An interview with Paulclem:
*Why are we doing this interview thing?*
I like the sound of my own typing.
*Are you sure you want to do this?*
I think I'm sure.
*Who killed Roger Rabbit?*
Wasn’t he alive at the end? Perhaps I’ve got it wrong.
*Whose footprints would you find in the fridge?*
Those would be mine looking for goodies. It reminds me that we once stayed at my brother’s flat when he got married. The kids were quite young, and we had a nice quiet night after the wedding. The kids helped themselves to cake from the fridge before going to sleep. After we’d left, a couple of days later, my brother phoned to say that they’d found teeth marks in the cheese. They would have blamed me but for the size of the bite.
*So, how old are you?*
I'm 47 this birthday. I know that halfway through the year I'll start thinking - I'm 48 next, and then every time I need my age for some form, I'll forget which one I am. I've been doing this since I was in my thirties.
*If you had a personal theme song what would it be?*
Always look on the Bright Side of Life – by Monty Python in The Life of Brian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo&feature=fvst
I’d like it at my funeral, but someone posted “Stupidly Happy” on the Rate That Song thread, and I really like that one too for a personal theme tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djAkW_c8oeA
*Are you male or female? *
I’m a male.
*What makes you keep coming back?*
I like the chat, discussion and banter. This is the first forum I’d been on, and at first it was a little daunting. I got the hang of it. I learn a lot on the forums, as there are some clever posters.
*Are you happy with the way things are here?*
I think it works well. Minor problems are caused by members.
Should JBI get an + beside his name?
Definitely. His posts are often challenging, but there’s no doubting that he brings a fresh perspective to some of the discussions. I don’t find him personalising his comments either.
*Which countries have you visited?*
France, Holland, the former Yugoslavia, The former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, India. I love travelling, but we can’t do too much at the moment.
*Which languages do you speak?*
The Yorkshire version of English, English and I can understand a bit of French. I’m a typical Brit I’m afraid. I was put off languages at school as in those days they didn’t teach you formal English grammar, and when you were presented with formal French grammar in the lessons – well I didn’t have a clue. For the life of me I can’t understand why any teacher would assume you could absorb grammar by osmosis.
*How do you like your home town?*
I’m from Wakefield – a small Yorkshire village of 60,000, and I thought it was the best place in the world before I’d been anywhere else. Now I prefer where I live at the moment– Coventry – 300,000 inhabitants, big enough but not too big. It has a great history . It’s also where the family was born and brought up.
*If you could live somewhere different, where would it be and why?*
I’m quite happy living here. I know I can go to other places if I want to in the future., and very often we’ll go to a place, like it and wonder if it would be possible to move. I’ve thought that about virtually every nice city I’ve visited here and abroad. I think it means I’d be happy anywhere.
*Do you have any pets?*
We have a dog – a Jack Russell. He’s stopped biting me so much now. He’s my wife’s dog really – I’m just the staff. Being the staff I should have been supplied with a stout one to keep him in line. For the first time in 19 years we have no cats. The dog wouldn’t tolerate one now, though he was brought up with two.
*What makes you happy?*
I’m generally a happy person, and so I’m stupidly happy most of the time. I’m lucky in that I can rationalise my bad moods into something more positive given a little time. My family, house and work make me happy, as does watching a good film, chatting on Litnet and reading. My wife would say I’m grumpy though.
*Would you choose a desperate Hope or an unknown Faith?*
I was thinking about this one, and I’m a half full person – so desperate hope fits me best.
*Do you feel comfortable in your walk with God/atheism? *
I’m very comfortable in that Buddhism is the religion that makes sense to me. I’ve found a religion that fits me very well.
*Which actor should play you in a movie based on your life?*
An unknown as it would be an amateur production.
Who is your favourite Beatle?
George Harrison for one of my favourite songs My Sweet Lord. I thought they were all good though.
*Given the option, what animal would you choose to be?*
Being a Buddhist, we regard animal incarnations as very unfortunate – which they are. But if asked in a job interview which animal I would be and why, I would go for a cow – I’d chew things over for a while and then do a pile of work.
*What makes you feel great about yourself?*
Getting on with others, particularly my family, and a successfully delivered lesson.
*How did you meet your significant other?*
We met in a spiritualist church whilst we were both exploring religion. I like the fact that we met in a religious place, and I don’t think it matters which religion it represented at the time, as I had no religion then; I just had a feeling for something other. What I found at that time was the other half.
*Who inspires you most?*
My wife is a very inspiring person, and she inspires me on a daily basis.
*What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)*
Communication. I get on well with many types of people. (Or at least I think I do – perhaps others have a different opinion, and I’m a poor deluded fool.) Communication starts with listening.
*What is the one thing you must do before you die?*
There are so many things I’d like to do, and places I’d like to visit that I couldn’t pick one thing. Good job I believe in reincarnation – it takes the pressure off.
*If you had to teach something, what would you teach?*
I teach English already, and I really enjoy it. I’d like to teach in a university next, though I have a bit more studying to do. Teaching’s a bit like being on the stage – parts of it are a performance, but then you get the fun audience participation.
*What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?*
Edging closer to old age, I realise that there are lots of things I won’t achieve. There are only so many balls you can keep in the air.
*Do you have a tasty recipe for life that you could share for a reasonable price? … Is it REALLY tasty?*
Sorry - I’m not much of a cook – and I like simple food best.
*What method do you cherish above all others, as means to improving your life?*
Meditation – not the relaxation kind, but the type that allows you to examine yourself and your motivations. It has given me a better insight into what I’m thinking and why. It’s a great opportunity to become a more positive person.
*What one thing would you NEED to have on a deserted island if you didn't have to worry over food and water? *
Books – a Kindle with the full download capability would be fantastic.
*If you were a king/queen for a day, what would you do?*
Abolish that institution.
*What song is in your head at the moment?*
Dead in the Water by David Gray.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwJb_caT2xE
*Which book are you reading at the moment?*
I’m reading several – Surface details by Iain M Banks and now Philip Kerr’s The One From The Other.
*What is your favourite quote?*
May I ask what you expect to see from a Torquay Hotel window? Sidney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain...
I’ve been waiting years to adapt it into some facetious response. I’ve managed it with other Basil Fawlty quotes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq7pu...eature=related
*Favorite avatar on the Forum?*
A difficult question. Papaya always surprises me with her new ones as does Scher. I like Neely’s, Virgil’s, Markbastable’s and Mortal’s. I always picture JBI as his avatar.
*Favorite threads?*
Rate that song, Cold Ale, Poem of the week
*Last words you said out loud?*
Unrepeatable. I was getting blasted on Quake Online.
*Last person you hugged/kissed?*
My wife.
*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’m a Programme Manager for Adult Education. It’s a great job. I get to teach, manage people, travel around our venues, meet learners, play on the computer, test out new software and websites for our Tutors, train Tutors – it’s a great job.
*Would you rather be an educated fool or an ignorant fool?*
I know I am an educated fool.
*What would you like to be if you could change your profession?*
As a lad I wanted to be a soldier. I came close to joining before I went to University. It’s not really a change of profession, but I would like to teach at University next.
*Which one of the seven dwarves are you and why?*
Dodgy
*What is your most outstanding feature?*
My crooked teeth
*If you could change one thing about the way you look, what would that be?*
My squinting at things – I’d like to stop doing that.
*Which book do you wish you had written?*
One that sold well, but which had a modicum of literature about it.
*What should you be doing at the moment instead of answering these questions?*
Sleeping.
*Describe your ideal day, please.*
I awaken in a nice hotel with the family staying in Salzburg. It has just snowed and we’re off to the Christmas market. The lad and I will go up to the castle to look at the Austrian military museum, and we’ll meet up for an Italian dinner with the rest of the family. After another walk around the centre with nice Austrian pastries and coffee, we’ll retire for a night in of books.
*Favourite movie?*
The Godfather, Alien and Aliens, Ironweed, Mad Max 1, The Shining, Where Eagles Dare – so many
*Last movie you watched?
I’m currently watching a film about Algerian soldiers fighting for the Allies in WW2. I often watch films in bits. Days of Glory. I’ve finished it now. It was ok.
*Favourite painting?*
So many – but two I like are Guernica and The Haywain.
Bowie, yay or nay?
Double yay. As a 17 year –old I used to watch the Bowie freaks doing their dances in Wakefield pubs. It’s funny what you used to think was cool.
*Wonderful Superman or depressing Batman?*
Interesting Batman rather than the golden child who can’t lose. I’m all for an underdog.
*Something you want to forget but you never can?*
There are lots of moments which I relive frequently, usually involving unguarded words and alcohol.
If you could relive one moment in your life whenever you wanted to, what would it be?
I have a great visual memory, and I do relive moments of my life.
What was the best thing that happened to you during this year?
It was the lad getting into University to study where and what he wants.
*If you could send one thing to the Room 101, one would that be?*
Hatred
*Are you mostly happy with life or are you still in pursuit?*
I am happy with my life, but I don’t think you can give up the pursuit. Stopping is fatal on the road of life.
*Which care bear are you and why?*
Er ...the one that plays rugby...?
Tell us something scandalous about yourself.
I was once arrested for throwing a shrub at a friend who had just pulled it up and thrown it at me. The police car cruised by just as it left my hand, and it was a quiet night.
It also happened to be – I kid you not – the “Coming out of Jail Party” for a bloke I worked with at the slaughterhouse I was employed at. We had just left the dive he’d had his party at, and were on the way to a good nightclub.
The slaughterhouse – in times of full employment – found it difficult to get workers, and so had an arrangement with the local top security prison that it would take on prisoners who were halfway to being released. They were often murderers. This chap was an armed robber.
*How long did it take you to answer all of these questions?*
Ages. Enjoyable though.
*One final word of wisdom for LitNet users?*
Give us the benefit of your wisdom, not the sharp end of your tongue.
*What question would you like to ask to the person to be interview after you?
What book would you recommend to others of all types and ages as a must read?
Thanks for having me.
Originally Posted by Paulclem
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