Our Weekly Porch Chat

Here are Patrice's questions for this week, for our Chat on the Porch.

1. What was your biggest fear as a child?

You know, Patrice, I can't think that I had any fears as a child. From the age of twelve, I began to fear - very much - dying, because I knew I wasn't saved. That terrified me. But as a child, I think I had no fears of anything.

I must have had a really secure childhood :)

2. Who taught you to cook?

Well, I'm not sure I've learnt a lot about cooking. I think I've just begun to learn - from books, from the internet and from TV cookery programmes. When I was younger, I used to bake in my mum's kitchen, but until I married, I did very little cooking.

I think my own kids will be much better prepared for the kitchen than I was!

3. Do you have a lot of books in your home?

Oh, Patrice! Yes, I certainly do!

These are just some of them, but there are books everywhere in this house! The bookshelves here never look particularly tidy, but that's probably because they really are working bookshelves, and you can see books sitting on both arms of the sofas in the photo. 

Not living in a family of tidy people means I find books everywhere: beside every bed; on every sofa and chair; in every bag; on every table ...  

4. Do you like carrot cake? What's your favourite frosting?

I have never made carrot cake, but I certainly do have a favourite. If you go to this post, you will see the carrot cake my friend, Dawn, makes. It actually is the most delicious cake of any description I have ever eaten.

I choose my friends well.

5. What did the last funny t-shirt you read say?

Living in Ness doesn't give me the opportunity to see too many t-shirts - they're normally covered up by a jumper (sweater to you guys across the Pond) ... ! And I can't think of a funny slogan off the top of my head.