Sunday 11th September 2011
I'm having a grand day! Colin has finished editing and has written the Clairefest video to disc. It looks fantastic! It you're interested in getting a copy then you can make a request here http://www.clairestanleytrust.org/.
You can also make a donation here http://www.clairestanleytrust.org/donate.php.
We hope to make a DVD of Kill Bill @ Clairefest too so that we can raise more money for the cause!
Next up is Kim's Book A Nile Adventure - Cruising and other stories. I was lucky enough to go to Egypt on holiday this summer and while we were cruising down the River Nile I met Kim Molyneaux who was writing a journal about her experience. I'm well excited about it and I've had the pleasure of writing the Foreword for the book. You can read an excerpt and all about Kim's book and the experience she had http://www.nilecruise.me.uk/.
We're off to Balstock later as I believe there's a local band playing at the Hen and Chicken at 5.30pm! I wonder who that could be......!
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Monday, 25 July 2011
I've just eaten my first piece of chocolate.....
since I got back from Egypt...!
For those of you unfamiliar with traveling to Egypt getting the run's or the trot's if you prefer is an occupational hazard!! Sorry if I've offended my American friends with my bluntness!!
Most of those who I met out there have returned home still suffering with rumbling guts having eaten something that's been washed in foul water. Why is the water foul?
Well that probably has something to do with the amount of refuse dumped (scuse the pun) on the side of their waterways, all except the River Nile where there wasn't one sign of a single piece of litter. I wonder why that was?!!
The consequences of eating one piece of fruit or lettuce that has been washed in something hazardous is something similar to gastroenteritis. Fasting prevails and so therefore I haven't eaten a proper meal for a whole week.
Seven days is a very long time to go without a piece of chocolate in my book. Worse than this they didn't have consumable chocolate there either so it's been a 3 weeks!!!
I believe this is a certain punishment for having enjoyed the beauty of The Nile from a very decadent place.
What makes it worse the locals where living like this:
in mud huts, catching fish with spears and riding donkeys
but they do have satellite dishes and mobile phones! They also have some great ways of moooving their cattle around the place!
And seeing them ploughing the field was like stepping back in time. Their cattle don't stand in the field they stand in The Nile to keep cool after a hard days work pulling a hand driven plough.
The whole experience certainly made me feel a tad guilty. I can only console myself that at least we had the guts to go there and spend our money, which is desperately needed in the current Egyptian economic and political climate.
There are usually 600 river ship's cruising up and down The Nile and there were only 15 last week. Of course I'm so relieved that we didn't get lots of other ships on the river.
I'm sure I will manage to get over my food poisoning with the help of Arsen Alb 30c and Dioralyte! (both from the chemist) After just 2 Imodium I was sick.
I mean how do the Egyptians cope?! When I feel bad I just think about them and their 40C heat....! Lucky them.
Have you ever had food poisoning? How long did it last and how did you cure it?
Thursday, 30 June 2011
What's on in Ashwell, Hertfordshire....?
Ashwell Summer Dance
Saturday the 16th July 2011 at 8:30pm
St Mary's church
A stunning venue with a 'welcome' drink supplied and a local band playing until 10:30pm. Then a DJ to rock you through the night!! Canapes available!
ADRIAN MALLETT
Preview Friday 22nd July and then
Tuesday 26th July – Friday 5th August
ASHWELL GALLERY, Dixies Barn, High St, Ashwell, Herts. 01462 743366
Exhibition of Drawings, Paintings and Prints
ASHWELL SHOW
Bank Holiday Monday 29 August 2011, 8.30am – 5pm
Elbrook Meadow, Ashwell, Herts
70 years and 10,000 visitors a year later the show still attracts people from far and wide. Well known for its horse show Ashwell has won village of the year for North Hertfordshire.
ClaireFest 2011
Saturday 3rd September 2011
Elbrook Meadow, Ashwell, Herts
- Danyl Johnson
- Doctor and the Medics
- Scarlette Fever
- The Rockabellas
- Black Dog
- Maxwell, Hammer and Smith
- Monaco Bears
- Raya
- Kill Bill
- Alex Holmes
- The Mother Folkers
- Reloaded
- Fingerprint
The Claire Stanley Trust is devoted to helping raise money for research into cancer treatments, equipment for treating or curing cancers and generally to help in any way possible to extend people’s lives or at least improve their quality of life. Get your tickets http://clairestanleytrust.org/clairefest-tickets.php Adults £16.00 Children £8.50.
If you would like to advertise an Ashwell event on this eflyer please contact wendy.e.rose@btinternet.com
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Bees, Penguins and Bonios
Feeling better today, the lurgy has left me!
Kill Bill rehearsals are said to be buzzing with the 3 new covers they're performing for the first time at Clairefest, I've asked them not to kill any bees.
There will be a best dressed Kill Bill penguin competition at Clairefest. I love fancy dress but I can't seem to find a costume that fits me *scratches head*.
Tomorrow I'm going to post a What's On Guide for Ashwell, so if there are Ashwellians out there who are organising an event please email me with information wendy.e.rose@btinternet.com or the one above if preferred.
A few art classes today all ready prepared for so I think I'll be writing a paper with the working title: How many Bonio's does a dog need each day?
Have a fun filled day folks!
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Clairefest, Kill Bill and the yellow Penguins
Morning folks!
Feeling a bit crappy today, otherwise I would have shouted ANYONE FOR COFFEE!
Instead I'm going to type up my book, that's if I can find the book I wrote it in d'oh.
I was slightly upset about Ryan Dunn, drinking and driving is never such a good idea. RIP Mr Jackass.
I'm also slightly concerned about my new penguin suit. It seems to be rather on the yellow side..
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2105582355215&set=o.103129909756501&type=1&theater .
Fortunately Cecile Clais-Burns is going to dress up too :D
So don't forget Kill Bill,
http://killbilltheband.weebly.com/,
are playing live at Clairefest,
http://clairestanleytrust.org/clairefest.php,
on 3rd September 2011, so get your tickets online at a very reasonable price.
http://clairestanleytrust.org/clairefest-tickets.php
Feeling a bit crappy today, otherwise I would have shouted ANYONE FOR COFFEE!
Instead I'm going to type up my book, that's if I can find the book I wrote it in d'oh.
I was slightly upset about Ryan Dunn, drinking and driving is never such a good idea. RIP Mr Jackass.
I'm also slightly concerned about my new penguin suit. It seems to be rather on the yellow side..
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2105582355215&set=o.103129909756501&type=1&theater .
Fortunately Cecile Clais-Burns is going to dress up too :D
So don't forget Kill Bill,
http://killbilltheband.weebly.com/,
are playing live at Clairefest,
http://clairestanleytrust.org/clairefest.php,
on 3rd September 2011, so get your tickets online at a very reasonable price.
http://clairestanleytrust.org/clairefest-tickets.php
Monday, 20 June 2011
Jabs, Radio and a penguin
First up, I'm going to dress up as a penguin for Kill Bill The Band at Clairefest! Just don't ask me why. http://clairestanleytrust.org/clairefest.php
I've spent the afternoon drawing Winnie The Pooh's mates ready for teaching drawing and painting classes tonight :S Piglet, Eeyore and Winnie are now my best friends too!
I've booked myself in for a couple of jabs/vaccinations for our trip to the Nile for 10am next Monday. I can't remember the last time I had any but I'm going for Tetanus triple thingy and Hepatitis B.
I've also found myself a book to read for the holiday, Blind Faith by Ben Elton. I hope Ben turns out to be a good traveling companion.
Now where am I going to find myself a penguin suit....?
I've spent the afternoon drawing Winnie The Pooh's mates ready for teaching drawing and painting classes tonight :S Piglet, Eeyore and Winnie are now my best friends too!
I've booked myself in for a couple of jabs/vaccinations for our trip to the Nile for 10am next Monday. I can't remember the last time I had any but I'm going for Tetanus triple thingy and Hepatitis B.
I've also found myself a book to read for the holiday, Blind Faith by Ben Elton. I hope Ben turns out to be a good traveling companion.
Now where am I going to find myself a penguin suit....?
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Small child in road traffic accident
The good news is Roger is back on the road! My cute little mini had a bad attack on subframe blues but my hero Mutley decided to spend some money and have him mended.
The bad news is I am still waiting for the pay out from the road traffic accident I had a year ago when I hurt my neck and my car was written off. I can't believe how long the government takes to deal with these issues.
Admittedly the other driver did a runner because he hadn't got any insurance and he didn't own the car, they are still trying to locate him.
I am still helping out at the local primary school teaching the 5, 8 and 9 year olds and it is great fun! I'm still trying to get to the bottom of the stories about a Roman Path across the Orwell Estuary in Suffolk, which I have been reporting on BBC Radio Suffolk.
My next step is to set up a pottery or get involved in the old local pottery here called Seven Springs. I have lots of ideas to create some new ceramics, so I'm excited about getting my hands dirty again.
The new home is great. We love the garden although the cold wet weather is now with us. We have three sheds would you believe, two are old outside toilets, without the toilets of course!
The street is quiet and close to the school. So quiet people walk up and down the middle of the road. This I realise is misleading as when a car does come along they go fast.
Only last week a small child was knocked down outside our house.
He was knocked down by a van on the way home from school, we heard the scream from his mother who picked him up and held him. He was unconscious apparently.
The ambulance and police arrived and I went out to investigate only to find his painting and cardboard 'sculpture' abandoned between our cars. Then I heard the sound of the air ambulance above.
As it landed in the field a couple of streets away people came out to see what was going on. I could see the little boy was ok in the back of the ambulance lying on his mother but looking around to see what the fuss was all about!
The doctor from the helicopter checked him out and left. Mutley and I went to watch the helicopter take off out of a huge bed of nettles! So dramatic..the noise was deafening.
The man in van was being sorted out by the police. If he was going the speed limit and the little boy ran out between the cars, what chance did the driver have?
I haven't heard anymore because it is half term. I took the painting and sculpture up to school afterwards so at least he will have them when he has fully recovered.
The bad news is I am still waiting for the pay out from the road traffic accident I had a year ago when I hurt my neck and my car was written off. I can't believe how long the government takes to deal with these issues.
Admittedly the other driver did a runner because he hadn't got any insurance and he didn't own the car, they are still trying to locate him.
I am still helping out at the local primary school teaching the 5, 8 and 9 year olds and it is great fun! I'm still trying to get to the bottom of the stories about a Roman Path across the Orwell Estuary in Suffolk, which I have been reporting on BBC Radio Suffolk.
My next step is to set up a pottery or get involved in the old local pottery here called Seven Springs. I have lots of ideas to create some new ceramics, so I'm excited about getting my hands dirty again.
The new home is great. We love the garden although the cold wet weather is now with us. We have three sheds would you believe, two are old outside toilets, without the toilets of course!
The street is quiet and close to the school. So quiet people walk up and down the middle of the road. This I realise is misleading as when a car does come along they go fast.
Only last week a small child was knocked down outside our house.
He was knocked down by a van on the way home from school, we heard the scream from his mother who picked him up and held him. He was unconscious apparently.
The ambulance and police arrived and I went out to investigate only to find his painting and cardboard 'sculpture' abandoned between our cars. Then I heard the sound of the air ambulance above.
As it landed in the field a couple of streets away people came out to see what was going on. I could see the little boy was ok in the back of the ambulance lying on his mother but looking around to see what the fuss was all about!
The doctor from the helicopter checked him out and left. Mutley and I went to watch the helicopter take off out of a huge bed of nettles! So dramatic..the noise was deafening.
The man in van was being sorted out by the police. If he was going the speed limit and the little boy ran out between the cars, what chance did the driver have?
I haven't heard anymore because it is half term. I took the painting and sculpture up to school afterwards so at least he will have them when he has fully recovered.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Oh no you are joking?
Roger failed his MOT.
Not only did he fail it, his bottom is dropping out! Rust rust rust, corrosion in the sub frame. Now he has only done 29,000 miles and he looks like this.
So we were surprised! To say the least.
Mutley has decided to mend him though. He gave the garage a spending limit. They are going to weld his sub frame back together.
We will then have to sell him. Roger will be ok for a couple of years if not longer.
I will go for something more sensibler like this:
Well in my dreams anyway!
I was sad to hear about Patrick Swayze. Dirty Dancing is an excellent movie and Ghost is even better. According to 'Sam' you take the love with you. I hope this is true. Bu hu.
Not only did he fail it, his bottom is dropping out! Rust rust rust, corrosion in the sub frame. Now he has only done 29,000 miles and he looks like this.
So we were surprised! To say the least.
Mutley has decided to mend him though. He gave the garage a spending limit. They are going to weld his sub frame back together.
We will then have to sell him. Roger will be ok for a couple of years if not longer.
I will go for something more sensibler like this:
Well in my dreams anyway!
I was sad to hear about Patrick Swayze. Dirty Dancing is an excellent movie and Ghost is even better. According to 'Sam' you take the love with you. I hope this is true. Bu hu.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Moving house and Maths
Roger has gone in for his MOT (Ministry of Transport Test), I hope he passes! It was due on the 4th September and I missed the date.
Not having had the Mini for very long I had failed to check the test date oops. Here I am waiting for the garage to phone with the result and the news I can go get him back.
I am surrounded by boxes owing to our endeavours over the weekend to pack up our belongings ready for moving house on Saturday. I still need more boxes as there still seems to be loads to pack!
I have been teaching at the local school, just up the road from the new house. I love it so much I have decided to take a GCSE O level in Maths. I have to have this to be a real teacher!
Oh and a GCSE in Science too if I want to teach 5 year olds in primary school. How ridiculous is that?!
I may have to make do with teaching media in a secondary environment up to 19 year olds. I start Maths on the 28th September near Cambridge and I quite excited about it.
But not as excited as moving house. We are still renting though but it is a small victorian cottage with a lovely garden.
We visited Mum over the weekend to pick up a few items. The cats are fantastic now, the new ginger kitten Rusty is lovely, so fluffy with a handsome face.
I just love this photograph of Pop and Mr Rusty.
Anyway wish me luck for Saturday!
Not having had the Mini for very long I had failed to check the test date oops. Here I am waiting for the garage to phone with the result and the news I can go get him back.
I am surrounded by boxes owing to our endeavours over the weekend to pack up our belongings ready for moving house on Saturday. I still need more boxes as there still seems to be loads to pack!
I have been teaching at the local school, just up the road from the new house. I love it so much I have decided to take a GCSE O level in Maths. I have to have this to be a real teacher!
Oh and a GCSE in Science too if I want to teach 5 year olds in primary school. How ridiculous is that?!
I may have to make do with teaching media in a secondary environment up to 19 year olds. I start Maths on the 28th September near Cambridge and I quite excited about it.
But not as excited as moving house. We are still renting though but it is a small victorian cottage with a lovely garden.
We visited Mum over the weekend to pick up a few items. The cats are fantastic now, the new ginger kitten Rusty is lovely, so fluffy with a handsome face.
I just love this photograph of Pop and Mr Rusty.
Anyway wish me luck for Saturday!
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Katie Price versus Arab women or should that be the other way around?
Last night Mutley said:
"Some Arab women wear the veils because many want to protect other women by not attracting their husbands and luring them away from them".
How arrogant is this?! I would never assume that I can attract a man away from another women although I know it happens.
I immediately asked him: "Why should women take the responsibility of men not being able to control their sexual desire for other women?"
This is also why arab men have more than one wife I expect. It all got me wandering whether arab men have a greater sex drive to western men and that is why their women have to walk around in public looking like bag women rather than showing off their beauty or ugliness respectively.
Are men animals or humans? If what Mutley say's is true then it sounds to me like they are animals! Unable to control themselves in public.
Maybe all arab women need to take a self defence class or become experts in martial arts to protect themselves from male advances.
But it also raises my awareness of how Arab women behave differently towards each other. Can you imagine a women in the West saying well I won't lure a man I love away form his wife, partner, girlfriend because I respect her to much.
Maybe women in the West don't respect each other as much as women in the East or maybe that is the difference between freedom and non freedom or just different religion or no religion at all.
Blaming women for rapes that take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where they are imprisoned or stoned to death is completely unfair in my opinion. It is obvious that men blame women for they sexuality and the power it has over them.
Just because men don't like the power women have over them, doesn't mean women need to stop using their power to get what they need.
It be could be the case that Arab men have a low sense of self esteem and fear losing their women to other men. This is common in the west too.
I reckon that both women and men in the west sometimes encourage their husbands, partners, lovers to dress down so that they aren't able to attractive to the opposite sex.
I also believe that this is one of the main reasons why there a so many divorces and violence between the sexes. Jealousy is a very ugly emotion and often isn't controlled by men or women.
My mind soon started to compare the two 'world's', East and West. In the West we have Katie Price aka Jordan (irony of that name)I believe she uses her sexuality as a business to bring in million's of pounds.
This not only gives a woman with limited intelligence great wealth but power as a role model too.
Look at the jealousy and manipulation raging between her and Pete Andre during their split and the tit-for-tat revenge. Do the Arab nations deal with this is in a better way or a worse way by controlling how women use their sexuality?
Can you imagine throwing Jordan in jail for flashing her boobs at Piers Morgan television programme or can you imagine an Arab woman doing this on television? How insulted would you be?
As usual these are my opinions and ideas and not those of anyone I work for or with.
"Some Arab women wear the veils because many want to protect other women by not attracting their husbands and luring them away from them".
How arrogant is this?! I would never assume that I can attract a man away from another women although I know it happens.
I immediately asked him: "Why should women take the responsibility of men not being able to control their sexual desire for other women?"
This is also why arab men have more than one wife I expect. It all got me wandering whether arab men have a greater sex drive to western men and that is why their women have to walk around in public looking like bag women rather than showing off their beauty or ugliness respectively.
Are men animals or humans? If what Mutley say's is true then it sounds to me like they are animals! Unable to control themselves in public.
Maybe all arab women need to take a self defence class or become experts in martial arts to protect themselves from male advances.
But it also raises my awareness of how Arab women behave differently towards each other. Can you imagine a women in the West saying well I won't lure a man I love away form his wife, partner, girlfriend because I respect her to much.
Maybe women in the West don't respect each other as much as women in the East or maybe that is the difference between freedom and non freedom or just different religion or no religion at all.
Blaming women for rapes that take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where they are imprisoned or stoned to death is completely unfair in my opinion. It is obvious that men blame women for they sexuality and the power it has over them.
Just because men don't like the power women have over them, doesn't mean women need to stop using their power to get what they need.
It be could be the case that Arab men have a low sense of self esteem and fear losing their women to other men. This is common in the west too.
I reckon that both women and men in the west sometimes encourage their husbands, partners, lovers to dress down so that they aren't able to attractive to the opposite sex.
I also believe that this is one of the main reasons why there a so many divorces and violence between the sexes. Jealousy is a very ugly emotion and often isn't controlled by men or women.
My mind soon started to compare the two 'world's', East and West. In the West we have Katie Price aka Jordan (irony of that name)I believe she uses her sexuality as a business to bring in million's of pounds.
This not only gives a woman with limited intelligence great wealth but power as a role model too.
Look at the jealousy and manipulation raging between her and Pete Andre during their split and the tit-for-tat revenge. Do the Arab nations deal with this is in a better way or a worse way by controlling how women use their sexuality?
Can you imagine throwing Jordan in jail for flashing her boobs at Piers Morgan television programme or can you imagine an Arab woman doing this on television? How insulted would you be?
As usual these are my opinions and ideas and not those of anyone I work for or with.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
A new home or kennel for Mutley!!
We went to view this cottage yesterday afternoon. It has a fab kitchen, bathroom and garden and a kennel I mean shed for Mutley!!
Only kidding of course but Mutley does like to behave like a dog! We usually treat dogs like humans I know but this is a reversal that Mutley is proud of.
Mutley loves to make things from wood and he intends to use the shed for his lathe.
At this minute Mutley is fast asleep on the sofa after being woken at 6am this morning from the children playing on the wooden floor in the flat above us. We first complained to the agency 6 weeks ago but they have done very little to sort out the problem.
We first saw this cottage last weekend and thought it had potential and although the bedrooms are small they have lovely sash windows, that probably rattle in the wind lol as they aren't double glazed!
Anyway we are both excited now because we have completed the paperwork and paid a deposit this morning. The references are being sorted next week.
As I type the kids upstairs are bouncing a ball on the floor. This family is so selfish and have no idea how their noisy behaviour is disturbing our peace.
Anyway we have handed in our notice and hope to be signed off within the next 6 weeks. We move in to the new place in two weeks.
We have no choice on the overlap because of the contract we signed for this flat. It stipulated that we could only hand our notice in for a month on the day we pay our rent, how unreasonable is that?
We should have complained about this at the time before we signed the agreement. Oh well we will learn the hard way but we aren't going to let this get in the way of a fab new home.
Only kidding of course but Mutley does like to behave like a dog! We usually treat dogs like humans I know but this is a reversal that Mutley is proud of.
Mutley loves to make things from wood and he intends to use the shed for his lathe.
At this minute Mutley is fast asleep on the sofa after being woken at 6am this morning from the children playing on the wooden floor in the flat above us. We first complained to the agency 6 weeks ago but they have done very little to sort out the problem.
We first saw this cottage last weekend and thought it had potential and although the bedrooms are small they have lovely sash windows, that probably rattle in the wind lol as they aren't double glazed!
Anyway we are both excited now because we have completed the paperwork and paid a deposit this morning. The references are being sorted next week.
As I type the kids upstairs are bouncing a ball on the floor. This family is so selfish and have no idea how their noisy behaviour is disturbing our peace.
Anyway we have handed in our notice and hope to be signed off within the next 6 weeks. We move in to the new place in two weeks.
We have no choice on the overlap because of the contract we signed for this flat. It stipulated that we could only hand our notice in for a month on the day we pay our rent, how unreasonable is that?
We should have complained about this at the time before we signed the agreement. Oh well we will learn the hard way but we aren't going to let this get in the way of a fab new home.
Friday, 4 September 2009
The Frankincense Trail
We watched some TV last night.
Kate Humble, a blond female BBC TV presenter went to Saudi Arabia.
That might sound perfectly normal to you but it isn't. Kate had to have a male escort, a Saudia Arabian called Dewi.
This is because no woman is allowed to be in the country alone with our a male relative or a male escort approved by the Saudi government. She had to wear an abaya, a black robe that covers the whole body.
All the other women she met were all wearing beautiful skirts and sexy blouses! But not in a public place..
Kate met a Royal Saudi Prince, one of the richest men in the world. She followed him into the desert where she met his fourth wife. They didn't mention that he is still married and living with the first three!
This Royal Saudi Prince gave money and goods, like cars, to the people who live in tribes in the desert. A huge queue formed and he gave away thousands of pounds or riyal of his own personal wealth.
His wealth comes from investing in businesses all over the world including The Sun newspaper, CNN and Citibank in the US.
Kate went to visit some arabian women who were playing basketball, in public in Jeddah. Apparently there are 20 female teams that play on private land in Jeddah.
The men disapprove but fortunately this doesn't stop them. The Koran doesn't say that women must not play sport so where does this disapproval come from?
Kate questioned Dewi about this and was close to insulting him. Did he deserve to be insulted for having different views of what was acceptable for women?
Saudi women aren't allowed to speak to any men other than relatives. If they are found by the religious police to be alone in the company of a man who isn't a relative they are stoned to death.
This wasn't mentioned on the programme.
Kate followed the frankincense trail around Saudi Arabia but wasn't allowed to visit Mecca. No foreign or saudi tourists can go there, I didn't know this.
She went to the Red Sea and she dived on a shipwreck that has only once been dived on before owing, according to her diving escort, to the paranoia! As Kate stripped off her abaya and dived into the water she said it felt great to be out of that 'blinking abaya'.
Well done Kate.
Things are changing though in Saudi Arabia, mainly I think to 9/11 and the blame they received. The secrecy of the country made them easy scapegoats.
Women are allowed to own a car now, but aren't allowed the insurance to drive it, but they do. Freedom is improving particularly in Jeddah but not so much in Riyadh the capital.
I wish our Queen would give away her private riches she makes through investments to her people as the Royal Saudi Prince does every month. They share their wealth.
In my humble opinion, if Saudia Arabia treated women equally it would be the best nation in the world, by far.
These are my views are not a reflection of any company or person I work for
Kate Humble, a blond female BBC TV presenter went to Saudi Arabia.
That might sound perfectly normal to you but it isn't. Kate had to have a male escort, a Saudia Arabian called Dewi.
This is because no woman is allowed to be in the country alone with our a male relative or a male escort approved by the Saudi government. She had to wear an abaya, a black robe that covers the whole body.
All the other women she met were all wearing beautiful skirts and sexy blouses! But not in a public place..
Kate met a Royal Saudi Prince, one of the richest men in the world. She followed him into the desert where she met his fourth wife. They didn't mention that he is still married and living with the first three!
This Royal Saudi Prince gave money and goods, like cars, to the people who live in tribes in the desert. A huge queue formed and he gave away thousands of pounds or riyal of his own personal wealth.
His wealth comes from investing in businesses all over the world including The Sun newspaper, CNN and Citibank in the US.
Kate went to visit some arabian women who were playing basketball, in public in Jeddah. Apparently there are 20 female teams that play on private land in Jeddah.
The men disapprove but fortunately this doesn't stop them. The Koran doesn't say that women must not play sport so where does this disapproval come from?
Kate questioned Dewi about this and was close to insulting him. Did he deserve to be insulted for having different views of what was acceptable for women?
Saudi women aren't allowed to speak to any men other than relatives. If they are found by the religious police to be alone in the company of a man who isn't a relative they are stoned to death.
This wasn't mentioned on the programme.
Kate followed the frankincense trail around Saudi Arabia but wasn't allowed to visit Mecca. No foreign or saudi tourists can go there, I didn't know this.
She went to the Red Sea and she dived on a shipwreck that has only once been dived on before owing, according to her diving escort, to the paranoia! As Kate stripped off her abaya and dived into the water she said it felt great to be out of that 'blinking abaya'.
Well done Kate.
Things are changing though in Saudi Arabia, mainly I think to 9/11 and the blame they received. The secrecy of the country made them easy scapegoats.
Women are allowed to own a car now, but aren't allowed the insurance to drive it, but they do. Freedom is improving particularly in Jeddah but not so much in Riyadh the capital.
I wish our Queen would give away her private riches she makes through investments to her people as the Royal Saudi Prince does every month. They share their wealth.
In my humble opinion, if Saudia Arabia treated women equally it would be the best nation in the world, by far.
These are my views are not a reflection of any company or person I work for
Thursday, 3 September 2009
My Perfect Day
My perfect day would be spent on a sailing boat somewhere in the Mediterranean or the Indian Ocean.
I would take Mutley with me,
and the ships cats.
I would take my Mum
and my friends..
and my brother.
We would swim and snorkel in the sea
well maybe not my Mum!
Sunbathe
Do some para sailing
some water skiing
and then watch the sun go down.
Other Perfect Days:
You know who's Perfect Day.
I would take Mutley with me,
and the ships cats.
I would take my Mum
and my friends..
and my brother.
We would swim and snorkel in the sea
well maybe not my Mum!
Sunbathe
Do some para sailing
some water skiing
and then watch the sun go down.
Other Perfect Days:
Steph's Perfect Day.
You know who's Perfect Day.
Lee's Perfect Day.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Link to the radio piece this morning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00461g3/Rob_Dunger_02_09_2009/
You won't hear me til after 39 minutes has gone by. Rob and I are talking about this Roman Path across the River Orwell, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.
You won't hear me til after 39 minutes has gone by. Rob and I are talking about this Roman Path across the River Orwell, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.
Meanwhile back at BBC Radio Suffolk
I don't believe it! Only last week I gave up on my dream.
I told everyone on facebook, myspace and blogspot that I need a new dream and guess what happens?!
It all unfolded yesterday afternoon at around 5pm. I commented on my friend Rob Dunger's status about finding a Roman Path across the River Orwell in Ipswich, which is in Suffolk on the East coast of England.
The River is beautiful and I spent many a happy hour last year interviewing folk who live around or on the estuary for BBC Suffolk's website I wrote under the Places and then River Orwell pages and also the Made In England section.
Anyway, after I left a comment on facebook about the exciting discovery, Rob left a comment asking if I would go to the studio to talk to him about the River Orwell live on the radio. At first I was a little wary as the piece was scheduled for 5.50am today.
But I was mightily tempted and when Mutley arrived home he immediately said I hope you have accepted! So I commented to Rob that I would be there.
Even though it meant getting up at 4.00 am!! I now live 80 miles from Ipswich which is a good hours drive on our roads.
I had a chat with Rob on IM at 10pm last night and then went to bed having made some notes about what I wanted to say. There is lots to talk about and I was able to find a little more information about the Roman Path, but the feature only lasted 5 minutes tops!
You can listen again from the homepage above if you click on Rob Dungers programme. I was on about 40 minutes into the programme.
I have to say I missed the first alarm this morning and managed to wake myself up enough to get up at 4. After a shower I could have left at 4.15 if I had been able to hurry!
Mutley listened online and he said I sounded cool and professional, which really gave me a boost.
It was lovely to see Rob again after almost a year away from the station. I also got a kiss from Mark Murphy, the Breakfast Show presenter welcoming me back so I was well chuffed.
Rob has asked me back on his programme next Wednesday to talk about something else on the River Orwell so that is ace!
You can read the feature I wrote last year and what I talked about this morning here it is called
I told everyone on facebook, myspace and blogspot that I need a new dream and guess what happens?!
It all unfolded yesterday afternoon at around 5pm. I commented on my friend Rob Dunger's status about finding a Roman Path across the River Orwell in Ipswich, which is in Suffolk on the East coast of England.
The River is beautiful and I spent many a happy hour last year interviewing folk who live around or on the estuary for BBC Suffolk's website I wrote under the Places and then River Orwell pages and also the Made In England section.
Anyway, after I left a comment on facebook about the exciting discovery, Rob left a comment asking if I would go to the studio to talk to him about the River Orwell live on the radio. At first I was a little wary as the piece was scheduled for 5.50am today.
But I was mightily tempted and when Mutley arrived home he immediately said I hope you have accepted! So I commented to Rob that I would be there.
Even though it meant getting up at 4.00 am!! I now live 80 miles from Ipswich which is a good hours drive on our roads.
I had a chat with Rob on IM at 10pm last night and then went to bed having made some notes about what I wanted to say. There is lots to talk about and I was able to find a little more information about the Roman Path, but the feature only lasted 5 minutes tops!
You can listen again from the homepage above if you click on Rob Dungers programme. I was on about 40 minutes into the programme.
I have to say I missed the first alarm this morning and managed to wake myself up enough to get up at 4. After a shower I could have left at 4.15 if I had been able to hurry!
Mutley listened online and he said I sounded cool and professional, which really gave me a boost.
It was lovely to see Rob again after almost a year away from the station. I also got a kiss from Mark Murphy, the Breakfast Show presenter welcoming me back so I was well chuffed.
Rob has asked me back on his programme next Wednesday to talk about something else on the River Orwell so that is ace!
You can read the feature I wrote last year and what I talked about this morning here it is called
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
A fracka with the neighbours and a bike in the hallway
What a lovely Bank Holiday weekend we had!
Saturday was spent sorting Roger's rust out. Only a couple of patches under his arm pits!
Here we are! This was taken at Bedfordshire Classic Car Show a couple of months ago.
On Sunday we went to Knebworth Classic Car Show again with the Dinky Devils Car Club. Our friends Carolynn and Dave are brilliant but we just find the show's a bit repetitive and boring, not to mention cold and windy.
We went without coats as the weather was fine and sunny in the morning, but as the day wore on it got colder and by 10am I was beginning to feel bone cold. Luckily there was a secondhand clothing stall there and I spotted this lovely sheepskin coat.
I thought it is bound to be expensive and I was even sadder when I tried it on and I couldn't do the buttons up! I asked how much and the man waved 5 fingers in the air.
I looked at him and said £5 in disbelief..he said YES! So we bought it. It kept my back and butt warm all day!
As it started to drizzle we left.
Yesterday started badly with the usual noisy neighbour problem. The flat above us has laid a wooden floor and they have two small children.
It actually sounds like we live below a herd of elephants and sometimes there must be half a dozen people stampeding overhead. The children like to bounce their ball first thing in the morning and this usually wakes Mutley up when he is trying to catch up on his sleep at the weekends.
We also bought a new bicycle on Saturday and this neighbour is part of the residents committee and when my partner bumped into him on Monday he asked us to stop leaving our bikes in the huge stairwell of the flats.
So the new bike is currently sat in the hallway of the flat. We have bought a tub of flowers to put in the garden and have attached a chain to it so that we can secure the bikes to it.
Mutley took great pleasure in telling our noisy neighbour about the noise his children make on the wooden floor that he has so selfishly put down upstairs and how we had put in an official complaint about it.
Needless to say we are looking for a new home! We had been anyway but now we are seeing a cottage in the village on Friday. So fingers crossed that we get it..
Saturday was spent sorting Roger's rust out. Only a couple of patches under his arm pits!
Here we are! This was taken at Bedfordshire Classic Car Show a couple of months ago.
On Sunday we went to Knebworth Classic Car Show again with the Dinky Devils Car Club. Our friends Carolynn and Dave are brilliant but we just find the show's a bit repetitive and boring, not to mention cold and windy.
We went without coats as the weather was fine and sunny in the morning, but as the day wore on it got colder and by 10am I was beginning to feel bone cold. Luckily there was a secondhand clothing stall there and I spotted this lovely sheepskin coat.
I thought it is bound to be expensive and I was even sadder when I tried it on and I couldn't do the buttons up! I asked how much and the man waved 5 fingers in the air.
I looked at him and said £5 in disbelief..he said YES! So we bought it. It kept my back and butt warm all day!
As it started to drizzle we left.
Yesterday started badly with the usual noisy neighbour problem. The flat above us has laid a wooden floor and they have two small children.
It actually sounds like we live below a herd of elephants and sometimes there must be half a dozen people stampeding overhead. The children like to bounce their ball first thing in the morning and this usually wakes Mutley up when he is trying to catch up on his sleep at the weekends.
We also bought a new bicycle on Saturday and this neighbour is part of the residents committee and when my partner bumped into him on Monday he asked us to stop leaving our bikes in the huge stairwell of the flats.
So the new bike is currently sat in the hallway of the flat. We have bought a tub of flowers to put in the garden and have attached a chain to it so that we can secure the bikes to it.
Mutley took great pleasure in telling our noisy neighbour about the noise his children make on the wooden floor that he has so selfishly put down upstairs and how we had put in an official complaint about it.
Needless to say we are looking for a new home! We had been anyway but now we are seeing a cottage in the village on Friday. So fingers crossed that we get it..
Friday, 28 August 2009
Ten ways to save the planet (or should that be the human race?)
Re-use, Recycle and R??
Maybe restrain?
My ten are:
1. Stop using plastics or paper to produce packaging.
I see all these plastic bottles on the shelves in the supermarkets and reckon they are gonna take over the planet.
2. Stop cutting down trees
Trees along with other crops balance the carbons which cars, planes, dishwashers and anything electrical create.
3. Stop companies poluting the seas and the rivers
4. Stop building houses etc on green land
5. Stop building nuclear power stations
6. Use more wind and solar power
7. Use bags that can be recycled
8. Only use recycled paper for greetings cards and newspapers
9. Only use cars that are battery powered and make them financially accessible to all.
10. Reduce the carbon foot print with respect to travel
Any more? If you can add to the list please do! If you know of any other schemes that are in place then please add them too.
Maybe restrain?
My ten are:
1. Stop using plastics or paper to produce packaging.
I see all these plastic bottles on the shelves in the supermarkets and reckon they are gonna take over the planet.
2. Stop cutting down trees
Trees along with other crops balance the carbons which cars, planes, dishwashers and anything electrical create.
3. Stop companies poluting the seas and the rivers
4. Stop building houses etc on green land
5. Stop building nuclear power stations
6. Use more wind and solar power
7. Use bags that can be recycled
8. Only use recycled paper for greetings cards and newspapers
9. Only use cars that are battery powered and make them financially accessible to all.
10. Reduce the carbon foot print with respect to travel
Any more? If you can add to the list please do! If you know of any other schemes that are in place then please add them too.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
I was justing thinking about how I could save the world once again when
I realised that I can't do it on my own.
I realised that it has to be a team effort. Where all the people on the planet join together as one big community and work together for the good of the whole rather than the individual or for financial gain.
This disillusioned me a bit (to say the least!) because I know that so many people are just looking after themselves. Financial and material wealth is all most people think about in order to survive..
Others think about keeping up with the neighbours and need 5 TVs and 4 cars.
I know that some people are blogging, writing books, walking, swimming or cycling (and many other things) to save the world. I first wanted to save the world when I was 8.
The weight of that task and responsibility has weighed me down ever since because I hadn't got a clue how to do it!
It wasn't until recently that I realised that I need to learn to trust life. To be positive about the journey that the human race is taking on this planet.
Where there is destruction, a kind of reparation usually follows. However sometimes it doesn't and it leaves us blocked in a destructive cycle.
Trusting life to unblock itself and not expecting so much from myself and the human race and accepting what "will be will be" is more real than expecting us all to work together in the harmony of one big team in my estimation.
Especially when we look around at all the different beliefs and cultures there are here on earth. Is it possible to believe we can all stop building on our beautiful green land or producing plastic bags that pollute the environment.
We can only do our best to look after this beautiful planet and trust that others will do the same. Are we arrogant to think that we can save the planet? Why not go with the flow instead?
What do you think? Should we be saving the earth from ourselves or trusting that after destruction there will be a new beginning?
I realised that it has to be a team effort. Where all the people on the planet join together as one big community and work together for the good of the whole rather than the individual or for financial gain.
This disillusioned me a bit (to say the least!) because I know that so many people are just looking after themselves. Financial and material wealth is all most people think about in order to survive..
Others think about keeping up with the neighbours and need 5 TVs and 4 cars.
I know that some people are blogging, writing books, walking, swimming or cycling (and many other things) to save the world. I first wanted to save the world when I was 8.
The weight of that task and responsibility has weighed me down ever since because I hadn't got a clue how to do it!
It wasn't until recently that I realised that I need to learn to trust life. To be positive about the journey that the human race is taking on this planet.
Where there is destruction, a kind of reparation usually follows. However sometimes it doesn't and it leaves us blocked in a destructive cycle.
Trusting life to unblock itself and not expecting so much from myself and the human race and accepting what "will be will be" is more real than expecting us all to work together in the harmony of one big team in my estimation.
Especially when we look around at all the different beliefs and cultures there are here on earth. Is it possible to believe we can all stop building on our beautiful green land or producing plastic bags that pollute the environment.
We can only do our best to look after this beautiful planet and trust that others will do the same. Are we arrogant to think that we can save the planet? Why not go with the flow instead?
What do you think? Should we be saving the earth from ourselves or trusting that after destruction there will be a new beginning?
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
I'm in need of a new dream
I realised today that I haven't dreamed for a while now.
My dream use to be to work in radio for the BBC. Having done that, all be it as a writer rather than a presenter, and it not being to me what I thought it was I feel at a loss.
I wouldn't want to work for the BBC not anymore. For a variety of reasons I suppose, but mainly because they tell you what to write about and how to write it. There are so many legal obligations that any creativity is lost.
It is the same with the radio and television presenters, they are just channels for information.
Trained as a Fine Artist I made sound recordings, video and live performances. I know that I love music and playing my guitar gives me a lift, it is almost a sublime experience.
Today, I am also aware of my high expectations of myself. How I have driven myself to succeed in the past for fear of lots of things, rejection, face, loss in general.
I need to counter those expectations so that I live with less stress and more enjoyment. Having been duped by the mind into thinking that media is the place for me in the past, how do I know when a dream is from the heart rather than driven by the mind and it's foibles?
Maybe I will go out and buy a dream catcher!!!
So what is your dream? Does it come from the head or the heart?
My dream use to be to work in radio for the BBC. Having done that, all be it as a writer rather than a presenter, and it not being to me what I thought it was I feel at a loss.
I wouldn't want to work for the BBC not anymore. For a variety of reasons I suppose, but mainly because they tell you what to write about and how to write it. There are so many legal obligations that any creativity is lost.
It is the same with the radio and television presenters, they are just channels for information.
Trained as a Fine Artist I made sound recordings, video and live performances. I know that I love music and playing my guitar gives me a lift, it is almost a sublime experience.
Today, I am also aware of my high expectations of myself. How I have driven myself to succeed in the past for fear of lots of things, rejection, face, loss in general.
I need to counter those expectations so that I live with less stress and more enjoyment. Having been duped by the mind into thinking that media is the place for me in the past, how do I know when a dream is from the heart rather than driven by the mind and it's foibles?
Maybe I will go out and buy a dream catcher!!!
So what is your dream? Does it come from the head or the heart?
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