Anyone Up For A Good Old-Fashioned *Mixer?*

[martha]

I'm rather excited about this one - I've often been put off posting 
because I worry that everyone seems to know each other and be dead 
clever to boot. Here, then, is my official introduction and I look 
forward to actually taking part in discussions and not being a total 
wuss in future. :-D


Name: Martha

Also known as: fakeplastikcheese (I set up my Yahoo account a couple 
of years ago when I was really, really into Radiohead. I apologise 
for naffness of name); whatever I feel like calling myself (usually 
something like "Martharetta la Punk house-elf")

Age/Sex: 21, female. (I will _not_ fall into the "sex? Yes please" 
trap. It's not big, nor is it clever)

Birthplace/Livingplace and feelings about same: Born Plymouth, Devon, 
UK. Nice place to visit, but on no account grow up there because you 
will be very, very bored. Currently residing in Brighton, UK. Nicer, 
more freaks, pebbly beach, piers that keep burning, although on a 
Saturday night the town is populated by a disproportionate number 
women dressed as schoolgirls/men throwing up over each other.

Family Life: Living with boyfriend in flat with garden and apple 
tree. Mum, Dad, two brothers, two sisters, me the messed-up middle 
child and milking it for all it's worth. All pets dead.

Personality: Hmm. Offbeat.

Words friends have used to describe you: Funny, strange, clever, 
fangirl...

Words you have used to describe you: Freak, bored, cynical, fangirl.

Things you do when not staring at the computer: Study social 
psychology, read a lot of novels, dye hair, dance about the place, 
make stuff out of beads and bits of string, fall over, play Atari.

Comfort foods: Please.

Education/Work: 12 GCSEs, 4 A-Levels, currently studying for BA 
social psych, intending to do MA in a year or two. Working in cheapo 
clothes shop to fund hair-dye habit.

Language skills: Mother tongue is English. Can scrape by in German, 
French and Italian if I really, really have to (I have reserved a 
room, non-fizzy water please, my car is broken, etc).

Technical know-how: I can pierce ears and that's about as technical 
as it gets.

Favourite HP book: Even after Order of the Phoenix, I'd still go for 
Prisoner of Azkaban. It features physical contact between Lupin and 
Sirius. ;-)

Favourite HP character(s): Sirius, Lupin, all the obvious ones for a 
fangirl. And Tonks, for the punk angle.

Favourite HP line: "Never trust anything that can think for itself if 
you can't see where it keeps its brain"; "Give her hell from us, 
Peeves".

Watching/Avoiding the HP movies?: Watching and tutting all the way 
through, but watching nonetheless.

Into HP fanfiction? If it has boy/boy rudeys in it.

Books you'd recommend to just about anyone: Ooh, where to start? OK, 
here goes. "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman. "Behind 
the Scenes at the Museum" by Kate Atkinson. "The Wasp Factory" by 
Iain Banks. The "Barrytown" trilogy and "The Woman who Walked into 
Doors" by Roddy Doyle. "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood. "The 
Illustrated Mum" by Jacqueline Wilson. "Nought and Crosses" by 
Malorie Blackman. "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett. "The 
Bonesetter's Daughter" by Amy Tan. "Captain Correli's Mandolin" by 
Louis de Bernieres. "A Proper Marriage" by Doris Lessing. "The 
Princess Bride" by William Goldman. "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi 
Wolf. "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I could go on, 
but I do have to go to bed at some point tonight.

Favorite TV shows: I am a _geek_. My favourite TV show is "University 
Challenge".

Favorite Movies: Amelie, Guys and Dolls, Velvet Goldmine, The 
Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Edward Scissorhands, 
Labyrinth, Princess Bride, The Piano, Wizard of Oz...

Favorite Musical Artists: NOFX, The Clash, Elvis Costello, 
Millencollin, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Joe Jackson, Reel Big 
Fish, Madness, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ian Dury and the 
Blockheads, T-Rex, Manic Street Preachers, The Smiths, The Tiger 
Lillies, Blondie, Lagwagon, Moldy Peaches, Hi-Standard...

One thing about your life you'd change if you could (sorry, but you
may not say "lose weight"): More motivation.

One thing about your life you wouldn't change even for an advance 
copy of Book 7: Having got over depression, for the most part.

Philosophy for an easy life: Lock yourself in a cupboard and don't 
communicate with anyone.

How you found HPfGU: Can't remember.

Active at other HP sites: See introduction. I do a lot of lurking 
though. (Oh, and if anyone knows of a way I can become a beta-reader 
for fanfic writers, could they let me know? I'd love to help out but 
I'm not sure how to go about it.)

Your most rock solid Book 6 or Book 7 prediction: It turns out all 
along that Harry is Luke Skywalker, Ron is Han Solo, Hermione is 
Princess Leia, Dumbledore is Yoda, Sirius was Obi-Wan Kenobi and all 
the house-elves are really ewoks in disguise. Honestly, I am not 
taking any chances (although I'm certain on Ron/Hermione and I quite 
like LOLLIPOPS).

Take a moment to wave to members of the fandom you have personally 
met: I don't know anyone! *gets the violins out* Can I be friends 
with someone?

ADD A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN AND ANSWER IT:
OK - Who are you most jealous of from the Potterverse? Me - Tonks. I 
spend so much money - and time - on styling my hair. :-)