8 Things You Don’t Know About Me
Written by Tara: Freelance Designer on Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 9:06 am
I was tagged a couple of weeks ago by both Paul of www.paulenderson.com and John of www.redsil.com/blog/ to take part in a meme “8 things you don’t know about me” so here goes…
1. When I was 6 I lived in Houston Texas For 2 Years
Before my Dad retired he used to work for Texas Instruments and was asked to go and work in Houston for 2 years, so I have experienced both the US and UK schooling systems.
2. I used all the 7 letters in Scrabble at once when I was 7
My biggest claim to fame 
. My Mum is a big fan of word games so when I was a kid we used to play scrabble a lot (hate it now). When I was 7 or 8 I managed to use all 7 Scrabble letters at once.
3. I have a flying phobia
I haven’t flown for many years as I have a major flying phobia, the last time I flew I had to get drugs from the doctor to try and calm my nerves - they didn’t work too well but instead made me laugh uncontrollably for no reason. My phobia stemmed from a bad flight when I was a child, and since then I have hated it. My grandparents used to have to stay and look after me when my Mum and Dad went on holiday because I wouldn’t go on a plane. The terrible thing is I have made my partner Kevin nervous too and he used to be fine.
4. I painted on my first car
I bought my first car for the grand total of £260 back in about 1988 when I was at college. It was a rush bucket and a sickly orange colour. To try and cover up some of the rust I decided to paint Garfield on it (how embarrassing, what was I thinking. I used to get some funny looks when I drove it.
5. My boyfriend went to the same college at the same time but never met.
My boyfriend and I both went to the same college at the same time (he studied quantity surveying), and it was not a very big college. In the canteen there were massive long tables that everyone used to sit on, at some point in the 2 years we probably sat next to each other, but we didn’t meet until about a year after we left.
6. I used to design plastic watches
Not long after college my second job was for a firm that made plastic watches called Tikkers which were popular in Europe (similar but not as good as swatch). I had to create the graphics for the watches as well the literature. They used to use Jeff Banks as a consultant, who was big on “The Clothes Show” at the time, so we had a couple of meetings with him regarding colours and trends. They paid us inhouse designers peanuts but I bet his firm did very well out of it.
7. I tried and failed to learn to play the keyboard
For about 3 years I had keyboard lessons, but I was terrible, I sounded like one of those bad keyboard players you hear when you are on holiday. I just couldn’t learn how to read music and try and find the right keys at the right time. I know play guitar, not very well but better than the keyboard .
8. I once tried to make some skis out of wood (as a kid)
I think I must have been a bit of a weird kid (heck I am probably a weird adult) because I always used to be in my Dad’s garage cutting up wood and trying to make things. When I was about ten I decided I would try and make some skis with two planks, I sawed points at the end and my neighbour helped me bend them with heat. I then attached the tops of some old roller skates without the wheels and made some ski poles out of two old broom sticks. If I had ever used them I would have probably broken my legs. The table tennis bats I made with pieces of wood and net out of a netted onion bag were far more successful 
.
Take a look at some of the other bloggers who have taken part in this meme
Charity at Design Adaptations
Vivien at Inspiration Bit
Aaron at Milienzo
John at Redsil
Mark Rapp at Unique Epitome
Paul at Reflections
Category: General Graphic Design, Blogging
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Comment by Aaron :: miLienzo.com
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 9:21 am
Ha ha that car is absolutely amazing!!! Nice post, and thanks for the mention.
Comment by Randa Clay
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 3:56 pm
LOVE the car - that is classic. Houston? Blech! Humidity, oppressive, hellish heat and humidity. Good thing you didn’t have to stay there.
Comment by Tara: Graphic Design Blog
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 4:20 pm
Hi Randa, Aaron - I really can’t believe I used to drive around in that car. If I used to get to 50mph it used to shake .
I only remember bits about being in Houston, I don’t remember liking the school much (Mahaney Elementary if any one has heard of it) it was all open plan so you could see all the other classes - wierd. I remember going on camping trips with my parents though, in a tent which I used to like (would hate it now) and driving across the desert and seeing the grand canyon. Its a pity I was too young to appreciate it all.
Comment by Tara: Graphic Design Blog
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 4:22 pm
I Just realised I forgot to tag anyone, but I think everyone’s already been tagged, Randa, have you been tagged?
Anyone who’s not - you’re it - Nate, Tolumi - have you been tagged yet?
Comment by David Airey :: Creative Design ::
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 7:01 pm
Great read, Tara.
I used to sketch Garfield when I was a kid. Odie was my favourite though.
What was the 7 letter word you created in Scrabble?? Sometimes I catch Countdown on TV, but I’m useless at playing from home.
Comment by Tara: Graphic Design Blog
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 7:14 pm
Thanks David
I have no idea what the 7 letter word was, it’s my Mum that always reminds me about it, I ask her if she knows.
Comment by inspirationbit
Made Monday, 16 of July , 2007 at 8:58 pm
Scrabble, car, skiis - proof that from an early age you were a highly creative person
Isn’t it something that you and you boyfriend didn’t pay attention to each other at the college. I bet when you two found out about it, one of you probably said - “What a small world indeed”
Comment by Paul Enderson
Made Tuesday, 17 of July , 2007 at 3:16 am
Thanks for joining in! I just love the Garfield car - I wonder if it’s still on the road?
I’m not sure that XINEQBW is in the dictionary though!
Comment by Jennifer
Made Tuesday, 17 of July , 2007 at 12:12 pm
Ha ha, my first car was a BLUE mini! Obviously it didn’t have cool Garfield artwork on it, but it did look like it was in a similar state of falling apart as yours. I still love the old minis, do you?
Comment by Tara: Graphic Design Blog
Made Tuesday, 17 of July , 2007 at 12:31 pm
Hi Vivien, it either proves from an early age I was a creative person or completely bonkers
Hi Paul, I’ll have you know I was a child genius it just all drained away as I got older.
Hi Jennifer, No Garfield on your mini, you let the side down! . I still like the old minis and beetles to look at but the old mini was horribble to drive.
Comment by Charity
Made Wednesday, 18 of July , 2007 at 8:38 pm
I love the car. I think we’ve all at some point or another, driven a total hunk of junk, but at least you chose to be creative and unique with yours! LOL
Comment by Tara: Graphic Design Blog
Made Wednesday, 18 of July , 2007 at 9:25 pm
Thanks Charity.
Hope you had a good holiday.
Comment by Cae
Made Thursday, 19 of July , 2007 at 5:13 pm
Great idea.. but I’m still unsure about the 7 letters in scrabble.. maybe I’ll play some this weekend and brush up on my skills.
Comment by Tara: Graphic Design Blog
Made Thursday, 19 of July , 2007 at 5:32 pm
Hi Cae, thanks for leaving a comment. I don’t think I could do it now, I haevn’t got the patience for scrabble any more, my Mum’s still a big fan of it though. Good luck with the scrabble.