Much rubbish resides within....
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Take the test presented here to determine if you're losing it or not.

The spacing below is so you don't see the answers until you've made your answer.

OK, relax, clear your mind and begin....

1. What do you put in a toaster?



Answer: 'bread.' If you said 'toast,' give up now and do something else. If you said, bread, go to Question 2.



2. Say ' silk' five times.
Now spell 'silk.'
What do cows drink?





Answer: Cows drink water. If you said 'milk,' don't attempt the next question. Your brain is over-stressed. However, if you said 'water', proceed to question 3.






3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from?



Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said 'green bricks,' why are you still reading these? If you said 'glass,' go on to Question 4.





4. It's twenty years ago, and a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. (If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany.)

Anyway, during the flight, two engines fail. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure...

Unfortunately the engine fails before he can do so and the plane fatally crashes smack in the middle of 'no man's land' between East Germany and West Germany.

Where would you bury the survivors?

East Germany, West Germany, or no man's land'?







Answer: You don't bury survivors. If you said ANYTHING else, you're a dunce and you must stop. If you said, 'You don't bury survivors', proceed to the next question.







5. Without using a calculator.

You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales.

In London, 17 people get on the bus.

In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on.

In Swindon, two people get off and four get on.

In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on.

In Swansea, three people get off and five people get on .

In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Milford Haven.

What was the name of the bus driver?



Answer: Oh, for crying out loud! Don't you remember your own name? It was YOU!!




PS: 95% of people fail most of the questions!!

(Blame my brother Eric for this one - and I buried the survivors, oops!)

Snagged from christante

Your result for The Mythological Profile Test ...

Vilkacis
You scored 80% Esotericism, 50% Power, and 54% Malevolence!

Vilkacis (to be translated literally as "wolf's eyes"; 'werewolf') is usually a malicious creature; a scary being people can turn into. There are particular ways how the people with this curse turn into the wolves and then get their human appearance back and places where this is said to have happened. Although mostly malevolent, on occasion it would bring treasures. It belongs to the same lower level of mythological beings as Dievini, Ragana, Pukis and Vadatajs. It is not clear whether with Vilkacis it is the flesh or just the soul that transforms, as there are accounts of moving an apparently sleeping person whose soul is out "running as a werewolf", after which the person turns out to be dead, as the soul couldn't enter the flesh to return.

Take the quiz:- http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-mythological-profile-test

What I want to know about werewolves it this: where do the fleas go when they turn inside-out - or outside in? As wolfy is gamboling through the primordial forests, his/her fluff will pick up fleas. This is why my dogs bathe in eucalyptus shampoo. So, when wolfy turns back into human form, are the fleas stuck on the inside and do they tickle?

Your results...
Advanced
You scored 97% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 98% Expert.

Source of test: http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-commonly-confused-words-test



Ok, now it's your go!

1) Name your three favourite authors: Emile Zola, Anne Rice, Evelyn Waugh. But there are so many more...!

2) Name your three favourite poets: Baudelaire, Tagore, Rimbaud.

3) Name your three favourite artists: Lucien Freud, Edward Burne-Jones, GD Rossetti.

4) Name your three favourite films: The Lord of the Rings trilogy; The Illusionist; hmm, it gets vague after that... I'm not much of a film buff. I watch them then forget them, mostly.

5) Name your three favourite dinners: Kashmiri Chicken; roast chicken with steamed vegetables; anything spicy.

6) Name your three favourite desserts: my cakes; Death by Chocolate; blackcurrant cheesecake.

7) Name your three favourite places: being at home; the beach; Chester.

8) Name your three favourite pass-times: walking my dog; sketching; reading.

9) Name your three favourite flowers: poppies, roses, snowdrops.

10) Name your three favourite ambitions: to find a good literary agent; to have my novels published; to gradually re-design the decor and garden of our home.

Ok, now it's your turn!

quiz via thenaiadmuse



What does your drawing say about YOU?

"You are driven and ambitious and tend to make radical moves to reach your goals. You are a thoughtful and cautious person. You like to think about your method, seeking to pursue your goal in the most effective way. You are creative, mentally active and industrious. You are ambitious and optimistic, determined to prove and advertise yourself."

Get your own free numerology reading here:- http://willmaster.com/numerology/

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(Most of this was rather accurate.)

Let’s begin with a little quiz lifted from gingerspark who declared, “Ask me 3 questions: no more, no less. Ask me anything you want. Anything! Then go to your journal, copy and paste this, allowing your friends (including me) to ask you anything. C'mon I dare you... I double dog dare ya!”

Ok, so I dare you. Keep in mind that pithy retorts may well prove mandatory.

Tuesday afternoon saw me grubbing around in the attic, brushing aside inches of dusty cobwebs in the search for old magazines which have featured my writing. You can now see some of these on my updated profile page.

Tuesday also saw us in Birkenhead, when we bought a digital camera for him. He’d turned his nose up at the prospect of using a digi initially, but when he saw the results from mine he changed his mind. Plus the digi will easily fit into his pocket, whereas our old SLRs are bulky by comparison. He wants to take photos of his art work, partly to put on his MySpace site (ok, for me to put on his MySpace site!!!) but partially simply for his own pleasure, as a visual record of his creations.

So, he enjoyed his thirty-ninth birthday – with much teasing about hurtling towards the Big Four-Oh. Time flies, hmm? Oh, and he extends his thanks to all those who sent birthday wishes for him.

On DVD we enjoyed Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty with Ballet de L’Opera de Paris. The costumes by Franca Squarciapino were gorgeous – lavish and highly detailed without distracting attention from the dancing. Princess Aurore was beautifully danced by Aurelie Dupont, and Manuel Legris as Prince Desire performed several excellently choreographed solos. He has his own website here:- http://www.manuel-legris.com/ and there’s an interesting interview with Aurelie Dupont here:- http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_03/nov03/interview_aurelie_dupont.htm

1. What makes you feel as if where you live is your "home", rather than just somewhere to stay?
Any home should be a sanctuary, a tranquil retreat from the world beyond. Therefore, a home needs to be as secure as possible from intrusion – and for me this also means from intrusion from objects and activities that try to impose on my personal space. To be surrounded by items of your own choosing, displayed according to your own tastes, is a luxury which must be compromised when sharing domestic space with others, of course. Each person should have their own room, their own inviolable territory, certainly.

2. How "homey" does your current abode feel to you?
This house is very much a work in progress. There are several major renovations yet to be begun. On a scale of one-to-ten, the homeliness of this house currently scores at barely a five. While I’m very fond of the geographic area, I could leave this house tomorrow without one qualm. But then I’ve moved house eight times so far in my life, and have never felt any noticeable bond to a home. I’ve always felt that there might be many equally or surpassingly interesting places to be.

3. What would your dream home be like?
At different points in my life I’ve held different ideals regarding domestic lifestyle. The chocolate-box image of a thatched cottage with fragrant roses festooning the porch certainly has cosy appeal – but equally so might a contemporary loft apartment, as space and light are most desirable to me. Or perhaps I might live in a converted church, even retaining some of the original ecclesiastical fittings, and most certainly preserving any stained glass windows, whose coloured lights are delightful to my eyes even if the subject matter is akin to an alien folklore. How does a person settle on only one ideal when, having so many diverse interests, a variety of homes might hold fascination?

4. What would your nightmare home be like?
I’ve lived in several problematic homes, actually. The various adventures are too convoluted to list here. Suffice to say I’ve lived in tiny rooms, a haunted house, a good apartment ruined by the NOISE of the pest downstairs, and a semi-derelict hotel.

5. Of all the places you have lived in your life, where did you feel most "at home"?
This question has been partially answered already. The first time I visited the seaside village where I now live, I felt strongly attracted to the area. I remember feeling envious of those who lived here, and also despairing of the idea that I could ever afford to be here too. Try as I might, I can’t define why the area just feels “right”; there is no logical reason for this.

The peninsula offers amazing scenery – beaches, ancient woodlands, moors, jagged sandstone hills, hidden ponds and farmland. West Wirral retains its rural feel and yet it’s easy to travel to the shopping centre of Birkenhead, or into the cities of Liverpool or Chester.

Chester definitely draws me; this beautiful city possesses a lively blend of ancient history and the totally contemporary. There’s a deep undercurrent of vibrant energy thrumming through some of the ancient sites – but you’ll have to read my novels to learn about those! *evil chortles*

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	6.7
Mind:	7.3
Body:	7
Spirit:	8.4
Friends/Family:	4.7
Love:	3.6
Finance:	7
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

I’ll be travelling to Liverpool to meet my two nieces on Monday. I’ve not seen the eldest girl for quite some time, so that should be interesting. She has a job now; nothing special but it’s a step in the right direction for her. I’m planning to encourage her to enrol for a retail management course once the September term begins.

The younger girl will be staying with us for a few days. She’s at college still, and is looking around for university courses in forensic science.

Only last week, almost everyone in Britain was complaining about the ferocious heatwave. We had temperatures of 115 degrees F here twice! This week we have Autumn. Leaves from our contorted hazel tree are already carpeting the lawn. It’s rainy, cool and breezy – blissful relief!

We watched a good film last night; Man on Fire starring Denzel Washington as an embittered body guard hired to protect a millionaire’s child from abduction. Dakota Fanning displayed incredible acting skills for such a young girl. She’s a fragile-looking, beautiful girl with a startlingly intelligent expression. Watch the trailer here:- http://www.manonfiremovie.com/

Another film trailer which may be of interest can be viewed here:- http://www.bloodline-themovie.com/ which proposes to reveal the history of the Priory of Sion, who claim to protect the secret bloodline of Mary Magdalene.

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Tag five people. (Actually, I won’t tag anyone; just help yourselves if you wish to join in.)

Oh dear, is this quiz doing the rounds again? Ah, well, here we go:- ( Read more... )

I’ve been rather distracted in the evenings by our methodical viewing of Survivors, which was a BBC production filmed at the height of the Cold War. The three series cover events following a virus outbreak which kills most of the world’s population. Everything which Western people take for granted – fuel, fresh food, hospitals, law, relative safety, running water – has all been swept aside. Survivors poses many very pertinent questions which are just as valid today. After all, how many of us have put a splint on a broken leg, grown our own crops (and I don’t mean just a few herbs or tomatoes!), made our own soap, smelted ore to repair farm tools, fought to the death to protect food and property and your loved ones? It’s a fascinating, intelligent and well-written series, and I recommend it. Certainly it will get you thinking about “what if…” scenarios.

The photos which I’d hoped would provide something suitable for the forthcoming Dark Moon Press anthology turned out to be a total disaster. Surely I can do better myself! In fact, if I get time over the next few days this is exactly what I intend to try.

Blame Suz for this enormous quiz thingy!

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...And having completed this quiz, it's time for breakfast! My tum is demanding attention!! Bye-eee!

Quiz lifted from anselmthelost

You Should Be a Science Fiction Writer

Your ideas are very strange, and people often wonder what planet you're from. And while you may have some problems being "normal," you'll have no problems writing sci-fi. Whether it's epic films, important novels, or vivid comics... Your own little universe could leave an important mark on the world!

Which is more amusing, I wonder – to be described as abnormal, or as a sci-fi writer?

What is normal? Normal = average = mediocre. In which case I’ll take abnormal as a great compliment.

I am, however, most definitely not a sci-fi writer. I have never written, or felt inspired to write, anything about imaginary planets inhabited by odd-looking life-forms hell-bent on annihilating other odd-looking life-forms. There’s enough of that here on Earth already.

Hmm, I’m more of an oow-wow-I’m-alive-and-let’s-try-to-stay-that-way-despite-the-scary-stuff kind-of writer. Throw some metaphysics into the mix and you should get the general idea.

Anyway, I can now announce that at last Chapter 33 of Tamsin has been completed. This takes the word count up to 83,500, leaving one chapter and the epilogue left to write. The end draws nigh! Yippee!

PS. Hardly anyone’s signed my sparkly new guestbook. I will now proceed to sulk.

1 - Which were your best three subjects while at high school?
Those would have been English Language, English Literature and Art.

2 - Which were your worst three subjects?
Easily Maths was my worst, then also Computer Studies and Science.

3 - What did you enjoy most about high school?
Chatting with my friends, especially Freddie and Adele (yes, another Adele; keep the jokes - trust me when I say I've heard all of them already.) I loved spending time in the art studio, which was easily my favourite room in the school building.

4 - What did you least like?
Sports, which have always bored me; and also Assembly, which was equally pointless. Oh, and I only ate one school dinner, thereafter vowing never to repeat the experience.

5 - Were you a member of any school clubs/societies?
In my first year, I was a member of the school choir. I even took part in a church concert, performing a very small solo piece. I can only conclude that the music teacher must have been very desperate indeed.

6 - Were you a prefect?
No! *chuckles*

7 - Describe your school uniform, if you wore one:
Vile, as seems to be mandatory. The winter uniform comprised of a bottle green blazer, grey jumper or cardigan, grey knee-length skirt, white nylon shirt, and a bottle green nylon tie with gold diagonal stripes. The summer outfit was pure torture: green and white gingham dresses guaranteed to make us all look like Doris Day in need of professional help.

8 - Were you ever made to attend detention?
Three times within the first two weeks of starting high school, and each time it was for not handing in my homework on time. Being provided with a map of the school just may have alleviated my inability to remember where the class rooms where located... Even now I have absolutely no sense of direction.

9 - Were you ever awarded with anything?
At the conclusion of my first year, I was among a handful of other students chosen to receive a handshake from a complete stranger. In recognition of my achievements, I was awarded a novel appropriately titled The White Elephant.

10 - What are your most vivid memories of high school?
Apart from the obvious boredom, I'd have to say the smell - of wet coats smouldering all through every winter, or the pong of boiled cabbage and sweaty sports wear. Probably my favourite memory is of my utter relief when I graduated five years later; I didn't once glance back.

A thoroughly exasperating morning was spent trying to coax Microsoft’s auto-update to behave itself. Mine refuses to download new doodads.

I’ve added the right URL to my trusted sites list. I’ve ran up-to-date anti-spyware/adware/virus – oh so very exciting, as you can imagine. But when I use the update facility on Microsoft’s site all I get is an error code: 0x80246002. And can I find the meaning of this code anywhere? No! I hunted here, I hunted there, I hunted till my eyes felt like they were ready to bleed – but all I could find was a “code does not exist” declaration. Funny how it exists (repeatedly) in my updates history list!

*Sniffs airily* We are not amused.

And now... (cue drum roll) ...the 50 Questions Quiz elegantly swiped from gingerspark

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I don't usually bother with any on-line quiz, partly because they're the last bastion of the bored (ok, today I'm... not exactly bored but definitely fidgety, and it's too hot outside to do any gardening); plus these sites often have trojans hiding in them. However, these results were surprisingly accurate.

Adele took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Preoccupied with things of an intensely exciting n..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

My results are behind the LJ cut.
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