Interview the person below you.

[Maria Mac]

Latest post of the previous page:

At the moment the only 'company' I'm ranting about is the Post Office, with whom I applied to open an Instant Saver Account at the beginning of November. I sent them a cheque for £10,000. I got a standard response rejecting my application because I hadn't said what my occupation is on the application but they banked the cheque anyway. I wrote asking for the money back and have phoned several times. Six weeks later, I still haven't got it. I have made an official complaint of course.



Are you or have you ever been a blood donor?

[Nick]

Yes, I have been and am a regular donor. I do it for the tea and biscuits. I'm also a (potential) bone marrow donor, should the need arise.




What do you do to cheer yourself up?

[jaywhat]

I log on to Think Humanism




What do you do if what you do to cheer yourself up does not seem to be very effective?

[getreal]

I take the dogs for a walk.

Do you have any pets?

[jaywhat]

Yes. He is Ninny's avatar with the fantastic name of Darwin. I say 'he' when technically I should say 'it'.



Do you go to bed at the normal time today and wake up next year wondering what all the fuss was about - or do you do something really special?

[kbell]

I celebrate Hogmanay in the traditional Scots way with my family then wake up the next day wishing I hadn't drunk so much and this year was no exception.



Any New Year resolutions?

[DougS]

Yes but only half-hearted ones about taking more exercise, looking for another job etc.


Any good nights out recently?

[Fia]

We had a house trip to the Enchanted Glen /www.enchantedglen.co.uk. Despite pouring rain it was so good we walked round it twice My pockets were bulging with flasks of hot chocolate and chocolate bars, yet empty on our return


Any good nights in recently?

[xman]

Christmas Day was a very nice day in. There has been a lot of pressure on us to attend various Christmas day celebrations by different family members in recent years and we've always wrestled over whether we should or shouldn't and how to bow out gracefully, but when two invitations suddenly conflicted with each other this year i suggested to the missus that we call a bust on the whole idea and start establishing a tradition of a quiet Christmas day alone at home, just we three. (This was our boy's first Christmas) It was very pleasant indeed.

What resolutions have you made for this year and what is your plan of attack to keep them? If not, why not and what resolution would you or probably should you make and how would you keep that?

X

[para handy]

My resolution is extremely boring. It is to get fit again. My plan of attack is to take daily exercise. I'll start next week.



Did you take down xmas decorations today?

[Nick]

Jaywhat will be pleased to know that i haven't got any decorations to take down!




What is you favourite clip on youtube?

[Alan C.]

That's not an easy one Nick, there are SO MANY to choose from but I like these two.
Panda sneeze.
Lion lady.
Probably the Lion one.


As opposed to the room 101 thread, what is your favorite thing.?

[Nick]

Dogs, in particular, Spaniels.




Have you taken any steps towards a greener lifestyle?

[Zoe]

Yes, we become greener and greener as time goes on. There's not much more we can do without losing total quality of life.

How difficult would your life be without a car?

[xman]

Just as difficult as it is. Neither the wife nor I even have a driver's license. I have yet to. Living in an urban environment means that cycling is a good way to save money and get around. My current bike is a POS though and, especially travelling with the boy, public transit is used much more frequently now. That is likely to change soon though because sometimes it's ... well, difficult.

When you don't drive, how do you get around?

[Emma Woolgatherer]

I don't drive. I walk to uni, and to the shops. I get trains and buses. I get taxis, occasionally. I'm a passenger in Rob's car sometimes. And once in a deep blue moon, I cycle. I'm going to have to improve my cycling skills, because Rob says that after this car he's not getting another one; he's going to join a car-share scheme.



How often do you fly?

[Emma Woolgatherer]

Inexplicable duplicate ... please delete.

[lewist]

How often do you fly?

I fly to the USA to see my brother perhaps once a year on average. This week I am flying to St Thomas then ferrying to Tortola in the BVIs to have week sailing with him.

How do you keep in touch with distant relatives?

[Beki]

Probably email most often. Occasionally the phone but the best is via Boxing Day when so many of them come back home to my mum's house for a holiday. We had the real pleasure of family back from Hong Kong and Sydney Australia this year and it was wonderful.







How far away are you furthest (close) relatives?

[Alan C.]

I only have two cousins, one in Bournemouth, and one in Rotterdam, and without googling I really couldn't say which is the farthest away (so I'll google) Nope can't find out! Ah well, not really that bothered.


Do you try to shop "ethically"

[Fia]

I try to. I first became aware of ethical shopping in my teens when I persuaded my Mum to not to buy South African produce, cunningly described as "Cape". But it probably hinges on ones interpretation of ethical. Latterly I've been more concerned as to the carbon footprint of my buying choices. Eschewing those lovely looking beans as they're wrapped in 2 layers of plastic and have been flown from Africa. But then if i don't buy them, am I doing the hard working African farmers a disservice? It's a minefield. So I try, that's all I can do.


Do you have any interesting plans for this year?