My First Official Interview

Join the fun! Kel has the following to say:

"Drum roll please—and make it an African one—here is my fifth and final 5Q4. Michelle Bainbridge come on down! She will answer these interview Q’s on her blog, then invite 5 other bloggers to be interviewed by her, and the cycle continues."

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On to the questions:

1. Firstly, why did you “hesitantly” put up your hand to be interviewed? Have my 5Q4’s to the others been that scary looking?

Nope, but I'm a bit on the shy side, and sometimes find it hard to put into words what's in my head. I can be scared off by too many questions, so don't often volunteer! But hey, let's do this.

2. How do you take your coffee?

HOT out of the filter machine, with powdered creamer (Ellis Brown brand only!) and 3 Sweetex tablets. If I'm out and about, I'll take it with hot milk and a sugar or two - depending on cup size and sugar sweetness. I'm not one for flavoured coffees, but like them strong and smooth and tasty. My favourite filter brand is Importer's Italian blend (not sure if it's available overseas). I'd like to ensure my coffee is free-trade, but that's a concept still beyond this country it seems.

3. What is a shipperke?

THIS is a schipperke:



So is this:



And these:



And this:



But most folk know them looking like this:



The colours I have are illegal in dog circles in the USA, and only considered legal in other countries if they have certain attributes. But we don't care about colour. WE LOVE OUR SCHIPPERKES!

And that's a seriously leading question - I could go on about them for a very, very long time... :)

4. You post a regular Shabbat Shalom message and photo. What inspired that, and do you take all those photos yourself?

I take most of the photos myself (I'll state a source if they're not), but often get frustrated because my digital camera is not the best. However, there is loads to photograph where I live - the most beautiful spot on earth. AND I plan to come back from Australia with a decent camera if I can, so watch this space for some super stuff.

"Shabbat Shalom" was inspired by the concept of a weekly full-stop in the mad rush of civilization. I grew up with the sunset-Friday to sunset-Saturday Sabbath (the "Jewish" Sabbath hours), and it's stuck with me while many other beliefs may have faded into the background. I like Shabbat Shalom because of what it implies, and how the Jewish folk still keep it - a time to completely seperate those hours from the other days, do make them special and peaceful and refreshing.

I cannot do without my weekly Shabbat or a chance at capturing Shalom. It's my recharge time for the week ahead.

5. In a recent post you mention that when you come to Australia, you are bringing an African drum. That I understand. But a marimba and kalimba? Please explain!

A Marimba is like a piano, only made from wood strips with sounding pipes beneath. "Born" in Africa, many other cultures have adopted it, but it remains a distinctly African sound.



They come in many sizes but I want a BIG one! :)

A Kalimba is also known as a "thumb-piano". We knew it as an mbira in Zimbabwe, but perhaps the name varies from culture to culture. Often made from a hollowed gourd and flattened metal nails, it produces a low, tinkling musical sound.



You can play a virtual kalimba here, hear one being played here, or hear a marimba/kalimba combination here!

Many of these African instruments are finding their way into worship sets in churches - and it's a WOW experience to hear them entertwined with familiar Western music!

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That's mine done - if you're up for it, leave me your name in the comments and I'll try come up with questions hopefully half as interesting as Kel as given me!