Monday 18 April 2011

Tender of finger tip

Lately my guitar practice has had that vile air of twatfulness that comes from trying something that you used to know really well, and completely bollocksing it up. It's disheartening to say the least. However I've used a strategy to limit what I play regularly to about 15 songs and concentrating on them, rather than buggering on in a generally unfocused and unproductive way. Almost every day. It's also helped by the fact that I don't get wrist fatigue anymore (Thanks again Daisy Rock Guitars). I'm glad to say it appears to be working, and it's working to the extent that I'm even starting to start singing at the same time too. Which is great as it's something I used to be able to do quite readily and without much fear.

Another thing that helps is being around both virtually and in the real world, folk who play. It provides a great incentive to not suck!

Also my sister has expressed an interest in learning the bass....

Watch this space....

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Spiral - BBC4

I've caught up with Spiral and as predicted, I'm addicted.

However, remind me never to get arrested in France!

Tuesday 12 April 2011

Monday

And todays claim to fame is that a friend of mine congratulated me on and another has nominated the adjective "stabby" tweeted by myself this morning to @oedonline.

Other news: I played the guitar a bit.

"Waking the Dead" was also very good and it shall be missed. A sensible, believable ending with a very nice touch of the visual metaphor of Boyd re-entering society as he walked through the bright and busy London crowds.

Friday 8 April 2011

Ode to Spring (Thursday)

And thus we're blessed with lighter nights and yellow nodding blossoms,
To cast off winters gloomy plight and all that's old and rotten,
Birds bellow in the early morn and snow and dark forgotten,
But tell me why you bring to me a rash upon my bottom?

*heartily slaps self in stark realisation that writing doggerel in the style of William McGonagal about allergies is unforgivable*

(it was late, alright???)

This here giraffe......

So who let the giraffe in here?

Wednesday 6 April 2011

Things that irritate me about the Daily Mail - Part 1 - Use of the word "Flaunt"

As everything about the Daily Mail irritates me, I potentially have an endless supply of inspiration...


flaunt  (flônt)
v. flaunt·ed, flaunt·ing, flaunts
v.tr.
1. To exhibit ostentatiously or shamelessly: flaunts his knowledge. See Synonyms at show.
2. Usage Problem To show contempt for; scorn.
v.intr.
1. To parade oneself ostentatiously; show oneself off.
2. To wave grandly: pennants flaunting in the wind.

According to the narrative of the Daily Fail, an assortment of famous women are perpetually "flaunting" themselves - or their curves - or if they've been papped on a beach holiday, "flaunting their beach body". This is bloody bad English displaying a blatant disregard for the actual meaning of the word, undercut with the Victorian assertion that famous and beautiful women all have the morals of a necrophiliac dockyard rat. All  because you've been seen in possession of hips, boobs and waist.

By this rationale, possessing the secondary sexual characteristics of ones gender, and wearing nice clothes at a public event is enough to make you a slapper. However, a woman with a prominent career, standing on a beach wearing a bikini with her family during a private holiday where someone surreptitiously takes a photo of her and sells it to a magazine, is realistically only guilty of one thing - having the courage to get her skin out in a public place.

Yes, there are copious amounts of ardent self publicists out there who seek out opportunities to wiggle and jiggle in an assortment of locations, but if one of the major expectations of your job is that you turn up in a posh frock and smile, it's just plain rude to somehow imply that that person is trying actually demand attention of a sexual nature by having the audacity to be a pretty woman with a public profile.
By the nature of the beast, fame means that you are instrinsically more visible than the average person, but looking good in a attractive frock or in a bikini is certainly not the same as "flaunting" oneself. 

Arguably a burlesque artist flaunts herself, but that is in primarily in the context of her act, and while she'll be beautifully groomed and dressed, I don't think Dita von Teese visits her local supermarket in tassells and a g-string operating with an overwhelming need to seduce all who cross her path. Strangely, predatory impulses accompanied by fabulously nork-enhancing top notch Vivienne Westwood and buying bog roll and cheese strings rarely go hand in hand (but I'm willing to accept that I could be mistaken).

She's not working so your right to use the word "flaunt" in the true sense has gone.  As worst it's an appalling example of the sexual double standard, implying that a successful woman and her unruly curvy body are by implication trying to grap attention. At best, it's a bitchy reflection of a restricted mindset that is profoundly unhappy with itself and seeks to make everyone feel lousy about themselves, no matter who you are.

It makes my wee boil....

Tuesday 5 April 2011

So as to avoid to being negative on my lovely fresh new blog......

There was a picture here, and then it broke....


So have a picture of a raccoon instead.....

Here's to...(Monday night post)

Less agro tomorrow, the continuation of operation non-scruffbag, a yomp, some good sleep and quality time with me other half.

If I can achieve all this tomorrow I'll be one happy girly :)

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Sunday 3 April 2011

Paint

Who knew that applying it to your woodwork could be so gratifying??

Saturday 2 April 2011

Friday 1 April 2011

Hormone soup

Today:
  • Discovered that worrying about the 'W' word is about as sensible as trying to unlock your front door with a pillow.
  • Painting (Doors BTW, not as a means of self expression) -  can be very zen.
  • Enjoying 80's pop (in the context of Ashes to Ashes) does not mean that I have ears of tin and therefore I should be shunned by my associates.
  • The previous comment probably has something to do with oestrogen and in about 48 hours time I'll back to my usual obtuse indie-lovin self. I reserve to the right to deny all knowledge of the 3rd statement in this list when the balance of my mind is restored.
  • I have eaten more Babybels and Haribo than is strictly good for me.
  • Never trust a man wearing a pinny.