world of a loon

Honesty

2014-02-21T14:50:00.002-08:00

According to the dictionary honesty is:

the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness.

truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.

freedom from deceit or fraud.

Sadly there is a distinct lack of this in society, people feel the need to lie and make up stories which due to the easy access to the internet many end up online whether it be through social media or forums or any of the millions of other outlets on the web. Whilst I'm all for freedom of speech do people really need to air their dirty laundry for the whole world to see? I seriously doubt it plus with the internet once it's on it's rather difficult to remove and can have detrimental impacts on people. People seem all to willing to slate people and businesses online because they haven't got what they wanted the problem with this child like reaction is it damages the person or business' reputation. One of the many victims of this childishness is Chandler Ray who I am guessing didn't give a client the outcome they wanted.

I am not naive and know that people don't always see eye to eye I just wish that people would think before they act.

Not impressed

2013-12-05T05:48:00.001-08:00

Just lately I have noticed a change in society, the quality seems to have deteriorated. A classic example is my house built in 2007 since we moved in, in 2008 we have had to call the landlady 4 times who has then had to call the people who built the house because our roof is leaking!

I wouldn't mind if it was an old house but it isn't when they've looked each time they have said "it's this bit" so they fix it and then the next time they find another bit, what would be nice is if they checked the entire thing fixed all of the "bits" and then I wouldn't have to deal with water coming through the ceiling and have to keep repainting. Sadly I doubt I will get my wish as it essentially boils down to money, ironically I suspect it would have cost less to do it properly in the first place rather than keep having to come and fix it.

Camel Drama

2013-11-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

My eldest came home with a note from her teacher a few days ago which informed us that she was a camel in the Christmas play and provided a list of what we needed to provide for her costume. I've since had to go into school to discuss suitable alternatives for her as we didn't own any of the items and getting hold of them was going to be rather expensive.

Note to self yellow is not a popular colour for kids clothing and when it is used it is rarely plain, there is usually some kind of pattern on it. Thankfully we have managed to track down a camel costume on eBay, just got to hope it fits!

Illness and Self Employment

2013-11-13T03:30:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are in employment you get certain benefits like a regular pay cheque and sick pay. People who are self employed get no such luxury, so being ill can be stressful especially if we are not able to work or able to earn enough to pay national insurance which covers your state pension when you retire.

I recently had glandular fever which meant work was difficult as felt really ill. However there is help available if you are on long term sick leave provided that you have paid National Insurance you are entitled to statutory sick pay, which can ease some of the stress should you need it.

For those who are self employed even if you don't earn very much I would suggest paying voluntary National Insurance because you never know when you might need a little extra help.

Back behind the wheel

2013-10-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

Since having kids I have had to put driving on hold due to problems with my spine, however in the last month I have taken it up again I have to admit it is taking a little bit of getting used to as I have been reliant on public transport for so long. I will be glad once I have my own car as it will make my life a lot easier.

I know that the government want more people to use public transport or walk but when it is absolutely freezing or pouring with rain then you really don't want to have to walk 3 miles in it as part of the school run.

There are a few issues with public transport which put people off using it, firstly the cost especially when using trains. Another issue is that public transport is usually not overly reliable, it has a tendency to run late or break down a fair bit.

The downsides of owning a car are the costs involved in maintaining it; tax, insurance, petrol etc. There is other issues which don't apply to everyone such as it making people lazy so they then have issues with their health.

So it would seem that there are pros and cons to both sides of the argument so I think that a balance needs to be found so using the car only when necessary may be a good compromise.

Keeping Busy

2013-09-26T05:46:00.000-07:00

Just lately I seem to be on the go non-stop which I don't usually mind but when you're not feeling great it's not fun.

I found doing a little then resting for 10 mins then doing a bit more seems to work this means that I don't end up stressed because I can see loads of stuff that need to be done and would have to be done when am feeling better but also not pushing myself too hard and make myself worse.

Whilst progress is slow I do feel like have achieved something which, boosts my mood and so makes me feel better. Hopefully will feel better in the next few days and will be back to my old self.

Smashing Magazine

2013-09-12T10:01:00.001-07:00

I have recently started to read Smashing Magazine and have found it really interesting. Not only does it keep you up to date with what is going on in the world of design which is very important when working in marketing but it also provides tutorials for some software including illustrator.

Anyone who works in marketing will tell you that it's important to keep up to date with all the latest ideas and trends within both marketing and with in design, web development and of course business. In a market as competitive as marketing it is important to be willing to change and adapt if you want to be successful so I use a variety of sources to ensure that I am up to date.

The issue arises when trying to decide what is just a temporary fad and what is a new idea that is likely to be worth adopting into your arsenal of marketing tools. The simple answer is trial and error as you gain experience you will be able to recognise fads.

Summer Holidays

2013-08-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Last week we escaped to the Isle of Wight for a little R & R. We were very lucky to have great weather everyday so got a great tan. We were on the go all day everyday and the kids loved it. Who would have thought such a tiny island could have so much to do?

For any animal lovers there is Allendale Equestrian Centre and Seaview Wildlife Centre where you can feed penguins and get closer to the other residents of the centre. There are also several other zoos and other animal centres on the island. There are also plenty of dog friendly beaches and pubs and some of the attractions will allow dogs as long as they are kept on a lead such as Blackgang Chine and The Needles Park.

Will definitely be returning at some point as there is still loads we haven't done yet.

Active Weekend

2013-08-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend we have been active with taking bikes down the trail, playing basketball as well as activities including weeding the garden and clearing out cupboards. The kids have loved it they also liked visiting the library and choosing another book to read - in case you haven't already guessed my 2 are little book worms.

During the week they had been busy with swimming lessons, riding bikes and going to various activities organised by the library and by the children's centre. The Summer holidays seem to be flying by can't believe we are halfway through already!

In between all of these activities we have been trying to squeeze in bits of our eldest's homework so there isn't a huge mound to do on the last week. This has been easier said than done although we are making slow and steady progress with it. I suspect that once we are back into the routine of school in September my days will slow down unless I can find productive ways in which to occupy my time as the last thing I want is to be bored.

Prioritising Money

2013-08-04T05:37:00.001-07:00

Now that my finances are under control, like many people I have a list of things that require money - such as getting a car. This week I have spent trying to work out what order I should do the things on the list. I found that the best way to sort this out is look at the pros and cons for each item on the list mostly focusing on the implications for example: If I get a dog then yes it will provide companionship etc but it will make travelling harder, so maybe travelling should go before getting a dog.

Not only have I looked at things like this but have also looked into investing for the future, which if I'm honest can be a little confusing as all the banks seem to be offering various deals and give you loads of figures which if like me maths is not your forte then it doesn't really help so I have taken advantage of online resources and worked out the best options for me.

The Telephone

2013-07-28T01:20:00.002-07:00

With the mobile phone now a common item, the majority of people have one if not more with Samsung being declared as the most profitable phone firm; overtaking Apple. At present Samsung has over 27% of the market share and made approximately £3.4bn.

Despite this increase in sales BBC News have posted an article: "Do we still need the telephone?" This could be due to the increase in emails and messengers but does this mean that the art of conversation is dying? Some would argue that it isn't it's just evolving but I think that if we continue along this path there will come a point where we no longer verbally communicate with each other which is a shame. Others would say that conversation is dying but communication is not.

How much spam?

2013-07-08T12:35:00.001-07:00

Like most people I decided to make the most of the sun this weekend so spent most of my time outside and didn't think about work. Normally when I have a day or two off I end up with approximately 100-200 and before anyone asks yes I do have a spam filter set up; so you can imagine my surprise when I had 995 emails waiting this morning.

When I looked through them the vast majority were from a survey company, I guess that's what happens when businesses sell your details. If this happens to you there are a few things to do. Firstly click on the unsubscribe link if there is one. Also there are a number of sites out there that claim to be able to remove you from spam lists but the best way to reduce the amount of spam you receive is to follow the steps laid out in https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.keeling.167?hc_location=stream. Hopefully this will help all of us get less spam.

To reduce junk mail through the post try the following:

If there is a return address then return to sender with a letter requesting that they don't send you any more mail
With flyers from local businesses you have a number of approaches you can simply put up with it, ask the businesses not to send you anything or there are stickers you can put by your letterbox.

Kings of Leon Concert

2013-06-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

I went to see my first concert with some friends last week. We had booked the tickets 6 weeks before hand and had planned how we were getting to and from the concert etc. On the day of the concert we looked into parking near the venue to find out what was available (highly recommend doing this as we saved ourselves £10).

The support act was group we had never heard of called The Weeks, to be fair they weren't bad although it's not a band where I would go and buy their album. After about 90 minutes the support act finished and the main act - Kings of Leon began their set. They were amazing!! When they started to play the atmosphere changed it was almost as though the crowd had been woken up.

The only downside we found was people throwing beer, which we have since been informed is pretty normal at concerts. To be honest I don't understand why people feel the need to do this, not only is it annoying to anyone who gets showered with the beer but with the prices being more expensive surely you are wasting money by throwing the alcohol over people?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2013-06-17T14:32:00.001-07:00

Was watching this tonight and found that I was able to relate to the main characters as they are "outsiders" and each had their own quirks and they were friends despite them. I loved the fact that for once the focus was not on the popular kids, instead it was on those are often ignored or the subject of ridicule.

There seems to be a growing number of films from the underdog's perspective, a lot of them are embellished and portray the underdog having super powers or various other things where as this film was more believable as it didn't try to change them it showed the strength of love and friendship. They accepted everyone for who they were.

As an outsider during my school life I liked the fact that it portrayed a regular group of teens rather exaggerating it.

Summer Skin Care

2013-06-14T13:01:00.001-07:00

Almost everyone wants their skin to look healthy and golden during the summer months when they get to wear shorts, assuming that the great British weather allows it. So I guess the next question is how do you get that perfect summer skin?

Well there are few things you can try: you can exfoliate and moisturise. This only leaves the golden glow well there are a few options including going to a salon and getting a spray tan or fake tan at home, but the best option I have found is hiring a bed and following the guidelines. Not only do you not have to deal with issues such as streaks or looking orange, it will also trigger your skin's natural tanning so it will help when you go out in the sun it will offer some protection and it will last a lot longer than anything you can buy in a bottle. Plus you have the convenience of it being at home so you don't have to worry about booking appointments or paper knickers.

So aside from pasty skin what have you got to lose?

Trip to Sicily

2013-05-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

We have recently got back from Sicily which if you are not big on the typical tourist resorts is definitely worth a visit. We went for a family wedding and couldn't fault it, the villa we stayed in was amazing, for any of you who are looking for somewhere Casa Imbastita is highly recommended - this is where we stayed. It's within walking distance to the local town and 10 minutes by car to the beach. It seems to be a popular choice to get married abroad these days the main thing to remember is to do your research so that you can be sure that your marriage is legal and recognised in the UK.

Also got to make some new friends whilst I was away, it's kinda nice being able to find people that aren't freaked out or judge me for having a 6 and a 4 year old by the age of 25. All in all a fantastic break, just what I needed.

Leaky Roof

2013-04-21T10:16:00.001-07:00

For a while we have had a few minor damp patches on the ceiling in our bathroom, so I mentioned them to the landlady to see if there was anything we could do as they were getting worse not better. On further inspection we discovered that there were issues with the vents crumbling around the chimney and a faulty extractor fan.

Having spoken to a few people this is going to be rather expensive to repair, it's times like this that make me appreciate living in a rental property, as it makes things a little easier when things go wrong especially when we get on really well with the landlord and lady.

Decorating

2013-04-01T11:28:00.002-07:00

We have been living in our current house now for over 4 years now and have never decorated it - we just left it with the current décor. So far we have completed 1 of 11 rooms so we have a long way to go but at least it's a start.

The decision to redecorate has also prompted a thorough sort out - despite only sorting out a few months ago. In such a short time span we have accumulated a lot of stuff some of which we want or need but some we don't. It has raised the issue of storage or more accurately the lack of it.

It has also meant that we needed to purchase new accessories for rooms to match the new colour schemes we have chosen. Well on the bright side it is starting to feel a bit more like home.

The Vow

2013-03-17T13:25:00.001-07:00

A film released last year (2012) The Vow is about a woman who was young and in love. Following a car accident she doesn't remember her present - her husband, her work nothing. In some aspects it seems almost like Alzheimer's. It must be scary not to remember big chunks of your life; although at times I wonder if in some cases it is bliss, not to remember things in the present if they were not particularly if the person's short term memories weren't pleasant.

In some respects I don't know which is worse being aware that you have gaps in your memory or being blissfully ignorant that you are losing your memory. Both are equally terrible because the person is distressed and is also aware of the effect it is having on those close to them. Whilst those who are unaware are essentially trapped in the past and unable to move forward, the present must be confusing for them and rather terrifying at times when things change.

Opportunity Cost

2013-03-14T09:35:00.001-07:00

This is a term used in business it basically means that what else can you do instead of something else. For example instead of spending all your time doing filing you could be going out to get new business. The scenario above could be remedied by employing a secretary. The trick is to weigh up the opportunities and see if the benefits outweigh the costs if the costs are greater the simple answer is don't do it!

I first came across the term when exploring time management, it seems like a straightforward thing yet many businesses ignore it and so are not as productive as they could be. I think that if every business operated as efficiently as they could not only would they potentially achieve more but I think that it would ultimately benefit the economy overall as there would be less money and resources wasted, and the economy would be operating efficiently too.

If it is really simple why don't people do it?

There are a number of theories as to why people often don't do it; firstly is that they don't know how. Secondly is that they are too busy doing "stuff" that they feel is important but may be. Another theory is that they feel that their business is already running as efficiently as it could be. Often it can take an external source to identify areas that could be improved; this ultimately costs both time and money as the fees business consultants charge can be rather steep.

With my business I often do assessments of myself and of the business and if I spot any weaknesses then I address them which some could argue means that I am spending less time looking for new clients or doing stuff for current clients. My response is that whilst yes at that particular point in time I'm am not doing something for my clients it means that I am able to improve the service I offer them in the future. Another way of assessing is gaining feedback from my clients.

People Per Hour

2013-03-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

I started using People Per Hour a few years ago following a recommendation from a colleague and applied for loads of positions often using my full allowance of credits but never got any of the positions. After being rejected all the time I became disheartened and for a while stopped using the site.

When I started using the site again I found it a bit strange as the site had been redesigned and there were new features and processes for bidding - I have to admit I am still a bit unsure but I am persevering with it, in the hope that am eventually successful. The old design was simpler to use but I suppose

I am hoping that People Per Hour can supplement my income from my business Mind Meld; which offers marketing services. There is a group of parents who use the site as part of their efforts to earn extra money for their family.

Bleeding Worm

2013-02-28T12:35:00.001-08:00

My daughter was playing out in the garden earlier and comes running in:"Mama, Mama the worm is

bleeding ." She seemed really upset about it so I went to have a look what she was on about it, guess what? It wasn't a worm but the guts of a small animal like a mouse or something.

I'm used to my cat who will bring back dead mice and small birds but she never tears them apart - there is usually one bite to the neck. The same however can't be said for my next door neighbour's cat who seem to enjoy bringing my cat animal parts which is rather gross when you come down to find animal parts in the conservatory. Looks like I'm going to have to check the garden before letting the kids play in the garden from now on.

Networking

2013-02-17T09:03:00.003-08:00

Recently I have started attempting to improve my networking, so far I have signed up to a number of social networking sites; including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Ashbourne People to name a few.

In addition to this I have tried to join a number of local groups including WiRE. The thing is with most of these resources they can take a while to take effect. So the rewards from these wont be reaped for a long time some may say why bother then?

My response to this is yes they will take a while but it is worth it, long term. In the current economy I am willing to try anything that may work and in a consultancy networking is essential. Plus word of mouth is a great reward for networking.

Lie to Me

2013-01-31T13:09:00.000-08:00

I've recently got into a series called Lie to Me which focuses around a team who are able to spot lies - not through words or blood pressure but by micro expressions. I have to admit the science behind this is very intriguing, plus the way the core characters are quite complex, throughout the series you seen different sides to their characters.

There are parallels that can be drawn between this and house in that the main character has quite a sarcastic sense of humour and is reluctant to trust anyone - they both assume everyone lies; which they do. I know that makes me a cynic but whether it is a white lie or a full out lie to cover something up everyone lies.

I think that whilst we say that lying is bad, it would appear that it is a necessary part of life. For example we lie to our kids about the existence of Santa and the Tooth Fairy, some say we do this to protect their innocence but it is still a lie. Other lies are the ones told by politicians or when you tell someone that you are fine even if you are not. Then there are the lies to cover something up like when you do something wrong - these lies are not acceptable and often make the situation worse. Which begs the question why lie in the 1st place? Also why are some lies acceptable and others not?

Shakespeare in Love

2013-01-22T14:15:00.001-08:00

I know that is a rather old film, released in 1998, but recently is the 1st time that I have seen it and find it rather strange hearing Romeo and Juliet's lines quoted out of the context of the play.

To portray Shakespeare as a man who has left his wife in Stratford and then sleeps with a number of women before falling in love with a women who is of a higher class was an interesting choice. Whilst there is considerable speculation regarding his sexuality and his fidelity although it was never conclusively proven one way or the other.

Admittedly when I was at school I wasn't a great fan as I prefer to read for pleasure rather than dissecting it and attempting to guess which of several ways the prose was intended when you do this some may argue that you obtain a greater understanding, To these people I would point out that yes every prose potentially has several interpretations but with every work of fiction whether it be novel, play or any other you care to name they were written for entertainment so why not leave them as such?

If you dissect prose enough it loses the beauty of it and you begin to see things that are not necessarily there. Plus there must be a certain degree of arrogance to dare to assume what meaning the author assigned to his words.