Nine facts and One fake - the answers!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my Kreativ Blogger Award entry on Tuesday.

Before I reveal which fact was a fake, I wanted to do a little bit of promotion for those of you who might not be aware.

Today, the lovely ladies over at Falling For Fiction are doing a Critique Partner Mixer, where people can comment on the entry with what they're looking for in a CP/ beta reader for their current project, and hopefully be matched up with someone similar who meets there needs. I think this is a wonderful idea, as many of us aspiring authors are all in the same position, and if you're new to blogging or a little shy, it's hard to know where to find CPs. I'll be heading over, and I hope to see some of you there too. 

Okay, I won't leave you handing any longer as to which was the fake.


1. In 2008 I met WWE superstar Christ Jericho at a book signing. He told me my t-shirt of Animal from the Muppets was cool. 
 
Yes, that really happened. I had a major crush on Jericho at the time, and  heard he was doing a book signing in a city fifty miles away - which was only an hour and a half train ride way - so on a Sunday morning, Hubby stayed at home with our Son and I toddled off to Nottingham on my own on the train. Luckily, I had Kyra Lennon (yes, we've been friends for that long) to call and text to keep me calm.
2. The first story I every wrote was a "fan fiction" based on my science teacher, when I was fifteen. The story was about a girl with magical powers (she often levitated to class in stead of walking) who used said powers to make her teacher fall in love with her! I kept it hidden under my mattress, and worked on it in secret every night in bed.  
 
Also true. I wish I'd kept the story, as I'd love to read it back now. I actually considered using a similar idea to write a dark teen short story.
3. I've been abroad four times in my life. To Yugoslavia when I was three years-old, to Germany with the school when I was fourteen, to Majorca with my mum, sister and (at the time) step-dad when I was sixteen, and to Crete with my dad and sister when I was seventeen. 
 
Another one that's true. I can't remember the holiday to Yugoslavia, though my mum has pictures of young me in a wooden mask. The holiday to Majorca was great, and I have fond memories of my sister chasing me with fallen branches that looked like snakes, and of haggling over an ankle bracelet with an old woman in the market. I think I eventually got her down to eight hundred peseta (yes, this was before they adopted the Euro), which is around four British pounds.
 
The holiday to Crete was fantastic, and I have lots of good memories from that too. Including, visiting the Labyrinth in Knossos, listening to Adam and the Ants as we drove around the area, and playing a game with my sister where she and I had to guess which Pokemon's name we're shouting as we go down the water slide at the water park we visited.
4. My (maternal) grandfather is of Turkish decent, though he moved to England with a scholarship at the age of sixteen. He still has a holiday home in a little village called Tuzkoy, where a lot of his relatives live. 
 
This one is the fake, and my grandfather would probably be crazy with me if he knew I'd said he was of Turkish decent. He's actually of Greek Cypriot decent, and has a holiday home in Cyprus (though I don't know in which village). He hates the Turkish, and whenever we visit he often tells us tales of his "wars" with them.
5. For Christmas last year, my mum took me and my sister to see the Nutcracker ballet. I've been obsessed with the story of the Nutcracker since I was a child, and it was one of the most magical experiences of my life. 
 
This is true. Since the age of seven, when I saw The Nutcracker Prince, animated film, I've been in love with the story. I use to dace around my living room to my mum's cassette of the Tchaikovsky ballet. A few years ago, I had the  E. T. A. Hoffmann novelette The Nutcracker and the Mouse King for Christmas. Last Christmas was the second time I'd been to see the ballet - the first time was when I was at school, but I don't really remember it - and the whole experience was magical. The music, the set, the dancing, all blew me away. It really captured the charm and wonder of the story I fell in love with as a child.
6. When I got married in 2010, my wedding dress was fuschia pink. I had a handmade bouquet of pink tulips, roses, gerberas, and a lot of the wedding decorations (balloons etc.) were also pink. Hubby refused to wear a pink tie though. His outfit was black and white, and looked amazing on him. 
 
This is true. We had a very small (sixteen guests), non-religious wedding, so wearing a big white wedding dress wouldn't have felt right. Pink is my favourite colour, and wearing it makes me feel confident and happy, so it was an obvious choice. I bought a pink bridesmaids style dress, and while it wasn't what a bride would normally ware, I loved it and Hubby said I looked amazing in it. 
7. I've seen the WWE wrestle live twice. Both times have been in Sheffield. The first time was with my (now) husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and the second time was with my now (husband) and friend. The second time, we stopped in a Bed and Breakfast, and the shower was in the middle of the shared bedroom, so Hubby and I had to go down to the bar while my friend showered. 
 
Again, another true. Both times were fantastic experiences. If you're a wrestling fan, there's nothing like seeing it live. And yes, when Hubby and I went with our friend, the shower was in the middle of the bedroom we were sharing (plus there was a sink next to her bed). So we all took turns visiting the bar when one of us showered.
8. My dad is a Jehovah's Witness, and I was raised in the religion until the age of twelve, when he said I was old enough to make the decision if I wanted to go to meetings or not. Of course, my twelve year-old self thought stopping in bed on a Sunday morning was much more appealing. Though I don't follow their religion today, I am still friendly with Jehovah's Witnesses, and enjoy chatting with them whenever they stop buy.
 
This is true. My dad has been a Jehovah's Witness for about thirty years, and both of his wives since getting divorced from my mum have been too. While I don't follow the religion myself, I'm glad of the time I spent (partly) raised in it as a child. All the Jehovah's Witnesses I've ever known have been nothing but friendly, and I have many good memories of parties or trips to Blackpool with my dad and his congregation.
9. As a teenager, I was a massive supporter of Midlands football team Aston Villa, and with my dad I've seen them play at least seven times, including three times against Tottenham Hotspur, and twice against Manchester United - one of which times was at the Man U grounds Old Trafford, in an executive box, the tickets for which my dad got as a gift from a work client.
 
Though the only sport I follow now is wrestling, up until my late teens, I was a huge football fan, and went to the Aston Villa matches I mentioned above, as well as two England matches as Wembley Stadium. I even had a Subbuteo table. My sister, dad and I had a team each - I honestly can't remember who had which colour - and we spent an entire Saturday picking out our players (from those who were in the British Premiership at the time), before we started our league tournament. Again, I can't remember who won! I do remember Robby Savage was on my team though! ^_~
10.  My oldest son was due to be born on my twentieth birthday. He was born a week early, meaning I still got to go out for a few drinks to celebrate. I tell him now (nine years later) that he was considerate enough to come early so that I could still go out.

He was, and now Hubby courses the fact our birthdays are so close together because of the cost! Next year when he turns ten and we (Hubby's birthday is three weeks later) turn thirty, we want to have a big celebration.

12 comments:

  1. LOL at you lying about your grandad!

    I think a triple birthday celebration is a brilliant idea! :D

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  2. All of your facts were so incredible I had no idea which one wasn't real. You've led an adventurous life.

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  3. Yeah! Love that your wedding dress was pink.

    I also have a soft spot for The Nutcracker. I love the ballet.

    I'm not much into WWE, but I could watch John Cena do something as stupid as make lemonade and still smile. He is just that hot! LOL

    When my oldest daughter turned 10, (double digits) we made a huge deal out of it. 30 is a definite mile stone and needs to be celebrated! Have a bash.

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    1. Thank you. I loved my dress, it was beautiful.

      The ballet was fantastic, I'd happily watch it again.

      We're big WWE fans in our house. My two-year-old is currently obsessed with John Cena.

      Yeah, double digits and a third decade need celebrating. We probably will do something special.

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  4. I didn't guess that one was fake! That's awesome about your wedding. My hubby and I did our wedding our own way too.

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    1. Thanks! I much prefer low-key weddings, it makes it more intimate. :D

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  5. Thanks for advertising the mixer. The truth and non-truth thing is fun. Sounds like you had a really nice childhood, without the Turks. ;0)

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    1. No problemo. Happy to spread the word. :D Thank you. And yes I did, I was very lucky. :D

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  6. Congrats on the award! That's so awesome you've visited Crete (and those other places too, but the mythology lover in me would love to visit Crete).

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    1. Thank you. It was awesome, I really enjoyed touring the Labyrinth.

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  7. Clare Dugmore - If you remember me I've commented on your blog a few times and I really enjoy what I've read so far about your work. It would be an honour to be a CP for you if you're interested.

    I'm posting this here too because I realized you didn't leave an email contact when you posted on Falling For Fiction during the CP party. So let me know if you're interested in me being a CP for your work. Also I'm wondering you'll C.P. my w.i.p. Sacrifice Her. I plan to start sending complete drafts to my CPs by early June.

    Wow I was totally wrong about which fact was fake. Good one!!

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    1. Hey Sheena-kay. I cannot believe I didn't leave an email! How silly am I?!

      I remember you. I also remember checking out your blog, and thinking how cool the concept of your novella was. I remember reading about WiP Circa, too, and thinking the concept was amazing.

      I would be honoured to have you as a CP, and do the same for you in return.

      I'll send you an email with some more details of my novel, just to make sure you're still interested or if there's anything you don't think you can work with.

      Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the facts!

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Thank you for taking the time to read this entry, and comment. I really appreciate it.