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For the avoidance of doubt... Yes... I definitely have an opinion... |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Welcome to my Blog!! About me: I'm not really a blogger... But I do like to put the world to rights and you can bet I have an opinion on most things. I'm a little Welsh dragon that left the Land of My Fathers far behind me. I've flown far and wide.... and ended up in the land down under This blog is filled with all the stuff that's going on in my life, and in my head, which can be a little cookey on times, so you have been warned!! And let's not forget my opinions and musing - I have a few of those as well. So pull up a pew, grab a hot, steaming mug of something yummy, and maybe a cake to: Life is always better with cake don't you think. And read... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I just starting blogging with the following groups: ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I also write a Xmas Blog that kicks off 1st December.... "Invalid Item"  ....tag along for elvishness and merriment
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| Cancelling at the last minute This is something I always feel realĺy guilty about doing, or really annoyed when it happens to me, probably because I know the effort that goes into organising things. I sometimes think that people have lost the level of respect or commitment they used to have in regards to their friends and things they arrange. And I have to confess that I am guilty of ditching last minute because I just cant be bothered; because staying at home seems so much easier and more appealing; and now that we have a 7 month old that seems doubley true. An example would be agreeing to go to my friends baby massage class to boost the numbers for her. I knew I didnt want to go, not really... it was 30/40 minutes away. I'd have to find a parking space, pack the baby bag... Theia didnt sleep too well the night before and was a little grumpier than normal and that was all it took for me to text and cancel. I felt so bad about it, but I still did it. Yes Theia was crying and teething a lot, but she would have been ok. As it turns out my friend's class was perfect; slightly small as another girl had pulled out as well, but the mummys and babies that did go had a much more intimate session. There are times when changing plans doesnt work out ok. Like when me and my husband stopped my mum and dad visiting just after Theia was born. I'd been hospitalised for 6 weeks at the end of my pregnancy, she wasnt feeding properly and we were getting visits from the health visitors everyother day to check on her weight. I was a mess and just wanted a little bit of space. The morning they were supposed to travel my husband told them to stay at home. This caused an arguement, but they did stay in the end. They decided they wouldnt come and visit for a month and everything was ok with that until my dad passed away, unexpectedly a week before the visit, without ever holding or seeing his granddaughter. This is something I have to live with. It's the only thing I truely regret in my life. And there are days where the guilty eats away at me. Sometimes it's hard to know whether or not you are making the right decision without hindsight. And sometimes it seems fate has her own plans for us. |
| Prompt - What makes you feel lucky? Beating the odds - that's what make me feel lucky. There are so many statistics involved with IVF. It really is a numbers game. 84% of couples conceive within first six months trying for a baby. By two years that has risen to 92%. At the end of three years it's 93%. So after five years of trying my husband and I knew something wasn't quite right. We went to the doctors and expected a long wait, but instead 12 weeks later we were sitting in the fertility clinic having our first consultation. Our first piece of good luck. I guess our next pieceis that we actually live in the UK and have access to the NHS. A "free" health service. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority recommends three treatments, but in the UK the number of fertility treatments made available on the NHS varies from county to county from three all the way down to one. We had just moved to a new county and didn't know how many treatments we would be eligible for. Our consultant filled the paperwork/application form out and sent it off. He explained that in Bath, where the fertility clinic was located it was only one treatment, so we were surprised when the letter came back and said we could have up to three - what luck - the pressure wouldn't be on the first cycle. If you are under 35 your chances of successfully implanting is around 32.2%, this drops to 5% less than 10 years later. And that is if you respond to the gonadotrophin drugs used to stimulate and produce multiple eggs. We were lucky.... I responded well. Almost too well. I remember waiting for the phone call the day after my eggs had been collected. We knew 26 had been collected, but we were waiting to see how many were viable and would fertilise; the doctors had decided to use ICSI instead of IVF to increase our chances. The phone call came - 16 were viable were injected with sperm. 11 fertilised successfully. First hurdle passed. Each day the number of viable developing embryos would decrease. But by day five - transfer day - we had six A grade embryos; yes they grade them. One lucky embryo was transferred into me. An eager little thing that was hatching on day five. We opted for embryo glue to help with the implantation. The next two weeks of waiting were torture. Were we? Weren't we? But finally, after years of waiting the little stick had two blue lines. Yippee. We had beaten the odds, first time round. You'd think that would be the end of the matter. But at 31 weeks I woke up in a pool of blood. I'd haemorrhaged. My husband and I rushed to the hospital in a panic. Praying to every god and deity I could think of for our baby to be ok; we didn't even know if they were a boy or girl. After twenty-four hours we were told the baby, and I were ok, but I would have to stay in hospital for the reminder of the pregnancy. At 37 weeks we finally got to meet our baby girl Theia. Hearing her cry for the first time made be realise how lucky we were. How things could have gone a different way time, and time again. She is seven months old now and a constant reminder of that. |
| What is the difference between 'judging' someone and simply 'disagreeing' with someone? Is it possible to let someone know you disagree with them without judging them? I think the difference between "judging" someone or "disagreeing" with them is in the tone that you use to deliver that differing opinion. Having a different opinion doesn't mean you should ridicule the other person, or that their opinion is any less valid than your own. It's just that... Different. It's also true that while collective opinions may influence how you view a person, more often than not that "judgment" is based on more than a single opinion alone, its based on actions as well. If you understand that then you are capable of disagreeing but not judging. I believe it's also about respect and accepting that your opinion, while it makes sense to you, isn't the only valid perspective. There isn't a right or wrong. Or black and white. There are just varying degrees of grey. This won't be true on all circumstances. There are times that a person's opinion is so far what from my own, or so overbearing, or inflexible that it is hard not to judge them negatively; or positively. Emotions can also cloud the matter and get in the way, and when that happens it's difficult to see that a different perspective isn't a personal act on you. So while it is possible to disagree without judging it's very tricky, especially if you are passionate about the subject. Everything is easier with hindsight. And thank goodness a judgement is just another opinion, one that can be easily changed. |
| Talk Tuesday! With Christmas right around the corner (there are only eight more Fridays 'til then!)...do you pick up gifts here and there throughout the year, do you try to get as much as you can in as few trips as possible, or are you a last-minute shopper? And if you don't celebrate Christmas, tell us about your favorite gift-giving occasion I LOVE Christmas!! It's one of my favourite times of the year, but I hate Christmas shopping, or specifically the crowded crush that goes with it, so I am most definitely a "as few trips as possible" shopper. Don't get me wrong, I love the atmosphere. The carolling and lights. The little stalls in the markets. It's a magical feeling and it does make the whole shopping chaos more enjoyable. But unless I see something that stands out as something someone will love, I only tend to do a lot of window/magazine/online browsing until November, that way I have a really good idea of what is out there and can build a shopping list. And it means I have at least three pay checks to spread the cost out between. I've tried the whole internet shopping for Christmas, and while it was easy and convenient it didn't help with the feeling/mood of Christmas. It's almost a tradition to go out and battle to other hoards of shoppers, sitting at home just left a bit flat. We’re also somewhat governed by the marketing strategies that the shops/high street use. Very often they will only stock Christmas items in the last 6/8 weeks leading up to Christmas meaning that if we buy too early we could miss out on this seasons “must haves”, which may not be that important to everyone, but to child, for example, not having the latest toy can be devastating – think Furbies... I try and make a number of presents for my work colleagues each year as well. I’ve made jams, favoured vodka, sloe gin, chocolate and fudge, which take time to prepare. The ingredients to make these presents often run out very quickly or take time to be delivered, so it’s worth buying them as early as possible, that way I won’t have to rush around to source the things I need. That way I won't be disappointed. |
| I am quite behind - with little chance of catching up, but I thought I'd post what I've written for the 30 day blogging challenge: 19/9 Motivational Monday! Newspaper columnist Mike Royko , born on this day back in 1932, once said, "Hollywood is right. A good and strong movie can have a more powerful social impact than any and all political speeches or newspaper editorials and columns." Tell us about a movie that has had a more profound impact on you in terms of politics, social justice, morality, or just plain old "doing the right thing" One of my favourite films of all times is The Green Mile. It’s brilliant. It comes a close second to Shawshank Redemption in my list of films. From the first time I saw it a fell in love with the story and I struggle to remain dry eyed, even now, when I re-watch it; a mixture of excellent acting and emotional narrative. What struck me about with the film is how often we, in generalist terms, judge people before we get to know them; that we jump to conclusions based on social opinion and not anything tangible. It’s a sad truth that there are many occasions where our “first impression” prevent us from moving forward, and can curb our interactions even before they begin. In the case of The Green Mile, which is set in a time and place where racism and discrimination is common place, this leads an innocent man to be sentenced to death without any real investigation into what actually happened. You could question whether he would have suffered that same fate if he hadn’t been a seven foot tall, black man, who was termed as “simple” – indeed there is actual a line in the film that compares him to a dog; a dog that needed to be shot for attacking a child. The story unfolds, and of course we get attached to our gentle giant, we discover the truth the same way the death row officers do, and we are equally as powerless to do anything about the injustice. The climax of the film sees the death of one of nature’s gifts – seriously I defy anyone not to need tissues!! But also with the hope that the lives of men that came to know him have been changed for the better, and the knowledge that not everything is what is seems at first. **** 20/9 Talk Tuesday! If you were looking into making a full-scale career change, what are some things you'd consider? Would you go back to school? Would you just pick a field that interests you now that maybe didn't interest you as much in the past, and try to get in on the ground floor? And how well do you think you'd be able to do this time around, especially if you still had to work full-time at your current position, and/or raise a family, and/or hold up social obligations? I have often thought about what I would do if I could just pack my job up and do something else. The problem (not really) is that I actually like my job and can’t really think of anything else I would like to do; other than writing, but it’s hard to make a living – at least a comparable one – from just writing. I would secretly love to just stop work, pack up and go live in the mountains somewhere, but that is something quite different. My husband is considering a career in photography, which I’ve promised to help him out with – mostly around the business side of things, which is very different from his retail/delivery role at the moment; although he is currently on shared p/maternity leave which is different again. This was just a hobby to begin with, but he quickly realised he was actually good at it. And I guess a lot of career changes come from hobbies or abilities. It’s quite daunting just jumping - in two feet first. And not something I would recommend or do, especially if you have dependents and responsibilities. My husband is lucky, in that I have a well-paid career and in theory can support him while he set up a photography business. But I’ve still pushed for him to investigate things fully and to put a business case/plan together so that he doesn’t lose his way and give up. I guess as we are starting to live longer, healthier lives we will see more and more of these “career” changes. Why should we be stuck doing jobs that either we fell into, or thought we’d like, way back when we were 18/19. In the UK they keep putting the ages of retirement up, meaning it’s likely, unless I win the lottery or such like, I’ll be working until I’m 70 at least. I’m 35 later this year…. That’s a long time to be doing this one thing!! **** 21/9 War Chest Wednesday! A prompt submitted by a previous challenger... When you’re unwell, do you allow others to take care of you, or do you prefer to soldier on alone? What does it take for you to ask for help? I’d like to think I have quite a good constitution/immune system (touching anything and everything wooden in close proximity) and so I’m not ill very often; I do not count small colds and sniffles as being ill and tend to carry on as normal; a few lemsips or flu tablets and I’m back out there, carrying on as normal. However, I know when I’m beaten. If there is any type of head spins, dizziness, temperature, or nausea I keep my feet firmly at home. I’m lucky in that I have the ability to work from home so very often if I’ll feeling under the weather but determined to carry on I will do that instead of spreading my germs around the office. I HATE it when people come into the office and give me their bugs. My husband, bless him, is very nurturing (the complete opposite of me). If I’m ill he is constantly checking to see if I am ok – mostly this involves telling me to “sit down”, “leave it”, or “go to bed”. I’m not a very good patient. He always jokes that he can tell when I’m really ill because I will let him fuss over me more. I’d say I have to be dying, or in serious pain for me to ask for help, but this is mostly because I hate the attention. When I’m ill I just want to do what I can to make it less uncomfortable and more bearable – my default is to sleep through it. Sleep in wonderful there isn’t a lot sleep can’t cure!! On the flip side, I’ve been told, many times, mostly by my husband, that I am not very sympathetic to others when they are sick. I think this is totally untrue. I just hate it when people “overplay” it. If your ill you are ill. It’s not a problem. I have no issue picking up extra work to cover you, taking chicken soup around to your house, picking your children up and making sure they are fed…. just a long a you realise you are on gunning for an Oscar… |
| There are only 87 sleep until Christmas!!!! Yes, I said it.... I said the "C" word... Christmas... In September!!! Shock and Horror. Halloween hasn't even rolled around and Christmas seems to be on many people's minds already. Each year it seems to happen earlier and earlier. Much to many's annoyance. But, is this such a bad thing? I mean a good Christmas fruit cake takes months to prepare; actually I think I've already missed the window to make it (good job I don't like fruit cake), and chutneys and sloe gin take a few months (best be getting on with those sharpish). So with that in mind, is it such a bad thing to be organised with the decorations to? A few days ago I received an email from our local garden center inviting me to the the opening of their Christmas event on Friday - yes Friday the 30th of September. An out of hours, members only, sneak peak at their amazing displays of Christmassy scenes, with wall upon wall covered in all types, size, and colour of decorations; from outdoor lights, trees figures and baubles, to garlands and place settings. And of course there's the opportunity to buy (with a 10% discount). I'm an incredibly organised person. Ask my husband. He thinks I have an obsession with storage boxes and laughs at my OCD with towels and baby bottles. But this might be taking it TOO far EVEN for me... Oh who'm I kidding. It took me exactly five seconds to log on and book three places.... I have to admit I'm really looking forward to it. It does feel a little weird thinking about the festive season when the trees are still green and the weather is still warm; it's usually dark and cold, and there's been at least one morning of good crunch underfoot from the frost, but I'm going to embrace it and see where this potential merriment leads. It could be a new tradition. I haven't decided if I'm actually going to buy anything; OK there is a VERY strong possibility that I will, but I've just been paid AND had a rebate from the tax office so where is the harm if I do. Roll on Christmas I say... .... just not too fast as I have a really cute Halloween costume for Theia to wear... |
| Prompt "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" - The Sunday News! "This week, Donald Trump once again alluded to the possibility of violence against Hillary Clinton in reference to her stance on Gun Control Reform, while Clinton called a segment of Trump's supporters a "basket of deplorables". Is any of this rhetoric really necessary in an already heated election season? Why is the focus almost always more on the sound bites and mudslinging than the actual issues and policies that should be debated." Being from the UK I think I have an interesting perspective on what is going on in US politics in that, other than the mudslinging, I know NOTHING about either candidates' policies, which speaks volumes. To be frank, when I originally heard that Donald Trump was running to be the Republican candidate I thought it was a joke. I mean surely this could never happen. People weren't that disengenuated with things that they would seriously consider voting for him. I mean the presidency is up the grabs - that would be madness right? Oh, I guess I was wrong.... We all know that soundbites and mudslinging make for top news , almost as much as scandals, and in the viewing wars between media gaints that's what seems to be important; to my dismay, often above the need to tell actual news worthy stories; a seemingly global issue. Personally I don't like Trump. And not because I think he looks like a giant umoopa loompa or and overly waxed, wax figure. I think his tactics are bullyboy ones, and his main driver appears to be publicity for any reasons and at any cost. Not exactly what I would look for in a leader. In fact I would go as far as to say the way he is conducting himself and the his "stunts", are quickly turning the whole thing into a bid of a joke. Again, not exactly what you expect. From across the pond it feels like a badly conceived reality show, not a political race. The presidency of the United States is arguably one of, if not THE most powerful job/position in the world. The lead up should be awash with pledges and plans on how to improve the lives of everyday Americans; promises backed up with realistic reasoning.The debates should reflect the seriousness of the role, not be sensationalised just to get yet another headline. Yet this seems to happen again and again. It's politics, not a pantomime. Or at least it should be!! |
| Prompt from "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" - Conduct a brief four question interview with yourself...but do not use four out of the following five words in your questions and responses: who, what, where, when, and why. Q - I understand you've recently become a mother; how're you settling into your "new" role? Honestly, it's much tougher than I thought it'd be. I mean, I knew it'd take a lot of getting used to. And of course everyone warned me about the sleepless nights; seriously even strangers, as soon as they saw the bump they were like, "Enjoy the rest while you can!!", but oh my word. It's just another level. But Theia is great. She makes it m worth the psychology torture and sleep deprivation. We're completely in love with her. She's perfect. Even after she's just spat up on me for the 100th time, she just perfect. Q - How old is she now? She's just turned six months. So, she's growing really fast; like a weed. I'm shocked how quickly the time as gone actually. People warn you about it, but yep, it feels like yesterday we were bring her home from the hospital. Feeling severely out of our depths. We're still completely out of our depth mind you, but now there is weaning, crawling, and teething to contend with. Q - How is the weaning going? OK. I mean we pretty much take any time food goes IN her mouth as a win!! Huge win. And we've accepted there are just somethings stains won't come out of, especially if it's tomato... Or Carrot. She seems to be taking it all in her stride though. We started weaning her a little early, at 5 and a bit months; think the official guideline is six months. So we weren't to far out. She's tried so many things already: apples, banana, mango, pear, strawberries, blueberries, prunes, apricot, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, parsnip, swedes, spinach, broccoli, the list goes on, and on, and on. I'm really keen for her to try lots of different tastes. She definitely prefers the fruits. She pulls these cute little faces at the vegetables or a new taste. It makes Guy and I laugh a lot. We've shot some video to keep and show her, probably; on her 18th just to embarrass her a little, and also to show to Guy's mum, as she live in Australia. Q - Halloween and Christmas are just around the corner. Which one are you looking forward to most? I know. I really can't wait. I love both of them so much anyway. But this year they're extra special. I'm really looking forward to Halloween; I'm dying to dress Theia as a pumpkin. I think she is going to look super cute!!! And of course Christmas will be very special as well. But more for me and Guy as I don't think Theia is going to remember any of it or understand it... We're on the hunt for cute little advent calendars - the old fashioned, wooden ones. And I'm going to give stocking making a go, and attempt to make her first stocking... Emphasis on the word "attempt". |
| Prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" - On this day in 1620, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England. The ship arrived at Provincetown, MA, on November 21st and then at Plymouth, MA, on December 26th; there were 102 passengers on board. Imagine that this voyage never happened...how dramatically would that have affected the course of human history? Being  I know very little about the  Mayflower , or its passengers, other than they travelled to the “New World”. It’s been interesting to read their story, which seems like it is as much about death as it is of survival. Today’s America is an amalgamation of differing races, religions and cultures many of whom travelled and settled in search of a future better that the one they left in their native lands; whether from persecution or a “better” life. A sentiment that some will argue has echoed through the timeline since the first settlers stepped foot on the shore of what is now Cape Cod. Would America still be the land of the free and home of the brave without this original, perilous voyage? Would this in turn have led to mass immigration to other countries? Possibly not, as the Mayflower was not the only ship to make the journey. And the human condition to explore, invade, and conquer would mean that someone would have made it to those lands eventually – though perhaps this would mean a different first language than the one today – perhaps Spanish or Dutch. Indeed, would it have been independence from the British that’s celebrated on the 4th July? Also, as many of those that were on the Mayflower were Separatists, fleeing from religious persecution, it could be argued that the landscape of America’s religious foundation may have been irrevocability changed. The life that the pilgrims eked out in an extremely harsh environment; that in the first winter saw more than half of its number succumb to scurvy, pneumonia or tuberculous, lay the foundation for the pride and passion Americans have for their home. Blood, sweat, and tears were shed to build the settlement, and subsequent ones, and it has been my experience that the things that have to be fought the hardest for are often the most treasured, and appreciated. That is not to say that it’s all been a shining beacon, but as a species we learn from our history, even those events for which we are less proud. Possibly the most significant impact the arrival of the Mayflower had was on the signing of the Mayflower Compact; something that is seen by many as the first form of democracy – even if in rudimentary form – and the world's first written constitution. Again, there is no doubt that something would have taken it’s place, but would it have been based on the good of the colony? and would it have shape the foundation of American society and politics in the same way? |
| Prompt from "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" – “List three random bits of useless knowledge, and tell us a little about each one...maybe they hold some specific significance to you, or it's important in your line of work, or how they relate to a particular hobby you have. Be creative and have some fun with this prompt...don't be afraid to show off a little! “ Ok here are my little know/random bits of information:  Our stomach lining is eating us - or at least it could - our stomach makes a new lining every three days to stop it digesting itself. Basically our stomach secretes acid (hydrochloric acid) which is very corrosive (it’s also used to treat metals) and is only kept within our stomach by a mucous lining, which has to constantly regenerate. This allows our food to be consumed and digested but not our own stomachs…  My uncle had to have surgery on his stomach many moons ago and had to take some medication to assist this mucusy lining, he also had such a restricted diet afterwards. I always found this little fact scary… I mean, what happens if it suddenly stops (I know it won’t)? We’ll slowly be eaten from the inside out. It’s like something out of a horror/sci-fi movie/novel. Wonder Women created the lie detector… sort of….. I’m a huge superhero fan. Technically I’m more of a Marvel than a DC girl but I grew up on Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as, let’s face it DC dominated for a LONG time. Anyway, the guy who created Wonder Women, William Moulton Marston, also invented the lie detector test. Now the lasso of truth make so much more sense…  Penguins and their underwear – years ago my ex adopted a penguin for me at London Zoo for Christmas. When we went to visit we saw some of the hatchlings and noticed one that looked a little different to the rest, we were told he was an Isabelline penguin; one that’s hatched with brown, rather than black, feathers (happens in 1 in 50,000 hatchlings). Turns out they're named after the Archduchess Isabella of Austria who didn’t change her underwear until her husband united the northern and southern countries, which took three years . I'm not sure I'd like to be named after her... |
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