you vegetarian? Why or why not?
9. One thing you consider to be a work of the Devil?
10. What would be your one desert island luxury?