Thursday, July 12th, 2007 09:50 am
The rules:

1. Leave me a comment saying anything random, like your favorite lyric to your current favorite song. Or your favorite kind of sandwich. Something random. Whatever you like.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. You WILL update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions.

Questions from [livejournal.com profile] chickenfeet2003

1. What are the pros and cons of living in Victoria? Would I like it?

The pros: the weather (apart from the heat I was moaning about yesterday): probably Canada's most temperate climate with less rain than Vancouver. The surroundings - spectacularly beautiful mountains and ocean and forest, within a ten minute drive/bus ride from almost anywhere in the city. It's small, so you tend to know people if you've lived here any length of time, and you can navigate it easily.
The cons: It's small, and not the most ... exciting city in the world. The range of restaurants etc is improving, and there is a small but thriving arts/cultural community, but Toronto or Vancouver it ain't in terms of concerts, theatre etc. It's on an island, and it takes several hours to get off it. It takes as long to get to Vancouver as it now takes Londoners to get to Paris. It's a retirement community and will continue to grow as one - seeing as you are I believe only one year younger than I, that would probably not deter you :) It can be boring for the "young," however, and real estate prices are astronomical - worse, I think, than Toronto.
I think, although I don't feel I know you _very_ well, that you probably would like it. There's excellent Rugby and Football (in the Brit sense) - after all, we just hosted some of the FIFA under 20 World Cup. You might miss the culinary and gustatory opportunities of Toronto, but we're improving, as I mentioned.

2. Is there something you would like to do really well but know you never will?

Um - if it's a question of _knowing_ I never will, probably any number of athletic things. I used to figure skate and would still like to do it and improve, but I'm not allowed to now since my hip replacement. I'd like to be able to ride a bicycle well enough to go on bike tours or even ride to work, but it's something that I've just never been any good at - I get too hot and my legs are not really strong.

3. What do you like to drink?

A surprising number of things, but Gin is my tipple of choice - G&T preferably. My favourite Gin du jour is South, which is infused with a touch of lemon, but it's expensive, so I tend to drink Bombay Sapphire. I also like really good Scotch, but rarely drink it, a variety of beers (I tend to dark ales), and am becoming more of a wine drinker since going to France. I also drink Oolong or Darjeeling tea, really good coffee, lemonade and Perrier with lemon. My favourite bottled water is Evian, but I'm learning that it's evil, so I'm tending now to go for stuff in glass bottles like Pellegrino or Perrier. As you can tell, I have expensive tastes.

4. What animal do you most identify with?

Dogs, obviously.

5. Tattoos/piercings? If not, why not?

I've had ordinary pierced ears since I was 16, but got a second piercing in one ear when I passed my PhD comps. If I ever complete my dissertation I may get a small tattoo - what has kept me from that is some nervousness about the process, but more about shyness about being a middle-aged geeky person going to a tattoo parlour.
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 05:29 pm (UTC)
I'm lost like Alice in a painted past; in a looking glass. I see me looking back.
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 06:34 pm (UTC)
You were one of my very first LJ friends, and I feel like I know quite a bit about you, but here are some things I'd like to know:

1. What got you interested in studying Classics?

2. The SCA (or people in it) is obviously a source of irritation for you sometimes, but what appeals to you about it?

3. What is your favourite DWJ book, and why?

4. You list "tattoos" as one of your interests - what do you have and why?

5. Dog wrangling: you've dropped hints of a past life working with dogs. Tell me more!
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 05:35 pm (UTC)
I am the eyes of Nostradamus; all your ways are known to me.
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 06:38 pm (UTC)
You are one of my newest LJ friends, so there's a lot to learn...

1. How did you get interested in LJ?

2. We have at least one mutual friend, in [livejournal.com profile] ladyofastolat, and she's one who is not connected through one my my main friends networks. How did you "meet" her and what do we all have in common?

3. Where in the UK is Dunstable (I ought to know this, but I don't)? Tell me about it.

4. Why sea otters?

5. Describe a memorable meal and what made it so.
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 08:07 pm (UTC)
1. Through [livejournal.com profile] taruithorn, whose mailing list I am on. Someone there announced that they had started up a group on LJ, and I took a look. This was in February last year.

2. She was at University with my wife, Creatrix; they belonged to the Arthurian and Tolkien societies together.

3. Some 30 miles north-north-west of London. I actually live in Harlington, a large village about 7 miles from Dunstable, but Dunstable is the post town.

4. Creatrix has family on the Monterey peninsula in California, a good place for watching Californian sea otters. They are very cute, intelligent, creatures.

5. While in Paris for a post-house-move holiday, we went to Les Ambassadeurs, the restaurant at Le Crillons. Superb service. For most of the meal, waiters outnumbered diners.

I went to the gents, and got back to find that my napkin had been replaced. Creatrix hadn't noticed. When she went to the ladies, I kept an eye out for her napkin being replaced, and didn't spot it.

I had grey (English) partridge to eat - mm-mm!
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 08:48 pm (UTC)
Interesting - but let's make this a real meme:

3. You WILL update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in the post.
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 09:01 pm (UTC)
Whoops - good point.
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 08:53 pm (UTC)
WOOF!!! *vbg*
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 09:58 pm (UTC)
1. How did you get started in LJ?

2. Why Beardies? (as opposed to say, something more in the couch potato line that doesn't have to be groomed)

3. What sf/fantasy do you read? Any favourite authors?

4. You mention folk music among your interests - any faves? (recommendations??)

5. Tell me about a place that you really love.
Friday, July 13th, 2007 03:33 am (UTC)
"I carry my heart
Like a soldier with a hand grenade"
Friday, July 13th, 2007 04:59 pm (UTC)
Woo. What a temptation :)

1. Tell me about the real Lido Cafe.

2. What musician or group are you most looking forward to seeing at the Vancouver Folk Fest, and why (or you may need to answer this in retrospect)

3. You have dropped tantalizing hints about singing in your past. Tell me more.

4. What piece of music would you like to have played at your funeral, and why?

5. What is #3 on your life list of things you still want to do?
(Anonymous)
Friday, July 13th, 2007 03:34 pm (UTC)
Re: restaurants, I heard on CBC that Victoria now has the 2nd-highest # of restaurants per capita in North America . . .