Thursday 26 April 2012

Supporting local business

I live in a busy town and we benefitted from a sparkly new shopping centre a couple of years ago. The choice of shops, restaurants and hairdressers has been greatly improved and has proven to be a great success for the town.

I however don't visit very often as I have made a conscious effort of late to support local businesses.

There is a parade of shops within 2 minutes walk of my home - I have my hair cut and coloured at the mother and daughter run hairdressers, buy my children's football cards and sweet treats at the father and son run newsagents, purchase my bottle of wine from the local off license.

I'm not completely against high street or supermarket of course - but where I can I support businesses within walking distance.....do you?

Monday 23 April 2012

POOH!

Do you think I've gone mad? I am after all blogging about pooh!!

Well just I am mad, but not in that sense. I'm cross, angry, annoyed....yes MAD!!

Those of you who know me will know I have a dog, you may also know that walking my dog has helped me to shed a not inconsiderable number of pounds since we entered 2012 (24 to be exact!)

Come rain or shine (and let's face it, more rain than shine so far this spring) I pound the pavements of High Wycombe en route to a woodland walk where we both burn some calories and enjoy the fresh air. However today both of my walks were ruined by pooh!

Why oh why can fellow dog owners not "scoop the poop?" I admit it isn't the most pleasant of tasks but with scented poop bags, designer poop bag holders (yes really) and plenty of poop bins scattered along the favored dog walking routes in my area I believe there is NO EXCUSE.

In the middle of the pavement - pooh!

On the grass verge - pooh!

At the park  - pooh!

In the woods - pooh!

Not only is it disgusting, it is a health hazard to us humans and to dogs - many nasty diseases can be spread - as a Mum of two young boys it worries me greatly that our local playing field and park is one of the offending areas.

So come on dog owners, act responsibly and pick up the poop ......at the very least so that I can start blogging about more palatable subjects!




Wednesday 18 April 2012

A holiday....in more ways than one

I am just back from a wonderful week of sun in Lanzarote. Spending some quality time with my husband and children was just wonderful - and it wasn't just the lazy sun filled days, fun in the pool and building sand castles at the beach that helped to recharge my batteries but the chance to switch off from email, Facebook, Twitter, online news .........

I am one of those people you may have read about in recent articles who is a tiny bit (okay.....hugely!) addicted to my smart phone. It is by my side all of the time. If it is charging my even smarter tablet is with me......I literally never switch off! But why? It's not as if the world will end if I don't check my emails or Twitter feed for an hour but I feel that in an age where we CAN be contactable, by several different sources, all of the time.....I really SHOULD be!

If there are un-read emails in my inbox I feel a bit squeamish. Unacknowledged Facebook comments make me nervous and I don't want to be rude by not thanking a Tweep for a retweet.

If my phone rings I answer it - I have even been known to lock myself in the bathroom to take a work call if the kids are home from school!

I remember back in the mid-90s when I landed my first job in a pharmaceutical PR agency - the fax machine was the centre of the office, voicemail didn't exist and we had one computer that had a generic email address on it, each of the team got a timed slot in the day to use this computer to send and receive emails........sounds like another age doesn't it?

So back to holiday - I did send the odd text -  even though I'm 35 my Mum still likes to know I've arrived safely (bless her!) but I didn't glance at Facebook or Twitter, was blissfully unaware of what was going on in the world and emails waited until I arrived home.

So my post-holiday resolution is to try not to be too over-the-top about being contactable. My phone will always be by my side - after all as a PR if a journalist needs to speak to me they need to speak to me and I always want to be contactable by the school in case of any emergencies.

But evenings, mealtimes, bedtimes and weekends will see my smart phone stashed away and all of my other devices switched off!

I'll try very very hard......watch this space for an update

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Boycotting nonsensical drivel....so I'll never read another tabloid newspaper again then!

This is something that's troubled me for a while now ....today an article I read online tipped me over the edge and made me want to ask....Why does modern tabloid journalism seem to be all about slating the looks, size and style of "celebrity" women?

Today's piece pictured Holly Valance, a gorgeous lady in my opinion, in a series of unflattering "pap'd" shots - the article went on to state how last week in a black ensemble she had looked gorgeous, sexy, slim and 1 week later pictured in a white jumper and white jeans she looked....well basically awful (in their opinion). Anyone can be pictured at an unflattering angle, even the hottest supermodels in the world can't look fantastic every second of every day.

Last week there was a piece about some of the stars of TOWIE, on holiday, probably unaware of the paps lurking in the bushes and one of the girls, who to me looks to be a healthy average sized young lady, was pictured with her shorts riding up her bum, her hair in disarray and pulling her head back to cause a double chin......SO WHAT!! Why is this news? How do these women - actually some are so young they are just girls - feel about being slated day after day for their appearance. Is the modern media so shallow as to only pay the paps for the most unflattering pictures.

Imagine walking your kids to call and hearing "oh my god, her bum looks massive in those skinny jeans" or sitting at your desk and hearing "what has she done to her hair, it looks awful with a fringe." Personally it would wear me down.

Some people may say that being a "celeb" puts your in the public eye, means you are open to criticism but blatant bullying, name calling and down right cruelty based purely on appearance is so wrong.

I for one am going to stop reading the newspapers, magazines and online sources that seem to be more obsessed by "name-calling"

Claire x

Monday 2 April 2012

It's getting complicated

Six months ago life was all about Ben 10 and which alien was the coolest....fast forward to today and my seven year old is a much more complex fellow.

The things that make me most proud of him - he is sensitive, clever, competitive and bright are also the things that make it very hard work to be his Mummy sometimes. Life has suddenly taken a serious turn for him - he wants to be the best, he is doing well at school and this makes the teachers push him more (a good thing) but then makes him realise that he could do better and he beats himself up about it.

He LOVES football. Loves to play and loves to watch too - he and his Dad share a passion for Manchester Utd and he soaks up the stats on Sky Sports News like it's oxygen. When he plays he gives it his all - again he realises he can always be better and is never content with 2nd place or hitting the post. His drive to be the best makes him sad and gets him frustrated. I can say a million times over, "it's the taking part that counts" but he doesn't believe that - he wants to be a winner.

My eldest son is his Dad reincarnated and I know that his confidence and drive has helped him to achieve a great career and a great attitude to life in general. Whereas my lack of confidence and excruciating shyness as a child (which thank goodness didn't follow me into adulthood) sees me question almost every decision I make......I'd rather he be confident and self assured and I kind of know he'll be fine but seeing my serious 7 year old withdraw because he doesn't feel he's done his best is heart breaking.

I imagine 7 years ago when he was a gurgling 4-month old and also imagine how life will be in another 7 years time....I wonder how complex a teenager he will grow into?