Dating in the noughties is tough. Gone are the halcyon days when you'd head down the local boozer on a friday, surrounded by a small posse of like-minded mates. No longer can you down 10 cocktails, dance round your handbag for a couple of hours then head home with the likeliest prospect for a night of wanton (and often very drunken) bed wrestling. Not if you're looking for more than a quick tumble for a couple of nights (which I admit, is tons of fun).
In the eighties and nineties we bought how-to books like 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus', but not anymore. There are singles nights, speed dating events, and an increasing horde of internet dating sites all claiming to be the best and capable of matching you with your perfect partner.
It seems that the most common form of dating in today's society is online, but however you try it, the internet dating pool is far from a smooth sail. Whether you dip your toe in, or dive in head first, there are things to consider before you take the plunge.
You have to decide on what you want out of your experience. After all, this is the internet and people will offer pretty much anything on there. Whilst you are happily telling the world your deepest darkest relationship secrets and searching for the perfect fit, the sharks are circling ready for fresh meat.
Why is dating so hard? All anyone seemes to want is a likeminded soul, willing to share their life, but so many people still seem to be living a lonely existance. I chat to my friends, both girls and guys, and the stories are always so similar. Guys are idiots, girls are insane yada yada yada.
Why do we find it so hard to communicate? I know loads of guys who are looking to settle down, yet most of my girlfriends claim that there are no guys like that out there. I know several girls who don't want to be tied down yet, they're too busy enjoying their lives, but again, I hear guys saying that all girls are out to trap themselves a hubby.
When did we stop understanding the opposite sex? I met a lady recently who had celebrated her 70th wedding anniversary a week previously. When the Queen had her 50th wedding anniversary, she invited 50 other couples who married in the same year to Buckingham Palace for a tea party. There were so many couples that they had to have a lottery to choose the invitees. Clearly in years gone by, we didn't have as many problems communicating with each other.
I do firmly believe that there is someone for everyone, you just have to find them. Personally, I have no clue about what goes through a guys head. I have no clue about what goes through most girls heads. Hell, half the time I can't work out what's going on in my own head! All I know right now is this. Yes, one day I want to meet the right guy and start a family, but right now I'm enjoying my life. I like meeting new people, I like having fun and believe it or not I even enjoy my occasional run-in's with the local sharks, though I may need to get a bigger boat ;)
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Sunday, 23 May 2010
The best things in life are free
Or at least, everyone seems to think they are! This weekend the summer appeared for a brief, shining, glorious few days and so I seized the moment. I spent saturday gutting out my flat, packed up my car, and dragged my ass out of bed at the ungodly hour of 5.45am this morning. My Destination? The local car boot sale. I had been assured that the picking were rich, and that people would buy anything, so I had selected a wide range of items to sell to Joe Public.
I had two friends with me, and we arrived at the sale grounds in a heavily weighed down cavalcade about 6.40 this morning. I hadn't even turn off the engine of the car when there was a tap on my window. 'I look at your stuff!' ' I see what you sell!' Seriously! These guys were like locusts, peering in the windows of the car, trying to pull at the contents of the bags as I got them out of the car. Being as I am far from being a morning person, they got a pretty short shrift. I sent them packing, with a curt 'come back when I've unpacked'.
Once they were out from under my feet, I got the stuff out nice and quickly. I kicked back in the chair I'd actually remembered to bring along, whipped out the knitting and relaxed in the bright monring sun. I didn't get to relax long, before the Vultures returned. I get haggling, and honestly? I quite enjoy it it, but these guys weren't haggling, they were just plain rude. They'd ask the price of an item, I'd give them my first quote, but no matter how high I started they'd just go '50p'. Dude, these were brand new shoes, with the label still on, that cost £40 to buy in the shop. Not a freaking chance love. They'd come back every 20 mins or so, clearly thinking they could wear me down. One lady Vulture was not amused when she returned to find the handbag she had coveted had been sold. 'what price you sell at?' ummm the same one I quoted you originally love.
The vultures weren't the only ones though. I know there is a credit crunch, but these people seemed to want something for nothing. No matter how cheap it already was, they wanted it cheaper. There were times when I felt like asking if they wanted me to open a vein while I was there since they were already ripping me off.
While I had fun with my friends, I don't think I'll be doing it again for quite a while. It was an awful lot of work, for very little return. I came home with almost as much as I left with, and immediately put the lot of it on freecycle. I guess I'm not destined to be a Delboy anytime soon ;)
I had two friends with me, and we arrived at the sale grounds in a heavily weighed down cavalcade about 6.40 this morning. I hadn't even turn off the engine of the car when there was a tap on my window. 'I look at your stuff!' ' I see what you sell!' Seriously! These guys were like locusts, peering in the windows of the car, trying to pull at the contents of the bags as I got them out of the car. Being as I am far from being a morning person, they got a pretty short shrift. I sent them packing, with a curt 'come back when I've unpacked'.
Once they were out from under my feet, I got the stuff out nice and quickly. I kicked back in the chair I'd actually remembered to bring along, whipped out the knitting and relaxed in the bright monring sun. I didn't get to relax long, before the Vultures returned. I get haggling, and honestly? I quite enjoy it it, but these guys weren't haggling, they were just plain rude. They'd ask the price of an item, I'd give them my first quote, but no matter how high I started they'd just go '50p'. Dude, these were brand new shoes, with the label still on, that cost £40 to buy in the shop. Not a freaking chance love. They'd come back every 20 mins or so, clearly thinking they could wear me down. One lady Vulture was not amused when she returned to find the handbag she had coveted had been sold. 'what price you sell at?' ummm the same one I quoted you originally love.
The vultures weren't the only ones though. I know there is a credit crunch, but these people seemed to want something for nothing. No matter how cheap it already was, they wanted it cheaper. There were times when I felt like asking if they wanted me to open a vein while I was there since they were already ripping me off.
While I had fun with my friends, I don't think I'll be doing it again for quite a while. It was an awful lot of work, for very little return. I came home with almost as much as I left with, and immediately put the lot of it on freecycle. I guess I'm not destined to be a Delboy anytime soon ;)
Monday, 10 May 2010
where has this year gone?
It's been nearly a year since I finally let my mum teach me to knit...again. Mum is an amazing knitter, creating gorgeous traditional Irish arans off the top of her head. How could anyone compete with that?
Back when I was a school girl in Northern Ireland, it was compulsory for both boys and girls to knit something each year, though the only thing I can remember doing was a very badly knitted bear. I really didn't like knitting back then and I was very relieved when I moved to secondary school and I was able to give it up.
Six years later, with the long summer holidays stretching before me, I decided to teach myself to crochet. I figured that since Mum didn't do it, I would be able to learn at my own pace, and not have to live up to the high standard she had set. I picked it up really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing pretty lacy finished items flowing off my hooks.
I've crocheted off and on over the last sixteen years mainly cos I find it such a relaxing pasttime. Last summer, I discovered Ravelry, and my eyes were opened. I was a mere neophyte, nothing but a dabbler in the art. The many varied projects there were works of art, and more importantly, their range of patterns was vast. Way beyond my scope of imagination that's for sure.
Seeing the many beautiful objects on offer there, I decided it was time to get over my aversion to knitting. Mum had planned a visit to my place, and when she arrived we took a wander up the High Street to the LYS. One set of needles and a ball of sock yarn later, we strolled back down the street and my lessons began.
Perhaps becuase of my many years crocheting, I took to knitting quite well. Granted it's a whole new language, and sometimes it's far from straight forward, but I do really enjoy it. I started out small with scarves and fingerless mitts, and have worked my way up to shawls.
For mum's birthday this year, I knitted her a lace shawl. It was the hardest thing I'd tried, and to call it a labour of love would be an understatement. I cried over that thing, and sweated, and cursed, but I persevered and was thrilled with the final result.
I love knitting lace patterns, and I love the way blocking the project can make such a huge difference to the finished item. However, having started a new lace project, I've discovered something new about myself. I hate knitting with lace weight yarn. It's like knitting with thread! I'm using the most gorgeous yarn created by Jen over at Fresh From The Cauldron, and the colours are the only thing keeping me going with this wrap. I can't wait for it to be finished!
www.ravelry.com
Back when I was a school girl in Northern Ireland, it was compulsory for both boys and girls to knit something each year, though the only thing I can remember doing was a very badly knitted bear. I really didn't like knitting back then and I was very relieved when I moved to secondary school and I was able to give it up.
Six years later, with the long summer holidays stretching before me, I decided to teach myself to crochet. I figured that since Mum didn't do it, I would be able to learn at my own pace, and not have to live up to the high standard she had set. I picked it up really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing pretty lacy finished items flowing off my hooks.
I've crocheted off and on over the last sixteen years mainly cos I find it such a relaxing pasttime. Last summer, I discovered Ravelry, and my eyes were opened. I was a mere neophyte, nothing but a dabbler in the art. The many varied projects there were works of art, and more importantly, their range of patterns was vast. Way beyond my scope of imagination that's for sure.
Seeing the many beautiful objects on offer there, I decided it was time to get over my aversion to knitting. Mum had planned a visit to my place, and when she arrived we took a wander up the High Street to the LYS. One set of needles and a ball of sock yarn later, we strolled back down the street and my lessons began.
Perhaps becuase of my many years crocheting, I took to knitting quite well. Granted it's a whole new language, and sometimes it's far from straight forward, but I do really enjoy it. I started out small with scarves and fingerless mitts, and have worked my way up to shawls.
For mum's birthday this year, I knitted her a lace shawl. It was the hardest thing I'd tried, and to call it a labour of love would be an understatement. I cried over that thing, and sweated, and cursed, but I persevered and was thrilled with the final result.
I love knitting lace patterns, and I love the way blocking the project can make such a huge difference to the finished item. However, having started a new lace project, I've discovered something new about myself. I hate knitting with lace weight yarn. It's like knitting with thread! I'm using the most gorgeous yarn created by Jen over at Fresh From The Cauldron, and the colours are the only thing keeping me going with this wrap. I can't wait for it to be finished!
www.ravelry.com
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Rainy days and sundays
I don't know what happened to me this weekend. I usually adore listening to the sound of the rain on the roof, but for some unknown reason, the familiar drumbeat bossanova just made me feel melancholy.
I've been so much happier this last 2 months, getting my mojo back you could say. My smile has been getting wider and wider, though I haven't really found where I stashed my patience yet. Unfortunately, this weekend, my smile and happiness has been MIA. No matter how I've tried (and trust me I've tried all the usual methods as well as a fe unusual ones), I can't seem to perk myself up. Is it just the rain? or a natural slump after weeks on high?
I am a quite solitary person. I love coming home after a long day of full, busy classrooms, and locking the door behind me, just savouring the peace and quiet of my wee flat. I love knowing that if I want to get into my jammies at 5pm and just veg on the sofa, I can, but for some reason, lately, it's just made me feel more and more lonely.
I moved to my new flat, knowing only a few work colleagues in the area and I've tried very hard to make friends since getting here. But I have one big problem, and it's one which has haunted me all my life. People let me down. No one thinks twice about cancelling plans they have made with me. I throw a party? no one comes. 'Toots won't mind' is the perpetual cry. However, should it be the other way around, it's a totally different story. God forbid, I should decide that I can't go to someone's soiree. I'm the worst in the world...obviously.
Oh well, I guess I'll find my way back to happiness eventually.
I've been so much happier this last 2 months, getting my mojo back you could say. My smile has been getting wider and wider, though I haven't really found where I stashed my patience yet. Unfortunately, this weekend, my smile and happiness has been MIA. No matter how I've tried (and trust me I've tried all the usual methods as well as a fe unusual ones), I can't seem to perk myself up. Is it just the rain? or a natural slump after weeks on high?
I am a quite solitary person. I love coming home after a long day of full, busy classrooms, and locking the door behind me, just savouring the peace and quiet of my wee flat. I love knowing that if I want to get into my jammies at 5pm and just veg on the sofa, I can, but for some reason, lately, it's just made me feel more and more lonely.
I moved to my new flat, knowing only a few work colleagues in the area and I've tried very hard to make friends since getting here. But I have one big problem, and it's one which has haunted me all my life. People let me down. No one thinks twice about cancelling plans they have made with me. I throw a party? no one comes. 'Toots won't mind' is the perpetual cry. However, should it be the other way around, it's a totally different story. God forbid, I should decide that I can't go to someone's soiree. I'm the worst in the world...obviously.
Oh well, I guess I'll find my way back to happiness eventually.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
I'm walking on sunshine
Isn't it glorious?
God I love the sunshine! Life is brighter and clearer, it's easier to get out of bed in the mornings, and walking to work is just a joy.
That's right folks, I'm back to work, and I've had a fab week. I can't believe how much all my cherubs have grown while I've been away, and it seems that some of them have even missed me as much as I have missed them.
The one thing my long illness has taught me, is that life, and particularly your health, is a very precious commodity and we need to take more care with it. With this is mind, I decided to spend some of my Easter holidays figuring out ways to reduce my stress and my work load. I needed to find more balance in my life.
My first big decision was to keep weekends sacred. No more marking, or planning or worrying about the small fry on a saturday or sunday. This was quickly followed with work ends at 5pm. No more staying in my classroom til 6pm, then carrying on working at home after tea. If it's not done by 5pm, it needs to wait until the next day.
If these decisions were going to be viable I needed to get organised, so I sacrficed two days and went into work. I tidied the classroom, throwing away the junk left by multiple supply teachers and the general detritus you find in the wake of 9yr old children. With a clean fresh room, I turned my attention to getting the cupboards in order and getting a jump on the term's planning.
I was lucky enough to have my teaching assistant give up some of her time to come in and work with me and between us we got the first few weeks sorted out. It made such a huge difference to know that I was riding the wave of work, rather than drowning under it.
So starting back was that little bit easier and the children were mostly on their best behaviour. As always when children ar involved, comedy is never far behind. I love the funny little things that I hear and this week has been no exception.
I was teaching about negative numbers, using money and overdrafts to try to make it relevant to real life. I stood at the board and said "I have £10 in my account and I spend £25 at amazon, what am I left with?" Quick as a flash, one of my world weary 9 yr olds said "Debt! That's when the loan sharks come in!"
On Friday, I was really pleased to see all hands in the air, and every child getting involved. I was teaching French and we were just starting to learn about telling the time. The children were suggesting words we would need to learn like midday, midnight, afternoon etc. All was going well until I asked Bob to share his word with the class.
"Miss Glass! That man over there is in the shower and you can see EVERYTHING!!!!"
Yup, my classroom overlooks a side road and it seems we can see right into the house on the end. You would think that since they overlook a school they'd have checked their windows were sufficiently frosted, but apparently this was not the case.
I love my job!!
God I love the sunshine! Life is brighter and clearer, it's easier to get out of bed in the mornings, and walking to work is just a joy.
That's right folks, I'm back to work, and I've had a fab week. I can't believe how much all my cherubs have grown while I've been away, and it seems that some of them have even missed me as much as I have missed them.
The one thing my long illness has taught me, is that life, and particularly your health, is a very precious commodity and we need to take more care with it. With this is mind, I decided to spend some of my Easter holidays figuring out ways to reduce my stress and my work load. I needed to find more balance in my life.
My first big decision was to keep weekends sacred. No more marking, or planning or worrying about the small fry on a saturday or sunday. This was quickly followed with work ends at 5pm. No more staying in my classroom til 6pm, then carrying on working at home after tea. If it's not done by 5pm, it needs to wait until the next day.
If these decisions were going to be viable I needed to get organised, so I sacrficed two days and went into work. I tidied the classroom, throwing away the junk left by multiple supply teachers and the general detritus you find in the wake of 9yr old children. With a clean fresh room, I turned my attention to getting the cupboards in order and getting a jump on the term's planning.
I was lucky enough to have my teaching assistant give up some of her time to come in and work with me and between us we got the first few weeks sorted out. It made such a huge difference to know that I was riding the wave of work, rather than drowning under it.
So starting back was that little bit easier and the children were mostly on their best behaviour. As always when children ar involved, comedy is never far behind. I love the funny little things that I hear and this week has been no exception.
I was teaching about negative numbers, using money and overdrafts to try to make it relevant to real life. I stood at the board and said "I have £10 in my account and I spend £25 at amazon, what am I left with?" Quick as a flash, one of my world weary 9 yr olds said "Debt! That's when the loan sharks come in!"
On Friday, I was really pleased to see all hands in the air, and every child getting involved. I was teaching French and we were just starting to learn about telling the time. The children were suggesting words we would need to learn like midday, midnight, afternoon etc. All was going well until I asked Bob to share his word with the class.
"Miss Glass! That man over there is in the shower and you can see EVERYTHING!!!!"
Yup, my classroom overlooks a side road and it seems we can see right into the house on the end. You would think that since they overlook a school they'd have checked their windows were sufficiently frosted, but apparently this was not the case.
I love my job!!
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Run for the sun little one
There is something special about storytime, something that we never really grow out of. After all, what is TV and film, but an extended animated version of the original bedtime story.
We humans are a total contradiction. We spend years reading our children tall tales, fairy tales and adventures, convincing them that anything can happen if you put your mind to it. We teachers further perpetuate that myth, forcing them to write imaginative stories about rampaging giants and distant turreted castles.
Yet somewhere around age 10 to 12, we start forcing reality back in. There are no giants. Dreams don't come true. There is no handsome prince, ready to sweep you off your feet.
Why?
Why do we spend so much time creating this world of illusion for our offspring, when we are all too ready to tear it right back down again?
I understand that the world we live in today is a different place, from the one I lived in as a child. There are more opportunities for those who do not carry good intentions, but unless we make a concerted affort, the next generation are going to be cynical and burnt out before they've even left school.
What's so wrong with climbing trees and playing pirates? In my day everyone knew who One-Eyed Willy was, and could quote almost every line to you. I can swing from a tree with sword in hand even now. I have the scars to prove it, yet when I did just that whilst babysitting some 7 year old boys, I got a mouthful from another mother about how I was a bad influence for them. When pressed, she said 'they might fall and hurt themselves'. Well? so what? The damn sky could fall and we'd all be dead!
Life is for living, not wrapping these kids up in cotton wool and bubble wrap. Parents of the world, I teach your children and they are boring! They are spoilt, selfish and generally more whiny than a week old baby. Give them their childhood before it's too late. Teen angst should not be starting at 9. In fact, if you get it right in the early years, it need not start at all!!
Let them play in that forest. Let them make that tent out of old duvets in the garden. Hell, let them camp in the garden all night. As Marie Antoinette once so aptly said:
Let them eat dirt!
(ok, so a slight misquote, but you're getting my drift, right?)
We humans are a total contradiction. We spend years reading our children tall tales, fairy tales and adventures, convincing them that anything can happen if you put your mind to it. We teachers further perpetuate that myth, forcing them to write imaginative stories about rampaging giants and distant turreted castles.
Yet somewhere around age 10 to 12, we start forcing reality back in. There are no giants. Dreams don't come true. There is no handsome prince, ready to sweep you off your feet.
Why?
Why do we spend so much time creating this world of illusion for our offspring, when we are all too ready to tear it right back down again?
I understand that the world we live in today is a different place, from the one I lived in as a child. There are more opportunities for those who do not carry good intentions, but unless we make a concerted affort, the next generation are going to be cynical and burnt out before they've even left school.
What's so wrong with climbing trees and playing pirates? In my day everyone knew who One-Eyed Willy was, and could quote almost every line to you. I can swing from a tree with sword in hand even now. I have the scars to prove it, yet when I did just that whilst babysitting some 7 year old boys, I got a mouthful from another mother about how I was a bad influence for them. When pressed, she said 'they might fall and hurt themselves'. Well? so what? The damn sky could fall and we'd all be dead!
Life is for living, not wrapping these kids up in cotton wool and bubble wrap. Parents of the world, I teach your children and they are boring! They are spoilt, selfish and generally more whiny than a week old baby. Give them their childhood before it's too late. Teen angst should not be starting at 9. In fact, if you get it right in the early years, it need not start at all!!
Let them play in that forest. Let them make that tent out of old duvets in the garden. Hell, let them camp in the garden all night. As Marie Antoinette once so aptly said:
Let them eat dirt!
(ok, so a slight misquote, but you're getting my drift, right?)
Friday, 2 April 2010
I can't get no...na na na..I'm in gitmo..no no no
Seasoned torturers have a lot to learn. It really doesn't need to be a time consuming drawn out process for them. They can throw away their bamboo splinters and pliers etc, cos all they really need is the tummy bug bacteria. Just infect your prisoner, leave to stew for a bit, then sit back and wait for the info to come to you. I'm telling you peeps, after 24 hours battling vomiting and diarrhoea, most peeple would sell their momma to satan if they thought that it would give them their life back!
As you can likely guess, I've been afflicted with the dreaded stomach flu. I was so excited this week, thinking that I would be posting about my first week back at work and seeing all my cherubs again, but no, here it is.....flu!
I did make it in to work this week, and I had such a wonderful welcome from all my babies. The kids really made me feel at home again, which I really needed after so long away. I was terrified about going back. I mean I had been away so long, and they'd had such a mixed up time with different teachers, and sometimes even teaching assistants teaching their class. I didn't know what sort of reaction I would get, but bless their little hearts, they all had a smile and a story they were desperate to share with me.
Unfortunately, smiles and stories weren't the only thing they were sharing :( I had a full house on monday, but by Tuesday's registration we'd dropped by 2 people, Wednesday saw several more sent home. Personally, I'm not quite sure how I got through Wednesday. I did have to go home at lunch and lie down, but by that evening I was sleeping (in the loosest sense of the word) in the bathroom. Strangely enough, I didn't make it in to work on the Thursday. I was annoyed, because I really wanted to finish my first week back, but how could I know that my cherubs would be so generous with their germs?
I've lost nearly 7 pounds in 48 hours....not my idea of the ideal diet :(
As you can likely guess, I've been afflicted with the dreaded stomach flu. I was so excited this week, thinking that I would be posting about my first week back at work and seeing all my cherubs again, but no, here it is.....flu!
I did make it in to work this week, and I had such a wonderful welcome from all my babies. The kids really made me feel at home again, which I really needed after so long away. I was terrified about going back. I mean I had been away so long, and they'd had such a mixed up time with different teachers, and sometimes even teaching assistants teaching their class. I didn't know what sort of reaction I would get, but bless their little hearts, they all had a smile and a story they were desperate to share with me.
Unfortunately, smiles and stories weren't the only thing they were sharing :( I had a full house on monday, but by Tuesday's registration we'd dropped by 2 people, Wednesday saw several more sent home. Personally, I'm not quite sure how I got through Wednesday. I did have to go home at lunch and lie down, but by that evening I was sleeping (in the loosest sense of the word) in the bathroom. Strangely enough, I didn't make it in to work on the Thursday. I was annoyed, because I really wanted to finish my first week back, but how could I know that my cherubs would be so generous with their germs?
I've lost nearly 7 pounds in 48 hours....not my idea of the ideal diet :(
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