Zen life goals

I thought I'd re-post about another blog I've found, written by Kaylee about her journey of awakening to the zen way of life.

Even if your not into "that hippy stuff", its a motivating post about how long term goals need tending with a useful metaphor for farmers - it will inspire you I'm sure if you give it a chance :)

Go Kaylee!

Bubbles bubbles bubbles!!

Summer wouldn't be summer without the chance to blow BUBBLES! I just love 'em :)
 

This DIY bubble wand tutorial is an oldie but a goodie :D

Dip your bubble wand into the bubble mix, remove it and let any excess bubble mix drip into the container, then move the wand slowly through the air to make great big bubbles!

OFC you need some mix so I found this great recipe online.  This solution is great for most bubble tricks, activities, and experiments too, let the kids enjoying being kids - and the big kids too for that matter!

Guarauntee on your Brittish goods

There’s been a lot of talk about a new EU directive proposing to give everyone a 2 year guarantee on all products. UK are only adopting this directive partially which is leaving us in a grey area. Some believe this new right is being suppressed in the UK and that we are being deceived by retailers.

The truth is that it isn’t a new law for an upgraded warantee on goods because in the UK we not only already have this right but it goes one better, 6 year guarantee in England and Wales, with 5 years in Scotland. This covers us to get a partial refund or full repair up to six years after the purchase was made (five years from discovery in Scotland)

So it means if you spend £600 on a washing machine and you are a family of 4 with few loads of washing a week you would expect it to last at least the 6 years guaranteed. If "wear and tear" after 2 years is judged to be unreasonable for such an expensive product, then this IS a manufacturing fault and the retailer is responsible for repair or refund (the refund should take into account how much use the customer has already had of a product). If you have a house full of 10 and a £200 washing machine you shouldn't reasonably expect it to last more than a year or 2 and you are not covered.

The laws and documents have overlapping policies that make it very difficult for you to find out your consumer rights and easy for retailers to fob you of. Its a very complicated subject so if you have a product that needs replacing and you believe you apply please check out the links included in this post for a more indepth look a the subject. Be prepared for lots of reading it is very heavy going!

Gay Scouts

There has been lots of social network attention recently on the campaign Scouts For Equality. The head hunchos at Boy Scouts of America recently voted unanimously to keep their ban on gay scouts. I was at first shocked then confused about this news. I first spoke with a friend of mine who is a life long Scout member, Dave was also shocked but not confused his response of "Its bullshit" is blunt but accurate.

I did a bit of research myself and found out more proof (if Dave's testament isn't enough) that British Scouts not only welcome gay members and leaders but offer training, advice and leaflets on the dealing with subject should it come up. They have recently also been supporting anti-bullying campaign led by gay rights charity Stonewall. 

In such a well loved and world wide institution I dont understand where this homophobia comes from. I can think of no reason in Scouting where sexual preference would be influential, its a children's organisation there is no sex even remotely involved. There have been references to child molestation and the "bad" influence on impressionable young youths which I won't even bother to counter due to the ridiculousness of the argument (and because it really makes me fume). Something I will comment on are the complaints of allowing gay members would lead the organisation away from their origins. Most of theses are religious, saying that it would be veering away from the organisations Christian roots and ethics. This is also rubbish. British Scouts have had multi religious and cultural ethos for decades, accommodating to allow Hindus, Muslims and girls to join, and Boy Scouts of America should be ashamed of their hypercritical bigoted rules and take a leaf out of British Association of Scouts. And to those going on about the origins of Scouts could also take note of our equal opportunity stance as Scouting started in Britain. 

The vote last week is a disappointing result and I feel sad but I'm also glad its not all Scouts, just the American ones. If you want to help out the yankee scouters you can sign the petition here. I'm proud that our British Scouts are setting a the bar for equal rights and I'll finish with a quote to that effect.

         'In Scouting we believe that all young people, irrespective of their sexuality, gender, race, creed or background, have an equal opportunity to develop and to be themselves.'      Wayne Bulpitt, Chief Commissioner British Scouting Association.

Chop chop chop!

The Big Chop is DONE!

I chopped of the pony tail I have had my whole life for charity. It was a miserable day but quite a few people were there to watch and did a count down and everything. It went really well and I cut off 62cm, plenty for the wig-makers and loads of dosh for G.O.S.H :) A few days ago I was worried I was making a mistake I might regret but the night before I talked to Dave about it and wasn't nervous any more - I didn't even cry when it came off! I feel great about it :)

Its just below my shoulders, so longer than I initially thought but it was straightened for the cut so I've washed it this morning (I was playing with it allll day yesterday - it is still very weird) and I'm hoping it will curl but the ringlets are disagreeing :( at the least there will be a wave - we shall have to see.

Thanks to my great neighbours and brilliant friends both near & far for the support, I know I wouldn't have done it other wise. I've been saying about cutting it for the last 3 years so I need the extra support and charitable causes to help me take a leap of faith. Now I'm looking forward to my glamorous make over, what with selling my motorbike and becoming a mother I rather like the idea of style re-invention. But I am also a bit tomboyish and bit lazy with my personal maintenance so lets see how long that enthusiasm lasts lol

The Big Chop

Everyone who has ever met me, and some who haven't, know my hair. Its always been classic length - that's half my full height - 110cm long and is rather infamous. My whole life I've only seen a handful with hair as long as / longer than my own, people even stop me in the street, its my most defining feature and main source of vanity! All of this is a long winded way to get across how important having over a metre of hair is to me . . . and I'm chopping it all off!!

Well not all of it but I will go from thigh length to shoulder length hair in one big swoop, that is over 60cm / 24" !
The Little Princess Trust make real hair wigs for children with cancer and I have to be brave for those children, I hope that there will be a little princess out there enjoys wearing my hair as much as I did.
GOSH is a wonderful place dear to my heart, my brother was born with a hole in his heart & tetralogy of Fallot. I'm very proud be raising money for this amazing hospital over the years Adam has had several important operations as well as countless tests and appointments there when we were both children.