The calm before the storm, possibly.

I'm trying to plan out (in my head, of course) a blog regarding feminism and gender inequality and all the opinions of other people regarding said subject, and come up with my own conclusion on the matter. This is just a short update, so that people can give me their opinions and from that I'll maybe have a bit more to write about. I don't want to give away too much, I'm hoping it'll be an interesting one.

So let me know on Facebook what you think, and I can make a start at some point soon.

New project, new news

My second week of unemployment and I'm already struggling to come up with things to do. I have a few things on my agenda, but nothing big. Thanks to Robyn and her old studded belt I'm hoping to have another go at t-shirt shredding and studding. I'll post the results when I get round to actually doing it.

Also need to reseal my shower since its been leaking and going all yucky. I'm trying to use my time being unemployed to get all the things I never got round to done. So, that means painting my room too. I so can't wait to get rid of the pink and the glittery stars and replace them with cream. Very plain but it'll be a lot better.

Final piece of news - I had a meeting regarding a Skillseekers placement with the council. Hearing back from the people at some point during the week. Fingers crossed that I'll get the job! I need money! It may be the route of all evil (according to some people) and it ought not to make me as happy as it does, but money makes me happy and so does having something to do.

Found Magazine!

I totally forgot about Found Magazine for a while. Another of the many weird and wonderful things I find fascinating. People send in notes, drawings, love letters, etc. and they get posted for all to see. Some of them are really sad too. There have been letters that have made me smile and laugh, and others that have brought me close to tears.

I find it amazing to see such raw human emotion, just poured out into notes and drawings. Not everything is moving, there are some things that are utterly beautiful or interesting. There are old photographs, found in library books and second hand vases and bags. There are drawings by children, and notes to their parents. There are amusing notes written, meant for a neighbour who may never have received the intended message.

If you get a chance, check it out for yourself - foundmagazine.com

other DIYs planned

Threadbanger is one of my new favourite websites! Hoping to do a few projects that they feature:

Bomber hat

Bodysuit/Swimmin' costume

Undies

Clock

Bean bag chair

Thats a pretty hefty list of things to do. As I gradually get round to doing each I shall post the results! I really like the underwear tutorial. I buy a lot of underwear like that from New Look, but it costs like £3 or £4 a pair which I'm totally not happy about paying. To  see more from the woman who did that tutorial, see her website http://clarebare.etsy.com or her blog (clarebareunderwear.blogspot).

DIY project: t-shirt shredding

T-shirt shredding is most definitely not a task to be undertaken by the impatient. This was really just a tester to see how this would turn out. It turned out pretty nicely. I think if I were to do this in future I would probably choose a more baggy top than a fitted vest. This worked, although I probably wouldn't wear this much (maybe in summer). The look doesn't really seem to be that great for tops like this, so at least now I know. I'd also recommend shredding a black or white top so that your skin really shows against it (particularly if you're just kinda pale but peachy like me).

So, there you have it, DIY t-shirt shredding. Not that difficult, but be prepared for it to take time, and to end up with some pretty achy hands.

To see how to shred, read this blog.

An ode to the Scottish patriot

I was kind of give the idea for this when I saw friends of mine on Facebook joining the group "I AM SCOTTISH, NOT BRITISH".

For about as long as I've had... opinions of my own... if you like, I can always remember finding patriots particularly amusing. My mother's friend, Margot, is one of the types that insists upon being Scottish and not British. And like many others, she does not forget the battle 700 odd years back that we won against the 'bloody English basturds'. When my mother and I went for our citizenship ceremony, Margot started an argument with one of the officials. Something about swearing allegiance to the crown. I forget what. She never fails to amuse me. Another fine opportunity for the Scots to show their dedication to the cause is for ceilidhs and school dances and weddings. God, I can't stand kilts. Suits > kilts.

And then there are the fake American-Scottish, oh how I love them so. I love when they visit Scotland searching for their ancestors and they get all patriotic about their Scottish roots. They buy the cheesy kilts from up in "Edinborough" and wear them with big hiking boots and socks and a polo shirt. I get buses everywhere and they always stop and talk to you, loudly (essentially to the whole bus), about what they're doing and how nice Melrose Abbey is and how they visited "How-ick". I would love to see them visit and experience Burns night. Whenever we have American couchsurfers, I take great pleasure in telling them about the little haggi running about the fields with their two legs longer on one side so they can only run one way round the hills (Quick tip: to catch a haggis, tie a carrot to a piece of string and tie the string to a pole. Let the haggis chase the carrot for a bit, then catch the wee devil.)


So, since its Burns night coming up, let me know how you 'be patriotic' (Scottish or otherwise).

Weighty issues

Right, if you are easily offended by the topic of weight/size, don't read this. In general, if you're easily offended you ought to grow up. Sorry.


A while ago, I read a blog by a girl who lives near to me. She's extremely overweight, something which she justifies by saying that she "isn't size zero". This annoyed me somewhat - justifying your gluttony by saying that you aren't the other extreme on the weight scale. When the day comes that she has a massive heart attack and my taxes/national insurance are paying towards treating her heart problems and nursing her back to health , I hope that somebody points out to her (and all others like her) that not being size zero does not make obesity all right.

I can't stand when people try to blame their size on some kind of disorder, for example hypothyroidism, causing them to be overweight. Quoting a doctor writing for weightlossresources.co.uk:

"Overweight patients often ask, with great worry in their eyes, whether a thyroid disorder might be the cause of their weight problem. I am completely frank in my reply, because there seems to be a common misconception that such hormone disorders are rife - and in reality, thyroid diseases are in fact highly uncommon. Indeed, less than a fraction of 1% of all overweight people have a disorder of the thyroid gland."

In Gok Wan's recent documentary "Too Fat Too Young", medical researchers explained that around 70% of people can attribute their body type to their genetics. While this may be the case, again, I would argue that it isn't necessarily all right to blame your genes for the way that you look. You might be susceptible to being over- or under-weight, but that does not mean that you are not in control of your own lifestyle. I know that I gain weight easily. In space of less than 6 months I gained just over a stone in weight. But, having realised that my clothes didn't fit quite how they used to, I took a little control and I've managed to shift some of the pounds. (Please note I am not saying that I'm in any way fat, or that it is as easy for other people. Simply making a point.)


I appreciate that some people genuinely do have a reason for being over or under weight - for example, a friend of mine has Cystic Fibrosis which makes it very difficult for her to gain weight. In other cases, people just naturally are very thin. I have a couple of friends who are very slim even though they eat plenty. There must, I suppose, be a "skinny" gene like there is (well, technically are) a fat gene(s). While this may or may not be the case, I consider it to be somewhat of a cop-out blaming your size on your genetics. Again referencing the programme, the reason that more people are getting fatter is because the modern world is a lot more fast-paced. You can get pretty much whatever you want whenever you want it. For example I can (and unfortunately do) spend all of my time sitting in my room, and whenever I'm hungry I can go to my kitchen and stick a meal in the microwave. However, there is one important thing to note: I am not overweight or underweight, despite my currently sedentary lifestyle because I am careful about what I eat and how much I am eating.

This is becoming a little disjointed, and I reckon I'll come back to it. I'm not sure how I feel about this blog but it has given me an idea for a brand spankin' new shiny blog! Yay!

About me!

I won't bore with all the gory details, although I will include the important bits.

I was born in South Africa and I stayed there until I was 6. My memories of that stage of childhood are totally happy and peaceful. I moved to Scotland in March of 1999. My first memory of kids over here is of a girl who was in my class telling me that I didn't really like S Club 7 because I didn't want to sing their songs. From then on I was never the 'cool' kid at school. I like to think that despite the many tears shed over my social status, I've turned out all right (perhaps even more interesting than all the kids who had it easy!).

So, skip to now, the 'interesting' bit. I'm soon to be unemployed (as of 17/01/10), and frankly, I haven't a clue what to do next. Working at Tesco doesn't really open doors for anyone, particularly not someone my age. Uni isn't an option - I can't justify spending £15k odd on something I'm not really sure about. I've thought about college, although that kind of environment doesn't appeal. It seems as if my list options is endless, although the sad truth is that there is very little available, jobs-wise, for someone my age, which is a thoroughly depressing thought. For now, I may as well just take things in my stride.

I'm using 'I' a lot, its totally bothering me. I guess this is about me so its okay this one time.

Anyway, a lot of people include a pretty boring list of 'things that they <3' so I suppose I better add a bit about things I like. Anyone my age who considers themself to be very 'original' would have very mixed feelings about me. I find they're usually the types who judge you anyway.

I have such strange little obsessions - coloured pens and pencils must be in rainbow order (or they get re-arranged for until correct) and different kinds of food have to be kept separate on my plate. My cupboard doors and my bedroom door have to be closed at night or monsters will come eat me! Not really... I'm meant to be grown up now.

I love Kimya Dawson and Tegan and Sara. If ever I'm sad, sing Eleventeen to me and you'll have me smiling again. Sometimes it feels like a song just fits the moment. For me, its music to listen to on the bus: the Juno soundtrack when its snowing (facepalm, all you people out there who think Juno is actually rubbish!); The Smiths when its dark; Kimya during the day sometimes. Tegan and Sara when I'm sad or angry. Books really have to take my fancy. I go through long periods where I don't really feel compelled to read anything, then for a while I'll read lots then go back to not reading at all (apart from food wrappers, oddly). My favourite book ever is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It was made into a movie but apparently it was awful.

I feel like I'm rambling now, so I better stop. This probably makes no sense, I've spent about two hours writing it but it'll have to do.