The Lillie Interview

I have been interviewed by Lillie, a lovely, thoughtful and thought provoking lady.

1. Someone has agreed to finance your next big project. What will it be?

Travel. I have done a lot of travel and still seen so little of the world. There is much of Asia that I have not seen. I would love to do the Beijing to London train trip. Have not seen any of the Americas, north or south. Provincial Europe, especially France and Italy, is largely untouched. As is Spain. The list goes on and on. But there is a proviso; I would want to travel ‘local’ where possible. No going from five star hotel to five star hotel in tinted window limousines. Okay, the occasional splurge to a good restaurant but generally I would want to meet the locals, travel with the locals, eat where the locals eat. This would make the trip much more interesting and probably please my financier, too.


2. Margaret agrees you can have one "great romance" with an historical or fictional person. Who do you choose, and why?

It was a delicate decision and Margaret was reluctant to agree, even though it was a theoretical situation, but I finally chose Phryne, the courtesan.

There are four reasons for the choice. Firstly, there are obvious attractions, physical and sensuous, in having a ‘great romance’ with a skilled courtesan. Secondly, the lady was obviously a great character, having both legendary beauty and intelligence. You can read a little about her here. The affair would not be dull. And thirdly, she was the inspiration for a detective character in a series of books written by one of my (first) university friends, Kerry Greenwood.. And finally, linking a little to my answer to question 1, the whole idea of seeing an ancient society as it was has a lot of attraction.

But mostly the skilled courtesan reason.

3. What activity do you wish you had done or done more of? Explain.

Pretty much everything to do with art. I consider myself as being able to do most things if I set my mind to it. (Except folk dancing). But once I have done them, I do not stick at them long enough to be really proficient. Consequently I have two very nice tables, a couple of very nice leadlight windows, a few quite acceptable paintings, a couple of cast silver things, some interesting photos, several dozen bottles of wine, a book and a haybox. Probably painting is the one I most wish I had done more of. It is still on the ‘to-do’ list. Or the ‘to-do-more-often’ list. There is an enormous pleasure in creating something beautiful and then going back to it the next morning to marvel at what you have created.


4. Of what are you most proud?

My wife. My children. Okay, you could argue that they are a ‘given’ but I am proud of them nonetheless. And of me? I am proud of…I don’t really know. There are lots of things that I like about me, a few things that I don’t like so much but the term ‘proud’ doesn’t sit comfortably with me.


5. What is the favorite thing of each of your senses?

Hearing: Rain on the roof. Especially thunderstorms, from in the gazebo.

Sight: The daily changes in the garden; life, growth and purpose.

Taste: Pesto, homemade with ‘still warm from the garden’ basil and served with homemade pasta.

Touch: Skin. More specifically, female skin.

Smell: Dead heat between coffee, hot bread and star anise.

Bonus question: On days when you feel most despairing, what gives you the most comfort?

The support of family, Mozart, the garden, going for a walk.

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Directions for the Interview Meme:
1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me."
2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions. (I get to pick the questions.)
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.
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