Every few years I find myself filling in the Proust Questionnaire to see how my answers change over time. The history of the questionnaire itself is that it came from a French parlour game and though not devised by Marcel Proust himself, he certainly popularised it with his belief that in answering these questions a correspondent reveals their true nature. As I’ve done on previous blogs, Facebook, and live journal before it, I’ve answered all 35 but have chosen, here, 15 to post.
What is your current state of mind?
A little fragile but improving.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Driving in the Scottish highlands, with my partner Marta, and our dog. Mogwai’s probably on in the car.
What is your greatest fear?
The loss of sight or sound.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
The devil on my shoulder, the impossible, unrelenting imposter syndrome.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
An unearned sense of entitlement drives me bananas.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The aesthetic.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Simple mathematics wouldn’t go amiss.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting this far.
What is your greatest regret?
She knows. I’ve told her.
Where would you most like to live?
I belong to Glasgow, dear old Glasgow town.
What is your most treasured possession?
A camera.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Nigel Farage.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I talk. A lot. Often loudly. I imagine it’s annoying.
Who are your favourite writers?
Alasdair Gray, Iain Banks, and, recently, Brian K. Vaughan.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Rosencrantz or Guildenstern.
What are your favourite names?
First and middle.