Down with the kids

I’ve been tagged by Jonathan at Step Family Talk. At first I wasn’t sure what this meant (I’m a bit new to this web 2 stuff), but after some research I’ve worked out that I’m supposed to set out seven strange things about me - and then tag some other people!

My first response was - but there’s nothing strange about me! Then I started thinking….

1. I didn’t realise I was pregnant with Big Sis until 16 and a half weeks. I had noticed some symptoms but had been convinced it was food intolerance and was on a wheat, sugar and dairy free diet! When my stomach started to protrude and people were asking me if I was pregnant I did a test - to my surprise it was positive! I then purchased 5 more tests and went home and used them all in sequence, just to make sure! DSO came home to find me hiding under the blankets with a sea of positive pregnancy tests on the bed side table. I should say at this point that we were overjoyed - just a little surprised (and shaken)!

2. I met one of my dearest friends when we were 17 and I was trying to steal her boyfriend. She found my number and invited me to meet up, with the intention of warning me off and possibly causing some injury! The story ends well with a night of drinking and dancing, the boy long forgotten and a friendship forever.

3. While working as a corporate lawyer ‘at the big end of town’ I used to be so weary I would sneak into the sick bay for a 30 minute nap. I had to sneak down the fire stairs to get away with it. I always left my jacket on my chair so people would assume I was at a meeting in the building.

4. My first part time job at 16 was as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. I was almost sacked in the first week for punching a customer. A group of men on a Buck’s Night had hired the whole restaurant and as I placed a dish of sizzling chicken on the table one of the ‘gentleman’ shoved his hand up my skirt. In an automatic action of self preservation I punched him straight in the face with a closed fist (he was sitting, I was standing). It was hard enough to make his nose bleed! I was immediately sent out the back to do the washing up and feared my career as a waitress may well be over! As it happened the ‘gentlemen’ went on to snap all the chopsticks, urinate in the pot plants and cause miscellaneous damage to the premises. When the police finally sent the last ones on their way I actually got a pat on the back from the owner.

5. I was once ‘interviewed’ in the street by a VJ from a popular TV show. Unfortunately I was so out of touch with youth culture (despite obviously being mistaken for a youth) that I didn’t know any of the bands, singers or comedians he asked me questions about. He then asked me to do an intro to a video clip and I kept mispronouncing the band name as I’d never heard of them before. I never saw it aired but friends who did say they used it as a bit of a comedy filler, repeating it a few times - check out this chick who doesn’t know anything cool!

6. My middle name is Maree, which gives me the same name as Elvis Presley’s daughter (apart from the Presley bit). I’m often asked if my parents were Elvis fans! The similarity is a completely coincidence as my parents were barely aware of Elvis’ existence. Please see 5 above, it must run in the family!

7. At school and university I was a keen debater and debated prisoners in a maximum security prison. The topic was “That Crime Pays” and we were for the negative. They won.

I guess it’s my turn to tag, so here goes:

Emma at Health and Fitness Fact or Fiction

SJ at The Sarcastic Journalist

The Expatriate Chef at The Expatriates Kitchen