Happy Birthday Paulclem

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Happy birthday to a fellow thespian.
and merry Christmas.

click on the thumbnail...

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/th_Christmasstamps.jpg (http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/?action=view&current=Christmasstamps.jpg)

[The Comedian]

Happy Birthday!

[Lokasenna]

Happy birthday!

[Helga]

Happy birthday Paulclem !!

[kensington]

Happy birthday!

[Jack of Hearts]

Paul, you stinker, trying to sneak farther into the grave behind our backs!


Happy birthday!






J

[qimissung]

Happy Birthday, big guy!

[MarkBastable]

hbty!

[JuniperWoolf]

^&c...

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Happy birthday, Paul. I think you're one of this forum's best members.

[Varenne Rodin]

Happy Birthday, Clem! I think you are wonderful!

[prendrelemick]

Happy Brithday m'owd mucker.

[TheFifthElement]

Hope you've had a peaceful and joyful birthday Paul.

[kiki1982]

Happy birthday, Paul. I think you're one of this forum's best members.

Flatterer... You're just trying to suck up to him and be his favourite... Although I do have to say that I enjoy your posts immensely too, Paul :D.

Happy birthday, Paul.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Top of the morning.

[Paulclem]

Thanks very much for your comments. Merry Christmas to you all.

:D

[Scheherazade]

Happy Birthday, Paul :)



An interview with PaulClem:

*Why are we doing this interview thing?*
I did it last year, and I want to see if I’ve changed/ improved/ regressed, or whether I’m still a clone of 2010.

*Are you sure you want to do this?*
Positive

*Why would you want that?*
I’m a terrible self publicist.

*So, how old are you?*
I’ll be 48 this year. That means that if I live the same again I’ll be 96. This is unlikely, despite the retirement age going up, and so I can conceive of the time span to my death. It becomes significant after a certain age – honest.

*If you had a personal theme song what would it be?*
I know I will have put Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Monty Python, but this year I think I’ll put this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b2F-XX0Ol0&feature=BFa&list=PLFA03725814FCC8F2&lf=plpp_video

It reminds me of my youth, and is probably my favourite song.

*Are you male or female? *
Male – still.

*If you owned the site, what would you change?*
I think the site is very effective. Perhaps I’d make the blogs a bit more prominent, or certain books that are regularly discussed, but nothing major.

*What was the inspiration for your LitNet username? And if you could change it today, what would you pick?*
My LitNet name is a boring conjunction of my names – though I do like it. I like it because I’ve been called both parts – Paul and Clem – at different times. I was always called Clem by my rugby playing mates. People I have known since I married have always called me Paul – to my face anyway. I have had a number of names including being called by my wife’s maiden surname for a while before we got together – which was weird.
I was called Suf’ short for Suffer for a long time. No-one I now see calls me that anymore. I really like nicknames though. Perhaps there’s something in them.


*Which countries have you visited?*
Holland, Germany, France, Austria, The Former Yugoslavia, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, India, Spain, Gibraltar, The former Czechoslovakia.

*Which languages do you speak?*
English. My kids are both into languages, and my wife is good at French, German and is learning Hindi. I know a bit of French, but would need to relearn a lot. I am a defender of the rights of monolinguists in my house.

*If you could live somewhere different, where would it be and why?*
Everywhere has its positive points and problems, so in that sense it doesn’t matter. I’m comfortable here in Coventry, but around here we have Stratford, Warwick and Kenilworth, which are all really nice places.

*Have you heard the news today, oh boy?*
Today they were on about the failure to impose the proper taxes on large companies in the UK. We all knew it happened, but it seems as if it’s a great surprise in general. Perhaps they’ll do something about it now.

*Do you have any pets?*
We always had cats, but now have a Jack Russell terrier. He’s calmer than he was, and hasn’t bitten me for a few weeks. We often fall out.

*What makes you happy?*
Family, good times out, teaching and managing in my job and the feeling that I’ve achieved something.

*Do you feel comfortable in your walk with God/atheism? *
I’m Buddhist, and have been for 20 years, though my practice has lapsed of late due to work pressures. It has been a good guide for me, as I realise that there are those problems that you can’t do anything about, and there are those that you create or worsen yourself. Buddhism teaches self awareness, and even a little of this will stop you doing and saying those things that cause you and yours a lot of suffering. I’ve still got a long way to go though.

*Which actor should play you in a movie based on your life?*
An unknown.

*Who is your favourite Beatle?*
John was refreshingly radical and Paul went on to create much more stuff. I think in time, John would have become more approachable and a useful commentator.

*How do you like your coffee? *
White with no sugar.

*Given the option, what animal would you choose to be?*
None – human every time. Being an animal means you are completely at the mercy of your environment.

*What did you want to be when you grew up?*
A soldier. I was always interested in the military, but none of my family went into the services. Given my belief in Karma, it raises interesting questions about past influences. I did join the Officer TA when I was at university, but by that time I had no interest in joining full time. I had a great laugh, and I think I would have made a good soldier, as I’m a team player. But then I had misgivings about the efficacy of war, and now I think it madness.

*What's the biggest fish you've ever caught?*
I’ve never fished.

*What makes you feel great about yourself?*
Lots of stuff – pleasing my family, making someone laugh, completing a piece of work, teaching someone something, finishing a book, writing a good piece, finishing a poem.

*How did you meet your significant other?*
We met in a Spiritualist church. She was exploring other religions having become very disillusioned with Christianity, and I had gone along with a mate and an open mind.

*What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)*
I’m a good communicator, as this is the greater part of my job. I teach and run a large building where we have 10 teaching rooms, two Tutor rooms, two offices and a couple of kitchens. The management stuff is all about information and what you do with it. Teaching and assessing new Learners is all about being able to put people at ease and understanding what it is they need from you.

*What is the one thing you must do before you die?*
No plans for anything in particular. I’d like to travel more.

*If you had to teach something, what would you teach?*
I teach maths now, but I can also teach English, creative writing, confidence building, presenting and those subjects they teach in Primary schools.

*What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?*
If I sat down and thought about it, I could probably come up with a great list of stuff, but then there’s no point. I think I’d just like to focus on what I can achieve now.

*If you were to be stuck at a particular time in your life, which one would you choose and why?*
About 7 years ago. My daughter had recovered from an illness, and we had the means to do a bit of travelling with them. We went to Salzburg in Austria, Barcelona and Tarragona in Spain, and Lyon and Paris in France. We had a lovely time.

*Do you get tired living life?*
I get tired, but not of life.

*What method do you cherish above all others, as means to improving your life?*
Self refelection. If you don’t understand where you are coming from, then you’ve got no chance of understanding anyone else.

*What one thing would you NEED to have on a deserted island if you didn't have to worry over food and water? *
A meditation practice.

*If you were a king/queen for a day, what would you do?*
Declare a public holiday.

*What’s the stupidest forum argument you’ve ever had?*
I’ve had lots I’m afraid, but the Harry Potter good or bad argument, that occasionally erupts from time to time, was one I became a bit exasperated with. I don’t now.

*What song is in your head at the moment?*
The Healer John Lee Hooker and Carlos Santana – superb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aFKgi5D6eU&feature=BFa&list=PLFA03725814FCC8F2&lf=plpp_video&index=16

*Which book are you reading at the moment?*
I’m reading The Glass Bead game by Herman Hesse, and a Jim Butcher called Graveyard Shift. I’ve wanted to read the Hesse for a while, and I am enjoying it. Hesse is an interesting writer – see Steppenwolf – and can’t be taken at face value during a reading. The Jim Butcher was going cheap at Waterstones, and so I thought I’d give it a whirl. I did the same with Neal Asher a few years ago and have read everything he’s written since. I don’t think I’ll be doing the same with the Butcher, but it’s ok.

*What is your favourite quote?*
He who hesitates is lost. (Or rather it’s the one I can think of.)

*Which comedians or cabaret artists do you like?*
Eddy Izzard, Stephen Fry, Bill Bailey but loads more too.

*Favorite avatar on the Forum?*
I like Qimi’s as I keep seeing it in sainsbury’s in the DVD section. The first time I saw it, the DVD case just popped up in front of me and I immediately thought – there’s Qimi! I told her about it. I also like MarkBastable’s as the joker. His Heath Leger Joker has an edge – which Mark does too.

*Favorite threads?*
Cold Ale, Rate that Song, Forum Bookclub

*What's your favorite sandwich?*
I don’t know.

*What is your answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?*?
Don’t worry about all that. Just do what you can.

*Who are some of the nicest people you met on LitNet?*
There are some great, funny, clever people here on LitNet, and I enjoy the banter, arguments and challenges that go on. All the Ladies and Gents on the Cold Ale thread, and my Yorkshire compadres are good. It’s also nice to digitally meet nice people from other countries too with different perspectives and experiences.

*What is the limit of your credibility?*
I’m way past my credibility. I always have been. I shouldn’t be where I am if truth be told. So I reckon I am incredible...no sorry that should be uncredible.

*Favorite poem?*
So many, but this really got me when I studied it at 18.

http://www.bartleby.com/198/1.html

I like Phillip Larkin more and more too. I think this is because I am of an age where I understand his ideas better.

*First novel you remember reading on your own?*
I remember a Treasure Island I got when I was quite young, but I think the one I could actually read was Robin Hood. It helped because at that time in the 60’s there were lots of references to Robin Hood – the films and a series.

*What era do you find most of the books you read are from?*
I read a lot of modern fiction – particularly thrillers and Sci Fi. I expect my books to do a few things for me depending upon the book. I expect my newish thrillers to entertain, but also inform me if they have a historical setting. I expect radical ideas and good writing in sci fi. In the classic stuff I expect a good story with perhaps some historical details I can learn from. I also expect something from the internal morality of the book.

*Favorite TV shows?*
Match of the day on a Saturday and Sunday night when all have gone to bed.

*Which Forum members would you like to meet in person?*
I’d be happy to meet most of them, though they might not feel the same way. The Ladies and Gents on the Cold Ale thread would be good to meet.

*Last words you said out loud?*
Bugger! I had just been frozen on a game of freeze tag on Quake Online.

*Last person you hugged/kissed?*
My wife. Before that my 4 year old niece.

*What do you do (for a living) to be able to keep your LitNet addiction going? And are you happy with your chosen profession?*
I work for the Adult Education Service in Coventry. I teach maths and manage a couple of Maths teachers. I also run a large building and assist in the many tasks that occur.

*What would you like to be if you could change your profession?*
I like teaching and managing, Eventually I’d like to work in a university.

*Which one of the seven dwarves are you and why?*
Daft because I frequently am.


*What is your most outstanding feature?*

My everydayness.

*If you could change one thing about the way you look, what would that be?*

I’m not bothered by how I look, but I should get my teeth done.

*Which book do you wish you had written?*

A good one.

*What book would you recommend to others of all types and ages as a must read?*

There’s no one book. I would say read what you want. You’ll gradually refine your tastes to stuff that is good/ useful to read.

*What should you be doing at the moment instead of answering these questions?*
Playing Quake, or doing some maths homework for my course.

*Describe your ideal day, please.*
Breakfast out. A nice day sightseeing in Paris including a visit to the Louvre. A nice baguette for lunch and the evening in.

*Favorite movie?*
The Grinch – seeing as it’s the season.

*Last movie you watched?
Centurion – disappointing.

Do you want to buy a banana?[/B]
No. They don’t agree with me anymore.

*Favorite painting?*
There are lots I like. Guernica is good, but I really like Van Gogh. I was really impressed by Monet’s paintings in the railway station though.

http://www.artistaswitness.com/Railways/railways_lw_12.htm


*Bowie, yay or nay?*
Double Yay.

*Wonderful Superman or depressing Batman?*
Always depressing Batman. He’s the Phillip Larkin of Superheroes.

*Something you want to forget but you never can?*
How much this Christmas cost.

*If you could relive one moment in your life whenever you wanted to, what would it be?*
On Thassos Island Greece. Lovely time.

*What is the best thing that happened to you since your last birthday?*
I moved into the maths team and got to do a course at Uni again.

*If you could send one thing to the Room 101, one would that be?*
Same as last time – anger.

*Are you mostly happy with life or are you still in pursuit?*
I’m happy. None of us are completely happy for long, but that’s life.

*Tell us something scandalous about yourself.*
I was arrested for throwing a shrub at a friend whilst on a night out. This was after attending a very rough “Coming out of Jail” party for a bloke who worked at the slaughterhouse. He was called Cabbage.

*How long did it take you to answer all of these questions?*
An hour or two.

*Are you currently intoxicated?*
No. Not these days.

*When will you pay Whifflingpin?*
Only if he promises not to post his singing on Youtube again.

*One final word of wisdom for LitNet users?*
Take a moment. Don’t jump straight in.

*What question would you like to ask to the person to be interviewed after you?
What book would you say sums you up?

[soundofmusic]

Paul, I'm so sorry I missed your birthday, I hope you had a wonderful one.

[Paulclem]

Paul, I'm so sorry I missed your birthday, I hope you had a wonderful one.

I did Sounds and thanks. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[papayahed]

I've been out of pocket for a short bit sorry I missed it but, Happy Belated birthday!

[MystyrMystyry]

Hey Paul - I've kept meaning to wish you well, but this thread's been bobbling around all over the place, and as well you know Litnet is one big sidetracky site so:

Happy Birthday!

[Pensive]

Happy Birthday!

[Paulclem]

Thanks and a Merry Christmas.

[qimissung]

Interesting interview, Paul. You threw a shrub; your friend is named Cabbage. What a wild and crazy group you guys are!

[PoeticPassions]

Happy Belated Birthday Paul!!! I really hope it was a wonderful day... Wishing you all the best.

I enjoyed reading your interview :) :)