Well, 2011 has been a busy one and my blog has suffered. I apologise for not keeping up with it but now I am back and so is my next interviewee.

This is Gabriela Margarita Houlgraves or 'Gabby', 34 from Sittingbourne.  Gabby works as a Customer Support Assistant at Maidstone Library.

Our beloved county is the reason I write this blog.  It is the best!

Gabby loves our county to because it is 'so green!'

"This surprises a lot of the people here when I say it.  You all [Kent residents] think it's very, very urbanised, but I just look at the vast fields and meadows.  Always so close and forests everywhere, and think 'Dude, this is the Shire!"

As you can tell from the last part of that quote, Gabby is a Lord of the Rings fan. Everyone needs to have a hobbit!

As part of my 2011 revamp, I have added a question to all my new interviewees which has been instated to find out if the people of Kent have interesting facts or information to share with me.  I always like to learn new things about Kent!

Gabby has selected to inform us about the history of Dover Castle, commissioned to be built by Henry II in the 12th century.

"The tunnels were first dug for the Napoleonic Wars, and then used as a command centre for Operation Dynamo which was the operation set up for rescuing soldiers from Dunkirk.  This is all well known."

This can be found on the English National Heritage website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk

What was more intriguing was what Gabby relayed next.

"There was also a lower level call 'Dumpy' which was the command centre during the Cold War and it was going to be opened to the public after the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act made it legal to do so.  But English Heritage went under there and found a lot of subsidence and were not as sturdy as the Napoleonic ones and also left in a hurry when the level got decommissioned, so they're not structurally sound. Lovely chalk!"

"And that is why the public won't be allowed down there!"

Gabby feels it is a shame as she would love to go down there and see them.  I would love to see it as well, it sounds fascinating.

We moved on to one of my favourite subjects: FOOD!

Gabby likes to dine at Maggie's cafe on Week Street.  I agree Maggie, whoever she is, does a blinding fried breakfast!

"The wholemeal baguettes and fillings are wonderful, not to mention the salads, the chilli, the cakes and pastries (all home-made) and the staff are the friendliest in town."

Also, Gab enjoys eating at Kitsu, a Tunbridge Wells based place that has, in her words 'The best sushi and teriyaki beef I've ever had."

Equally, Gabby likes an Indian at the Royal Tandoori in Chatham, traditional chips from a chippy in Lenham and her favourite pub is the Ringlestone nr Harrietsham.

We definitely have something in common here!

I always like to be a little bit nosey and find out what my interviewees get up to in their free time.  It feels like I can relate to them if they have something in common with me (in addition to food of course).

"Reading, reading, reading. I can't get enough of books!" Gabby says. "Guess it's lucky I work in a library!"

"I also love visiting English Heritage sites, you see something new every time.  And spending time with family and friends.  Nothing beats a house full of the people you love, all having fun and laughing, sharing life and food & drink."

I think Gabby is a great person, who lives life to the full.  That's the kind of people we need more of in this county to keep up its awesomeness.

This is always my favourite part of the interview: hearing a short story that sums the interviewee up.  I have heard some whoppers since I have been writing this blog - waking up half naked on a beach, buying items such as a bouncy castle on impulse, walking into walls or buying 'Chillis' when you are supposed to buy 'Jelly'.

"I was born in Puerto Rico (in the Caribbean), and I moved to New Orleans to my master's degree.  I still miss New Orleans, every day I'm not there, though I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world but here, in Kent."

That's what I like to hear!

"My first apartment burnt down, soon thereafter, I met Mark (now my husband- he's English, of course), and moved into a lovely shotgun house in New Orleans (For all who are not familiar, it is a narrow, rectangular building)."

"Mark and I got engaged, and i started getting my paperwork for the visa to come here to live and get married. There was a rumour that someone burned down their house near my house to collect the insurance money. The whole block of houses, including mine, burnt down.  I barely had time to grab my cat and laptop and run out of the house.  When I came back to see what was left, almost everything was burnt, except my visa papers and my winter clothes, and a crocheted Afghan my gran had sent me from Puerto Rico."

I want it noted now that Gabby has done fantastically to bounce back from this ordeal where others probably would have rolled over and given up.

"I took that as a sign from God and the Universe that I needed to go with my heart, to Mark and England.  And I didn't look back."

"Do I miss my family and friends from the other side of the Atlantic?  Oh yes!"

"Would I change anything? Not really. I only wish I'd met Mark before so we could have stated our life together sooner and that I had the power to teleport so I could visit my gran and my friends as often as I liked."

What a great story with both highs and lows but an overall outcome that is justly deserved.

It is always important to evolve and progress over time. That is true in both people, nature and our much loved county.  Gabby has some interesting suggestions on how to achieve this.

"I think we should have a better public transport network and it should be more realistically priced, so that people are seen to be quite foolish to take their cars out.  

I agree as I walk every where and think they should pump more money into transportation.

"If the buses and trains took us to where we wanted to go, frequently and cheaply enough, I swear people would give up cars quicker than you can say 'petrol'.  This is particularly true for people in rural locations, who are often quite isolated if they don't have a car.  But even between town centres, the service provision seems almost random!"

I think Gabby talks absolute sense and is valid in that our services are at times extortionate and something needs to be done to preserve the environment for the future generations.

And now to the finale.  My random question of the week.

You hear the four minute warning, you know it will only take you 10 seconds to get into a safe place, what would you do with the other 3 minutes and 50 seconds?

"That's a hash one!  Wow. I wasn't expecting that."

I like this reaction as it is meant to be surprising and awkward to answer.  It is my unique thing!

"I am close to Mark and Sebastian (my son) so I can make sure they're safe with me but even if not, the same applies.  Get as many people as I can into the safe place, hold them close and send a prayer up for the rest of my loved ones and the world!"

Sounds depressing but a nice answer and a good way to round off this sensational lady's interview.

Thank you Gabby for your time and I wish you all the best for the future. This interview has been a pleasure!

Well that's all folks for this week, check in again soon to see who will be my next victi... interviewee!

So … it’s New Year.  Stating the obvious I know, but some of you may still be in a Advocat fugued state.  I’m only slightly more ‘with it’ because I was sick over Christmas and couldn’t partake in any alcohol rel ated shenanigans.  Not that I’m bitter.  (*hooks IV drip up to the Crème de Menthe.*)

I’m not the sort of person who makes New Year’s Resolutions.  I realised quite early on in life that I had the willpower and attention span of a toddler and so there became no point in making resolutions I’d only break the following week.  If I lasted that long.  Therefore, big props go to anyone who can be bothered.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have goals.  Oh no!  For example, I’ve been vodka-free for seven days now (see above) … I just choose to set goals during the year when I’ve run out of bigger dress sizes or when I’m ill.  See … I can be really focused when I want.

What I like to do in the New Year though (overdosing on Quality Street aside,) is try new things out.  My degree was so time consuming, I’ve spent the last four years pouring any spare time and energy I had into studying – so now that chapter is closed I find myself in an enviable position – choice!  Very dangerous …

Here are the three new things I’m going to at least try this year:

1. Write a Book

I had to chuckle to myself when I read that one back.  Yeah Kate, write a book!  No problem!  You’ve got a spare 25 minutes free next Thursday – do it then. So, let me qualify this one slightly.  Part of my degree was Creative Writing and we were encouraged to try our hand at writing different genres (who knew I could write such rude stories!)   Another project I worked on was writing the beginning to a children’s book and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  So, three years on, I’m revisiting it.  The main theme is there, the characters are basic, but created.  Oh, and I even have a bit of a plot going on.  It needs a whole lot of work.  A whole lot.  But I’m up for the challenge.  It's based on a place I spent a lot of my childhood in in Rainham, and it's now somewhere I take my son to - I wanted to bring this place to life and what better way!

2. Go Dancing Again

I haven’t danced properly in years (I don’t think doing Salsa feet under the café table counts,) but I did take Salsa lessons eight years ago (tis how I met ‘Im Indoors,) and I’ve taken many a streetdance class (that reminds me, I still need to blog about my Pineapple experience!) so I’ve been on the lookout for something new to try.  Poledancing is out – don’t think I could lift my bodyweight 2″ off the ground if I’m honest – so, cue Zumba!  Not sure what it is really – and quite frankly, don’t care – it looks fun!  I’ve been to Notting Hill Carnival plenty of times and every year I try to look like I fit in, and end up doing some hyrbrid Samba/Bogle/Salsa move.  People usually think I’m having a fit and back away slowly.  All the same, the energy and enthusiasm is there – just need a little technique to go with it. I've done my research and there are Zumba classes popping up all over Medway so watch out - I'm on my way!

3. Get Fit

This isn’t a ‘New Year/New You’ kinda thing.  This has been a work in progress for a looooooong time.  For the last few months especially, I’ve made slow but steady progress – my main intention, to remain uninjured.  I don’t ask for much.  I’ve progressed from walking (I know – check me out!) to jogging and interval training around the streets of Rainham.  I’m back to boxing, which I love, and I do believe there is slightly less wobble to my bingo wings these days.

I’m only mentioning three new challenges here – more chance of fulfilling at least one of them – but that’s not to say more won’t be added to the list.  There is also this scary idea that keeps popping into my head about doing a Triathlon.  Yes, yes, I know … stop LOL’ing you lot – I’m being serious!  Oh and who knows what colour my hair will end up come Springtime!  

So this time next year Rodney, I doubt I’m going to be a millionaire, or a thin, best-selling author/Zumba Queen!  But I will be richer for at least trying new things.

Happy New Year!