On Flickr, Jazz Devil commented on this photo that it made her "think of the Doctor Who theme tune" so it seemed like a suitable thing to update my blog with before the weekend. The new series starts on BBC1 on Saturday with Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor. Sadly, the new TARDIS interior doesn't look quite like the Atomiom, but it is rather shiny. Will the revised show be any good? With Steven Moffat at the helm, my hopes are high, but really only time will tell.
In other news, The lovely Retrochick has given my blog an award. Goodness only knows why, seeing as I keep forgetting to update the thing! Better get that red carpet outfit sorted pronto.
Why do women read the Daily Mail?
I don't usually read the Daily Fail's website but sometimes its headlines are so ridiculous that, when you catch sight of one, you just have to investigate further. Like this:
Gender-bender chemicals 'putting everyone at risk'As expected, the content of the article was nowhere near as horrendous and life threatening as the headline suggests. Mind you, the chemical in question apparently mimics the female hormone oestrogen and nobody wants to be a woman, right? I mean, why would you... that'd be awful.
Ada Lovelace Day
In case you don't already know, Ada Lovelace Day is an international day of blogging to celebrate the achievements of women in technology and science. At first I wondered who on earth I could write about to mark such a day but, when I thought some more, there was one woman who stood out... one you'll not have heard of. Her name is Joan Scott. The reason you won't have heard of her is that Mrs Scott was a teacher at Wycombe High School when I was a student there from 1987 to 1993. I didn't have much contact with her during my time in the lower school as she was a chemistry teacher and I went for the minimum amount of science that I could get away with at GCSE level, choosing only physics. However, our paths were to cross once I entered the sixth form.
I was at a loss when selecting my A-level subjects. I knew I wanted to study art and I also, rather stupidly, let the teachers talk me into taking mathematics due to my previous good record in the subject. However, I really didn't know what to choose for subject number three. One of the options was to select a new subject that was only on offer at A-level and, for some reason, computing seemed rather a tempting choice. The teacher was Mrs Scott, who I had no knowledge of, and the subject sounded interesting and useful. This turned out to be a far far better choice than maths.
I spent the next two years thinking Mrs Scott was quite insane. Originally a chemistry teacher, she'd done further study and was now also teaching the business studies and computing A-level courses too. We giggled at her silliness, marvelled at the pinkish tint to her hair, smirked at the purple suit that she always turned up in on important days, and were stunned when she started naming squirrels in the bushes outside the window of our classroom. However, behind this quirky exterior, lurked a woman who really did know what she was doing and I only realised this on results day. She took a subject that we had no previous experience of and made it interesting. When we were drifting off in lessons, the talk of fluffy animals in the trees outside helped us snap back into reality and start concentrating on our work again. Mrs Scott helped me have fun during those two years and taught me some very useful things. She was one of the best teachers I had in my time at school.
For her services to science and technology education, and the little hologram brooch she always wore on that purple suit, Joan Scott really deserves to be remembered.
I was at a loss when selecting my A-level subjects. I knew I wanted to study art and I also, rather stupidly, let the teachers talk me into taking mathematics due to my previous good record in the subject. However, I really didn't know what to choose for subject number three. One of the options was to select a new subject that was only on offer at A-level and, for some reason, computing seemed rather a tempting choice. The teacher was Mrs Scott, who I had no knowledge of, and the subject sounded interesting and useful. This turned out to be a far far better choice than maths.
I spent the next two years thinking Mrs Scott was quite insane. Originally a chemistry teacher, she'd done further study and was now also teaching the business studies and computing A-level courses too. We giggled at her silliness, marvelled at the pinkish tint to her hair, smirked at the purple suit that she always turned up in on important days, and were stunned when she started naming squirrels in the bushes outside the window of our classroom. However, behind this quirky exterior, lurked a woman who really did know what she was doing and I only realised this on results day. She took a subject that we had no previous experience of and made it interesting. When we were drifting off in lessons, the talk of fluffy animals in the trees outside helped us snap back into reality and start concentrating on our work again. Mrs Scott helped me have fun during those two years and taught me some very useful things. She was one of the best teachers I had in my time at school.
For her services to science and technology education, and the little hologram brooch she always wore on that purple suit, Joan Scott really deserves to be remembered.
The wonders of Formspring
When I first saw Formspring, I thought it sounded like a great idea. However, asking people questions with the opportunity to be anonymous can be hit and miss. On the receiving end (so to speak), either you get some wonderful questions or some really sleazy ones. On the other end, you're either inspired or at a complete loss for something interesting to ask, whether or not you're sticking with the anonymity. For some people, however, it works brilliantly.
If you're going to read anyone's answers on Formspring, may I please recommend Alistair Coleman of the (in)famous Scaryduck blog. Through him I have learnt that Old Speckled Hen sometimes tastes like cock because "One pint in 10,000 is male", and 'Black Tie' is "the name of the Victorian parlour game that is played by the gentlemen once the ladies have been dismissed to the drawing room. Bring condoms and lube". Even if someone did ask me such silly questions, I'm not sure the answers would be quite as entertaining.
If you're going to read anyone's answers on Formspring, may I please recommend Alistair Coleman of the (in)famous Scaryduck blog. Through him I have learnt that Old Speckled Hen sometimes tastes like cock because "One pint in 10,000 is male", and 'Black Tie' is "the name of the Victorian parlour game that is played by the gentlemen once the ladies have been dismissed to the drawing room. Bring condoms and lube". Even if someone did ask me such silly questions, I'm not sure the answers would be quite as entertaining.
Finally catching up
My Flickr photostream has been sitting unloved for months now. Aside from a few scans of some lomo shots that I did when I was looking for images to illustrate a BitchBuzz article I was writing in January, I hadn't uploaded anything since August 2009. This afternoon I finally found the time to scan the rest of those prints - from Brighton, London and Stockholm - plus upload my digital shots from the weekend in Brussels. The place looks far nicer in retrospect. Perhaps the cold weather really did affect our perception of the place?
Going to your GP for a cold?
I've just read a Times Online article by Jamie Whyte entitled Of course demand for GPs is too high — a visit costs zero. Whyte proposes charging a £10 appointment fee to deter people with 'sniffles' and assumes that most people will be able to pay. Aside from the fact that this goes against the very nature of the National Health Service, it clearly shows that he only knows at least reasonably affluent people. A tenner might not seem a lot to him, but some people just can't afford to pay that for someone's opinion. I quickly scoured the comments to see if anyone else was astounded by the suggestion and came across a comment from Julie King:
I think this is a great idea. It would put the really poor off going to the doctors at all, then more of them might just die and stop bringing the rest of us down with their stupid poverty.I really hope that's sarcasm.
New horizons
The two-year itch has hit again and I'm once again browsing job adverts in the hope of finding something more stimulating. However, the desire for some kind of direction or purpose in my work life is still hanging over me and so I'm finally doing something about it. I've signed up for The School of Life's evening class on How To Find A Job You Love, and yesterday I went on a training day ar work entitled Career Planning for Support Staff. From yesterday's session I've already realised that the desire to be 'expert' in something and assist other people using that knowledge is probably going to be a key part of my ideal job. I like problem solving, training people and translating complicated/technical concepts and processes into explanations or instructions for a layperson. So far, my favourite organisations to work in have been educational establishments, but I'm open to suggestions. Any ideas on where to start looking?
My morning as a fashion designer
Emails are still flying back and forth about my sister's wedding, despite the date being as yet unconfirmed, and there are now going to be three bridesmaids. Because she is kind enough to not force us all into the same style of dress, Fi asked us to email her photos of dresses that we liked so she can get an idea on the sort of styles she needs to look for. As I haven't been doing much browsing for clothes in the last month or so (especially not formal dresses), I was stuck for inpspiration. Thankfully Laëtitia recommended a wonderful site called StyleShake where you can design your own clothes so, after a little bit of playing around, I came up with my own selection of designs to send to my sister. Even if she doesn't order from there or use my dresses, I could be tempted to get one of them made up for parties anyway.
Brussels: my review
It was lovely to spend a weekend away with the fantastic Mr Topper, but Brussels wasn't the best place we've ever been. Not even the second best place we've ever been... together... in Europe. My recommendations would therefore be:
- If you're in London, save money on travel and accommodation and simply stock up on chocolate from Rococo before heading to Lowlander for several tasty beers.
- If you're in London and fancy travelling on a train for two hours to get to a cold damp place where they serve good beer, try Manchester. The people are nicer and you don't need your passport.
- If you simply have to go to Brussels, make sure you drink in Poechenellekelder (near mannekin pis) for friendliness with an outstanding selection of beers, and eat in Brasserie Roue d'Or (near Grand Place) for amazing food plus outrageous portion sizes!
Coffee vs estate agents
A while ago, at a friend's dinner party, a chap called Duncan Rowe uttered the memorable words "I firmly believe that, if your job title ends in 'agent' but doesn't start with 'secret', you're a cunt". We laughed, I added to my Facebook quotes page the day after, and many more friends have agreed with this sentiment since. However, I was stunned when I opened the Evening Standard yesterday and found an unexpected example to further prove Mr Rowe was correct. The short piece in question was about how the flat white is 'taking over' as, since two major coffee chains have added it to their menus, sales have soared. The Standard asked three people what they thought of Costa's flat white, including a 22-year-old estate agent named James Flynn. He said:
"It's quite nice. But the mocha is my favourite because it is sweet and chocolatey. The heart on the top probably makes the flat white popular and the name sounds trendy."For a start, never ask someone whose favourite coffee is mocha what they think of proper coffee. It's sweet and chocolatey, eh? Well, so is hot chocolate... more so, in fact. Also, take note James, most people would not buy coffee because it has a heart shape in the milk (although talented baristas can create more intricate patterns, so this could be an indicator of really good coffee outside of the chains), or because of the name sounding 'trendy'. Most people actually buy coffee for the taste. And we prefer to buy our homes from people who aren't cunts but, unlike with our coffee, we don't actually have much of a choice on that one.
Body confidence
Last year, when I was tweeting about being snapped by Rankin, I got a message from Claire Nelson asking me how the shoot went and what to expect from hers the following day. I'd never met this woman before that but, after Rankin Live brought us together, we became firm online friends. Turns out we have lots more in common that simply having been 'Ranked', as Claire is also a keen writer. She had a guest post featured on the British Style Bloggers site yesterday, about body image which is a subject that's been bothering me since 2003 when I wrote about it for The F-Word. Thankfully I'm more or less over that now thanks, in part, to the London fetish and burlesque scenes which have reassured me that the only requirement to being gorgeous is confidence. Watching less television and reading fewer magazines have helped enormously too, but seeing women of all shapes and sizes look amazing in corsets/rubber/PVC/feathers/whatever really has had an amazing effect. See that cellulite? Does it stop me being gorgeous? Not bloody likely!
In other news, the entertaining Lady McScamp pointed me in the direction of an article regarding another feminist perspective of burlesque. Since I wrote my glittertits article for BitchBuzz, I've been feeling a lot more comfortable about burlesque. However, I am planning something rather different for my next performance. Something a bit less burly and a bit more que?
In other news, the entertaining Lady McScamp pointed me in the direction of an article regarding another feminist perspective of burlesque. Since I wrote my glittertits article for BitchBuzz, I've been feeling a lot more comfortable about burlesque. However, I am planning something rather different for my next performance. Something a bit less burly and a bit more que?
