w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

I’ve volunteered to be ‘interviewed’ by Tinka, whose “Dust from a distant sun” blog was the first I ever read.

Go over and see why I regularly visit …

The Idea: If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me." I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's questions will be different. You will update your journal or blog with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
1. How do you perceive things? By touch, sight, sound or .. ?

If I had to be restricted to a single sensory perception, it would have to be “by sound”. If I lost my sense of hearing, I think I would be really distraught.

Why? I love music, the sound of a woman laughing (a regular occurrence with Mrs.D. but we won’t go into that), listening to people having earnest discussions. I think that, more than sight, it’s how you are aware of where you are in the world.

2. What does it take to maintain a good blog? What pitfalls have you discovered?

a) Regular (but not necessarily daily) postings, covering a wide variety of topics. “Last night’s TV” gets reviewed by too many blogs to be of much interest, unless you can hone in on a particular turn of phrase or theme, which can then spark your readers into commenting.

b) Visually, my site is abysmally derivative and formulaic. I’d love to be able to re-create it from scratch, but you seem to need either a good working knowledge of HTML or whatever, or an out-of-work programmer who can translate your vision for you. I have neither, so it’s a basic Blogger template with a bit of re-decoration slapped on.

But then, maybe it’s content which matters most, whether it is truly a personal diary, primarily for your own purposes, or a way of provoking interaction with others?

3. Desert Island book picks. Three volumes *only*

Nothing highbrow here – I’d be looking for entertainment, not enlightenment..

“Escape from Sobibor” by Richard Raschke. The triumph of determination to survive appalling human degradation would be a constant inspiration and provide hope of rescue.

“The Perfect Storm” by Sebastian Junger. As a sometime boating enthusiast and someone who loves the sea generally, I have a deep respect for its power. It’s why the RNLI is one of my main charities.

“The Lord of the Rings” – no link or explanation necessary. I re-read it every two or three years and never fail to find something I’ve missed or forgotten about. Sheer escapism from a marooning.

4. What can completely make your day?

Getting home from work on time (the M25 stands between work and home – nuff said) to find a lovely dinner prepared. It’s such a rare event, with Mrs.D. also working full-time. Plus a bottle of red wine breathing and the hi-fi playing a mix of my favourite music. A combination of events that, in fact, is so rare that I’m more likely to win the National Lottery.

5. And, finally, best piece of advice you've ever been given?

Listen to everyone, then do your own thing.

Right - your turn?