I've been invited to participate in numerous tell-all blog meme's over the years and have always delicately refused participation. There's really quite enough about me on the net (via this blog) already rendering me quite transparent, and in hindsight, possibly dangerously exposed should I be forced to suffer the whole horrible fresh job-application process in a world that now googles every applicant for anything....

But in Jodhpur, Ryosuke and I enjoyed a 15 minute sitting with the charmingly dry, eccentric, nonchalant "world-famous" Merangarh Fort astrologer and palmist, Mr S.L. Sharma, and I thought I'd share some of the things he told me about.... well, me.

So. Here are 8 things you didn't know about me, as according to Mr Sharma. I'll let you guess which points may be vaguely correct or completely wrong or bleedingly obvious....:

1. I have low-blood pressure now but will have a problem with high blood pressure in my 50's, and when asked about the breast cancer that runs so strongly in my family, he said he saw in my palm my mothers cancer surgery at around the age of 48 and that she was fine afterwards, that I too will have no worries if I am vigilant.

2. I will live to be around 81 or 83.

3. I will lose my fertility at around 45, there may be a chance of children before then.

4. My first love was very strong, when I was 18, it lasted for 2 or 3 years and was quite tempestuous.

5. Romantically speaking, I met someone important last year. When I told him that I am single and didn't really met anyone all that special last year, he tsk-tsk'ed me and said that it was because I didn't act. I will meet someone again either this year or next year, and again when I am 45.

6. Love is a difficult issue for me as I am intense and idealistic and I expect to be met equally in love relationships. As a result I prefer to be alone unless it's really good and special. And it cannot be any good with anyone my own age, I should be with someone younger or older. Men my age don't suit me.

7. I am extremely independent in all things - especially my work - and do not cope well with being told what to do by anyone. As a result I have a very strong temper that flares up and makes me want to hit things but then quickly dissipates. In my work I must have complete freedom or else I become miserable and dull. Teaching is a perfect job for me.

8. I do not often heed advice from others - I may ask for it, and listen to it but always carefully weigh up my options and make my own decisions and prefer to learn from my own mistakes - I take only calculated risks, and tend to plan carefully.