Eight(ish) random things

I haven’t been tagged by Helen or the Singing Librarian, but they didn’t tag anyone, so I thought I would take up the offer of joining in anyway, and blog eight random things about myself. I know I have done a similar thing before, with Five things you may not know about me, but I am experiencing a case of blogger’s block and it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Anyway, I am sure you’re all just itching to read about me (again), so here we go:

1.  I like giraffes. I think they are currently my favourite animal, although I also have a fondness for sheep, cows and cats. I can do an impression of a giraffe, and was famous for this at university, but it is actually not very good. The Singing Librarian does a much, much better one. I think I like giraffes so much because I find them quite calming, and they are very beautiful to look at. Well, I think so anyway. I have a collection of giraffes (pretend ones, obviously), which has mainly been added to by friends and relations. The latest addition to the giraffe family is a small giraffe who snores when you press his tummy.
2. I once played the tambourine for my brother’s band. But only once, in a rehearsal. It felt good, though.
3. Despite my rather shy everyday persona I actually love to perform. Granted, the only performing I’ve ever done has been as part of a group (band, choir or orchestra), but I love making music and then making other people happy through the performance of it. Knowing that you have done a good job (or at least your best), and that other people have enjoyed the performance is a great feeling.
4. I started a choir in 2001, and it’s still going strong. This is one of those things I can’t believe I’ve actually done. I can’t believe I ever had the energy or nerve to do it. But I’m glad I did. (With the help of a very musical music student who somehow got roped in, I should add.)
5. Amongst many other interesting defects (yes, I am officially defective!) I was born with Tracheo-Oesophagael Fistula (TOF). Fortunately, this was corrected just after I was born. I can’t even begin to explain it clearly so here is a quotation from the TOFs Support Group website: “The trachea is the windpipe, through which the air we breath goes on the way to the lungs. In Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula there is a join between the windpipe and the foodpipe, so that potentially either air can pass from the airway into the stomach, or food can pass from the foodpipe into the lungs.” Basically, it means you can’t eat, which is never a good thing.
6. I love the new Battlestar Galactica series (plural). It is probably my favourite television programme ever.
7. I am now getting rather annoyed because it seems that I am so boring that I can’t think of eight even vaguely interesting things to write about me that don’t involve talking about some sort of medical condition.  Erm… I ask questions a lot. This is because I am, basically, someone who feels the need to know things. It is also because, in the days when I was even more socially inept than I am now, a friend gave me a lesson in making conversation. Yes, really! Her advice was to ask the other person questions, so that is what I do. I think it might annoy people sometimes.
8. Nearly there. Due to my various defects and internal physical weirdness I have suspected for some time that I might be an alien. However, I can’t remember arriving on earth in a flying saucer. So, my eighth fact is actually that I am finding it really hard not to write negative facts about myself on this list. No, that won’t do. Another musical one, then. I used to play the bass guitar. Very badly. I learned to play it because I wanted to play in a big band and my school had a spare bass guitar. I never quite achieved my aim, but I did end up in the county schools concert orchestra, which meant that I got to play some lovely swing music on a regular basis.

Phew. Made it. Did you?

I am now supposed to tag eight people, but, like Helen, I don’t think I know eight people to tag. So, I’ll just tag Sarah, Music Man and BlogLily, as I don’t think they’ve been tagged by anyone else.