Seven up

First things first, I must pass on the lovely award so kindly given to me by Bush Mummy. I'd like to award it to Mom/Mum who writes hilariously about living in the US, as well as Tara at Sticky Fingers, who has effortlessly made the transition from blogging for a newspaper to blogging for herself recently. Both are definitely superior scribblers.

Secondly, the plucky Hadriana, from Hadriana's Treasures, has tagged me to write some lists of sevens. So, after a little deliberation, here they are.

7 things I plan to do before I die

1. Buy a villa in a warm, Mediteranean country

2. Write a book that I am actually proud of

3. Speak another language (preferably Italian) fluently

4. Get into the dress that I wore on my 30th birthday again

5. Interview someone really, really famous

6. Cook like Nigella

7. Ski a black run without being scared

7 things I do now

1. Worry needlessly about the practicalities of moving to the US

2. Spend time blogging when I should be looking after my children/finding freelance work

3. Speak only half arsed French and have very basic smatterings of Italian and Spanish

4. Get into my dressing gown and watch tv

5. Interview marketing directors and ad agency people - if they deign to call me back
6. Cook the same meals every week in rotation

7. Ski nervously

7 things I can't do

1. Blow up balloons. I don't know why not - I just can't do it.

2. Wire a plug (I know. The shame).

3. Change a car tyre (ditto)

4. Any DIY, to be quite frank.

5. Bring myself to go on a Mark Warner holiday

6. Take people who are using 'corporate speak' at all seriously.

7. Waterski. Maybe one day I'll learn...

7 things that attract me in the opposite sex

1. A wicked sense of humour

2. Self-confidence (but NOT arrogance)

3. Appreciation of good food (and ideally, ability to cook it)

4. Generosity

5. Ability to do the things I can't (like DIY, car stuff: see above)

6. Appreciation of a good book

7. A sexy smile

7 things I say most often

1. Just stop it now.

2. No, you're not having wrap and hummous again. You had that for lunch.

3. Come ON.

4. No, that's Mummy's hot tea

5. Why have you taken your shoes off, again?

6. No, Beebies is finished now. It's bedtime. It's dark. It's NIGHT time.

7. Thank god: they're in bed.

7 celebrities I admire

(hard one this: admire for their looks, work, politics? and do they have to be alive or dead? I've gone for a random selection..)

1. Oscar Wilde - witty and talented

2. Louis Theroux - witty and rather gorgeous

3. Judi Dench - great British actress

4. Meryl Streep - great American actress

5. Hugh Laurie - good actor, funny and sexy

6. David Tennant - ditto

7. Barack Obama - most promising politician

7 favourite foods

1. Roast chicken

2. Fish and chips

3. Toast, butter and marmite

4. Spaghetti bolognese

5. Anything cooked at The River Cafe

6. Green & Black's white chocolate

7. Japanese dumplings from my favourite local restaurant

7 other bloggers who can do this too if they so wish (but please don't feel obliged)

1. Potty Mummy

2. Nota Bene

3. Susanna from A Modern Mother

4. Tara

5. The Dottorel

6. Ladybird World

7. Mom/mum