Thoughts by the Renegade Glitter Fairy

Time is of the essence

2011-10-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

You would think that I had so much time on my hands since redundancy and finishing my Degree that I would be blogging all day, everyday. Wrong. Though I've no idea why. Pregnancy might have something to do with it. Pregnancy, for me at least, has meant muchas sleepiness. So lots of time is spent horizontal right now. May as well enjoy whilst I can. When the little one comes, we prob won't get any.

To add a little structure to my days - I have created a to do list. This also ensures that I actually remember to do things. It seems that my memory is much worse than it was before I got pregnant. A well-known side-effect apparently. There is something quite satisfying about a to do list (as sad and anal as that sounds). You feel that you have achieved something, even if your to do list just says stuff like check your bank balance.

Totally unrelated but I do love that Colman's gravy advert - I like the way you moo. Blooming hilarious.

Biffy songs

2011-09-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

I was just emailing someone to find out whether their washable wipes were made in the UK and behold, I received a security verification. Not very exciting in itself. Yet the code in question encompassed two, yes two Biffy Clyro songs. An unlikely happening, I hear you utter. No so, when one of your favourite bands is prone to unusual and numerical song titles.

The image below displays facts:

If your vision is powerful enough, you will see the numbers 57 and 27 in the code. Both Biffy songs from the wonderful album Blackened Sky. Interestingly enough, I just spotted that 27 is listed as 3:27 seconds long on Wikipedia. Coincidence?

It would appear that I am nothing but a geek.

Whilst on the subject of Biffy - I rang my mobile phone provider yesterday and was serenaded with Many of horror. At least that was my momentary thought. Turned out to be the X Factor version. Same song, same music, different singer, different song title and nowhere near as good. Somehow X Factor treatment makes the song seem a little namby pamby. Words that you would not utter in relation to Biffy unless you said "Biffy they are not namby pamby". Plus side - Biffy re-charted with Many of horror, following the X Factor release.

Another thought - it is nice to know that when making ethical purchases for our baby-to-be (the washable wipes) that I can still dive into a little bit of rock music. Who said that mummys weren't rock and roll cool. Not me, that's for sure.

Things that make you go hmmmm

2011-08-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

I wonder why it is that ladies that have already walked the long path towards motherhood often want to impart upon the fledgling pregnant lady a vast array of pregnancy horror stories? I'm sure it is generally done with the absolute best intentions but why oh why? Surely I'd be better off focusing on the nice bits like the moment you first hold your newborn child.

Lots of people have shared lovely, helpful things with me too and I am grateful for these but the bad bits? I don't want the bad bits. I don't want to hear that people have been sick right through their pregnancy or even to their 3rd trimester. I don't want to know that labour is the most painful thing ever - I know it will be but I don't need reminding (because I haven't forgotten, I give labour quite a lot of thought, in between wrapping a mask around my head so I can use the toilet and wash the dishes - a necessary task due to soapy, greasy smells lurking there).

I can't wait to meet my baby. I'm trundling along with the poo bits of pregnancy quite erm nicely. So please please please lovely mums of the world, keep the horror stories for Halloween and stop sharing with me.

Please sign

2011-06-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.allout.org/en/petition/eddy

Do please sign this petition. To be deported would work against this man's basic human rights.

Criminal?

2011-06-17T06:40:00.001-07:00

Have I committed some crime against post-feminism or perhaps more accurately money-obsession? Each time I tell a Recruitment Agency that I want to work part-time, I'm received with negative-filled surprise - 'why do you want to work part-time' loosely translated, you do realise that part-time means less money. Another recruitment agent asked whether my husband would support me?! What kind of question is that. Perhaps designed to force me into full-time work just in case I offended each stage of the feminist movement.

At present I am without work. I intend to find work and earn enough to survive (just about) either with or without my husband. I'm quite capable of living a fairly frugal existence - my sense of achievement doesn't depend on how much money I've wasted in a department store, how many debts I've chalked up in clothes shops or how many hours I've spent receiving a massage (which is counterbalanced by how stressed I was prior to said massage due to amount of hours I work).

Assuming you can survive and expect to manage your own existence, surely the amount of hours you work should be your decision and yours alone. Surely a person shouldn't feel that they have committed some hideous crime against the social world just because they choose to seek a part-time role.

In our house, much like many other male - female couple mixed households, the majority of the domestic tasks fall to me. I've patriarchy to thank for that. I'm more fortunate than most, when my now husband worked less hours and I actually had a job, the tasks were roughly split down the middle (give or take a little in his favour) but now he works full-time and since I voluntarily waved goodbye to my job in the last round of local government shake-ups, all I do is fiddle with my Degree and carry out all the household tasks (including those that relate to the domestic side of part-time child care). No reward anticipated for juggling these, there are many that juggle a huge amount of daily tasks - working mums spring to mind here.

I actually think that life is meant for living not for rushing around like a blue arse fly, achieving much but simultaneously suffering from stress, constant headaches and putting your order in for a knackered and early grave.

Assuming you financially manage your own pathway through life, working less is a good thing and sod those who effin disagree with me. Next time a recruitment agency or indeed anyone else asks me why I want to work part-time I will either A: contravene my own anti-violence moral stance or B: produce a pre-prepared red card from my handbag or C: ask them why they want to know before offering an answer.

Moonlighting

2011-04-05T06:13:00.001-07:00

Looks as if Take That have split up again and little Mark, desperate for fast cash has taken to moonlighting as a Bull Fighter. How clever of KPMG to catch him just as he lost sight of the bull.

What's in the bag?

2011-03-11T09:53:00.001-08:00

My sister has just had her second baby - Elinor Grace. She is rather lovely, just like her big (little) brother Aiden. My sister told me that upon seeing the moses basket in their front room, shortly after Elie's arrival home from hospital, Aiden asked - what's in the bag? He, at the tender age of nearly three had understandably confused a moses basket with a bag due to it's bag like handles. He couldn't see the contents of the bag, which was a who rather than a what as the moses basket bag contained his new baby sister. It is moments like these that make life absolutely wonderful.

What's in the bag has become something of a running joke in our house. We roll into much laughter at the mere mention of the words. I mentioned it front of Aiden the other day and being something of a genius for recognising the opportunity to make people laugh, starting roaming around the moses basket asking "hmmmm what's in here". It's like having a comedian for a nephew.

Love to Hayley, Gav, Aiden and Elie.

Strange behaviour

2011-02-28T06:41:00.001-08:00

There was a man at the bus station the other day waving his arms around claiming to be god. He said, and I quote "I'm god, that's it". I suppose if he really was god, then that probably would be it. What else would he need. Lets face it, if you are going to have a mental illness then be god, don't bother with any half-measure angel types. Later that same day, whilst I was still waiting for my elusive bus, he came back with his mate chanting "I'm god, that's it" once again. His mate just looked slightly uncomfortable. If I was his mate, I would have either

A: disagreed and said "I'm the real god, yes I'm the real god, all those other god's are just imitating" or

B: Walked away from him very quickly.

Car drivers of the world start using buses, it's much more fun. It's like lesson in weird people every single time.

Train fear

2011-02-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

Please stop by and read my little story at Powder Room Graffiti. If you like it, just click the 'Great graffiti' button under the story. So far, not many people have clicked the lovely 'Great graffiti' button - so you might decide to click it because you feel very sorry for me.

I was very pleased with the story when I wrote it and reading it back just now, it amused me. I'm not sure how complimentary I should be about my own work but the story made me chuckle. Hopefully you will chuckle too.

Follow the link below to find the story -

http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/live-it/train-fear.html

Pledge

2011-02-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

Support Sucioperro (pronounced Soo-chee-o-perro) and pledge on their album and merchandise. They are donating part of their profits to charity so it's all good:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/sucioperro/updates/3437

Watch and listen to them on the Kerrang website here:

http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2011/02/sucioperro_kerrang_video_exclu.html

Action makes a difference

2011-02-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

I received an email from Amnesty International today which stated that the detainees, arrested by Egyptian security forces had been released and were all unharmed. Over 11,000 emails were sent to the Egyptian authorities in a few hours. This proves that collective voices can be heard and standing up for human rights does make a difference. You can see a screen-shot of the email below, just click on it to see it more clearly:

Please help the detainees of the Egyptian security forces!

2011-02-05T05:14:00.001-08:00

Please please please take part in the Amnesty International action for the release of the Egyptian security force detainees. Amnesty reports that they are being held in an undisclosed location and may be at risk of torture. The detainees include Human Rights Activists, journalists and others.

Take part in the action by adding your name to an email through Amnesty International.

Human rights should be protected, always.

http://action.amnesty.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=1194&ea.campaign.id=9405&utm_source=pure&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=egypt2&utm_content=action

Job searching

2011-01-26T03:51:00.000-08:00

The job search is happening. It takes up a huge amount of time. So far the job search has been largely fruitless. I feel like a no hoper, an unwanted member of the community with absolutely no discernible skills to offer employers. This, of course, is not the case. I do have skills. Lots of skills. I can make tea, sing and erm do the housework. Kidding. I can do those things but I have a Degree, a Sociology Diploma, a HNC in business (gained long ago but the skills remain me with me), a NVQ 3 in Advice and Guidance and lastly but by no means leastly a Certificate in Computing and Information Technology (this included actual programming and creating web pages in HTML!).

Perhaps my qualifications are too wide. Maybe I should have stayed on one path. I don't know.

I have spent the last 5 years or so as an Information Officer in Local Government. It has been an interesting and, at times, challenging role. I have stood in front of teenagers and talked to them about childcare careers. An actual lesson plan. In front of actual teenagers. Scary. I have delivered workshops and presentations. I have created thematic maps. I have produced reports on the business benefits of social networking. I have managed projects. I have conducted meetings and delivered training. I have delivered complex advice in a simple formats. These things I have done. This job is ending, like many other public sector roles, my role will soon cease to exist.

There have been various other jobs before my current one. Some jobs have been admin based and others have been front of house reception work. Other posts have been marketing based. I have organised exhibitions and open days. I have liaised with suppliers. I have created a website from scratch by raw coding in HTML. I have compiled and written a company newsletter. I have used graphic packages. I have carried out vast casework. I have also done less interesting things like big photocopying, copy typing, database updating, data checking and so the more boring list goes on.

I once worked for BT's Directory Enquiries. When there was only way to get the number of a private residence. These days its all 118 118. I have worked for Britannia Building Society. I have received payment for parking fines and issued parking permits. I have taken calls on vast switchboards. I have spent days and days typing address labels. I have worked at Next during the Summer sale. I have travelled door to door with Avon catalogues. I have never been a papergirl. I did work for one day counting money for a security company but it was too depressing. None of the money was mine. I have worn a bear suit during which time, I had my tail pulled and feet stamped on. I wore the bear suit once to raise money for Comic Relief. I have even spent an hour of my free-time washing a bear suit and brushing it's fur. There is something very strange in large fury paws resting on your radiator and something stranger still in a large bear head sitting in your bath.

I write. By that I mean write for a sort of living. From home I produce articles for various places including Powder Room Graffiti and Constant Content. I get paid to do this. The pay won't buy me a mansion in the country. It might buy me a big bag of sweets. Fortunately I like sweets. I also write copy for a business partnership I share with my fiancée. I update web pages. I have created the odd poster using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I have written company profiles. I have created keyword rich content. Mark and I don't get paid much for this either. Largely because some customers are a little reluctant to with their cash. Some customers though, pay happily and on time. I like those customers. We don't make a profit but we get by.

Despite all of these great things, I can't seem to find another job. The kind of job that you get paid a good salary for. I can't even find the kind that you get a shite salary for. Such as life I suppose.

It's very disheartening.

Perhaps I should simply invest lots of time into winning the lottery.

Sigh.

Potatoes

2011-01-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

I think I may be intolerant to potato. Not definite but potatoes do seem to correlate with hideous stomach cramps. I have given up wheat, gluten and assumed, stupidly that I would be pain-free as a result. Wrong! I also assumed that it couldn't possibly be potatoes that was upsetting my stomach. I mean, potatoes are healthy aren't they? Wrong. It's something to do with the starch apparently. Lots of posts in various places about people with potato intolerance and it's starting to look like I'm one of the unfortunate ones.

Gutted - I love potato.

Cushions, handbags and busy bees

2011-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Have a little read of my wedding blog - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com.

These days I have very little time to write on here and it will prob get even less when I am in the swing of my final year at Uni and erm finalising wedding plans. I am now wondering why I am finishing at Uni in the same year that I am getting married? Am I mad? Must be. I am also searching for a new job, ideally within the writing field. At the same time, Mark and I are still trying to push Solar Chi Designs. He is also searching for a job. Hectic times.

Mark is due back at court in February for (what we hope will be) the final stages of his Contact Order for his son Reuben. We hope to have him every other weekend at our home. He represents himself at court to save money. Solicitors are massively expensive without Legal Aid. I think he is very brave. I try to help as much as I can but at court, it is all him.

Love, peace and pansies.

Please sign

2010-12-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

http://www.protectthehuman.com/petition_actions/stop-forced-evictions-in-ghana?utm_source=pure&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=forced_evictions&utm_content=link1

Please sign this petition to stop people being forced from their homes in Ghana.

Sanitary stuff

2010-11-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

I really should write on here but life is mad and mental!

I have recently purchased a Mooncup and some washable sanitary towels. Yes, yuck but think of the planet. All that sanitary stuff lost at sea or piled high in landfill. Not good. I like my Mooncup and washable pads. I shall write more on this soon.

You have been warned.

xxx

2010-10-31T04:22:00.001-07:00

Wedding blogging - have a little read - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/wedding-guest-book-challenge.html

2010-10-29T13:29:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Solar Charged Batteries - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/solar-charged-batteries.html

2010-10-29T06:30:00.001-07:00

Ooooh guitars! This is our guitar ad on Gumtree. Read and buy. Although we may have a buyer for the Ibanez already. http://ow.ly/31rfn

2010-10-28T17:02:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Leek Charity Shops - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/leek-charity-shops.html

2010-10-28T16:39:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Fairtrade Chocolate and Chocolate Slavery - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/fairtrade-chocolate.html

2010-10-24T08:09:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - deed poll documents -
http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/deed-poll-documents.html

2010-10-24T08:08:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Hazel's wedding related articles - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/hazels-wedding-related-articles.html

2010-10-24T08:07:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Congleton Charity Shops - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/congleton-charity-shops.html

2010-10-24T08:06:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Thank You Janet - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/thank-you-janet.html

2010-10-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Hazel's painting - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/10/hazels-painting.html

Fuckin boo - very funny

2010-10-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

2010-10-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

Please have a little read of my article - I promise it will be painless and fairly fun http://ow.ly/2VWKr

2010-10-14T11:25:00.001-07:00

Lots of things for sale inc an Odyssey guitar, classic music mags, music vids and bits of jewelry - http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/1974haze

Connected

2010-10-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

I love the image above. I love it because you know that this mother and child are sharing a smile. Although the child's face cannot be seen, you know he is smiling back towards his mum. You can see the connection between them. I love this image because it reminds of a picture of my sister and her son taken when he was a similar age to the child in the image above. I love this image because it reminds me that despite the many sociological aspects to motherhood, there are some things that transcend learned behaviours, some things that are innate. I love this image because it reminds me that in each and every part of the world, the smile is a universal symbol of happiness and joy. I love this image because it reminds me that love exists and if you look, you will see it everyday.

Image source: http://www.raisingthedivinefeminine.com/

2010-10-09T05:23:00.001-07:00

Google has a lovely mini cartoon to commemorate John Lennon's 70th birthday. Just click on the Google logo http://www.google.co.uk/

2010-10-08T04:25:00.001-07:00

A small article on the perils of house sharing with slugs at http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/live-it/slug-magnet.html. By Haze

2010-10-06T05:00:00.001-07:00

Guitar for sale or auction via Ebay. It's a lovely blue one. Go to http://ow.ly/2PhaY to have a little look. Tell everyone you don't know.

Web window shopping

2010-10-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

I love the Amnesty International shop http://amnestyshop.org.uk yet sadly it isn't the cheapest ever. Lovely though. I have been web window shopping on their site today. Dreaming of things I'd like but can't afford.

However, on the plus side, we do plan to utilise their site as part of our eco-wedding wedding gift list. So perhaps we will get some nice, eco, human-kind, Amnesty helping goodies next year!

Love and sunshine,

Sellings

2010-10-06T04:22:00.001-07:00

We are selling a Korg Digital 8 track. It's rather nice, if you like and need that sort of thing. To me, it's just a black box with buttons but to Mark it has been vital piece of music recording and mixing equipment. He does his recording via the PC now but he has loved his Digital 8 track. In fact he is reluctant to wave bye bye to it but needs must. The needs are mostly financial but also space saving. Ideally, Mark would love to fill the house with guitars, keyboards, recording equipment and amps but fortunately he can't afford to. Otherwise we have amps instead of seats and guitars instead of wall art. Musical but not very pretty or practical.

Back to point, if you would like a Korg Digital 8 track, at, what I'm reliably told is a very reasonable price, then check out our ad on Gumtree or get in touch for more details. We are selling it along with its little instruction booklet for a tiny £150 or nearest offer.

Oh yes and it will soon be auctioned / sold via Ebay so get in there first.

http://manchester.gumtree.com/manchester/23/64858723.html

2010-09-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

I know its wrong, completely, horrendously wrong but I keep thinking of Big Macs. A cardinal sin for an eco-pescetarian!

2010-09-29T09:30:00.001-07:00

Haze and Mark's Eco-wedding: if you can spare 5 or even 2, have a little read of our blog - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/

2010-09-21T09:56:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - some more pics - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-more-pics.html

2010-09-16T07:44:00.001-07:00

Join Race Online to make the UK the first nation where everyone is able to use the web. Take part at http://raceonline2012.org/

2010-09-15T05:51:00.001-07:00

Click below to see our work for xpression records:
http://www.solarchidesigns.com/portfolio-xpression-records.php

2010-09-14T11:05:00.001-07:00

Updates to Mark and Hazel's Eco-wedding blog. If you have time, please read - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/

2010-09-13T15:36:00.001-07:00

Our Eco Wedding - Some kind people - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-kind-people.html

Bit of a plug

2010-09-08T13:46:00.001-07:00

I hate to advertise on my blog but we only get new customers by advertising so..........we offer websites from only £25 per month or £50 per month for e-commerce sites. From just £25 per month we can create your bespoke website and regularly update it for you. We will also provide you with one free design per month of business cards, leaflets or posters. We can further provide Facebook page set up and regular updates within this offer.

Your website will be fully optimised for high ranking on Google.

There is no sign-up and you can pull out anytime.

Examples of our additional services include:

PC fix

IT support

DVD production

Copywriting

Stock photography websites

Chatrooms

Online music players

Prices for the above services are available on request.

Please visit our website (http://www.solarchidesigns.com) to see examples of our work. Our list of existing customers can be found at the bottom of our website.

mark@solarchidesigns.com or hazel@solarchidesigns.com

:-)

2010-09-06T14:19:00.001-07:00

http://manchester.gumtree.com/manchester/23/64858723.html
The Korg D8 Digital Recording Studio is an eight-track recording, editing and mixing system in a single compact (15.2" W x 9.8"D x 3.3"H), portable (5.7 lbs.) unit. The D8 provides fully digital, uncompressed processing (24-bit internal, 16-bit recording and playback @ 44.1 kHz) onto eight tracks (2-tracks simultaneous recording, 8-tracks simultaneous playback) and includes a built-in 1.4GB hard disk with SCSI interface.

The integral 12-channel, 4-bus digital mixer section has functions such as Auto Punch-In and Auto-Save to facilitate recording and editing. Fader, EQ and Pan settings can be memorized as "scenes" with up to 20 scenes remembered for each song. Audio Trigger Record enables the D8 to begin recording automatically in response to an input signal. The D8's Scrub function makes it possible to listen to the recorded data on each track and accurately find the beginning of a phrase. The D8 provides the musician with a selection of 65 preset digital effect programs featuring 50 different types of effects. The entire recording and mixdown process can be performed on the D8 with effects applied to any source at mix time and/or during the recording process.

Sound sources such as mics, synth line sources and guitars can be connected directly with optical, 1/4-inch phone jacks. The SCSI port, S/PDIF, AUX IN jacks are all standard. The SCSI port can be used to connect up to seven drives such as hard disks for recording, playback or backup. The S/PDIF connector enables digital recording from an external digital audio device such as a CD or DAT player. Users can create a tempo map to synchronize recording to an external song loaded in from another recording or Compact Disc. The D8 sends MIDI clock synchronization data, can send and receive MTC and responds to MMC messages from compatible drum machines and sequencers

2010-09-04T06:12:00.001-07:00

Is your computer slow, clogged up with files you don't want or keeps getting infected with viruses? Perhaps you want to buy a new PC or lap-top but would rather not spend the money. Maybe you just want advice on how to work smarter online. Solar Chi Designs can help with all of these issues and more. We can fix most software problems at a fair price. We can also resolve many hardware problems.

For most IT services we only charge £10 per hour and we will always strive to get the job done quickly.

Contact us for more information.

Kindest regards,
Hazel and Mark

Solar Chi Designs
01270 873323

07989 325349
hazel@solarchidesigns.com
mark@solarchidesigns.com
http://www.solarchidesigns.com

2010-09-01T13:49:00.001-07:00

Our eco wedding plan blog, please have a read - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/

2010-09-01T07:51:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - Celtic Crusaders offers - http://www.glam-wrexham.co.uk/glam_and_celtic_crusaders.html

2010-09-01T06:11:00.001-07:00

We have created a blog to track our progress as we arrange each element of our eco-wedding - http://leese-dixon-eco.blogspot.com/

2010-08-31T11:09:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - VIP booths - last few available - http://www.glam-wrexham.co.uk/glam_vip_booths.html

2010-08-31T10:47:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - Competition - http://www.solarchidesigns.com/glam-wrexham/glam_comp.html

Create an eco-wedding

2010-08-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

I've written an article on organasing an eco-wedding which has been purchased and published by Earth Times. You can see the article by the following the link below:

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/335975,creating-an-eco-wedding.html

Did you know?

2010-08-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there websites that are entirely dedicated to eco-touring, hotels, campsites etc? You can be an eco-tourist. The eco-honeymoon will happen in a big way. So far I really want to stay somewhere called The Green House Hotel in Bournemouth. It looks fab and has a really sound ethical framework. They really seem to take green hotelling seriously - solar panels, organic, sustainable, low energy tv's, low energy lighting etc. I was impressed. It's expensive though so if we are lucky enough to go then we will just stay a few days before heading on somewhere else. Currently some kind of train orientated tour through nearby parts of Europe. Self-catering will be the mainstay for the honeymoon remainder. France have quite a few ethical self-catering places to stay. I fancy Italy but haven't spotted anywhere eco-wise yet. Mark keeps talking about Greece but it's a bit far away without a plane I think.

The planet will laugh with us

2010-08-28T03:40:00.001-07:00

I never seem to have time to write my blog these days. I should invest more time in it and as such, here I am, tapping away.

Life has busy of late. Busy and at times, very difficult.

I'm writing an essay at the moment well not exactly this very moment but I've written about 100 words so far today and procrastinated for about 2 hours. It's hard to write an essay when your head isn't in the right place but it has to be done. The Degree end point is in sight and as the years have skipped past, I've already got various other qualifications (HNC, certificate thingy, Diploma) to show for the long, painful effort that is higher eduction. I'm already allowed to put letters after my name but I don't bother with them. Nobody ever knows what they mean anyway and I find them a bit pompous. I don't bother with graduation ceremonies either (although I have done one). I don't look good in a large black gown and square hat. If I ever do a phd, I will probably bother with the Dr. Not to be pompous but I think if you have managed to come out the other side of a phd and still be sane then you deserve to use the Dr bit. I might just use Dr at the end and change my first name to 'the'.

On a different note, Mark and I are planning our wedding. Well, hmmm, I'm planning it and he is going along with it. He inputs with agreement and conversation mainly. We are planning a eco-wedding. This means having the wedding party at home (oh I hope the landlady agrees). It also means posting on freecycle and checking in every day to see whether anyone is giving away anything weddingy. We have been very lucky so far. Some fantastic people have already given us lots of great items for our wedding - white material, gold organza, tea lights, flowers, ribbon and a carpet! We plan to decorate our garage sort of marquee style. We also plan to have gazabos in the garden. Decorate practically everywhere with solar powered fairy lights. In my head the house looks like a fab venue. I've already started prowling the Internet for eco-honeymoons. I'm getting ahead of myself though, the wedding isn't sorted yet and no, we haven't set a date but it's likely to be late Spring or perhaps very early Summer. The weather has a will of its own so we may as well just ignore it and carry on regardless. It's a pity gas heaters are not eco-friendly. Oh I should say that Mark has collected Freecycle items so he has inputted more than I gave credit for in the early part of this paragraph. He also been very supportive of my eco-ideas. He is green but a fair amount of his greeness comes from being skint and a bit tight with money. It's all good though. Our wedding won't cost the earth either money-wise or literally cost the earth. We will have fun and the planet will laugh with us.

If any nice people happen upon my blog and would like to help us achieve our eco-wedding, please comment on my blog page. If you have old white sheets, throws, tablecloths, solar fairy lights, gold material, white silk flowers, tressle or decorating tables, fabric paint, old patio chairs / tables, erm a gazebo, some kind of sheeting we can use keep people dry with, old but unpatterned carpet / other flooring, wedding album / book that people can sign, biodegradable cups, plates, bowls, knives, forks, spoons, glasses you don't want (especially wine or champagne flutes), picnic rugs, cool bags / those things you put in cool bags and erm anything else that loosely relates to having a wedding at home - don't be shy, get in touch. We are not being uber cheeky. We will be actually spending some money. Anything that isnt something someone else no longer wants / needs will be come from charity shops or (as secondary option) second hand from ebay etc. The honeymoon will be eco. We will travel by train, bus and on foot. There will be no planes. We will only stay in places that are eco-green. We will be undertaking some hardcore guerilla gardening to sort of offset any carbon nasties associated with our wedding. I don't really agree with offsetting as offsetting but I think planting trees, plants and making everywhere greener is a good thing. It does have positive carbon effects but the effect is not immediate so in that sense, offsetting doesn't really work. You catch a plane and then plant ten trees - the plane has still pushed masses of nasty carbon into the fragile atmosphere and the trees are not yet big and scary enough to gobble all the C02 up. Not sure what the tree / plane ratio is but imagine that we need a hell of a lot of trees to remove all the carbon associated with plane travel. Offsetting is good but it doesn't do what it says on the tin so to speak.

Anyway I've rambled enough for now. Essay calls. Sigh.

2010-08-24T01:22:00.001-07:00

for Shotokan Karate in Liverpool - visit our friends - http://www.itka-karate-liverpool.com

2010-08-24T01:20:00.001-07:00

new website by Solar Chi Designs - Xpression Records - http://www.xpressionrecords.com

2010-08-15T13:24:00.001-07:00

I've written a little something about night out panic - http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/feel-it/glamour-girl.html

2010-08-10T07:45:00.001-07:00

We are arranging our wedding - please read my blog: http://1974haze.blogspot.com/2010/08/eco-wedding.html

Eco-wedding

2010-08-10T07:15:00.001-07:00

We have just moved to Cheshire and recently got engaged. We are currently in the early stages of arranging our wedding. We would really like to hold the reception at our home and want to make the arrangements as ethical and eco-friendly as we possibly can.

As such, if anyone can help us by giving us the following items, that would be really fab:

White tablecloths / sheets / material - any type of white material really so that we can cover the ceiling in our garage with hanging material. Any type is fine but velvet or cotton would be really great. We will also use material as makeshift table cloths.

Carpet - we want to put a carpet down on our garage floor for the wedding celebration but will continue to use the carpet in there after the big day. In general we are not fussy about the type but ideally plain carpet rather than patterned. Doesn't matter too much about the condition because we will clean it and place chairs in strategic places but obviously it's for our wedding day so we don't anything too stained and tired.

Patio furniture - if you have been lucky enough to replace your old patio furniture with new items then we would love to have your old stuff. If you have white patio furniture that would even better but we really don't mind.

Biodegradable confetti - a big ask perahaps and we have bought some of this already but if you have any rice paper, dried rose petals or any other type of biodegradable confetti that would be really fab.

Old ribbon - ideally in blue or white but any colour considered - we will plan our colour scheme around what people are able to give us

Citronella candles - if you have some that you don't need then we would be happy to give them a new home

Gazebo - this is rather a big ask really but if anyone had a white gazebo or erm 3 that would be really great. Alternatively any colour and we will decorate accordingly.

White or blue silk flowers - We are thinking of decorating the house with white / blue silk flowers. They don't actually have to be silk but I think that's what they are known as. Basically flowers made of material. Ideally white or blue but again we will plan our colour scheme around what people are able to give us.

Beads - if you have any beads, old necklaces or other beaded jewellrey that you don't want we would love to have them. We will make wedding decorations with them.

Fold up or old decorating tables - if you have any, that would be reallty great. We will cover them with material for our wedding. We will use them for storage in the garage afterwards.

Solar lights - again rather a big ask but if anyone has decorative solar light that are working but not needed, we would give them a good home. Either the little fairy light type or individual lamps which can be placed in a garden.

Recycled printing paper - if anyone has a surplus stock of recycled paper that they can spare, that would be fab. We intend to put up notices and messages around the house and want to print these on recycled paper.

Plastic wine / champagne glasses - if you have any of those plastic glasses that are shaped like wine glasses or other drinks glasses made from plastic, we would love to have them. We don't want to use glass because of breakages but don't really want to use plastic beakers either. We will keep them and reuse after the wedding day. If we are fortunate to end up with lots then we will give them away on Freecycle after the wedding.

Any other items that you no longer need and that you feel will help us, we will gratefully consider. We are open to ideas and suggestions.

We really want our wedding to be an enjoyable day that leaves a very small carbon footprint. If we could have a day that was carbon neutral that would be even better.

Hope you can help.

Obviously for ethical reasons, if you live many miles away from Cheshire then we would not be able to collect offered items. If you live nearby and can help, then please get in touch with me or Mark.

hazel@metronet.co.uk or markanthonydixon@hotmail.com.

Thanks for reading,

Hazel and Mark

xxxx

2010-08-06T05:19:00.001-07:00

UK Directory of Hydroponics Shops - http://www.freeindex.co.uk/categories/industry/electrical_supplies/hydroponics/

2010-08-05T07:08:00.001-07:00

Bury Therapy - http://www.bury-therapy.co.uk - Therapy in Bury

2010-08-05T07:07:00.001-07:00

Bury Therapist - http://www.bury-therapist.co.uk - Therapist in Bury

2010-08-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

Bury Counselling - http://www.bury-counselling.co.uk - Counselling in Bury

2010-08-05T07:05:00.001-07:00

Bury Counsellor - http://www.bury-counsellor.co.uk - Counsellor in Bury

Stuff

2010-08-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

I blog very little these days. I seem to have less available time. Whenever I get the urge to write something, more often than not, I send my writing over to Powder Room Graffiti. An

online magazine for women. This way, I get to do something I love and get paid for the privilege.

I do miss my blog though. It was my first step into the world of writing (unless you count school, Uni and essays).

If anyone passes by this way and gets an uncontrollable desire to read something I've written, head over to The Powder Room, search for 1974haze and read on.

The links below, take you to some of the more reason stuff:

http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/shout-it/chipmunk-appreciation-society.html

http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/live-it/the-first-date-of-the-rest-of-your-life.html

http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/love-it/better-than-sex/angel-fear.html

2010-07-23T13:34:00.001-07:00

If you like to read interesting things and lets face it, who doesn't. Do pop over to the Powder Room and read my article http://ow.ly/2fPx2

2010-07-20T16:20:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - Aug 7th - http://www.glam-wrexham.co.uk/glam_aug7.html

2010-07-20T16:17:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - Aug 7th - http://www.glam-wrexham.co.uk/glam_jul10.html

2010-07-15T03:26:00.001-07:00

new website we've done at Solar Chi Designs - http://www.beauxboutique.com

2010-07-15T03:20:00.001-07:00

new website we've done at Solar Chi Designs - http://www.fasttrakkfitness.com

2010-07-10T04:47:00.003-07:00

http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/live-it/owl-balloon.html - please read, then I shall smile at you through cyberspace until my face aches.

2010-07-05T15:24:00.001-07:00

Creating flyers into the small hours. Life is both hard and fun.
http://www.solarchidesigns.com/

14 stone in day

2010-07-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

I just laugh at this, don't have to watch him, the memories are funny enough.

Nirvana / Destiny's Child

2010-07-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

Another great mash up... You Tube won't let me embed it though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7958669iFu0&feature=related

Beastie Boys / The Smiths

2010-07-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Smiths / The Housemartins

2010-07-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

A lovely mash up - The Smiths, This Charming Man / The Housemartins , Caravan of Love.

2010-07-01T05:30:00.001-07:00

Legionnaires Disease Car Screen Wash Warning - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1286423/Windscreen-water-cause-cases-potentially-fatal-Legionnaires-disease.html

2010-06-30T17:01:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - Glam @ Next Door - July 10th - http://www.glam-wrexham.co.uk/glam_jul10.html

Post-sex indifference syndrome

2010-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Does your man suffer from Post-sex indifference syndrome? The well-known period just after orgasm where the male of the species has the urge to:

Wander off

Use his computer

Fart

Ignore you

Fall asleep

If you suffer the effects of I-have-come-therefore-you-are-no-longer-very-interesting then take action now!

Try the following:

Wander off and do something straight after sex before he has the energy to get up

Clasp him in a over-powering embrace until Post-sex indifference syndrome turns into Pre-sex excitement (this could take a while, depending on the male in question)

Take your bi-curious tendencies and make them more gay than straight (women do not suffer from Post-sex indifference syndrome)

Become celibate

Avoid love and focus on casual no strings entanglements

Accept that most men don't really want to cuddle and chat after sex so get your cuddling and chatting in beforehand.

Thank you and goodnight.

The face of pure evil

2010-06-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

The character below is the face of pure evil. A character that scared the shit of me when I was a child. Venger from kids television programme Dungeons and Dragons. I wasnt even that young when I watched it. Seriously though, look at this guy, he is a bucket full of horror. Mind you I was also scared of:

Daleks

Doctor Who (Tom Baker era)

The Incredible Hulk

The dark

Motorbikes

Loud noises

Girls world heads

Big Brother on with the sound down

2010-06-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

I have Big Brother on with the sound down. What's that all about? I have it on = silly idea. The sound is down = probably for the best but why don't I just change the channel. Apparently, it's as compelling as it is awful. Compelling enough to prevent me for channel changing. Even though I can't hear what they are saying. I think I may be Uni work avoiding. No change there then.

2010-06-25T16:04:00.001-07:00

I almost furkled in what I thought was the reduced items trolley today before I discovered that it belonged to a shopper. In my defense she did have a trolley full of reduced items.

My parent's interpretation of the iPad

2010-06-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

I arrived at my parent's house one afternoon to discover much hilarity. Apparently they'd heard an advert on the radio for the new iPad. My dad, relaxing in a rare afternoon off work, decided to produce his own version. You can see his creation below, demonstrated by both my parents:

Personally, I think this version is much better.

2010-06-22T05:02:00.001-07:00

Can I get away with a cricket Manchester lad style white hat? Sun stroke worry says I can.

Too much

2010-06-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

You know you're too busy when you are trying to take a relaxing break by watching CSI but on every advert break you nip off to do some housework! Not major housework obviously but housework none-the-less.

2010-06-09T13:21:00.001-07:00

Glam Wrexham - Glam DJ Jordan James at Area 51, Manchester - this Friday - http://www.glam-wrexham.co.uk/glam_DJ_jordan_james_area51.html

Impulse

2010-06-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

When a man you've never met before suddenly gives you flowers. Use pepper spray. They are probably a stalker.

The above post is meant for humorous purposes only. I do not advocate the use of pepper spray on flower giving men. Please do not take this post literally.

Mozart

2010-06-08T09:36:00.001-07:00

Every time I listen to Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major by Mozart I feel like I'm surrounded by majestic angels. It truly is the most beautiful piece of music. Everything about it is musically perfect.

Whether the Mozart effect is false or real, I don't know but I do know that his music has a tremendously wonderful effect on me.

2010-06-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

Website coming soon - http://www.preston-dance.co.uk - designed by http://www.solarchidesigns.com

2010-06-02T15:32:00.001-07:00

Website coming soon - http://www.beauxboutique.com - designed by http://www.solarchidesigns.com

2010-06-02T15:30:00.001-07:00

Website coming soon - http://www.itka-karate-greatbritain.com - designed by http://www.solarchidesigns.com

2010-06-02T12:53:00.001-07:00

Brite Futures - http://www.britefutures.co.uk

2010-06-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

Blackburn Therapy - Therapy in Blackburn - http://www.blackburn-therapy.co.uk

2010-06-02T12:21:00.001-07:00

Blackburn Therapist - Therapist in Blackburn - http://www.blackburn-therapist.co.uk

2010-06-02T12:19:00.001-07:00

Blackburn Counselling - Counselling in Blackburn - http://www.blackburn-counselling.com

2010-06-02T12:18:00.001-07:00

Blackburn Counsellor - Counsellor in Blackburn - http://www.blackburn-counsellor.co.uk

2010-06-02T11:30:00.003-07:00

Preston Therapy - Therapy in Preston - http://www.preston-therapy.co.uk

2010-06-02T11:30:00.001-07:00

Preston Therapist - Therapist in Preston - http://www.preston-therapist.co.uk

2010-06-02T11:29:00.001-07:00

Preston Counselling - Counselling in Preston - http://www.preston-counselling.co.uk

2010-06-02T11:28:00.001-07:00

Preston Counsellor - Counsellor in Preston - http://www.preston-counsellor.co.uk