Annie Rhiannon

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Two questions

Sometimes I'm overcome with shyness, which surprises some people and they say you? Shy? And then they laugh and I say yeah, me, shy. And then I shrug. It happens to the best of us.

Maybe this is why I liked drinking so much. When you're feeling like being a little outgoing it's good to have something to hide behind. Blogging; that also works. Writing stuff all over the internet for everyone and his dog to find. Yeah, drinking and blogging — though never at the same time.

It was my mother who taught me to drink and it was my mother who taught me to write, and it was my mother who gave me the best advice I've ever been given in my life:

"If you're in a social situation and you feel a little shy, just turn to the person next to you and ask them two questions about themselves. It doesn't matter which two questions; as long as they're questions about themselves they'll think you're the most interesting person they've met all night."

21 comments:

  1. Ha! Your mother is scarily wise. Did she teach you to make me look cool in photos? I owe her BIG.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm gonna say yes

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nici1.7.09

    rwan dwi'n meddwl bod yn rhaid i ni gyfarfod sti! Mwynhau dy flogiau'n fawr. Pryd ti'n ol yn fama nesa? Ti dal yn neud y Tuduriaid? x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yndw. Dwi'm yn meddwl wnai ddod adra eto tan mis Tachwedd, dwi'n gweithio o hyd. Os wyt ti erioid yn ddod i Dublin gadael fi gwybod ok. xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sheesh2.7.09

    If only she'd fluffed that out for 200 pages, she'd be rich!

    So what are your fave 2 questions?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love your mother's advice. So wise and so funny.

    I've come to the conclusion that Icelanders are a nation of narcissists - they only talk about themselves at parties, and never ask any questions back. So your mother's advice must have totally worked here.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your mother's right, of course. The best are:

    1. Have you ever suffered from any unusual bowel disorders?

    2. Do you sometimes wake up in the middle of the night wondering what Margaret Beckett looks like naked?

    Works every time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My dog enjoys reading your blog...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've always been shy, and unfortunately alcohol makes me more shy rather than less so it's not much help. Your mum's advice is spot on. By the way, can I just ask you: What's your biggest passion? And what's your biggest fear?

    My dog can't stand your blog. But my cat adores it....

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous2.7.09

    Sid Trotter here Annie.

    A very wise and famous man once said to me on a long gruelling trip we once had that to start a conversation it is much more interesting to ask someone where they come from, rather than what they do - which should be the last question asked on earth.

    Very good advice as people are often much more readily and feel easier toalking about where they are from than what they do to make money.

    Casting couch is still there by the way

    toodle pip

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sorry to disappoint but fave two questions: Where are you from? What do you do?

    Nick: biggest fear = terminal illness, biggest passion = pictures.

    Again, sorry to disappoint.

    Batty: that's good because my blog enjoys reading your dog.

    ReplyDelete
  12. great minds, trotter

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous2.7.09

    By Jingo AA, I think you've got the part

    Sid

    ReplyDelete
  14. Who is your daddy, and what does he do?[/ahnold]

    Desert island DVDs is usually a good one. And if one of them isn't Cool Runnings then you know you shouldn't be talking to them in the first place. Of course the acid test for whether someone's worth knowing is: Batman or Superman?

    ReplyDelete
  15. see the problem is the type of questions I'd ask after having the drink - instead of 'where did you get those trousers' it would more likely be 'why did you get those trousers'.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your Mum sounds cool! I'm so going to try this next time I'm in a social situation and feeling shy.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous2.7.09

    I love it! But haven't you blogged about this before? Two posts for two questions ;)

    Hope you are keeping well hun x

    EW

    ReplyDelete
  18. by jingo EW

    i think you might be confusing my blog with real life

    can be dangerous

    AND...

    batman

    but only when pushed

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your mother is brilliant, and she obviously passed it along, as well.

    As a former sales lizard myself, I have to ask, was she in sales?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gosh, I am sure I remember commenting about this on another post before. I must have dreamed it. Reading too much of the internet can do that to you.!

    ReplyDelete
  21. No, she was never in sales as far as I know. She's an illustrator.

    ReplyDelete