Five Things

No Nonsense Girl  has tagged me for the 5 "ME" MEME.   The rule is very simple, even for slow brains like  mine. All I have to do is to list five things about myself that I have never posted before. Hmm. Let’s see….   Okay…

1.    When I was about eleven, I had a chum of mine stay for the weekend.  My sister also had a friend stay over, and they, being younger, went to bed earlier than we did.  My friend and I waited till the lights went out in their bedroom and then we gently pulled a thread  that ran under the bedroom door.  That thread, which we had put there earlier, was attached to a closet door handle. The closet slowly swung open, and a 5-foot plank, over which we had draped a white sheet,  fell out onto the bedroom floor.  The barrage of screams that came from inside the room were extremely satisfying and amusing, and well worth the bollocking we got from my parents.

2.    When I was a child, when other children were scared of clowns or scary films or strange noises in the dark, the one thing that terrified me was….. people singing Happy Birthday to You!  I have no idea why,  but it reduced me to screams of fear.  It makes no sense, because I never suffered any kind of traumatic experience at a birthday party – it’s just that there was something about it.  Even today, even though it no longer scares me, I don’t like the song and I feel very uncomfortable when people start to sing it.

3.    I have never in my life worn a tuxedo.  That’s not a matter of principle, or a moral issue. I just ever had had reason to.

4.    I have one eye much weaker than the other, so I wear glasses for distance, though I never permit myself to be photographed wearing them (sunglasses are different of course).   Because  one eye is okay and the other weak, the logical  thing for me to do would be to wear a monocle. I suggested this to my wife and for some reason she vetoed it.  Because of spousal vetoes, I am also not allowed to have a go at hang gliding or bungee jumping.

5.    I have taken three different driving tests in my time.  The British test – very difficult and it took me three attempts.  The British Columbia test – not nearly as bad, and I passed first time.  The Florida test – a total farce: I have no idea how anyone could ever fail.  Five minutes driving at slow speed in the Dept of Motor Vehicles building parking lot and that decides whether you are fit to drive on public roads in heavy traffic.

I’m not tagging anyone else in particular.  Just have a go if you’d like to.

Comments

[nononsense girl]

Very interesting things to know Nicholas!!!! I'm glad I tagged you!

[PJ]

Very interesting, and I think a monocle would be fantastic for you. That and a tuxedo. You'd look quite the villain. ;)

[Mary Emken]

What is it with older brothers. My brother did the same thing to me when I was little. When we grow up and I was in my teens he was my protector, especially with the boys.
I think with you being British you would look distinguished in eye classes. The driving test up North was a lot harder then the one here in Virginia. The test here actually had pictures in some places in the test in place of words. My insurance company said that any thing past D.C. going south is a risk. I guess I don't go any further south the drivers are crazy enough here. I would like to be there when you receive my musical birthday card.

[Samantha_K]

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my thursday thirteen.

And don't feel bad about the 'happy birthday' thing...I have an unnatural fear of squirrels. I got a cold chill just typing the word.

[EuroPosh]

hey, I nearly failed the driving test in California! it was my first time ever driving a car with automatic gearbox, which I bought the day before the test. I didn't know how responsive the breaks were... the examiner hit the dashboard twice.

[Di]

Anyone who has ever driven in Florida is not surprised that their driver's license application and testing process is a farce. And the rules vary depending on where you are. In Hialeah, the next three cars after the left turn arrow turns red are allowed to go ahead with their turns.

In Boca, if you are not out in the middle of the intersection within one millisecond of the light turning green, you will hear a loud angry honk from the car behind you.

Now, here in quaint Fuquay Varina, NC, if you hear the sound of a car's horn, you just look up and wave because it means that someone you know is driving by!

[Frigga]

That was interesting! I have a neice who cries whenever the Birthday Song is sung also. As far as the DMV is concerned, I do think they should be loose. They check for sight and a written test for basic knowledge. Driving should remain as unrestricted a freedom as possible - we have too many road signs and traffic laws as it is. :-0

Oh, I stopped by to let you know I finally posted the results of the TT13 Favorite Q's from a couple weeks back. It's up at http://anyapples.blogspot.com/ if you want to take a look! :-)

[The Gal Herself]

I find your Happy Birthday issue fascinating. Do you think it made you uncomfortable to have a room full of people focusing on you?

[SandyCarlson]

The driving test with pictures sounds like a hoot. May you never need to wear a tuxedo!

[Sheryl]

Fun read...you should turn this into a TT :)
Loved #'s 1, 4, & 5...glad I wasn't the recipient of #1 though. Hurrah to your wife, we wives do have standards you know ;)
And, why am I not surprised about the Florida
testing?! I've never lived there, but I've sure heard about the awful drivers...although
San Francisco and L. A. are also notorious. (I don't mind driving L. A. in the wee morning hours...but hate San Francisco driving) And forget NYC...I was okay driving in the suburbs...but would not ever try driving in the city!