If I don't rate, please give me a gentle reminder. I don't always get to my computer as soon as I receive mail and have been known to forget ;) Thanks. Also I do regift things I can't use.

I am New Zealand born, but have lived a lot of my life in other countries. My husband is Japanese and we have 3 sons aged 15 and 13 (twins). We have been back in NZ about 4 years now after a 13 year stint in Japan. Loved it there but am happy to be living a slower paced life at the bottom of the world!

My favourite colours are sunny yellow and almost all purples. My favourite flowers are pansies. My grandmother grew them so they make me think of her. (They're also my sister's favourite for the same reason!)

I love cats and reading, and sitting with a good book, a cat in front of an open fire. Pity I don't have a cat or open fire at the moment. :( What I read varies, but I like fantasy, some sci-fi, and an asortment of fiction. My dream home would be to live on a little bit of land about 20 minutes from a medium sized town, preferably with a sea view! (Emphasis is on dream!)

Just a note - I don't appreciate profanity, nudity or gratutious violence. Thanks.

70's music, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Dobyn, Hirai Ken, Bic Runga, Chage and Aska, Bee Gees early stuff, Bread, Jack Johnson, James Blunt, Op Shop, Little River Band, Neil Diamond

Amazing Grace, Sound of Music, King Arthur, Lord of the Rings,Shakespeare In Love, Miss Potter, To Kill A Mockingbird

CSI, CSI: New York, Bones, Midsommer Murders. Numb3rs, Without A Trace, Spooks, NCIS, The Legend of the Seeker

Cross stitch, patchwork, card making (just getting into this) and paper crafts, and creative writing - short stories mainly with a splash of poetry (my favourite poet is Gerard Manly Hopkins,and now ATCs!

My favourite author is probably Katherine Kurtz. I have read almost all of her books that are set in her Deryni world. I love medieval fantasy, which explains why The Lord of the Rings trilogy are among my favourite movies. Plus how can one not fall in love with all that fantastic New Zealand scenery? (Did I mention I was from NZ? LOL)

I also enjoy most kinds of fiction. I don't however read romance novels - the Mills and Boon kind. Can never get passed the first page. I like Kate Atkinson but don't seem to be able to finish a Margaret Atwood novel. Update: finally read an Atwell book! It was called 'The Penelopiad'. Enjoyed it - light reading. Now if I can only finish the one I started 2 years ago!