I came across Amanda Egan, better known as Mummy Misfit, on twitter. I can’t remember why now, but it made me follow her, and download her books to Kindle. I say her books– she’s working on her third- because she wrote two of themthem in her car whilst parked outside the front of her son’s school. Because that’s where he needed her to be and, like any mother, she did exactly what he needed her to do- be there. And whilst she waited, she wrote. To me, that is amazing. Even more amazing was her positive response when I asked her to submit to my probing interview: I’m planning to follow in David Frost’s footsteps and interview a US President next.
Anyway, if you haven’t read the Misfit books, might I suggest you do? They are funny, sad and ultimately a story about all of us. Because no-one really fits in, do they?
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Marmite or Marmalade?
Marmite – I actually couldn’t live without it.
Chocolate or Strawberry Ice-cream?
Not a massive ice-cream lover but if I had to, chocolate
Beer or wine?
Wine
Hairdryer or 10 minutes more sleep?
An hour more sleep!
Boden or Lands End?
Boden
Sandwich or Panini?
Panini
Late Night or Early Morning?
Late night
Travel light or cover-all-eventuality?
Cover all eventuality
‘lympics- showcase or showoff?
Bit of both
Bikini or spandex-all-in-one?
All in one – I’m 48!
What would your Desert Island Luxury be, and why?
A huge and incredibly comfy bed with luxurious pillows and covers. Bed is very important to me and I couldn’t cope with just a hammock or sleeping bag. I can easily sleep for 14 hours and I like to ‘relish’ – this is the act of rubbing feet up and down on sheets and truly enjoying a snuggle-down.
What did you imagine yourself being when you grew up?
I always wanted to be an actress or a ballet dancer. When I hit 5’ 9” it was clear I wouldn’t be a ballerina so I headed off to drama school.
How did you meet your husband?
When I realised that acting didn’t pay the bills, I put my skills to use in ‘front of house’ as a receptionist for a finance company in the City. My husband was my boss! What a cliché – eh?!
If Naveen Andrews suddenly turned up on your doorstep asking to be fed a-la-Tiger-Who-Came-to-Tea, what would you feed him?
I wouldn’t allow him to eat everything in the house (or to drink all my bath water!) I’d provide him with seductive delicacies such as peeled grapes, olives, antipasti and champagne.
If asked to describe you in three words, what would your husband say? What would your son say?
Husband – loyal, organised, feisty. Son – helpful, tidy, chicken! (I actually asked them for their own words for this)
Whose books did you really enjoy reading growing up? What books are by your bedside at the moment?
I devoured all the Enid Blyton and Noel Streatfield books. I got completely lost in their pages and saw each story as a wonderful film in my head. Now I have a lovely new Kindle in a fab ‘Mummy Misfit’ cover (red and black) and it’s loaded with my favourites – Lisa Jewell, Jill Mansell, Maeve Binchy and some great Indie writers – Michelle Betham and Laurel Mayer.
Did you have any irrational fears growing up?
I used to sit in lessons and imagine my mum, dad and two sisters rowing a boat across the sea and leaving me behind. I always worried that nobody would arrive at school to pick me up!
If the Ghost of Times Past were to take you back to a moment of eye-scrunchingly, leg-crossingly, cringe-infested embarrassment in your past, where would they take you?
When I was about 18, I was queuing in the bank and, as I opened by bag to get my cheque book out, I dropped a large Dr. Whites (remember those?) sanitary towel on the floor. There was a rather tasty looking guy in the queue behind me and we both stared at it lying on the floor between us. I didn’t bend to pick it up, but simply left it there for him to step over as he made his way along the queue!
What do you think dogs dream about?
Sniffing butts, meaty bones and chasing cats
When was the last time you laughed so hard that your ribs nearly burst?
I’m ashamed to admit it’s really daft and childish but I’m being totally honest. My husband is quite bald and my son had stuck a label from a CD on the back of his head without him knowing. Hubbie was just about to go to the local shops and I spotted it on him but decided not to let on. Son and I then got a fit of uncontrollable giggles and hubbie wanted to know why. When we wouldn’t tell him, he joked, “Well if anything happens to me when I’m out, on your head be it!” That, of course, had us rolling around on the floor. Told you it was pathetic but that’s being the mum of a teen for you!
Amanda Egan is the author of two novels ‘Diary of a Mummy Misfit’ and ‘The Darker Side of Mummy Misfit’ She is currently editing her 3rd novel ‘Completing the Puzzle’ – unrelated to the Misfit books.
Her books can be bought for £1.91 on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback at Lulu.
She blogs at Mummy Misfit and can followed on Twitter @mummy_misfit
Really enjoyed reading this post, loved the cringe moment and the fit of giggles at the end
I know- it made me smile too 😀