personal meme

Once upon a time, in the Land of Long Ago when the Internet was perched on its early frontiers and blogging was something a bit weird that regular folks didn't really see the point of, the hard-core blogging crowd had a passion for the meme. These things circulated at a rate of knots, in numerous formats and on all kinds of themes, often going global.

My favorite was the personal meme. I haven't seen one for a while so I thought I'd start one myself in a (possibly futile) attempt to revive a trend. Indulge me, this one is basically a 'get to know you' questions mechanism for bloggers... And I always was horribly nosy.

1. I live in: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2. I was born in: Manchester, United Kingdom
3. If I could live anywhere, it would be: In a glass and concrete open-plan space perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, ideally situated just outside the beautiful Half Moon Bay in California, U.S.A (but if we're talking ideal world scenario then I'd also like a city apartment so I could easily grab an urban fix as and when required)
4. My favorite escape:  Al Sufoh beach in Dubai, early in the morning when the beach is empty so I can properly concentrate on the sound of the surf, the reflections on the water and the warmth of the sun on my shoulders. This is where I go to think, relax and be silent. 
5. 5 things to do before I die: Ensure my children grow up to be independent, intelligent and focused adults with a large capacity for happiness, empathy and self-awareness; have a book published; explore South America; take part in the Mongol Rally; go scuba diving 
6. I most regret: not having the chance to say goodbye to my grandmother before she died and to have told her how much I loved her
7. Most random experience: accidentally taking part in an iPod-dance Flash Mob in London's Tate Modern (yes, of course I joined in - it was brilliant... if somewhat peculiar)
8. Last iTunes download: Van Morrison's Astral Weeks
9. 5 most played iPod tracks: Belle & Sebastien (Featuring Norah Jones) - Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John; Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor; Alex Gopher - Super Disco; Fiona Apple - I Know; Throwing Muses - Red Shoes
10. 5 things that annoy me about myself: having a terrible sense of direction, using flippancy as a defence mechanism, not being able to handle conflict, absent-mindedness, tendency to make highly inappropriate jokes when nervous and/or bored  
11. 5 least desirable qualities in other people: malice, lack of empathy, self-obsession, not having a sense of humour, excessive anger 
12. Personal qualities I value the most: honesty, kindness, humour and integrity
13. Dream dinner party guest list (dead or alive): Douglas Coupland, Pedro Almodovar, Fay Weldon, George Orwell, Frida Kahlo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Dolly Parton, Zach Braff, Rosa Parks, Isabella of Castile  

I tag: Expat Mammy, Louise, Ruby Slippers, MM, Daddy Papersurfer, Szue, Sarah, Spring Girl. Any other bloggers, feel free to grab and pass on.