Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Ask Away Friday

Hi Everyone,
First and foremost I want to wish everyone a very happy and blessed Christmas.
I am very priviledged to be teeming up with Mrs Tee, this week, what a wonderful person and what wonderful question she has asked. Please all go to http://www.mrsteelovelifelaughter.com to see the questions that I asked her and give her some really love she is such a lovely lady
Well her goes :
1)    I think that it is so cool that you are a trained(even if semi) opera singer!  How did  you come upon that as a talent versus regular singing?
       Well I I suppose that I always had music in the house, and I used to sing after my mothers opera records even as a little girl. Then in junior school I was in choirs and loved.  When I was thirteen I told my father I wanted to take singing lessons, so he found me a very good teacher, and although I was still a bit young I started to take lessons, and she was very good for me because for a while she would not let me have my own way, and would only let me sing scales and from there we went on.
I then joined the Cape Town Symphony choir and was a member untill it disbanded. I then married and singing went onto the back bench, because when you are performing you have to be quite self centered and put the performance first, and I was not prepared to do that to my marriage, my husband is to important to be put on the back burner, so I only sing in the bath and at home now.
2)    You love to Read as do I. What is your favorite genre of book? Fiction, non-fiction, mystery, historical, romance....?
        Well I suppose at the moment my favorite is Science Fiction, but I do read virtually anything, except maybe romance, I think that is my least favorite.
3)    I saw you love to cook. What about baking? is that something you enjoy or would you rather do savoury than sweet?
       Well I suppose that I would rather do the savoury, but must admit to enjoy making cakes and cookies, but please can someone else do the decorating, I have not the patience to do the icing and the decorating, luckily hubby somtimes does that bit.
4)    You are very crafty. What piece of advice would you give to someone who sees themselves as a novice crafter trying to get better?
I would tell them never to give up, I don't consider myself an expert, but never give up and remember that because it did not turn out as you pictured, does not mean that it is wrong, it is just different, and it is not to thrown out, but showed and given with pride. The things that make, quite often do not turn out as you pictured they would be, sometimes they are better, and sometimes they are so different that you don't like them, but if you display them you'll be surprised how many people will give you good comments.
5)    Since Christmas was just yesterday, how was your Holiday? Do you celebrate big or small and intimate?
        We usually go small and intimate, but this year we are going big, and going out to one of the wine farms with wine club and my brother and sister in law for a spit barbecue and wine and lots of good company and music etc.
6)    What is on your list to do or accomplish in the new year?
        Well my company is doing well selling in the U.K. and would like to get it of the ground in South Africa, so we are earning in both places.
7)    Where do you want to see your Blog in the New Year?
        I would like to see my blog with at least maybe thirty followers by the end of January and being a blog that everyone likes to visit and feel loved and get information on things that may interest them and lead them on to the other blogs so they can follow there and give some love out.
8)    What is your favorite thing to do on a lazy day?
        On a lazy day I love to do some crafting and sitting and reading and maybe watch a good movie.
9)      Where is the furthest you've been from home?
          Well that one is easy, the furthest I have been from home is when I did a twelve week campiong tour round the U.S.A.
10)    My Signature Question:  Are you a member of Team Tea or the Coffee Crew?
          No I am not, but sounds interesting, how does one become a member?

12 comments:

  1. Hi Annie!

    I love the new look of your blog! It's more readable and very feminine. :) I know you are a new blogger (and I consider myself to still be rather new). One way you can get more support and comments is by supporting and commenting on other blogs. I've found some great bloggers who love to return comment love since I started almost a year ago now. It's better to do this than to ask for followers. It's about creating relationships, especially with bloggers in your niche. As you do, you will learn ways to grow and enhance your following as well. xoxo.

    I love your answers here. I didn't realize you loved to bake as well. I'm just starting to get more into baking and it is really fun and experimental for me. On the last question, I think Tiffany meant do you love tea or coffee. I don't mind both but I'm more of a coffee love first! :)

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    1. Hi Britnei,
      Thank you so much for visiting my blog, I really do appreciate it and all the good advice you give me.
      Thank you for being such a good friend.
      Thank you for the wonderful comments.
      I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that you are having a nice restful day today.
      Great big hug.
      Love and best wishes.
      Anne

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  2. Love reading your answers! How cool is Christmas at the Wine Farms! Can my family get invited next year! LOL!

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    1. Hi Carissa,
      thanks for the visit and the wonderful comments, I really do appreciate them.
      Any time you want to come and visit Cape Town let us know, we will have to put you in a B & B, no room in our flat, but we will certainly take you around and show you Cape Town and surrounds.
      I hope that you have a wonderful day.
      I hope that you have a happy new year filled with love and joy, and where all your wishes and dreams come true.
      Love and best wishes.
      Anne

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  3. Hi Anne! Thanks so much for swapping with me ! Yes...by Team Tea or Coffee Crew it's just my quirky way of asking which beverage you prefer :) I am Coffee Crew all the way unless I'm sick or sleepy then I pull out the tea...LOL

    What is a 'spit barbecue' or was it like a pit barbecue? if so I think that is so awesome! Sounds like a really cool way to spend Christmas even if it isn't as low key as I'm used to ;)

    I love your advice about crafting. I am definitely a novice but I have found even when my results don't match the picture they are still kinda awesome in their own way. I guess that is one of the coolest things about art and self expression...

    Thanks againf or such great answers (and questions)... xoxoxo

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    1. Hi Mrs Tee,
      Thank you so much for sharing with me, I loved all your answers to, and now feel much closer to you.I must say that I am definitely coffee, but only allow my self two cups in the morning, never after four or I don't sleep. Hubby is the teapot in our family, he loves his tea.
      That is what I love about crafting, it is so individual, and you can give ten people exactly the same crafting things to do something with and you will get ten totally different thing's, all beautiful and none of them wrong. I find very often I make something, and I hate it and hide it away, and then, somebody will see it and say but that is wonderful, why is it hiding under here, so now I give up, and just accept that what comes out opf what I give myself is right. Crafters are so nice, they are never rude to each other and always help each other out.
      I guess that is why I love cooking to because essentially nothing you do is wrong, it just depends on your tastes.
      I hope that you have a happy new year filled with love and joy, where all your wishes and dreams come true.
      Love and best wishes.
      Anne

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  4. I love savory dishes over sweet too! A winery at Christmas sounds amazing! I would love to do something like that. I wish I were more crafty, LOL!! I think it's so neat that you're Opera Singer. Are there opportunities for you to sing on a smaller scale so that you can still have time with your husband and family? It's so nice to meet you!

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    1. Hi Tia,
      It is great to meet you to, thank you so much for the visit and the loverly comments.
      I suppose that I could still sing if I really wanted to, but I am actually quite happy as I am, because I am to much of a perfectionist, so even singing in Choir, the week of a performance one does n ot go out except to rehearsals, one talks as l;ittle as possible so no strain on the voice, and you do at least two hours practice a day, one haour warm up scales, and then practice pieces of the work you consider you are not to good at, and it is not fair on anyone, and I have kinda had enough anyway at 57 I am getting a bit old, I suppose I could go down to singing mezzo soprano, but am not happy about that.
      I hope that you have a wonderful day.
      I hope that you have a happy new year filled with love and joy, where all your wishes and dreams come true.
      Love and best wishes.
      Anne

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  5. I am a reader as well - just wish I had more time to fit it in! Was excited to load some new books on my Nook at Christmas and can't wait to get to them!
    Great advice for crafting! I find I am often my harshest critic, but others will think a project is great! I have to let go of some of that perfectionism!

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    1. Hi Beth,
      Thank you very much for visiting and for the wonderful comments.
      I know what you mean, I can sometimes make a card or something, and hate it, and sort of put it under other things and somebody will come in and say why is this hiding it is beautiful, so I just accept the way my things turn out now, I know that I will be told if it is really horrible, and then it goes into the trash, or it gets recycled and done again.
      I hope that you have a wonderful day.
      I hope that you have a happy new year filled with love and joy, where all your wishes and dreams come true.
      Love and best wishes.
      Anne

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  6. It really is cool that you're an opera singer! I am actually a beginner when it comes to doing crafts and the like and I know I'm not the most creative person in the world but would want to try anyway since I find it really enjoyable! Great knowing you through AAF! :D

    REAlity Bites

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    1. Hi Rea,
      thank you so much for the visit and the wonderful comments.
      You do your craft girl, you will find it relaxes you, even when you don't exactly like what you do, most other people seem to say they like it, and don't worry if it does not turn out exactly as you invisioned it, it is still not wrong, it is just you. I know I am terrible and decide that I don't like something I have made and I sort of hide under other things and needless to say someone will find it and they usually say nhow much they like, it, so I just, well most of the time accept what comes out of what I give myself to make something, nothing is wrong.
      I hope that you have a wonderful day.
      I hope that you have a happy new year filled with love and joy, where all your wishes and dreams come true.
      Love and best wishes.
      Anne

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