They say imitation is the highest form of flattery – for the purpose of this post, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! I recently saw this idea on Sonia Styling’s blog, and she saw in on Woogsworld, and now you’re seeing it here.

For those who love a list, enjoy a GTKY game or are just morbidly, or even mildly curious, here’s the A to Z of me.

Animal – if you were an animal, what would you be?

Not an auspicious start, as I’m not much of an animal lover. Hmmm, for now I’ll say cat, only because I have a lot of time on my hands and I do like curling up in warm spots. Whichever creature in the animal kingdom is the most clever, glossy, bossy and entertaining, I’ll happily be that in your imagination. Unless that’s the aardvark. Nobody wants to be an aardvark.

Books – what’s on your reading list?

I’m engrossed in The Fictional Woman by Tara Moss. It’s so GOOD! The fabulous Catherine Deveny shared recently that she’s reading it chapter by chapter with her teenage son and they’re having excellent chats about feminism, labels, fictions – how rad is that? Buy this for yourself, and your partner, your sister, your boss, or the bloke next door. You can read about the idea behind the striking cover of the book here.

The next book on my shopping list is style blogger Nikki Parkinson’s Unlock Your Style. Nikki is all kinds of smart and stylish, and generous with her fashion know-how. I’m looking forward to buying her very first actual-you-can-get-it-in-the-shops book.

Compulsive about anything?

Even numbers, neatness, grammar, please and thank you, correct usage of the much maligned apostrophe, absentmindedly rubbing my eyebrow (what’s that about – so weird!), and many, many other things.

Dreams – do you dream in colour, remember them, keep a dream journal?

I couldn’t tell you if they’re in colour, sepia or black and white, but I regularly have very vivid, wildly odd dreams. I sometimes remember them, and have had dreams that have been quite hard to shake, they were so real to me. I’m a bit déjà-vu-ish too. It’s a thing!

Eating – what’s your usual snack?

A handful of almonds and dried apricots – hahahahaaahaaa, oh my sides hurt. I’m a sweet and salty girl – give me some crinkle cut chips and some chocolate and I’m good to go. I did eat a mandi today, they’re quite delicious.

Few of your Favourite things?

My local library. All those ideas, for free! Not to mention free wi-fi, and the gorgeous views.

The West Wing; and Aaron Sorkin.

Time to just look out the window.

Silence.       Blogging.       Dappled light.

Giggles – what or who makes you laugh? Do you have a good sense of humour?

I love well-chosen words, quips and lightning wit. Reading blogs like Woogsworld often cracks me up. Corrine Grant’s got the gift too. Late night guys Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Fallon are genuinely funny, unlike Old Man Letterman, who is, well, not.

As for GSOH – you don’t know the half of it, I’m hilarious!

Hot button issue?

Crimes against words. Rudeness. Cruelty. Slow drivers. People who stand at the top or bottom of escalators nattering or gazing into space – for the love of consumerism, move your butts! Our Tone and his mate Scott Morrison.

I am ….. myself. A blogger. An individual. An adoptee. A seeker. A work in progress. Happy.

Ju-ju – do you believe? Yes I do. Call it whatever you like, I believe in the power of positive vibes, especially when they’re sent to others – but not in a ridiculous, selfish ‘law of attraction’ gimme gimme way.

Known as – aliases? Screen names? A nom de plume?

To those who know me well I’m Nettie. Everyone starts in the Annette camp, Nettie is by invitation only. I’ll let you know if you’ve breached the gate.

L is for love. I love …

the girl I see in the mirror, chocolate, my #favouritehuman, kindness, words, generosity, dappled light, trees, and Melbourne.

Meeting people – do you like it or loathe it? Prefer parties or one-on-one?

I’m an introvert, but I love good company. I like people who have a twinkle in their eye, who are a bit left of centre. I loathe parties – loathe them!

Name – what’s the story there? Were you named after anyone? Do you go by a nickname?

I have had two given names, you can read about that here. My dad, who is one of the best blokes ever, used to often croon to me as a kid, “Net, Net, she’s my pet”. Naaw, on ya dad.

Observant – what’s around you right now? What do you see?

I am at my desk. I see a surfing sloth, my noticeboard, and a miniature Eiffel Tower. The sun’s gone down. It’s quiet.

People – who are the special people in your life?

I have a #favouritehuman, she’s 6, going on 26, full of life and ideas, love and stubbornness and killer dance moves. She’s my ‘mini me’ and I am excited to be hanging out with her tomorrow. I also have some amazing, loving, funny, creative, smart, and generous friends. They’ve carried me.

Q – any little quirks about yourself?

So many! I am a great on-the-spot lyricist; the TV must be on an even numbered volume, all the clocks in the house must show the same (correct) time. I love quoting movies, and often wave at strangers in the street. I sing loudly in my car, and in my house. At 46, my mother still shooshes me – ha! Never gonna happen.

Recreation – what’s your jam?

‘She was a day-tripper, a Sunday driver yeah….’ I love to hop in my car and head off, to the bay, into the hills, or just around the ‘burbs. If I see a great café, I might stop for a latte and do the crossword, and people watch. I love going to the movies, and having people over for dinner.

Sing in the shower? In the car? For friends?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Lucky them. I’m no American Idol contender, but I can hold my own.

To-do list – what’s at the top of the list?

Final preparations for ProBlogger 2014. Cannot wait! Ongoing – find a job.

Unusual experiences. Had any?

The déjà-vu thing has been incredibly strong at times. I was at a boisterous dinner party with my hippy-dippy aunt and uncle and their equally radical friends when I was a kid, and I knew they would argue about particular subjects – the environment, specific outworkings of their spirituality. I was 12, I discovered Dragon that weekend too. Whenever I hear April Sun In Cuba, I’m transported back to that house, and that night.

Vegas, Vienna, Vladivostok – how far have you travelled? Favourite city?
I do not own a passport. I haven’t been further north than Fraser Island, or east west than Radelaide. Wanderlust, schmunderlust. I may not have been to “Paradise” but I’ve certainly been to me (this is a reference to a killer song of my youth, you’ll get it or you won’t, it’s okay). My favourite city is my beloved Melbourne. I love her crazy weather patterns, her parks, her shores, her light, her people, her coffee.

Winter, spring, summer or fall – what’s your favourite season? What makes it special?

Autumn. Hands down. Relief from summer’s heat, the changing colours, the crisp evenings. The colour of the sky, so, so blue, the leaves, the end of endless chicken salads. A return to more enjoyable cooking, and baking. My birthday. My #favouritehuman’s birthday. My best friend’s birthday. The word autumnal.

The X files – I am 46, so there are ex-files. I once dropped a boy who quoted the lyrics of Wild Thing to me as a romantic gesture. Silly lad.

Yearnings – any secret/deep yearnings?

To become a great blogger. To write things that reach beyond my blog. To leave my mark on the world.

Zero to Zenith – where are you in your life? Growing, moving forward, just skating along?

I’m somewhere in the middle, the road is open before me, the sky is clear and blue.

Now you know my A, B, Cs, won’t you leave a comment, please?

Annette xx