Urgh!
I have so much to say but no way of writing in a way that will make sense to anyone. All just running around my head and colliding. And I have tried writing the post of all the stuff in my head four times in the last two weeks and it just isn’t going to happen.
Have a wonderful weekend.
See you on Monday!
~ Pru
When I saw Gemma’s tweet I was a little bit scared. Actually very scared.
See, I like all the corney music. I have some of the ‘classics’ but alot are songs that I hear once on an advert or in a film or programme and then have to have on my ipod (although currently new songs I just put on the iphone – alot easier).
So, I hit shuffle and this is what happened:
1. Teeth, Lady Gaga. I would actually be pressing the forward button on this one. I don’t like this song.
2. Dancing Queen, Abba. I knew this would happen, I even mentioned on Gemma’s blog that Abba would pop up. I admit it. I LOVE Abba. Have seen the tribute band twice, seen Mamma Mia on Broadway and love the film. And I sing along to Abba at any given chance and I just don’t care!
3. Doctor Pressure. Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine Oh, I love this song. I can play this over and over again. I love this version and the Gloria Estafan version, but this version more. It was one of the songs I walked to when training for the Moonwalk. The Gloria Estafan video is cool too and so very old.
4. Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Tears for Fears. I used to jump around to this song when I was a child and I know all the words. Am at my happiest shouting singing this song whenever it comes on. Love it.
5. Honestly OK, Dido. It’s not my favourite song, but hey, it came up on shuffle. And thats all I have to say about this song.
I had such fun writing this out and listening to the songs whilst writing this post. Such great fun. Turns out that I am quite a mover balancing a laptop on my lap, typing and listening to the songs on You Tube!
Thanks Gemma!
~ Pru
Are you following me on Twitter or Pinterest? If not, then click on the links. It would make my day, possibly my week too!
Did the title get your attention? Good. Do you feel my pain? Have you ever known that you need to do something but you just don’t know how? This is what this post was like for me. I was haunted by it. I put it on my blogging to-do list and my normal to-do list and my weekend to-do list, but each time, I never crossed it out. And it took me ages to write and then re-write as I didn’t want it to come across as ‘preachy’. I hate preachy. I stop listening when it becomes preachy.
But enough is enough. I’m even being chased by people for it.
The other week I took the day off from work, I had a well needed lie in and then applied my makeup properly – powder, blush, eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara – and then I straightened my hair and got on the train to Waterloo. Turns out that I don’t read a tube map as well as I thought, and went the wrong way and then in the wrong direction before finally making it to Farringdon. I had aimed to arrive early and look around Farringdon but there was no time. Hot and flustered I arrived at Action Aid’s central office, but was quickly welcomed and offered tea and water and cake. Such gorgeous cake too, put some of my offerings to shame!
Now I knew some of the names of people attending, I had been part of a couple of Twitter conversations and that morning had been woken up by someone tweeting me, but I didn’t know them. And I admit that nerves got the better of me. I sat at the back and listened but didn’t interact that well with other bloggers instead I spoke at length with Debbie who works for Action Aid. She too sponsors a child and we had great fun swapping ideas and she was so kind to give me tips on what to write and more details on the charity.
The reason for taking the day off and attending the tea party was to learn more about Action Aid. Mark Watson the comedian spoke but he was well and truly trumped by Lynn and Spencer (and I was so pleased that he was), a couple who don’t blog but who do sponsor a 13 year old boy called Malafani in Lesotho. They had a wonderful slide show of photos that they took when they went out to Lesotho, and it was the small things from their chat which stuck with me. How they love the boy and his family and their village so much, how they had been amazed by the welcome that they received on their visit, but how things were very basic, with the school at the top of a hill and catering for 90 children ranging in age from 5 to 15 in one tiny room. The people in the village had very little but were being helped by Lynn and Spencer and other sponsors through Action Aid to make life better.
Whilst Lynn and Spencer (and I) have the name and photo of the child we sponsor, the money is put towards the community rather than to the individual child or their family. And Action Aid aren’t going into their village and deciding what the village needs. No. Action Aid speak with the community to find out what they need. A more personalised service if you like. Need the school moved from the top of the hill (where at times it is inaccessible and teachers won’t work there) to the bottom of the hill? Yes, Action Aid can help with that. Need a well? HIV & Aids awareness and assistance programmes? Action Aid can help with that too. In Malawi, the community needed a house built so that the community could retain a teacher to teach the children. Some of the time its basic stuff that we take for granted that others really require.
I left the tea party with lots of ideas and safe in the knowledge that for me, sponsoring is a very good idea. The money is helping the community where Gift lives and as far as I see it, any help to anyone who wants it can never be a bad thing.
I’m putting up a link to Action Aid here. I’m no expert but if you ever think about sponsoring a child and want some advice from someone that does, then please contact me.
~ Pru
Are you following me on Twitter or Pinterest? If not, then click on the links. It would make my day, possibly my week too!
Yep. Nah. No room in my diary this week. Fully booked. Try next week. The diary is pretty free then.
You know sometimes when weeks go by and they just keep plodding on. Nothing that special happens, nothing to get dressed up for or write in the diary and it all gets a bit boring. Just going about the motions day after day.
Well this week isn’t one of those weeks. Oh no, its turned on its head and has all gone a bit crazy. In fact I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’ve ended up scheduling everything. The days and times when I’ll wash my hair, my travel plans, what buses I need to take, what time the trains run, a time to go to the bank (knowing that this will take all lunch time). I’ve got singing class tomorrow and practice to do before then. I walked home this evening practicing my scales. Thank goodness it was quiet(!). Dinner with friends in London on Wednesday and a hangover to contend with on Thursday morning, and then another dinner on Thursday with a very close friend.
See, busy. I’ll need a rest come the weekend. But it should be oh so good. Expect a great post on Friday (Its Daring Baker’s Reveal Day).
Oh, and I was thinking of taking photos at dinner on Wednesday as we are going to Bill Granger’s new restaurant. What do you think about taking photos (on my phone) at dinner? Acceptable in small doses or completely wrong. Views please!
~ Pru
Perfecting Pru 