Instead of writing a few paragraphs about myself I have drawn up some list, which you will see below, of random things about me. I hope they give you a flavour of the person behind the blog. Thank you so much for reading Just Add Attitude.
TEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME: LIST ONE
I cannot decide if my favourite book is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice which I have read many, many times or Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead which I have read once only but found profoundly moving.
I always wear earrings, as I feel naked without them.
I cannot sing. However I read somewhere that everyone can be thought how to sing; so going to a singing class is on my list of things to do.
If I were asked to describe myself in five words I would say I am: shy, optimistic, conscientious, loyal and forgiving (those of course are the good bits).
I am inordinately fond of cake much to the detriment of my waistline.
My style icons are Ines de la Fressange and Michelle Obama.
The trait I admire most in others is empathy.
Five things I think I couldn’t live without but almost certainly could if I had to are: decent coffee, my car, dark chocolate, black opaque tights and central heating.
I am an introvert.
My all time favourite quote is “To whom much is given much is required”. It’s from the bible, which surprises me as I am not especially religious.
TEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME: LIST TWO
I am indecisive. Epically so.
I don’t wear perfume. Because at some point in the last five years, I can’t remember exactly when, I realised that each time I sprayed myself with a frenzy of scent I also sprayed myself with an unknown and possibly harmful mishmash of chemicals.
A habit I wish I could give up: picking my cuticles.
I like my hair messy . If it’s super sleek, and it rarely is, I don’t feel like me.
I have a mantra bracelet with ‘Be You. Be True. Be Kind.’ engraved on it. I think it’s a good motto to live by. But I need to try harder.
This year I am on the trail of wardrobe nirvana. I am decluttering: the aim is to only have clothes in my wardrobe that: fit me, suit me, and make me feel good.
I no longer own a TV and I live very happily without one. However I do have a Netflix subscription so binge watching is often the order of the day.
My last supper choice: a soya latte with a scone served with lashings of butter, cream, and jam.
I enjoy cooking yet there are only five main course dishes I could make without referring to a recipe: fish pie, traybake chicken, a lamb casserole, any sort of pasta bake, and coq au vin.
I like my own company which is fortuitous as I live alone.
Just Add Attitude 
Hi B, what a fantastic blog,really enjoyed reading everything. What a talented girl you are! As you can see my broadband is finally back on track so I will be able to keep tabs on you. Well done you. See you soon. Ann XX
Thanks so much Ann xx
Your blog is fantastic! I am addicted!
Ann
Thanks Ann x
Love the blog. Check out my blog today where I write about aunties, a certain one who may be related to you!
I’ve lost her email, can you pass her on today’s blog?
I’ll keep reading yours!
Mags
Thanks Mags x
just read your diary of trip to Antibes, feeling jealous! Think I must need a holiday…….
you obviously had a great time, I love that area of cote d’azure. Anyway, keep up the good work and will be in touch soon. Ann.
Thanks Ann, I had a really good time. Hope the weather here is going to improve soon! Talk to you soon. Bx
I love how you say “makes my heart skip a beat”… that’s what life’s all about isn’t it??
Yes, I believe it is!
Love your blog! Well done. Talented with a capital T!
Thanks Laurence. I really appreciate your comment especially as it comes from a proper about to published author.
Thank you for a wonderful post about our Christmas tea! It is so nice to have it remembered in this way! And I greatly appreciate all your comments about The Istanbul Puzzle.
Thanks Laurence for your comment and you are so welcome. I really really enjoyed the suspense filled Istanbul Puzzle. I wish you a glittering success with the book and I will see you at the launch.
Hi, I found you from a comment on Year-Struck’s blog. My ears (eyes?) perked up when I saw she said you are Irish – I’m finding a dearth of Irish bloggers! I suppose I don’t truly qualify either, but I thought I’d come and visit you 🙂
Hello there and thanks for stopping by. I am about to pop over to visit your blog. 😉
Really enjoyed reading your blog, beautiful photos and great feelgood factor! well done
Jane
Thank you so much Jane xx
Hi! I really enjoy your blog and I’ve nominated you for the Genuine Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award! Here’s the link: http://megtraveling.com/2012/04/01/the-sunshine-and-genuine-blogger-awards/
Dear Meg
I am so sorry for the delayed reply. Firstly thank you very much for your nomination for the Genuine Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award. When I started blogging I decided not to *do* awards or memes, I hope you will understand and thanks again for thinking of me.
With good wishes from B at Just Add Attitude
I enjoy your list of things about you as well as you upbeat attitude! Life is way too short for anything else!
Thank you so much. I agree with you life is so very short and I think it’s always best to look, if you can, on the bright side.
My cursor hovered over you gravatar and two words popped out, coffee and dark chocolate (okay three words), fun… had to come check out your blog – those are words dear to my heart (of stomach). Love your attitude! 🙂
Thank you so much. I am always pleased to meet a fellow dark chocolate and wine lover in the virtual world. 😉
Empathy is the trait I admire most in others too.
It’s one of those traits that so much else that’s good seems to flow from.
Exactly. We should be teaching it in schools, along with reading and writing.
Totally agree with you Conor.
Hi B, 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and following our blog and for liking our posts: very much appreciated.
You have a really nice blog with many engaging posts and stories – so nice to read. Also, I have been wanting to go visit beautiful Ireland for quite a while now but have not made it there yet, unfortunately.
It’s great that you are taking photography classes: as a photographer myself, I think it is a great medium to communicate and express yourself. I also think that the best photographers are those who combine technical mastery (which is necessary to be in control of your equipment and not vice versa) with creativity and vision, as both aspects contribute to creating a memorable image.
If I may, I would suggest you look into Ansel Adams’s good old-fashioned “zone system” which, despite all the gizmos in today’s cameras, still teaches you the bases for achieving a proper base exposure. There’s many excellent books that explain that in detail.
Take care and have fun!
Hi Stefano
Thank you very much for your lovely comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me about Ansel Adam’s “zone system” and I will check it out as I am very keen to improve my photographic skills.
Your blog is lovely with lots of great recipes and interesting writing about wine. Once I finish my detox I think I might make the heavenly cake which sounds and looks delicious.
I hope you get to see Ireland one day.
With many good wishes from B at Just Add Attitude
Hi B! Knowing you’re a book person, and wanting to know more, I thought you might like to accept the Booker Award? This is the link http://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/the-booker-award/
Hi Jo
Thank you so much for thinking of me. But I am afraid I am going to say no to the challenge. The reasons are many and include a pinch of laziness but mainly I feel as I have already said no to others who asked me to take part in challenges like this it would be unfair to do this one just because it’s about something I like – books. I loved your choices and thanks again for including me.
With many good wishes
B at Just Add Attitude. 😉
No worries, B. I’m not fussy on the challenges myself, though I can obviously see their worth to newcomers. I sometimes get lured in, as in this instance.
Thanks for that Jo.
We love your mix of food, design, quotes, and photos! Very lovely.
Thank you very much.
You have a bautiful blog!
I’m now at the Dublin Airport waiting for my plane to take me back to Germany after 10 absolutely lovely days in Dublin. We’re sad, because we have to leave!
Thank you ever so much for your kind and great information about your native city, that was a great help!
You’re right. Once you’re in Dublin, you can see and do everything by walking about. Dublin ist busy, even at this time of the year, but still cosy and intimate, a positive high energetic jewel of a city with lots of different faces. We stayed in a beautiful-excellent hotel (Brooks in Drury Street) and we enjoyed our days in Dublin until the last minute, doing a literary tour through the bookstores, libraries, houses, sweny, pubs. 10 points to Dublin!! We could gladly have stayed another week.
Have a great weekend.
Greetings from Dublin
Dina, Siri and Selma
and Klausbernd says hello up in the air 🙂
Hi Dina
Thank you for your lovely comment and I am so very glad that you enjoyed your trip to Dublin. I hope that by now you have all arrived home safely. It sounds as if you packed a lot in. Maybe you will get back some day for that other week!. Happy Weekend.
With every good wish from B at Just Add Attitude.
THANKS for visiting my “pun-ny” photoblog and leaving a “like.” I can’t help hearing plants, animals, and objects “talk.”
About one of your “Random Things” above: A few years ago my university dept. had a consultant come in to administer a lengthy “Strengths Inventory” so each of us could identify our 5 greatest strengths. Out of 35 employees I was the only one whose #1 strength was “Empathy.”
–John R.: http://TheDailyGraff.com
You are welcome and thank you for visiting my blog and for taking the time to leave a comment. That was kind. Your colleagues are very lucky to be working with someone whose number one strength is empathy.
Hello… I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger award because your blog is very inspiring for me and I love the way you express you, your thoughts and sights. If you are interested please check here http://mannalexandra.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/682/
Hello there and thank you very much for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger award and especially for the kind things you say about my blog. About the award I decided when I started blogging not to take part in awards and memes so I am going to say no to your kind nomination. I love the header on your blog – ‘What we teach, we learn’ – how true that is.
Hello and you’re very welcome! I truly understand that, any way I’m happy that I found your blog. Oh, thank you, I like this quote so much!
Thank you that’s kind.
My pleasure 🙂
Hello – I’ve just nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger award – I hope you are able to accept but no pressure if ‘it’s not your kind of thing’ 🙂 http://the-travelbunny.com/awards/
Thank you for thinking of my. And thank you also for the get out clause – I am going to say no but I do appreciate being asked. Happy traveling in 2013. 😉
such a lovely blog. TeamGloria’s to blame that I’m here 🙂
Thank you so much for visiting and for your nice comment about the blog. 😉
Hi B, I stumbled upon your blog after reading a post by Francesca over at Flora’s Table. I just read your post on banana bread and it sounds delicious! I even learned what sultanas are since I (shamefully) hadn’t heard of them before! From one shy but optimistic blogger to another, I just wanted to day hi!
Hello Heather and thank you for visiting. I am always pleased to meet a fellow shy optimistic blogger. I am just going to pop over to visit your virtual home, so see you on the other side of the interwebs.
Hello, I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. Enjoy the praise, and accept if you wish. For details klick here: http://mannalexandra.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/one-lovely-blog-award/
Just feel free to enjoy!
Hello and sorry for the delayed reply. Thank you for the nomination for the One Lovely Blog Award but I am afraid I decided when I started blogging not to do awards. I do hope you understand and, of course, I very much appreciate you thinking of me.
I wish you continued success with your own blog.
I understand and it’s no problem at all (:
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Thank you for understanding. With best wishes from B at Just Add Attitude.
No prob and best wishes, too (:
I stumbled on your blog through Meg Travels. What a lovely blog you have. I’ll be visiting more.
Thank you so much for visiting and your kind comment. I will now pop over and visit yours.
Hi, I am so glad I found your blog…After reading several posts, I already feel like we are like-minded people; I love ballerina flats, Chanel, Paris and travel. You have a lovely blog. Look forward to reading more. Cheers, Mrs. J
Thank you so very much. I will go over to visit your blog later this evening.
Hi, Congratulations! I have nominated you for the Liebster Awards, http://whitetrinity.com/2013/09/21/liebster-award-nomination/. You have a lovely blog! Cheers, Mrs. J at WhiteTrinity.com
Congratulations, Mrs J, on your Liebster Award.
Thank you for your nomination which is much appreciated, so I hope you don’t mind that I am going to decline as I have already said no to other nominations because I decided when I started blogging not to do awards (a touch of laziness as they require quite a bit of work). I wish you continued success with your blog and thanks again for the nomination.
With good wishes from B at Just Add Attitude.
Hi, You are very welcome. I understand…it was a lot of work making the post. Nevertheless, I love reading your blog. Wishing you all the best! — Mrs. J : )
Thank you so much, that’s very kind.
Hi B
I would love to take singing lessons also. It’s on my bucket list. If you find someone please let me know Margaretp
Hi Margaret,
I haven’t as yet been to singing lessons but going sometime is still on my bucket list. If I find a good teacher I will let you know. All the best from B
Good morning B
I enjoyed meeting you and have found your blog a delightfully diverting way to pass a disgracefully prolonged lie in. While the tempest rages outside, it’s lovely to read about the nice things of life. I thought your post on vulnerability was pitch perfect.
Regards
Graces
Thank you so much Grace for the lovely comment, which I appreciate a lot. The tempest seems to have abated slightly, thank goodness.
It was lovely you too meet you too.You are so articulate and have such a great way with words – I am envious.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the week.
All the best
B
OMG I just read your about moi and I think we must have been separated at birth. My three favourite cities are Dublin, London and Paris and I also love books. Emma xx
I am delighted to meet my virtual twin, virtually. I am just about to pop over to have a look at your blog.
Bxx
I enjoyed my walk through your blog. And I love many of the books you love, so I hope we can stay connected. Also, Ireland is on my bucket list of places to visit. Thanks for leaving a comment on the generous blog post Tracy Lee Karner made about my book and my other social media locations. I hope we can stay in touch!
Thank you for visiting Just Add Attitude and for saying you enjoyed your stroll through it. I hope that you get to visit Dublin some time soon.
Can’t believe I’ve only just discovered this. Keep up the good work, looking forward to your next post! Follow back if you will, thank you.
Thank you so much. I have followed back and will have a proper read of your blog in the next few days.
Thank you for your reply. No worries. I will blog as frequently as time allows! Thanks again.
I love your about. I have so many favourite novels I could never decide which I liked best. I am also a introvert, which is probably why I like cooking and writing. Take care. Emma.
Thanks Emma. I like cooking too. You too, take care. Bx
Thank you for visiting my blog. I’m so glad because it means I found yours, which is really wonderful…
Thank you so much.
Dearest JustAddAttitude
who-we-are-in-RL got herself booked to speak at a conference in fair Dublin in Jan 2015 (yes, a remarkable month to visit the emerald isle when one lives in the land of perpetual summer but we don’t make the conference schedules of the world for then they would All be in Oxford in June 😉
Anyway. We’d love to have tea.
Lost your email address. If you feel comfortable doing so would you email us? teamgloria@teamgloria.com
*wavingfromlosangeles*
_sophia (the former teamgloria)
Delighted to hear you will be Dublin and have just emailed you re meet-up. 😉
*wavingfromdublin*
so very Excited about our tea in January!
😉
Pleased to have discovered your fascinating blog. Looking forward to more visits. Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (featuring irish content)
Thank you so much. Regards from B
Great blog! I enjoyed! wish you all the best!
Thank you, and wishing you the best too.
Hi there, really like your blog. I contacted you on Instagram as I’d like to get in touch via email. I have a question about an image. It’s quite urgent so I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you! Rooksana
Hello Rooksana,
Thank you for your comment about my blog. I used to have an email for the blog but it attracted a lot of spam so I took it down and I never check it now as I cannot remember how to get into it! I am reluctant to post my personal email on line, sorry. But I am very happy to reply to your query via a blog comment.
Thanks again for your interest in the blog and best wishes.