|
... maybe not always as easy as 1 2 3, but it sums up my last week quite nicely! Let me explain... A is for... Alcohol Abstinence!Yep, I've nearly finished Dry January, all in the name of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Why the MNDA? Well, take a look at my Just Giving page to find out! Or if you just want to throw caution to the wind and support this amazing charity (and inspire me to see out the rest on the month!) text GOMB99 £5 to 70070. Simples! B is for... Blogging!
Well, duh! But not just here - I've been writing about how my beloved London has kept me entertained during the first 31 days of the year. Yesterday I ticked off three of my own suggestions with some art exhibitions, a walk along the Southbank and a trip to the cinema. Read more of my sober strategies here...and then check out my latest review for Operation:Pizza to see how one of the biggest chains compares. And C is for... Crafting!
Happy Birthday Elaine!
Okay, so I made the bag above earlier this month, but it was a birthday present for my cousin and I didn't want to spoil her surprise! This weekend, however, I finished off my latest upcycling project, turning two pine stools I picked up for £1.50 into Shelly Berry Originals - check it out!
And D? Well, when the clock strikes midnight on Saturday it will be for... drinking!
Okay, so maybe I have a problem...
0 Comments
Happy Sunday all. I hope you are well? Well, I'm sat in Mama and Papa Berry's front room, inhaling the delights of Mama Berry's beef casserole, and wondering what to blog about today. However, no matter where I try to go with this, my mind keeps returning to the political happenings of the last fortnight or so. I know I'm at risk of saying something that has been said several times already since the attacks in Paris, and I'm guessing some of you are sick of the "Freedom of Speech" debate, but after listening to the ramblings of historian David Starkey on Question Time, seeing Fox News' report on "no-go" Birmingham, and hearing yet another of Farage's rants about immigration, I'm afraid I'm going to have to say my piece. 
Starkey - don't get me started...
I 100% support freedom of speech. But with it comes responsibility, something that not everyone exercises. Charlie Hebdo has every right to publish what it wants, but they need to be aware that, by doing so, they might not only alienate a lot of people, but potentially give those who attacked their offices more ammunition when it comes to radicalising young Muslims who are already disenchanted with the world. Starkey can say what he likes about Islam but, by manipulating historical "facts" to illustrate his personal viewpoint, he loses any respect I might have for him - but more worryingly might plant yet another seed of misguided doubt in the minds of viewers who may not fully understand what the religion is about. And, whilst Farage is free to point the finger at immigration as the root of all the UK's problems, by failing to show the population the full picture, he makes immigrants scapegoats to what is a much more complex situation.
There are people in this world who are privileged to be able to say their piece and have thousands - possibly millions - listen to them. This gives them a lot of power - power that can cause harm, increase fractions in our society and see people wrongly blamed - and therefore exorcised - for all our ills. So there you have it. With rights come responsibility - something that I think some opinionated individuals seem to forget. But we too have a responsibility as the receivers of this information. We need to question arguments and listen far and wide. Because if we don't, we risk letting those who shout the loudest shape our world to fit their beliefs - and not the real needs of our economy, the population and our environment. Okay - rant over... Hello all! So did you all survive the first full week of 2015? Amazingly I did - despite being back at work and staying "dry". Yep - I'm still off the booze and have set up my Just Giving page to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and have already raised thirty quid - woo hoo! 
Despite having almost two weeks off work, my inbox was surprisingly manageable when I returned to the office on Monday, which means I've started the year leaving work at a reasonable time - something I hope to keep up over the next 12 months. This also means I've had more time in the evenings to get on with a bit of painting. Yep, the bathroom is done, and the stools I am upcycling have had their second coat - now I just need to track down some foam to top them with! I've also pulled out my oils and added another layer of "hair" to my latest picture - one that I WILL finish soon, I WILL... 
In other news, on Friday I spent a good three hours printing out novel number 2 and spent my Saturday morning lie-in starting yet another round of editing. Oh, and the latest edition of Operation:Pizza is live too, this time reviewing high street chain Strada. You may be surprised by the results...
Anyway, I'm off to get myself a hot chocolate and put on my PJs - rock 'n' roll people! Happy New Year everyone! Well, Christmas is over, and January is upon us - and for some reason this means that half the population have decided to give up alcohol. In the past I have groaned when my mates have forgone a pint in favour of a cup of tea, but this year I have decided to join them. Yes, you read that correctly - I'm off the booze for a whole month, and, to keep me on the straight and narrow, I'm going to do it for charidee, so watch this space for a link to my Just Giving page! 
Another crafty Christmas gift - modelled by the lovely Nic!
I have to admit that it has become apparent that a glass of vino had become a regular accompaniment to a relaxing night in, and, without it, I have noticed that I find it harder to switch off - which means I have gone into DIY overdrive! Since returning from my festive travels I have pretty much decorated my bathroom and started up-cycling my kitchen stools, and am planning my next crafting projects. So, come February, I intend to have made yet another homemade gift and possibly a yoga mat bag too! Pictures to follow...
That doesn't mean that I won't be writing too - or rather, getting on with another round of editing and typing up my latest short story which I hand wrote when sans netbook. Oh yeah. and then there's Operation:Pizza - I think we may have a winner, which you can read all about here... Anyway, on that note, I'm off to dig out my knitting needles whilst I boil the kettle for a lovely herbal tea. I hardly recognise myself... |
THE JUICEHere you will find my latest news, including what I have been up to and what I have been writing (and making). Hopefully you'll like what I have to say - and perhaps I will motivate you to get creative too... Archives
August 2015
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
