5 Things Most People Don't Know About You

[Mezzosoprano]

1) I would rather have a fabulous dance than all the green and black's I could eat

2) I sing country and western songs in the shower....

3) Can't drink red bull - sugar AND caffeine... sends me high as kite and it's not pretty

4) I never drank underage - I feel like I missed out on a vital part of growing up!

5) I'm not as confident as I seem to come across

[Barry Shnikov]

4) I never drank underage - I feel like I missed out on a vital part of growing up!

At 16, and on a school trip, I went into a bar in London with a 17 year old and two 18 year olds. I was the only one the barman would serve with an alcoholic drink. The others were not well pleased, and as a penance I had to go into the off-licence round the corner to buy two six-packs.
But it was a boarding school and we had our own house bar, and the rules were 18 years or sixth form; since I went into the sixth form at 16 years of age I was drinking at school anyway. Masters could only come into the bar by invitation or after the posted closing time. Being visibly drunk anywhere in the school or town meant lifetime ban from the bar, so it was a pretty good way to learn to drink sensibly.

[Juju]

1. I was once in a crowd scene on "Brookside", the one when they kidnapped Paula Yates for Liverpool University's Rag Week.

2. My Great Great Uncle was a Sicilian Count who would have been Pope, but unfortunately his election was vetoed by royalty.

3. I am an internationally-published artist (my drawings having appeared on the front cover of "Pro Rata", the magazine of the National Fancy Rat Society).

4. I like shooting and am a very good shot.

5. I always keep my Christmas tree up until February at least; it has stayed up until June.

[straycat]

1) I am a quarter Russian (Ukranian, in fact) - just read the first post on this thread, so this seemed to be a nice parallel.
2) I once came within an inch of being beaten up by the Warickshire County Cricket team. Women. Don't ask.
3) I'm a member of the 'a cycle helmet once saved my life' club.
4) On a related note, an arcade game addiction once helped me avoid a potentially very nasty (and probably fatal) accident.
5) On being taken to see the Taj Mahal, aged four, my first reaction was 'Oh, no! Not another Mogul ruin!'.

[Gav]

"Pro Rata", the magazine of the National Fancy Rat Society.

Sounds like a guest publication on "Have I got news for you"!

[Kel_Warminster]

1. I'm a Fire Dragon in Chinese astrology, a Fire sign (Aries) in the Zodiac, and a "fire Maple" according to a Celtic Astrology email quiz a colleague sent me earlier today....hot stuff!!

2. 10 years ago I had a makeover on the BBC program "Style Challenge" with Oz Clark hosting....

3. I was born on Easter Sunday.

4. I have severe astigmatism and am hyperopic i.e. long-sighted. Wish I could dance without my specs, or get Toric contact lenses that will stay in the right focal plane!

5. As well as dancing, horseriding is my favourite way of destressing.

[Battlecat]

Just for Lemoncake, 5 things you don’t know about me

• I served in the WRNS for 7 years
• I once went for a flight in a fighter jet around Lundie Island
• My forum name was my nick name in the WRNS, and it’s a secret how I received it..
• Would love to travel across the Canadian Rockies in a train.
• My favourite film is Shenandoah…

[Juju]

Sounds like a guest publication on "Have I got news for you"!

Damn well should be too!

[HelenB]

I worked in a fancy dress shop for 4 years (I've also worked for the police)

My dad was Basil Brush's plumber (boom, boom)

The secondary school I went to finished at 2.30pm

Both my grandparents on my dad's side were identical twins

I had my stomach pumped as a child because my brother told my mum I'd taken some tablets

[jeanie]

1 - My middle name is William (after my dad)

2 - I collect books, I currently have 40 waiting for me to read and I hate them looking 'read'.

3 - I have sanded down my front tooth by sliding down a relatively steep hill while showing off on my bike while living in Newport -on-Tay...

4 - Whilst living in above village I used to perform in The Newport Theatre (TNT) although I hate being watched and get embarrassed easily!

5 - I have a burning desire to emigrate to Hawaii.

[Genevieve]

1 - I used to work on the fair at Trentham Gardens as a kid

2 - There is only 11 months age difference between me and my sister

3 - I have an IQ of 150

4 - I have a bionic arm

5 - I am a compulsive liar

(but not always )

[whitetiger1518]

1. I used to play trumpet at school

2. I knew what I wanted to be at age 12 - A Special Collections Librarian - and am slowly working my way there stage by stage.

3. I have a cousin who is a National Level Piper.

4. I represented Scotland in the country's Handicapped Swim squad for under 15s - we won 3 years in a row and I would have gone to the 1998 Paralympics if Epilepsy hadn't stepped in

5: I used to escape stress by living with my nose permenantly in books, although I am now more commonly found escaping stress in the Blues room (No surprise in part 2 there for those that know me :wink

Whitetiger

[Batgirl]

1. I share my birthday with Mickey Mouse
2. I used to be a professional dancer
3. I have a terrifying temper when crossed.
4. I have driven Fireman Sams Fire Engine (Jupiter 999!)
5. My first impressions of people are mostly wrong.

[Filthy Monkey]

This is fun! Thought I would some nonsense to the pot...

1. I trained as a priest (no, really!)
2. I used to teach aerobics
3. I used to race in the British junior ski team
4. I am totally and utterly addicted to chocolate
5. One of my nipples is higher than the other

[Martin]

1. I use British Sign Language at work. (I actually think signing should be taught in all schools, as it is such a useful language and very useful when communicating across a crowded dance floor or through windows!)

re-reading this thread and got to page 6 and spotted this quote...

Unfortunately there is no "British sign language" - I learnt sign language, then found out, it is different for all regions of the UK. Plus different in Aussie, USA etc.

So although I could sign England South East... was not much use nationwide...

So NO, I do not think it should be taught in schools, until it becomes one language throughout at least the UK.

I would love it to become universal, but there are so many differences, not worth learning unless they agree on a common language.

[Husky_Cat]

re-reading this thread and got to page 6 and spotted this quote...

Unfortunately there is no "British sign language" - I learnt sign language, then found out, it is different for all regions of the UK. Plus different in Aussie, USA etc.

So although I could sign England South East... was not much use nationwide...

So NO, I do not think it should be taught in schools, until it becomes one language throughout at least the UK.

I would love it to become universal, but there are so many differences, not worth learning unless they agree on a common language.

I am deaf so use sign language, but i have to disagree with this. hearing people have different accents too, Cockneys, Liverpool etc But No one say that English language is different? Some people in scotland call chavs -Neds but in England they call them Chavs but we still understand the difference.

I use different regions in my sign language, really i just pick out the signs i like the most and use them, I use Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow regions in my signs and People still understand me. That the main thing! As Long if the sign language is taught in school, the basic signs should be the same and it is up to the people learning if they want to learn the regions sign or not as i know there is a method of one B.S.L taught that is not the same as region signs.

Hope you understand what i mean!

[Martin]

Hey I love to sign , and love that I can chat with people who use sign language.

I use Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow regions in my signs

The fact that there are 4 different varients, just in Scotland , sort of supports my point, that it would be good to have one language, and then.... Do teach it in schools.

If you were to teach people South East sign, and then say... but this is different in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow ... that is what put me off...


I see your point about accents, and I have struggled a bit in Aussie, using UK South East sign.

[Dreadful Scathe]

The fact that there are 4 different varients, just in Scotland , sort of supports my point, that it would be good to have one language, and then.... Do teach it in schools.

Well you're effectively asking for sign-Esperanto

[Martin]

Well you're effectively asking for sign-Esperanto

I am just thinking, when I learn a new language, how commonly is it used.

If I learn a new language that is only used in the South East, all I have to talk to is Andy and Lee! - What a battle that would be

[Baruch]

If you were to teach people South East sign, and then say... but this is different in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow ... that is what put me off...

It's the same when learning any language. I suppose signing is no different from spoken language in that regard. You learn a standardised form of the language, but when you become proficient and are exposed to native speakers it becomes apparent that there are many dialects. I'm writing in standard English now, but if we were speaking face-to-face and I reverted to my native dialect instead of standard English you'd have trouble understanding me. That's just the nature of language, and you'll come up against it with any language.