Welcome to a miserable South Manchester. We are covered in grey cloud and are being soaked by sporadic showers, which is particularly annoying given that the Ashes cricket series is taking place in Manchester at the moment with just over a day left. I went to watch it yesterday to watch a very good day for England in their quest to level the series against Australia. Sadly, if the rain persists the game will end up being a draw. 

Shall we answer some silly questions from Sunday Stealing? 

1. Live on a boat or in a treehouse?

I don’t think I would fancy living in a tree house. 

I have been on a houseboat in Amsterdam and I have to say that it was a pleasant place to be. One of the guys I was working with owned it and he lived there with his wife. It had everything he needed to live in comfort. It is a place I could have lived. 

Therefore my answer is boat. 

2. No computer use for a year or no sweets for a year?

I don’t eat sweets anyway so this one is a no-brainer.  I would live with no sweets for a year.

At the moment I work in IT so it would be tempting to say no computer use – but the problem is I use them outside work too. 

3. Have $2,000 right now or be given $100 every month for the rest of your life?

Surely getting $100 dollars a month for the rest of your life is better than a one-off sum of $2000. You only have to live for just under two years to make it worthwhile.

4. Be an astronaut or an athlete?

I would definitely be an athlete – even at my age. The thought of becoming an astronaut fills me with dread. I know that I wouldn’t shatter any athletic records any more but when I was younger I was pretty good at 100m, 200m 800m, 1500m, 5000m, long jump and triple jump. I can’t say that I would be now but I would try. That is far more appealing than be blasted into space on what is effectively a massive bomb.

5. Have 50 good friends or only one best friend?

Mrs PM is my best friend and if having 50 good friends meant losing her as my best friend then I would go for one best friend.

6. Have bright blue teeth or bright blue hair?

Bright blue hair. I think I would look quite good!

7. Have the power of flight or the power of invisibility?

Given that I am scared of heights, this too is a no-brainer. 

I would have such fun if I could turn myself invisible, as long as my clothes also turned invisible. Suddenly appearing naked in a crowd because the power of invisibility has worn off would be rather unfortunate, don’t you think?  

8. Have a fun friend who is snarky or a boring friend who is kind?

I already have both. I think I would probably go for the boring, kind friend if I’m honest. 

9. Be incredibly rich but without love or be poor but have a happy marriage?

I would definitely rather be poor and have a happy marriage. You can still be happy and poor. I have never been poor but there have been times, especially as a kid, when money was tight and it is very possible to be happy under those circumstances. 

10. Have a freezing cold shower every day or a pleasant hot shower once a week?

It depends where I was. If I was in the south of Spain in the summer, I would have a freezing cold Shower every day anyway. If I were in Manchester in the winter, having a freezing cold shower would be a most un pleasant experience. I think I would probably go for the Pleasant Hot Shower once a week.

11. Be an only child or have many siblings?

I would rather have siblings. 

12. Quit video games forever or live in a desert for a month?

I play video games occasionally and to be honest I could live without them quite easily. I’ve been in the Middle East a few times and the desert is quite unpleasant, especially when the temperatures rise to a stupidly high value. Living in such a desert for a month under such conditions would be horrific. I would ditch the video games.

13. Go on a one week trip to a foreign country of your choice or a month long trip in your own country?

I would go on a one week trip to a foreign country, preferably one that I haven’t been to before. 

14. Celebrate your birthday every day or go on your favourite holiday once a year?

I have never celebrated my birthday really and, at my time of life, I would rather forget them. It would have to be my favourite holiday once a year.

15. If fish could talk, what would you ask them?

Where did you learn to talk?