sarahantz

I'm shamelessly copying my fellow witch Amanda and using my last post of the year to say have a very happy holiday - eat and drink lots of yummy things, and don't worry about the clothes which no longer fasten until way into the new year.

Thanks to everyone who drops by and posts. This year has been totally fab..... selling my first book is something I'll never forget.

Here's to 2007 bringing you everything you wish for.

Yeah, it's clearly tagging season. Actually, I don't mind. I love reading about people, and tagging is a cool way to do it. So here goes:

Four jobs I've had: retail, bar work, Lecturer, Head of R&D

Four places I've lived: Northampton (UK), London (UK), Palmerston North (NZ), Havelock North (NZ)

Four favorite foods: Chips (fries), Apple Crumble, Marshmallows, Chocolate gingers

Four movies I could watch over and over: Notting Hill, Love Actually, Miss Congeniality, Pretty Woman

Four places I've traveled: Portugal, Hawaii, Israel, Bulgaria

Four places I'd like to visit: New York, New Caledonia, Hollywood, Austria

Four websites I go to daily: All the ones down the side of my blog, VeraKay, Backspace, AbsoluteWrite

Your turn.....

Btw, what do you think about tagging?

In its infinite wisdom, Blogger has decided I'm persona non gratis when it comes to being allowed to post comments on other people's blogs. Yesterday, I could. Today, I can't. And what's happened in the intervening time??? How do I know. All I did was turn off the computer....

The only thing I can think of, is it's retribution for ignoring the message to change to Beta Blogger.... Ok... I give in..... I'll do it.....

Well, I would if the invite was still there. But, it seems they've retracted it...... there isn't an invite to be found.......

So, in the meantime.... please don't think I'm ignoring you...... I keep wanting to post on your blog, but unless you allow anonymous posts I can't.......

But, I'll be having the last laugh...... I'm having a new website designed and I'll have an integral blog .... so, HA..... I win!

I nearly forgot, Alyssa has tagged me: My top five christmas songs (in no particular order):

Happy Xmas - John Lennon
All I Want For Christmas (Is You) - Mariah Carey
Do They Know It's Christmas Time - Band Aid
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Over to you Amanda, Christina, Nalini and Swishy

Today, I went to a Naturopath to checkout how my intolerances are doing - for those of you who don't know me I can't eat anything dairy (yes, that does mean chocolate).

Well.... here's me thinking he'll do a few tests, recommend a few supplements... but NO!!!!!! He doesn't want to do any tests yet.... including the hair test, which if you dye your hair has to be done on hair 'down there' OMG gross, or what. He said he won't do anything until I've been on this hypoallergenic diet for 4-6 weeks.... and what I have to avoid absolutely, altogether, no negotiation is.... diet coke and all other fizzy drinks. WTF. And no bananas, pineapple or any sweets and sugar.... YIKES.

I could my feel my face dropping when he said about the DC and I tried to keep a smile plastered on it, but believe me I was ready to bop him one. I sort of got a brief respite when I mentioned I might get headaches if I stop so he said I could cut down gradually. Phew.

So, over the next few days I've got to demolish my sweet supply, dc supply and anything else tempting. Oh and yay, because I'm allowed a whole half a teaspoon of honey (got to be manuka) on my porridge in the morning. I love honey, I eat at least three or four spoonfuls a day, yum.

I am allowed to eat and drink 'normally' over christmas though.....he also tried to convince me that I could eat butter even though I can't drink milk, something to do with the sugars... the jury's out on that one

I'm a Brit living in New Zealand and writing books for an American publisher.....

And your point is, you may be asking. Well, my point is we all speak English... Or do we????

Moving to NZ meant learning a whole new language. Who knew flip flops were called jandels? Or swimming costumes were now togs. Or trousers, pants.... vests, singlets... sweets, lollies.......

Okay, you get the picture. And of course in America there are a whole host of words that I don't understand, or don't mean the same in the US as they do to me.... I'm sure we all know about 'fanny'.... you don't??? Think front bottom and back bottom hahahahaha (UK it's the front).

I'd love to set some of my books in the USA but it bothers me that it will be obvious I don't come from there. At the moment, I'm setting them in Australia or New Zealand because even though I've only been here for 5 years I'm getting to grips with the style of speech.... courtesy of my children and their friends.

So, what words have you come across that had you stumped when you first heard/read them?