Wednesday, January 20, 2010

7 things about me...


Everyone has done their list of seven things that you may not know about them and I have really enjoyed reading all the facts. To be honest, I was very surprised by some of the things I read and completely bowled over by the situations some of the girls had to endure over the years. Some of the stories made me laugh out loud and my nasal passages had tea spurt out on occasion... I do feel though, that reading the girls blog posts has made me think about my own life and how little I have done in comparison. I had my children quite young so never travelled, I certainly never carved out a career for myself, however, I have three very big achievements that call me Mam/Mum/Mummy/Mom/Hey you..... I will endeavour to follow suit and tell you 7 things about myself though as the others have all done so.

1. I have been married twice. My first marriage was when I was 23 years old and to a Londoner. We had two children and our marriage only lasted 16 months, however we had been together for a few years before we wed. My second husband I met on the Internet and we had a whirlwind relationship and married 21 months after we met. This union only lasted 18 months. Today would have been our 4th wedding anniversary but as I never get to the second, I have no idea what it should be.. paper/rock.... scissors?? Contrary to popular opinion, I do NOT have a patio, even if I joke about it regularly ;)

2. I am originally from Dublin, lived in Dundrum for the first 32 years of my life before moving to the country. I was asked recently by Hammie, how come I have a strong Wexford accent.... I still haven't managed to find an audio clip of what a Wexford accent is to play to her, but no.. I don't have the accent! When I lived in Dublin, I had a wall at the front of my house where the local teenagers congregated all day and for much of the night. They drove me insane as used to play football using the trees in front of my living room window as goalposts. After a few years of asking them not to play there, and begging them to stop walking on my wall as it was getting loose and the brickwork was wobbly, I snapped. I took a sledgehammer to the wall in front of them earning the nickname "Psycho Bitch from Nr. 1"....

3. I worked in administration for a chemical engineering company for the best part of twelve years while living in Dublin. I hated my job but every time I quit, they offered it back to me with higher wages, more holidays and flexible hours! I kept going back but eventually went part time for them to work around the children's needs. I also did painting and decorating at weekends when The Gruesome Twosome were at their fathers house. I used to take in foreign students all summer to compensate for working less in the office, along with childminding and would do data input at night to make ends meet. During school term, I would work in the office in the mornings and do afterschool care. I loved being there to collect the kids from school, but it was hard.

4. I was relentlessly bullied for the first three years of secondary school. I hated going and became withdrawn. My mother used to have to chase me down the road in the mornings to beg me to brush my hair and make an effort with my appearance. I had buck teeth and braces. To this day, I still have a massive inferiority complex and struggle with my demons. Even when meeting up with people I consider friends, I get very nervous, although on the outside I try hard to appear confident and intelligent. I always feel as if I'm playing at life, that it's not real, and some day my "fraud" will be found out. Silly I know, and a demon I'm trying hard to slay...

5. I only started driving when I was 25. My father and mother bought me my first little car, a Ford Fiesta and I loved it. Overconfidence led me to attempt to drive to Arklow four weeks after I got it and I crashed, totalling the car with Yani in the back seat. No one was badly hurt but my bonnet ended up where my windscreen should have been and I was badly shaken. I still get nervous now when driving a route that's not familiar to me and I won't drive in the City. I do however, suffer road rage and after someone tailgated me for a few miles once, got out of the car at the traffic lights, opened the boot and roared at him "would you like to get IN"...



6. I have been a "Gold Member" in WeightWatchers three times. In total, I have lost 10 stone over the years (not all in one go!) and put it all back on each time. I swing from a size 8-18 like a yoyo. I developed an eating disorder in my late twenties and used to eat laxatives as if they were sweets. I went to the doctor for help after a particularly embarrassing event which I won't go into detail about here...

7. Last but not least, I am terrified of wasps and bees. When I was younger, I got stung and had a bad allergic reaction to it. I have been known to get out of a car because of a wasp flying in... This also extends to a fear of all flying insects, including mosquitoes. I tortured my partner and the older two on holidays in Turkey once as wouldn't let them open the windows in the apartment and we had no aircon... I didn't trust the plug in devices, the sprays, or the electronic mosquito repellent I had brought... so we sweltered for two weeks!

15 comments:

Taz said...

I love these 7's - I'm finding out so much about everyone! Snap on the weight watchers - twice gold member for me! And I also know what you mean about being nervous meeting people - I'm exactly the same! That's why fb suits me so well...... xx

crazy mum said...

wow petunia. i knew bits of that story but had no idea bout most of it. im lost for words lol, love the sledge hammer bit.
I gotta say i just admire you so so much. for someone whos had so many ups and downs ur so positive, have so much advice and support to offer and i consider you a true and close friend. iv fuck all confidence too so next time we meet up we'l just turn up in our all in ones wit no make up and screw everyone else. sound like a plan?
xxx

Jen said...

Ah Petunia, this is a great 7. My first car was a fiesta too, I loved it. I laughed out loud that you asked the tailgater did he want to get in. Like you I am very nervous meeting people but try to get on with it. Mix my nerves with coffee though and I get talking and can't stop, nightmare, then I feel worse leaving than I did going in!! The bullying thing is crap, sorry to hear that. You have had one varied life so far Missus. Maybe in about 5 years we should all do this 7 thing again. It is great fun:) Jen.

Looking for Blue Sky said...

I love reading these and am so full of admiration for everyone. It sounds as though you had to work so hard to get through the tough times and you still managed to be a great Mum.

Jean said...

Ah Tracy you are the real deal. I love every psycho bitch inch of you! XXX

Clive said...

An amazing 7, as has been said above, I admire everyone so much for sharing so much about themselves. Well done to you all.

Petunia said...

Thanks for all the comments girls :) Claire, I may just hold you to that suggestion if someone could take up the onsies first so I don't trip lol (I wasn't blessed with long legs!) Jen and Taz, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who gets nervous and talks too much to cover the nerves lol. Jean... thanks :) Clive and Looking for Blue Sky, I admire you guys too as I do all the girls xx

Autimom said...

fab blog girlie, and so what if your no indiana jones in the travel stakes, you have 3 kids and 2 ex kids lol and here to tell the tale and thats a lot better. Thank you so much for sharing, i loved reading every1`s, will have to come up a 7 with myself. Now that would be boring ha ha

P.S. i would of loved to be there to see the mans face when you opened the boot xx

Kim Wombles said...

I love Jean's comment! :-)

And I can relate to the nerves in meeting new people, driving places I haven't been before (not thrilled at city driving, but we live far enough away from a proper city that I haven't done that in years!), and have lost and gained the same sixty pounds (and occasionally then some) for the last 20 years, sigh.

I suppose this means I need to do my 7 things? Hmmmm. Interesting.

Petunia said...

Well you have to do one now Autimom!

Go on Kim, give it a go... would love to read your 7 :)

xx

oddityaud said...

Fab 7 Petunia, Its amazing to hear the life stories in those 7 sentences. You are an inspiration, and a psyco bitch (well, just because you said you are...lol).
I agree with Claire, next meet up is with no make up and all in our scrubs :)

Love it love it love it!!!!
Aud
xxx

Unknown said...

Loved it psycho bitch from number 1, now you got some star quality fighting spirit, and u do it with style.
With ya on the wasps all the way
I'm also a nervous driver but have no sense of direction just to add to the nerves. I rember talking to you about the teenage years, and you know how much respect I got for you there Hun xx
loved your 7 xx

Lisamaree said...

I'm apalled. I would never engage in roadrage or offensive behavior towards my ver dear neighbours who call me "the angel with delightfully well mannered children in number 46"

and I think you have a Cornish accent xx

Popsie said...

hammie, we havn't forgotten PIK you know! petunia i loved your seven and like you i don't feel i have travelled or done anything exciting so couldn't come up with seven. never thought you would lack confidence, that i s why i never went on autie mums night out i dont appear shy but cant stop talking when i start!! anyway back to you!! buck teeth and braces??? your a swan girl!!!

jazzygal said...

Wonderful 7 missus! I'd do it if I hadn't already shared everything...at least I feel I have!

I think you've had an amazing life. I'm with u on the talk too much to cover nerves thing...I do it all the time. My first car (at age 26) was a red fiesta...my little red bomber! I'll stay away from you on the road though!!

It is great to learn more about each other....and to learn how much we have in common. xx Jazzy

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