tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42393689400401346812024-03-05T20:38:58.462+00:00The Adventures of Tangent GirlSunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-47066756049901480112012-07-29T22:45:00.001+01:002012-07-29T22:45:23.336+01:00To infinity....<div><p>So the blogging resolution didn't go so well... time to reset and try again.... :-)</p>
</div>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-33684388815605545622008-09-06T00:39:00.004+01:002008-09-06T01:14:22.515+01:00The Optimist's Guide To The Credit CrunchOk, so we're all panicking about the down-turn in housing, the rising price of fuel & food, and there seems to be no end in sight, we have all officially reached a "code red" on the panic station monitor. So what now? In a challenge to this mass hysteria, I have composed a list of the "up-side" of the "credit-crunch".<br /><br />1.) First-Time Buyers, who have been saving deposits for the last few years and rented, can now afford a house, which is better value for money than a year ago.<br />2.) People buying Stocks & Shares for the first time, will be able to purchase more at a lower rate.<br />3.) We will all start to loose weight, as we can't afford the luxury "treats" at the end of the supermarket aisles.<br />4.) A rise in interest rates has seen savers gain more from their invested monies<br />5.) Singles seeking a partner through online dating, instead of "going out on the town", have saved a significant amount of money, and this market has actually increased since the "economic downturn"<br />6.) More people are now starting to grow their own vegetables etc, and becoming more self-sufficient.<br />7.) People are looking for cheaper ways to spend time, and will become more physically fit e.g. going for a walk/ to a park instead of going out in the town.<br />8.) The price of alcohol & cigarettes increasing, increase the potential for more people to reduce/ quit their intake of alcohol/nicotine<br />9.) Rising electricity/Gas prices encourage householders to become more thrifty & energy efficient, switching to energy-saving solutions, and reducing CO2 emissions, as does the reduction in private vechicle travel, and switch to walking/public transport.<br />10.) In searching for cheaper nights in, friends will begin to arrange nights in, where they talk more, listen more, and support each other more, without alcohol as a distraction, improving mental health.<br /><br />To be noted that this is as labelled an "Optimist's Guide", and will obviously be of little comfort to the people who are loosing their homes, going through a relationship crisis, and don't have "food on table" as a result of the credit crisis.<br /><br />But for those of us who are able to survive it, don't just glide by, using luck, a slight financial cushion, and the fortune of a somewhat decent wage; instead start to appreciate the value of money we've been wasting, and taking for granted, stop using the word "skint" in reference to not being able to go out boozing for a night & start to save energy because we CARE that we may a polar ice-cap in 25 years time!<br /><br />This is Tangent Girl... Signing Off..... & switching my laptop OFF... NOT to Standby! :)Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-55858923835523908142008-03-18T13:39:00.004+00:002008-12-11T15:21:08.082+00:00Always Look On The Bright Side of Life<div style="text-align: center;">I took part in an abseil, down the front of the Europa Hotel in Belfast, last Sunday (16/03/08) to raise money for "The Stroke Association". And the idea was great in theory, for one thing it was on my "bucket list", so it was nice to cross it off, and for another I have a fear of heights, so it felt like even more of an achievement. I am a great believer in pussing yourself beyond your limits when possible, in retrospect, it may possible have been a better idea to do this <span style="font-style: italic;">without</span> a hangover :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvFsSJJxO9XghsZMYtYjOGyd1jHJ1Q62XbdaIVfen4WvjB6nRnGpCaO8GAe9AxitWPIEIumwlvVJctFpcSXRJokCYSSMWKEUe4zj7lwDU-MtoDJpdmQBTYsFu2xRxk_Gh5gIORSu2C9jV/s1600-h/Abseil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvFsSJJxO9XghsZMYtYjOGyd1jHJ1Q62XbdaIVfen4WvjB6nRnGpCaO8GAe9AxitWPIEIumwlvVJctFpcSXRJokCYSSMWKEUe4zj7lwDU-MtoDJpdmQBTYsFu2xRxk_Gh5gIORSu2C9jV/s320/Abseil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179084359245990914" border="0" /></a><br />But while climbing down, my hand ached from holding on so tight to the rope which was in control of whether I plumitted to the ground below (ok so there's also a "safety line", but that meant NOTHING to me at the time!). While waiting in line to do the abseil at the top of the building, one of my workmates who was doing the abseil with me, continued to heckle me throughout the whole process, saying things like "don't worry, you're gonna die anyway, you may as well enjoy the ride!" and singing Monty Python to me "always look on the bright side of life". I ended up singing the song on the way down the building, which was all well and good until you get to the last verse;<br /><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">"So always look on the bright side of death<br />Just before you draw your terminal breath<br />Life's a piece of s**t<br />When you look at it<br />Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.<br />You'll see it's all a show<br />Keep 'em laughing as you go<br />Just remember that the last laugh is on you."</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It was around this verse (in between shouting to another workmate on the building "ARE WE NEARLY AT THE BOTTOM YET!!!") that the bloomin rope I was gripping onto for dear life, started to slide through my hand of it's own accord! THAT was when I began to freak out, and think to myself... WHY would anyone intentionally put themselves through this? towards the bottom I remember screaming "i can't stop! somebody catch me! F**K!" at that point I heard a voice below me shout "I'VE GOT YOU!" and I was on the ground. I remember looking at the guy and saying thank you ALOT, and explained my fear of heights to him, and he said with a metre-wide smile "well thats a double achievement for you then!" CHUCKLE CHUCKLE... God I love chirpy types :O</span></span><br /></p></blockquote><br /></div>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-24665423112677913132008-03-18T12:49:00.003+00:002012-07-29T22:56:20.967+01:00Idiocracy<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPvaycMilpwjqJybrA7jNuAt_saTxztIq6tAZK9koyrdrlzg5_CDK8SQzrBIfjOb19HznMd-kdItWhAjJGP_OGyxK0rhF2sHxwKk0zvS3BA72ZZJq2zs5x81w-dwVwBUt1xmSWOyU51ix/s1600-h/idiocracy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPvaycMilpwjqJybrA7jNuAt_saTxztIq6tAZK9koyrdrlzg5_CDK8SQzrBIfjOb19HznMd-kdItWhAjJGP_OGyxK0rhF2sHxwKk0zvS3BA72ZZJq2zs5x81w-dwVwBUt1xmSWOyU51ix/s320/idiocracy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179074751404149746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I recently watched the movie staring Luke Wilson called "</span>Idiocracy<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">", the movie was alright, nothing outstanding, but it makes a good point. The story line of the movie is basically that Luke Wilson is selected as an "average </span>joe<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">" to take part in a top secret military "hibernation" experiment, he awakes 500 years in the future and discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When checking my </span>'unnamed social network site'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, it's worrying to see this fictional storyline, could have a lot of grounding in reality. There is an entire generation of kids at the moment who are slowly but surely "unlearning" how to spell and talk. Its down to two things... </span>texting<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and laziness, this is then slowly brought forward to chat rooms, and then </span>bebo<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> messages, and then more recently I've heard kids "speaking in text talk" using terms like "</span>LOL<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">" in actual conversation, </span>abbreviating <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">words beyond recognition<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=46569" onmouseover="window.status='this'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="this"><span style="font-size:85%;">dis</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=99888" onmouseover="window.status='is a'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="is a"><span style="font-size:85%;">isa</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> typical </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=87376" onmouseover="window.status='example'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="example"><span style="font-size:85%;">xampl</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> of </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=38746" onmouseover="window.status='text'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="text"><span style="font-size:85%;">txt</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=93523" onmouseover="window.status='talk'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="talk"><span style="font-size:85%;">tlk</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=93474" onmouseover="window.status='every'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="every"><span style="font-size:85%;">evry</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=57142" onmouseover="window.status='word'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="word"><span style="font-size:85%;">wrd</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=56166" onmouseover="window.status='shortened'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="shortened"><span style="font-size:85%;">shortend</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=58284" onmouseover="window.status='within'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="within"><span style="font-size:85%;">witn</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> an inch of it's </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=96119" onmouseover="window.status='life'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="life"><span style="font-size:85%;">lyf</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=11807" onmouseover="window.status='to'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="to"><span style="font-size:85%;">2</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> fit as </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=27295" onmouseover="window.status='much'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="much"><span style="font-size:85%;">mch</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=94697" onmouseover="window.status='into'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="into"><span style="font-size:85%;">N2</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> a </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=38746" onmouseover="window.status='text'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="text"><span style="font-size:85%;">txt</span></a></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> as </span><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.lingo2word.com/lingodetail.php?WrdID=93439" onmouseover="window.status='possible'; return true" onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true" title="possible"><span style="font-size:85%;">posbL</span></a><br />(converted to text talk using http://www.lingo2word.com/translate.php)<br /><br /><br /></b><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"English examiners have complained about the use of slang expressions such as "gonna", "ain't" and "shouda" in GCSEs. Markers for the exam board Edexcel said "almost unforgivable" basic errors were made by apparently bright pupils."</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I would have thought that the enivitable result of this continued "iliteracy" over a period of say the next hundred years, would result in the above mentioned "idiocracy" situation, but it seems in this case, as ennoying as I find this, the evidence suggests otherwise. An article in The Guardian states;<br /><br /></span><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">"Mrs Plester said: "So far, our research has suggested that there is no evidence to link a poor ability in standard English to those children who send text messages. In fact, the children who were the best at using 'textisms' were also found to be the better spellers and writers."</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">"We are interested in discovering whether texting could be used positively to increase phonetic awareness in less able children, and perhaps increase their language skills, in a fun yet educational way."</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >(Texting slang aiding children's language skills</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" >- Alexandra Smith <b>Monday September 11, 2006)</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But oohhh, how it still annoys me! :) </span></b></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" ><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;"><br /></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div></div>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-4194455844838440662008-03-02T22:10:00.001+00:002008-12-11T15:21:08.371+00:00Organised Confusion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNaBg9diDRm_-k976YNrwoMkzW5R8vCtNd2-QYAVHKBN_kw7b5sJUo8qA5JKIvYJN_jin-UKaVoTuRVqh2ckwYDkkA-mbIa2YUJlY_LPlvWnCR0xKzhw4KrPLgxwhwY2No5BA4b1NemmG/s1600-h/PC+confusion.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNaBg9diDRm_-k976YNrwoMkzW5R8vCtNd2-QYAVHKBN_kw7b5sJUo8qA5JKIvYJN_jin-UKaVoTuRVqh2ckwYDkkA-mbIa2YUJlY_LPlvWnCR0xKzhw4KrPLgxwhwY2No5BA4b1NemmG/s400/PC+confusion.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173275904981700866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I have a Creative Zen, that I bought to listen to music on and possibly to store some videos... as it turns out, it also has an organiser, games, a sound recorder, and a multitude of "functions", some of which are way ahead of page 3 of the manual, and so... way beyond my comprehension.<br /><br />I think that this particular piece of technology has been a last straw for me of sorts. I now own; a nintendo wii, a nintendo ds, a laptop etc, etc, etc... I am on a daily basis informed of new and wonderful ways to use these things, that I either didn't buy it for, or that someone has just thought up!<br /><br />But what you end up with , is a LOT of electronic devices, that "multi-task", and are yes "versatile" but the intention of the manufacturers was never to make the consumer happier... it was to have MORE consumers interested in buying the same thing, thus making them money. But what we end up with, is a bunch of devices in our homes that perform the same job very averagely. For example; I have a mobile phone that takes "ok" digital pictures and voice recordings, but they are so average in quality, that the most you could do with them, is put them on bebo, or even worse, you start to forget what a quality picture looks like. My Wii has an internet channel that surfs the web in a below average way, which includes typing the address by click the individual letters on the screen with the wii remote, by the time I would have written this blog it would already be Christmas.<a href="javascript:void(0)" tabindex="10" onclick="return false;"><span></span></a>...<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/SunnyD/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />I am proud to say that I now own a pretty decent digital camera; it takes good pictures and so does just and only what I want it to do. I like my technology like that; you want something, you know where to find it, and exactly what it will do. If only you could say the same about life eh? ;)<br /></div>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-37234808264194498702008-01-25T17:24:00.000+00:002008-01-25T18:03:37.224+00:00hmmmmm...... That'll be £500 m'am!<div style="text-align: center;">"Blessed are those who have their afterthoughts first"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So it turns out we are all doomed to cross paths with the dodgy builder/ handyman, with me it is evident by the 7ft chimney flu hanging decoratively from the ceiling of my spare room, but for those of you who have seen it... I lied, its not an art noveau architectural "feature". No tis indeed a testament to my stupidity in hiring an architectural "hitman". So to save others from the same fate, I have compiled a list of what are now obvious warning signs...<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>AVOID the "multi-tasker" NO ONE is an expert Joiner, Electrician, Brickie AND plumber! it just ain't plausible.</li><li>NEVER give all the money until you've checked the work</li><li>FIND OUT exactly what they plan to do (more applicable to repairs)</li><li>AVOID the tradesman who gives you a price, then offers a "big discount", it usually means a rush job. A proper worker will look at the job then tell you the ONLY price they can give.</li><li>ASK QUESTIONS - if he/she sounds like they don't know what they're talkin about, more than likely they don't.</li><li>NEVER hire a friend, or the friend of a friend, unless you're SURE they did a good job MORE THAN ONCE before! (including a professional, well timed and consistant job)</li><li>Make sure you have a working contact number and address incase they take off half way through a job.</li><li>DON'T tell them your budget, the price should be the same no matter what you have to spend!</li><li>A Professional worker will NOT, smoke in your house without asking you... </li><li>If you see a job done well somewhere else, ask for the contact details, and keep it, you never know when you'll need it.</li><li>Keep the number of a good Plumber and Electrician, handy, in case of an emergency, it will stop you getting ripped off in a panic, by using the yellow pages.</li><li>BEWARE of workmen who are stand-offish, it makes it easier for them to walk away, try to get some friendly chatting going, its a lot harder to rip you off with a guilty conscience.</li></ul><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-24133194550971034702008-01-14T22:41:00.000+00:002008-01-14T22:43:08.448+00:00Age Out Of Context; Generations by Dee<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">They say that youth is wasted on the young, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">but maybe wisdom is wasted on the old.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Wasting so much time thinking what could have been</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Seeing life, like through a movie screen.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you looked around, and saw everything now</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">like anything could happen if you thought about how</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if age and and what you couldn't do</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">No longer defined what it meant to be you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you looked around you and saw what still could be</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">instead of longing for things that only others can feel.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you didn't think your life was measured</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">by the moments you hold on to and the "things" you treasure.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if in the end you stopped and looked around,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">and saw the people you love, finding what <i style="">you've</i> found;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">A legacy mixed with fun and smiles</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">where your travels are not marked by miles.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Where you can learn more by standing still</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">than using life like a check out till;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Counting what you have and haven't bought</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">blaming "bad luck" and what <i style="">you were never taught</i>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if life was a blank canvas at any age</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">where you add more colour, and don't paint a cage.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you looked at the young, like another you</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">with a bit less experience, but equal views.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you never made an excuse for anything again</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">and enjoyed being wrong, and being different, not the same.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you laughed at the years that have passed</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">and saw only beginnings,<span style=""> </span>not reliving the past.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you lived in the moment, and saw everything right here</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">instead of taking photographs to remember next year.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you never felt alone, sitting by yourself,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">and it made you stronger, when you're with everyone else.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if you didn't try fit everything you <i style="">haven't done,</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">into a day or a year, just stood outside to feel the sun.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if it all stopped tomorrow, and life was just a test</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">would you count the bad times, or the times you were blessed?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Would you want to impart wisdom,<span style=""> </span>tell them how to avoid pain?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">or would you know they'd learn some new, doing exactly the same.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if instead of changing the scenery, you found another you, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">who sees life through others eyes, instead of making them see you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">What if young or old, we were equals to each other,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">and accepted that the child, is or will be a father or a mother.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Life is happening now, it isn't the last or next 40 years,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Life won't wait for you to get it together</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Life is happening now, you know as much as anyone else,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">you can't change other people, only yourself.</span></p>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-71177748395921227212008-01-14T21:46:00.001+00:002008-05-04T00:19:35.493+01:00Soundtrack To LifeI recently found this on the web, its actually quite hard to fill in if you're a bit indecisive like me, but if you're reading this and have a bit of time, I would be really interested in seeing others' reponses....<br /><br />_____________________________________________________________________<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you could choose the soundtrack to your life...<br />What would it be?<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(* Remember, they won't necessarily be your favourite songs!)</span></span></span><br /></div><span style=""><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong face="trebuchet ms"></strong></span><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Opening Credits: Daydream Believer by The Monkees</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Waking Up: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Average Day: Bring On The Day by Charlotte Martin</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> First Date: Moonlight Kiss by Bap Kennedy</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Falling In Love: Brighter Than Sunshine by Aqualung</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Fight Scene: Wall In Your Heart by Shelby Lynee</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Breaking Up: What Hurts The Most by Rascal Flatts</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Getting Over Them: Feeling Good by Nina Simone</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Getting Back Together: Everything by Alanis Morrisette</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Life is Okay: Change Your Mind by Sister Hazel</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Sad Moment: 100 Years by Five For Fighting</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Driving at Night: Life Is A Highway by Rascal Flatts</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Flashback: Baby Give It Up - KC & The Sunshine Band</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Partying: Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Happy Dance: Young Hearts Run Free by Kim Mazelle</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Sex Scene: Feelin Love by Paula Cole</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Regretting: I Started A Joke by The Wallflowers</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Long Night Alone: Breathe by Anna Nalick</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Death Scene: Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> End Credits: Between The Minds by Jack Savoretti</span></span></div> <span style=""><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"></span></span> <!--[endif]--></span>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-53733890101029761862008-01-06T17:22:00.000+00:002008-12-11T15:21:08.561+00:00Setting SALE for January<span style="font-family:arial;">I recently attempted for the very first time, to venture into the thing that I always want'd to, but never had the guts to do. The horror and the nail-biting satisfaction that is... <span style="font-weight: bold;">The January Sales</span>.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgk_xfl0VhSYX8GCM3HKu33CKYjs2_0mLzXF5uwVVhuj4m1TbRJtcYIHGOdGZ5XETfFcX7_xn3kWnCTIWIaj3QZpHewsh6tjpfYTIwuNRZ4e3RIr1mmoJ5lYI8gvChZrQpxPaSNhZ1vuI/s1600-h/SALE+Pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgk_xfl0VhSYX8GCM3HKu33CKYjs2_0mLzXF5uwVVhuj4m1TbRJtcYIHGOdGZ5XETfFcX7_xn3kWnCTIWIaj3QZpHewsh6tjpfYTIwuNRZ4e3RIr1mmoJ5lYI8gvChZrQpxPaSNhZ1vuI/s320/SALE+Pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152420266072068626" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div> <span style="font-family:arial;">There are differing opinions describing this unique experience, and it depends greatly on your level of commitment to finding a bargain. In Belfast at January, there are basically 3 levels of shoppers (levels defined by motivation as apposed to money spent):</span> <div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" ><br />Level 1 - The Claustrophobic</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Venturing timidly to the shops nearest to the taxi and bus stands for an easy escape route, to glance over bargains at the "end of aisle", who may be lucky enough to spot a decent bargain or two, but are easily deterred by lengthy ques, over-crowding and a dis-organised rail. These guys are basically your amateur shoppers, with commitment that extends only as far as the buzz you get from one cup of a Starbuck's Mocha Latte.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" >Level 2 - The Tight-Ass</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />This shopper has a bit more motivation, directed by the need to NOT EVER pay the normal price for clothes. Venturing confidently in the jumble of people and clothes, undeterred by the small obsticles.This Shopper usually ends up with four tops from the Primark reduced aisle totalling £4. These guys are basically your amateur shoppers, with commitment that extends only as far as the buzz you get from one cup of a Starbuck's Mocha Latte.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" >Level 3 - The Seasoned Professional</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Armed with a larger handbag (or backpack guys), containing the essential bottle of refreshment (non alcoholic, that's a completely different category, that I'm not touching), snacks, the route mentally plotted out and an early morning start, to optimise time and bargain potential. The expert shopper shops alone, 'cause it ain't pretty! This shopper has taken their clothes budget for the year (and then some) and divided it neatly into the major sales periods, all of which mere training for their Mount Everest, the January sales. This shopper is constantly fuelled by refills "to go" of Starbucks Sumatra Espresso (i.e. A LOT of caffiene). Motivation is not a problem for this relentless consumer, who will sometimes visit EVERY relevant shop, regroup to decide which shops to purchase items from, then re-visit them in order of queue size. Yes, I know what your thinking... this is waffle, no such shopper could exist... you doubt the existence of the alleged unbalanced person who indeed has no real social life or friends... Well doubters, if you want proof.. This December on Boxing Day, take a run down to NEXT in Donegal Place in Belfast 7am... Sleeping Bags<br /><br /><br />Being honest though, the average shopper (including myself), is a combination of all three.<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-34694835098366393782008-01-02T23:08:00.001+00:002008-12-11T15:21:08.703+00:00The Trees of Christmas PastTo tree or not to tree...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmdSpqmUwzJetqIfGPNXzOltpd13jsKqc-1V0gOA_wVDqwdl57PmBI2lcPIk4VoEu3D3uvji6_nPvcFIVoJDWVx7sRXEn-2kS-tCV84Zaaxizfirun6uyFfYi60h0ot2MXIur3_Dvubj4/s1600-h/old+Xmas+tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmdSpqmUwzJetqIfGPNXzOltpd13jsKqc-1V0gOA_wVDqwdl57PmBI2lcPIk4VoEu3D3uvji6_nPvcFIVoJDWVx7sRXEn-2kS-tCV84Zaaxizfirun6uyFfYi60h0ot2MXIur3_Dvubj4/s320/old+Xmas+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151033180614021634" border="0" /></a>I still currently have a 7ft tall crackin christmas tree in my living room, apparently the appropriate date to remove said tree is on the 6th of January on the feast of the Epiphany? but I recently found out that the date of that celebration is the 12th day of January? hence those 12 days of christmas... Ahhh no, that's not right, the 6th of January, is apparantly the 12th day AFTER Christmas! I'll get it right yet :)<br /><br />Christmas was great this year, but it didn't seem to have the same great excitement that it usually does, not as many people had their Las Vegas style decorations and lights on the exterior of their houses in late November, few taxi drivers asked me "well.... you have all in for Christmas love?", not sure if thats the reason, but I find the idea of keeping my tree up until the 6th of January this year quite depressing.<br /><br />Who says I should anyway? After much extensive research on the web <span style="font-style: italic;">(well ok, a five minute google search) </span>I have discovered the following:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">"You take the tree down on or after the 12th day of Christmas; the 6th of January. The 6th of January is celebrated as 'three kings' in a lot of countries (France, Belgium and the south of the Netherlands that I'm sure of, all Catholic regions). The story is that Jesus was born on the 24th, at which point a star appeared in the sky and the kings, who had to travel much farther than the sheperds, set off, and arrived 12 days later. That is why Christmas lasts for 12 days, but only in some traditions."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"Take down the Christmas Tree and all decorations BEFORE the new year. You are celebrating the birth of Christ in one year and even though I have heard it is bad luck to leave it up after the 1st, it just seems logical to take it down before the year is over."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">"My wife says her tradition is to take down decorations and not turn on the lights after New Year's Eve. She says it is bad luck to bring the old year into the new. Frankly, I miss not having the lights on on New Year's Day. It always seemed more festive for the holiday."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"In the liturgical calendar the Twelve Days start on December 25th, and the Twelfth Night is January 5th, which is when we traditionally take down the decorations."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">"Liturgically Jan 6th is ABSOLUTELY the correct day to take down the decorations. Do it when you are on your own & hubby and the kids are out, a large drop of left over liquid christmas cheer is recomended before starting to make the chore more palitable."</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Okay, well as always there is no right or wrong answer, but I agree with the comment that it does look more festive to have Christmas lights on on New Year's Eve, besides which, if you're celebrating Christmas, it doesn't liturgically</span> end until the wise men come... but when it comes down to it you can take down YOUR Christmas Tree, when YOU bloomin well want to!<br /><br />As for me... I'm takin it down tomorrow, then I'll look forward to a repeat performance next Christmas :)<br /><br /><br />TANGENT GIRL<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></span></div></div>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239368940040134681.post-36496791993550862562008-01-01T23:46:00.000+00:002008-01-02T00:05:58.910+00:00New Year's Day - HAPPY 2008!I don't know if its a good sign or not, but I went outside my front door last night, to do my <span style="font-weight: bold;">"First Footing"</span>* I ended up standing accidently in dog's excrement, I was quickly informed that this was deemed "good luck" by most, this apparently doesn't include the carpet in my house...<br /><br />Either way I have a good feeling about this year, I think it will bring alot of good changes for us all :) The difference between a lucky person and an unlucky person, is that a lucky person is open to all opportunities in any situation, not just the ones they expected.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(*Originally a Scottish Tradition "To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) and should bring symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and whisky.")<br /><br />TANGENT GIRL<br /></span>Sunny Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10824726426198973178noreply@blogger.com0