Spread a little love...

There are many worrying trends in todays stressful times. I've noticed recently that a lot of usually delightful peeps have been going a little overboard on the WWW, in full view of the entire global community.

I recently used the saying "didn't your mother ever tell you not to air your dirty laundry in public" twice one day. I know sometimes if feels good when we're full of our self-righteous selves to let off a bit of steam in public, but it really can come back to bit you on the bum.

Internet etiquette has a purpose. Protecting our sore bits. Your ex might be a cow who's trying to kick you out of your jointly bought house, but can you honestly say that you could trust every single person you're friends with on Facebook with your intimate secrets? I certainly couldn't.

Lively topical debate is one thing. Mud slinging and insulting is NOT the way forward. I've today been seriously called a "terrorist" for my disagreeing with the opinion of someone who's sense of self importance has got a little out of hand. That's just not cricket.

It really doesn't pay to get too far up your own (or anyone else's) bum. Being not nice about someone in public can only ever be a bad thing. The old adage "if you don't have anything nice to say ..." might be a cliche and old fashioned, but it goes a long way to protecting you. Can you be sure your next boss/partner/squeeze/best friend isn't reading what you've written?

Rule 1- Don't write anything that could be used against you. It probably will be.

Rule 2- Don't tell the world what you would only tell your best friends in person.

Rule 3- Don't get all above yourself and above your station. It's all a bit of fun. Don't take things too seriously, it REALLY makes you look like a bit of a ...

Serendipity Strikes Again!

I have a new job. I'm really looking forward to it.

I had to go down to the office to pay for my CRB check on Friday (I get it refunded but I have to pay for it initially. I don't mind that.) so I go to the cash point to withdraw the money to pay for it. It's £36. I'm aware that I'm wondering if they'll have change in the office, so I draw out £40. If only I had £1 more in my purse I could give them the right money.

What's that I see on the floor shinning in the sun? It's only a £1 coin! I've clearly taken it that this job is meant to be. I'm going to love it!

That's a pretty good start for a Friday morning. How could I possibly have guessed it could get any better? Although there really was one point where I actually thought that the day had gone completely pear shaped as a result of my serendipity.

So this is how the rest of the day panned out:

Well, what happened was ....

Megan and I were due to be going to the Kerrang! tour gig in Cardiff last Friday to see The Blackout! (my favourite) All Time Low, Young Guns and My Passion. She asked if we could take some of her friends, one of whom was coming up from Swansea for the evening and staying at ours. After a drama getting the tickets as they were sold out really quickly, we had them about 6 weeks ago.

Kane came up from Swansea on the train on Friday. Sometime after leaving the train on Friday he managed to loose his wallet which contained £50 and his ticket.

Even though I love the Blackout!, there was no way I could have him not go to the gig so I gave him my ticket. I was cooking them some tea in the kitchen listening to Greg and sulking secretly because I wasn't going to the gig. Then his show finished and he said "right I'll be taking some calls for 20 mins now" so I thought I'd phone in. All I was hoping is that he could get Sara Cox to mention about it on the air in the hope of getting the ticket back.

He put me on to the PR lady of the Blackout! and she put me on the guest list. When we got there I discovered that I had 4 VIP passes too so we got to meet everybody too! I have to talk to Greg again on Monday and talk about it - of course I'll be plugging the blog, I've also saved the two funniest stories of the night for the show on Monday!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/gregjames/

Every Little Helps...?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8484116.stm

So, they've finally lost it. Tesco have today banned shoppers from wearing their pyjamas in their (24 hour) store.

Exactly where do they draw the distinction between nightwear and day wear because I frequently see people negotiating the aisles wearing considerably less than I do in bed. I know an awful lot of greengrocers who'd be more than happy for you to browse their store wearing your pyjamas, a Superted costume, or a black bin bag. Whatever takes your fancy.

So their own power has finally tipped the fine balance between capitalist greed and utter insanity.

It's perfectly acceptable for Tesco to hold deserving charities to ransom in the name of "ethical shopping", but a pair of flannelet drawstring trousers is clearly far more offensive. "Buy any of these products in store now and we'll donate 5p (Ooo) to Muscular Dystrophy"

In essence what they are saying is "That means you can feel less guilty about not doing as much as you'd like for charity, you think "Ooo Tesco; what an ethical international conglomerate I don't feel quite as bad about the decline of the small trader or loss of popularity of the high street" and the charity, (deserving, underfunded and worth it's weight in gold) who are in no position to argue about where their funding comes from, benefit from shoppers increasing Tesco profits instead of Asda."

At least Dick Turpin had the common decency to have a horse and wear a mask.

Never again will I set foot in a Tesco, they can shove their Clubcard up their @rse, and by the way, I'm sat sitting here typing this furiously in my flannelet nightie, dressing gown and slippers and if anyone has a problem with that, I suggest a call to the Tesco recruitment hotline.

Lack of Connectivity Creates Connectedness. Fact.

Managing to save myself another £7 per month today was a great thing. Managing to do it without changing from my existing ISP is even better, but it does make you think. If you have to threaten to leave their services in order to get the best deal, why can't they give you that deal in the first place. Crap. Now I sound like that old Alliance and Leicester advert. It is annoying though.

So the existing ISP is taking over the role of the current TSP (if it's ever called that) and sending me a free wireless modem for my troubles. Fabulous, as a new one to buy was £50. They promised that it would be posted out to me today. But I must be honest, I can't help but feel a little sad about it

The thing is, since we've had limited Internet capabilities, I seem to have a lot less to do on a daily basis. To add to that, the Teenager is hanging around us more, instead of engrossed in Facebook/Myspace/Bebo/MSN which is really kinda nice. Every time I want to speak to her, I just ask her, instead of texting her (she's also been sans mobile credit at the same time. I know. EVIL MUM!) or hollering up the stairs to her.

I know it comes as no surprise to realise how much connection is lost when you introduce a TV to the living room, but I must admit the amount of Teenager contact improvement without the Internet was unprecedented.

I've topped up her phone a bit now, which means she has contact with her friends now through text and Facebook. Haven't seen her since.

The Big Freeze

2nd handmade present of the year delivered and successfully accepted. My beaded note book went down a treat. I must be honest, it really was lovely.

So the usual suspects had a night out in Cardiff last night and what a good night it was. The club, however, left a bit to be desired. It's a new build, so you'd expect fairly decent standards, but it was SOOO cold in there, even when we left for the night! Of course, sods law dictated that I just took a dress jacket rather than a warm one.

I was glad to be wearing that jacket though, and those trousers. I must be honest I feel like I've cheated and got new clothes as I haven't been able to fit into half of my wardrobe for over a year. SO now I feel like I've got a new set of clothes. But enough weight loss gloating.

In discussions with the husband this afternoon we've established that clearing a patch of land big enough for me to have my veg patch should be relatively easy, so veggie patch it is. Right now, this is kind of my focus as I'm "between projects". Going to do a bit of gardening research tonight I think. And quite a bit of lying down to get over my "hang over" and dancing injuries!

Crime and Punishment

It's not all denial and punishment in our house. I've had a naughty food treat or two tonight.

I've been on a brilliant weight loss programme since a couple of weeks before Christmas and I've done really well on it (Slimming World). As a result, I've had a few hours off today and had chips from our friendly neighbourhood chip van, and some lovely Cadbury's (soon to be Kraft) chocolate squares, yum. I'm not sure my SW teacher would approve, but I feel it's important to go over your Syns every now and then to give your system a bit of a boost. And it keeps morale up.

Apart from Christmas day, this has been the only real time off I've had. I can't say the plan is difficult, it certainly isn't, but a treat is nice and oh so enjoyable when you have it. That got me thinking about the parallels between my weight loss plan and my consumerism plan.

In order to get yourself out of bad "consumption" habits, you have to be a bit dramatic. This, however is not the hard bit. The hard bit comes when the dramatic period is over and normal habits are relatively free to resume.

In order to cleanse myself of marketing propaganda, I'm resisting giving into it until I've "lost the excess weight". If, however, I embark upon a marathon spending spree on the 2nd of January 2011, it'll all be in vain.

As I was discussing with the lovely "Butterknowlian" lady this afternoon, nothing is bad - in moderation. It's all about balance. The trick is to not be ruled and governed by your treats, and treats should not be a staple, they should be just that. Planned, budgeted for and enjoyed.

Serendipity Rules O.K.

I'm going to have to retract some of yesterday's rant.

It's been weeks now I've been needing to buy a new data cable for my phone but for some reason I just didn't get around to it. Always thinking "I'll just give the old one a few days to turn back up" which, of course it never did.

So I'm very glad something made me do it yesterday. I don't know what though. Usually my tightwaddness would override my need for it and my complete abhorrence of the amount of money I'd already spent would have stopped me. But it didn't.

If I hadn't bought that data cable yesterday I would not be talking to you now. My modem has died. Well and truly, so I'll now be relying on the good old fashioned mobile phone to keep me blogging for a couple of days.

A good result too today. Just had a gorgeous meal with one half of my family and was talking about my new mini-greenhouse (kitchen windowsill). My Stepmother offered me the use of half of her greenhouse. Now that's an offer I cannot refuse. I'm going to need to do some research now to decide what to plant in it. I reckon a combination of half a greenhouse and a load of raised tubs in my yard will do us just about fine.

I'm thinking peppers, corn on the cob, chillies ...