Famous in Our Own Lunchtimes

Mt. Ruapehu (Discover Our Earth)

I've been wanting to do this. You could say I have an above average interest in people or you could say I'm nosy. Anyway, I've been blogging for eons and have never started off one of these. So I thought it would be fun. There's a company here that makes L&P - it's lemonade but instead of carbonated water they use natural mineral water from Paeroa. They have a funny tv ad where they claim Paeroa is world famous in New Zealand. And that inspired my title. Since I'm starting off, I have to go first, and then it's your turn:

What do you like most about where you live?

I always have the same answer to that - the natural environment. It's beautiful here. New Zealand is two small islands in the South Pacific, so most people live near a beach. I live 5 minutes from one myself, and there are lots of others close by too. The beach is part of my life. It's fun, but I also find I am reflective there. There is also wonderful ferny natural bush and forests to walk through. And we have snowy mountains too. One of my favourite spots is on the West Coast - the black sand beaches, Muriwai and Piha. They are surf beaches and the view from up on the clifftop is spectacular at sunset.

Is there anything strange about where you live?

The road signs. I mean the ones painted on the road. I always say I have an upside down view of life but the road signs are a challenge. Imagine you are driving and you see this:

Child
That
Mind

Or this:

Way
Give

That's exactly how they are painted on the road. Another strange thing is ay. Ay goes at the end of sentences. Some people use it sparingly (like me). Some people use it a lot. Here's a typical conversation:

Susan: Haven't been around lately because our car broke down ay.
Sandy: Yeah, we missed you on Saturday ay.
Susan: Got it back from the garage Monday ay. Went to the movies after that. We saw Ninja Revenge of the Secret Clones Versus the Dragon's Spiderman Army 5 ay.
Sandy: Any good? We saw Ninja Revenge of the Secret Clones versus the Dragon's Spiderman Army 4 and that was pretty good ay.
Susan: It was great - really good special effects ay.

I kid you not.

What's one of your all-time favourite music albums, and why?

Ella and Louis. I've loved jazz since I was a kid and Ella and Louis really had something. That album was recorded in a couple of days. They just went into the studio and made the music right off. Ella's voice is like crystal clear water and Louis' is like warm gravel. Together they are fantastic. There's an innocence about their music - a clarity and purity, and of course they were the best at what they did. My favourite track: A Foggy Day. You can listen to samples at the link. I felt very sad when Ella Fitzgerald died.

Did you have a passion for something as a kid that you still have now? (If not - what is one of your passions now?)

Books and words - but really because they contain mystery. Sounds funny to say I have a passion for mystery but I do - I love exploring the unknown and grappling with the details. If it's a music album I want to know their influences and then I want to hear those artists. If it's a book and it refers to another author I want to read the other author. If it's a set of ideas I want to know how they fit wth another set of ideas, and if they are compatible. Then there's the true mystery that is beyond me. The more I discover the more I realise my limitations and my dependency on God.

What do you like most about having a blog?

The freedom to write about anything I'm interested in. It's enjoyable being able to discuss a variety of things. I love doing both the off the cuff writing and the researched pieces. Since I like looking into the details a blog is a great way to share what I find out sometimes. I enjoy the interesting people too - their experiences, insights and humour - and I love that it's global.

Ok - that's me. Now you!

Here are the questions:
1. What do you like most about where you live?
2. Is there anything strange about where you live?
3. What's one of your all-time favourite music albums, and why?
4. Did you have a passion for something as a kid that you still have now? (If not - what is one of your passions now?)
5. What do you like most about having a blog?

Pick 3 (or more) people and give them the opportunity to be Famous in Our Own Lunchtimes.

Ok guys, I hope you can do my first original meme. Let me know in the comments, and when you've posted yours I'll link it here ay. If anyone else wants to I can add a couple more to the list - not a problem! (I can handle the details).

Now famous in their own lunchtimes:

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer, Tonia at Intent, Carol at She Lives, Jenn at Secular Transcendence, Kel at the X-facta, Bethany at A Picturesque Life, Eduardo at The Grey Shadow, Sherry at Semicolon, Susannah at Suzie-Q&A, Barbara at Stray Thoughts, Pamela at Just the Two of Us, Jeanna at Days to Come...