RavingRabbit

Hello there - I'm Jan; pleased to meet you.

I'm 41, happily married. We have 5 children between us, a very stupid English Bulldog, and an adorable but demanding Ragdoll cat.

How to describe myself; Of a maturing vintage with definite notes of boho/rock-chick/M&S girl. This fruity mixture has a good sense of humour, with a tendancy to over-indulge in chocolate and covet yarn and pretty fabrics.

After walking the dog early evening - I can usually be found sporting a glass of red wine as an accessory.

I'm finding myself rapidly turning into a computer geek, as I locate yet more fabulous sites I want to get involved with!

I'm a full-time carer for my father, and have a little part-time job as a bar-maid which gets me out of the house once a week.

My favourite hobbies are reading, crochet and patchwork, watching movies and listening to music - and I have recently joined a ladies choir.

Rock Music is my first choice - I like all of it, particularly Nickelback, Limp Bizkit, Foo Fighters; I could just go on and on.....

I do like pretty much all music though - it's all got its place. (except for Jazz - I hate it)

I'm also very keen on some of the recent acoustic soloists - James Blunt is on constant play in my kitchen at the moment; I just love the lyrics on his new album.

So many! I'm an avid reader - I just adore books; though they have to be paperbacks to enable ease of reading in bed and the bath!

I've just discovered the Shelfari web-site for listing all your reads. If only that had existed years ago. Several times I've bought a book only to discover I've already read it; and it had just been reprinted with a new cover - grrrrr!!!! I shall certainly be using it from now on.

My read of choice has always been thriller/murder mysteries, but of late I've got tired of them as I have usually figured out the plot before I've got half way through. Instead I've been going for fiction based on reality; such as The Kite Runner, Half a Yellow Sun, The Bookseller of Kabul - wonderful stories! One of my all-time favourites has to be Birds Without Wings - which is based on Turkey at the beginning of the century; absolutely marvelous.

I don't think I have any real favourites. My husband and I are movie mad and we tend to watch nearly everything that is released.

I can't watch films that are just pure violence from start to finish - hate them; but I do like a good horror film! (even if I have to watch from behind a cushion) Does anyone else always jump at the same spot during The Descent? It gets me everytime. The first time I saw it I actually ended up on the back of the sofa!

I don't watch a great deal of television - though it does tend to be on nearly all the time in our home as hubbie has square eyes. There are a few series though that I really enjoy;

My name is Earl (awesome stuff) Weeds (though I think it has finished now) Ugly Betty (deliciously silly) Dexter (just come across this one - great gruesome stuff) Shameless (UK series. Absolutely brilliant and wickedly funny. The best TV series ever)

and I do like watching various home programmes, such easy viewing! and documentaries on the History channel

Crochet - I'm well and truly hooked; and I've turned into a complete and utter yarnaholic! I've got my own group on Ravelry for anyone who's interested - Oddballs (it says it all!)

I'm a very keen photographer - and really enjoy my camera and messing around with Photoshop.

I also like painting, drawing and sewing. In fact I will have a go at just about anything. I go through fads when I'll try different things.

Just a shame that I'm a jack of all trades and a master of none!

Oh no!!! I've found something else to become addicted to. Patchwork. It's all my mother-in-laws fault.

Ancient Civilizations - Egypt, Aztec, Rome; absolutely fascinated by them.

Bags and Boots - it's something of an obsession. Must be leather (apart from beach bags of course). Can't get enough of them. Can a girl have too many?

Blue and White china - (not willow pattern). I've got quite a collection; all junk shop and car-boot treasures. It's the only time I ever do blue!

Books - I'll never turn my nose up at a good story (just not slushy romance). Unless of course - I've already read it!

Buttons & Beads - been fascinated by them since a child, but never know what to do with them when I've got them! (perhaps adorning a dotee)

Cats and Dogs - we have an incredibly stupid British Bulldog called Buster. I would never have believed it possible to have a dog so thick - I'm convinced he has no brain; instead there's a little fly buzzing around on it's back in circles in there. We also have a beautiful Ragdoll kitten called Archie, who is very vocal and follows me everywhere meowing away at the top of his lungs.

Chocolate - Chilli chocolate is my new fave (how did I ever survive without it). I'm also one of the rare breed who adores coffee flavoured chocolates -ooh and champagne truffles, chocolate gingers, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate mints..... need I go on?

Coffee - super-strong and black and Tea - only herbal varieties, especially peppermint.

Colours - plums, magentas, raspberries, fuschia, purples, chocolates, caramels, mossy greens, burnt orange, (anything but yellows, blues and pastels)

Crochet supplies - hooks (anything unusual), yarn - any natural material in a favourite colour.

Dragonflies - adore them. My whole back is a tattoo of flowers, leaves, butterflies and dragonflies. I'd still scream if one landed on me though.

Fabric - paisleys, old-style florals, muted flannels, vintage prints, velvets, suedes, chenilles; if it's old-fashioned I'll love it!

Glasses (the reading type)- don't laugh! ready-readers, the wackier the better. 1.5+ Can't read without peering otherwise. I have zebra and tiger print frames and am always on the lookout for the strange and beautiful. Need loads so there's a vague chance of finding a pair.

Kindness - it means such a lot. It's the simple things in life like simple good manners,kindness and consideration for others that impress me most about people.

Lavender - I just adore it, my favourite plant by far. Cyclamen and sweet peas are gorgeous too, oh - and old-fashioned tea-roses.

Notebooks/Journals/Pens - I'm such a sucker for these in snazzy designs. Can't resist them.

Smells - Lemon, Almonds, Rose, Lime, Mint, Orange, Lavender, Spices

Stationery - very hard to find in my part of Turkey. Been searching today and could only find office-style supplies anywhere. Very boring.

Style - Victoriana, William Morris, Art Deco, Toille de Joue (it's somewhere close),Boho, Eclectic; that's me!

Bad manners, ignorance, arrogance and selfishness. There's too many people in the world like this, and I don't want anything to do with them.

Bananas - loathe them, detest them (it's almost a phobia)

Custard - blurgh, blurgh, blurgh

Jazz Music

Milk

Spiders

Tea (unless herbal)

Twee things - sickly sweet collectable little nick-nacks. I'm definitely not a kawaii type of person (however - my daughter would love it - so don't be afraid to send anything if this is your passion - it would still be gratefully received)