50 things about me

1. I am writing this list to avoid studying. I've become really good at not doing what I should be doing of late.
2. My starsign is gemini, and while the rational part of my brain guffaws at astrology, I do compulsively read my horoscope, and I am a typical twin.
3. Actually, I really was a twin, but my brother or sister didn't make it. A fact that I didn't know until my early 20s, but which made a whole lotta sense when I did find out.
4. I spent the first 27 years of my life being very good. No teenage rebellion, no drugs or smoking. Some under-age alcohol, and plenty of sex, but only with people I was dating long-term.
5. I've spent the past four years making up for being so good for all that time.
6. I would love to spend six months volunteering in Africa. Helping to build a school, and then teaching in it.
7. I get angry if I catch anyone lying to me. Bad news I can take, dishonesty I cannot.
8. I love walking across London bridges at night.
9. My most romantic first kiss ever was halfway across the Millennium Bridge at sunset.
10. I am a qualified massage therapist. But I haven't practised since I took my final exam more than two years ago.
11. I used to speak with a Canadian accent, after my family lived near Quebec when I was a kid.
12. I fall in love way too easily.
13. As a result, my heart is easily bruised. I'm lucky that it's only ever been completely broken once however, and that despite it being ripped apart, I did succeed in patching it back together.
14. I am totally addicted to peppermint tea.
15. ... and also to wine (of almost any variety).
16. I love watching football and rugby, but only if it's an England international match.
17. I'm thought to be pretty good at what I do, but secretly, I think I'm just good at faking it.
18. I have loads of cousins. Seriously, loads. And I love em all! (Particularly Wise Cousin, who's on her way here for dinner right now).
19. I don't believe that I will ever meet 'the one'.
20. But I want to have three children...
21. I had my navel pierced twice. A year after the first time I had to take the ring out for 24 hours because of an operation, and then it wouldn't go back in. Cue a second trip to see a big hairy tattooed man and have him punch a hole in me. But I love my belly piercing!
22. One of the scariest moments in my life was having my third wisdom tooth extracted. The previous one had been so awful that this time I actually cried all the way to the dentist. And got some very strange looks in the process.
23. My brother left home when I was 14, and I've felt like an only child ever since. I'm always very jealous of friends who shared more times with their siblings.
24. I'm a hopeless romantic.
25. I love to sing, and do it very badly. But it makes me happy so I warble to my ipod as I walk to the bus stop, and ignore yet more funny looks from passers by!
26. I like to do nice things for people, especially out of the blue. This week I sent my best pal a spa voucher because she needed cheering up. And lucky me gets to go with her and enjoy the indulgence and her company for an evening.
27. I'm seriously shortsighted. I once cried during a sight test because the optician turned the lights down super low and walked off with my specs, and I simply couldn't see a thing.
28. But ... I'm hoping to have laser eye surgery soon ... hoo-bloody-rah.
29. I believe that people come into your life for a reason, and sometimes they leave it again. You have to be able to let them go.
30. I love reading crime fiction, but I've been known to get so scared by a book that I couldn't sleep with it in the same room.
31. I think there's no better way to spend an evening than by sharing good food and wine, and great conversation.
32. I barely drank coffee until about a year ago, when long hours at work made it a necessity. I'm now addicted to the stuff.
33. I'd like to be much better at cryptic crosswords.
34. I hate positive discrimination, which means that I vehemently disagree with diversity targets. Surely there's a better way to achieve fair representation?
35. I get impatient around stoopid people. Really, where is their common sense?!
36. I love receiving flowers. But the last person who sent me any was a cousin who wanted to thank me for looking after her when she slit her wrist. That was about five years ago.
37. I would do anything if someone in my family or one of my friends needed me. Without a second thought.
38. I love growing things. One of my proudest garden achievements ever was my crop of bell and chilli peppers last summer. The strawberries and tomatoes weren't bad either!
39. ... But I cannot make flowers live ... I think I love them to death!
40. My celebrity crushes are John Simm, Matthew Mcconnaughey, Patrick Kielty and Declan Donnelly ... very random I know.
41. I'm rubbish at team sports, altho I used to love playing netball and rugby at school.
42. I barely speak any languages other than English. And altho I realise this is rubbish, I'm too lazy to do anything about it, other than when I'm on hols.
43. Like all the women that I know, I wish I was thinner.
44. I climbed a mountain last year, and loved the experience, even tho it was one of the hardest physical things I've ever done.
45. I've lived in London for seven years, and I can't imagine ever moving away ...
46. ... altho I do daydream about a cottage in the countryside ...
47. I'm really stubborn, and can be completely bloody-minded. And I hate being wrong.
48. But if I make a mistake, I'm the first to point it out.
49. I can't decide if my favourite tipple is baileys on ice or champagne.
50. ... but I'm fairly sure that some more research will help me decide ;-)