Despite the last few weeks being bloody difficult, it’s actually been great to have some dedicated reading time rather than bashing the laptop. I’ve read posts that have made me laugh, others that got my back up, and some that I’ll no doubt refer to in later posts of my own. Firmly in the latter category was this one Mummy From The Heart: Confessions from a normal mummy blogger. Picking up on a rather inspirational post by Her Melness Speaks, Mich decided to share some of the little things that make her her.

I simply love this post as it helps put things into perspective. We so often fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others; be that other bloggers, other mothers, or our friends. Mich’s little post was seriously endearing and really made me smile - particularly the bit about not knowing who the infamous Colonel Gaddafi was.

It got me thinking how little some of my readers know about me, and how this really shouldn’t be the case. I suspect everyone knows I have a son called Dexter and a long-suffering boyfriend called Craig - but that’s probably the extent of it (unless you know me personally). I decided it would be interesting to tell you all 10 little-known facts about me, not Dexter’s mummy, but plain old me.

• I have an irrational phobia of coat hangers - Yep I hate them! Especially plastic ones. I have no idea where this has come from but I never use them and everything is folded rather than hung up. Unfortunately Craig thinks this is ridiculous and will sometimes leave hangers on our bed to wind me up. I can’t bring myself to touch them so have to kick them off and poke them under the bed so they’re out of sight.
• I would vote Labour if Ed Balls was in charge - I know Labour is a dirty word right now and conjures up visions of vagrant-spending and war-loving politicians, but there’s something about Ed Balls that makes me think he’ll make things happen. I get the impression he’d be ballsy (no pun intended) when necessary but also incredibly down-to-earth. He reminds me a little of the Churchill dog from the adverts.

• I watch Jeremy Kyle everyday despite the fact I hate him with a passion - I’ll often watch 3 episodes a day and could watch more. My first ever blog post (not on this blog, but one that no longer exists) back in 2007 was a 100 point rant on this sleazy, self-important, delusional, arrogant, jumped-up wally. I tell myself I watch it in the spirit of research - but really I’m just pathetically nosey - It’s a serious character flaw that I’m wholeheartedly ashamed of.
• I’m terrible at Geography and can only name a handful of capital cities - I once was tasked with finding 10 ex-pat bloggers living in Spain to approach for a PR opportunity - I spent several wasted days sourcing bloggers from Munich… whoops.
• I don’t believe that climate change is a bad thing - I’m probably opening myself up for all kinds of criticism here but I think eco-systems will adapt and change as a result of global warming. It’s not something we should try to control, or chastise ourselves for - it’s survival of the fittest and there won’t be any terrible consequences to come as a result of a warmer planet.
• I believe Rosemary West was ignorant of her husbands crimes - I thoroughly believe Rosemary was a tragic product of a dysfunctional family. She fell into Fred’s clutches and committed some appalling acts of child abuse - I do not however feel she knew anything about the murderous impulses of Fred, nor about the bodies buried at Cromwell Street (I’d urge anyone who is interested in finding out why to read “She Must Have Known” by Brian Masters)

• I still wear some of my maternity clothes because they’re comfy - Yep - I love my maternity leggings and some of the tops I bought when pregnant with Dexie. I’d love to tell you that I only wear these things at home and that they are incredibly roomy around my tummy - but I’d be lying on both counts.
• I cry at least once a day - This isn’t in a woe-is-me, hysterical and depressed way - I’ll cry if I hear I song I think is beautiful or see a cute baby from an advert. It’s completely involuntary and there’s no controlling it.
• I don’t know how many children the Queen has - This one I’m actually dead ashamed of. I’m not anti-royalist at all - I just couldn’t tell you a thing about the Queen. I have no idea if Princess Anne, or Prince Edward are siblings of the Queen or her children - that’s terrible, right?
• I have run over a dog, a human being, and crashed a car - and I don’t have a driver’s license - No I’m not a career criminal! Each of these accidents have occurred whilst in a learner car with an instructor. Both dog and human survived but I think I totalled the car (to be honest I never heard from that particular instructor again).

So there we go - some of it’s controversial, and none of it is useful in any way. I hope this gives you a little insight into me, and the things that are apt to make me jump onto my soapbox and whip out the laptop. I hope you’re not all deleting me from your social networks in horror - don’t worry, I promise to never speak of Ed Balls or Jeremy Kyle ever again.