Universal Responsibility in the Modern World March 19, 2008

My friend is organising this in London in a couple of months, do consider going, with current events as they are panning out in Tibet it will be even more interesting than ever…

Dalai Lama, Thurs 22nd May, Royal Albert Hall, London

Universal Responsibility in the Modern World A public talk by the Dalai LamaThe programme will also include a performance of traditional Tibetan songs and dance and a short Q&A with the Dalai Lama.The Tibet Society is delighted that His Holiness the Dalai Lama accepted its invitation to give a public talk in London. With his warmth, humanity and humour, the Dalai Lama has that rare ability to touch and inspire his audience. This talk is a tremendous opportunity to come and hear one of the world’s leading spiritual icons talk pragmatically and realistically about living in the modern world and how we, as individuals, can make a difference to the whole. The Dalai Lama is a truly remarkable and inspiring figure for people the world over. His unfailing commitment to non-violence in seeking a just solution for the people of Tibet who, after 59 years, continue to suffer under Chinese rule, is a unique example of compassion and humanity the world should applaud. All profits from this event will be donated to Tibet Relief Fund. Tickets cannot be exchanged, refunded or resold. Select a Date Thu, 22/5/2008   2:30 PM   Browse iTunes Dalai Lama music collection

Festivals March 13, 2008

If you’re toying with going to a festival check out Festival News or Efestivals

Tatty Bumpkin will be at:

• Glastonbury Festival
• Shambala
• Sunrise Celebration
• Green Man
• Ragged Hedge Fair

If you’re undecided about whether it’s a good thing to do with kids, check out an old post of mine on the topic.

Dancin’ March 2, 2008

So my friend and I went out dancing for the first time in ages last night for a pre-mother’s day treat (anticipating our lie in), we were both exhausted from various family / work related stuff (I’d just got off the train from 2 days working at an exhibition about changing your life called One Life) but turned out our dancing feet still worked and we danced til 1. The band was called Doreen Doreen, a funny covers band a friend of mine plays in. If I could dance like that every week I’d be as thin as a pin… sigh.

10 years and never a cross word… February 28, 2008

…so it’s been 10 years to the day since our wedding and I’d like to say never a cross word but honestly I’d be lying! No but really, it’s been a blast! Our wedding was great, I was but a child bride of 24, Nige 27 and a lot of our friends still single. My dad and his friends had a ball dancing with all the 20 somethings on tables, Nige’s football team, The Diggers, arrived in evening to revitalise the proceedings.

There was a lot of drinking, dancing and making merry. Oh and it was at a medieval castle-cum-hotel near Hexham in Northumberland with lots of mulled wine, roaring fires, Northumberland stew and large cotton wool ball snowflakes which made the pine trees outside heavy with snow and ripe for a midnight snow ball fight (which ruined my dress and shoes!). I wish I could find digital photos but it was back in the days of analogue and I haven’t scanned any!

Since we’re broke and don’t really do romantic dinner dates we took a bottle of organic cava and sat on a hill watching the stars!

You know it makes sense… February 20, 2008

Mother’s Day is just around the corner (March 2nd to be precise) so:

• men: heed this advice,
• women: stop any inclination your partner may have to a) forget the date or b) celebrate your fantastic-ness with wilting carnations or underwear of a dubious nature, as  Mumsnet compiled, with help, a handy print-out guide to Mother’s Day Dos and Don’ts. Just leave this somewhere strategic – in the shed/on the X-box/next to the loo – and hopefully all those who should be truly grateful will be…

Firstly visit my Barefoot Books site – there are some brilliant books for mums – e.g. Barefoot Book of Goddesses - basically a beautifully illustrated A-Z of Goddesses or The Lady of 10,000 Names and if that doesn’t show the esteem in which you hold her, nothing will… Also Grandmother’s Stories for the kid’s gran’s or

THE BASICS…

• Do let me have a proper lie in. That means keeping our son out of the bedroom and not letting him leap all over me while you coo sentimentally, “Look how much he loves his mum”. Bluestocking

• Don’t be an idiot and think you can leave it to the Thursday before. If you do make this fundamental mistake, don’t try to get out of it by saying ‘But you’re not my mother’ to the mother of your children. (And if you do say this, be prepared to, run like ****.) martianbishop

• Definitely don’t say “you’re not my mother” to your wife when she is the one who bought, held in front of you to sign, and then posted, the card for your mother… TheFallenMadonna

• While on the way to visit your mother with her gift, don’t say to your wife, who has very recently given birth to your second child, “S***! I forgot you were a mum. I haven’t got you anything. That’s OK though isn’t it?” Suzi2

  (Note to partners: Have you got the “my mother” bit yet?)

• Do pace yourself – try to be a little bit nice all day, rather than cooking a gourmet breakfast then spending the rest of the day asleep on the sofa. Astrophe

• Do try to conjure up peace and tranquillity for a day, with no shouting or arguing – and perhaps a trip to feed the ducks (with or without mum). Raggydoll

CARDS…

• Do buy a card that says mummy – and not “mum”, “mom” or “mother” – if that’s what your child calls her (or vice versa). And do pick the type of card your child would buy if they actually went to the shop i.e. no hideous oil paintings of lilies! Whizzz

• Do buy a card for YOUR own mother. Astrophe

• Don’t say – at 10pm that night – ‘Bugger, did you post my mum’s card?’ Phono

• Don’t forget until the day itself, buy a THANK YOU CARD in desperation and try to cover up by writing “thank you for being such a good mum”. Custardo

AND GIFTS…

• Don’t buy Oil Of Olay (unless someone specifically asks for it)! Don’t buy a doormat, oven gloves or tea towels as a gift EVER. Wotznotreallyhere

• Don’t buy your mother a lovely exotic plant in a tasteful ceramic pot, and get your wife three manky hyacinths in a plastic pot with dayglo stones on the top. It’s the floral equivalent of getting your mum Agent Provocateur undies and your wife hip huggers from M&S. LadyMardyDaisyBoo

• Don’t buy clothes (unless it’s cashmere, or you’re very confident) and likewise underwear is best left to Valentine’s Day. Stick to flowers, chocs or things that sparkle (and we don’t mean glitter pens). Muncher

• Don’t buy flipping carnations (ever). RubyRioja

• Don’t say it’s all commercial rubbish! Ineedapoo
• Don’t pay any attention when your wife says “Oh, just get the children to make me something.” Get the children to make her something, and then get your credit card out and get yourself down to (insert wife’s favourite shop). FrannyandZooey

AND SOME ADVICE FOR THE MUMS…

• Don’t get out of bed. Just refuse. ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands

• …But (from a realist) don’t be surprised if you don’t get a lie in. Your kids will be banging on the door at the crack of dawn, and you’ll need your ‘grateful face’ on to meet the bombardment of garage flowers/microwaved croissants that will greet you. GetOrfMoiLand

AND ADVICE FROM A DAD…

• TO MUMS: If you say “Don’t make a big fuss/get me anything expensive”, we will not make a big fuss/get you anything expensive. This is known as Listening, and Doing As We Are Told. You’ve only yourself to blame if we follow your instructions to the letter.

• TO DADS: Last year the children (with quite a bit of help) made a Special Mummy book – they put in photos (decorated with stickers, glitter etc), artwork they’d done, little poems and so on. She said it was the best Mother’s Day present ever. UnquietDadA

Gung Hey Fat Choi February 8, 2008

  

This is the year of the Rat (Chinese:鼠) who was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. Rat is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities. The Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子.

(the first picture, the dragon head is home made, the lion head was bought from Tehos shop!)