Well Lent begins with a brand new set of HodgePodge questions! ‘Tis Ash Wednesday, but we’re all Hodgepodging, and you’re welcome to join in – click on the button to head to Joyce’s blog to find more links and add yours!

1. This week marks the beginning of Lent…will you be giving something up or adding anything to your life during this season of the year?

It’s a good question which we were discussing last night at my smallgroup. We’re hoping to work on a bible study thing based on Lent and the movie Chocolat over the next 5 weeks, and we were talking about whether we do Lent, don’t do it, do something different. A few years ago during Lent I was part of a project called ‘The Art of Joy‘ and we decided part of this would be to do a ‘random act of kindness’ each day. I may do something like that again. But I better decide today! I have both given up and taken up things in years gone by (even before I was a Christian!) the last two years I’ve donated money I’ve saved to charities I support and promote each one on my blog.

2. The day before Lent is Shrove Tuesday… tradition states you eat pancakes on this day. In some parts of the world Shrove Tuesday is actually known as ‘pancake day’. How do you like your pancakes? Or don’t you?

Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday is one of my favourite Christian traditions! I love on this day to make crepe style pancakes, toss them and eat them with nutella, berries, lemon & sugar, maple syrup, banana & toffee sauce. I will hopefully have some tossing pancake footage from last night up by next week!

3. I’m sure there are many, but what’s one love song you really love?

I’m not a huge fan of the love songs…but there’s a few on the Juno soundtrack I like I guess! Sea of Love by Cat Power? Anyone Else But You by Moldy Peaches? Always Love by Nada Surf?

4. What are some things you do to let others know you love them?

I like making people cakes to enjoy. I try to do birthday cards, but I’m terrible at remembering to actually GIVE them to people (I buy them when I see one I think they’ll like sometimes months in advance!!)

5. Roses…red, pink, or do you prefer another color? Can you recall the last time someone gave you flowers? Given your choice would you like to open the door and see a dozen red roses, a dozen purple tulips, or a dozen pink peonies?

Um…I’m not a flower person. I did get given flowers on my birthday last year. They were pretty but I couldn’t tell you want they were. I’m not a fan of roses or anything pink. I love sunflowers! But I’m terrible with flowers and plants I simply don’t know what to do with them!

6. President’s Day will be celebrated in America next Monday. Does US Presidential history and trivia interest you? Many Presidential homes are open to the public and offer guided tours…Monticello (Jefferson’s home), Mount Vernon (Washington’s home), Montpelier (James Madison’s home), Hyde Park (FD Roosevelt’s home) and The White House (home to the sitting President) to name just a few. Of those listed which would you be most interested in touring? Why?

Not hugely, as I’m not American. If I was in the area, I would probably check those places out. It’s funny to see the number of places in Colonial countries that have British placemames (like ‘Hyde Park’!)

7. Are you good at keeping secrets?

If it’s for a surprise! But I do struggle to keep exciting news secrets. I now ask my friends not to tell me if they’re pregnant until they are close to telling everyone else. I’ve learned not to ask ‘Are you pregnant?’ to friends as it’s no fun keeping silent for 6-10 weeks if I’m right (which I often am).

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is half-term in Edinburgh and it’s been weird to have so many free evenings with no Girlguiding going on this week! I’m totally thinking more about the whole storytelling thing too. Ideas keep popping into my head for that, and for stories or screenplays to right.