Stumbled across this Manic Monday meme at http://manicmondaymeme.blogspot.com/

How did you decide to live where you do?

We needed to move from our small mid-terraced house (with no garden) to a bigger property.  I would have rather moved towards Glasgow, nearer my parents, but we soon realised that we would get more for our money moving in the opposite direction.  We looked at a few new-build developments around the Falkirk area and quickly settled on the development where we are now.  We live in a small commuter town, with great motorway links to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Stirling.

Do you like risks, or do you avoid them? What major risks have you taken in your life?

My first reaction to this question was that I was NOT a risk taker but, on reflection, I suppose I am. 

I suppose moving out to the town where we live, five years ago, was a big risk.  We didn’t know the area very well, and we were moving an extra 10 or 15 minutes drive further away from our families and friends.  We also took a big risk on the house because we bought it off-plan, without even so much as viewing a show house!

I have also taken risks throughout my career in the public sector.  I have moved jobs several times over the course of my 20-year career.  (However, I’ve only had three employers.)  The longest I have stayed in the same job has been 5.5 years, and even then I worked in two different locations.  The thing is, I eventually get bored and seek something else to take me out of my “comfort zone”.

If you had to choose, which could you live without: TV, the internet, a telephone or friends?

Ooooooh!!  This is a killer question!  I love all of the above! 

I could NEVER give up my friends!  Not a chance.  I might not see some of them as much as I would like, but it’s comforting to know that they are always there if I need them.  Girlie nights in or out are like therapy, with laughter being the best medicine.

As an Internet junkie, addicted to blogging, blog hopping and social networking, I could never EVER give up the Internet.  The very thought of it brings me out in a cold sweat!  I simply do not know how I survived in my years pre-Internet (circa 1998).

So that just leaves the telephone and the TV.  *bites knuckles*  Oooooh!  I don’t know! 

I do love TV!  Right now, I’m addicted to Lost.  I’m waaaaay behind with it though.  I’m only half-way through the Series 3 box set.  I’m also a life-long EastEnders fan.  It’s the only soap I watch religiously.  I also enjoy watching documentaries on Discovery and National Geographic, particularly about ancient civilisations, such as the Egyptians and the Romans.  I’m also a sucker for property and DIY shows, as well as a little bit of gastro-porn, like Saturday’s Kitchen.

I don’t spend a lot of time on my home phone.  I screen my calls with Caller ID and if I don’t recognise the number I let the answer machine take it.  However, I have a Blackberry, which I absolutley LOVE and I get quite twitchy if I forget to take it out with me!  I use it to keep updated with emails and texts more than for phonecalls.  I do think it’s important to have my phone with me when out and about, in case of any emergencies.  It’s reassuring to know that I’m both contactable and able to access help when needed.

So……. what will I decide…. TV or phone?  *bites knuckles*  Aaaaargh!!  It’s sooooooo hard!  OK, I’ll just choose (and hope I never have to in real life!)…..  I would have to say “Goodbye” (very reluctantly!) to………… the TV!! 

If you’d like to take part in this fun meme then go to the Manic Monday Meme site.