tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6446255588200846132024-02-20T13:24:34.461-08:00These Are Words That Go Together WellMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-6766533336702321382016-10-04T03:24:00.000-07:002016-10-04T03:24:46.136-07:00I Love Autumn....Or Do I?<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I love Autumn. (The season, not my niece. Although I love her too!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The way the leaves turn and fall from the trees and the way they crunch underfoot. How kids get excited about looking for conkers and insist on depositing them around the house to deter spiders! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The way you can legitimately slow cook every meal and forget about salads for another year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I love big coats and scarfs and knee high boots. I love layering and leggings and being able to leave the house without having to shave my legs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's the season of Halloween and bonfires, of parties and dressing up. Of the first school holiday and birthday excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But despite all of these things, I also feel fed up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I want to hibernate. To cosy up under the duvet with a cup of coffee and a good book. I want to binge watch DVD's or discover the next 'must-watch' series on Netflix. I want to turn on the heating and view the world from the comfort of the sofa. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I don't particularly want to talk to anyone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To interact in any way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's not you, it's me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Whether this is the effect of the head-cold that has been festering for the last two weeks or the onset of seasonal affective disorder (SAD - the illness lots of people claim to suffer from because they need to put a jumper on) is unclear. Despite having felt great over the past few months the doctor doesn't want to wean me off the happy pills during Autumn-Winter. Looks like he may have a point...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's also possible I'm just a miserable sod! But you should probably keep those thoughts to yourself...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's difficult to feel enthusiastic about anything when the idea of simply getting out of bed sets you off in a grump for the rest of the day or attempting to 'socialise' brings you out in a cold sweat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The question is should one just 'Keep Calm and Carry on' or curl up into a ball and to hell with the world? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I'll let you know when I've decided...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>You can find more info about SAD here: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/pages/introduction.aspx</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-63001819913774312432016-09-27T02:18:00.000-07:002016-09-27T02:18:55.607-07:00Write Like a Grrrl<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've not done much writing recently. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At the start of the school holidays (now a long and distant memory) I told myself that there was very little point trying to get anything written. After all, I had children to entertain and and so on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When they went back to school I told myself that I just needed a few weeks to get back into a routine. That I'd start again next week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now I'm full of good intentions, sitting dutifully at the Chromebook most mornings after school drop off, browsing through my short story ideas before flicking over to Twitter and spending the next two hours reading about how everyone else is struggling to write something and spending their time on Twitter...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, what exactly is holding me back? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1. Fear of Missing Out </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A relatively new social media phenomenon called FOMO to those in the know (yes I spend too much time on social media). A fear that if you don't check your social media accounts almost constantly you'll miss out on something vitally important, such as that American bloke posting a new picture of his cat, or knowing what that woman in that TV programme you used to watch had for breakfast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2. Lack of Inspiration</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Kind of speaks for itself. No matter how hard I wish for it, the story elves never leave any ideas on the kitchen table just waiting to be discovered in the morning...maybe this only works for shoes? I'll start wishing for shoes instead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">3. Fear of Failure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">More fear, but perhaps more relevant is the fear of being crap. What if I write something and it's awful? What if I got someone to read it and they simply mumble something incoherent before running in the opposite direction rather than provide feedback? What if (God forbid) I put all the apostrophes and commas in the wrong place? What if...?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">4. Life</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The clothes need loading into the washer, the dinner needs putting in the slow cooker, the boys need taking to swimming lessons, the cat sick needs clearing up, the toilet needs bleaching, the carpet needs vacuuming, the beds need making...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">...and so on and so forth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, what am I going to do about it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Well, for starters I've booked myself into an intensive one day 'Write Like a Grrrl' creative writing workshop organised by 'For Books' Sake' this Saturday. They've promised that I'll learn to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"<i>push through doubt, reduce fear of the blank page, become disciplined in your practice and enjoy writing so much more</i>."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sounds fab and just what I need...now I'm just off to check their Twitter feed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">http://forbookssake.net/</span><br />
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-59959727599577979792016-09-21T05:58:00.000-07:002016-09-21T05:58:19.610-07:00Self Care Goes a Long Way<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Just under two years ago I ended up in hospital for almost a week with cellulitis. I banged my hand on the hinge of a cupboard door, my eczema became inflamed and I ended up with an arm the size of a rugby ball and the colour of watermelon flesh. As you can probably understand, since then I've been a little paranoid about every little knock I take.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yesterday I ended up with a nasty looking eruption on my finger. It was very big, very yellow and very hot. I'd also been feeling a little bit 'off'. A low temperature, achy, tired - all the fun stuff. Friends and family quite rightly pointed out that I needed to get to the doctor. After all, I didn't want to end up in hospital again.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Despite the hospital staff having told me that cellulitis had a tendency to recur and I should always get anything I'm not sure about checked out, I hesitated. "What if it's nothing?" "What if they shout at me?" "I don't want to waste their time."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I finally relented and made an appointment for this evening but part way through the day the damn thing burst. I'll spare you the gory details but I no longer had an eruption but a little hole...and now I felt even more daft for making the appointment. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After all there was nothing to see now. Just a little hole and a low temperature. Not really worthy of an emergency appointment. So, I called to cancel...and then I got the third degree.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"Did I really need the appointment in the first place?" "What was it for?" "Why am I cancelling it?"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I understand why the receptionist felt the need to ask these questions but this is exactly why I hate going to the doctor in the first place. The feeling that I'm wasting their time. That other people need the appointment more than me. That I'm putting a strain on an already struggling service.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I remember having an appointment </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">one Friday afternoon when the doctor confided in me that I was the only person who hadn't gone in demanding drugs and complaining pretty loudly when he wouldn't prescribe them. Apparently people book emergency appointments on a Friday if they've got a bit of a cold or a dicky tummy because they don't want to spoil their weekend. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was a little shocked at this! But here lies part of the problem. GP surgeries are under immense pressure but sometimes the general public are to blame. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">People booking an appointment for minor ailments which can easily be remedied by a trip to the chemist or a dose of paracetamol. People booking appointments and then failing to turn up. People calling emergency services for a broken nail. (If you don't believe me, it's right here: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/999-call-out-for-broken-finger-nail-1167579)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I understand the frustration of NHS staff but I'm not sure I'm to blame in this instance. In fact, I've got into trouble from my doctor for not going to see him sooner in one instance!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If you think you need to see the doctor by all means go. After all you're the only one who knows how you really feel and whether it's normal for you. But if you're otherwise healthy, have a bit of a sniffle and you have a big night out planned, then suck it up!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After all we only have one NHS, and it might not be there forever.</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-39114966894237240342016-09-08T03:06:00.000-07:002016-09-08T03:06:17.713-07:00Starting Secondary School? <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As I hear more and more stories from parents whose kids have just started secondary school (at age 11) I'm starting to worry a little about sending my eldest...and he's just started year 4! (For the uninitiated, that means he doesn't go until September 2019!)</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tales of detention for having the wrong colour socks, bills for school trips before the kids even started, begging letters asking parents to 'donate' (presumably for the staff Xmas piss up...). That's on top of the uniform which can only be bought from one supplier (and you need some kind of Lord of the Rings type quest to find them), and the 15 different types of PE kit to be worn for every sport imaginable, in all types of weather, in different colours dependent on whether your name starts with 'S' or there's a full moon...I think you get my point.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But the joy actually starts in year 5 of primary school when you have to decide whether to join the scrum to find the perfect tutor, to decide whether they should attend exam class (and then being asked by school why they're not attending when you've made the 'wrong' decision), whether they should be doing past papers on top of the weekly reading, spellings, maths and English homework that comes home. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And that's alongside all the extra-curricular activities. This term alone my 8 year old is taking swimming lessons and tennis lessons outside school and has signed up for lacrosse, judo, guitar and recorder at school. You know, for a more rounded educational experience! I'm not surprised he simply wants to play Minecraft and watch You-Tube when he's at home...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was staggered to find out that entrance exams for grammar school take place on Monday next week and applications need to go in now. They've only just gone back! And some poor kids have spent all summer 'revising'.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">From what I've seen so far, primary school is all about encouragement. About individuality. About building kids' confidence, teaching them to know when to question and when to toe the line. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Not only do they learn the 3 R's, and SPAG (and possibly other catchy collections of letters) but there is a focus on personal development, on mental as well as physical well-being, and on managing your emotional development. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is a good thing...and then they go to secondary school where the message appears to be 'conform or be punished'.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There's the academy in Kent in the news this week who sent scores of pupils home for wearing the wrong uniform, where the police had to deal with a 'disturbance' after parents gathered at the school to complain. (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/school-uniform-row-hartswood-kent-headteacher-turns-away-20-more-pupils-margate-matthew-tate-a7229681.html)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Then there's my former high school, now an academy (shock, horror) which threatened pupils with the withdrawal of privileges if parents threatened to question or criticise the school on social media. One parent even likened the school to the Korean Army! </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-34289093)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When did our schools become draconian, military like institutions? Possibly when teachers pay became linked to pupil performance, but that's another blog post all together.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Rather naively I thought schools were there for the education of kids. I also thought that in this new world we live in, they were supposed to be a partnership between pupils, parents and staff. Apparently not. Apparently it's so that a bunch of governors and head teachers with a God complex can impose their authority on a group of 11 year olds by deciding that navy blue is far more respectable than black when it comes to socks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Can you tell I'm angry? You're damn right I'm angry!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In a 2004 report regarding mental health in young people, 1 in 10 young people were found to suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. I dread to think what that figure may be 12 years on. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Starting a new school can be an incredibly stressful time for some kids and instead of helping them with the transition we're threatening them with punishment for incredibly minor infringements of 'rules' that no-one in their right mind gives a crap about. In fact I would love to see the peer-reviewed academic evidence that backs up the claim that detention for everything improves behaviour. Or are we simply trying to run an organisation based on fear, because that's always turned out well...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I fully understand that all organisations need rules, and in the most part I'm a big fan, but then I did work in quality assurance so...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What I'm not a fan of is this nanny state mentality that seems to be filtering into every aspect of our lives. That I'm expected to hand my child over to the school system to be handled however they see fit and have my child face the 'punishment' if I dare to question it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now for some people reading, this will seem like a long rant with no basis. The majority of kids will start secondary school and have no issues at all, in fact many will thrive in a rules based environment. They'll happily drag 15 sets of PE kit to school, they'll wear their regulation socks up to the knee and they'll never hear that dreaded word 'detention'. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In fact, I was one of those kids. Never broke the rules. Spent every lunchtime and after school taking part in some extra-curricular activity. To the extent that in sixth form I was taken to one side by my teachers who were concerned I was going to burn out. Turned out I did, it just took another 15-20 years to happen...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now imagine you're the parent of one of the 1 in 10 kids who suffer from a diagnosable mental illness, or one of the 1 in 15 who deliberately self harm and now decide whether you give a crap about the colour of socks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, 'vive la revolution', 'power to the people' and all that! I'm off to don some stripy knee length socks, and for the record, the 3 year old will be wearing Batman socks to nursery tomorrow!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">P.S: Some of the information/stats for this blog post came from an excellent book called 'Mind Your Head' by Juno Dawson and Dr Olivia Hewitt. Aimed at young people, this covers topics surrounding mental health, presenting them in an clear and supportive way. If you would like to know more about mental health and young people or know a young person who would like to know more, I'd highly recommend this book. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-75028516222236782522016-09-02T03:29:00.002-07:002016-09-02T03:29:33.570-07:00Pinch, Punch, First of the Month...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Pinch, punch first of the month. OK I'm a little bit late. Welcome to my world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yesterday was 1st September and I decided it was a time for new starts. The boys would soon be back at school and I would regain that blissful two hours a day peace I've been craving for the last five weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As I've put on a quite frankly obscene amount of weight and developed a rather useful but unhealthy wine glass shelf on my stomach I figured we would walk to the leisure centre for the boys' swimming lessons, which are handily timed at 1.30 and 4.30.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I soon remembered why I never walk anywhere with the boys, or generally leave the house. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The streets around me are not so much paved with gold but scattered with broken glass and dog crap. The three year old fell off his scooter...twice. Quite frankly I have no idea how he didn't end up torn to shreds or covered in crap - I guess that's something at least.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The eight year old spent the journey saying useful things like, 'I'm really hot' 'My hands hurt' and 'Why do we have to come?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The leisure centre was as grim as ever and the three year old decided to stick his feet down every exposed drain he could find...My proclamations about verrucas and monsters that live in drains quite frankly went over his head and he carried on regardless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The best parts were saved for the town centre where we had to kill the best part of two hours. The boys spent their time trying (not?) to run into people on their scooters and shouting and screaming at the top of their voices. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At this point I decided I shouldn't have let the boys bring their scooters but parenting is full of interesting decisions such as maintaining the safety of little old ladies versus your own sanity...I chose the latter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I figured a drink and a snack in Waterstones cafe would calm the situation. Wrong again! A seemingly harmless game of snakes and ladders turned into World War III as the three year old threw the dice around the room whilst the eight year old constantly shouted at him to play by the rules.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I retreated to the counter to collect my coffee where the bloke serving simply glanced at my stomach and said, 'It could be worse.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I AM NOT FUCKING PREGNANT!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Anyway, I ended up leaving half my coffee as I huffily grabbed the thousands of bags I was carrying and hissed loudly about the boys being a disgrace, never taking them anywhere ever again and complaining that I never see anyone else's kids acting like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I ended up buying the biggest flapjack I could find to ensure that it took the three year old half an hour to eat it during the eight year old's lesson and off we stomped back to the leisure centre.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I finished the day off with another salad and half a bottle of wine. After canvassing opinion on social media it turns out that wine is just fruit and therefore healthy so I have no idea why I haven't lost half a stone yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, there you go. Yet another rambling account of a typical day during the school holidays.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'll be glad when Monday comes along. Even if it's just so I have something a little more interesting to write about!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But the three year old doesn't go back until next Friday, so...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Watch this space!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-49790934955564503552016-08-25T02:27:00.000-07:002016-08-25T02:27:58.305-07:00Result?<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When I was 10 years old I made my first visit to our local rugby club. That was the day that went on to shape my formative years.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">There weren't many young teenage girls in the 90s who spent every weekend surrounded by big burly blokes - well not in my home town anyway! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">By the age of 16 I'd witnessed enough to make my university days seem tame in comparison. Half naked blokes, yards of ale, language that would make your granny blush - just a normal Saturday! For my 18th birthday a group of them even stripped for me, which was...interesting!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Of course it was all good humoured fun. Just a group of blokes releasing the pressures of a hard weeks work. Although how banging a tray repeatedly against your head does that I've still yet to work out...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Anyway, there was a reason why I suddenly decided to write all this down today</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">...it's exam results time. (Stay with me!)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Spending all your time in a rugby club you'd think that the chances of some teenage one on one action would have been quite high. Well, definitely for some, but not really for me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To be honest I looked on most of those around my age in disdain. I didn't like them, they didn't seem to like me. I spent most of my teenage years in an awkward haze. The geeky older sister of the more popular one. I was the one who worked the bar, ran the tuck-shop, helped in the kitchen. They were the ones who went out and got pissed. It was all fine by me. To be fair, they were probably all lovely people, but teenagers can be dicks. Especially me. I was awful.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I screwed up my first chance of 'romance' at the tender age of 14 with an acute attack of embarrassment, met my first boyfriend during sixth form and finally ended up dating a rugby player when I was 19...and the least said about that the better.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">There was that one though. The slightly older unattainable one. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The one who embarrassed the hell out of me by performing the haka only millimetres from my face in the middle of the clubhouse. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The one I could never look straight in the eye afterwards. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The one who made me blush ever so slightly if he so much as glanced in my direction. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was working behind the bar just after GCSE results day. Most people were outside and in he walked, straight up to me in the bar.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"Hey, how you doing?" (Although, he didn't sound like Joey from Friends!)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now, obviously he was ordering a drink but he was talking to me. Just me! I stared resolutely at the beer pump as he continued.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"So, did you get your results?"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I looked up.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"Have you decided what A levels you're doing?"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I placed the pint on the bar. "I've been at university a year now. Studying Law."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And with that he turned a darker shade of pale, mumbled something incoherent and walked off with his pint.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And that ladies and gentleman, is how you cure a crush on a guy with a name like a biscuit!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Not your average results day tale but I hope it raised a smile during what can be a stressful time!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-71646073043181124822016-08-18T11:23:00.000-07:002016-08-18T11:28:56.231-07:00All My Fault...<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I don't swear much but when I do I like to really mean it. So, if you're of a particularly nervous disposition or are offended easily, I suggest you turn away now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What a fucking awful day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Toddler tantrum number three thousand, four hundred and...oh, who am I kidding? I stopped counting months ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It started off well enough. The 3 year old screamed because he didn't want to get dressed, because he didn't want to go to his swimming lesson, because he didn't want to leave the many electronic devices in the house. But I got him into the car, into the leisure centre, into his swimming gear and into the pool. Result! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But then it all started to go wrong and the tiny part of the world I inhabit got to share in the joy that is my child. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And this is where the swearing really starts...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I'd like to thank the people of Altrincham who are, quite frankly, a miserable bunch of judgemental fucktards. Not all of them in fairness but a good proportion. The ones who look on with frowny faces. Audibly tut when you pass them. Stand and stare. Whisper behind their hands. Laugh and shake their heads. One women even altered her path to avoid us like we had the fucking bubonic plague!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now obviously my 3 year old's behaviour is my fault. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's my fault he refused to go to bed last night. It's my fault he got up at stupid o'clock this morning. It's my fault I took him out for a lovely lunch. It's my fault I refused to buy him the bubbles. It's my fault he's grown out of his trousers and I need to buy him new ones. It's my fault I try to stop him from licking lamp-posts. It's my fault he has to wear shoes in town. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's my fault I refused to go back for the bubbles. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's my fault I have to hold his hand whilst crossing the road. It's my fault he can't stick his hand down the side of moving escalators. It's my fault I refused to go back for the fucking bubbles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But this is all I accept responsibility for. Everything else is firmly his fault. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I hate the way fucking middle class twats in this part of the world take any and every opportunity to look down on others. The way that they pretend that their children never had tantrums. If you're claiming they haven't then I'd suggest that (1) they're either too scared of you to do so (bit worrying), (2) their emotional development is slightly in question, (3) you've blocked the trauma from your memory, or (4) you're fucking lying!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I know it's slightly annoying when someone is screaming at the top of their lungs, but guess what? I live with him! And I put up with it far more than you do. And no, there is nothing wrong with my child, but thank you ever so much for your concern random stranger. HE'S JUST 3!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">After subjecting the good people of this blessed plot to my child's quite frankly, appalling behaviour we went back to the Leisure Centre for round 2 - the 8 year old's swimming lesson.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The dirty, stinky, cesspit that is Altrincham Leisure Centre then proceeded to mug me for another set of swimming lessons for the boys and a certificate and badge for the 3 year old. A badge which he immediately lost under a vending machine and I had to spend a good proportion of time on my hands and knees looking for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">After I'd spent a good ten minutes at reception trying to pay whilst shouting at the 3 year old to stop swinging on the turnstile the receptionist laughed and said, 'And you'll have another one to pay for before long'!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I simply stared back as the realisation of what she'd said sunk in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now, I know I've had to suspend my gym membership during the holidays and I've consumed a fair amount of chocolate and beer just to maintain my sanity...but in no way do I look fucking pregnant!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I then had to buy a bottle of cherry coke and a Yorkie to calm my nerves and spent the rest of the day looking at myself sideways in mirrors and shop windows to assess the damage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So, just in case you require an executive summary: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">- 3 year old's are mini explosive devices ready to go off at any second;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">- The people of Altrincham are judgemental fucktards;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">- I am fat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">APPROACH WITH EXTREME CAUTION!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-22247032278662472262016-08-12T00:36:00.000-07:002016-08-12T00:36:35.015-07:00We're Going On A Wine Hunt<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, I've been a little bit quiet recently so in true Blue Peter style, here's something I made earlier!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Some of you will have seen this little poem before on my Facebook page but I figured it deserved another outing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">With apologies to Michael Rosen. It's intended as an affectionate parody, rather than blatant plagiarism - please don't sue me, I'm not worth it...</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
We're going on a wine hunt</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
We're going to pour a big one</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
What a crappy day!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
Everyone be scared</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
Uh-uh! Project homework!<br />Crappy project homework<br />We can’t ignore it<br />We can’t just fudge it<br />Better just do it<br />Glue, stick. Glue, stick. Glue, stick.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We’re going on a wine hunt<br />We’re going to pour a big one<br />What a crappy day!<br />Everyone be scared</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Uh-uh! A tantrum!<br />A massive toddler tantrum<br />We can’t ignore it<br />Can’t we just ignore it?<br />We’re going to ignore it<br />Stamp, kick. Stamp, kick. Stamp, kick</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We’re going on a wine hunt<br />We’re going to pour a big one<br />What a crappy day!<br />Everyone be scared</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Uh-uh! A dress up day!<br />Another frigging dress up day<br />We can’t ignore it<br />Can we ignore it?<br />Better just scramble around at midnight pulling together an old curtain and a pair of tights into an anglo-saxon costume. (whilst wishing we’d ignored it)<br />Sew, swear. Sew, swear. Sew, swear.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We’re going on a wine hunt<br />We’re going to pour a big one<br />What a crappy day!<br />Everyone be scared</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Uh-uh! Bed-time!<br />Apocalyptic bed-time.<br />We tried to bath it<br />We tried to calm it<br />So why is it running round the living room at 10pm in just a pull up acting like a little…?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We’re going on a wine hunt<br />We’re going to pour a big one<br />What a crappy day!<br />Everyone be scared</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Uh-uh! The sofa<br />The lovely comfy sofa.<br />We can’t move off it.<br />Don’t want to move off it.<br />Better just close...our...eyes...on...it…...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe!<br />WHAT’s THAT?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
One pounding head!<br />Two bloodshot eyes!<br />A furry mouth!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
IT’S A HANGOVER!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We’re not going on a wine hunt again!</div>
</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-52271597114628185952016-07-31T03:54:00.000-07:002016-07-31T03:54:35.314-07:00A Weekend in Manchester...Sans Enfants!<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I think I've discovered the perfect start to the summer holidays...Dump the kids on Grandma and go have your own grown up/child like fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hubby and I headed out into the big city on Friday night for some whisky blending fun. Two hours later we emerged slightly more knowledgeable (although, please don't test me because, you know...whisky drinking) armed with two plastic bottles of personalised and 'unique' blends secreted in the inner pocket of hubby's coat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Next stop, food! So off we went in search of some very fashionable, uber trendy chicken in a basket washed down with a root beer. Tick!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Our last call of the night was the Cloud 23 bar at the Hilton which has been on my 'must-do' list for a while. After queuing on the 'carpeted area' for a while we were finally allowed access to the lift by the guy pretending to be Kiefer Sutherland in 24. The views were pretty breathtaking and it triggered a memory of a very similar bar we'd been in in Havana, Cuba. You know, before kids...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We took a few obligatory selfies whilst waiting for our drinks to arrive when it suddenly occurred to me that I was enclosed in a glass case 23 stories up, with only a guarded lift as my escape route. Cue the mild panic attack. So we paid over £20 for two drinks which were left mainly untouched on the table, I imagine to the bemusement of the lovely waitress who apparently earned a 10% tip according to the bill...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But this is where the real excitement starts! On Saturday I dragged hubby to Comic Con!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I donned my Lt Uhura dress and knee boots, attracting the attention of a particular guy on the tram who wasn't sure where to look so just took to staring at regular intervals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And then the queuing began...the loooong snaking walking queue to get in, the queue to buy a £2.50 bottle of warm Sprite. But nothing could dampen my enthusiasm, although I'm not sure I can say the same for hubby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I browsed the stalls like a kid let loose in a sweet shop - how much memorabilia could I possibly acquire? And where the hell could I put it all? In the end I settled for a mystery box (oooooh!), a cuddly Captain Kirk (obviously), a signed book about strange goings on at a fictional University set in Lancaster (sounds intriguing), a board game (my first proper board game beyond the likes of Monopoly) and some bits for the kids (figured I shouldn't forget about them completely).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I returned Vulcan salutes, had a chat with a guy about 2 year degrees, saw Robert Llewelyn and Warwick Davis, stood near the 'Iron Throne', was blown away by some pretty awesome cos-play, was referred to as Lieutenant by a fellow Trekkie and had my photo taken with some random guy who liked my outfit...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It was AWESOME!! An incredibly inclusive, fun , not-your-typical Saturday afternoon out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After a quick pint (Lt Uhura and the newly acquired Captain Kirk were now off duty) we headed home for our first piece of board game action. We played Pandemic three times and saved the world twice - not bad for newbies!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A bottle of Prosecco and a wee dram later and I managed to pull a muscle sitting on the floor playing Rummikub - the well known extreme sport! I then headed off to bed with some paracetamol to frequent cries of 'ow, ooh, ah' and not for good reasons...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, as I contemplate picking the kids up I reflect on a pretty amazing weekend. Turning over 100% of the summer holidays to the kids is totally over-rated. I thoroughly recommend taking a weekend to reconnect with your inner child - or in my case, geek!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-4237414961958172682016-07-12T02:09:00.000-07:002016-07-12T02:09:01.692-07:00This is a Party Political Broadcast...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In this time of national crisis we need a strong leader. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A leader who can unite the country under a banner of common ideals. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A leader who will not shy away from the challenge at hand but will meet it head on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A leader who knows what needs to be done but can do it whilst rocking a killer pair of kitten heels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I therefore hereby announce the formation of the Power to Parents Party (PPP). My manifesto is as follows:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Extra funding for the research and development of hangover-free alcohol and fat free chocolate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Free babysitters for all on Friday nights.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Children's bedroom doors will be set on a time-lock at weekends, only opening at 9am.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Any child waking up at 3am will be deemed to have breached the human rights of the parents and dealt with accordingly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All children's extra-curricular activities will be outlawed before 11am at the weekend.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Detention without trial for all under 18's with the sign off of at least 1 parent.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">An immediate end to school 'dress up' days.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">An immediate end to 'project homework'.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Children's birthday parties will consist of sausage and pineapple on sticks with a round of musical chairs and pass the parcel. All other forms of birthday celebration (football parties, bouncy castle hire, rock climbing, crafts etc.) will be outlawed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At least 1 'duvet day' per month per parent with Mary Poppins on speed-dial.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Panini company will be banned from creating any more sticker albums.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The following programmes will be banned: Numberjacks, Paw Patrol, Topsy and Tim and anything that has been subject to a 'remake' (i.e. Bob the Builder, Danger Mouse, Teletubbies, Postman Pat, The Clangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles etc. etc)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">YouTube will be immediately taken down with anyone caught 'vlogging' being subject to detention without trial.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Wifi codes will be changed weekly and only made available when the bins have been taken out and clothes put back in drawers/cupboards.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As a mum, I feel I am more than qualified to run the country on this mandate and I have it on good authority that dads can be quite useful at times as well. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Membership of the party is now open and changes/additions to the manifesto will be considered when submitted in triplicate to the PPP committee at least 6 months before the relevant meeting. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Cheques supporting the campaign can be made payable to the PPP (US dollars only please). I look forward to your support. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">*Thank you very much.......doo, doo, doo, doo. Right. Good*</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">POWER TO PARENTS!</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-31138020939392695162016-07-06T02:35:00.000-07:002016-07-06T02:35:52.132-07:00Fundraising Fatigue?<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've been the Co-Chair of my local primary school PTA for 4 years now and in that time the PTA has gone from strength to strength. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've tracked down missing ice-cream vans, detached £1 coins super-glued to reply forms in the wee hours of the morning, tried to work out who exactly the Christmas card design with no name in a school of over 400 belongs to, harangued people to buy tickets via Facebook and spent hours costing juice cartons at every available retailer in the Greater Manchester area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've written minutes and annual reports, contributed to newsletters (late almost every week it should be added), designed leaflets, taken photos and flexed my event management muscles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've laughed, I've cried and I've also needed the odd glass of vino to calm down. But overall it's been an incredible experience. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've made new friends and become a part of the school community. And all this whilst looking after a young baby/toddler. In fact, I was almost 8 months pregnant when I volunteered and can clearly remember running home from my first Christmas fair with leaky boobs to feed the 6 week old! (Too much info?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the time that I've been involved with the PTA, the committee have experienced births, deaths, marriages, illness and hospital stays. We've looked after each others kids when things don't quite go to plan. We've shed a tear or two, offered shoulders to cry on and visits to the pub when a shoulder just isn't enough. We've drunk copious amounts of coffee and spent hours crafting, crocheting, cutting and glueing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And it's not just the committee. We're fortunate to have a dedicated bunch of volunteers willing to run stalls, sell coffee, set up events, fold raffle tickets and anything else we can set our mind to! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Just not as many volunteers as we would like...but that's a different issue!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Last year we hit the £10k target for the first time and I was over the moon. We've funded iPads and books, cooking and sporting equipment, activities and trips, music projects and much much more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All of a sudden the hard work seemed worthwhile! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But then reality hit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We'd have to do it all again next year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I had 'Fundraising Fatigue'. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Why can't someone else do it? Does anyone really care? What's the point? Another bake sale? Aaaaaaaaaah!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A few of us felt stuck in a rut. New fundraising ideas were rejected at meetings and we felt we were rehashing the same ideas over and over again. A case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it!'</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The consensus was to 'Keep Calm and Carry on' (the cliches are coming thick and fast at the moment!) and so we did. We arranged the fairs and the bake sales and the Christmas cards and the Mother's Day gifts and the Father's Day gifts... and we're on track to smash the £10k mark again this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Was I simply stuck in a rut or is it time to move on? It's hard to know and at least I've got until September to mull it over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What is certain is that our school PTA is an incredible organisation supported not only by the committee, but by parents, staff and pupils. So I'm dedicating this blog post to all my PTA friends, past and present. To those that listen to me moan on a daily basis and to those that are always available via Facebook Messsenger. To those that apologise for not being able to do more and to those who do whatever they can.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Will I continue in role? Possibly... Probably... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Depends whether the school and parents still want me. Or whether a slightly hormonal, heavily pregnant, over-eager mum turns up to the AGM. See you there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-30060465353982662422016-06-26T03:35:00.000-07:002016-06-26T03:35:42.754-07:00Moving On...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You've probably gathered now that I'm firmly in the Remain camp. Two days on and I'm still angry, confused and upset over the decision. But the majority have spoken.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If I put aside for the moment concerns about the economy, about jobs, about political stability and so on, what has really worried me over the past 24 hours is the way people are treating each other.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There have been some messages on Facebook which I've found genuinely upsetting. Members of the Leave camp telling others to grow up, to get over themselves, to stop being hysterical. Members of the Remain camp making personal and insulting comments about those that have voted to Leave.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">These kind of comments show a basic lack of understanding and compassion for what other people are going through. The irony being that the people making these kind of comments are banging on about democracy in action and then want to deny people their freedom of speech.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And let's face it. If the vote had gone the other way we would be seeing exactly the same kind of uproar on social media, just the other way round. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've seen debates go on for weeks in the media about the winner of the Great British Bake Off, about dogs cheating on Britain's Got Talent, about controversial voting in X Factor and yet only 24 hours after a vote which could potentially change every aspect of our lives we're supposed to just accept and it move on!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The real cause of anxiety for many people is the fear of the unknown. No-one really knows what's going to happen and there will probably be winners and losers. But I do believe that this will impact people's lives.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What about the Brit living and working in continental Europe who is paid in sterling and suddenly has no idea how much money they have to live on?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What about the Europeans living in the UK, or the Brits living abroad who suddenly have no idea what their future holds?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What about those working for companies based in the UK who may see their job shifted to the continent?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Only 2 days on and we're already hearing that the House of Commons is in turmoil. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">One of the shadow cabinet is sacked and approximately half have threatened to leave. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Prime Minister has stepped down and somewhat churlishly refused to action Article 50 until his successor is in place. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Conservative party are fighting over who will be the next PM and are already backtracking and saying there is no need to rush to invoke Article 50 while the EU are telling us to get out already! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Lib Dems wade in by saying they will rejoin the EU if elected, but I think you'll find they don't want us after this! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Some organisations and countries around the world must be rubbing their hands together in glee at the fact that we've pressed the 'Self-Destruct' button,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A petition demanding another referendum has reached over 2 million signatories and will therefore have to be debated in Parliament. Personally I think this is a backwards step. After all the pain the referendum has caused why the hell would we want to go through all that again? And where does it end? If the vote went the other way on the second attempt would the Leave campaign demand another referendum. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We have to accept the decision and plan for the future but we also need to understand that some people will find this difficult. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The irony is that at the moment we've chosen to break free we actually need to show unity. We need to stand together to make the best of what we have. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And the first thing we can do is show compassion towards our friends who might feel differently to us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">People are upset. Let them scream. Let them shout. Freedom of speech is one of the important pillars of our society. Let's not lose that as well. </span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-14532288748605144062016-06-24T02:24:00.000-07:002016-06-24T02:24:40.272-07:00Better Out Than In?<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I promised myself I wouldn't touch the keyboard today but my fingers are twitching and better out than in...apparently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Kubler-Ross Change Curve, also known as the 5 stages of grief, is widely used to try and help people understand and manage their feelings whilst going through a period of change. I'm firmly entrenched in stage 1: shock and denial, and decided to get my initial thoughts down before I move into stage 2: anger and blame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I went to bed about 1am last night. There was no way that I could stay up and still function today so I decided to call it a night. I slept fitfully, waking at 3am and 4am, checking my phone for updated results. When I woke at 6.45 the decision had been made. We're out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm devastated. There are simply no other words for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Cameron played the biggest gamble of his political career and he lost. But he didn't just lose for himself, he lost for all of us and now he's simply stepped aside to let others clear up the mess (some stage 2 feelings creeping in there!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The past few weeks have seen some truly ugly scenes and I fear that this is only the beginning. A 52% win for the Leave side is by no means a landslide and there are millions of people who will feel lost and disenfranchised by the decision.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The school playground was abuzz with political chatter this morning, groups of parents standing round after drop off to discuss the outcome. The vast majority appear to be in shock. Fearful of the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Having said that I have friends and family who have voted Leave. None of them are the skin headed white supremacists that some people would have you believe,</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> but normal everyday people living normal everyday lives. Whilst the fascists clearly exist they are certainly not in the majority. Leave voters are people like everyone else, concerned about jobs, about democracy, about corruption. They believe they have voted for a better future. I hope they're right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I fully respect the democratic process and will eventually accept that the majority of the country want this, but at the moment I'm struggling to understand how anyone could want a leap into the great unknown given the instability of the global political climate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'm English. I'm British. I'm European. I'm Human. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But at the moment I'm struggling to feel proud to be any of them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-38021824751092754502016-06-22T01:40:00.000-07:002016-06-22T01:40:58.427-07:00Love versus Hate<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We live in a climate of fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Fear of boarding a plane, a train a bus. Fear of walking the streets in broad daylight or at night. Fear of acting or fear of not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Some people are able to deal with these fears head on. Take them in their stride and go about their everyday lives. Others are not so fortunate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In the last few weeks at home and abroad we have been reminded almost daily about the horrors around us. 49 people shot dead in a nightclub, an MP brutally shot and stabbed in the street, a road rage incident leaving a man fighting for his life, a young woman killed in a car accident at a notoriously dangerous junction in my home town, another shot dead whilst meeting and greeting fans in the US. And these are only the ones that come to mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's only natural to feel anxious about the world around us when confronted with stories such as these and after the horrors of last Thursday I felt that I had completely lost my faith in humanity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The introduction of 24 hour news, of rolling coverage, </span><span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">of social media may mean that we are more informed (although whether being constantly updated with speculation and opinion rather than fact is useful is debatable) but it has also made us </span><span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">more fearful of the world we live in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">Horrors, tragedies, accidents, atrocities take place on a daily basis around the world and always have done, we are simply more aware of them now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I didn't watch the Referendum debate on TV last night, in my mind there is nothing more to be said. The campaigns on both sides have been fuelled by fear, hate and anger with both sides working hard to debunk the facts and statistics presented by the other. There has been nothing positive about this campaign and I have been reminded of a GCSE History project I did (many moons ago!) regarding Nazi propaganda.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In an interview with the Guardian, Brendan Cox said that his wife was killed because of her political views. He said that she had been worried about the direction of politics in the UK and abroad, "particularly about creating division and playing on people's worst fears rather than their best instincts."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sadly, this seems to be the way that the media and politics work today. Scaring people into submission, into making decisions based on fear and lies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">Today would have been Jo Cox's birthday and I have decided that today I will not be driven by fear but by love and gratitude. I am grateful for my husband and my boys, for my family spread around the UK and abroad and for my friends who are always there with a shoulder and a cup of coffee. I'm grateful that tomorrow I have the power to go to my local church and put a cross in a box and I'm grateful that I live in a society where I can put my thoughts down on paper and send them out into the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">Fear and hate may be powerful but they will not rule my life. What will you be grateful for today?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-36062634906366122162016-06-16T15:07:00.000-07:002016-06-16T15:07:41.422-07:00A personal take on the horrific events of today. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was sitting on the side of the swimming pool today waving at the 3 year old splashing about during his lesson, browsing Facebook on my phone when I read the status, "Been a shooting in Birstall. Lock your doors."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A quick scan confirmed that the unthinkable had happened. A woman had been shot in the centre of Birstall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My mum, sister and members of my extended family live and work in Birstall. A small market town in West Yorkshire it seemed unbelievable that anything like this could possibly happen there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I called my mum who confirmed that it had happened in the last hour, she'd brought the kids inside and locked the doors. As far as everyone knew the gunman was still on the loose and people were rightly terrified.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The rumour mill was soon in full swing. She had been stabbed as well as shot. There was more than one gunman. They were still on the loose. It was a targeted attack. She'd intervened in an altercation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What was clear was that no-one really knew what had happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At home I watched the rolling news coverage in disbelief. The market square I've driven up and down countless times swarming with armed police and journalists. The bustle of market day replaced by something much more sinister.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's at times like this I should step away from social media. There's nothing that Facebook and Twitter could add to the situation that I need or want to know. But I didn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I soon found myself in a bit of a Facebook spat about the claim that the shooter had shouted "Britain First" before shooting. To my mind there was no evidence to support this and turning the incident into a racist/religious/xenophobic attack without proper facts simply feeds hatred and ignorance. Some people seemed to think I was defending the shooter. That I wouldn't feel this way if the shooter had been Muslim. This was an argument I was never going to win and so I stepped away from the conversation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the last hour I've read that the eye-witness was misquoted, but this was immediately tweeted and reported (or copied and pasted) by other media outlets and the damage was done. The BBC are now running the story that the shooter may have shouted 'Put Britain First'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We might not know whether the shooter shouted 'Put Britain first' or 'Britain First' but t</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">he media, social media and members of the public were very quick to draw their own conclusions based on a potentially incorrect quote from one eye-witness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The way the media, or at least some media outlets, operate in this country disgusts me. No longer content with reporting the news they seem intent on creating or manipulating it for their own gain. The need to create the most inflammatory click-bait headlines seems to over-ride any form of decency or common sense. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What better news story than to link an attack on an MP to the upcoming referendum? Don't even get me started on the bile that spewed forth from the Twitter account of Nick Griffin today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The motives of the shooter are as of yet unknown but there are those who feel the need to slap a label on it. Was it terrorism? Was it extremism? Was it politics in action?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">No. It was murder. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Jo Cox was a wife, a mother, a proud Yorkshire lass, and she was ripped from her family through the actions of one man. Her husband released an incredible statement this evening. "She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn't have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">From one proud Yorkshire lass to another, rest in peace Jo. </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-52596690258708056372016-06-13T06:51:00.000-07:002016-06-13T06:51:12.885-07:00Got the Holiday Bug?<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I guess we've all been there...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We're in the middle of an amazing holiday with extended family at The Old Mill in Norfolk (check out their 5 star reviews on Tripadvisor). The sun is shining, the pool is heated, the Prosecco is flowing and the BBQ has been fired up, when all of a sudden I start to feel decidedly dodgy. Assuming I'd had a little too much sun (in England?! During half term?!) I went for a lie down. Later that evening I spent a considerable amount of time attached to the loo whilst simultaneously vomiting into a Buzz Lightyear potty. A feat I am still incredibly proud of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Turns out it wasn't sun, anxiety or too much Prosecco but a bug which was slowly working its way through the Crosby clan. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Not a great way to end a holiday but one must keep calm and carry on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thankfully the effects were short-lived and I awoke feeling wiped out but capable of making the 150 mile journey back to Grandma's house. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Then disaster struck! </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The 3 year old had thrown up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Granny sprung into action like a cleaning ninja! Stripping the 3 year old, disinfecting the floor, rinsing the clothes. I could only step back and marvel whilst trying to hold onto the now severely depleted contents of my stomach. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The 3 year old took it all in his stride and carried on as if nothing had happened. Making the most of those last few moments with his cousins. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Crisis over...Or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Half an hour into the journey I was roused from an attempted nap by strange sounds coming from the back seat. The 3 year old had thrown up. And was continuing to throw up. All over himself, the car seat, the portable DVD player and the BRAND NEW CAR! The brand new, shiny, sparkling, company car which had been on order for months and was delivered the day before we were due to go on holiday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hubby tested out the new brakes and pulled into the nearest available spot. A spot which just happened to be the only driveway for miles around and, as per the law of sod, approximately 30 seconds later after jumping out of the car to attempt the clean up the owners of said driveway arrived home. After causing a minor traffic jam the owners gave up and parked on the grass verge. I mouthed a rather pathetic 'sorry' and carried on with the task at hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Obviously, we had no idea where anything was having just piled the bags into the bag for the journey home. The poor 3 year old ended up half naked on the side of the road, standing on his Batman coat in bare feet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ten minutes later, having done the best we could with the roll of toilet paper we found randomly stuffed into a bag, we were on our way. Not wanting to spread the bug to the other half of the family the journey to Grandma's was abandoned and we headed home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The journey took 7 hours. The same amount of time it had taken Grandma to fly from New York to Manchester that morning. During those 7 hours we experienced monsoon like conditions as we crossed the Pennines, two more vomiting sessions from the 3 year old (all skilfully caught in the now indispensable Buzz Lightyear potty) and a queue of traffic on the Woodhead Pass to rival anything the M25 can throw at you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But finally we were home. Travel weary we emptied the car and slumped onto the sofa. An hour or so passed when hubby came downstairs and put his arms around me. "Now I don't want you to get upset...but the cat's been sick. Behind the bedroom door."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">FFS...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-10264133833957052532016-05-26T12:35:00.000-07:002016-05-26T12:35:32.856-07:00Showing Restraint...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Do you think it's possible to take out a restraining order against your own kids? If so, I'm thinking about applying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My kids have a perfectly pleasant middle class existence. They live in a nice house with a garden which is just around the corner from the park. They each have their own room, the 3 year old is having a new exciting bed delivered tomorrow. They have three solid meals a day including pudding, snacks and juice. They take part in activities such as swimming, tennis and lacrosse. Grandma is taking them to Blackpool for the weekend tomorrow and they even have their own annual passes to Legoland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But apparently, this isn't good enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After having a (jokey) conversation with hubby about how I'm the only girl in the house and think it's about time we finally get a lock on the bathroom door, I waved him goodbye to a fun filled evening at a Radiohead gig in London. I imagined a peaceful evening of reading, writing and a cheeky glass of wine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">How wrong could I be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Firstly, the 3 year old took great exception to leaving his friends house and so decided to jump on the furniture and generally act like a little sh1t (this is mum code to use around kids who can't spell...) Neither the threat of the naughty step or going on amber worked - in fact, both options seemed highly hilarious to him. After finally dragging him out of the house, somehow managing not to drop him on his head in the process, it then took me another five or so minutes to strap him into the car seat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There I was, arse hanging out of a fully opened car door trying desperately to prevent myself getting kicked in the head with a plastic minion shoe. When I eventually got them off his feet he took to throwing them at me instead. As cars sped past behind my behind I idly wondered whether spending the evening in hospital would be a better option...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The 3 year old kept up the tantrum for a good hour, demanding to be driven back to his friends house long after we had arrived home and the door safely locked behind us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the meantime, the 8 year old needed feeding. I hastily threw together the most random tea ever (a cheese sandwich and sweet potato tagliatelle if you're interested) and plonked it down in front of him to go try and reason with the 3 year old. Two minutes later, "Mum, can I have pudding?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"One, two, three..." I counted to myself very quietly, placing a pot of rice pudding in front of the 8 year old. "This isn't what I had in mind," came the reply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Up until this point I'm not sure I understood that phrase about the red mist descending...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thus followed an incredibly dramatic performance from the 8 year old worthy of one or two BAFTA's. Apparently I should stop buying rice pudding, it's the worst thing ever, why can't he have something else, it's not fair, you're always doing this to me, scream, shout, kick, stamp etc. etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Needless to say this went on for some time. The only positive thing to come from this was that the 3 year old found the whole thing so amusing he cheered up, agreed to get dressed for bed and settled down with some milk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After several failed attempts at apologising to me, mainly because each time he immediately asked for a biscuit and milk and stamped and screamed a bit more each time the answer came back as no, the 8 year old finally cried himself to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now, it's at this point that I start to feel guilty. Chastising myself for not handling the situation better, after all I'm the adult etc. But after assessing the fridge situation it became apparent that the only thing for tea was a vegetable stir fry and there was no wine in the fridge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So here I am, venting my frustration at you after a thoroughly disappointing plate of veg and no wine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The only consolation? I'm drinking hubby's beer!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-74941694653828501402016-05-18T09:29:00.001-07:002016-05-18T09:29:45.836-07:00Excuses, excuses...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Writing has taken a bit of a back seat recently. When I first got going a few months ago I was writing every day. Knocking out blog post after blog post, entering short story competitions, planning my debut best seller.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now it's excuse after excuse to justify a distinct lack of writing activity.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This morning I packed a note book and pen in my gym bag fully intending to spend an hour writing after class. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After forty-five minutes of press ups and weights I decamped to Costa (other coffee shops are available) and that's when the excuses began.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">First of all, I couldn't get comfy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My usual coffee shop (Costa in Waterstones) has closed down awaiting a refit and re-brand so I was forced to use the Costa literally 10 strides away (possibly the reason for the Waterstones branch closing down was its proximity to another of the same brand...) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But this Costa just doesn't feel right. It serves the same coffee, offers the same variety of tasty treats and snacks - but it's just not the same. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I chose a seat next to the window upstairs and that's when the second excuse hit...It was too cold. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The air conditioning was turned up way too high and I was shivering despite wrapping my hands around a large cappuccino. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So I moved to another table. I sat staring into the middle distance, an open note book and pen laying in front of me. Then came the the third excuse...My arms hurt.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After attending a class aimed at toning the upper arms I decided that my puny arms couldn't possibly cope with lifting a pen as well as a cappuccino and I reasoned that the cappuccino was more important. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After a fair amount of people watching I figured I could either pick up the pen for twenty minutes or have a quick trawl round the shops...and as everyone knows, you can't get anything done in twenty minutes, so off to the shops I went.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Twenty minutes later equipped with new foundation, primer, a blusher brush and a strapless bra I set off to pick up the youngest from nursery confident that I'd done everything possible to kick start the writing habit this morning and maybe I should try again tomorrow.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Now if you'll excuse me I have a sudden urge to scrub some bathroom tiles...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-67471022098079380232016-05-12T14:52:00.000-07:002016-05-12T14:52:57.103-07:00Survival of the Fittest<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Good news. We survived the camping trip!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There may have been an incident with an incredibly big knife (anyone remember that scene in Crocodile Dundee??) but there were no hospital trips and the number of cuts and bruises were minimal...although I knew the antiseptic wipes and minion plasters would come in handy.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Soon after arrival the kids decided that the toilets were quite a long way away and insisted on using nature for...well, the call of nature. Mums turned a blind eye whilst considering how to prevent the youngest from peeing behind the Wendy house in the nursery playground on the return to school while the Dads happily joined in. Although in their defence, the boys toilets were apparently, "too grim for words". The bog in a bag also got a positive review at 2am...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After realising that I'd packed 2 sets of PJ's for the 3 year old and none for the 8 year old we finally got the kids off to bed and secretly toasted the first batch of marshmallows whilst sipping Prosecco from proper glass champagne flutes - cos apparently that's how camping works these days.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At almost 1am we retreated into our sleeping bags and suddenly realised we were camping next to an incredibly busy A road...we'd been having far too much fun and making too much noise to realise before that. 5 or 6 hours later with absolutely no sleep between us, we crawled out of our sleeping bags secretly regretting that last glass of Prosecco and wishing a horrible death on the noisiest flock of birds ever to grace a field in Cheshire.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The threatened storm finally made an appearance around 8pm on Saturday. Kids ran around shrieking whilst adults attempted to batten down the hatches as fork lightning lit up the sky. It was at this point that the group split into three distinct groups; the 'retreat to the bar' posse, the 'grin and bear it under the gazebo' posse and the 'this is a great opportunity to put the kids to bed' posse.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I fell into the latter. Whilst the 8 year old stayed up with the men-folk to tend the fire, I happily snuggled into my sleeping bag with the 3 year old, listening to the rain and having some one-to-one time with my Kindle. Heaven!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The 8 year old finally changed out of the clothes he'd been wearing since leaving for school on Friday morning on Sunday, having slept in them for two nights. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Having spent all weekend trying to get the kids to stop snacking we now force fed them all the food and snacks left on site to prevent having to pack it into the car. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">With multiple coffees and bacon/sausage/egg butties out of the way (courtesy of the most comprehensive camping kitchen outfit ever seen) the tents were finally packed away, the cars loaded and w</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">e went our separate ways; some to the local pub, some to a rugby match, some simply to the comfort of the sofa.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So, will we do it again? We're already planning the next trip!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-68399445645299821172016-05-06T05:31:00.000-07:002016-05-06T05:31:40.500-07:00To Camp Or Not To Camp...<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To camp or not to camp? That is the question...</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1d82c992-8609-ca89-4c1b-227ed15b14cc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm not a huge fan of camping (being more of a luxury 5 star hotel and spa kind of gal) but a group of us decided to try a group camping trip last year and we had an amazing time...apart from the middle of the night trips to the toilet blocks to throw up as I managed to pick up a delightful stomach bug on the first night. But the least said about that the better.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, we've decided to go again, and this year there are more of us! As 14 adults and 17 children descend on the unsuspecting camp site this weekend I'm wondering what the weekend will bring.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A week ago we were contemplating cancelling the trip as the prospect of spending two nights in a tent with hailstones the size of golf balls falling on us started to lose its appeal. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few days ago we got excited about the potential heatwave and scrambled around buying outdoor toys and sun-cream.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today the BBC weather forecast has updated to the following: </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whilst the majority of places within this warning area will see a dry and very warm Saturday with a good deal of hazy sunshine there is a a very low likelihood of isolated intense thunderstorms developing during the afternoon and evening. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please be aware that if these occur they are likely to be associated with torrential downpours as well as frequent lightning and hail leading to disruption to travel, outdoor activities and potentially flooding or temporary power disruption. Some very localised strong and gusty winds are also possible.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, now we’re packing sun-cream alongside brollies, flip-flops alongside wellies. There’s even the promise of a bog in a bag from someone slightly more prepared than I will ever be!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, will we survive? Who knows? But if hailstones the size of golf balls (or petit pois for that matter) are falling at any point, chances are you’ll find be in the on-site bar!</span></div>
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-59390465990265812712016-05-02T06:18:00.000-07:002016-05-02T06:18:59.200-07:00It's a Classic Part 2...<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In my previous blog post 'It's a Classic' I contemplated whether I should broaden my reading horizons and branch out into 'classic' fiction rather than simply contemporary. I figured it was time to give the old guys a chance...although I have to admit I cheated a little.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Instead of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights or Bleak House, I opted for The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye. Two of the 'three perfect books' in American literature according to the critic Adam Gopnik, the other being The Adventures of Hucklebury Finn. (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/02/100-best-novels-catcher-in-the-rye-jd-salinger-holden-caulfield)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">There's something that appeals to me about American novels set in this time period. Full of hope and excitement rather than despair and gross inequality. The streets are paved with gold rather than mill soot and there's a bit more intrigue to them than 'will she marry for money or follow her heart and stick with the stable boy?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I can feel you all shaking your collective heads despondently. Such a negative perspective, you say, and I would have to agree. But it's quite a difficult one to shake off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I grew up in a former mill town in Yorkshire, not poor but certainly not rich. A traditional working class family with hard working parents trying to make something of their lives. I grew up with a book in my hand and quickly established a preference for pure escapism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">America may as well have been Mars as far as I was concerned. An exciting land millions of miles away full of exciting people with shiny teeth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Anything that involved the 'so called' lower classes doffing their hats to the 'supposed' upper echelons made me see red. An entire novel based on whether some privileged young woman would spend her life sewing/playing the piano/reading to elderly relatives in one drawing room or the one on the estate next door was not my idea of a good time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Anyway...I enjoyed The Great Gatsby (and the recent film even more than the book *gasp*) but The Catcher in the Rye did absolutely nothing for me...because nothing happened. Here was a book that many have cited as changing their lives but after turning the last page I was left thinking, 'Was that it?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I'm guessing I was supposed to identify with the main characters social awkwardness, with his attempts to understand the world around him, with his battles against the perceptions and privileges of those he was required to deal with. But, how does a girl from a Yorkshire mining town identify with a teenage boy who can afford to leave his private boarding school early to spend a boozy weekend in New York hotels?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I am acutely aware that I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder when it comes to class and social status...and with the current state of politics the chip is starting to turn into a full-on wooden plank...but reading for pleasure is essentially that. For pleasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I choose to read books that transport me, whether that's physically transported </span><span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">to fantastical lands and alien civilisations, or emotionally transported into lives that I find engaging.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">Sadly (or not?) I'm still not convinced that the race to bag a rich husband is my cup of tea. Although, I promise to give it a go one day. Honest...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-34647250835337011062016-04-17T04:22:00.000-07:002016-04-17T04:22:55.768-07:00Happy Holidays?<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm back! Miss me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Writing has taken a bit of a back seat recently as I have been stuck in purgatory, otherwise known as the school holidays. The place where you should be having fun - full of baking, outdoor activities, craft activities and the like - but are secretly counting down the days to handing the kids over to the school staff and enjoying a cup of coffee whilst it's still warm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Week one was spent under house arrest as the 3 year old had chicken pox. My time was mainly spent mediating Wii wars, doling out snacks every 30 seconds and using the phrases, 'For goodness sake,' and 'Will you 2 stop it,' whilst hiding behind the kitchen cupboard door to mutter a few choice expletives and stuff chocolate in my potty mouth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Week 2 was spent at Center Parcs, which was fab but you kind of need a holiday afterwards to recuperate. Some of the more choice incidents were: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Losing the 3 year old's coat after being in Center Parcs for approximately an hour. Obviously Mummy had failed to pack a spare or attach a tracking device to all clothing and so for the first 24 hours Mummy nobly handed over her coat and got wet instead. Fortunately, the lovely Center Parcs people called us the day after to say it had been found. Wahoo!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The 7 year old managing to lose his bike lock key 3 times in 3 days. Following a mad panic and being on the verge of tears, he finally found the key in his pocket...every time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Having to dispose of the 3 year old's trousers and pants in the furthest bin we could find after a rather unfortunate 'accident' in the indoor adventure play area. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The boys spending about 95% of the time complaining that the DVD player in the lodge weren't working and begging money for the games machines. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">On a more positive note, the 7 year old taught himself to ride a bike without stabilisers and kept referring to 'moor hens' as 'whore hens' which cheered us up no end!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I also spent a lovely 3 hours in the spa (courtesy of a lovely birthday pressie from hubby) generally enjoying a lack of boys and having a good old chuckle at the girls who turned up to sweat in a sauna with 3 inches of foundation and painted on eyebrows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All in all it was a great holiday (I love the kids really!) but I'm sure I won't be the only one doing a happy dance as I leave the school playground childless tomorrow morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-88616299203546351052016-03-31T02:56:00.000-07:002016-03-31T02:56:26.906-07:00A Matter of Opinion...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, I was chatting with Joanne Harris on Twitter the other day. You know, Joanne Harris? The best selling author of Chocolat and many other great novels. (See what I did there? A little name drop to start a blog post...well I was impressed!)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Anyway, the conversation was regarding book bloggers. For those of you who don't know, book bloggers review books and then post their opinions on either their own blog or on sites such as Goodreads/Amazon. Bloggers are generally unpaid enthusiasts who receive some of the books they review free through publishers, authors, marketing companies etc.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There are thousands of book bloggers out there and on the surface it appears to be a welcoming and friendly community of genuine enthusiasts. The relationship between author and blogger is reciprocal. An author provides a free book, the blogger posts an 'honest review'. Basically a form of free marketing with blog posts acting as the new 'word of mouth' endorsement of the digital era.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I became aware of a Twitter spat a few months ago where a book blogger freely admitted to posting only 5 star reviews so she would remain on the publishers 'good list'. In other words, she admitted to lying on her review posts simply to continue receiving free books and other goodies. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As you can imagine this caused consternation in the book blogger community with plenty jumping in to denounce such behaviour.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But it got me wondering to what extent readers can rely on blogger reviews for a genuine opinion. So I asked the question.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Joanne Harris' view was that, 'Some people don't like giving negative reviews: that's their choice.'</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I agree with this and it's important to keep the purpose of reviews in perspective. A review is simply a subjective opinion of one person and it's generally accepted by authors/publishers that the reviewer may decline to post a review if they don't like the book. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But if all reviews by book bloggers are positive, (based on the assumption that negative reviews will go unwritten/unpublished) doesn't this dilute their value? Or is the value of the review determined on <i>what</i> the blogger likes about the book as opposed to <i>whether</i> they like it?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In chatting to a few book bloggers on Twitter the consensus seems to be that they would only post a review if they enjoyed the book, but also that they would only agree to accept a book for review if they thought they would like it in the first place. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As a reader it's important to understand the value but also the potential failings of a review, whether this appears on a bloggers own site or on a commercial site such as Amazon. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Anyone can post a review. The author's mum. The next door neighbour with a grievance. The point is that the motive behind the review might not be to provide an honest opinion, but more to boost or damage the author's reputation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'd like to think that the vast majority of book bloggers out there do it for a genuine love of reading and a desire to engage with the author community. I'd also like to think that the reviews posted are genuine rather than an attempt to obtain more 'free stuff'. However, this may not always be the case.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Whether you're choosing a book based on the author, the blurb, the pretty picture on the cover or its appearance on an awards short-list, the only opinion that really matters is your own. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">How do you choose which books to read? Are reviews important to you?</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-86813307873368705582016-03-18T10:59:00.000-07:002016-03-18T10:59:33.510-07:00Novel Intentions<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I have a book. It's in my head. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I have characters with names and backgrounds and motivation. I have </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">a sketchy plot. I have a setting and themes. I know a little about what's it about and think I know what I want to say. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">I don't know the end or most of the middle bit but that's beside the point...</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">The thing is I've not actually started writing it yet. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">I've planned and plotted. I've filled out character questionnaires. I've even given some thought to research on the setting but I can't seem to bring myself to dedicating any 'real' writing to paper or screen.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">I've written blog posts, short stories and flash fiction but admitting to writing an 'actual book' is another thing entirely. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">I'm about 2% sure it's a decent idea and 98% sure it's the worst idea to ever grace a human brain in the history of mankind...ever.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">The idea of writing a full length novel terrifies me. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maybe it's the idea of committing so much time and energy to one project, which could (and most likely will) ultimately fail. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Despite the thought, creativity and work that goes into writing short stories and flash fiction,</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> I can knock them out in a relatively short period of time (compared to a novel that is) so it doesn't seem to matter as much if they aren't short-listed for a competition or snapped up for a magazine. I can just move onto the next piece. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The chances of writing a successful first novel are like the chances of anything coming from Mars (a million to one they said...just in case you were wondering). In fact many authors' 'first' book is actually the 5th, 10th, 20th attempt. </span><span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">But does it matter if it's not snapped up by a publisher? Or if anyone reads it for that matter? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">Well, I've not quite worked that one out yet.</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-644625558820084613.post-51676413393052925422016-03-13T13:53:00.000-07:002016-03-13T13:53:41.883-07:00Reading For Pleasure, Not Politics<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don’t know about you, but I don’t really consider an author’s gender when I’m choosing a book. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If I’m actively seeking out books by a particular author because I’ve enjoyed their previous work, then their gender may already be apparent. I know for example that Kate Atkinson is a woman. I enjoyed her book, ‘Life After Life’ so I bought ‘A God in Ruins’ shortly after. I know that Patrick Ness is a man and I have recently learnt that he is gay, but I read his ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy because I loved ‘The Rest of Us Just Live Here’. In neither of these cases did I actively seek out a book written by a woman or by a gay man. In fact when I read ‘Before I Go To Sleep’ by S J Watson a few years ago, I was surprised to find that the author was a man. Surprised but not shocked. He wrote a fictional account from a female perspective. Unusual perhaps, but not unheard of. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-0ce000e8-71b7-4821-4b05-57f5eddde988" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I hear about people declaring that this year they will only read books written by women, for example, I find it a little difficult to understand. Why would you want to limit your reading experience to such constraints? So, I was pleased to read in this article </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/10/lionel-shriver-rubbishes-year-of-publishing-women-kamila-shamsie" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/10/lionel-shriver-rubbishes-year-of-publishing-women-kamila-shamsie</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that I’m not the only person who finds ‘special treatment’ of certain groups a little un-nerving.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Lionel Shriver argues that making female authors subject to special help and rules can only backfire. In fact she goes on to say that winning the Orange prize (the female only book prize now called the Bailey’s prize) was not as meaningful to her as it would have been to win the Booker prize as ‘you have eliminated half the human race from applying’.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The colour of a person’s skin, their sexual preference, their gender, their political beliefs, can all influence an author’s writing but that does not mean that the subject matter will always be drawn from the author’s real life experience. So, the real intention of reading books written purely by people from a certain demographic can only be to make a political point? </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And then to publicly declare that you're making a political point. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Would a year of publishing/reading only female authors actually make a difference to gender inequality or would it further entrench the idea that women need to be singled out for special treatment? </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">‘Let them have their year, then we can get back to normal.’</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Equality and diversity are important issues and probably better explored in a thesis than a blog post! But I’m not convinced that equality can be gained by boosting the rights of one group at the expense of another. What about the incredibly talented young white male who is told on submission of his book, ‘I’m sorry, but it’s the women’s turn this year’, or the European who is told, ‘I’m sorry, we’re giving the Africans a chance?’ </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It sounds flippant and I’ve clearly not carried out thorough research (as I said: blog post, not thesis) but from a reader’s perspective I can see no logical explanation why a book would be turned down by a publisher based purely on the author’s gender, sexuality, skin colour, political persuasion, or where they stand on the ‘marmite’ debate. In fact, authors have pen-names often to overcome such preconceptions, whether intended or sub-conscious. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 1.38; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’d say restricting your choice of book to authors from a certain sub-section of the population does nothing to address social injustice. A book should be judged on its merits and the losers in this particular battle are the readers who choose to play along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00447760942483276962noreply@blogger.com0