Wish I was as geek-chic as these too!
Wish I looked this cool hanging out on a wall.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Got Milk!
These are from French magazine, Milk. I'm loving these kids. They are all far too cool. Wish I had also attended their cool school, then I might have been this cool
Wish I was as geek-chic as these too!
Wish I looked this cool hanging out on a wall.
Wish I was as geek-chic as these too!
Wish I looked this cool hanging out on a wall.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
I'm sorry to myself
I owe myself an apology. I said something rather out of order about myself, at the time I believed it to be true but I'd been blind sighted by rumours, gossip and unknowledgeable comments.
I'd never describe myself as a feminist, I'm not sure why?! I guess it's because
a) within my generation it's kind of a dirty word (when I first met my friend Lou, she told me she'd studied feminism at university. I instantly had visions of shapeless dresses, birkenstocks, copious amounts of body hair, etc. I didn't think "oh she stands for women's rights, equal treatment and the right to be a woman, without any pre-conceived ideas applied).
b) I was raised by a strong independent woman and a strong independent man with two older brothers and was constantly told "it's different for you, you're a girl".
& c) In my teen years I spent most of my time being the pretty girl's friend and hanging out with guys, I guess being a guy more than anything. Due to the typical conversations, etc, I've a more male attitude towards relationships and therefore have been more harmful to the ladies of this world with generalised sexiest comments.
But I guess I am a feminist, maybe not the burning bra kind but at heart I am. I believe in equal rights and being able to do anything a man can. I appreciate the fact I've been born in this era and have these opportunities.
Anyway, onwards with my apology. This is all relevant, so bear with me.
Recently I accused myself of having been crazy during one particular break up and compared to my other break ups, I definitely acted out of character. But as my old housemates reminded me, I had just cause.
A few years ago, I started seeing a guy. Nothing too heavy, just something fun. We'd been emailing each other for a few months. We'd befriended each other about 2-3 months before his long term relationship broke up.
For the first month we chatted about everyday stuff, views and interests (it was never really personal information). Most weekends he'd visit the nightclub I worked in and we'd hang out. His relationship broke down and I helped him through it by giving him apt distractions. Slowly over time our friendship grew and some how it developed to be more than just friends. Unfortunately it was only a month or two after his relationship had finalised. It wasn't ideal, far from it, but life presents and you have to make a decision, I chose to go with it and see what happened.
We dated for a short while. It was mildly stressed due to his main social group being his exes' social group, but most of them were polite and understanding towards me, even under the extremely awkward circumstances. I started to feel insecure and started to pressurise him in to labeling what we were. A few months later, He informed his ex and she was upset, which was to be expected. Shortly after, he finished it. I wasn't surprised. That night I went to his local and got drunk with my friends and him, I wanted him to know there were no hard feelings. We remained friendly and shortly afterwards we started sleeping together again. He'd call at 2am after a night out and I'd let him stay the night, he'd then stop all contact for a week or two and then it would repeat. This continued for a few months, I wanted to feel pretty and desired (I had issues from a previous break up of my mine, which made me feel worthless, so I valued myself at 0.00p). He could make me feel beautiful, intelligent and funny within seconds. When he'd stay, he'd tell me everything I wanted to hear, without making any actual promises, I read into everything he said and laced it all with large dollops of hope.
After this had gone on for a while, it stopped abruptly.
I got confused and started acting up, after everything I didn't feel as though I deserved that! I would text him a couple of messages destined for friends, so he'd know what was going on in my life. I'd try to call and text him while drunk and other various stupid acts, like leaving messages on his friends social networking pages, etc.
He started a new relationship with someone else and I moved on (not that, at that time, I was as in to him. It's just similar situations are easier than new ones, or more desirable than nothing).
A couple of months later, I had moved house, and I saw him out at a gig. We'd become amicable again. He came over for a chat, I was mildly drunk, feeling good about myself and having not had much male attention of late, I propositioned him. Stupid I know (isn't hind sight a marvellous thing), at the time I thought "well, if you don't ask, you never know?". He turned me down and I had a great night regardless.
He managed to allow me to be an idiot, without any consequences. I'm pretty sure we stayed distant friends. We'd say hi if we saw each other (I don't really remember), and then I went away to NZ for a month. During which, I'd officially been dumped as a friend, social network deletion, no message, nothing, just blankness, I accepted this and said nothing. Since then, if I see him I generally ignore him as though he's a stranger, in my eyes it's the most respectable way to behave, there is no reason to make a scene. All of the above was so long ago that it's not even relevant, he's changed and so have I, we aren't who we were.
The point is that in context, my actions don't seem that crazy. If you ask me, after everything that happened, they could have been much worse (which isn't an excuse) and were probably within reason after I'd allowed myself subconsciously to be so used.
Why did I claim I had been crazy once after a break up? Maybe because my behaviour was out of character for me? Maybe because after years of listening to my male friends and brothers talk about break ups, I thought all women were mental and unstable, and that was my one claim to it.
Or maybe it's because I'd been led to believe I had acted crazy, off the scale of sane, completely mental. Who had led me to believe this? Well other than the occasional unfair behaviour I've received from him and some of his friends, maybe the unfair reviews I'd heard about myself or maybe it was due to the pressures of the media, where on average the emotional train wrecks of woman are always completely to blame, maybe I made myself the villain?! Maybe some, maybe all? who knows. But I am sorry to myself for accusing myself of being crazy!
Yes, at the time I was acting outside of rational behaviour compared to my normal behavioural pattern, but I was reacting to how I'd felt I'd been treated. We are all welcome to our own opinions on other people's relationships (and I'm talking about all types of relationships), but we don't have the right to express these. Within all relationships, there are good guys and bad guys but on average, these qualities are shared between the two parties. It's wholely unfair to hold one side completely accountable and not the other. And why is it that in these modern times, when women have such an equal footing as men, we women are often accused of being the villains?
I'd never describe myself as a feminist, I'm not sure why?! I guess it's because
a) within my generation it's kind of a dirty word (when I first met my friend Lou, she told me she'd studied feminism at university. I instantly had visions of shapeless dresses, birkenstocks, copious amounts of body hair, etc. I didn't think "oh she stands for women's rights, equal treatment and the right to be a woman, without any pre-conceived ideas applied).
b) I was raised by a strong independent woman and a strong independent man with two older brothers and was constantly told "it's different for you, you're a girl".
& c) In my teen years I spent most of my time being the pretty girl's friend and hanging out with guys, I guess being a guy more than anything. Due to the typical conversations, etc, I've a more male attitude towards relationships and therefore have been more harmful to the ladies of this world with generalised sexiest comments.
But I guess I am a feminist, maybe not the burning bra kind but at heart I am. I believe in equal rights and being able to do anything a man can. I appreciate the fact I've been born in this era and have these opportunities.
Anyway, onwards with my apology. This is all relevant, so bear with me.
Recently I accused myself of having been crazy during one particular break up and compared to my other break ups, I definitely acted out of character. But as my old housemates reminded me, I had just cause.
A few years ago, I started seeing a guy. Nothing too heavy, just something fun. We'd been emailing each other for a few months. We'd befriended each other about 2-3 months before his long term relationship broke up.
For the first month we chatted about everyday stuff, views and interests (it was never really personal information). Most weekends he'd visit the nightclub I worked in and we'd hang out. His relationship broke down and I helped him through it by giving him apt distractions. Slowly over time our friendship grew and some how it developed to be more than just friends. Unfortunately it was only a month or two after his relationship had finalised. It wasn't ideal, far from it, but life presents and you have to make a decision, I chose to go with it and see what happened.
We dated for a short while. It was mildly stressed due to his main social group being his exes' social group, but most of them were polite and understanding towards me, even under the extremely awkward circumstances. I started to feel insecure and started to pressurise him in to labeling what we were. A few months later, He informed his ex and she was upset, which was to be expected. Shortly after, he finished it. I wasn't surprised. That night I went to his local and got drunk with my friends and him, I wanted him to know there were no hard feelings. We remained friendly and shortly afterwards we started sleeping together again. He'd call at 2am after a night out and I'd let him stay the night, he'd then stop all contact for a week or two and then it would repeat. This continued for a few months, I wanted to feel pretty and desired (I had issues from a previous break up of my mine, which made me feel worthless, so I valued myself at 0.00p). He could make me feel beautiful, intelligent and funny within seconds. When he'd stay, he'd tell me everything I wanted to hear, without making any actual promises, I read into everything he said and laced it all with large dollops of hope.
After this had gone on for a while, it stopped abruptly.
I got confused and started acting up, after everything I didn't feel as though I deserved that! I would text him a couple of messages destined for friends, so he'd know what was going on in my life. I'd try to call and text him while drunk and other various stupid acts, like leaving messages on his friends social networking pages, etc.
He started a new relationship with someone else and I moved on (not that, at that time, I was as in to him. It's just similar situations are easier than new ones, or more desirable than nothing).
A couple of months later, I had moved house, and I saw him out at a gig. We'd become amicable again. He came over for a chat, I was mildly drunk, feeling good about myself and having not had much male attention of late, I propositioned him. Stupid I know (isn't hind sight a marvellous thing), at the time I thought "well, if you don't ask, you never know?". He turned me down and I had a great night regardless.
He managed to allow me to be an idiot, without any consequences. I'm pretty sure we stayed distant friends. We'd say hi if we saw each other (I don't really remember), and then I went away to NZ for a month. During which, I'd officially been dumped as a friend, social network deletion, no message, nothing, just blankness, I accepted this and said nothing. Since then, if I see him I generally ignore him as though he's a stranger, in my eyes it's the most respectable way to behave, there is no reason to make a scene. All of the above was so long ago that it's not even relevant, he's changed and so have I, we aren't who we were.
The point is that in context, my actions don't seem that crazy. If you ask me, after everything that happened, they could have been much worse (which isn't an excuse) and were probably within reason after I'd allowed myself subconsciously to be so used.
Why did I claim I had been crazy once after a break up? Maybe because my behaviour was out of character for me? Maybe because after years of listening to my male friends and brothers talk about break ups, I thought all women were mental and unstable, and that was my one claim to it.
Or maybe it's because I'd been led to believe I had acted crazy, off the scale of sane, completely mental. Who had led me to believe this? Well other than the occasional unfair behaviour I've received from him and some of his friends, maybe the unfair reviews I'd heard about myself or maybe it was due to the pressures of the media, where on average the emotional train wrecks of woman are always completely to blame, maybe I made myself the villain?! Maybe some, maybe all? who knows. But I am sorry to myself for accusing myself of being crazy!
Yes, at the time I was acting outside of rational behaviour compared to my normal behavioural pattern, but I was reacting to how I'd felt I'd been treated. We are all welcome to our own opinions on other people's relationships (and I'm talking about all types of relationships), but we don't have the right to express these. Within all relationships, there are good guys and bad guys but on average, these qualities are shared between the two parties. It's wholely unfair to hold one side completely accountable and not the other. And why is it that in these modern times, when women have such an equal footing as men, we women are often accused of being the villains?
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Horn Rimmed Wonders
I got to select new glasses the other day. It was very exciting.
I've worn glasses since I was 3 (although back then I was long-sighted, with one astigmatism and a lazy eye). I spent my childhood in classy NHS specs. They were uncool but very practical.
Around the age of 11, my mum finally allowed me to choose some proper frames. From only having three options (Red, Yellow or Blue), I had the pick of the shop. I was over joyed, I did what I'd done on many trips before but this time I had a goal, new glasses. After I'd tried on all of the frames in the shop, ridiculous frames, grandma glasses and " Deidre" frames, I finally rested my eyes on some large purple and mint speckled wonders. Now, they represent the early 90's, back then, they were the height of fashion and I loved them more than life.
I had a few years of no glasses through most of secondary school & college. Hit 18 years of age and my eyes went again, although this time I was short sighted with two astigmatisms. I went for some simple wire frames.
4 years later, I choose some cool red frames. My family called me Janet Street Porter and I've worn them for four years.
I've had an idea for a few months that I might like horn rimmed glasses, I've no idea why, maybe I've watched too much Heroes.
I got my eyes tested and got to choose some new frames, while approaching the frames sales man, I announced "I want some old man glasses", he looked surprised but decided to accompany me on the journey, probably wanted a good laugh.
I tried on every pair of glasses in the shop, I felt like a kid again (he's lucky I didn't act entirely as I did when I was a child, otherwise I'd have been spinning myself around on the chairs constantly), all giddy with the excitement of the unexpected, I love glasses shopping. I tried them all on and kept on going back to this one pair of horn rimmed wonders!
I bit the bullet and bought them. They are great, I'm not sure if they entirely suit me but I don't care, I love them!
P.S. I've been going to the same opticians since day one and I love them. There are none of these machines reading your eyes, oh no there is a lovely person who puts the ever cool lenses holding specs on & they slot in different lenses time after time, constantly checking different things on the light board, It's awesome, so much fun, like a little time warp. If only the old guy was there, the one who smelt like talcum powder.
I've worn glasses since I was 3 (although back then I was long-sighted, with one astigmatism and a lazy eye). I spent my childhood in classy NHS specs. They were uncool but very practical.Around the age of 11, my mum finally allowed me to choose some proper frames. From only having three options (Red, Yellow or Blue), I had the pick of the shop. I was over joyed, I did what I'd done on many trips before but this time I had a goal, new glasses. After I'd tried on all of the frames in the shop, ridiculous frames, grandma glasses and " Deidre" frames, I finally rested my eyes on some large purple and mint speckled wonders. Now, they represent the early 90's, back then, they were the height of fashion and I loved them more than life.
I had a few years of no glasses through most of secondary school & college. Hit 18 years of age and my eyes went again, although this time I was short sighted with two astigmatisms. I went for some simple wire frames.
4 years later, I choose some cool red frames. My family called me Janet Street Porter and I've worn them for four years.
I've had an idea for a few months that I might like horn rimmed glasses, I've no idea why, maybe I've watched too much Heroes.I got my eyes tested and got to choose some new frames, while approaching the frames sales man, I announced "I want some old man glasses", he looked surprised but decided to accompany me on the journey, probably wanted a good laugh.
I tried on every pair of glasses in the shop, I felt like a kid again (he's lucky I didn't act entirely as I did when I was a child, otherwise I'd have been spinning myself around on the chairs constantly), all giddy with the excitement of the unexpected, I love glasses shopping. I tried them all on and kept on going back to this one pair of horn rimmed wonders!
I bit the bullet and bought them. They are great, I'm not sure if they entirely suit me but I don't care, I love them!
P.S. I've been going to the same opticians since day one and I love them. There are none of these machines reading your eyes, oh no there is a lovely person who puts the ever cool lenses holding specs on & they slot in different lenses time after time, constantly checking different things on the light board, It's awesome, so much fun, like a little time warp. If only the old guy was there, the one who smelt like talcum powder.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Little Happy Songs
I decided this morning that I was going to compile a happy songs mix CD. I've gone through my iPod and looked at the most listened to songs, although this doesn't really count, due to playing certain playlists in the pub. But I think I've got (just about) my list of happy songs, songs that when I listen to them, I just smile from ear to ear without even thinking about it.There are 38 in total and they all get me a little excited and some of them are so very uncool but I love them, I can't help it.
I'm not known as having a good taste in music, I'm known for having an eclectic taste, depending on who I'm talking with, depends on what people's views are but I don't care. They make me happy and that's all that matters.
I suppose the funniest thing is, just listening to them and trying to find them on youtube, etc, has made me smile ear to ear. They are just automatic smile instigators for me.
The highlights look like the following (that I could find on youtube):
Gladys Knight and the Pips - If I Were Your Woman.
Pete Townshend - Let my love open the door.
I prefer Sondre Lerche's version but you've got to appreciate the original.
George Harrison - Got my mind set on you.
Golden Earring - Radar Love.
Dead Prez - Hip-Hop.
Mr Big - To be with you.
ELO - Livin' Thing.
Regina Spektor - Us.
Womack & Womack - Teardrops.
Sara Bareilles - Love Song.
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark.
Cat Power - He War
And the final one I'll leave you with is the song that can turn my day around (I'm not so proud of it but you can't choose these songs, they choose you) and it reminds me of being a carefree teenager.
New Radicals - You get what you give.
P.S. What is weird is that Queen don't feature?! They should, they really should but most of their songs represent something to me, so I guess they can't feature.
Ooo, Red Shoes!
I've just read that if you're above a US size 6, then you are considered a plus size model?! What the?! That's fucking mental!!! If you are more than a size 10, you're plus size?! You mean, you're thin in the real world but large in the modeling world. I know that is realistic in modeling but it's just so crazy. No wonder kids now a days are so fucked up with body issues.
I've bought the most adorable pair of red shoes! They are flats from New Look but oh so bright red. I'm actually in love, spent some time last night thinking about outfits to complement them, all that went to shit once I finally dragged myself out of bed, late like usual, and found myself unable to compute anything! I'm probably going to buy them in navy too! I love New Look shoes, cheap, cheerful and happy!
I'm keeping my girl crush happy by watching '(500) Days of Summer', I love Zooey Dechanel so much! I'd go gay for two ladies, her and my friend Lou. Although so far I've not been able to convince Lou, I even promised her an old fashioned Volvo, yet alas still nothing! Maybe one day, although I guess it would help if I was gay too!
Anyway, I've been wanting to see this film for a while, I constantly keep tabs on the trailers coming out, I'm probably one of the only people who goes to the cinema early to catch the trailers, although I do hate actual adverts at the cinema, they suck!!!
I'm 50 minutes in and it's beautiful, it opens with Regina Spektor's Us (which is will featuring on my happy songs mix cd), which if you ask me, is a very promising sign.
The Queen gave me an old cardigan the other day, it's a size 18 cream twisted knit affair. I'm a 10-12. Night off, sewing machine comes out, second thoughts Overlocker comes out. I resize, pin and overlock the cardigan - what a mistake. The overlocker got stuck at the armpit, I nearly made myself some aeration holes, a inch in depth later and a lot of cardigan armipit lost, it's finished. The second sleeve went accordingly, thankfully. It's now a snug fit but looks pretty cool.
I'm not sure why, maybe the holiday I had or something has changed me inside but I feel a strange inner calm, I don't constantly feel responsible for everything in this world. I don't feel constantly tired or as though I can't keep up, I just feel calm. I'm up financials shit creek but I don't care so much, which is odd. I probably should but right now, I'm happy just to feel calm and happy. Maybe this is what happens when people don't work non-stop and have no time to sit and watch the world go by?
I've bought the most adorable pair of red shoes! They are flats from New Look but oh so bright red. I'm actually in love, spent some time last night thinking about outfits to complement them, all that went to shit once I finally dragged myself out of bed, late like usual, and found myself unable to compute anything! I'm probably going to buy them in navy too! I love New Look shoes, cheap, cheerful and happy!
I'm keeping my girl crush happy by watching '(500) Days of Summer', I love Zooey Dechanel so much! I'd go gay for two ladies, her and my friend Lou. Although so far I've not been able to convince Lou, I even promised her an old fashioned Volvo, yet alas still nothing! Maybe one day, although I guess it would help if I was gay too!
Anyway, I've been wanting to see this film for a while, I constantly keep tabs on the trailers coming out, I'm probably one of the only people who goes to the cinema early to catch the trailers, although I do hate actual adverts at the cinema, they suck!!!
I'm 50 minutes in and it's beautiful, it opens with Regina Spektor's Us (which is will featuring on my happy songs mix cd), which if you ask me, is a very promising sign.
The Queen gave me an old cardigan the other day, it's a size 18 cream twisted knit affair. I'm a 10-12. Night off, sewing machine comes out, second thoughts Overlocker comes out. I resize, pin and overlock the cardigan - what a mistake. The overlocker got stuck at the armpit, I nearly made myself some aeration holes, a inch in depth later and a lot of cardigan armipit lost, it's finished. The second sleeve went accordingly, thankfully. It's now a snug fit but looks pretty cool.
I'm not sure why, maybe the holiday I had or something has changed me inside but I feel a strange inner calm, I don't constantly feel responsible for everything in this world. I don't feel constantly tired or as though I can't keep up, I just feel calm. I'm up financials shit creek but I don't care so much, which is odd. I probably should but right now, I'm happy just to feel calm and happy. Maybe this is what happens when people don't work non-stop and have no time to sit and watch the world go by?
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Plenty of a Name Change
Out of interest, do you think that people use more Bounty kitchen roll, now it's called Plenty.
As it is a fantastic marketing scheme if so.
As it is a fantastic marketing scheme if so.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
My Left Foot
Whenever my boss can't remember the name of the band in the studio, he'll call them 'My Left Foot'. For ages, this confused me, I had no idea why when he could call them 'Thingmajig' or 'Thatracket', he'd call them that. So I asked him, and he simply said "When bands have a stupid name I can't remember, I'll use the title of a great film, it always makes them sound better".
I added 'My Left Foot' to my lovefilm list, I'd never heard of it but want to see every great, average and shite film in the world ever.
It finally came through and I watched it, and oh my god!!! It's incredible! When nearing the end, I stated "if Daniel Day Lewis didn't get an award for this, it's a fucked up world", he did and he deserved it. I suppose acknowledging that he's a method actor, makes it's even more incredible (although that isn't why he should win things) and I think you'd have to have lived with such a disabling disorder to truly be able to portray it in it's correct sense.
I laughed out loud and uncontrollably, and cried within 5 minutes of each other. It's really good.
P.S. If you do want to watch it and can't find it in any video shops, it's up on YouTube but I didn't say that.
I added 'My Left Foot' to my lovefilm list, I'd never heard of it but want to see every great, average and shite film in the world ever.
It finally came through and I watched it, and oh my god!!! It's incredible! When nearing the end, I stated "if Daniel Day Lewis didn't get an award for this, it's a fucked up world", he did and he deserved it. I suppose acknowledging that he's a method actor, makes it's even more incredible (although that isn't why he should win things) and I think you'd have to have lived with such a disabling disorder to truly be able to portray it in it's correct sense.
I laughed out loud and uncontrollably, and cried within 5 minutes of each other. It's really good.
P.S. If you do want to watch it and can't find it in any video shops, it's up on YouTube but I didn't say that.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Simon & The Witch
I'm watching Hollyoaks Later, well I've nothing better to do. And saw an actress, who reminded me of one of the greatest children's tv shows of my childhood.
Welcome to reminiscing alley!
Plus, due to a video a friend made of his world trip, I've fallen in love with a new band and a particular song, thanks Matt.
The Envy Corps - Rhinemaidens
Welcome to reminiscing alley!
Plus, due to a video a friend made of his world trip, I've fallen in love with a new band and a particular song, thanks Matt.
The Envy Corps - Rhinemaidens
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Kindness leaves me flustered
When people perform random acts of kindness towards me, it completely throws me. I get extremely flattered, flustered and embarrassed. On Wednesday, due to Lou's leaving shindig the night before, I felt like death (I guess partying until 5am isn't a good idea on a school night), it took me an hour to convince myself to get out of bed. Realistically, I shouldn't have come to work, I failed. Was an hour late and generally hopeless!
Lunchtime came, I failed at eating, I was a failure, a BIG FAT FAILURE!!! Then the post arrived!
In the post was a jiffy envelope, I dreaded opening it, I assumed it was a demo, I hate demos. I eventually opened it and had a lovely surprise. It was the new album of a band I like. It was sent to me by a guy who I met 3 weeks ago. He lives with some of my friends in London and works for the band's record company and we spent the night getting hammered.
This lone kind considerate act has made me so flattered and flustered. It's odd, I'm normally the one who tries to give, so to received is a strange new experience.
Last Thursday, I had dinner with 19 bulti-billionaires. All whom could have donated £1000 each to the "Pipsywoo Charity Fund" and not even notice it missing. I mean, one of them owns an island, a fucking island!!!
After dinner, we went back to the hotel bar for some drinks. I was talking to the younger of the group and he was asking me if Tiffany earrings would be an adequate Christmas present for a new girlfriend. I said yes (well duh!) but asked if it was not a little cliche. He said he didn't think so but wanted a female's perspective, he said he was also treating her to a weekend in Paris and some other little items.
I said it all sounded charming but personally I'd rather my favourite chocolate bar and a thoughtful personal message or something like that, which then made me sound like I was basically calling him unthoughtful. It just went from wronger to worse and I ended up apologising for being small time and countryfied.
But seriously, if he buys all this for their first Christmas together, what on earth is he going to get her next Christmas or for her birthday?
Had a thought the other day. I'm guessing Lady GaGa must spend her entire free time at the beauticians getting her bikini line waxed.
Late Monday night our kitchen sink blocked. Come Tuesday evening, we set about sorting it out. We plunged, we tried pipe unblockers, we poked things down it but to no avail.
After waiting 30 minutes for the industrial sink unblocker to budge the blockage and it still not working, I took to taking the pipes apart. One twist of the U bend and the water gushed horizontally everywhere. One bucket in hand catching very little water, unable to fetch another I had one option, hurry the hell up with undoing the pipe, all the while Dave and Sheri were running around looking for vessels and cloths.
Two buckets later, the sink is emptied and cleaner than I'd ever seen it. I smell like stagnant water and the cupboards and kitchen floor are sodden! On the upside the pipe is clear of said blockage. Sheri assists with the clearing up and my skin is burning due to all of the drain unblocker.
One sink unblocked, one indoor swimming pool created and one smelly being off to wash and change outfits.
I think my major mistake was not putting the plug in the sink, while undoing the pipe. It would have probably made our new swimming pool, more of a paddling pool.
Lunchtime came, I failed at eating, I was a failure, a BIG FAT FAILURE!!! Then the post arrived!
In the post was a jiffy envelope, I dreaded opening it, I assumed it was a demo, I hate demos. I eventually opened it and had a lovely surprise. It was the new album of a band I like. It was sent to me by a guy who I met 3 weeks ago. He lives with some of my friends in London and works for the band's record company and we spent the night getting hammered.
This lone kind considerate act has made me so flattered and flustered. It's odd, I'm normally the one who tries to give, so to received is a strange new experience.
Last Thursday, I had dinner with 19 bulti-billionaires. All whom could have donated £1000 each to the "Pipsywoo Charity Fund" and not even notice it missing. I mean, one of them owns an island, a fucking island!!!
After dinner, we went back to the hotel bar for some drinks. I was talking to the younger of the group and he was asking me if Tiffany earrings would be an adequate Christmas present for a new girlfriend. I said yes (well duh!) but asked if it was not a little cliche. He said he didn't think so but wanted a female's perspective, he said he was also treating her to a weekend in Paris and some other little items.
I said it all sounded charming but personally I'd rather my favourite chocolate bar and a thoughtful personal message or something like that, which then made me sound like I was basically calling him unthoughtful. It just went from wronger to worse and I ended up apologising for being small time and countryfied.
But seriously, if he buys all this for their first Christmas together, what on earth is he going to get her next Christmas or for her birthday?
Had a thought the other day. I'm guessing Lady GaGa must spend her entire free time at the beauticians getting her bikini line waxed.
Late Monday night our kitchen sink blocked. Come Tuesday evening, we set about sorting it out. We plunged, we tried pipe unblockers, we poked things down it but to no avail.
After waiting 30 minutes for the industrial sink unblocker to budge the blockage and it still not working, I took to taking the pipes apart. One twist of the U bend and the water gushed horizontally everywhere. One bucket in hand catching very little water, unable to fetch another I had one option, hurry the hell up with undoing the pipe, all the while Dave and Sheri were running around looking for vessels and cloths.
Two buckets later, the sink is emptied and cleaner than I'd ever seen it. I smell like stagnant water and the cupboards and kitchen floor are sodden! On the upside the pipe is clear of said blockage. Sheri assists with the clearing up and my skin is burning due to all of the drain unblocker.
One sink unblocked, one indoor swimming pool created and one smelly being off to wash and change outfits.
I think my major mistake was not putting the plug in the sink, while undoing the pipe. It would have probably made our new swimming pool, more of a paddling pool.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
New Housie Required
I need a new housemate, sorry, we need a new housemate.
When searching for a new housie, a lot of things have to be researched, it's hard.
Firstly, you all have to get along with the person, it's better for it to be someone you know of or occasionally see but aren't good good friends with, as most good friendships can be broken by the simplicity of living together.
Secondly, they have to be respectable people but you can't tell this until they've lived with you for a short while, by which point it's too late and you can't kick them out.
Thirdly, all the shit that comes afterwards is just learning curves but we will find someone, I'm sure we will. At least this time round, it's about the time people are looking for new digs, instead of over Christmas.
Whatever, it's all about selling yourself and justifying how your choice in home.
I've posted a little advert in my status on Facebook. I've been rather straight forward and quirky:
New Housie required. £300 a month, plus bills for a charming single bedroom in one of the greatest houses in East Oxford. Fabulous Roomies and a rather fantastic location. Available from November 5th. All enquires contact: Me, Mr Food aka Dave Chicken, The Aussie aka Nina or Chips Mahomeo aka Tom Reynolds! See I told you we were fun!
What I'd love to write is more of an essay but totally impractical and probably far too honest:
One single room near to the Cowley Road, with storage on the landing. £300 a month with bills exclusive. Privately rented direct from Landlord, who is rather marvellous, he's great!
Morning sunlight to wake you from slumber, with the calming sound of the whale song.
Kitchen/sitting room in one, no more requirement to open doors between rooms, we've the uni-room. We're also expecting a new set of kitchen cabinets to be fitted soon - how swanky can we get?
Washing machine, fridges and even a cooker - how far out are we?! No microwave though, as we are protecting you against crazy cancer causing rays, which will rot your brain. Quaint raised garden with washing line for your every drying desires.
Internet available with digital TV for your personal entertainment, as long as you like bad American reality TV or shit shows about vampires. Wrestling and Hollyoaks fan appreciated.
If all else fails, you'll get a private DVD hire from me, as long as you respect them and return when necessary, what more could you want than a free DVD hire and occasional late fees!
Bathroom to be shared with two ladies and it's newly tiled for easy slip sliding.
Ironing board and iron available to flatten out all of the creases in your life. If you've no idea how to clean, I can always teach you. We enjoy recycling and by that I mean, I supply all of the necessary items to do so effortlessly and easily, with the weekly complaint from me about getting it wrong, this is for your entertainment also.
We are a smoking household but could keep it to our bedrooms if need be. Friends of Gary, are friends of ours.
If you're lucky, you'll inevitably end up on the Wall of Fame - Come and live with us!
P.S. I'm the uncoolest member of my house so it you find this funny, you probably don't fit in. Bad luck! Although, I totally think you're grand!
When searching for a new housie, a lot of things have to be researched, it's hard.
Firstly, you all have to get along with the person, it's better for it to be someone you know of or occasionally see but aren't good good friends with, as most good friendships can be broken by the simplicity of living together.
Secondly, they have to be respectable people but you can't tell this until they've lived with you for a short while, by which point it's too late and you can't kick them out.
Thirdly, all the shit that comes afterwards is just learning curves but we will find someone, I'm sure we will. At least this time round, it's about the time people are looking for new digs, instead of over Christmas.
Whatever, it's all about selling yourself and justifying how your choice in home.
I've posted a little advert in my status on Facebook. I've been rather straight forward and quirky:
New Housie required. £300 a month, plus bills for a charming single bedroom in one of the greatest houses in East Oxford. Fabulous Roomies and a rather fantastic location. Available from November 5th. All enquires contact: Me, Mr Food aka Dave Chicken, The Aussie aka Nina or Chips Mahomeo aka Tom Reynolds! See I told you we were fun!
What I'd love to write is more of an essay but totally impractical and probably far too honest:
One single room near to the Cowley Road, with storage on the landing. £300 a month with bills exclusive. Privately rented direct from Landlord, who is rather marvellous, he's great!
Morning sunlight to wake you from slumber, with the calming sound of the whale song.
Kitchen/sitting room in one, no more requirement to open doors between rooms, we've the uni-room. We're also expecting a new set of kitchen cabinets to be fitted soon - how swanky can we get?
Washing machine, fridges and even a cooker - how far out are we?! No microwave though, as we are protecting you against crazy cancer causing rays, which will rot your brain. Quaint raised garden with washing line for your every drying desires.
Internet available with digital TV for your personal entertainment, as long as you like bad American reality TV or shit shows about vampires. Wrestling and Hollyoaks fan appreciated.
If all else fails, you'll get a private DVD hire from me, as long as you respect them and return when necessary, what more could you want than a free DVD hire and occasional late fees!
Bathroom to be shared with two ladies and it's newly tiled for easy slip sliding.
Ironing board and iron available to flatten out all of the creases in your life. If you've no idea how to clean, I can always teach you. We enjoy recycling and by that I mean, I supply all of the necessary items to do so effortlessly and easily, with the weekly complaint from me about getting it wrong, this is for your entertainment also.
We are a smoking household but could keep it to our bedrooms if need be. Friends of Gary, are friends of ours.
If you're lucky, you'll inevitably end up on the Wall of Fame - Come and live with us!
P.S. I'm the uncoolest member of my house so it you find this funny, you probably don't fit in. Bad luck! Although, I totally think you're grand!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Uncle Buck
I finally got the new tyres for my car today, which now makes me 100% street legal. £85 later and I now have a lighter car to drive, it's more responsive and feels like it drives much easier, which is all pretty cool. Who'd have thought two new tyres would change so much.
I've been getting my knit on to a dramatic effect lately. I've been going to sleep with achy hands and waking craving the desire to knit, knit away. I've also spent far too much time in the local wool shop and if I can't knit it, sew it, melt and mould it or paint it, my friends and family won't be getting it for Christmas. When you make everything for your Christmas presents, it means you have to get extremely organised. I've so far made numerous scarves and one hat.
Talking of melting and moulding, I've been asked if I'd like to have a stall at the weekly farmers market off Cowley Road, I never even knew it existed. I'm now in the world of buying Charity Shop cups and saucers and making them in to candles, I'm so very excited at the prospect of it all. I'm thinking about making some brooches for it also.
I'm off work this week, both of them and so far it feels like I've not had a holiday at all. It just feels like a weekend. I aimed to not book myself up or offer my time to others, but I appear to have failed without meaning too. It's all cool though, I've a couple of evenings free and also a dinner with my boss and 20 other middle aged men who will have been playing golf all day. Last years golf dinner was a lot of fun, I'm hoping this years will be better; better food, better drink and more cheer. Just need to memorise a couple of horrendously dirty jokes and I'm quids in!
I had loads of funny anicdotes and stories but they all ran out of my head as soon as I started the computer, nevermind, they'll return one day.
The weekend before last, while talking with a friend I discovered she had never seen Uncle Buck, god knows how?! I guess she's been living under a rock, she is from Nottingham, so this is possible. I will be rectifying this asap, do not worry!
Also, the other night, Sheri and I had a random girly night in and ended up watching a chick flim, we chose "Confessions of a Shopaholic", now I've issues with it due to to loving the books but chose to watch it as though the books had never existed. It's watchable and has it's moments. Joan Cusack and John Goodmen plays Isla Fisher's parents and they are great in this role, very entertaining to watch. The funniest moment was as the credits rolled, which probably sums up the film pretty well for you.
I've been getting my knit on to a dramatic effect lately. I've been going to sleep with achy hands and waking craving the desire to knit, knit away. I've also spent far too much time in the local wool shop and if I can't knit it, sew it, melt and mould it or paint it, my friends and family won't be getting it for Christmas. When you make everything for your Christmas presents, it means you have to get extremely organised. I've so far made numerous scarves and one hat.
Talking of melting and moulding, I've been asked if I'd like to have a stall at the weekly farmers market off Cowley Road, I never even knew it existed. I'm now in the world of buying Charity Shop cups and saucers and making them in to candles, I'm so very excited at the prospect of it all. I'm thinking about making some brooches for it also.
I'm off work this week, both of them and so far it feels like I've not had a holiday at all. It just feels like a weekend. I aimed to not book myself up or offer my time to others, but I appear to have failed without meaning too. It's all cool though, I've a couple of evenings free and also a dinner with my boss and 20 other middle aged men who will have been playing golf all day. Last years golf dinner was a lot of fun, I'm hoping this years will be better; better food, better drink and more cheer. Just need to memorise a couple of horrendously dirty jokes and I'm quids in!
I had loads of funny anicdotes and stories but they all ran out of my head as soon as I started the computer, nevermind, they'll return one day.
The weekend before last, while talking with a friend I discovered she had never seen Uncle Buck, god knows how?! I guess she's been living under a rock, she is from Nottingham, so this is possible. I will be rectifying this asap, do not worry!
Also, the other night, Sheri and I had a random girly night in and ended up watching a chick flim, we chose "Confessions of a Shopaholic", now I've issues with it due to to loving the books but chose to watch it as though the books had never existed. It's watchable and has it's moments. Joan Cusack and John Goodmen plays Isla Fisher's parents and they are great in this role, very entertaining to watch. The funniest moment was as the credits rolled, which probably sums up the film pretty well for you.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Sequins on Bedding, Nice!
I happened to be in Debenham's home department the other day. I was looking at bedding and I came across Kylie's home range. Her bedding range comes with sequins, yep, I said sequins.
My original thought was "sequins on a duvet, how uncomfortable and itchy and impractical" and then I found out that there was a sequin trim on the pillow cases too?! What the ?!
Who would think that sequins on a pillow would be comfortable? Plus, have you ever tried to wash sequins? They generally loose their colouring and the stitching fails miserably after a couple of washes. You have to handwash and as most of us know, you have to boil wash your bedding after a week or two, due to it's soiled useage (this term makes me chuckle).
I've just no idea what she was thinking or should I say her design team was thinking...
I love seeing people walking while reading, it always makes me smile. It's up there with seeing men who are rubbish at laundry, there was a chap in the lunch queue in front of me earlier, who had shrunk his jumper in the wash, or at least it looked like it, so sweet.
Saturday night, my friends, 22-20s, performed live for the first time in 4 years. They've been in the studio recording new songs over the last months or so and it was truly great finally seeing them perform live. They were amazing. I was so nervous before hand on their behalf but they were absolutely brilliant, even though there was some technical faults.
We all ended up heading back to the studio to drink and be merry. 6.30am bed time, woo!
Although Dan did expose me to this, utter fabulousness!
All 14 episodes are up and apparently, it's great! I love that they opened with One Vision. Oh so good!!!
Dead Snow is awesome!!! I finally got to watch it on Sunday and haven't shut up about it since. Watch it!!!
Saw this online and was thinking that I may well have to get something similar sprayed on mine.
My original thought was "sequins on a duvet, how uncomfortable and itchy and impractical" and then I found out that there was a sequin trim on the pillow cases too?! What the ?!
Who would think that sequins on a pillow would be comfortable? Plus, have you ever tried to wash sequins? They generally loose their colouring and the stitching fails miserably after a couple of washes. You have to handwash and as most of us know, you have to boil wash your bedding after a week or two, due to it's soiled useage (this term makes me chuckle).
I've just no idea what she was thinking or should I say her design team was thinking...
I love seeing people walking while reading, it always makes me smile. It's up there with seeing men who are rubbish at laundry, there was a chap in the lunch queue in front of me earlier, who had shrunk his jumper in the wash, or at least it looked like it, so sweet.
Saturday night, my friends, 22-20s, performed live for the first time in 4 years. They've been in the studio recording new songs over the last months or so and it was truly great finally seeing them perform live. They were amazing. I was so nervous before hand on their behalf but they were absolutely brilliant, even though there was some technical faults.
We all ended up heading back to the studio to drink and be merry. 6.30am bed time, woo!
Although Dan did expose me to this, utter fabulousness!
All 14 episodes are up and apparently, it's great! I love that they opened with One Vision. Oh so good!!!
Dead Snow is awesome!!! I finally got to watch it on Sunday and haven't shut up about it since. Watch it!!!
Saw this online and was thinking that I may well have to get something similar sprayed on mine.
Glitz Up Your Crabs
I'm currently watching a TV show about Surrogate mothers and it is very odd. The surrogate mothers seem to know what it's all about, as they either have children or have been through it before but the new mothers are mental. I guess they are full of fear, worry, emotions, etc. I guess it must be an extremely hard situation to be in, impossibly hard. It's an extremely odd TV show. The people you assume you'd sympathise with, aren't the ones you care for.
I think the hardest thing is to work out, why the surrogates do it? Is it to fill a hole they feel from within or are they 100% level headed and emotionally stable and wanted to give people the gift they've longed for for the longest time.
I often read Postsecrets, recently I've found one of my all time favourite cards. It's what I'm personally looking for. I always state when people ask me why I'm single "That I haven't found anyone who doesn't make me want to smother them in their sleep", which isn't far off the mark. No matter what people tell me, he's out there somewhere, he's just lost and refusing to ask for directions, like a typical bloke.
While on my weekly trawl through Jezebel I always stop to read Toddlers & Tiaras, it's your typical garish tv show about crazy women forcing their poor children to dress up like Vegas showgirls to perform bizarre routines.
But it's better than all of the ones you've seen before, except maybe Painted Babies from the mid 90s, which was pretty good. I just love the Jezebel ladies comments and also the little .gif files.
The image on the left is a screen grab from one of the shows, it just makes me chuckle so so much! I'm off, I've got to glitz up my crabs!
I finally received my copy of 'Dead Snow' and I've had no chance to see it! I had a 20 minute window to watch it since buying it but it was at 2am and I had work the next morning, plus zombie nazi's at 2am just before sleep, I don't think so! Oh tomorrow, why won't you come sooner.
Apparently 4000 people are on death row in America? They need to get Pierrepoint over there, he'd sort it out and save them loads of money...although he's dead, so maybe Timothy Spall should go on his behalf. He seemed to sort out the Belsen 11 rather quickly.
I'm not going to leave you with Nazis and death row, that would be horrendously cruel, instead I'm leaving you with Elton John "hell yeah!".
I think the hardest thing is to work out, why the surrogates do it? Is it to fill a hole they feel from within or are they 100% level headed and emotionally stable and wanted to give people the gift they've longed for for the longest time.
I often read Postsecrets, recently I've found one of my all time favourite cards. It's what I'm personally looking for. I always state when people ask me why I'm single "That I haven't found anyone who doesn't make me want to smother them in their sleep", which isn't far off the mark. No matter what people tell me, he's out there somewhere, he's just lost and refusing to ask for directions, like a typical bloke.While on my weekly trawl through Jezebel I always stop to read Toddlers & Tiaras, it's your typical garish tv show about crazy women forcing their poor children to dress up like Vegas showgirls to perform bizarre routines.
But it's better than all of the ones you've seen before, except maybe Painted Babies from the mid 90s, which was pretty good. I just love the Jezebel ladies comments and also the little .gif files.The image on the left is a screen grab from one of the shows, it just makes me chuckle so so much! I'm off, I've got to glitz up my crabs!
I finally received my copy of 'Dead Snow' and I've had no chance to see it! I had a 20 minute window to watch it since buying it but it was at 2am and I had work the next morning, plus zombie nazi's at 2am just before sleep, I don't think so! Oh tomorrow, why won't you come sooner.
Apparently 4000 people are on death row in America? They need to get Pierrepoint over there, he'd sort it out and save them loads of money...although he's dead, so maybe Timothy Spall should go on his behalf. He seemed to sort out the Belsen 11 rather quickly.
I'm not going to leave you with Nazis and death row, that would be horrendously cruel, instead I'm leaving you with Elton John "hell yeah!".
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thursday, August 06, 2009
More to Love
Not only is the whole concept for this tv show offensive, I understand that the production companies were just reacting to the onslaught of pissed off consumers by trying to include larger sized ladies and gents in this world of showbiz but the general idea for it, is so so wrong. For a start, why segregate the larger sized population? Since when has being larger, made you less attractive? Since when did larger ladies automatically like larger guys or vice versa? Do I need to go on with more points, I'm sure I'm missing the main points but bloody hell, what a horrendous tv show. I mean, why not have a tv show called "bulmic love", where people who cough up their food can find love among each other?
But what is more irritating is that the production company have chosen gorgeous curvy women, not one mildly unattractive woman in the bunch. All of them, generally have stunning slimmer faces and they all have in proportion bodies. They are all beautiful, stunning ladies, who should be proud of their figures and who they are and not be on a show with some chubby chaser, who probably doesn't give a shit about who they are, due to it being a tv show!
I feel like I should rant about how this tv show might reflect to the young malleable minds who watch it but I won't, as I'll be getting off the subject. I am just generally a little bit horrified!
It's not liberating, it's objectifying in such a wrong way but it's ok, as Fox TV has a tv show with some fat people who aren't being made to be automatically funny, or playing the best friend?! So due to them not being in their typical type cast role, it's fresh and interesting, of course!
On another note, I'm totally looking forward to this!
But what is more irritating is that the production company have chosen gorgeous curvy women, not one mildly unattractive woman in the bunch. All of them, generally have stunning slimmer faces and they all have in proportion bodies. They are all beautiful, stunning ladies, who should be proud of their figures and who they are and not be on a show with some chubby chaser, who probably doesn't give a shit about who they are, due to it being a tv show!
I feel like I should rant about how this tv show might reflect to the young malleable minds who watch it but I won't, as I'll be getting off the subject. I am just generally a little bit horrified!
It's not liberating, it's objectifying in such a wrong way but it's ok, as Fox TV has a tv show with some fat people who aren't being made to be automatically funny, or playing the best friend?! So due to them not being in their typical type cast role, it's fresh and interesting, of course!
On another note, I'm totally looking forward to this!
American Apparel
I often see a lot of press about American Apparel's new advert campaigns, and they seem to get worse and worse.
Originally the companies thesis for advertising and catalogue photos were supposed to be real life workers for the company, without make-up in a basic fashion and this I thought was a great thing. Real life people looking like, real life people. Alas when the company got popular (about two or three years ago), the ad campaigns got more professional and more sex based. I get that sex, controversy and shock sells, of course they do but how pathetic do they think the public really is? Personally, I feel a little perverted looking at them.
Following are some clips of recent and old ad campaigns by American Apparel:
I think my biggest issue with the campaigns is that I love American Apparel. I have ever since I first found them. I always recommended them to my friends for cost effective, well made, ethnically reliable basics. I used to describe them to my friends as the Marks and Spencers for a younger generation, then they went all retro, which was fine, as the basics were still great but now with perverse advertising campaigns, it all seems a little shocking on purpose, which makes me not want to like them, which almost seems churlish. But what can you do when a company which once had a brilliant ethics then goes for the cheap shot?
Originally the companies thesis for advertising and catalogue photos were supposed to be real life workers for the company, without make-up in a basic fashion and this I thought was a great thing. Real life people looking like, real life people. Alas when the company got popular (about two or three years ago), the ad campaigns got more professional and more sex based. I get that sex, controversy and shock sells, of course they do but how pathetic do they think the public really is? Personally, I feel a little perverted looking at them.
Following are some clips of recent and old ad campaigns by American Apparel:
I think my biggest issue with the campaigns is that I love American Apparel. I have ever since I first found them. I always recommended them to my friends for cost effective, well made, ethnically reliable basics. I used to describe them to my friends as the Marks and Spencers for a younger generation, then they went all retro, which was fine, as the basics were still great but now with perverse advertising campaigns, it all seems a little shocking on purpose, which makes me not want to like them, which almost seems churlish. But what can you do when a company which once had a brilliant ethics then goes for the cheap shot?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Ooo, New Blog, Suits You Miss..
I've spent many days, weeks and years searching for photo blogs, like I've said before "I love photos", so have decided to create my own "oh, why not?".
Please click here to Snappy Flasher to see them. They'll be added intermittently and also, some of them are old but I love them nevertheless.
Enjoy!
Please click here to Snappy Flasher to see them. They'll be added intermittently and also, some of them are old but I love them nevertheless.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Next Blog
A while ago, Axl mentioned that he was hitting the 'next blog' button. I was stunned, I'd been blogging for how ever many months and had never noticed it. So I started my hitting of it.
It's great fun but often comes to a dead end, due to the button being removed or people having commercial blogs where they want you end up.
I love photos, I adore photos. I love paintings but I love photos. If any of you have been to my house, you'll have seen my 'hall of fame' which is a wall of photos in our hallway. I love taking photos and I love looking at them. Regardless of what the photos are of, I adore them. I often enjoy going to Magnum Photographic Essays and browsing through the millions of photos and listening to the photographers to hear about what they were aiming to catch and what they got.
Any how, it was rather quiet at work recently, so I started to hit the button. My original intention was to find some amateur photo blogs to enjoy, something new and refreshing, instead of the over photoshopped wonders you often find online. Something to truly capture my imagination. Art (I'm using the word art in a loose term, where I mean it to be paintings, photography, collage, etc.) is one of the only things that can move through this world, with no requirement of cultural understanding or language.
I clicked alot and I found a few photo blogs that really caught my attention, but there is one at the end of this, run of photos that I really liked. I also found some random blogs and some rather adoreable blogs. Photos and links below. Some were photos I liked, some were blogs I liked the look of. I've credited the blogs with the links and titles below...I hope you enjoy them!
Unregard Surtours / A False Front
Amfmmaodeobradearte / Srvenute
JeanetteShverdag / Guardian Doodler
Love Overflow / Lucy Mcrae
No More Lights / Ommmkietutoooo
Petites Stars / Photos from Sweden
Sunken Treasure Stuff / Vertiginouspervicaciousness
Vossy Line / The Illustrated Edition
A photo a day
It's been done before, they aren't incredible photos, it's simply a lovely little view of someone else' world. Some photos are quite remarkable and others are comical. Some have nice perspective/composition and others have interesting lighting. I just love the amateur, almost naive sense of it. I think it's generally rather charming...
Below are some of the photos I liked:
It's great fun but often comes to a dead end, due to the button being removed or people having commercial blogs where they want you end up.
I love photos, I adore photos. I love paintings but I love photos. If any of you have been to my house, you'll have seen my 'hall of fame' which is a wall of photos in our hallway. I love taking photos and I love looking at them. Regardless of what the photos are of, I adore them. I often enjoy going to Magnum Photographic Essays and browsing through the millions of photos and listening to the photographers to hear about what they were aiming to catch and what they got.
Any how, it was rather quiet at work recently, so I started to hit the button. My original intention was to find some amateur photo blogs to enjoy, something new and refreshing, instead of the over photoshopped wonders you often find online. Something to truly capture my imagination. Art (I'm using the word art in a loose term, where I mean it to be paintings, photography, collage, etc.) is one of the only things that can move through this world, with no requirement of cultural understanding or language.
I clicked alot and I found a few photo blogs that really caught my attention, but there is one at the end of this, run of photos that I really liked. I also found some random blogs and some rather adoreable blogs. Photos and links below. Some were photos I liked, some were blogs I liked the look of. I've credited the blogs with the links and titles below...I hope you enjoy them!
Unregard Surtours / A False Front
Amfmmaodeobradearte / Srvenute
JeanetteShverdag / Guardian Doodler
Love Overflow / Lucy Mcrae
No More Lights / Ommmkietutoooo
Petites Stars / Photos from Sweden
Sunken Treasure Stuff / Vertiginouspervicaciousness
Vossy Line / The Illustrated Edition
A photo a day
It's been done before, they aren't incredible photos, it's simply a lovely little view of someone else' world. Some photos are quite remarkable and others are comical. Some have nice perspective/composition and others have interesting lighting. I just love the amateur, almost naive sense of it. I think it's generally rather charming...
Below are some of the photos I liked:
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Bunting Fun
There is about 6 metres, or so, of it in total and it's ace! Not as fab as the stuff I saw at a house party but it'll do.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Pro Choice Is The Way I Was Raised
For some reason, abortions here aren't as big a topic as in the States. I'm not sure why this is, maybe due to us being a smaller country, or having less fanatics, or maybe because we're an older country we generally believe that people's choices are their own, so therefore their choices are personal, or maybe it's because we can get them on the NHS and the departments are such a part of the hospital, it would be hard to have fanatics scaring away, already scared individuals. Who knows?!
Different people, different beliefs, different systems - it's generally hard to compare or work out why this is.
I know people who have had them, I know people who have accompanied someone to have one, I know people who don't believe they are right and I know partners who have been effected by them. It's a personal issue and one for the individual to choose and no one elses decision. Everyone has a right to believe what they do and everyone has a right to have an opinion on their friends' choices, they also have a right to share with that friend, if they wish too, but they do not have the right to expect the friend to agree or believe these opinions.
Although, talking about them is still seen as a taboo subject. I've had chats with numerous friends about them and it's always in hushed tones, quiet corners or private rooms. We all know they happen but none of us want to talk about them, they are the elephant in the room.
So how come some a lot of fanatic American's believe that they have the right to tell a complete stranger that they are wrong and that they'll go to hell for what they are doing or have done. They have no right, it's their opinion but they should keep it to themselves, unfortunately they don't.
In the past, some American fanatics have gone to extremes: Late Abortionist getting shot, Operation Rescue, fake clinics to pressurise women to keep babies, constant death threats, I could go on but I won't. I know some of these are extremist but they are a part of the bigger cause and the groups, can't pretend they are not, even though they have tried.
There is now a group of escorts who try to help the women who are in these horribly confusing and emotional times to get them in to the clinics without to much disruption and I salute these people, they are doing something truly wonderful to help people, rather than heed them and for that I think they all should get a medal. It can't be easy. I imagine some of these pro-lifers are as manic as some of the anti-animal testers we've experienced here in Oxford and that's a pretty horrid thought.
They risk themselves everyday to assist these women, allowing them to be able to continue with the life they chose, instead of the life they nearly had to live.
Different people, different beliefs, different systems - it's generally hard to compare or work out why this is.
I know people who have had them, I know people who have accompanied someone to have one, I know people who don't believe they are right and I know partners who have been effected by them. It's a personal issue and one for the individual to choose and no one elses decision. Everyone has a right to believe what they do and everyone has a right to have an opinion on their friends' choices, they also have a right to share with that friend, if they wish too, but they do not have the right to expect the friend to agree or believe these opinions.
Although, talking about them is still seen as a taboo subject. I've had chats with numerous friends about them and it's always in hushed tones, quiet corners or private rooms. We all know they happen but none of us want to talk about them, they are the elephant in the room.
So how come some a lot of fanatic American's believe that they have the right to tell a complete stranger that they are wrong and that they'll go to hell for what they are doing or have done. They have no right, it's their opinion but they should keep it to themselves, unfortunately they don't.
In the past, some American fanatics have gone to extremes: Late Abortionist getting shot, Operation Rescue, fake clinics to pressurise women to keep babies, constant death threats, I could go on but I won't. I know some of these are extremist but they are a part of the bigger cause and the groups, can't pretend they are not, even though they have tried.
There is now a group of escorts who try to help the women who are in these horribly confusing and emotional times to get them in to the clinics without to much disruption and I salute these people, they are doing something truly wonderful to help people, rather than heed them and for that I think they all should get a medal. It can't be easy. I imagine some of these pro-lifers are as manic as some of the anti-animal testers we've experienced here in Oxford and that's a pretty horrid thought.
They risk themselves everyday to assist these women, allowing them to be able to continue with the life they chose, instead of the life they nearly had to live.
A Bucket of Tickles
Every morning on the drive to work, I think about things I'd like to blog about, it might be on the news, recent events in my life or things I see. I do this most mornings, well most mornings when I'm awake enough to process anything other than driving and not killing myself or any one else. And most mornings I get to work, get distracted and then forget all about the funny anecdotes and comments and am left with just drivel.
This morning I remembered most of them, so here they are:
I witnessed bunny genocide this morning. Road kill of animals is inevitable, they've no idea what us big shiny things are or that we can kill them, they've heard the rumours but they forget easily. I remember Watership Down, they just have to risk it. But this morning was horrendous! While driving along the A415 (I looked this up, I'm not that good) I witnessed the first poor dead bunny and thought "oh dear", and then about ten feet further, another one and then another one and another...you can see where I'm going with this, it was as though someone had coaxed them in to the road and then mowed them down or maybe it was a joint bunny suicide to stand against us humans and our killing of the planet, god knows but it was horrid.
I was listening to Fleetwood Mac this morning on the way to work, working on my driving dancing, got the 'one handed jazz hand while changing gears' down! But I did notice that I sing 'Little Lies' as though I'm Eliza Doolittle, I've no idea why but I do! It makes for entertaining listening, no seriously it does!
There are some fantastic traffic lights on Culham Bridge. They have the longest exposure in the world, they are a bitch to sit at, as you know you're there for the long haul if you get caught, I'm not joking or being over dramatic, they are red/green for about two minutes (in traffic world, this is ages) but they also have sensors to check the bridges are clear (personally I remember when it was two way with no footpath, it was dangerous but that was yonks a go). So, if you get caught by them, you're there for eternity, I've sat there for the duration of a song once, as regulars to the bridges all cheat and fly over on red, when you do fly over on red (I may have done it once, or twice, or three times, maybe a few more times but not many more, honest), you always hope the person behind you does too, so you're not cheating alone, stupid I know but solidarity within drivers.
The point of this passage is that on the way to work, if I hit the High St in Culham and the lights are green and most of the drivers have gone through, I like to drive at 30mph to try and get through, on the way home I'll speed but on the way to work, I'll drive at the right speed (it's a personal thing, I've no idea why and it makes no sense). But it's like a personal triumph if I can make the green lights going at the legal speed, I can do anything at a normal speed and should therefore slow down once in a while, I think it's the whole tortoise and the hare complex.
This passage is something that grates me. I'm a keen believer in common courtesy, most of my friends know that I'm obsessive about saying please and thank you and if I don't or forget, I'll wind myself up about it.
I just think that common courtesies are free and can make or break someone's day, I know how I used to feel working at Waitrose and someone being rude could set off a chain of rudeness within myself. I know that the one cardinal rule of life is "do not judge others by your own standards", you'll generally end up depressed, but thank you and please are just so important within life. When I had my party, I thanked everyone who gave me a present or showed some kindness, by sending them a postcard of thanks. They did a little gesture towards me, so I wanted to show that I'd noticed and appreciated it, not much but something.
Recently I did quite a large favour for someone and I've heard no word of thanks from them. I got appreciation from others and acknowledgements from others but no thank you from the person I did it for. Am I'm being out of order to expect one. Maybe they just don't do that sort of thing, I mean, this person is generally within their own world and I can never work out of it's ignorance or oblivion which drives them, they always state that they are oblivious but I'm starting to think it's actually ignorance, which I hate to think but after so many times of doing things and getting nothing, it's hard not to be so rude.
I just don't think saying thank you isn't that hard and is important in life.
Lastly, I watched a charming indie film (is it just me who finds the term "indie film" offensive?), in fact due to my hating of that term, I'm going to call it a charming little independant film, called "In search of a midnight kiss", it's basically about "this dude", who has had a shitty year and is looking for someone to share New Years Eve with, because it's a lonely time for us singles, boo hoo, I may never leave my house again kind of depression, well he meets "some bird", through a Craigslist ad (american website for sad lonely people, where you can list anything! It's like a free eBay of everything including people and items or maybe more like gumtree. Plus there is this other dude in America called The Craiglist Killer, I love how killers in America always have titles but that's for another time). But it's funny, charming, witty, mental and rather adorable. I loved it all.
P.S. "This dude's" (the one in the film, not the serial killer) personal advert is the type of ad I'd love to stumble across
Here is the ending of the film, with the cast singing "Wind of Change", if you want to skip the final monologue, skip 1 minute in:
And yes, it's out of sync!
This morning I remembered most of them, so here they are:
I witnessed bunny genocide this morning. Road kill of animals is inevitable, they've no idea what us big shiny things are or that we can kill them, they've heard the rumours but they forget easily. I remember Watership Down, they just have to risk it. But this morning was horrendous! While driving along the A415 (I looked this up, I'm not that good) I witnessed the first poor dead bunny and thought "oh dear", and then about ten feet further, another one and then another one and another...you can see where I'm going with this, it was as though someone had coaxed them in to the road and then mowed them down or maybe it was a joint bunny suicide to stand against us humans and our killing of the planet, god knows but it was horrid.
I was listening to Fleetwood Mac this morning on the way to work, working on my driving dancing, got the 'one handed jazz hand while changing gears' down! But I did notice that I sing 'Little Lies' as though I'm Eliza Doolittle, I've no idea why but I do! It makes for entertaining listening, no seriously it does!
There are some fantastic traffic lights on Culham Bridge. They have the longest exposure in the world, they are a bitch to sit at, as you know you're there for the long haul if you get caught, I'm not joking or being over dramatic, they are red/green for about two minutes (in traffic world, this is ages) but they also have sensors to check the bridges are clear (personally I remember when it was two way with no footpath, it was dangerous but that was yonks a go). So, if you get caught by them, you're there for eternity, I've sat there for the duration of a song once, as regulars to the bridges all cheat and fly over on red, when you do fly over on red (I may have done it once, or twice, or three times, maybe a few more times but not many more, honest), you always hope the person behind you does too, so you're not cheating alone, stupid I know but solidarity within drivers.
The point of this passage is that on the way to work, if I hit the High St in Culham and the lights are green and most of the drivers have gone through, I like to drive at 30mph to try and get through, on the way home I'll speed but on the way to work, I'll drive at the right speed (it's a personal thing, I've no idea why and it makes no sense). But it's like a personal triumph if I can make the green lights going at the legal speed, I can do anything at a normal speed and should therefore slow down once in a while, I think it's the whole tortoise and the hare complex.
This passage is something that grates me. I'm a keen believer in common courtesy, most of my friends know that I'm obsessive about saying please and thank you and if I don't or forget, I'll wind myself up about it.
I just think that common courtesies are free and can make or break someone's day, I know how I used to feel working at Waitrose and someone being rude could set off a chain of rudeness within myself. I know that the one cardinal rule of life is "do not judge others by your own standards", you'll generally end up depressed, but thank you and please are just so important within life. When I had my party, I thanked everyone who gave me a present or showed some kindness, by sending them a postcard of thanks. They did a little gesture towards me, so I wanted to show that I'd noticed and appreciated it, not much but something.
Recently I did quite a large favour for someone and I've heard no word of thanks from them. I got appreciation from others and acknowledgements from others but no thank you from the person I did it for. Am I'm being out of order to expect one. Maybe they just don't do that sort of thing, I mean, this person is generally within their own world and I can never work out of it's ignorance or oblivion which drives them, they always state that they are oblivious but I'm starting to think it's actually ignorance, which I hate to think but after so many times of doing things and getting nothing, it's hard not to be so rude.
I just don't think saying thank you isn't that hard and is important in life.
Lastly, I watched a charming indie film (is it just me who finds the term "indie film" offensive?), in fact due to my hating of that term, I'm going to call it a charming little independant film, called "In search of a midnight kiss", it's basically about "this dude", who has had a shitty year and is looking for someone to share New Years Eve with, because it's a lonely time for us singles, boo hoo, I may never leave my house again kind of depression, well he meets "some bird", through a Craigslist ad (american website for sad lonely people, where you can list anything! It's like a free eBay of everything including people and items or maybe more like gumtree. Plus there is this other dude in America called The Craiglist Killer, I love how killers in America always have titles but that's for another time). But it's funny, charming, witty, mental and rather adorable. I loved it all.
P.S. "This dude's" (the one in the film, not the serial killer) personal advert is the type of ad I'd love to stumble across
Here is the ending of the film, with the cast singing "Wind of Change", if you want to skip the final monologue, skip 1 minute in:
And yes, it's out of sync!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Baby Beauty Queens
I ended up watching this programme the other day and it made for compulsive watching. One of the girls constantly looked pissed off. Another was her mother's mini me and the final one did it because she wanted to feel more confident. Out of the three mums, two of whom were living through their kids, only one had the right idea, she wanted to help her child.
One of my favourite parts was the born again Christian who asked her congregation to pray for her daughter to win the pageant (not exactly what God tells us to do with prays) and then when the daughter doesn't win a sausage, her sister blames god, well that is what I call a balanced upbringing.
And personally, I think that fake tans, plastic surgery, contact lenses, highlights and acrylic nails all consist of child abuse!
Baby Beauty Queens
One of my favourite parts was the born again Christian who asked her congregation to pray for her daughter to win the pageant (not exactly what God tells us to do with prays) and then when the daughter doesn't win a sausage, her sister blames god, well that is what I call a balanced upbringing.
And personally, I think that fake tans, plastic surgery, contact lenses, highlights and acrylic nails all consist of child abuse!
Baby Beauty Queens
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A Doll, Me? OK!!!
Wow I was a doll apparently!!!
Check this out!!!
Apparently I only existed for 8 years, a little less than I actually have (some probably wish I'd only lasted 8 years), this is amazing, I've reached 27 years of age and never knew and it never got brought up in conversation. I've had the Home and Away comments and the wife of Angus Deaton in One Foot In The Grave was also called Pippa but my own doll, oh how exciting!!!
Check this out!!!
Apparently I only existed for 8 years, a little less than I actually have (some probably wish I'd only lasted 8 years), this is amazing, I've reached 27 years of age and never knew and it never got brought up in conversation. I've had the Home and Away comments and the wife of Angus Deaton in One Foot In The Grave was also called Pippa but my own doll, oh how exciting!!!
To Kenneth or not to Kenneth
Is it wrong to admit that I like Kenneth Branagh? I know he's not cool but I think he is rather marvellous, although only when it comes to Shakespeare. I'm unsure if he's able to act in the modern tongue, golly who knows?! Maybe he'd be good. I need to get my Lovefilm list in check and find out. I shall report back.
As for Lovefilm, I'm still completely addicted to it. My list hasn't ever reached below 100, there are just too many films in the world to watch...
I was speaking with a friend the other day, about how I'd love to work for them and be a picker. I have always thought that everything I get sent, is selected by an individual who has looked at my list, and the availability of films, and decided what to send me. I guess this is just a silly romantic idea of mine, as my friend believes it's all done by computers, which would make more sense, but it's an awfully boring way to do it. Plus at halloweeen I get sent horrors and at Christmas, I get sent classics, maybe it's an extremely intelligent computer.
Although if pickers do exist, it's now on my job for a week list, with: HGV driver, tour guide for a stately home, meerkat keeper, air hostess, pole dancer and coroner.
As for Lovefilm, I'm still completely addicted to it. My list hasn't ever reached below 100, there are just too many films in the world to watch...
I was speaking with a friend the other day, about how I'd love to work for them and be a picker. I have always thought that everything I get sent, is selected by an individual who has looked at my list, and the availability of films, and decided what to send me. I guess this is just a silly romantic idea of mine, as my friend believes it's all done by computers, which would make more sense, but it's an awfully boring way to do it. Plus at halloweeen I get sent horrors and at Christmas, I get sent classics, maybe it's an extremely intelligent computer.
Although if pickers do exist, it's now on my job for a week list, with: HGV driver, tour guide for a stately home, meerkat keeper, air hostess, pole dancer and coroner.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Custard anyone?
A while back, my housies and I were trying to work out if we were custard cousins. I know it's a horrid term and a horrid thing to do but I was interested.
Luckily for me, one of my exes was a huge slag - his sleeping with most of Oxford made it pretty easy for me to be linked with more people than I'd like to mention but needless to say, it meant that within 5 minutes, I'd been linked to Mr Chicken. Also means, that I'm possibly linked to Mr Chips also. I think that is where it stopped though, we could link our old housie with Mr Chicken also but that was as far as we got.
What makes this easier for us, is that we've socialised and worked in and around similar places for quite a few years. A little like doing it at the end of your university years, instead of the beginning.
I wouldn't recommend this game while sober, it's far too sick and gross to try to comprehend while sober, while drunk however, it's quite funny.
In other news, I've been having eBay fun recently, it wasn't planned but I'll take it while I've got it. There was a huge requirement for cushions at my house, so I bought some inserts and have been having sewing fun with some lovely materials, we'll soon have some awesome cushions in our house, although currently my bedroom looks more like a haberdashery, than a bedroom, must remember to pick up those pins. Also, while on eBay, while looking for cake stands, I ended up buying a pattern for a cute 70's smock dress. Which I intend to make and wear to a party, someone at work is hosting. Fingers crossed i get some time next week to actually make it, other wise it'll be back to the drawing board and the back of my wardrobe.
I've also finished my pink and flowery bunting, there is about 8 meters of it, but it's so cute! Photos to come soon...
Luckily for me, one of my exes was a huge slag - his sleeping with most of Oxford made it pretty easy for me to be linked with more people than I'd like to mention but needless to say, it meant that within 5 minutes, I'd been linked to Mr Chicken. Also means, that I'm possibly linked to Mr Chips also. I think that is where it stopped though, we could link our old housie with Mr Chicken also but that was as far as we got.
What makes this easier for us, is that we've socialised and worked in and around similar places for quite a few years. A little like doing it at the end of your university years, instead of the beginning.
I wouldn't recommend this game while sober, it's far too sick and gross to try to comprehend while sober, while drunk however, it's quite funny.
In other news, I've been having eBay fun recently, it wasn't planned but I'll take it while I've got it. There was a huge requirement for cushions at my house, so I bought some inserts and have been having sewing fun with some lovely materials, we'll soon have some awesome cushions in our house, although currently my bedroom looks more like a haberdashery, than a bedroom, must remember to pick up those pins. Also, while on eBay, while looking for cake stands, I ended up buying a pattern for a cute 70's smock dress. Which I intend to make and wear to a party, someone at work is hosting. Fingers crossed i get some time next week to actually make it, other wise it'll be back to the drawing board and the back of my wardrobe.
I've also finished my pink and flowery bunting, there is about 8 meters of it, but it's so cute! Photos to come soon...
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