Tuesday 26 April 2011

KING'S SPEECH

I finally saw one of the most-talked about films of the year- The King's Speech. I read about all the hype and heard all the yapping by movie boffs. This made me curious to see if the film lived up to the superlative labels such "most amazing spectacular film ever made in the history of man/womankind." (OK, I made that bit up!).









Well, it did not disappoint as it was a mind-blowing, riveting, cinematic masterpiece which was emotional at times. Have to admit that I needed a hankie during some tear jerking scenes.



Colin Firth was first class as the stammering reluctant King George VI who has therapy to overcome his speech impediment. In fact ALL the actors gave five star performances.



Definitely worth the £9 cinema ticket.


































































































































































Sunday 20 March 2011

FISH


Over a hundred fish swim around a tank before feeding on their latest snack- a pair of feet. No, this is not a David Attenborough documentary gone wrong but the latest pampering craze to swamp health and beauty spas. My friend Jem was telling me that she went to try this treatment which involved dunking her feet in a tank filled with Garra rufa fish which nibbled away dead skin. She said that it was a "lovely sensation" and was so pleased with the result- baby soft feet. She suffered from rough skin on her feet. But the fishes had a nibbled away enough skin leaving it flawless.
I was tempted to nip down to the nearest spa for this type of feet pedicure until I heard that environment chiefs were carping on (boom! boom!) about possible health hazards.
The Health Protection Agency have said that it could spread infections through open wounds. Some US states have banned it because of 'elf and safety fears.
Fish spa pedicures sees the same fish clean the skin of multiple customers. I guess I'll hold on to my pennies until more evidence is uncovered. After all, fancy entering a fish spa having dry, chapped feet and leaving with an infection- yuck!!

Monday 14 February 2011

BIG SOCIETY


A world where post offices, libraries and transport services would run like a well-oiled machine, lovingly tendered by charities and voluntary groups may seem like a pipe dream. But if Dave Cameron got his way it could be a reality. The Big Society has been hailed by Dave as "a big advance for people power". But the question is, will this utopian idea work? While the economy slowly recovers from an almighty battering beyond recognition, the Big Society would evolve and take shape.


The concept would see the Government allow dormant bank and building societies enable charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups run public services. All courtesy of the Big Society Bank.


Other initiatives would involve a whip round (well in the grandest sense) to buy a pub, volunteers being in charge running museums and the transfer of power to residentsover council spending.


Plenty of people (including moi) would love to give up more of their time to volunteer and help out worthy causes. But like countless others, I face the worry of making enough to pay endless food and household bills, not forgetting keeping a lid on debt.


Some souls would cry- "for goodness sake, people are just too selfish to volunteer. They need to stop moaning and get off their lazy bums." But they forget the old adage: "time is money, money is time."


Hundreds of libraries face closure due to cuts. This is a shame really as having the luxury of borrowing a pile of books should be accessible to all. I have just fallen back in love with reading and have 2 books on the go. Eat, Pray, Love was the Monday morning commute book of choice. Gosh, reading it makes me so inspired to read more, definately write more and to travel to far flung places. I guess a girl could dream I suppose at the mo. I would really be sad if the libraries in my neck of the woods closed. They are so convenient and have an impressive haul of books.


Anyway, back on the concept of the Big Society, more volunteers is a nice idea but there is the matter of public funds being squeezed. Where is the money going to come from? Pretty much every charity needs experts and guess what, they are in fact PAID!


Mum told me on the phone yesterday, that the idea of volunteers at the mo as people are trying to pay bills and keep a roof over their heads. And another thing, she said was jobless people do not want to volunteer, they just want a job and get paid. And she also believed that how can the Big Society work at the same time the Government is "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Amen.


UNISON general secretary David Prentis summed it up nicely. He told the BBC that volunteers are being used as a cut price alternative to the provision of government services. But time will tell if the Big Society is a fudge for making cuts left, right, centre, top, middle and bottom.