5 Question Meme
Jul. 7th, 2011 10:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
askygoneonfireThank you to jadedlibertine over on LJ for my 5 questions. I believe the meme goes that if you reply asking for questions I wlll provide you with 5. I make no guarantees on this front, but I might.
1) How many times have you seen the Manics and which was your favourite of those gigs?
I have now seen the Manics 12 times (helpfully listed here with links to setlists).
It is phenomenally hard to pick a favourite but I think my favourite was at the Brighton Dome in 2009.
It was the first time I had ever been on the barrier at a gig; I risked getting fired by closing the shop I was managing early in order to RUN the 5 minutes to the Dome; it was the first (and so far, only) gig I've been to alone - and I still don't have a single regret on that front. It was also the tour where they played the entire album, in order, followed by a short break, then the usual greatest hits set - which is a HUGE undertaking by any standards, but it also meant that Nicky sang William's Last Words, and, being positioned directly in front of him, I saw him fight tears, cry, and then flee the stage before the final note had died. It was always going to be an emotional gig, but that did something to me that I can't describe and will never forget.
2) If you had £100,000 to give to a charity but you were only allowed to donate to a single charity which one would it be and why?
I thought about this question ever since it was posed a week or two ago, I think I would choose Amnesty International. They do incredible work and whilst (at the moment) I don't support them with a monthly donation (currently I give to WSPA and on the next pay rise - if and when - I will be donating to Amnesty as well) I think they get forgotten too often in favour of other humanitarian charities who can easily put a face to their cause whilst Amnesty would struggle to put a universal face to their campaigns. Their campaigns, in particular for freedom relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, outstrip any other organisation I know of and are obviously close to my heart - one cannot experience freedom from persecution for expressing a sexual identity and not be aware how lucky you are to live in a country which does not kill, rape and persecute you for it*.
3) Is there any country you would refuse to visit even if all expenses were paid and your safety guaranteed, if so which one and why?
There are actually quite a few, but the one which leaps readily to mind is Saudi Arabia. For a [oil] rich country, their treatment of women is inexplicable; as the only country in the world which bans women from driving there is a nice neat way to judge how certain freedoms, no doubt enjoyed by some women in Saudi, are hollow when such a non-political activity is denied to them.
4) Did you have a favourite toy growing up, if so what?
I had two toy dogs, one was called Spot and he was made for me by my Grandma. I used to tie a bit of string around his neck and 'walk' him everywhere, as such his legs splayed out in a rather distressing fashion and his feet were all worn down. I still have him in my wardrobe. My second toy dog was a pound Puppy called 'Rosenna' or, more commonly, 'Mother' because she had 3 puppies which could be stored away in a velcro-close pouch in her stomach (which, on reflection, is weird) I bought her from Argos with my savings of 5ps, 10ps and 20ps. I remember distinctly pouring all this out on the counter and a vaguely annoyed Argos employee slowly counting it out. Any and all games could be played with these two so it did the job.
5) If you could wake up tomorrow with the ability to play any musical instrument perfectly which instrument would you choose?
Guitar! I love how guitar sounds. I would love to fill gaps in my evenings by learning to play songs by bands I love and I adore the fact that, like piano, you only need one instrument to carry a recognisable tune that everyone will join in with whilst, unlike piano, it is very portable! Also, I have owned a guitar for the last 10 years and still haven't learnt to playing the cocking thing!
* Yes, I know we have a long way to go, and yes all those things still happen as a result of persecution for sexuality in this country, but they are not defended, endorsed or encouraged by our laws and government.
1) How many times have you seen the Manics and which was your favourite of those gigs?
I have now seen the Manics 12 times (helpfully listed here with links to setlists).
It is phenomenally hard to pick a favourite but I think my favourite was at the Brighton Dome in 2009.
It was the first time I had ever been on the barrier at a gig; I risked getting fired by closing the shop I was managing early in order to RUN the 5 minutes to the Dome; it was the first (and so far, only) gig I've been to alone - and I still don't have a single regret on that front. It was also the tour where they played the entire album, in order, followed by a short break, then the usual greatest hits set - which is a HUGE undertaking by any standards, but it also meant that Nicky sang William's Last Words, and, being positioned directly in front of him, I saw him fight tears, cry, and then flee the stage before the final note had died. It was always going to be an emotional gig, but that did something to me that I can't describe and will never forget.
2) If you had £100,000 to give to a charity but you were only allowed to donate to a single charity which one would it be and why?
I thought about this question ever since it was posed a week or two ago, I think I would choose Amnesty International. They do incredible work and whilst (at the moment) I don't support them with a monthly donation (currently I give to WSPA and on the next pay rise - if and when - I will be donating to Amnesty as well) I think they get forgotten too often in favour of other humanitarian charities who can easily put a face to their cause whilst Amnesty would struggle to put a universal face to their campaigns. Their campaigns, in particular for freedom relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, outstrip any other organisation I know of and are obviously close to my heart - one cannot experience freedom from persecution for expressing a sexual identity and not be aware how lucky you are to live in a country which does not kill, rape and persecute you for it*.
3) Is there any country you would refuse to visit even if all expenses were paid and your safety guaranteed, if so which one and why?
There are actually quite a few, but the one which leaps readily to mind is Saudi Arabia. For a [oil] rich country, their treatment of women is inexplicable; as the only country in the world which bans women from driving there is a nice neat way to judge how certain freedoms, no doubt enjoyed by some women in Saudi, are hollow when such a non-political activity is denied to them.
4) Did you have a favourite toy growing up, if so what?
I had two toy dogs, one was called Spot and he was made for me by my Grandma. I used to tie a bit of string around his neck and 'walk' him everywhere, as such his legs splayed out in a rather distressing fashion and his feet were all worn down. I still have him in my wardrobe. My second toy dog was a pound Puppy called 'Rosenna' or, more commonly, 'Mother' because she had 3 puppies which could be stored away in a velcro-close pouch in her stomach (which, on reflection, is weird) I bought her from Argos with my savings of 5ps, 10ps and 20ps. I remember distinctly pouring all this out on the counter and a vaguely annoyed Argos employee slowly counting it out. Any and all games could be played with these two so it did the job.
5) If you could wake up tomorrow with the ability to play any musical instrument perfectly which instrument would you choose?
Guitar! I love how guitar sounds. I would love to fill gaps in my evenings by learning to play songs by bands I love and I adore the fact that, like piano, you only need one instrument to carry a recognisable tune that everyone will join in with whilst, unlike piano, it is very portable! Also, I have owned a guitar for the last 10 years and still haven't learnt to playing the cocking thing!
* Yes, I know we have a long way to go, and yes all those things still happen as a result of persecution for sexuality in this country, but they are not defended, endorsed or encouraged by our laws and government.
