June 5 Questions 2020-07-09
======================================================================
I answered Christina's current five questions a few days ago, but came
across the previous set (from June 16th), and thought I could answer
those too. The questions and other answers are here:
> 1. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is drive with my
window rolled down and the music turned up. What is on your
summertime playlist?
I rarely drive, but what I do a lot of in the summer is mow the yard,
and listen to music while I'm doing it. Under my ear defenders, and
coming through my headphones, is usually the local NPR (public radio)
music station. The one here in Dallas (KXT) is really quite good and
plays a lot of the indie / alt rock I enjoy - with enough variety to
keep things interesting.
> 2. I recently moved back to the area where I grew up. Tell me about
where you grew up - has it changed? If you left, what would induce
you to return? If you've always lived there, what would induce you
to leave?
I grew up in a very small village in the far South West of
England. The local area consists of various small-ish villages a
couple of miles apart, and a town 6 miles away. There are beautiful
beaches about 7 miles north and 7 miles south, but in the middle where
I lived is a mining area. Not a lot has changed really apart from the
china clay mining industry shrinking a lot. I think the only thing
that could induce me to return is retirement. There's not a lot in the
way of tech jobs in the area, but maybe there'll be more remote work
in the UK available going forward? Even so, I'd think I'd like to be
somewhere with closer access to cities, museums, and things. The
cities of the North of England near to the peak district etc. appeal
more.
> 3. What tree is your favourite and why?
The one right outside the front of our house. We have a fairly new
house, on the plot of one built in 1948 that burnt down. The tree is
probably original to that house, so it's big and provides some nice
shade in the Texas summer. It's probably saving us a bit off our
electric bill *and* it looks nice. The number of trees in this part of
Texas surprises me. It's very green and tree-y here in the suburbs. I
didn't think of Texas like that at all before I first came here.
> 4. What were you afraid of as a child? Are you still afraid or did
you "grow" out of it?
I was afraid of lots of things, but one silly one is that I used to be
afraid of an old fan heater we had. I was very afraid it would start
glowing orange and burn the house down. I no longer fear fan heaters,
at least not excessively :-)
> 5. Who are some poets that you enjoy? What is it about them that
speaks to you?
I'm afraid I'm someone who really doesn't read *any* poetry at
all. I've probably not read any since I had to for school work aged
16... over 20 years ago now.
