The face behind the Rambling

This is me. The face behind the mask. And here's a little bit about why I started Ramblings of a Rachel.

Like a lot of people, when lockdown first hit in March of 2020, I quite quickly felt disconnected. I'm quite sociable (as it turns out and I never really realised) and with the sudden stoppage of all cinema dates with friends, restaurant tester sessions, drinks after work and being confined to the 4 walls of my flat, I needed a way to express my feelings and my longings and, well, my ramblings about all these things I love and miss so much about the world.

I've always wanted my own blog. I read and subscribe to quite a few, both for work and personal reasons, and when you read stuff about the things they're sharing - the things they've been through or the things they are passionate about - you do realise that maybe your own experiences can help too. So I thought why not? If ever there was a perfect time, then why not now?

But as I post each story, I've found that one theme throughout this blog - or at least I hope it is - is to help spread positivity. I like to think that positivity is so important to people's outlooks and can make a huge difference to people's lives.

I'm a person that likes to see the bright side. I'm a glass half full kind of person and I know that 20 bad days may be bad but then oppositely, those 40 good days are just around the corner.

So, you ask, who is this person behind the rambling? Well... read a few things odd things about me below.

The random questions you never think to ask...

1 - Are you a morning or an evening person?

I'd like to say I was one or the other, I really would. But if I'm being honest - which I have to be - it just depends on the day. If I have something to look forward to the next day, I'm a morning person. But I also have been known to party until wee hours. I think everyone is a bit of both? What do we reckon?

2 - Are you afraid of the dark?

I am not afraid of the dark, unless clowns are involved. Haunted Mansions I will happily avoid!

3 - Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

Again I think I can be both. I'm very social and chatty amongst friends and family, but it takes longer with people I don't know. I do try though... so let's go with an introverted extrovert. Diplomatic answer!

4 - Are you double jointed?

I am. Double jointed hips, knees, elbow and fingers. Basically that means I click ALL the goddamn time.

5 - Are you right or left handed?

I'm a rightie.

6 - Are you more of tidy or messy person?

Both. I love a good tidy bedroom and a tidy apartment, but I can be messy as well. I do try to keep the mess restricted to my own room though... but sometimes I fail.

7 - Are you on time or always late?

On time. Always annoyingly so. Give me a time and I will be there 40 minutes before that.

8 - Are you ticklish?

Yes. But all my ticklishness is restricted to my feet. Go near my feet and it's at your own risk.

9 - Can you curl your tongue?

I can! And it baffles me that quite a few people can't. I can make a W and everything.

10 - Can you ice skate?

Yup. It takes me a couple of laps to get comfortable, but once I am, I can go round pretty fast and mostly keep myself upright!

11 - Can you wiggle your ears?

I can't. But I feel l more than make up for it with my tongue shapes.

12 - Coffee or tea?

Tea. The bigger cup the better. The milkier the better.

13 - Cookies, cakes or doughnuts?

A nice, ordinary, plain glazed doughnut. Or a yum-yum. Mmmmmm... Yum yums.

14 - Have you ever participated in a talent show?

I actually have! My friend and I, in Year 5, auditioned with a scene from The Parent Trap, where they're fencing. I was Hallie and my friend was Annie. We didn't get through to the main show, but we had fun.

15 - Did you go to prom?

I did. I went with all my friends, and we had THE best time.

16 - Do you like school?

I did. I liked being with my friends every day, and some of the studies. It's been 11 years since I finished school (ugh, wow) and I do miss the fact I could hang out with my friends every day.

17 - Do you believe in ghosts?

No... but I am as jumpy as anything so I may as well to be honest.

18 - Do you bite your nails?

Yeah, I do. But only when I'm watching a very intense and nerve-wracking film, or if I'm nervous. Or bored.

19 - Do you consider yourself a good cook?

I consider myself an okay cook. I love to cook, and there are some things I'm better at compared to others - if I had my way I'd eat bacon, cheese and bread my whole life - but being a Hello Fresh customer for nearly a year, I'm starting to like vegetables more.

20 - Do you enjoy dancing?

Who doesn't enjoy a good butt wiggle?

21 - Do you enjoy DIY and crafts?

Love a good art project. I love scrapbooking though... and even if it's just lots of film pictures stuck in a layout.

22 - Do you forgive easily?

I do, but sometimes I know that's not necessarily a good thing. I sometimes choose to try and see the good in people, even if it isn't actually there sometimes. I know I've said and done things I regret, and know my friends and family have forgiven me for those, so why shouldn't I in return? It's human to make mistakes after all.

23 - Do you have a nickname?

Rach is the main one. It's the name I always answer to. If you ask Josie she'll give you a different nickname every day. On second thoughts, please don't. She'll only make up new ones...

24 - Do you have any allergies?

Every kind of flower, tree or plant known to man (also known as Hay Fever) but also lilies.

25 - Do you have any phobias?

Spiders. And clowns. I am TERRIFIED of clowns.

26 - Do you have any piercings or tattoos?

I have 7 piercings on my ears, and I want more!

27 - Do you have any children?

No children, but do want them someday.

28 - Do you have any pets?

No but I REALLY WANT A DOG. One day I'll have a whole farm of them.

29 - Do you have any siblings?

Yep. One. One big sister. She features prominently as I'm sure my every action annoys her in some way, but she loves me anyway. Mostly because she's stuck with me.

30 - Do you prefer dogs or cats?

Dogs. Definitely dogs.

31 - Mac or PC?

Mac. I have to use Windows at work though, but am definitely an Apple girl, through and through.

32 - Mountains or Beach?

Mountains. Scotland is the Motherland.

33 - Bath or shower?

Shower.

34 - Do you sing in the shower?

I think the question should be 'who doesn't sing in the shower' in my opinion.

35 - Do you smoke?

Nope.

36 - Do you speak any different languages?

I speak fluently in... Nah just English.

37 - Do you still have your wisdom teeth?

Yes. Contrary to the teeth, though, I'm not really wise...

38 - Do you still watch cartoons?

Yes! Cartoons are not just for kids!

39 - Do you play any sports?

Tennis. I love and miss playing tennis and I'm hoping to start playing cricket once the season starts.

40 - Does your name have a special meaning?

It's the Hebrew name for Sheep... Baaahhhh

41 - Have you ever been hospitalised?

I have. I've got an auto-immune condition called Lupus and I've been hospitalised quite a few times because of that.

42 - Have you ever been on a diet?

I've been on a couple and did quite well on the South Beach diet, but now I'm more of a believer in eating things in moderation. Smaller portions, no unnecessary snacking (unless they're Percy Pigs).

43 - Have you ever been to a concert?

Yes! Love a fab concert, but I've only started going to them in the last few years. Best concert by far has been either Busted or Hans Zimmer.

44 - Have you ever been camping?

Yeah I did my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, camping for 1 night and let me tell you I am not doing it again.

45 - Have you met any celebrities?

I've seen a couple when I was in Wilmington, Robert Downey Jr waved at me - I think I nearly died - but have seen my fair share of them walking down the streets in London.

46 - Have you ever skipped class?

Once... but only because my dad had told me that my Granny had died :( I caught up the next day...

47 - Have you ever won something?

I've won a couple of tennis tournaments, but I don't think that's what the question is asking. I haven't won money or the lottery... I'd certainly like to do that.

48 - Have you had braces?

I have. I had a cross bite - a pretty severe one at that - so had train tracks and retainers for about 7 years. That wasn't fun at all.

49 - How are you feeling right now?

Right now I'm feeling accomplished. With a monster couple of weeks behind me and nearly 10 hours of studying done this weekend, I feel proud to have come out the other side!

50 - How tall are you?

5 foot 5. The lower side of medium-sized.

51 - If money were no object, what would you get for your next birthday?

A Ford Mustang. The 60s Ford Mustang, in black... with white racing stripes. It is my dream to own that car, and the only way I'm going to get it is if I'm dreaming or I win the lottery. That or a house with a nice big basement cinema room and endless shelves for all my films to sit on. I mean, if money is no object, I can have more than 1 thing right?

52 - If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

The Highlands. I'm most at home up there amongst the hills. I'm a country bumpkin who lives in the big city.

53 - Were you ever a Scout or a Brownie?

I was a Cub at school. And my school was one of the first to introduce girl cub scouts... I enjoyed my days as a cub and still have my cub jumper with all my badges!

54 - What city were you born in?

Born in London.

55 - What did you last eat?

Percy Pigs! But before that, a Hello Fresh creation of a lentil and sweet potato jumble topped with feta and almonds. Very lovely.

56 - What did you want to be when you were younger?

People will laugh, but I wanted to be a dog. I didn't quite clock on to the fact you can't change species. Part of me wanted to be a teacher, and a film critic... but when I realised I can't really fault any film (unless it's The Princess Switch) I figured the cut-throat film reviewer life wasn't for me. Next thing after that was writer... which I am doing, as well as working in Comms... so I guess you could say it's kind of happened... with a few changes along the way.

57 - What do you do on a typical Friday night?

Usually - if Covid didn't exist - I'd go for a couple of drinks with my friends after work, maybe head to the cinema, pick up a McDonald's milkshake for the way home and watch another movie when got in. I party hard.

58 - What is the one food you refuse to eat?

Cauliflower. Absolutely disgusting.

59 - What is one item on your bucket list?

To walk the coasts of the UK. Britain has some absolutely amazing coastlines, and I would love to be able to do that some day... and maybe raise a lot of money for charity whilst doing it.

60 - What is the item you can't live without?

I would say my phone, but I can actually live without that. I'd say a good pillow... I have a really bad neck after an escalator incident nearly 6 years ago, so anywhere that has terrible pillows gives me a stiff neck for weeks.

61 - What is your shoe size?

Size 7.

62 - What movie have you watched repeatedly?

Up until 2019 I would have said any Marvel film, or Gladiator. But now I can safely say it is After or After We Collided. I absolutely love those films.

63 - What phone do you have? Apple or Android.

Apple all the way. I have a new Android for work at the moment and it's taking some getting used to.

64 - What should you be doing right now?

I should probably be sleeping actually. I have to get up to study tomorrow morning, so really should turn in soon.

65 - What is one goal you would like accomplish this year?

To have finished book 2 of The Unknown Road series, and have got it up on Amazon. I have a 3 book plan - 1.5 of which have been written, and can't wait to write the rest of it!

66 - What is one of your pet peeves?

People chewing loudly. Or people who drive like maniacs.

67 - What is the last song you've listened to?

I'm listening to next week's Top 10s - which are themed - so won't divulge this particular answer, but will clue you in to the fact it's along the same lines as question 62. All fab songs though.

68 - What is the most expensive piece of clothing that you own?

My black Levi's corduroy jacket. It's my favourite jacket and keeps me toasty warm in the winter months.

69 - What is the thing you can't leave the house without?

Usually my phone and my AirPods (and my keys). I always listen to music on the go and feel really lost on a train without it or in the car. Although remembering to bring them and remembering to charge them is a different story.

70 - What is your best physical feature?

Oh god, no idea. I think my eyes actually... as weird as that sounds. They're brown, despite me having blonde hair, and they are a lighter shade of brown and look almost orange sometimes. I hate answering questions like that...

71 - What is your Chinese sign?

Having just googled, I can confirm I was born in the year of the Goat, which is apt because I am a Capricorn, also represented by a Goat. Luckily I do like goats. Especially baby ones.

72 - What is your current obsession?

Currently I am majorly obsessed with the After series, and I think I will be for a while, at least until the movies all come out. That and the musical repertoire of Hans Zimmer.

73 - What is your dream car?

Ford Mustang. The 60s one, although I do like the new one too.

74 - What is your favourite animal?

It is a horse. I just love how beautiful and graceful they are, and how they can be gentle beasts or just badass motherf**kers when they want to be. Wild horses are amazing to watch.

75 - What is your favourite book?

Jane Eyre. I read it for school, and now read it every couple of years for fun. I'm basing the connection of my 2 book characters - Tessa and Archie - on Jane and Rochester, and how they are connected through space and time.

76 - What is your favourite colour?

Blue. Any shade of blue. I can guarantee, whatever outfit I am wearing, blue will be in there somewhere.

77 - What is your favourite dessert?

I haven't really got a sweet tooth, but if I had to pick a dessert, it would have to be Bread and Butter pudding. It is THE absolute best, and is so easy to make.

78 - What is your favourite drink?

Dr Pepper. I hate that it's bad for you and decays teeth because it is so so so sooooooo nice and I haven't had it for ages. It was the only thing I drank in Wilmington, and I miss it muchly.

79 - What is your favourite food?

Cheese. Just ALL kinds of cheese. The smellier the better I'd say. I just recently took up a cheese subscription, which sends you 5 lots of British cheeses, and it is the best thing ever.

80 - What is your favourite foreign food?

Probably duck gyoza. I don't know if that counts but I'm choosing I t anyway. If anyone hasn't had that from Wagamama, oh my god, seriously try it.