The Wednesday Hodgepodge #60

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. June 17th, 1994 was the day of the infamous O.J. Simpson car chase. What were you doing in 1994? I'm guessing somebody is going to tell me they weren't born yet but that's part of the fun of the Hodgepodge. Lots of generations are represented here.

I can just about remember the car chase being on TV but I was too busy being a teenager to bother much with it. I was around 14 and a half years old in June 1994 living a carefree life. 1994 was a big year for my family as it was the year my parents sold our farm and we moved to a big town, which was such a shock for me, who had grown up in a tiny village in the countryside. That last summer at the farm was brilliant. Most of my time was spent outdoors, riding horses, camping out in fields with my friends and I made the most of the freedom that comes with growing up in the countryside. I also had my first experience of getting drunk that summer. It was not my finest moment and all these years later I can still remember exactly how awful I felt afterwards, which is probably why I still can't stand gin. School was going well too. I had a good group of friends, plenty of laughs and all the usual teenage dramas that seemed like the end of the world at the time but mean very little now.

2. What's your favorite summer salad that isn't the traditional tossed green lettuce kind of salad? Do you like fresh fruit in a salad (other than in a fruit salad of course)?

I have never really liked green, leafy salads and I always seem to go for pasta salads. My favourite is a tuna and sweetcorn one. It's simple to make; pasta, mayonnaise, tuna and sweetcorn all mixed together. It's filling and perfect when it's hot out. I usually make a big tub full and everyone will help themselves out of the fridge.

I like fresh fruit in salads. Pomegranate seeds go with everything, grapes are nice in pasta salads, pineapple goes well with ham and I also really like apple in coleslaw. I saw a recipe for watermelon, feta and a mint salad that I want to try sometime soon.

3. Is chivalry dead? Should it be?

I don't think chivalry is dead but I do think it has changed over the years. If we're talking about things like holding doors open, carrying heavy bags, offering someone your seat, or offering a coat when it's cold, then I do see that happening all the time. The biggest difference now is that those things are not seen as something that men should do specifically for women. To me, it seems more of an act of kindness that anyone can do for anyone else. I think that is a good thing. No, I don't think chivalry is dead and I don't think it should be.

4. Would you rather spend a week of your summer vacation in Hawaii or Alaska? Have you ever been to either? Are they two places you really would like to see? How do you feel about 'Hawaiian pizza' aka pineapple on a pizza? Have you ever eaten Baked Alaska?

I would love to spend a week in Hawaii with the sunshine, sandy beaches and warm sea. I could just see myself sitting on a beach, looking out to the sea with a cocktail in my hand. Alaska does look amazing but I think I'd probably spend half the holiday complaining about being too cold. I've never been to either place but I would love to visit both. Hawaii feels like a dream holiday, while Alaska feels like one of those once in a lifetime trips you go on just to see the scenery!

Pineapple belongs on pizza, not all pizzas but it goes so well with ham and mushroom! I have eaten Baked Alaska before but it was years ago and I am sure I must have liked it.

5. World Cup play is happening now...are you interested? Watching any matches? Did you or your children play soccer/futbol? There are eleven US cities hosting matches - Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York with the stadium in NJ, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle along with three cities in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey) and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver) - You get free tickets to one of these matches. Which city do you choose? Tell us why.

Football is a big deal here in England and at the moment the whole country is very excited about the World Cup. Even people who don't usually watch football follow along. I've been watching as many matches as I can and I'm really enjoying it. I always find myself rooting for the underdogs and wanting them to win. As I am writing this on Monday afternoon, I am watching the Germany V Curacao match that I recorded on Sunday. I have been trying to avoid the scores before I watch the matches I have recorded but I couldn't avoid the score since Germany won 7-1! If you are not a football fan, that is a lot of goals! Usually, matches end 2-1 or 1-0. What a game, at least Curacao got one goal and could have their moment celebrating!

If I could have free tickets to any World Cup match, I'd choose Dallas and watch England play tonight against Croatia in their first match in the tournament. I can imagine the atmosphere being amazing and how cool would it be to see your country play! I am just going to have to make do with watching it in my living room.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Phew! I am all sorted for Father's Day! I have bought my dad a hamper of some delicious treats that he's had in the past and loved. We don't have any plans for Sunday as Becky is at work and my dad has plans. Eesh! We did have a family meal out on Sunday as a treat for Stu and we all left with full bellies after a delicious lunch! The girls have got him some fab gifts and I can't wait to see his reaction when he opens them.