The Wednesday Hodgepodge #33

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree?

No I am not a risk taker at all. I’m more of a let’s just think this through a bit more kind of person. If there’s even a slight chance something could go wrong my brain’s already thinking of all the possible disasters. I like plans, safety nets and knowing what’s coming next. I do like a little bit of adventure, I just prefer mine with a bit of control involved. Like trying a new recipe, booking a holiday but triple checking the reviews first. I guess my idea of living dangerously is going out to eat without reading the menu online first.

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth?

Here in England we don’t really say candy, over here it’s split into chocolate and sweets. Chocolate is anything creamy and cocoa based while sweets are the non-chocolate stuff like chewy, fruity or sugary treats like jelly babies, mints or boiled sweets.

My favourite chocolate has to be Galaxy. It’s just so smooth and creamy and basically melts in your mouth and for sweets I’ve got a real soft spot for Liquorice Allsorts. They’re colourful, a bit old school and I love the mix of the chewy liquorice with those little sugary layers.

I’ve definitely got a bit of a sweet tooth. I can resist most things but stick a box of chocolates, cake or sweets in front of me and I’ll just have one always turns into five.

3. Somewhere you've been recently that had you feeling 'like a kid in a candy store'?

That’s easy, B&M discount store! Every time I walk in there I’m like a kid in a candy store or a grown adult surrounded by ridiculously cheap homeware and snacks. For my American readers B&M is basically a British discount retailer that sells everything and I mean everything. You go in for washing up liquid and come out with a new rug, ten candles, three multipacks of crisps and a novelty mug you didn’t need but somehow had to buy. We have 3 in town all different sizes, my favourite is on the retail park and it's over 2 floors. Eek! I was there on Monday doing a bit of Christmas shopping and I wanted to buy so much, decorations, sweet treats and us all matching pj's for Christmas. I held back and only got a few things.

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world?

I think the most effective way to make a positive change in the world starts small. You don’t have to be bringing about world peace or cure diseases, I think it’s more about how you are in everyday life. Being kind, patient and thoughtful with the people around you. Smiling at a stranger, helping someone without expecting anything back or just listening when someone’s having a rough day. You never really know how much a small moment can mean to someone else. Be a decent human and don’t be afraid to care about things. The world could use more of that.

5. Do you like surprises?

No!! I like to know what’s going on! If someone tells me they’ve got a surprise for me my brain immediately starts spinning. What kind of surprise? When? Why? Should I dress up? Bring snacks? It probably ties back to that whole not a risk taker thing I mentioned earlier. I like control, predictability and at least a rough idea of what’s coming next. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the thought, I really do but I just prefer to know what’s happening so I can actually enjoy it rather than panic about it.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I might not be the adventurous, surprise loving type but I’ve realised there’s still plenty of joy in the familiar stuff like a quiet day, a favourite chocolate or a wander around B&M pretending I’ve got some self control. Maybe I don’t need to take big risks to feel happy, maybe it’s enough to just appreciate the little things that make life feel good, one Liquorice Allsort at a time.