vilakins | Childhood meme

Gacked from snowgrouse because I want to see what responses I get for #3.

1. Post a silly / interesting / cracktastic thought you had as a kid about how the world worked.

I never believed in Santa Claus because my parents never expected me to. My sister and I used to lie awake at night trying to catch Dad putting presents at the foot of our beds, but never succeeded. However I did believe in tooth fairies. They had to have a reason for their actions, so I thought they collected the teeth to use as little translucent ivory bricks to build their houses, which would be all glowy white inside during the day.

And I also thought Marmite was made of meat and Vegemite of vegetables.

2. Name the most beloved childhood item that is still with you today.

Sorry, but I haven't got anything. Zilch. My mother threw it all out when I went overseas and she moved house. If she hadn't, I'd say my Hornsby electric train set. I loved that and could switch trains from track to track with the switchbox before I could walk (that's not as impressive as it sounds; I was over two before I could be bothered). I had a green and gold engine with maroon and gold carriages, freight wagons, signals, and straight and curving track I could cover the lounge floor with. As my father loved trains too, he indulged me hugely in this. I was so obsessed at three, I referred to anything with parallel (e.g. corrugated iron roofs) as "railway lines".

3. Beyond childhood--who were you in a past life (whether you believe in it or not)? Let your flist decide.

Go on, then! Be as creative or silly as you like. :-P

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A kickarse female pilot in either of the World Wars. Or some other type of v. kickarse woman going into traditionally male fields in the early part of the 20th century, science and stuff. And of course, the Roman soldier:D.

couldn't be bother to walk? Fantastic!

I'd like to think of you as a Roman ;0)

A kickarse female pilot in either of the World Wars.

YES! Spot on! I spent a large part of my childhood fantasising that I was just that! An ace in Sopwith Camels in WW1, Spitfires (my nickname was Spitfire) in WW2. :-D

And later I wanted to be a scientist (getting a physics degree but never using it). You know me well!

I'm not sure I'd cut it as a Roman soldier. Those guys walked up to 4o miles a day carrying their weapons, bedrolls, and other stuff. And I have flat feet. :-P

I'd be better as a Sarmatian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarmatian). Roman women were expected to stay home modestly spinning wool and having children; sod that for a lark. Sarmatian women (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarmatian#Recent_research) rode as warriors; much more my style. :-)

And yeah, my mother took me to the doctor because she thought there was something wrong with me. He just said I'd get round to it when O felt like it, and I did. :-P

I think you were a little known feminist poet from the early twentieth century who died young without ever letting the person she truly loved know she loved them.

You sound like a Death, not walking until you were two. Did you talk before you were one? We have a family theory that a child can only cope with practicing one at a time, so they either walk or talk.

And I dressed in men's clothes (blazers, shirts, ties, baggy oxford trousers) and had short hair! I must have loved someone unavailable then. Mind you, I do find it easier to show how I feel rather than say.

I probably did talk early. I could read by three.

And I dressed in men's clothes (blazers, shirts, ties, baggy oxford trousers) and had short hair!

Lol, yes exactly!

3. Beyond childhood--who were you in a past life (whether you believe in it or not)? Let your flist decide.

Having read your answer to #2, I'd say Isambard Kingdom Brunel. :)

I didn't smoke a pipe though. I do like my air unadulterated.

Yes, you were very avant-guarde and rebellious, that way. ^_^

One of my heroes!

When I toured the UK with friends, they were bemused by all the pictures I took of bridges, and his were my favourites. :-) Even last trip (2004), I made sure I walked over the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. If you look at my photos from that trip (http://pics.livejournal.com/vilakins/gallery/0000kgre), you'll see two transporter bridges (Newport and Middlesbrough), the Anderton boat lift, various feats of canal engineering, and Bletchley Park. :-P

I did engineering intermediate at university, but went on to get a physics degree, a decision I now feel was a mistake.

Excellent photos. A few thoughts inspired by them:

I don't know whether it had been started when you visited, but Bletchley Park apparently as well as the Enigma/Colossus stuff now has a more general computer museum as well.

I saw the play "Breaking the Code", about the life of Alan Turing, some twenty years ago. It was brilliant, with a great performance by Derek Jacobi in the leading role.

A photo of Kalypso! So now I know what she looks like. :)

I've been to Duxford, but wasn't able to stay as long as I would have liked. Since it was only about ten years ago, it was too recent for me to remember it very well unfortunately. (I seem to have reached the age where, the longer ago something was, the better I can remember it!)

A photo of Kalypso! So now I know what she looks like. :)

You did anyway; she has an icon of herself with a large spider. :-)

Bletchley Park apparently as well as the Enigma/Colossus stuff now has a more general computer museum as well.

I think they mentioned they were going to set that up. I don't think I saw 'Breaking the Code' as I'd remember Derek Jacobi, but I did see a wonderful TV play about the women who worked there from the POV of one of them. This was years ago (15?), and fired my interest in it all.

I was going to rec a book by R V Jones but I can't find it so I must have borrowed it myself. He was good at practical jokes so they used this against the Nazis.

Any intense interest is supposed to indicate what you were in a past life. So you were a Roman soldier, and an unhappy thief, possibly both at the same time.

I actually see you as the Anny Oakley of the Railways. A female train driver back in the days when women just didn't do those things.

Most Secret War by R V Jones? I've found it in our library catalogue; it's at the library near Greg's work so he can pick it up next week. We have several about the Enigma machine but didn't know this one; thanks!

But it's Vila I'm interested in, not his profession! Perhaps I'll be him in the future. ;-)

Greg said the other say that he was surprised I hadn't wanted to be a train driver. I loved them, but I'd rather have built the bridges they go over.

I hadn't looked at you photos of your UK trip before, I must get back to Porthamdoc sometime, I've been on that Railway donkey's years ago but there wasn't a Linda engine back then. She's cute.

She is! It was a fun day out too.

That's the one.

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