Rory at Earthly Comforts sets 15 random questions every week. Here is this week’s selection.

01 Do you sometimes ‘just’ LIKE posts from those you follow but don’t often read the content, and if so, why do you do this?

Is it a time restraint or something else that motivates this action?

I sometimes like without commenting but I wouldn’t like without reading the content. I would want to be sure that I did actually like it before I did that.

02 What do you do with gifts you have received but have no use for?

Inspired by Sadje

That depends on the gift and the giver. If the giver had said they didn’t mind if I exchanged it I might do that. I rarely exchange gifts. Usually only if they are the wrong size or don’t work properly. Usually I would keep it and maybe one day it would be useful or eventually I might give it to someone who could use it but not right away. I remember getting two irons as wedding presents. I used one but kept the other and started using it when the first one stopped working, probably  more than 10 years later.

03 Have people become lazier concerning cooking do you think, or is it more a case of people not knowing how to cook?

Is cooking considered a valuable skill by you?

I don’t know about this. Maybe some people have become lazier about cooking or just time poor. It’s also possible that some people were never taught to cook. I don’t know if they still teach it in schools and there is probably less time for a mother or grandmother to teach a young person to cook these days. Even grandmas are out at work all day. 

It seems to me that a lot of people are more interested in gourmet cooking if the number of TV shows like Master Chef are anything to go by.  I do consider cooking a valuable skill. Everyone should be able to cook basic meals at home. It saves money and is healthier than living on take away and junk food.

04 What news stories, in your opinion, have so far defined the 2020’s and what do you think they have taught us personally as individuals?

There have been so many stories. The pandemic of course and how people have reacted to it. The terrible stories of people losing loved ones due to ignorance or mismanagement but also the good stories of people who helped others in practical ways or just by brightening their days during lockdown. Wars, politics and natural disasters have made up the rest. I don’t know that I have learned anything new from these events. I already knew that there would be more floods, bushfires and other natural disasters as scientists have been telling us that for a while. I already knew that there were a lot of greedy corporations and politicians who were more interested in taking care of themselves than their constituents. I guess the main thing I’ve learned is just how bad these people can be and how so many people follow them like sheep even when it is not in their own interest.

05 What would you never swallow even if you could?

Poison. Or oysters.

06 How many hours of sleep do you get a night, and how many hours do you think you need and why?

I probably sleep about six hours a night. I should probably get more and I could get more but I always end up sitting up too late even when I’m tired. I think shift work ruined me for going to bed at a normal time.

07 How important is it to you to have a clean house or environment to live in and does it have to be pristine?

It is important to have a clean house or environment to live in. For hygiene of course and being in a clean environment is just nicer. I like visually pleasant surroundings but my home does not have to be pristine. We have pets. If we wanted pristine we’d spend all our time cleaning and we have better things to do. 

08 Could you give up your Smartphone and break your addiction to it?

Yes, because I am not addicted to it. It’s just a tool.

09 What have been five of your best TV shows from the dawn of dot to today?

Why were they good?

I feel sure that I answered a question like this recently but don’t expect all the same answers.

• The West Wing- A great cast, good stories that made you think. Made me laugh and cry.
• Star Trek- original series and TNG- I loved the characters and the interactions between them. Some excellent stories especially in TNG.
• Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister- Hilariously funny and scarily realistic at the same time.
• The Good Place – I really liked the characters and the storyline of this show. Learned a bit about ethics. I’ve probably watched it about three times even though it is a relatively new show.
• M*A*S*H – I haven’t watched it in a few years but again a good ensemble cast and some stories that made you think, laugh and cry.

10 Why is life not a bed of roses but a bed of thorns? What makes your life good and or bad?

You can’t have one without the other, unless you have pademelons that come and eat the flowers off your rose bushes. What makes my life good? I have my health, a roof over my head, enough to eat, family, pets, hobbies that occupy my days.

What makes it bad? Lack of money and loss of independence because I can’t go anywhere by myself.

11 Toasted waffles or toasted bread, and why?

Toasted bread. 

12 How do you feel about the ageing process and you?

Getting old sucks but so far I’m holding my own. 

13 What is the last rebellious thing you did?

I can’t remember which probably means that I haven’t done anything very rebellious at all.

14 What would be your ideal ‘you experience’ of the following …. museum, theatre, spa day, bungee jumping?

I do enjoy museums but I’ve not been to the theatre in such a long time.  I used to really enjoy going to the theatre to see a play or a musical.

15 Could you easily step off the planet and away from society and your friends and being social and also away from the Internet for 12 months.

I could step away from society easily enough. I’m not really in society that much anyway.  The internet would be different though. I depend on that for so many things and I would not manage without it. We don’t have a good internet connection here at the best of times and it often drops out. It did earlier this evening and we had no music or TV as we stream everything, no blogging, no games and no phone. Not to mention things like banking, paying bills, shopping and other essential things that country people can’t access easily except online. I don’t know about literally stepping off the planet though. I don’t think I’m cut out for space travel.