Stephen Fry is probably responsible for a lot of things in life. I think he was the first person I heard talking about twitter on TV and to be honest I didn't really "get it" then. Something that's like writing a blog, but only in 140 characters. What's the point I thought - put it all in a blog post in as many characters as you want. Oh how wrong I was! When you're new to twitter it can be a bit tricky to see how it all works. You start off following Stephen Fry and wondering why the world seems to be going on about how great this new thing is and instead you're ... read more
What will you do for money?
Don't worry this isn't going to be a post about whether or not you'd sell your body for money or anything like that, but I am wanting to hear what jobs people are prepared to do to get some extra money. As everyone knows economic times are tough here in the UK and there are plenty of people who have recently been made redundant. It is hard to find a new job, especially if you want to work in a specific sector or on certain days of the week to fit in with childcare. I realise that things will differ widely across the country and that here in Hertfordshire we're fortunate to live ... read more
Treasures from Trash
With it being holiday season Little Miss C and I are really doing the days out thing at the moment and our adventures this week took us to Luton and more specifically Stockwood Discovery Centre. If you're local and have not been before then it is a lovely free day out. The museum is vast, covering a wide range of exhibits from farming machinery to horse-drawn carriages, and there's also a lovely cafe, playground, grounds and the wider Country Park to explore. The reason that took me to Stockwood this time was having heard about the Treasures from ... read more
London
I sat down ready to blog last night and just couldn't. The TV was on and I was just sat here in shock. London appeared more like a war zone than the city I know and love. Shops were being looted, buildings were on fire and the police seemed to be struggling to gain any sort of control. Journalists were under attack and starting to wear the protective clothing that they normally wear in Iraq or Afghanistan. People were losing their homes and livelihoods and I was just watching in disbelief. No one seems sure what the real cause behind these riots is. Initially it was all blamed on the ... read more
Mo
My television watching is often a few days behind when things are actually broadcast, so it was only yesterday when I caught up with Channel 4's drama Mo, which told of the life of the late Mo Mowlem. The film covers not only her time in Northern Ireland, but also her own personal battle against the illness that finally took her life. The acting was fantastic, with Julie Walter's portrayal of Mo as incredibly accurate. The way in which the story was told was beautiful in the way that it combined tender moments of Mo's life as well as the challenges that she went ... read more
Needlecraft is sew last year?
I was quite intrigued to come across this post on the BBC news website earlier today. When I first saw the article I thought it was all old news. I've written on here before about how more and more people are trying to follow the wartime ethos of make do and mend. I've certainly seen the republished Government guides from the time and have heard about how much sales of sewing machines have increased. What I hadn't realised though is just how "hip" it seems to be becoming. It seems that Topshop of all places are regularly selling out of the ... read more
Make do and mend
I caught this story on the BBC news website yesterday about how John Lewis have updated the old Government make do and mend booklet to help people survive the credit crunch. I've always been a firm believer in thinking that there is so much we can learn from the generations that lived through the wars, but it almost seems a little late this update. I think that people are already starting to learn how to be frugal; how to stretch ingredients to make more than one meal, how to update those things at the back of the wardrobe rather than replacing them with ... read more
Housewife, or househusband’s, choice
I spent Saturday night staying with my Mum which meant that Sunday morning I was able to indulge myself, by staying in my dressing gown and reading the Sunday paper with a cup of tea. I luxury that is impossible at home for the simple reason that we don't get the paper delivered.One story stood out and had me puzzling for a while though. The Sunday Telegraph article entitled Don't call me a "housewife" - I'm a Chief Household Officer had me slightly enraged in parts.It talks about how women who run homes are having to apply skills that they use in ... read more
Things to make us smile
Mr C drew my attention to this list on the BBC News website over dinner this evening. With all the news of doom and gloom that seems to be filling the pages in every newspaper I think it's true that many of us are becoming more anxious and stressed than we used to, or than is good for us. This list contains ten things that all of us should try to do to reduce our anxiety levels. When I set up this blog my plan (which I think I carry out) is to write about the things that make me smile. One thing that made me smile about this particular article (as well as the ... read more
Behind the scenes…
... in the charity shop.For anyone like me that loves rummaging in charity shops for a bargain, this article from the Guardian provides an interesting insight into what a charity shops finds in its many donations. It's quite eye opening! ... read more