25 Things
I've been tagged by my wonderful friend Sabine. An explanation and rules for how tagging works can be found at the end of this post.
So here goes:
1. I was born in Bolton and raised in a small town called Atherton (about 20 miles from Manchester). I've lived in the surrounding area all my life and we're now, well as soon as the house situation is sorted, moving to mid Wales to be near Gary's family and I can't wait.
2. As a little girl I was always into art, my mum still has a drawing that I did when I was 4 years old of 2 ladies dressed in the latest fashions. I must admit I shocked myself as to how good it was for a 4 year old. At age 13 I wanted to become vet until I realised I might have to put animals down so I changed my mind back to my art. At age 16 I was all set to pursue a career as a graphic artist until my Auntie (who was an art teacher at the time) put me off by saying there was great competition in that field. More fool me that I listened to her and went onto college to do A levels that I wasn't remotely interested in.
3. I met my first 'real' boyfriend aged 16 (and a half), 5 years later we were married, 8 years later aged 24 I found myself pregnant with my first son. The birth experience was totally frightening and very medicalised however my son was just the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and all worth it. My first husband however was an egotistical tosser!
4. At age 19, after getting rubbish A level results, I went to work at a solicitors in Bolton whilst studying to be a Trainee Legal Executive. God I've no idea what made me think I wanted to be a lawyer. My most embarrassing moment was having to pick up a client from the local Magistrates court, on instructions from my obnoxious boss, and escort her to the solicitors' office. We walked through the centre of Bolton town, which is fine you must think, but the client was a well known local prostitute, short skirt, missing teeth and everything!
4. Being young and naive at the solicitors, I had to attend Crown Court as a clerk. My first time I was told to either keep with the barrister or keep with the client "don't let them out of your sight!". Just as we were called into court, the barrister disappeared so I followed the client ...... unbeknown to me, I'd ended up sat in the Dock with him, oh dear!!
5. Started work aged 20 at British Nuclear Fuels, stayed there for 15 years and became a contract manager in nuclear waste management and decommissioning, fell into it really. I earned great money with a company car and travelled around the country meeting some fantastic people I have to say, and seeing some amazing things like a tour on a nuclear trident submarine as it was almost built, seeing the painted ceiling at Greenwich naval college. Did it make me feel satisfied, no did it hell. I always kept thinking there must be more to life than this, I just wanted to feel like I was helping people.
6. At aged 23 to 26 I'd studied part time to get my BA (Hons) in Business Studies. Some of the hardest days of my life, working full time, even taking my 2nd year exams aged 25 whilst I was 8 months pregnant with my son. If it wasn't for my wonderful dad I would've never have gone back to do the final year, cos he looked after my son so I could carry on. Yes I was married to my first husband at the time but he was less than useless.
7. I've had my heart broken several times and I must admit it's a fine way to lose weight. I keep telling my husband Gary to leave me for 3 months, let me lose 6 stone and then come back :D.
8. For most of my working life I've worked in a male orientated environment, lots of meetings with superficial blokes comparing the size of their appendages, metaphorically speaking. I grew up fast though in my late 20s after a cossetted childhood, learned to hold my own appendage haha. I didn't take any crap, spoke out when it needed saying and would never ever sleep my way to the top (unlike some women I met along the way).
9. During my years at the solicitors and BNFL, I've experienced bullying by bosses. There's times I've taken it and then gone into a quiet room and cried. This is why I love being in my late 30s and my own boss cos I know I don't have to take that rubbish anymore.
10. I have been let down very badly by 3 female friends in my life. They have hurt me deeply and I've found it very hard to forgive and forget. The best thing I did was to cut off all contact with them and try to console myself in the knowledge that the reasons for our friendships ending was entirely their fault! I'm still a trusting soul though, wear my heart on my sleeve (which my dad says I shouldn't) but I can't help who I am. If I'm hurt again, so be it, I've got lots of other close friends who will hug me if anything goes wrong.
11. I met Gary, my second husband, 6 years ago on the internet ... shock horror. We were both single and both bored so went on the internet for a laugh. Never ever dreamt we'd meet anyone on there. He proposed to me 6 weeks after we'd met and we married 2 years after we'd met, happily married now for 4 years with two kids aged 3 and 2. If you believe in the soulmate kinda thing, then I definitely met mine.
12. I've loved music and dancing ever since I was little. Before my back problems, I was always told I could shake my ass as good as Beyonce lol. My musical tastes are wide and varied but I suppose if I had to pick one artist it would be Anastacia. I've seen her live twice and her voice is truly amazing.
13. I've had 3 operations in my life. My first was aged 30 when I had a gangrenous appendix removed. Came out of hospital only to be rushed back in a week later in agony. They thought I'd got an infection but turned out I'd got gallstones. I controlled the pain with diet whilst waiting for the operation (which I subsequently declined to have) but unfortunately 2 years later I had to have an emergency operation to remove my gall bladder. My last operation was last year to have part of a lumbar disc removed pressing on my sciatic nerve. This is still a story to be told as I'm still having all sorts of problems.
14. I love painting with acrylics when I have the time and energy. I've never really been 'conventional' with my art, it's always something surreal in my mind and on canvas. I suppose my paintings are like marmite, you either love them or hate them ha ha.
15. In January 2006 I took voluntary redundancy from BNFL and found what I thought was my true vocation. I became a doula, a woman who supports women and their families before during and after birth. I absolutely loved it despite the 4 week on call periods when a lady was due. I've had the privilege of supporting 9 women during their very different births, from normal no pain relief to an emergency C section (which I was allowed into theatre for which is a very rare occurence for a doula).
16. I have lots of proud moments as a doula, a very emotional role, however the nicest thing a client did for me after her birth was to give her son my name Jude as his middle name. Very honoured and such a humbling experience.
17. When I had my last baby, my one and only homebirth, I didn't realise until some 3 months later that I was suffering from post natal depression. It was such a relief when I admitted it to my GP that things weren't right. Due to my back problems, the depression never went away so I'm still suffering from it. Good days and bad days.
18. I played hockey for 7 years at school and college. At school we were always winning the tournaments and my mum and dad have got a newspaper cutting which they kept of me and the girls showing off one of our trophys. Happy days.
19. Aged 13 I used to be a competitive disco dancer in teams and in pairs with all the lycra and spangly bits. The furthest I got was to come second in a team event. Loved every minute of it.
20. Due to my back problems, I've met lots of fellow sufferers. I have a social network for all those suffering with prolapsed disc problems and I'm collecting people's personal written experiences to compile into a book. The aim will be to present this book to the medical profession to highlight how differently patients are treated for what is effectively the same condition.
21. A guy called Robert Ashton is going to be mentioning my company Iona Cosmetics in his book about online businesses, not sure of the release date yet.
22. Me and my husband appeared on TV, on BBC3, us and another 99 couples. It was a scientific based programme called Make Me A Baby. We were trying to conceive baby No. 3 so it was all about what social, lifestyle, medical aspects can affect conception. This all took place between a hotel in Glasgow and the BBC3 studios there. It was interesting and fun to meet other couples. Turns out that we actually conceived baby no. 3 at the Glasgow hotel, go figure hahaha!
23. My all time favourite film is Braveheart, yeah action, blood and guts with romance (I have two older brothers what can I say). I actually walked down the aisle to marry Gaz to the theme music from the film, totally romantic and made a lot of the guests tearful hee hee.
24. I'm going through the slow process at the moment to become registered disabled. Not something I like to admit to myself or anyone at all but if it helps the family, then I've got to do it.
25. I can't go without mentioning the work I do now. I had to give up doulaing through ill health and I've ventured into something that I've been doing since I was about 3, applying and dealing with all things makeup. I love working for myself and I'm also training to become a makeup artist (a home study course although I practice on friends all the time ha ha). My aim for the future is to have all completely natural cosmetic and skincare products. It may take a few years, but I'll get there.
Here are the "tag" rules:
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a post with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose five more people to be tagged. You also have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. To do this, you simply link to their blogs so that they know you responded to their tag.
I would like to tag the following people: Melina Lisa Remy Jen Helen
So here goes:
1. I was born in Bolton and raised in a small town called Atherton (about 20 miles from Manchester). I've lived in the surrounding area all my life and we're now, well as soon as the house situation is sorted, moving to mid Wales to be near Gary's family and I can't wait.
2. As a little girl I was always into art, my mum still has a drawing that I did when I was 4 years old of 2 ladies dressed in the latest fashions. I must admit I shocked myself as to how good it was for a 4 year old. At age 13 I wanted to become vet until I realised I might have to put animals down so I changed my mind back to my art. At age 16 I was all set to pursue a career as a graphic artist until my Auntie (who was an art teacher at the time) put me off by saying there was great competition in that field. More fool me that I listened to her and went onto college to do A levels that I wasn't remotely interested in.
3. I met my first 'real' boyfriend aged 16 (and a half), 5 years later we were married, 8 years later aged 24 I found myself pregnant with my first son. The birth experience was totally frightening and very medicalised however my son was just the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and all worth it. My first husband however was an egotistical tosser!
4. At age 19, after getting rubbish A level results, I went to work at a solicitors in Bolton whilst studying to be a Trainee Legal Executive. God I've no idea what made me think I wanted to be a lawyer. My most embarrassing moment was having to pick up a client from the local Magistrates court, on instructions from my obnoxious boss, and escort her to the solicitors' office. We walked through the centre of Bolton town, which is fine you must think, but the client was a well known local prostitute, short skirt, missing teeth and everything!
4. Being young and naive at the solicitors, I had to attend Crown Court as a clerk. My first time I was told to either keep with the barrister or keep with the client "don't let them out of your sight!". Just as we were called into court, the barrister disappeared so I followed the client ...... unbeknown to me, I'd ended up sat in the Dock with him, oh dear!!
5. Started work aged 20 at British Nuclear Fuels, stayed there for 15 years and became a contract manager in nuclear waste management and decommissioning, fell into it really. I earned great money with a company car and travelled around the country meeting some fantastic people I have to say, and seeing some amazing things like a tour on a nuclear trident submarine as it was almost built, seeing the painted ceiling at Greenwich naval college. Did it make me feel satisfied, no did it hell. I always kept thinking there must be more to life than this, I just wanted to feel like I was helping people.
6. At aged 23 to 26 I'd studied part time to get my BA (Hons) in Business Studies. Some of the hardest days of my life, working full time, even taking my 2nd year exams aged 25 whilst I was 8 months pregnant with my son. If it wasn't for my wonderful dad I would've never have gone back to do the final year, cos he looked after my son so I could carry on. Yes I was married to my first husband at the time but he was less than useless.
7. I've had my heart broken several times and I must admit it's a fine way to lose weight. I keep telling my husband Gary to leave me for 3 months, let me lose 6 stone and then come back :D.
8. For most of my working life I've worked in a male orientated environment, lots of meetings with superficial blokes comparing the size of their appendages, metaphorically speaking. I grew up fast though in my late 20s after a cossetted childhood, learned to hold my own appendage haha. I didn't take any crap, spoke out when it needed saying and would never ever sleep my way to the top (unlike some women I met along the way).
9. During my years at the solicitors and BNFL, I've experienced bullying by bosses. There's times I've taken it and then gone into a quiet room and cried. This is why I love being in my late 30s and my own boss cos I know I don't have to take that rubbish anymore.
10. I have been let down very badly by 3 female friends in my life. They have hurt me deeply and I've found it very hard to forgive and forget. The best thing I did was to cut off all contact with them and try to console myself in the knowledge that the reasons for our friendships ending was entirely their fault! I'm still a trusting soul though, wear my heart on my sleeve (which my dad says I shouldn't) but I can't help who I am. If I'm hurt again, so be it, I've got lots of other close friends who will hug me if anything goes wrong.
11. I met Gary, my second husband, 6 years ago on the internet ... shock horror. We were both single and both bored so went on the internet for a laugh. Never ever dreamt we'd meet anyone on there. He proposed to me 6 weeks after we'd met and we married 2 years after we'd met, happily married now for 4 years with two kids aged 3 and 2. If you believe in the soulmate kinda thing, then I definitely met mine.
12. I've loved music and dancing ever since I was little. Before my back problems, I was always told I could shake my ass as good as Beyonce lol. My musical tastes are wide and varied but I suppose if I had to pick one artist it would be Anastacia. I've seen her live twice and her voice is truly amazing.
13. I've had 3 operations in my life. My first was aged 30 when I had a gangrenous appendix removed. Came out of hospital only to be rushed back in a week later in agony. They thought I'd got an infection but turned out I'd got gallstones. I controlled the pain with diet whilst waiting for the operation (which I subsequently declined to have) but unfortunately 2 years later I had to have an emergency operation to remove my gall bladder. My last operation was last year to have part of a lumbar disc removed pressing on my sciatic nerve. This is still a story to be told as I'm still having all sorts of problems.
14. I love painting with acrylics when I have the time and energy. I've never really been 'conventional' with my art, it's always something surreal in my mind and on canvas. I suppose my paintings are like marmite, you either love them or hate them ha ha.
15. In January 2006 I took voluntary redundancy from BNFL and found what I thought was my true vocation. I became a doula, a woman who supports women and their families before during and after birth. I absolutely loved it despite the 4 week on call periods when a lady was due. I've had the privilege of supporting 9 women during their very different births, from normal no pain relief to an emergency C section (which I was allowed into theatre for which is a very rare occurence for a doula).
16. I have lots of proud moments as a doula, a very emotional role, however the nicest thing a client did for me after her birth was to give her son my name Jude as his middle name. Very honoured and such a humbling experience.
17. When I had my last baby, my one and only homebirth, I didn't realise until some 3 months later that I was suffering from post natal depression. It was such a relief when I admitted it to my GP that things weren't right. Due to my back problems, the depression never went away so I'm still suffering from it. Good days and bad days.
18. I played hockey for 7 years at school and college. At school we were always winning the tournaments and my mum and dad have got a newspaper cutting which they kept of me and the girls showing off one of our trophys. Happy days.
19. Aged 13 I used to be a competitive disco dancer in teams and in pairs with all the lycra and spangly bits. The furthest I got was to come second in a team event. Loved every minute of it.
20. Due to my back problems, I've met lots of fellow sufferers. I have a social network for all those suffering with prolapsed disc problems and I'm collecting people's personal written experiences to compile into a book. The aim will be to present this book to the medical profession to highlight how differently patients are treated for what is effectively the same condition.
21. A guy called Robert Ashton is going to be mentioning my company Iona Cosmetics in his book about online businesses, not sure of the release date yet.
22. Me and my husband appeared on TV, on BBC3, us and another 99 couples. It was a scientific based programme called Make Me A Baby. We were trying to conceive baby No. 3 so it was all about what social, lifestyle, medical aspects can affect conception. This all took place between a hotel in Glasgow and the BBC3 studios there. It was interesting and fun to meet other couples. Turns out that we actually conceived baby no. 3 at the Glasgow hotel, go figure hahaha!
23. My all time favourite film is Braveheart, yeah action, blood and guts with romance (I have two older brothers what can I say). I actually walked down the aisle to marry Gaz to the theme music from the film, totally romantic and made a lot of the guests tearful hee hee.
24. I'm going through the slow process at the moment to become registered disabled. Not something I like to admit to myself or anyone at all but if it helps the family, then I've got to do it.
25. I can't go without mentioning the work I do now. I had to give up doulaing through ill health and I've ventured into something that I've been doing since I was about 3, applying and dealing with all things makeup. I love working for myself and I'm also training to become a makeup artist (a home study course although I practice on friends all the time ha ha). My aim for the future is to have all completely natural cosmetic and skincare products. It may take a few years, but I'll get there.
Here are the "tag" rules:
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a post with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose five more people to be tagged. You also have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. To do this, you simply link to their blogs so that they know you responded to their tag.
I would like to tag the following people: Melina Lisa Remy Jen Helen
Add a Comment
-
Comment by Tracey ~ Rainbow Totz on May 10, 2009 at 8:52pm -
Hi hun, I loved your 25 things, feel I know you all the better now :0) and your right we are similar souls lol.....2 'heart on our sleeve' gals! But determined too!
Catch you soon in Twitterville
Trace xx
-
Comment by Jude Robinson on February 13, 2009 at 8:10pm -
Yep Nikki I found it quite therapeutic if not a bit 'naked' in my thought processes lol. Thank you Sabine, you're a real sweetie and you're my inspiration don't forget!!!
Lots of love and hugs
J xxxx
-
Comment by Sabine on February 13, 2009 at 7:12pm -
Fabulous, Jude. Way to go girlfriend, with Iona Cometics and don't forget - always believe in yourself. You've got a good plan, the willpower and talent to get right to the top. Everything will be good.
Lots of love
Sabine
xx
-
Comment by Nikki - Web Mums on February 13, 2009 at 1:05pm -
Well done Jude - that's great. I'll let the others know you've tagged them - unless you would like to leave them a message on their pages yourself?
I hope you enjoyed doing this, I found it quite a good experience!
I knew that you were a doula but it's cool to read about some of the experiences you had whilst doing it! And so many couple I know have met over the Internet - how did we ever survive without it!
Have you tweeted about this page too?
Sign in
About
Our Kind Sponsors
Goings On..
I think if you are lucky enough to avoid certain members you can gt some sensible advice but be aware some of the resident bullies who live on there constantly will cut in to the thread and dis you without warning..once bitten and I ended up apologi…
Oh my god! Thank god it wasnt just me they were picking on. You are so spot on hun. I asked many months ago for feedback on my site and got so many 'i hate this, i hate that' replies I was none the wiser as to what to do. Anyway I did revamp the sit…
We’ve all had them, we can see piles and piles of them in the shops. A thin card sleeve with this season’s popular film characters on and inside that a moulded plastic tray meant to hold tiny slivers of poor quality chocolate that all fall out and l…
Here are a couple of snippets from my newsletter. If you want to get this regularly to your inbox, visit http://www.acpr.co.uk/acpr-newsletter.php to sign up. You'll get exclusive offers on my books as well as news for anyone interested in flexible…
"Fill your cookie jar this Christmas with these delicious homemade gems! Passionate about cookies? You'll want to sink your teeth into Big, Soft, Chewy Cookies"...
This delectable Christmas cookie cookbook is packed with over more than four hundre…
From the Gift Store
© 2009 Created by Nikki - Web Mums on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
You need to be a member of Web Mums WAHM Network to add comments!
Join this social network