Monday 24 December 2012

My Christmas Message!

As you know in the UK it is traditional for the Queen to give her annual Christmas message to her people often addressing the years events etc and this year it will also be available to watch in 3D! (I kid you not!) though what exactly she will be doing to make this 3D vision more watch-able is anybody's guess! throwing snowballs at the screen perhaps, or just waving arms emphatically! who knows but in my Christmas message (not in 3D) I would just like to share my thoughts.

We are in general a consumer driven society often forgetting what is really important and not being grateful for what we have. I for one this year feel blessed I have had 2 quite scary health scares but I am ok, I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and family and friends to share the season with.

This year my presents may be small and I may not be giving as much as usual but my love and compassion for others is big and my home will hopefully be filled with laughter so for me that is the best present I could wish for!

So I'm going to leave you know with the poem that I and probably many of you that are reading this read their children every year The famous poem by Clement C Moore


Sample Poem Text and Graphics, Click to see more detail.

Sunday 16 December 2012

Life

I've neglected my blog quite badly of late, home, college, work and generally life have all been so full on, that my poor old blog fell to the bottom of a great big to-do list!

But I am back and this returning post might be a bit scattered and if it is I apologise but I have a head full of thoughts that I need to express somewhere so you lucky folks that read this get to have my first returning post that might just be an incoherent mess!

The awful tragic event at Sandy Hook Elementary got me to thinking....A LOT!

Firstly like everyone else how awful and devastating the loss is to all those poor families, that poor community that has had their entire lives turned upside down by one very sick individual. I can't even comprehend the pain and utter despair they must be feeling but I also gave thought to the family of the perpetrator of such extreme evil, what went wrong that he thought that this was the answer? Were there signs? Could something have been done to prevent this? Questions that I'm sure others are asking too but that family too are suffering not only loss but the knowledge that they will surely be blamed and victimised for the actions of one of their family members a guilt that they too will have to live with. Obviously my first thoughts are with the families of those brave teachers and poor little children but I just think that the others involved deserve a thought too.

And when that dreadful news came on the radio, TV and now the newspapers I couldn't help but wonder if the exposure by the media of these mentally ill perpetrators actually gives them a forum to do these hateful things? We see time and time again when these awful things happen the name and face of evil splashed across every TV and newspaper and we know and remember the names but how many of the victims names do you remember? Now I'm not completely blaming the media but I have to wonder how many of these sick people have seen the attention given and thought to themselves I won't die a nameless loner I shall share my pain inflict it on others and instead of being invisible be remembered by all! They don't care that for eternity they shall be known as the face of evil I think they just care the they will be known! That's why I shan't even mention his name but I urge anyone reading this to go and look for the names of the victims and remember them!

And for me it made me realise the important things, I hugged my children a little tighter and all the worries that I had about money being tight this year and the fact that I can't afford to get them much suddenly was put into perspective. We are a consumer driven society driven by the media to think that we need these material things or our life might be less than if we don't have them! The reality is material things get broken, lost, devalued. Life is about experiences, it's the memories that we can keep forever or at least as long as our faculties allow! So this Christmas I shall do something to spread kindness, I shall spend time with the people I love and I will hope to instill those same values in my children who might not be opening the latest gadget or thing but will be sharing a meal in a warm house that will hopefully be filled with joy and laughter and gratitude that we have what is important.




Wednesday 19 September 2012

Open Mic 2012 and the amazing talented Autumn!

Proud Mum alert here...My daughter the Amazingly Talented Autumn has got through to the Regional Final of Open Mic UK, I won't go on and on about how amazingly talented she is (but she is!) I shall present you with the press realease instead........





Local talent shines on the Mic.
Autumn from Peckham has been given the big thumbs up by judges at the Open Mic UK auditions.
 Along with other impressive acts, Autumn has made it through to the Regional Finals and will 
now be performing at the live stages of Open Mic UK 2012.

Open Mic UK 2012 is the exciting national talent competition which searches for the UK’s best singers, singer/songwriters,
 rappers and vocalists of all genres who perform either covers or original material.

One contestant who has evidently caught the judge’s eye is local talent Autumn,
 now in the running to compete for a place in the National Final within The O2 in London. 
Thousands of hopefuls entered nationwide and hundreds of auditionees
 queued patiently on the day for their turn to impress the judges.
Those who made it through the audition stage will now take part in a live Regional head to head battle alongside
 the best talent in their area. They’ll be performing in front of hundreds of audience members and a
 professional judging panel to win a place at the National Grand Final.
Chris Grayston, Events Coordinator for Open Mic UK comments “We are looking to find an act that has something
 unique to offer,
 another Birdy that can go all the way, with both the ability to deliver a strong live performance 
but also potential to become a professional recording artist.
 There is so much talent out there I’m sure we can find that star again!  
The competition is divided into age categories; 16 and under, 17-22 and 23 and over; 
all types of singers, vocal performers, groups and acoustic singer/songwriters are invited to enter Open Mic UK.
 The acts are all aiming to make it to that prestigious Final at The O2 where the spotlight will be on all the acts
 with a chance to be signed.

The latter stages of the competition will also provide acts with the opportunity to impress many guests from
 record labels, agencies and the entertainment industry as well as judges from BBC Introducing,
 national radio and regional press with judges being more prestigious in the later rounds.
 Past judges include Radio 1 DJs Ras Kwame and Annie Nightingale MBE with Ivor Novello award winner Mark Hill
 and KISS FM’s Charlie Hedges already confirmed to join this year’s Grand Final panel for 2012.

Former winner Hatty Keane has been signed to BGM Music. Hatty has been featured in a variety of local,
 regional and national press, performed live sets alongside Ed Sheeran, Tinchy Stryder and Roll Deep and
 is currently working on new material. Previous winners also include Birdy who is signed to Warner has in
 the last 12 months has hits all over Europe and is set to conquer the US with a collaboration with Mumford & sons.

For more information go to the website www.openmicuk.co.uk or better still come down and support
 your local talent performing! You can purchase tickets from the website www.openmicuk.co.uk 
 or on the door subject to availability or from Autumn.

***ENDS***

For press enquiries please contact Ben Price on 01142 321 993 or email press@liveandunsigned.uk.com

Sunday 16 September 2012

London Fashion Week(spoiler, not actually about fashion week)

So it's London fashion week and do you know what that means to me......absolutely squat!

Don't get me wrong I love clothes, I love dressing up and I know that fashion week is a chance for up and coming designers to get their work out there and there are designers whoses lines I love so let me justify my opening line by saying that I personally don't follow fashion, I don't know what colour is in at the moment or even what style.

I don't want someone to dictate to me what is and what isn't in fashion, I know what I like and quite frankly I don't care if it's this seasons, last seasons or 20 years old if I like it, it fits me and it looks nice then I'll wear it!

For me, style, fashion call it what you will is personal and eclectic it's about looking and feeling good.

How about you, are you a dedicated followerer of fashion or do you march to the beat of your own drum?



Tuesday 11 September 2012

School uniform and dress codes

A friends daughter got sent home today because she was wearing false nails not long talon like ones that could be potential health and safety issue, no these were average length with a small design. In fact I don't know how they were even drawn to a teachers attention anyway it got me to thinking about the whole school uniform and dress code issue.

Now I agree with school uniform I think it's a great leveller, it stops kids thinking about what they're going to wear and as long as it isn't one of those ludicrously expensive ones from a school uniform shop (don't get me started there, that's a whole other issue) it saves us parents money but what I do have issue with is schools telling parents how their children can have their hair or makeup.

Please someone tell me how this affects their learning?

How differently is my child going to learn if they have blue streaks in their hair or have their ears pierced twice, seriously someone please tell me?

Shouldn't we  be allowing our children to express their individuality? within reason of course but surely that's a parents decision not a schools.

How do you feel about this issue?

Friday 7 September 2012

Here I am again, hello

Well, I did it again didn't I ? I apologised, declared my love for my blog then let it fall by the wayside once again, this is the point where I'm pulling a sad pouty face, I'm actually quite disappointed in myself for not managing my time better.

School holidays were mad and hectic and I have completely lost any routine that I had.

But now school holidays are over, I start back at college next week for 2 more years....we have already established I'm insane right?  And on top of that I have the voluntary work I do plus a 4 year old to entertain and take care of and then of course there's the teenagers!

So you see why I struggle with my time management!

But hopefully I will be here more often and maybe I'll even entertain and inform you! Or at least make you feel better about your life's!


Wednesday 8 August 2012

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I know I've been bad and I've neglected you of late but I do love you honestly I do and thanks to the rather gorgeously haired Rose McClelland ( a recent follower) I was reminded quite how much, I know it shouldn't have taken a stranger to remind of my love for you but....well, that's just how it is sometimes.

So, dear blog if you'll have me back , I'm here and I will try harder to visit you and update you regularly!

All my love

Emma ( the mad rambler)

Monday 30 July 2012

Farewell old friend

This morning one of my old friends sadly lost his battle with stomach cancer he was just a little younger than me and was a man who always had a smile on his face, always happy, the kind of person who would do anything for you, he will be sorely missed by all that were lucky enough to know him and I just want to share with the world a little story that will always make me smile.

He was known to many as 'trickle trickle' but I don't know how many people know why, well it was thanks to my then young sons and Halloween!
About 20 years ago I was taking my 2 little boys then aged about 6 and 4 out trick or treating and we stopped at a friends house where there were a number of people my friend Dave included playing cards they didn't really want to have their card game disturbed and quite happily gave my sons and their friends  5 and 10 pound notes quite a haul in those days! They got to Dave gave the cry of "Trick or Treat!" and Dave said "trickle trickle! What's all this trickle trickle?" to which everyone laughed and explained it was trick or treat! Originally from Africa Dave didn't really know about this Halloween tradition and whenever he saw my boys from that point he would always say "trickle trickle!" and in turn everyone started to call him trickle!

I will truly miss that smiling face but will always think of this story and smile.

Goodbye Trickle.

Monday 16 July 2012

Only the Lonely

On the radio today they were talking about the subject of feeling lonely especially in a big city like London and it really struck a chord with me. I often feel lonely even though I have the children it's not quite the same as spending time with someone who's company you enjoy or doing something that entertains you.

When we're young it's all about friends, socialising and having fun but as we age things change, work commitments, partners and starting families all take priority and we can all too often lose contact with our friends and even though we are on the same path we can realise that we're lonely and then what? you don't want to burden your friends you think they're busy with their lives if they had time you'd arrange something, right?

Well if you are thinking like that you're probably not alone but admitting you're lonely ......well apparently its something we're not very good at, it's almost taboo especially if to the outward world it would appear you have no reason to be lonely.

But what do you do if you're feeling like this? Well you could place an ad in paper something like 'Lonely in London, seeking new friends for fun and interesting times' but really do you want to get the kind of responses that you're likely to get?! If the answer is no then just pick up the phone and see what your friends are doing, what's the worst they can say, They're busy, its not the end of the world.

Join a club, take a class, there's always something going on somewhere you just have to participate.

I met a lovely older lady last week who at 73 had just started piano lessons, dance lessons and joined a swimming club because she realised that although she had her family around her she was sometimes lonely so she did something about it!

what about you, do you ever feel lonely?

Friday 13 July 2012

Magic Mike

Ah Magic Mike .......Where do I start...... Well first of all with an honest admission actually, I had absolutely no real idea what this film was about! I saw a few trailers and well, basically Channing Tatum was shirtless! as was Joe Manganiello! what can I say, I can be shallow!




I thought it was probably going to be some average rom com with a lot of eye candy for the ladies...WRONG....it was at times an edgy gritty portrayal of a lifestyle centring around a man who wanted more and saw stripping as a means to an end.

Channing Tatum stars in the title role as Magic Mike , entrepreneur, dancer, jack of all trades in order to save enough to make his love for custom made furniture a viable business and stripping is well and truly helping him on his way until he meets the young Adam played by Alex Pettyfer and he takes him under his wing unfortunately Adam is drawn into the seedier side of the club and lifestyle and is soon knee deep in drugs, alcohol and casual sex much to the disapproval of his sister Brooke played by Cody Horn.



The film of course focuses on the strippers and the dance routines for the thrill of the women in the club and Channing Tatum can really move! but its not just that, its so much more.

Matthew McConaughey plays the egotistical Dallas the owner of the club, there is something almost menacing about his character and McConaughey plays the role almost too well 



There is an obvious chemistry between Mike and Brooke, though this is isn't an average love story and its not until the very end that anything happens between them.




Directed by Steven Soderberg It was shot at times to give a feeling of reality, dim lighting , dialogue trailing off, scenes cut as they got perhaps too uncomfortable for its 15 rating, the stuff that indie films are made of if you like.

I have to say I took my 2 daughters one aged 15 one 18 and I have to say there were some scenes that I'm not sure I would have been comfortable with them seeing had I known before hand.

It wasn't the best film I have seen but it was highly entertaining and hey love it or hate it did I mention it has Channing Tatum shirtless!

Monday 9 July 2012

It's that time again

It's that time of year again when my birthday is getting closer and I start to get that ' woe is me, what have done with my life, what am I doing with my life and oh god look at my saggy boobs!' moments!

I do feel like I should me more together, more sure of what I want and where I'm going, I'm a mother for Christ's sake but in honesty I still have the same teenage insecurities hidden well under an air of mature confidence, of course any of my friends reading this are probably wetting themselves laughing at the idea of 'mature me' but I said it and I'm sticking to it so there! And yes I am poking my tongue out!

I wake up some mornings and think, oh god you're 41 this year, you're edging your way closer to 50! You're getting old, what's next the menopause, becoming a grandparent, where will it end? Well with death obviously it's inevitable but then I just hyperventilate!

My body is is fighting against my mind where I'm still young and can still wear anything that takes my fancy , the reality is my bingo wings are so bad that if I commit the sin of wearing a sleeveless top, one strong gust of wind and I'll be gliding through the air without the need for a hand-glider, maybe people will think I'm some kind of super hero! My boobs are so saggy I may need some kind of mechanical hoist to get them back up where they belong! I contemplate an uplift but surgery scares me so what is a girl or middle aged lady to do?

But that's the thing isn't it you can choose to grow old gracefully accept the card that life has dealt you or you can fight the ravages of time and end up looking like this....







I know which I'll choose!


How about you, are you growing old gracefully or are you going to fight it every step of the way?

What about in your head, are you really as old as you feel?

Saturday 7 July 2012

Ikea adventures

We went to Ikea the other day, our aim to get the 15 year old a mirror for her bedroom, so off we set to buy said mirror,promising that that is all we would buy this time, that we would just go there, get what we wanted, maybe have a cup of coffee and then go.........Oh, how foolish was I to think this!

You've got to give the guys at Ikea their due they are geniuses, first they herd you around the entire store with their clever arrow system and god help you if you deviate away from it, you may never be seen again! seriously, I met an old couple who had been there since trying to furnish their first home they deviated away from the arrows and they have quite happily raised a family there! Seriously though it is a bit of a nightmare.

Then just as you have lost the will to live by being herded round and absent mindedly picking up all those items that you just didn't realise how much you needed, there it is....the oasis that Is the Ikea restaurant!! Oh and if you think you can escape with just a coffee when you take the kids....wrong!! 3 cups of coffee, 15 meatballs and a daim cake later we feel like maybe we can go on and find that mirror and we do, we also buy a laundry basket, a notebook, 4 picture frames, a cable tidy, some straws and a stuffed carrot! Then after negotiating our way through the strangest till system in the world you find yourself at the food market and end up coming home with crisp bread, pickled herring, elk sausages and cakes! See, genius and of course the kids have to have an ice cream as well!

And then here's where it gets interesting we get to the car and the bloody mirror won't fit in! Seriously outside the store this thing seemed to quadruple in size so we stand there, we look at it, we look at the car, we look at the kids and try to decide which to leave behind!

I suggest taking the mirror back and getting one from somewhere else, this causes an almost meltdown by 15 year old and her dad, who apparently didn't come all this bloody way to get herded round a store, spend a fortune then not come home with the thing that we went there for!

We try their helpful home delivery service, turns out that it costs the same price as the mirror to have the damn thing delivered! I kid you not!

Then it is decided that he will go home with the mirror and one daughter while I and the other 2 wait in the restaurant! It's a 1 and a half hour round trip from Ikea to our house and back, I am not impressed! But off we go to be herded around again until we get to the restaurant and this time the 18 year old and I have coffee and cake while the little one has fish and chips and cake which of course she doesn't eat because she's still full from meatballs! And of course we end up buying yet more stuff we need, this time a little tea set, another laundry basket and some fairy lights! Just the essentials!

What was supposed to be a straight forward shopping trip turned into a 6 hour adventure and don't get me wrong I love Ikea, I really do but after this particular visit I think it will be a while until I build up the courage to go back there!

Thursday 5 July 2012

I'm fat! I decided this today when I couldn't fit into a lovely jacket. I'm not just pleasantly plump or curvy or reubenesque, I'm fat!

So now is the time to stop complaining and do something about!

I have struggled with my weight all my adult life, I have been very thin and fit, I have been a healthy weight, I have been up and down like a yo yo and it's mostly down to the fact that I love to cook and I love to eat the end results! I don't seem to have a moderation button I just eat!

But not anymore! I am going to be a conscious eater and I hope to lose a stone by my birthday in 6 weeks times, so wish me luck!

Parenting teens

Some words of wisdom in poem form by a parent in one of my groups I just had to share it.

By Tina – words of encouragement for parents
Mother of three girls
 
Through the panting and pushing, the swearing and screams
Giving birth to my children, fulfilled all my dreams
 
When they were little I would hold them so tight
And when they were sick I would sit up all night
Sing all the nursery rhymes and dance to their tune
Then BAM the baby years were over too soon
 
WELCOME to the teenager who just slammed the door
To the bedroom they own, all their possessions on the floor
The one word answers, the ignorance too
The feeling you get when you think they hate you
 
This weren’t in the manual, nobody mentioned this
I mean SERIOUSLY were they taking the piss?
I guess I never knew what motherhood entailed
And why I constantly think I have failed
 
STOP, hold on, this is a test
Sit down a minute, breathe and rest
You were once a teenager too
And what was your parent’s reaction to you?
 
Most would scream and no doubt shout
Probably to let their anger out
But problems can’t be sorted unless they are shared
Talking to your child shows them that you love them and you care
 
Special time with your child the two of you alone
Turn the ‘tele’ off, light candles, lock off your phone
Just half an hour daily could do you no harm
Then watch your relationship turn from madness to calm
 
Don’t be downhearted, it won’t happen overnight
With parent/child relationships it’s an ongoing fight
But never give up, it’s part of your life
Wouldn’t it be boring without some turmoil and strife
 
God has blessed us with the bundle of joy
Whatever your baby, be a girl or a boy
Before you start screaming, calm down, make a drink
And just for a minute, sit down and think
 
If you were having dramas and really felt glum
Who better to talk to, there’s no-one better than mum
By doing this just watch the effects
Then be thankful to the Building Blocks of Success

Monday 2 July 2012

Oh for a school!

I have been trying to find a nursery school for my daughter I wanted one that was attached to a school as I believe that continuity is important children settle into nursery, make friends, get to know the school, the staff etc and then that makes the transition to 'big school' easier.

Well let me tell you in my particular area this seems to be mission impossible I can't get a place anywhere and apparently even if I did it wouldn't guarantee her a place at the actual school! How is this possibly right and why has the system changed so much since I had my older children?

The even semi-decent schools are hard to get into and catchment areas are creating a culture of those that have money can move to the catchment area of the good schools and those of us who don't have that kind of option are stuck with what's left!

The point here though is all schools should be good schools and I know schools in poorer areas tend to have larger numbers of children where English is a second language and so often more of the schools time and resources are spent there and for whatever reason the higher proportion of children on free school meals is linked to those in need of special needs attention whether that be at action, action plus or statemented level but this should not affect the level of teaching, care or discipline but it does and this is where we are failing so many of our young people.

I feel that some schools don't try their hardest and don't have higher enough expectations of the children and I think it can often be the case that if you expect little you get little! But why should it be this way?

As for me I have decided to home educate at least until my daughter is of reception age then I can only hope to get a school of my choice.

What do you think of the school system and it's admission process? I'd like to hear your stories.

A blog a day keeps the doctor away!

I keep vowing to blog regularly and my life gets in the way of me doing things for me and I realised today that blogging is good for my health! Well my mental health at least

It allows me to express myself and spend some much needed me time, who cares if the posts aren't completely brilliant ( well actually I do but.....) they allow me to empty some of the stuff that is swirling around my head

So here's to blogging and here's to taking care of yourself! And you can expect to hear a lot more mad ramblings from me!

Sunday 1 July 2012

50 shades!

Ok I admit it I did it I'm sorry but I just had to ........what am I talking about?... 50 shades of Grey by E.L. James. I just couldn't resist anymore I needed to see what all the hype was about and I downloaded it!

You'd have to have been living on another planet not to know what I'm talking about and what I don't want to do is give yet another review of this book, I just want to give my opinion on the whole 50 shades of hype and while doing that obviously I have to address the book a little.

It would seem that 50 shades is like the marmite of books you either love it or hate it!

Now I didn't expect them to go at hammer and tongs on their very first meeting but I didn't expect it to start out like some teen chick lit either, the way I had read the hype was that it was an Erotic novel the likes of which have never before seen!

That would be a great big NO! The book centres around Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey and their less than conventional love affair.

The story is basically boy meets girl, boy happens to be very rich and and hot, Oh and boy just happens to be in to S&M and likes to dominate and humiliate you know just your average love story and of course girl just happened to be a virgin but wanted this so bad! And is constantly on about her "inner Goddess"! I want to slap her inner bloody goddess, I mean come on!

This is not a great book but it keeps you reading and lets face it whoever is doing her PR, genious!

And as for all those out there that go on about it not being true reflection of s& m well come on let's think about s&m or sex for that matter is not a prescribed action,it's not something that you do with an instruction manual do A and then B and c will happen! its whatever floats your boat and if this is the type of sex that Ms. E.L James gets her rocks off about then who are we to judge!

No one is saying this is a literary masterpiece and its not exactly well written but its a bit of fun! no one is forcing you to read it so get off your high horse and take it for what it is!

As for me I intend to read the other 2 books in the series, just out of curiosity and for research purposes of course!

Saturday 16 June 2012

So I know I've been slacking lately when it comes to my dear old blog and I love blogging really I do but I have one those lives where it's hard to fit it all in! Or rather it's hard for me! My time management sucks I come up with loads of ideas when I'm in the bath or lay in bed last thing at night and they never quite make it here to the blog.

Then there are those things that I think does anyone out there really want to read? And then of course there's those things that I think about writing then think "my kids sometimes read my blog, would I want them to read that?" and the answer is usually Hell NO! So you see my dilemma!

So what's a girl to do?

So for now I'm going to go off and have a think about it and decide whether it's quality over quantity or whether I'll be back with some mindless mutterings! "are they ever anything else" I hear you cry!

Well you'll just have to wait and see!

Tuesday 12 June 2012

The Hobo awards

So this is how conversations in my house go from normal to the completely insane in less than five minutes my daughters and I were talking about the MTV movie awards all agreeing that Johnny Depp and Channing Tatum were the hi-light I mean seriously what's not to love about Channing Tatum I mean have you seen him!

For those who don't know, Channing Tatum is the one wearing clothes!


When my daughter asked "what's that awards thing we have over here, the hobo award? I laugh and say no that's the MOBO awards a hobo is a homeless person her response after laughing was "ok but wouldn't the hobo awards be cool can you imagine the category's and the winners?" so we did! see what I mean, looks like my poor daughters think like me! There really is no hope!

So are categories are as follows


Most animals living on a single human being (lice do not count they come in under a separate category)

Won by chicken Joe who did indeed have a chicken, a squirrel, a rather disgruntled rat, a hedgehog, and a banana named Cleopatra, he said they weren't just company they had their uses which to be honest we don't dare think about! it was explained to Joe that a banana was not technically an animal but his response was rather unsavoury so we decided to let it slide!

Best tin foil head-wear

Was awarded to Bertha who had fashioned the Eiffel tower and a rooster into one stylish headpiece we didn't dare ask the inspiration for this but she did mention one rather fabulous night with a big footed French man!

Most lice on a single human being (see told you!)

This prestigious honour was awarded to Archibald who at last count had somewhere in the region of 4786 and thanked each and everyone of them for there help in his creative dancing that often earned him money!


Most creative use of cardboard

Goes to Len who had recreated the Parthenon using only cardboard and what we're hoping is glue

Most unusual item ever eaten

Goes to fittingly to Iron gut Owen who claims to have eaten a leather boot and some snails smothered in a rich sauce made from some mushrooms he found in ally behind a chemical waste facility he also mentioned that his dinner companions on that particular night were Marilyn Monroe and Buddha! we're thinking it had something to do with the mushrooms but you just never know!

And last but not least the lifetime achievement award for most places lived

Goes to Wayne the wanderer
Who has lived in an incredible 5978 places though in fairness 2978 were in one city so I'm still not sure if he deserves this accolade but he was the only one who had souvenirs from each place which he had cleverly fashioned into a rather stunning coat.

How about you what categories do you think should be in the hobo awards?




























And I'm sorry if anyone thinks this is insensitive to homeless people it's really not intended that way, it really was just a bit of fun. homelessness is a serious issue and one which we all should be doing our bit to try and help those that are less fortunate than ourselves.

The following charities work with homeless in the UK and all need help and donations

Centrepoint
http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/

St. Mungos
http://www.mungos.org/

Crisis
http://www.crisis.org.uk/

Help the Homeless
http://www.help-the-homeless.org.uk/

These are just a few, there are many more so do something today!

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Fun in the sun!

It was a beautiful weekend, so beautiful that we decided to head toward the coast and spend a beautiful day on the beach and it was beautiful apart from 2 things, losing a child that didn't belong to me, never a good idea I mean losing your own child is bad enough but losing someone else's! We found her quite quickly I should add! And I got sunburnt and not just a little bit, I am as red as a boiled lobster and it hurts!

Now I'm usually a careful person, I don't sunbathe, I slather on sunblock and I haven't burnt since I was a child (sun protection in the late seventies early eighties was not what it is today or should I say utter bloody ignorance to the damage the sun can cause was the norm or the norm in my house!) anyway we spent a lovely day on the beach, ate some lovely fish and chips, they always taste better out of paper at the seaside don't you think? Looked for a lost child who wandered off from my daughters and got a bit disorientated as to which way was back to me! All in all a lovely day at the beach!

That is until we got in the car to come home at which point I realised my back was a bit sore and by time we got home my back was sore, my chest was sore, my arms and legs were sore and more bizarrely one foot was sore, truly I have no explanation for the one foot so don't ask!

I covered my self in after sun and still it hurts but it's getting better and I was given lots of tips to help ease the pain such as.... Bathe in milk, Erm, well not very practical, I don't own a cow and the amount of milk that I would need to cover my ample body would lets face it be rather expensive!

Cut tomatoes in half and smear them over your burnt bits!

Cover yourself in yogurt, that one doesn't sound too bad

But my personal favourite ... Lay on a newspaper to take the heat out! Well I suppose at least I'd have something to read while I lie there in agony too scared to move because it hurts so damn much!

So the moral of the story is even if you use factor 50 sunblock try and stay in the shade and cover up!

Next time I shall fashion myself some kind of head to toe outfit perhaps made from newspaper, tomato and yogurt! Well you've got to cover all the bases haven't you!

Friday 25 May 2012

TV or not TV

A lot has been said over the past week about the amount of television we allow our children to watch and how it's all too easy to use the television almost like a babysitter to keep our children entertained while we get on with things in other words lazy parenting! But I'm sure all of us at some point have been guilty of using it to keep the little ones occupied when we need 5 minutes and lets be honest there are some programmes that are educational and I don't think in moderation it actually does any harm

So by fortuitous conincedence and to the benefit of my blog, thanks to a little glitch in our tv screen our tv has gone off to be repaired leaving a nice big 42 inch gap on the wall well except for the ugly wall bracket and the small patch of paint that shows the previous colour of my living room! and it could take up to 10 days to get back to us!


The shock , The horror!.....first thought was move the tv out of one of my daughters rooms then I thought, No, let's see how things pan out with out the television and so far we're on day 4 of no TV and I have to say I like it!


Even the little one who I thought would be asking for Octonauts or Dora the explorer by now doesn't seem to miss it in fact I have to say we've all been interacting a lot more and getting a lot more done!

Now the question is what's it going to be like when the TV comes back? I'd like to think that it's not going to be switched on unless they want to watch something in particular and only then for the duration of the programme but is that wishful thinking?

How about you, how much is too much? And could you manage without a television?

Wednesday 23 May 2012

*insert slightly embarrassed cough here*

I've done it again or rather I haven't been doing it again! It's my blog I'm talking about, seems to be the one thing that I let give when life gets hectic but I am back again now trying to manage my time a little better and I have a few little ideas for some posts. So, there is a review coming up possibly 2! and I want to talk to you about TV watching but right now I'm off to get my hair cut but "I will be back!" that was said in my best Terminator impression obviously! but you knew that right?


Monday 7 May 2012

Busy doing nothing

I complain about it all the time, I have written blog posts about it, what am I talking about.... Time! That's what!

I am in a constant state of feeling like I don't have enough time to get things done but I also have crap time management skills or at least I think I do judging by how much I see other people manage to achieve with their time, that with the added combination of a mind like mine that has so much going on in it all the time, so many thoughts, so many ideas that I want to get round to and the end result is I never quite get it all done!

And now I have this in my head......



And of course on top of all that I have children one of whom is only 3, so a large part of my day is spent painting, being a pirate, a princess, a frog or what ever latest adventure we're on and of course they grow up so quickly that that precious time playing with them far outweighs any amount of time spent cleaning, writing, studying although they are all important to me too!

So what's a girl to do? How do people get everything done? I need someone to come in and organise my life, really I do! Or I need a team of help to do all the mundane things that really and I mean REALLY need doing!

So how do you manage 'It All!'?

Friday 4 May 2012

May the 4th be with you!

Today is International Star Wars Day!

Cue Music, Da,da,da,dada da




I'm not kidding it's an actual day!

Fans of the Star Wars movies will grabbing their lightsabers in sheer anticipation!(ooh matron!)

Since 1977 when those opening lines ..A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away appeared on the big screen accompanied by the awesome music written by John Williams people all over the world have been obsessed with this Film series many initially wondering "If this is Episode IV where are the other 3?", sadly we later found out! sorry, I'm sure many people love the The Phantom menace and the other 2 but they just didn't do it for me I'm afraid.

All over the world fans of the legendary George Lucas movies will be attending events and celebrating, many in the guise of their favourite characters, I myself will be donning my princess Leia costume in honour of this special day, I may end up looking like Jabba the hutt but hey ho it's still a star wars character right!






Here in the Uk there is a whole festival at the FullCircle Gallery, Leeds, To commemorate ‘May the 4th’, FullCircle Gallery Leeds, The Hang Gang and Leeds Alternative Comics, have got together to host the ultimate celebration of Star Wars. FullCircle will be transformed into a gallery, hosting a huge display of vintage Star Wars toys including over 100 carded figures and boxed vehicles. There’ll be live music Star Wars screenings and Star Wars inspired food and drinks available from the ‘Wookie Cookies’ cook book. Fancy dress is not compulsory but is welcomed. so if you're anywhere near Leeds pop in!

In London we have the Sci Fi Festival which is bound to celebrate May the 4th in some spectacular way and there are various Star Wars film marathons dotted about around the capital!

In the states if you're anyway near Denver or in a galaxy far, far away…okay, actually at the Wings Over The Rockies Air & Space Museum, you can experience the Star Wars universe for an afternoon. On Friday, May 4, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the museum is hosting “Star Wars at the Hangar.” The event is “a must for all Star Wars fans and Jedis” and attendees are encouraged to come in costume as their favourite character. You can even sit in the cockpit of the only Star Wars X-Wing Fighter signed by Harrison Ford and other cast members. Plus, you can experience The Jedi Lightsaber Academy, Trooper Training School and Galactic Zoology Nursery.


If there is anything else going on anywhere else in the world please let me know!

you can also send a Stars Wars E-card to celebrate the special day! click here if you want to http://www.starwars.com/play/ecards/  , Seriously you clicked! ok so did I, what can I say my inner Geek isn't quite so inner! I am now laughing to myself as I type this because I realised I'm wearing a NERDS ROCK t-shirt! oh the irony!


Who do you fancy yourself as are you the rugged Han solo, are you a Luke or a Leia, A stormtrooper perhaps, or have you gone over to the dark side and channelling Darth or my personal favourite chewbacca ?

so there's very little left for me to say except.........

May the force be with you!

you were waiting for that weren't you? admit it!

And as a side bar it's also my nieces birthday so far more importantly, Happy Birthday Ellie x

Thursday 3 May 2012

Ghostly Goings on

I think we have a ghost!

I'm one of those, I'll believe it when I see it kind of people for the most part but I'm also open minded and believe there is far more in this world than we can offer a reasonable explanation for and I have had spooky unexplained incidents in my past but the night before last was weird and without explanation.

We were sat in the living room when we heard plates being moved and a cupboard door being shut, I looked at everyone in the room and said  "you all heard that?" just checking on my mental stability, you never know, right? "yes!" said everyone knowing that we were all there so there was no one in the Kitchen! so I armed myself with the broom to go and investigate, what I would have done if someone was there I don't know, sweep them to death! but as it turned out like we thought no one was there! explanation.....No freaking idea! so if you have any, please let me know

Then in the middle of the night one of my daughters got up to use the toilet and as she put it "I was just sat there minding my business when the hot water tap suddenly turned on full and piping hot!"

soooooooo weird, I mean we often hear strange noise but its a big house and It wasn't build very well so there are all sorts of reasons we might hear noises but these two things I can't explain away!

How about you any explanations? or experiences? I'd love to hear