The cry of a screech owl pierces the stillness of the night heralding his approach. Shadows move in the darkness, shapeless forms that drift in and out of vision. One of the shadows grows more dense, gaining form and substance. He is here.
No one knows his name, or where he came from, they simply call him 'Noir' - The Dark One.
Have I just written the opening lines to the novel I have always wanted to write? - No.
Do I have an idea for a fantastic new graphic novel? - No.
So what the hell am I doing? In all honesty I think I'm going mad, I used to think it was the world that was mad but I'm starting to change my mind. So why? Why the dramatic opening and why am I losing the plot?
Well I'll tell you, I know that we all think that our children are super, well it turns out that some are just a little more 'super' than we give them credit for.
Last week, in my own home, a guy arrived making a 'crime' documentary for Channel 4 - all well and good. Several hours into filming with my eldest son the camera is pointed at me, with enough lights on it to light a sports field and I am presented with the 'revelation' that said son is a secret crime fighting superhero who patrols the streets at night, reporting and fighting crime wherever it may lurk. (No it doesn't sound any better how ever many times I say it!)
It seems that this is something that more and more teenagers and even grown men with families are participating in, and a documentary is in the process of being researched and filmed about them right across the country, showing what they do and why they feel the need to do it.
Am I right to be worried about my sons safety? Am I right is telling him that this is not the way to go about being a role model? (That is what he sees himself as being). Or do I just stay quiet and pick up the pieces when required? This is one of those scenarios that if I condone it and say "yes, its a good thing that you are doing" which I don't believe for a second, that will give him the validation he needs to step up his activities in this area. Yet, if I say "You are placing yourself in danger, you must stop this activity at once, I forbid you to be a superhero!" He will rebel in an act of defiance and go out and do it even more anyway. I am totally at a loss, dazed and confused.
I am not looking forward to this documentary being aired. I am not looking forward to the repercussions, and I am not looking forward to picking up the pieces.
Why is there never anything like this in the parenting books?
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
I'm Not A Morning Person
I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. - Frank Sinatra.
I like that quote from Frank, it seems to sum up how I feel every morning, like I've been partying hard, drunk too much, gone ten rounds with a burly stranger and slept in my clothes! Yet in reality I've been home all evening drunk nothing but tea - well maybe the 'occasional' glass of wine for medicinal purposes you understand, and gone to bed on my own (the dog doesn't count). Waking up in the morning after another restless night is hard, so hard that my body seizes up at the thought and I try so hard to resist hitting the snooze button on the alarm. Most mornings I win and I stagger across the landing to wake my son,who I'm sure is just laying there awake waiting for me to say its OK to get up.
This morning was no different, I opened my bedroom door to find a demented husky lying in wait to pounce on me, which he dutifully did. There is nothing quite like the warm smelly kiss of a large dog to bring you back to consciousness! I called my son to get out of bed and headed down the stairs, trying to avoid falling over the dog which was doing his best to trip me up. Still bleary eyed and in the gloom of the darkened hallway I spotted an unusually light patch on the carpet close to the dogs bed, assuming he had been sick through the night I gave him a comforting cuddle and walked through to the kitchen to collect cleaning materials. Returning to the hall, and opening the curtains I discovered that what I had spotted was not doggy vomit but a nice bare patch where there should have been carpet. He has chewed not only through the carpet pile, but through the backing and the underlay, stopping only at the concrete underneath, which even though he is teething and apt to chew whatever he can, was just a little on the hard side for him.
Still, with temper unusually still intact, especially as I found I'd ran out of tea bags and I NEED my cuppa of a morning, we made it through to the school run. The dog watching through the glass of the back door as I we headed out on the short walk to school. I was a little concerned that by the time I got back the hole in the carpet would be the size of a man hole cover, but no, thankfully the carpet had been abandoned. Unfortunately he had found a new pastime to occupy himself.
I came through the door to what looked like an explosion in a confetti factory. He had managed to acquire a complete roll of kitchen towel and had proceeded to unravel, chew and shred every last piece of it. So now having cleared the mess away I an preparing to leave the house again. I fear I may have to duck tape him to his bed in an exercise of damage limitation.
Roll on bedtime.
I like that quote from Frank, it seems to sum up how I feel every morning, like I've been partying hard, drunk too much, gone ten rounds with a burly stranger and slept in my clothes! Yet in reality I've been home all evening drunk nothing but tea - well maybe the 'occasional' glass of wine for medicinal purposes you understand, and gone to bed on my own (the dog doesn't count). Waking up in the morning after another restless night is hard, so hard that my body seizes up at the thought and I try so hard to resist hitting the snooze button on the alarm. Most mornings I win and I stagger across the landing to wake my son,who I'm sure is just laying there awake waiting for me to say its OK to get up.
This morning was no different, I opened my bedroom door to find a demented husky lying in wait to pounce on me, which he dutifully did. There is nothing quite like the warm smelly kiss of a large dog to bring you back to consciousness! I called my son to get out of bed and headed down the stairs, trying to avoid falling over the dog which was doing his best to trip me up. Still bleary eyed and in the gloom of the darkened hallway I spotted an unusually light patch on the carpet close to the dogs bed, assuming he had been sick through the night I gave him a comforting cuddle and walked through to the kitchen to collect cleaning materials. Returning to the hall, and opening the curtains I discovered that what I had spotted was not doggy vomit but a nice bare patch where there should have been carpet. He has chewed not only through the carpet pile, but through the backing and the underlay, stopping only at the concrete underneath, which even though he is teething and apt to chew whatever he can, was just a little on the hard side for him.
I came through the door to what looked like an explosion in a confetti factory. He had managed to acquire a complete roll of kitchen towel and had proceeded to unravel, chew and shred every last piece of it. So now having cleared the mess away I an preparing to leave the house again. I fear I may have to duck tape him to his bed in an exercise of damage limitation.
Roll on bedtime.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Emergency Cost Cutting
Well with the double barrelled shotgun of unexpected unemployment staring us squarely in the face this week, steps have had to be taken to stem the flow of money that seems to flow with increasing speed from our accounts. What has struck me more than anything is the fact that we have had money leaving the account that we had forgotten about - mad I know, considering we are supposed to be aware of our spending these days, those 'one off' yet somehow ongoing subscriptions that magically renew themselves every year etc, simply because we are too lazy to cancel them when we should.
So far we have managed to make a good start, (see below), but without more funds coming in its difficult to say just how we are going to pay what's left, I'm just keeping everything crossed that something comes our way soon.
- Virgin TV Package - Pared back to the minumum.
- Virgin Internet Package - Pared Back to the minimum.
- Mobile Phone Packages - Reduced
- Magazine Subscriptions - Cancelled
- Audio Book Club Subscription - Cancelled
- Money Transferred to Savings - Pared back to minimum.
- Charity Donations (Direct Debit) - Cancelled
- Changing from School Dinners to Packed Lunches
- Window Cleaner - Cancelled
- Milk Man - Cancelled
Today is my son's 6th birthday, and whereas last year I arrived at school with a (bought) birthday cake and bags of sweets for all of the children in his class, this year I made home made chocolate and banana cakes/muffins for everyone, including his teachers. Other than the hour spent in the kitchen making three dozen cakes, rather than being on the lap top working, I saved at least £10 by doing it.
We even - after a LOT of searching, managed to buy him his first bike for his birthday, for half the price it should have been, rather than buying the first thing that we saw that he would like - whatever the cost.
There are a lot of learned behaviours that we need to change, and I'm hoping that when we are back in gainful employment that we can maintain some of our new cost effective behaviours as I am sure that they will help over the coming years.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
What a Week!
You may have noticed that my blog posts have been in short supply this week, for which a apologise. This week has not been the best week of my life, in fact its running on from an earlier bad week and into an even darker one.
In the past week I have been in hospital with chest pains, which after being wired to an ECG machine, stuck with needles and pumped with pills, turns out to be due neither to a problem with my heart, nor a blood clot anywhere, nor pleurisy. But even though they could tell me what it was not, they couldn't tell me what it actually was. Whatever it was left me weak, grey and my fingernails half blue!
I was discharged from the hospital and within the next hour I found out that not only was I being laid off but my partner was also out of a job. He could stop work tomorrow, next week, or the end of the month. Whichever the guys in the suits decide to choose - thanks. Thanks for sending our stress levels through the roof and thanks for the increased tightness in my chest.
I have spent a whole day digging out certificates and updating our CV's, rooting out suitable jobs, searching from the North East to London in the hope that we can find something within a month or else things will become seriously serious.
It seems that the knock on effects of the recession have caught up with us and knocked us flat, just when we are being told that the country is getting back on its feet too. Well, not from where I am Mr Cameron, as far as I am concerned its limping badly and about to fall over.
In the past week I have been in hospital with chest pains, which after being wired to an ECG machine, stuck with needles and pumped with pills, turns out to be due neither to a problem with my heart, nor a blood clot anywhere, nor pleurisy. But even though they could tell me what it was not, they couldn't tell me what it actually was. Whatever it was left me weak, grey and my fingernails half blue!
I was discharged from the hospital and within the next hour I found out that not only was I being laid off but my partner was also out of a job. He could stop work tomorrow, next week, or the end of the month. Whichever the guys in the suits decide to choose - thanks. Thanks for sending our stress levels through the roof and thanks for the increased tightness in my chest.
I have spent a whole day digging out certificates and updating our CV's, rooting out suitable jobs, searching from the North East to London in the hope that we can find something within a month or else things will become seriously serious.
It seems that the knock on effects of the recession have caught up with us and knocked us flat, just when we are being told that the country is getting back on its feet too. Well, not from where I am Mr Cameron, as far as I am concerned its limping badly and about to fall over.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
How To Cut The Cost Of Keeping Your Car Running.
With the price of fuel continually rising and car tax seeming to change every six months its becoming increasingly difficult to keep our cars on the road. So, if there was a way or two of keeping the running costs down shouldn't we try them? Some are common sense but some may come as a surprise, check them out and see if they can save you some money.
Find the lowest priced petrol in your area: Make sure you take the time to research the fuel prices in your local area. You will be able to locate the cheapest filling stations using www.petrolprices.com, all you need to do is type in your postcode. you can also use this service to sign up for email alerts to keep you up to date with price changes.
Declutter your car: Carrying extra weight in your car causes you to use more fuel, so remember to remove any roof rack that is not in use, and take all non essential items out of your boot.
Swtich things off: Remember to switch off your heated rear windscreen, demisters and headlights when you don't need them, and if you get caught up in a traffic queue, turn the engine off - especially of it looks like you are going to me sat there for more than three minutes.
Take it easy: Constantly speeding up and slowing down means that your car greedily drinks down petrol. Remember to drive smoothly, accelerate gently and read the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking. If you can keep the car moving all the time, all the better as stopping and starting uses more fuel than just rolling. On a road with speed bumps, drive at a steady 15-20 mph, rather than braking hard, accelerating and then braking hard again for the next bump.
Watch your speed: The faster you go, the greater the fuel consumption, and the greater the pollution. Driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60% and 15% more than at 50mph.
Find the lowest priced petrol in your area: Make sure you take the time to research the fuel prices in your local area. You will be able to locate the cheapest filling stations using www.petrolprices.com, all you need to do is type in your postcode. you can also use this service to sign up for email alerts to keep you up to date with price changes.
Declutter your car: Carrying extra weight in your car causes you to use more fuel, so remember to remove any roof rack that is not in use, and take all non essential items out of your boot.
Swtich things off: Remember to switch off your heated rear windscreen, demisters and headlights when you don't need them, and if you get caught up in a traffic queue, turn the engine off - especially of it looks like you are going to me sat there for more than three minutes.
Take it easy: Constantly speeding up and slowing down means that your car greedily drinks down petrol. Remember to drive smoothly, accelerate gently and read the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking. If you can keep the car moving all the time, all the better as stopping and starting uses more fuel than just rolling. On a road with speed bumps, drive at a steady 15-20 mph, rather than braking hard, accelerating and then braking hard again for the next bump.
Watch your speed: The faster you go, the greater the fuel consumption, and the greater the pollution. Driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60% and 15% more than at 50mph.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Mummys, Romans & Pirates all in one day!
 |
| My Little Roman |
The boys aged five and nine were thoroughly stimulated and entertained, they especially enjoyed exploring the old paddle steamer the PSS Wingfield Castle, with both of them repeatedly climbing up and down the stairs to the wheel house, and staring in awe at the size of the ship massive boiler. They decided they were going to be pirates and the gift shop was quickly plundered for pirate attire! Bad pirate accents were then adopted and and the boys went off in search of treasure. We're not sure what they thought they might find in the car park, but they were happy to look.
 |
| Pirate Xander |
Monday, 21 February 2011
Save A Life - Sign The Register - NOW!
We walk this way only once, and though her journey was short it was filled with love.
This is Kristina, a beautiful bride on her wedding day 5 years ago. A picture of health and happiness, the future before her without a cloud on the horizon.
Kristina died yesterday. She passed away surrounded by Lee, her husband and her family after a long battle to beat a chronic condition.
Kristina needed a lung transplant, and spent the last to years hoping for a phone call to say a donor organ had become available, the phone call never came.
I cried many tears yesterday, not for Kristina who I know in my heart is now at peace, but for those who remain here, coming to terms with the void that her death has left behind. Her husband, her mother and her sisters, the nieces and nephews that will never know what a beautiful person she was, and those of us who, though were not close to her shared a connection.
For the past couple of years every time we heard that her condition was worsening, we hoped that a donor organ would materialise, feeling guilt at wanting a stranger to die so that she may have a chance at life, yet wishing for it all the same.
I would implore everyone to sign onto the Organ Donor Register. Anything could happen to anyone of us tomorrow, but knowing that in death we could give someone like Kristina, my sister in law, a chance at a full life is a legacy that is priceless. Giving our families the knowledge that a piece of us lives on through others and that in our passing we had the ability to give another family hope and joy and spare them the anguish that Kristina's family experienced yesterday. Please sign the register today.
Kristina died yesterday. She passed away surrounded by Lee, her husband and her family after a long battle to beat a chronic condition.
Kristina needed a lung transplant, and spent the last to years hoping for a phone call to say a donor organ had become available, the phone call never came.
I cried many tears yesterday, not for Kristina who I know in my heart is now at peace, but for those who remain here, coming to terms with the void that her death has left behind. Her husband, her mother and her sisters, the nieces and nephews that will never know what a beautiful person she was, and those of us who, though were not close to her shared a connection.
For the past couple of years every time we heard that her condition was worsening, we hoped that a donor organ would materialise, feeling guilt at wanting a stranger to die so that she may have a chance at life, yet wishing for it all the same.
I would implore everyone to sign onto the Organ Donor Register. Anything could happen to anyone of us tomorrow, but knowing that in death we could give someone like Kristina, my sister in law, a chance at a full life is a legacy that is priceless. Giving our families the knowledge that a piece of us lives on through others and that in our passing we had the ability to give another family hope and joy and spare them the anguish that Kristina's family experienced yesterday. Please sign the register today.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Own Up, Who Was It?
Which one of you was it that broke into my house and beat me up whilst I slept? That has to be what happened as I have woken up in so much pain this morning! I am aching from head to toe, have pain in my back and my legs, my stomach is swollen so much I look like I'm about to give birth - oh and whoever it was, I really didn't need the boob job!
What happened to me overnight? I don't think that I'm presenting a range of symptoms that can be analysed by NHS Direct, or via an internet health self check service. I guess I will have to label it as stress related or hormonal (as usual), but good grief I am uncomfortable.
I'm wondering whether I've picked up something from the dog perhaps? He was ill last night and vomited what looked like a bowl of chilli con carne onto the living room carpet before I could get him outside, where he did it again. I could he the noises that his stomach was making as I laid in bed - with my door closed and the hound in the hall! But he seems nice and perky again this morning so whatever it was he must have purged it from his system, maybe that's what I need to do - a very unappealing thought.
I really don't feel up to taking him for his hour long trek this morning, its cold, its raining and I feel like poo. Not that he'll understand that of course, he just knows that morning brings with it a walk and his breakfast, which after what he expelled last night I'm sure he will demolish as soon as he gets it.
There's only one thing for it - another cup of tea, along with a couple of pain killers it might just help me to kick-start my system and get me going. Say what you like about us Brits, no matter how bad we feel or how bad our situation we know that a good cup of tea can help make things better.
What happened to me overnight? I don't think that I'm presenting a range of symptoms that can be analysed by NHS Direct, or via an internet health self check service. I guess I will have to label it as stress related or hormonal (as usual), but good grief I am uncomfortable.
I'm wondering whether I've picked up something from the dog perhaps? He was ill last night and vomited what looked like a bowl of chilli con carne onto the living room carpet before I could get him outside, where he did it again. I could he the noises that his stomach was making as I laid in bed - with my door closed and the hound in the hall! But he seems nice and perky again this morning so whatever it was he must have purged it from his system, maybe that's what I need to do - a very unappealing thought.
I really don't feel up to taking him for his hour long trek this morning, its cold, its raining and I feel like poo. Not that he'll understand that of course, he just knows that morning brings with it a walk and his breakfast, which after what he expelled last night I'm sure he will demolish as soon as he gets it.
There's only one thing for it - another cup of tea, along with a couple of pain killers it might just help me to kick-start my system and get me going. Say what you like about us Brits, no matter how bad we feel or how bad our situation we know that a good cup of tea can help make things better.
Friday, 18 February 2011
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't ant, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not. - Mark Twain.
I like this quote, it seems to sum up what we really feel about choosing to change our lifestyle from something we are comfortable with to a more healthy one. When someone says "you need to lose weight" to you, your mind is immediately filled with images of salad, and never a nice one either. Its almost an inbuilt response for our brain to conjour up images of limp lettuce and watery tomatoes. Once we've got over that we switch you painful images of ourselves sweating and grumpy doing that insane thing called 'exercise'!
Even though we know that eating healthy and being active is the way to go, we still struggle with the concept. Perhaps its because we have all grown to comfortable with out on lazy habits that we have stopped listening to what our body tries to tell us. We settle for the ease and convenience of processed foods and are far to eager to use any excuse not to exercise.
Perhaps if we listened to our bodies more and took the time to understand how these marvellous machines actually work, we would stand a better chance of losing weight and keeping it off, instead of settling into the usual yo yo routine that we inevitably do. Understanding your metabolism would seem to be a good place to start, after all that's what drives our bodies, turns our food into fuel and keeps us going.
No I am not a health fanatic, I do not have the figure of a racing snake and I have been yo-yo dieting for years. But, recently I have read though one diet plan/book that does actually talk sense. It doesn't involve eating strange combinations of food or almost killing yourself in the gym either. It talks sense, helps you to understand how your body works and just what you can do to help it work more effectively. If you're interested in trying, or finding a new way, you can learn more HERE. Heres to improving all of out health and well being!
I like this quote, it seems to sum up what we really feel about choosing to change our lifestyle from something we are comfortable with to a more healthy one. When someone says "you need to lose weight" to you, your mind is immediately filled with images of salad, and never a nice one either. Its almost an inbuilt response for our brain to conjour up images of limp lettuce and watery tomatoes. Once we've got over that we switch you painful images of ourselves sweating and grumpy doing that insane thing called 'exercise'!
Even though we know that eating healthy and being active is the way to go, we still struggle with the concept. Perhaps its because we have all grown to comfortable with out on lazy habits that we have stopped listening to what our body tries to tell us. We settle for the ease and convenience of processed foods and are far to eager to use any excuse not to exercise.
Perhaps if we listened to our bodies more and took the time to understand how these marvellous machines actually work, we would stand a better chance of losing weight and keeping it off, instead of settling into the usual yo yo routine that we inevitably do. Understanding your metabolism would seem to be a good place to start, after all that's what drives our bodies, turns our food into fuel and keeps us going.
No I am not a health fanatic, I do not have the figure of a racing snake and I have been yo-yo dieting for years. But, recently I have read though one diet plan/book that does actually talk sense. It doesn't involve eating strange combinations of food or almost killing yourself in the gym either. It talks sense, helps you to understand how your body works and just what you can do to help it work more effectively. If you're interested in trying, or finding a new way, you can learn more HERE. Heres to improving all of out health and well being!
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Fancy a M&S £150 Gift Voucher?
A quick check through my emails this morning and this one caught me eye so I thought that I would share it with you, after all someone needs to win it!
Good Housekeeping Magazine (via the All About You website) are offering people the chance to win a £150 voucher from Marks & Spencers. All they are asking you to do is complete a short questionnaire (and it is short - less than five minutes) on how the recession has affected your finances. There are no personal or probing questions and it is incredibly straight forward.
Personally I quite enjoy online surveys, especially when you get re-imbursed for them. I am in the process of working through a data base of paid survey companies and so far have managed to cover the initial cost of purchasing the list (approx £30/$49.95) and got some freebies into the bargain! For anyone that is interested, information can be found HERE. Let's face it, I'm all for increasing my wealth any way that I can! Sometimes a new project or venture requires me to take a leap of faith, like this data base but if you don't take risks occasionally you'll never know whether something works or not will you?
Good Housekeeping Magazine (via the All About You website) are offering people the chance to win a £150 voucher from Marks & Spencers. All they are asking you to do is complete a short questionnaire (and it is short - less than five minutes) on how the recession has affected your finances. There are no personal or probing questions and it is incredibly straight forward.
Personally I quite enjoy online surveys, especially when you get re-imbursed for them. I am in the process of working through a data base of paid survey companies and so far have managed to cover the initial cost of purchasing the list (approx £30/$49.95) and got some freebies into the bargain! For anyone that is interested, information can be found HERE. Let's face it, I'm all for increasing my wealth any way that I can! Sometimes a new project or venture requires me to take a leap of faith, like this data base but if you don't take risks occasionally you'll never know whether something works or not will you?
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Just 'Passing the Time'...
So tell me, how do you do it? How does one go about just 'passing time'? I have had to do it for several hours this morning and failed miserably at it.
Being the helpful and loving person that I am (modest too) I took my partners car in for its service this morning, being told by the nice young mechanic that it would be a couple of hours. Deciding that there was no way I could travel home on the bus without throwing up with travel sickness, I would walk into town and have a mooch about.
So once into town I discover that since my last visit the High Street is even more bleak, dirty and depressing than it ever was. I paid visits to the few stores that I thought might appeal to me, bought a couple of books, and stopped to enjoy a leisurely latte. After covering the entire High Street, the market stalls, flea market and the little shops tucked into alleyways I'd managed to pass two hours.
Now I have to admit that mingling with the 'great unwashed' is not my cup of tea. I have a dislike of ignorance, poor manners and even poorer personal hygiene and I found myself being bombarded on all sides by people who fell into all three categories at once. With my anxiety levels rising and a panic attack getting ready to strike there was only one thing for it, get back to the garage and get the car and, as my other half puts it "Get the Hell out of Dodge!"
I'm not sure what it is about garages and mechanics but I find them appealing, dirty overalls, oily rags and the pure masculinity of the place makes me come over all girly. It didn't bother me in the slightest that the car wasn't ready when I arrived, or that I would have to sit in a cold, grey waiting area until it was. I had the books that I had bought, lovely mechanics to talk to to pass the time. So after another hour and a half in the garage I was ready to go home at last. I was really looking forward to a relaxing cup of tea before it was time to do the school run. Unfortunately I came home to find that the dog had decided to make confetti out of the free newspaper that had been delivered whilst I was out. Oh joy!
Being the helpful and loving person that I am (modest too) I took my partners car in for its service this morning, being told by the nice young mechanic that it would be a couple of hours. Deciding that there was no way I could travel home on the bus without throwing up with travel sickness, I would walk into town and have a mooch about.
So once into town I discover that since my last visit the High Street is even more bleak, dirty and depressing than it ever was. I paid visits to the few stores that I thought might appeal to me, bought a couple of books, and stopped to enjoy a leisurely latte. After covering the entire High Street, the market stalls, flea market and the little shops tucked into alleyways I'd managed to pass two hours.
Now I have to admit that mingling with the 'great unwashed' is not my cup of tea. I have a dislike of ignorance, poor manners and even poorer personal hygiene and I found myself being bombarded on all sides by people who fell into all three categories at once. With my anxiety levels rising and a panic attack getting ready to strike there was only one thing for it, get back to the garage and get the car and, as my other half puts it "Get the Hell out of Dodge!"
I'm not sure what it is about garages and mechanics but I find them appealing, dirty overalls, oily rags and the pure masculinity of the place makes me come over all girly. It didn't bother me in the slightest that the car wasn't ready when I arrived, or that I would have to sit in a cold, grey waiting area until it was. I had the books that I had bought, lovely mechanics to talk to to pass the time. So after another hour and a half in the garage I was ready to go home at last. I was really looking forward to a relaxing cup of tea before it was time to do the school run. Unfortunately I came home to find that the dog had decided to make confetti out of the free newspaper that had been delivered whilst I was out. Oh joy!
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Time to Strike a Pose
“ You don’t take a photograph, you make it". - Ansel Adams
Well it's school photograph day today, and I feel that I may have 'words' said at home time this afternoon as I have been a rebel and not sent my son to school in his uniform. Walking to school this morning I was very aware that my son appeared to be the only one in a dress shirt and jeans, but at least I know that when I do receive the picture, he is going to look smart. I don't know what it is about his school uniform but with ten minutes of him having put a clean set on, he looks like a bag of rags, tatty and grungy, and I ask you; Is this really what we want hanging on our walls - grungy kids in tatty uniforms?
As I gave him a kiss goodbye as he went through the gates I called after him 'Remember what I said; smile nicely!' At which another mum turned to me and said 'I have just said the exact same thing to my boy.' We don't ask for much really do we? A nice smile instead of a big fake cheesy grin or some ridiculous pose. I wonder how many mums and dads said 'smile nicely' as they waved their offspring off for the day?
Well it's school photograph day today, and I feel that I may have 'words' said at home time this afternoon as I have been a rebel and not sent my son to school in his uniform. Walking to school this morning I was very aware that my son appeared to be the only one in a dress shirt and jeans, but at least I know that when I do receive the picture, he is going to look smart. I don't know what it is about his school uniform but with ten minutes of him having put a clean set on, he looks like a bag of rags, tatty and grungy, and I ask you; Is this really what we want hanging on our walls - grungy kids in tatty uniforms?
As I gave him a kiss goodbye as he went through the gates I called after him 'Remember what I said; smile nicely!' At which another mum turned to me and said 'I have just said the exact same thing to my boy.' We don't ask for much really do we? A nice smile instead of a big fake cheesy grin or some ridiculous pose. I wonder how many mums and dads said 'smile nicely' as they waved their offspring off for the day?
Monday, 14 February 2011
Enjoying the Romance
Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other. It doesn't matter who it is, and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other. - Mother Teresa
Happy Valentine's Day, the one day of the year when you can let the romance flow without worrying about appearing too sentimental, mushy or soft! The day when children look at their parents and start pulling faces and making 'Yuck!' noises when mum and dad steal a kiss every time they brush past one another.
I have to say I have had a very nice weekend, full of romance and all of the slushy stuff that I adore. This weekend was also my partners birthday, thankfully he arrived before being given the delightful name of Valentino that was waiting for him if he had been born on the 14th. I have been wined and dined, cuddled and snuggled and surrounded by chocolates and Bailey's Irish Cream.
Our dining experience left us almost unable to move, good quality food that comes in good portion sizes, in an atmosphere filled with country air and old world charm that is to be found at The Shorthorn Inn. Whilst we were there we discovered we were sharing the evening with a 'celebrity' (for want of a better expression), a guy called Steve McLaren, so my partner informed me, apparently he was manager of the England Football Team at some point. I have to admit that this information went straight over my head. But what I did notice was the the way that people watched his every move as he paid for his meal. I don't think I would like that, feeling the stare of a roomful of people as I went about my business.
Perhaps fame and fortune don't bring happiness on all levels, financial happiness yes, material security yes, but privacy absolutely not.
Happy Valentine's Day, the one day of the year when you can let the romance flow without worrying about appearing too sentimental, mushy or soft! The day when children look at their parents and start pulling faces and making 'Yuck!' noises when mum and dad steal a kiss every time they brush past one another.
I have to say I have had a very nice weekend, full of romance and all of the slushy stuff that I adore. This weekend was also my partners birthday, thankfully he arrived before being given the delightful name of Valentino that was waiting for him if he had been born on the 14th. I have been wined and dined, cuddled and snuggled and surrounded by chocolates and Bailey's Irish Cream.
Our dining experience left us almost unable to move, good quality food that comes in good portion sizes, in an atmosphere filled with country air and old world charm that is to be found at The Shorthorn Inn. Whilst we were there we discovered we were sharing the evening with a 'celebrity' (for want of a better expression), a guy called Steve McLaren, so my partner informed me, apparently he was manager of the England Football Team at some point. I have to admit that this information went straight over my head. But what I did notice was the the way that people watched his every move as he paid for his meal. I don't think I would like that, feeling the stare of a roomful of people as I went about my business.
Perhaps fame and fortune don't bring happiness on all levels, financial happiness yes, material security yes, but privacy absolutely not.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Looking After The Pennies.
'Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves'
I remember my grandmother saying this to me as a small child, carefully putting my pocket money into my piggy bank. It didn't make much sense to me then but now that I am older and allegedly wiser, I get the point.
If we take care of the pennies ie: watch what we spend and save a few of them where we can, we will find that we have more pounds left. Well that's it put simply anyway.
I'm all for saving money where I can, things are difficult enough right now without having to spend more than is necessary. I have found that I now get a lot less for my money when doing the weekly grocery shop that ever before. Yesterday £90 worth of grocery shopping was barely enough to cover the kitchen counter. I didn't buy anything extravagant, no clothes, shoes or impulse buys, what went into my trolley was what was on my shopping list. So I got to thinking about how can I save more money on my weekly shop.
I already use the Tesco Clubcard Points, Asda's Price Checker facility and shop occasionally at Approved Food (Fantastic Savings!) but I was wondering, what else? That's when I came across this site: Before I Shop, which offers a range of coupons for groceries, High Street stores, Restaurants and Leisure Activities. Something I thought was worth sharing with you all.
So here's to reducing our outgoings and hanging onto whatever financial wealth we have!
I remember my grandmother saying this to me as a small child, carefully putting my pocket money into my piggy bank. It didn't make much sense to me then but now that I am older and allegedly wiser, I get the point.
If we take care of the pennies ie: watch what we spend and save a few of them where we can, we will find that we have more pounds left. Well that's it put simply anyway.
I'm all for saving money where I can, things are difficult enough right now without having to spend more than is necessary. I have found that I now get a lot less for my money when doing the weekly grocery shop that ever before. Yesterday £90 worth of grocery shopping was barely enough to cover the kitchen counter. I didn't buy anything extravagant, no clothes, shoes or impulse buys, what went into my trolley was what was on my shopping list. So I got to thinking about how can I save more money on my weekly shop.
I already use the Tesco Clubcard Points, Asda's Price Checker facility and shop occasionally at Approved Food (Fantastic Savings!) but I was wondering, what else? That's when I came across this site: Before I Shop, which offers a range of coupons for groceries, High Street stores, Restaurants and Leisure Activities. Something I thought was worth sharing with you all.
So here's to reducing our outgoings and hanging onto whatever financial wealth we have!
Friday, 11 February 2011
To Be Or No To Be? - Now That's A Question!
'To be, or not to be: That is the question.' - Hamlet - William Shakespeare.
This simple little phrase from Hamlet's opening soliloquy started running through my head this morning as I stood still half asleep in the shower. Funny what your mind mulls over when it's not quite awake and yet not quite asleep, but there is was being repeated over and over again, including the next couple of lines from the text, how my brain managed to find them in all the detritus that lives inside my head is a thing of wonder indeed.
But thinking about it: 'To be, or not to be'. what does it mean? As an English Literature student somewhere in my dim and distant past I remember hearing this phrase quoted over and over again by teachers and lecturers but I never really gave much thought to it. Now though it seems to pose a really interesting question of which way we chose to live our life, those six little words open up a world of possibilities.
I interpreted the question in the following way: What does 'To be' mean? To me it means choosing to live in the present, in the moment. To be aware not only of the world around you but also of yourself, who you are and how you interact with and influence the people and situations around you. To be concious of not only your thoughts and feelings but also those of others. To truly experience life.
To select to 'not be' would to live your life oblivious to the needs, desires, hopes and dreams of yourself and the rest of the world. To live a life of ignorance, devoid of all of the joy that being both socially and self aware can bring into life. To never see and appreciate the subtleties that nature shows to those who chose to see, never being able to 'read between the lines' to discover hidden meanings and truths.
I choose to live in the light, 'to be' to use all of my senses to their utmost, to appreciate what life or fate places in my path and learn from it. This is how we grow, as a person and as a society, and lets face it, right now, society needs all of the help it can get.
This simple little phrase from Hamlet's opening soliloquy started running through my head this morning as I stood still half asleep in the shower. Funny what your mind mulls over when it's not quite awake and yet not quite asleep, but there is was being repeated over and over again, including the next couple of lines from the text, how my brain managed to find them in all the detritus that lives inside my head is a thing of wonder indeed.
But thinking about it: 'To be, or not to be'. what does it mean? As an English Literature student somewhere in my dim and distant past I remember hearing this phrase quoted over and over again by teachers and lecturers but I never really gave much thought to it. Now though it seems to pose a really interesting question of which way we chose to live our life, those six little words open up a world of possibilities.
I interpreted the question in the following way: What does 'To be' mean? To me it means choosing to live in the present, in the moment. To be aware not only of the world around you but also of yourself, who you are and how you interact with and influence the people and situations around you. To be concious of not only your thoughts and feelings but also those of others. To truly experience life.
To select to 'not be' would to live your life oblivious to the needs, desires, hopes and dreams of yourself and the rest of the world. To live a life of ignorance, devoid of all of the joy that being both socially and self aware can bring into life. To never see and appreciate the subtleties that nature shows to those who chose to see, never being able to 'read between the lines' to discover hidden meanings and truths.
I choose to live in the light, 'to be' to use all of my senses to their utmost, to appreciate what life or fate places in my path and learn from it. This is how we grow, as a person and as a society, and lets face it, right now, society needs all of the help it can get.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
How Old Do You Feel?
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?- Satchel Paige
I love that quote, it highlights just how preoccupied we are with the passage of time. Would we indeed know our age if we were not surrounded with the markers of time in the form of watches, clocks, calendars and diaries? If I was oblivious to the passage of time as marked out by all of these things just how old would I believe myself to be?
If I was to rely only on the information that the aches and pains that my body gave me I would say I was quite aged! But if I was to relate my age to the cycle of the seasons I'm sure I would come up with a number pretty close to my actually age.
Man has tried for centuries to increase its life span, either through pioneering medical advancements or by developing weird and wonderful diet and health regimes. From what I have read and researched it seems that the way to live a long, healthy and ‘happy’ life is relatively simple – providing you have the determination and will power to follow the advice.
1. Know your family history regarding heath issues, do you have a genetic disposition to certain diseases or conditions? If so, research and know what to look out for so that any condition can be caught early.
2. Monitor your waistline. Medical research claims that having a aist the measures less than 80cm (31.5”) will protect you from developing heart disease, diabetes and even bowel cancer.
3. Don’t smoke, and if you do – STOP! Smoking opens the door not only to cancer, but to heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and stroke.
4. Eat your vegetables, especially dark leafy greens as it is believed that they reduce your risk of contracting bowel cancer and diabetes.
5. Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D this brilliant vitamin strengthens your bones, reduces cholesterol and can reduce the risk of developing some cancers.
6. Keep moving, for every hour that you sit doing ‘nothing’ your chance of developing metabolic syndrome increases. Get up, get out and start walking!
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Am I Wealthy After All?
Looking around online I came accross this nice definition of wealth: 'Tangible or intangible things that makes a person, family or group better off.' - BusinessDictionary.com. That makes it all sound very simple doesn't it? There is no mention of money or possessions in that neat little definition, in fact it could be described as being more than a little vague. Even so it makes a hell of a lot of sense.
In these times of economic uncertainty it makes sense to look at wealth in the wider perspective. Thinking about the amount of people who have lost jobs, businesses, and in many cases their homes since the start of recession, I consider myself to be lucky. Lucky in the fact that I can still (just about) work from home and be here for my son as he grows up, lucky that the bills are still being paid each month, lucky that there is enough money left to continue to put food on the table each mealtime, and lucky that although its a struggle - we manage.
Going back to that definition I would suggest that the tangible aspect would be money, the thing that we manage to catch a fleeting hold of as it flies at lightening speed from our purses, wallets and bank accounts. I would place security as being an intangible form of wealth, the more secure we feel the more contented or better off we feel we are and therefore the more wealthy we are. I would assume that 'wealth' means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but personally knowing that I am loved, have a healthy family and a solid roof over my head means that I do indeed posses wealth. Although more of the tangible stuff would indeed be helpful!
In these times of economic uncertainty it makes sense to look at wealth in the wider perspective. Thinking about the amount of people who have lost jobs, businesses, and in many cases their homes since the start of recession, I consider myself to be lucky. Lucky in the fact that I can still (just about) work from home and be here for my son as he grows up, lucky that the bills are still being paid each month, lucky that there is enough money left to continue to put food on the table each mealtime, and lucky that although its a struggle - we manage.
Going back to that definition I would suggest that the tangible aspect would be money, the thing that we manage to catch a fleeting hold of as it flies at lightening speed from our purses, wallets and bank accounts. I would place security as being an intangible form of wealth, the more secure we feel the more contented or better off we feel we are and therefore the more wealthy we are. I would assume that 'wealth' means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but personally knowing that I am loved, have a healthy family and a solid roof over my head means that I do indeed posses wealth. Although more of the tangible stuff would indeed be helpful!
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
What is Happiness?
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared - Buddha.
There are things in this world that make me happy, those whom I love and love me in return down to foods that although unhealthy offer a warm and cosy glow of comfort. Does that mean that happiness is the same as pleasure? If it does, is there a happy/sad principal to work alongside the pleasure/pain principal?
I looked up the definition of happiness and this is what I found: 'Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy - wikipedia.' So it's a state of mind then? So all of that time that we spend looking for things that make us happy is a waste of time? What we need to do is alter our state of mind into a mixture of all of the 'good feelings' that we have ever experienced? All of that soul searching, reaching inside ourselves to find contentment and peace or balance is really a quest for happiness then.
Perhaps next time I go looking for that happy feeling at that lurks inside a tub of ice cream, or in that bag of marshmallows, I should instead try and spark the memory of the happy feeling that they gave me the last time I met them, and save myself some calories!
Reprogramming yourself is hard, trying to alter the way that your brain perceives things is no easy task, and if there is an easy way to do it I haven't found it. We all want to be happy don't we? Yet we are all looking in the wrong places, each of us believing that happiness comes from something tangible, ignoring the fact that we have the ability to create happiness simply by altering the way that we think.
Monday, 7 February 2011
Not as healthy as you think!
How many of us opt for a diet soda as opposed to a fully sugar laden one? I know I do, with the thought clear in my head that I am making a 'good choice'. But is seems that recent scientific studies have shown that the consumption of diet drinks may actually increase the risk of a condition called 'Metabolic Syndrome'. This innocuous sounding syndrome actually increases your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and Heart disease.
The reasons for this are still being investigated but there is a ground swell of belief in the theory that the use of artificial sweeteners in these diet beverages leave us with a higher craving for real sugar and food with a high calorific count. I think perhaps I will go back to good old water!
I have to admit that 'Metabolic Syndrome' is a new condition to me, but I think it is something that we should all be more aware of, after all if we start fighting against our natural metabolic programming we really can't be doing ourselves much good can we?
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Reflection on Things Past - 'Regret.'
"I have many regrets, and I'm sure everyone does. the stupid things you do you regret...if you have any sense, and if you don't regret them maybe you're stupid." - Katharine Hepburn."
So where does this epic journey of mine start then? Regrets seem like as good a place as any! Lets see, I am now (fast) approaching forty and it seems that now is the time of life when I face my first great 'reflection on things past'. I'm sure I shall go through all of this again when I reach my next milestone birthday, but then I can take comfort from the fact that I have started clearing my emotional baggage early!
"What do I possible have to regret?" I hear you ask - or is that my conscience? The first things that come to mind are all the things I have done to my body since I became old enough to be independent. If it wasn't for a 'healthy appetite' as a child and adolescent I doubt I would have the painful joints, creaking knees and aching back - not to mention that obscene number referred to as the 'Body Mass Index' that I have now. Still I am who I am and the things in my past are the tools that shaped me - though I really don't like the shape I was given!
So yes, I regret all of the extra eating, the trips to the sweet shop, the cakes and the biscuits, the home baked bread, the sausage rolls and and hearty Sunday Roasts, but in the midst of that regret is the realisation that without all of that home baking I would not have had the special time alone with my grandmother, kneading dough and rolling pastry. I guess you could call it a bitter sweet regret.
So where does this epic journey of mine start then? Regrets seem like as good a place as any! Lets see, I am now (fast) approaching forty and it seems that now is the time of life when I face my first great 'reflection on things past'. I'm sure I shall go through all of this again when I reach my next milestone birthday, but then I can take comfort from the fact that I have started clearing my emotional baggage early!
"What do I possible have to regret?" I hear you ask - or is that my conscience? The first things that come to mind are all the things I have done to my body since I became old enough to be independent. If it wasn't for a 'healthy appetite' as a child and adolescent I doubt I would have the painful joints, creaking knees and aching back - not to mention that obscene number referred to as the 'Body Mass Index' that I have now. Still I am who I am and the things in my past are the tools that shaped me - though I really don't like the shape I was given!
So yes, I regret all of the extra eating, the trips to the sweet shop, the cakes and the biscuits, the home baked bread, the sausage rolls and and hearty Sunday Roasts, but in the midst of that regret is the realisation that without all of that home baking I would not have had the special time alone with my grandmother, kneading dough and rolling pastry. I guess you could call it a bitter sweet regret.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)