Write on

One of my nicest virtual friends and the powerhouse behind sites such as You've got your hands full and Have a lovely time sent me a meme about the writers who inspired us along the way, be they fellow bloggers or the old fashioned print types and after the blush-inducing compliments she paid me in hers it would be churlish not to compile my own and pass it on to some of my own favourite bloggers, so here goes.

Which words do you use too much in your writing?

However and it's and its in all the wrong places as my pedant of a husband is far too fond of pointing out.

Which words do you consider overused in stuff you read?

Swine flu

What's your favourite piece of writing by you?

The only one that actually makes me cry when I read it is this tribute to my grandmother.


What blog post do you wish you'd written?

I am ashamed to admit that I hardly have time to read anyone else's blogs, but one post I loved and that made me realise that there was life after twins is this one by More than just a mother.

What is the strangest thing you have ever been asked to write about?

It's a tough choice between stress testing my cat and weighing my boobs in a bowl of water to find out their true size. Fortunately neither made it into print, so I can't share my conclusions with you.

Name three favourite words

Trespass, kitchen and commission

And three words your not so keen on

In house writer

Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration?

Nappy Valley Girl who taught me all about mummy blogs with her own.

More than just a mother who if she isn't, really should be a professional writer as she puts those of us that are to shame. Although she is no doubt sensibly wasting her talents in a job that is far more lucrative and reliable.

And in the real world I love Chris Cleave's Down with the Kids column in The Guardian, not least because his family reminds me so much of my own, apart from the fact that he got the girl I ordered as baby number three.

What is your writing ambition?

To overcome my essentially lazy nature and stop dreaming about writing books in favour of actually writing them.

OK now it's tag time and I am going to send this meme to:

Nappy Valley Girl

More than just a mother

Brits in Bosnia

Wife of the Bold

Not wrong, just different

And hey, why not, Chris Cleave (even if he doesn't have a blog)