Easy as 1-2-3

It occurred to me recently... that if anyone is indeed reading this blog (and my stats say that a fair few of you are - thank you, by the way!), it must be a bit weird not really knowing anything about me. So I decided to take something everyone knows and give you the down-low on all that is me.

The A-Z of Charlotte (that's my name, by the way):

A is for ambition - I'm very ambitious; I'm kind of like Galileo, I want to know everything. I'm also kind of like Caesar, I want to conquer everything. (In a nice way, I promise!)

Galileo = Sex Bomb.

(Image from apod.nasa.gov)

B is for blonde (most of the time)

Me (blonde in the middle) with a couple of friends two years ago.

C is for Chanel, my all-time designer crush. (Isn't it everyone's?) - and also, for cupcakes. I loooove them.

(Image from graphicshunt.com)

D is for diet - because I don't, ever. I'd rather live life happy (although I'm very lucky that I like fruit, veg and general healthy foods).

Nom nom nom.

(Image from woodhayes.co.uk)

E is for English, my major at University and my real passion.

Sometimes I feel like my whole life is books. (I'm surrounded by an entire mountain range of them right now)

(Image from artsjournal.com)

F is for five foot two, my diminutive height.

Myself (second from left) and some companions looking miniature on a bench. I swear it was a huge bench, I'm not (quite) a borrower!

G is for Grandad. He will always be my hero. He was film-star handsome, and in the submarines in the war. Find the astonishing story of his survival (just about) from an impossible situation at only 18 years old here. More importantly than being a war hero though, he was just the most patient, funny, kind man I'll ever have known; a working-class boy who charmed his way into a dance with my Nana, a girl from the most famous brewing company in the North of England (Thwaites) when they we're just teenagers. When he got back from his ordeal in the war, he proposed to her and they were married the rest of their lives. We lost him to Parkinsons in 2001, and I miss him every day.

A vintage picture of my ma, my brother, my grandad and me (L-R).

H is for here and now. I don't dwell and I don't plan. Now is what's important.

(Image from geekologie.com)

I is for intelligence. I like to think I have some, but it's also a big thing I look for in others. Not book-smarts. Intelligence.

(Image from mit.gov.tr)

J is for jukebox. There is always music happening around me (either being played or me playing it on whatever instrument is to hand), and that's the way I intend it to always be.

(Image from c3images.com)

K is for 'kidding'. I have to say this often because of my almost-too-British sense of humour.

(Image from mrsellers.com)

L is for languages. I speak (near-fluent-ish) German, and then a little less of French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese. I know the odd word of Dutch, Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Korean, but I need to learn more. I want to speak like, every language ever. It's fascinating.

(Image from isabellejones.blogspot.com)

M is for Manchester United. My football team. Growing up in a little Lancashire village called Great Harwood (until I was 6), I had the choice of supporting Manchester United or Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn was never really exciting, but Manchester was my favourite place ever (still is one of them), and the sight of Old Trafford always indicated to me that we were there. I could never support another team.

(Image from top-footballer.com)

N is for Northern. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm pretty proud of being from The North of England. It's pretty awesome.

The town hall in Great Harwood, the village I was born and raised in :)

(Image from great-harwood.org.uk)

O is for opinionated, because I am. I try not to be overbearing though; everyone's entitled to their own views and there's nothing worse than a person who tries to force their own on you. Live and let live :) (ps. it's also for Obama, because I believe him to be a truly great man - just my opinion!)

(Image from cartoonstock.com)

P is for pretty things. I like to surround myself with pretty things always; it's my aim in life.

For example, (more Ps) pearls. When I was 7, I got my ears pierced and my Nana gave me a pair of pearl and gold earrings with a slight drop. They were my first 'proper' jewellery. She has given me more since and I have bought more since and my love of pearls has continued ever since.

Also, 'pictures', because - as my friend Dave always points out - I have them everywhere and spend a great deal of time looking through them. Hopefully I'll share some of my favourites from travelling soon. (My favourite picture I took when I lived in Paris is the header for this blog, by the way).

(Image from advicesisters.net)

Q is for quotes; I have so many favourites it's impossible to say. Words are a real passion of mine - I'd hate to be without them. I'm sure I'll share some of my fave quotes at some point.

(image from playinghooksies.blogspot.com - check her out, her style is amazing)

R is for retail, baby. I love to shop; for clothes, for anything. For myself, but especially for others. Obviously, fashion is a real love of mine. I like talking about it but I prefer going out and doing it.

The absolutely stunning Victoria Quarter in Leeds (where I study), an amazing place to shop.

(Image from commons.wikimedia.org)

S is for Starbucks. I love caw-fee. My standards are a Caramel Macchiato or any kind of flavoured Latte. (It's also for 'sweet tooth'; I love cakes, biscuits, etc.)

(Image from geekosystem.com)

T is for tea, because I drink 6 cups a day on average. (More on that in a later post).

(Image from andallthatseams.com)

U is for university. Fun, but a means to an end really for me.

The University of Leeds

(Image from flickr.com)

...and the stunning Brotherton Library at the University of Leeds

(Image from lightnightleeds.co.uk)

V is for Vogue. I subscribe, and I collect (from all over the world if I can). I love having it delivered every month, even if many of the things in it are just distant, far-off dreams, and even if I have had shelves collapse from holding too many back-issues of Vogue.

(Image from models.com)

W is for the whole world. Travelling a lot is the only concrete plan I have for the rest of my life so far, and it's something I plan to incorporate more into this blog when I get the chance to escape again.

(Image from reprieve.org.uk)

X is for ex-cuse me. I think manners are super-duper important. (Having said that, I have an awful potty mouth). But I honestly believe that being nice to people is where it's at. Why would you not be?

(Image from love-that-etiquette.com)

Y is for 'yes', my favourite word.

It's a pie with yes on it. What's not to love?

(Image from hubertbringernevercooks.blogspot.com)

Z is for ZZzzzzzzzz, because if I go on with this post for much longer, that's what we'll all be doing (myself included).

(Image from withamymac.com)

Hopefully that wasn't too, too dreadfully boring and hopefully I seem like an actual, real-life person now! I'm seriously hoping I'm three-dimensional and complex enough that I haven't covered everything about me, just given some insight.

Ciao for now,

Charlotte