Appetizer
Who is the easiest person for you to talk to?

I tend to bottle things and don’t talk to people but I suppose it would be my mum if anyone.

Soup
If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose?

Oh, this is so hard for me! It would have to be either Ancient Rome or Ancient Athens. I love the mythology and the culture of both.

Salad
What is the most exciting event you’ve ever witnessed?

Bon Jovi in concert last Summer! I was beside myself with anticipation for months after buying the tickets.

Main Course
If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt?

I wouldn’t want to be a celebrity. The idea of living in a goldfish bowl fills me with revulsion.

Dessert
What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child?

I don’t think there is any ideal age. You are either ready or you aren’t, however I think people should experience life and give themselves a chance to grow up before they start on the next generation.

On 31 August 1997, Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris and the world lost one of its brightest stars. Diana wasn’t a saint and she knew how to manipulate the media to her advantage, the picture of her sitting alone in front of the Taj Mahal being a prime example. However, she was also a kind-hearted woman who did a lot of work for charity and was a great ambassador for Britain. That is how she should be remembered.

We’ve had ten years of conspiracy theories and endless book releases from her so-called friends. We’ve had ten years of the People’s Princess and the Queen of Hearts crap. We’ve had ten years of post-mortems of the crash. We’ve had ten years of Camilla bashing.

Frankly, I’m tired of it.

The Diana Myth

I’ve had the week off work and was determined to fill in trips to Edinburgh and other places but as usual I’ve achieved pretty much nothing. I get like that sometimes. I’m sure if I didn’t have a job, I’d spend the rest of my life hiding in my house. I’m not one of these adventure types who seize life with both hands and never let go. I live my life more quietly and I’m pretty much a loner. It’s not that I don’t want to do things or am too lazy to do them, I just seem to get into this lethargic state of mind which means it’s pretty hard to motivate myself. I really should adopt Scarlett O’Hara’s famous phrase: “Tomorrow is another day” for my blog. That seems to be how I see life! Add in a dose of insomnia and pre-menstrual blues and that sums up my week.

So, today, I was determined to get out of the house and use my shiny new Historic Scotland Friends card by visiting Edinburgh Castle. It seemed doomed to fail from the start! The first train was cancelled completely and I had to wait another half hour for the next one which was actually fourteen minutes late! I really wanted to be at the castle in time for the One O’ Clock salute and just made it by the skin of my teeth! The Fringe is over and the Festival ends on Saturday so there weren’t many performers on the streets but the place was over flowing with tourists. Of course, the castle’s dominant position over the city means it’s uphill all the way and my calves were burning with pain by the time I got up to the esplanade! I was wearing my trainers which are very comfy but so flat when you have a high instep!

The castle was brimming as well but luckily, I don’t have to queue for tickets since I’m a Priority visitor! I must say I quite like walking passed the queues with a smug grin on my face! Yes, peasants, Lady C is visiting! I had my trusty camera with me of course so you can look forward to some piccies soon.

Oh, and do you remember this little chap? Keep an eye on my blog for a chance to win him and other souvenirs I picked up today!

I’ve been on the Apple mailing list since buying my iPod a couple of years ago and as you would expect, I keep getting e-mails advertising their cool products. Recently, the number of e-mails seem to have risen since a lot of new products are on the way, including the new OS system. I am just waiting with baited breathe to see if they will be changing the MacBook Pro any time soon!

I’ve almost made my mind up to buy a MacBook Pro as soon as Leopard is released but here’s my dilemma: I’ve never used a Mac in my life and every time I see a glowing review, I find an equally negative one. The whole thing just starts me doubting again. Having said that, I’ve noticed a lot of the really excellent web designers out there seem to be using a Mac and some of their work is simply stunning.

I’d like some feedback, good or bad, in regard to swapping to a Mac…. Oh, and matt or glossy?

I find myself alone in the house for a week and every spider in the damn neighbourhood seems to be taking this as an invitation to move in. I was busy cleaning my bedroom on Monday being the Domestic Goddess that I am (and I use that term loosely) when a huge spider shot out from behind my DVD case which can’t be moved since it is attached to the bloody wall. I stood there trembling for five minutes working on my plan of action before I decided the suck-it-up-with-the-hoover method had to be implemented because the scream-for-dad method is temporarily unavailable.

The ugly bugger shot up the hose on its own private roller coaster ride. Mission accomplished. I, on the other hand, am still a quivering wreck because I hate spiders with a passion and cannot have them anywhere in my vicinity.

What just happened? I head downstairs into the kitchen to get a drink and just miss standing on one of the biggest f**king spiders I’ve ever seen in my life! I nearly stood on it! With. My. Barefoot. I stood there, heart pounding in my ears and I swear to God it was laughing at me! It has eyes and that probably means it has teeth too! Once again, I have a dilemma. I can’t just shut the door and leave it because I need to use the kitchen tomorrow… I don’t need to be looking in every corner as I make my breakfast… There’s no one else here… It’ll be gone by the time I get the hoover out…. I see my saviour. A plastic bin which is duly placed over the monster and I vacate the vicinity.

So, I am in dire need of a strapping male who will dutifully dispose of spiders for me, starting with the one in the kitchen in the morning. Other duties will to be determined but cuddling and soothing massages are a definite possibility.

I don’t need lectures on how you shouldn’t kill them as they are living creatures but, damn, they invade my territory and they have to be prepared to pay the ultimate price. *shudders*

The lovely Swordgirl tagged me for this and it’s gonna take me ages because I have a long middle name!

ELIZABETH : I never used to like my middle name but since I’ve been studying my family tree, I’ve discovered that I’m one of a long line of women with some form of that name. It’s also my grandma’s name and how can I not feel proud of having part of her with me all the time! So, here goes:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

E - English. Although I’m dead proud of my Scottish ancestry, my maternal grandfather was English which means I am at least quarter English

L - Labyrinthitis. I suffered from this about six years ago and was virtually a recluse for a year. It damaged my confidence badly and I still suffer from it occasionally. It does not last a few weeks like most medical sites claim and is very debilitating.

I - Introvert. I’m actually a very shy person and I hate social gatherings, even family ones. I usually end up hiding somewhere quiet.

Z - Zodiac. My starsign is Sagittarius but I don’t think I’m a typical one. (phew! now that was a hard letter!)

A - Anxiety. I suffer from the occasional anxiety attack as a result of the condition listed under L.

B - Betty. My grandma who passed away last year and is greatly missed.

E - English Lit. I have an Honours degree in English Lit which proved to be very useful in the job market! (not!)

T - Tracey. My first name and every name book I’ve read says it derives from Theresa which is Latin. However, this site says it is very Celtic or Gaelic in origin which please me no end because my surname is actually French!

H - Hebrew. Apparently, Elizabeth is a Hebrew name and means “My God is a vow”!

Now, I’m supposed to tag other bloggers with the letters…

E - Erica
L - Lynn
I - Insanity Prevails
Z -
A - A Changing Life
B - Buttercup
E - Elissa
T - Tor
H - Hootin’ Anni

That’s actually not bad considering what I had to work with!