So You Think You’re Funny? – Episode 13 – Dawn From Rhyming With Wine

So here we are again with Episode 13 of ‘So You Think You’re Funny?‘. For some people the number 13 is unlucky, but for you, dear reader, 13 is extremely lucky as today we have the lovely Dawn from the very funny rhyme-fest that is Rhyming With Wine. This interview has been a very long time in the making as Dawn was incredibly busy doing charity work, winning awards and generally nailing motherhood forgot. But it’s here now – and eagle-eyed readers will notice that she has done the very decent thing and named two amazing bloggers in her ‘favourite blogger’ section. All I can say is ‘it’s about bloody time’. There are lots of other equally comical answers, but to be honest I stopped reading as soon as I saw my own name mentioned and am now drinking alcohol in celebration.

Whilst I do that, why not have a good read?

1. Tell us about yourself in 20 words or less:

• A bit of a “girl next door” type.
• Friendly, Smiley & Polite.
• Nice, with an undercurrent of sarcasm.

2. Now do the same as if through the eyes of your worst enemy:

• Depressingly organised.
• Girly swot
• Slightly neurotic
• Mostly stressed but camping out under a mildly irritating smile.

3. When and why did your child(ren) last make you laugh?

The Girl was demanding juice (as she does) and asked for it in her usual polite and charming way, by which I mean she yelled “Juice!” at my face. I noted that there appeared to be a word missing from her request. She considered this for a while and then replied: “Stinky bum?”

4. Do you try to be funny when you are writing? Tell us a bit about your blogging ‘process’.

I don’t think that I particularly try to be funny – which probably reflects in the fact that I’m generally not very. Not all of my posts are comedy, but I tend to think about the stupid little things that happen in daily life with kids and write about those. I suppose I imagine what it would be like to go to the pub (ever) and which little snippets of life I would share whilst face-planting wine. I don’t think that my posts would ever make anyone properly belly laugh. I tend to write them all with a straight face, tongue in cheek and one eye-brow slightly raised. (Seriously I do this. It’s an involuntary reflex. I actually have to hold down my eyebrow when I talk to some people as it just goes up all by itself. It’s an issue!)

5. What do you think is the funniest thing you’ve ever written?

I think from the general opinion in Blogland, my “Code Brown” post is probably the one that caused the most chortles. It’s either a funny post or a lot of people just liked reading about a toddler sh!t storm.

6. What or who do you rate as the funniest…

1. TV Show? – Bit of a subtle humour to it but I’ve recently watched all of the “No Offence” second series back to back and that really amused me in a not quite so obvious way.
2. Comedian? – I’m a huge Michael McIntyre fan. I love the way that he finds humour in the day to day things that we all just do naturally and without thinking. I also like his floppy hair.
3. Writer/blogger? – Too many. Couldn’t possibly limit it to one. Obviously I would have to list James and Fran as being two of the funniest bloggers out there, and not just because they are in charge of this site (and could very easily add in a few choice phrases if they so decide to!) Seriously though – you know you can always pick up one of their posts and leave it with a grin and slightly aching cheeks! I’d need to include Turning up in Devon & This Mums Life here too. Both utterly brilliant.

7. Do your friends/family find you funny in ‘real life’?

I think they probably laugh at me more than with me. I definitely have my moments and I have some brilliantly funny friends so I tend to fall in with the pack. I actually come across as quite quiet when you first meet me though. It takes me a while (or half a bottle of wine) to come out of my shell.

8. Go on, tell us a joke.

I only have one. It has lasted me about 30 years so far. OK here goes:
“What do you call a fly with no wings? …. A walk.”
Sorry about that.

9. What’s your tipple?

I’m better with vodka. Love wine but I can no longer handle it in large quantities. Gin makes me want to lay face down on the floor and sob about my next door neighbour’s dog that died when I was 4. Vodka is OK. With Diet Coke obviously. Not neat out of the bottle or anything. I’m not quite at that stage yet.

10. If you could only have one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

I’m going to go with my first reflex thought and say lasagne. Do I get a side though? Can I have a side please? Cheesy garlic bread! I am such a carb monster. What about desert… Please tell me that there can be cake!

11. Complete the sentence; ‘Before I had a child…’

I had clothes that were not 94% elastic. (The remaining 6% is now made up of used tissues, mostly around the pocket area).

12. In your opinion, what is the worst children’s TV show, and why?

I have confessed to this once before on Faceache and somehow got away with it without being mobbed by angry pitchfork wielding Disney fans. Let’s see if I can get away with it again…
Mickey Mouse. Hate him. Hate his dog. Hate his duck friend. Hate his irritating voice. Creeps me out in ways that only a cartoon mouse wearing gloves ever could. Sorry Mr Disney. I like Lilo and Stitch if that makes up for it at all?

13. Please tell us about your blog and why we should visit:

Well I blog mostly in rhyme, because “wine rhymes with whine, in much the same way that tantrum rhymes with vodka and generally most things rhyme with cake”. There probably won’t ever be much in the way of useful advice there, but there will always be honest and potentially chuckle-worthy tales, which have mostly been written with one eyebrow raised. The virtual kettle is always on and I’m actually quite generous with the biscuits too. (Not cookies though – they sound like they could be technical and I don’t do technical).

And that, my friend, is that. We are busy putting together some new and exciting questions ready for Season 2 and already have another loads of victims awesome comedy writers lined up. So we will see you again soon…