To the lovely Cailyn at Ethereal Dreams for our Sunshine Award! What I appreciate about these awards is the unexpected..you never know where the questions will lead.  And then the list of Blogs to pass on the award? Another revelation setting their questions and seeing how they answer them…

My 10 questions from Cali:

1. What’s the best advice you received?

I’m not sure it qualifies as advice, but I did have a wonderful Grandmother who was always quoting old-fashioned proverbs..one of my favourites was ‘If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.’  I still love the sentiment, the words and the whole rhythm..like horses trotting.

2. What are you thinking about?

How to answer this question? But seriously – I am a fully fledged signed up member of the daydreaming club.  As a child I had a whole imaginary world I could disappear into..nothing much has changed.  I knew my husband knew me far to well when he spotted the  look..he say’s i’ve gone to dappy land…and there tends to be a pre-face of ‘oh no’.  But I do believe in order to achieve something you have to dream it first..

3. If you had to choose an animal that best represents you, what would it be? And Why?

A chameleon..I can change to suit my environment..I like to put people at ease. Then a Dormouse because the idea of hibernating when the weather is bad is very appealing.  With the tail of a Bird of Paradise (male! – they’re prettier) because I like to strut my stuff and make my house look pretty!

4. What is important for you in life, love or money?

I genuinely believe what they say – that money doesn’t buy you happiness.  It doesn’t make you a better person just because you have it, in fact I think it isolates you.  Most of the intelligent wealthy people I have read about either give chunks away or end up planting trees..because it’s that connection with nature that creates a real sense of self. I do think that money makes life easier, but I am sure a lack of it makes a person more creative.  In comparison love is just the best free drug in the world!

5. What is your nickname?

My lovely Grandmother called me ‘Katie-Koo’..The Husband calls me trouble..

6. What do you find the most interesting about the opposite sex?

Their dangly bits?! I find it fascinating that we are the same species yet entirely different.  I don’t know if it’s a man thing, but my other half is the kindest, loveliest man you could meet – in all aspects, except one…when I am ill he runs a mile.  Once I spent 12 hours in our bedroom without so much as a glass of water…he says he wants to give me peace so I can get better (man would go in cave) whilst I want to know he cares and shows concern.  After 12 years of marriage, if I fear a bug coming on I’ve learnt to stockpile…

7. What is one thing you would change about yourself and why?

I would have a breast reduction so I could wear all the styles I love without having to edit.  I particularly want to be able to wear sexy 1940s style sleepwear without fear of my boobs brushing my knees.  The selection of  sleepwear for curves is abysmal..and don’t tell me Bravissimo…I don’t want sports wear..I want elegance, mystery, silk and lace..

8. Do you have any regrets? If so, what are they?

I won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at 11 to study the violin and from then on it was assumed that’s what I would do – it was an obvious talent so why wouldn’t I? I studied full time at 17..I never visited a University or explored other options..no-one said is this what you want to do for the rest of your life, do you realise what the life of a musician entails? Unsocial hours, terrible pay, and very little natural creativity?..you are a very small cog in a big wheel where the most important thing is that your bow goes in the same direction as everyone else’s?  I wasn’t a very good cog..I was the one at the back running the sweep stake on when the rehearsal would end.  It’s not that I don’t love music..I just found it very restrictive.  I look back now and I regret  doing my  A levels in one year.  Those two years in sixth form as so vital for development and maybe if I’d stayed I would have taken a different path, visited the universities, art schools and smelt the air of discovery. I still got an A in Art – the picture I produced was taken round the country to illustrate the quality of an A grade…I adored the exam because I had eight hours to focus solely on painting..but I didn’t have the sense to rebel in a productive way and there was no adult who could really ‘see me’ and say Kate, have you really thought about what you’re doing?..it’s something I say to all young people I meet and something I very much hope to install in my children..be the best that you can be in the thing that you want to be the best at..the rest will follow.

9. What inspires you?

Everything and anything.  I’ll be watching a dramatic thriller with the husband – there’s a man walking into a room with an axe-weilding murderer ready to leap hiding behind the door..and I’ll prod The Husband and say ‘Nice wallpaper’…

10. What would a utopian society be to you?

In my ideal society men would have babies too.  I consider myself to be a modern feminist – I want equality.  But I don’t see it happening until maternity leave is genuinely and fundamentally shared between the sexes.  I know there is a new law is being brought in to say fathers can take it if they want to – but there won’t be actual equality until they do and it’s not going to happen over night.  We have a better chance to change them biologically to join us..Besides I actually think it would solve many of the worlds problems if they did have babies.  Can you imagine?!

And now I have to come up with 10 questions:

1. Who is your style icon and why?

2. What are you wearing right now?

3. Where was your best holiday?

4. And your worst?

5. Did you learn much at school?

6. Could you predict your life?

7. What was the first album you bought?

8. Could you ever live in another country?

9. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?

10. If you could have any person to be your mentor who would you choose?

And my 10 blogs to pass on this award too are:

1. Le Cape Town Journal – because of your photos and style. I want to be there.  With you.

2. Fashion Assist – For her passion for fashion.

3. Vintage Attitude – For her fabulousness with vintage and always picking shops I love.

4. Judith at Wee Story Book –  for her skill and joy.

5. Renne Writes Now – for her carefully chosen words of wisdom.

6. Arnold and Bird  – Because I love what Joanne does.

7. Lavenderloafers – For enthusiasm, desire and a gorgeous pair of trousers.

8. Fashion Mayann – For always choosing the clothes I love.

9. According to Coco – for recognisable angst and great writing.

10 Girls on the High Street – for happiness and enthusiasm and loving Balham!

The Rules:

Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog

Link to the person who nominated you

Answer 10 questions about yourself

Nominate 10 bloggers

Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs letting them know they

have been nominated

CONGRATULATIONS! And I hope you will pass the baton on!

Laters, Kate x