A short note

Just a short note of what I've been up to since I've not posted in a while.

I spent the last... 2 and a half weeks painting my room. In my usual style, I managed to make a mess of course. I initially bought silk emuslion, but ended up needing another tub of paint. It was only after I'd started using the new tub that I realised that it was in fact matt emulsion. How could I possibly undertake a task without making some kind of mistake? Anyway, never mind. My room is eventually cream. Still need to put up a shelf and fix my shower. My work is never ending.

In other news, I am going back to Tesco until I manage to find a new, better job. I applied for a skillseekers place with the council which has since been withdrawn. Such is life though. Also applied for an office junior vacancy at an accounting firm. Monday to Friday, 9 - 5 sounds good to me (I'm sure other people moan), I'd absolutely love that job, shall just have to wait and see.

There have been a lot of Facebook groups recently for people who like to moan about being single on Valentine's Day... I'm really not sure what all the fuss is. James got me a giant card, was bloody brilliant! Wahey.

Anyway, I'll leave you with the rubbish little snippet of my life. Planning on writing some kind of silly, profound blog after I finish Quirkology (which, by the way, I highly recommend).

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).