Thursday 27 November 2014

My funny, quirky little ways....

These lovely quirks of mine....


I've always been a slave to my senses - smells, sounds and how things feel. Looking is all very well, but I'm looking for that extra hit, that certain extra something that tells me it's perfect, that it's as it should be for my desires.


Shoes - I was never really a shoe person, it was always boots and bags for me. But whether I was considering buying shoes or boots, there was one thing that was important. The sound of the click of heel against the pavement. The better the click the more chance I'd buy, less click, no purchase. Sometimes this would be difficult if I was trying them on inside the shop where there was only carpet. However you could usually tell by the sole and the heel tip whether they'd have the necessary click on the street. It was the same with boots.

Of course it couldn't be too loud, or the joy would be lost, just a discreet, rhythmic click.

Books/Magazines - I'm a readaholic, a bibliophile, but where most people prefer secondhand books, I prefer my books brand new, they must not have been touched by any other person, the paper must make a splitting sound as 2 pages are parted for the first time. The same goes for magazines, the magazine must be from the middle or back of the pile, the paper must be untarnished and untouched, and come with the smell of print that's almost overwhelming.

                                                                   

Clothes - most clothes I buy must come with a slight texture, or at least have some part of it that can catch on loose hard skin on my fingers or thumbs (yeah, this one's weird). It comforts me and helps me to feel less anxious. I cannot bear anything that comes with a shiny or reflective surface.



 


Chocolate - an addiction, the smell, the texture, the taste. It has to melt in my mouth slowly until it completely overwhelms my tongue, my taste buds. Somehow, I don't think I'm alone in this little obsession.



And that is the tale of some of my quirky habits, my little idiosyncrasies, my foibles....

What, pray tell are yours?



Monday 10 November 2014

Stop all the clocks..

Time

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."   
John Lennon

Time's a funny old thing isn't it?

Or perhaps you don’t agree. You may see it as a straightforward thing, the hands on the clock go round and round as they should, and the day ends and begins as it should. You may find it no more fascinating than the pavements outside or the walls in your living room.

Personally, I find time quite fascinating. What I find most interesting is how little there is, yet how long each day can seem, depending on where you are and what you’re doing. Time can go slowly, or it can go by too fast.

After the technological innovations of the 19th century, men of science predicted the day when we’d have too much time on our hands, when technology would take over and we’d all be rewarded with increased leisure time to do as we pleased.

"Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change."
Thomas Hardy 
Time's a funny thing

But today the busier we are the more important we seem to those around us. We must look like we’re busy, even when we’re not, technology can’t break the habit of a lifetime, it can only help us make the day even fuller. A busy schedule and the more in demand we are, and everyone is envious of our lack of time to stop and talk – but is it real?

When you’re not working you’re checking your phone, you’re answering the phone, and you’re worried because nobody’s been in contact with you on your phone. You feel like you're working even on your days off.

What’s even more fascinating is that even animals have their own way of keeping time, different, but they understand timekeeping,  they know when they need to do things and by what time, they have their very own built in stopwatch.
Nature's time keepers

"I must govern the clock, not be governed by it." 
Who's in charge - you or the clock?
Golda Meir

 We have our own special powers when it comes to time, it can go quickly, or it can go painfully slow. It’s up to us how quick or how slow we want time to go. We can make it go slowly when we’re bored or far too quick when we’re not occupied in something that captures our imagination.

We can make time stop with grief, bereavement and shock, and berate the world for its continued spin. For when WE can stop time, why is it the rest of the world can’t, after all, is your grief not important enough for it too to stop, on your behalf?

"Time moves in one direction, memory in another." 
William Gibson

Time can be the same for everyone in a room, but slower and faster for each individual, you can wish time away, or you can beg it to slow down. The only thing about time is that it never stops, and it’ll carry on long after we’ve turned to dust. 

"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." 

Nathaniel Hawthorne


Time is a funny thing, you think you’re in control of it, but really, you’re not in control of anything at all. 

Patience is the art of concealing your impatience…

When it goes quiet you consult the blogs, the experts, the advice and guidance that will tell you exactly what attitude you should adopt when there’s a fallow period. Take stock, market, market, market, take a break and relax. But for me, that’s almost impossible, there are bills to pay and you know your overdraft is over the overdraft and you’re on the brink of tearing your hair out – who said anything about staying calm?
Stay calm?!


I’m not a calm and relaxed person by nature, in fact I’m not particularly patient either, I’m quite the opposite. I’m sitting here either blogging, networking or on the brink of ripping my fingernails out because I want something to happen, now, not tomorrow, not next week. Relaxing through the quiet is not my idea of fun - it’s my idea of hell on earth.  

Promises, promises

When you start working with clients, they promise you the earth, they’ll pay regularly, they’ll give you a constant stream of work – and then it doesn't happen, because they've over stretched themselves and they just can’t get on top of things, they have a habit of micro managing everything, without knowing much about delegation, in fact the word “d-e-le-g-a-t-e” has no meaning for them. They’re exhausted, they have to hire another person in HQ, they can’t get the work to you, they can’t pay you as they promised. You offer to help out (yes, you’re doing it out of self-interest). But suddenly the dream goes ping and you’re left sitting in your pyjamas wishing you’d stayed in your nice, safe boring, job.

Recognize the feeling?

No matter how well you plan it, one week you've juggling 3 or 4 clients, and the next you’re sitting there twiddling your thumbs. Actually, no wait a minute, I’m not, I do have at least 3 permanent clients….so is the fact that I don’t have enough work that’s bothering me, or am I just bored?

Thing is, I spent years working for other people in a really stressful job, where you had to delegate, you had to know when you needed help, because there were constant deadlines, from local government, from managers, from external agencies, and you knew that if you wanted to get something done, to meet the deadline, you had to ask for help. It was key to getting the job done and staying sane.

Micro managing everything to the nth degree led to a breakdown and a long time away on sick leave. I've seen it happen often enough, managers who’d just pushed themselves too hard in an environment that was stressful enough on its own. That’s why in the end, I left because I was burnt out too. I do like to keep busy all the same, but you see people, younger than yourself, doing exactly the same thing.

There’s being busy and there’s over stretching yourself.

Work, work and then more work 

Yes I hated my job, I hated getting up every day to commute to work, I hated the office politics, the constant emailing to 300 people just to get one thing done, one decision made, one yes from one person, who probably didn't even read his emails.

But I need to be kept busy ALL day, no room for a break…I’m good at organizing my work, because I've had many years of practice. I know when a lot is too much and to slow down and when too little is just too little. I can’t teach that to someone half my age, it’s something I think that can only come with experience.

Organization skills - a rare but beautiful gift

 I realize I need to be patient, but it’s hard when I have a habit of expecting the same from others as I expect from myself. If I’m capable of managing my time, then why can’t someone else, is it really that hard, is it really too much to expect?

It’s about time management, a precious skill I’d like to pass on to all of you…

I when to college, university, studied for two degrees, held a job down and raised a child – by myself. No babysitters, only 1 or 2 friends and enough motivation and self-belief for 10 people. If I could teach you one thing, then it’s time management and how to juggle your way through at least 3 or 4 things in a day. I’m an expert. I had to be, I had a child to consider, it was either sink or swim.

And the thing is…I've got into the habit of expecting the same from everyone else.
Just try and be more organized dear...

And what I find really boring and irritating is that all that advice you get on what to do when it’s quiet is rubbish, nothing happens quickly enough, and not to my liking – I want to be paid on time, I want work when its promised. I want you to give as much as I’m willing to give.

And you know what?

We need to get a little bit more organized..

It’s simply about recognizing how much you can take on realistically, when to turn things down, and not being greedy, not turning into a megalomaniac and d-e-l-e-g-a-t-i-n-g.

Don’t give me advice….

So, this isn't a blog about all the sensible things you can do when it goes quiet, offering the same repetitive sage advice from those, calm, smug experts, experts on telling other people what to do, when they probably don’t do it themselves. This is a blog for all of you out there who've ever felt like this. For those of you out there who sit there and think “What the hell…..?”

Grandmother, eggs and multi-tasking

grandmother, eggs etc
For those of you who, like me, come from an environment where you learnt to time manage, to delegate, to organize, to multi-task and you’re faced with a generation of 20 something start-ups who couldn't organize their own lunch break. And you suddenly start to feel that perhaps you’re too old to being doing this and when they lecture you, it’s like teaching a grandmother to suck eggs, you know that if you don’t bite your tongue, you’ll be telling them how to manage their work….and you know you can’t.

For those of you have the patience, the diligence and the time management skills that just want everyone else around them to pull their damned finger out and get a grip.

This is for you..

Come on world, shape up.
 
 

 
I'm either at the top or the bottom of the world


Friday 7 November 2014

The impact of childhood bullying on adulthood

I have always tried to be proactive about my mental and physical health and  demonstrated a certain enthusiasm for the environmental and social influences that have led me to become the person I am today. This could be misconstrued as too much navel gazing and a tendency toward the narcissistic, but I'd like to think that I simply have a lively interest in anthropology, psychology and the behaviour of human beings. Why do we do the things we do? From a writing perspective and one that enjoys reading stories about the lives of others, in the form of both fiction and non-fiction - one could suggest I'm bound to have such interests.

Tortured Souls of Midian by PavelFireman .


Bullying, mental health, and other things

I think it  makes sense that I have a particular interest in mental health however, due to the fact that I suffer with mild to moderate depression and generalized anxiety for which I have received medication and counselling in the past.

As a child I was severely bullied from the ages of 5 - 7 and from the ages of 11 - 14, leading to regular nightmares, low moods, low self-esteem and poor self body image, resulting in a half-hearted suicide attempt at the age of 14 (I never told my parents about this or anyone else for that matter). I still suffer from self esteem and body image issues, thankfully the nightmares are a thing of the past, apart from when I'm under an unusual amount of stress or sudden shock.

I have lived with these things and I have succeeded in life well enough, I'm well educated and I have a beautiful daughter and all my life I've had nothing but good physical health. There is much to be thankful for. I certainly see no reason to wallow in self-pity. But to understand is crucial if I am to come to terms with and accept past events.
Toby Pike/Tortured Souls

Link between bullying in childhood and adult behaviour

I do believe the bullying I suffered in childhood had an impact on my behaviour in adulthood and I believe there's a definite link between the problems I suffer with now, as a result of childhood bullying.

Surprisingly, there has been little in the way of research into this particular area before, however, thankfully this is now changing.

In a piece of research carried out last year (2013), research has shown that there is a definitely link between bullying in childhood and adult behaviour, for both the victim and the perpetrator, and also for those who are both bully and victim.

In the study "Adult Psychiatric Outcomes of Bullying and Being Bullied by Peers in Childhood and Adolescence" carried out in 2013, by William Copeland, Dieter Wolke, Adrian Angold and Jane Costello, definite links have been found between behaviour in adults as a result of bullying in childhood.

No one had looked at this in any depth until recently and it has revealed a higher prevalence of agoraphobia, anxiety and panic disorder in adults who've been bullied in childhood. They argued that:

"The effects of being bullied are direct, pleiotropic,* and long-lasting, with the worst effects for those who are both victims and bullies." (p. 419)

  1. From Wikipedia: *Pleiotropy occurs when one gene influences multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits, an example being phenylketonuria, which is a human disease that affects multiple systems but is caused by one gene defect.
They go on to say that "....bullying is still commonly viewed as just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up." (p.419)
For those of us who've ever been bullied, myself included, would be inclined to disagree with that, unless of course they wanted to give the impression of having not been affected by it, and I think that bullying has an insidious impact on all of us who've ever experienced it. 
Not only that, it was also revealed in this particular study how females were at a much higher risk of "psychopathology and suicidality.." (p.420).
So emotional disorders and suicidal feelings are likely to affect a large majority of those that have been bullied in childhood, and rather disturbingly can also radically change the activity in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and result in an "altered cortisol response," which in time leads to depression
http://imgarcade.com/1/tortured-soul-art/ 
If children are also suffering other factors in their lives to do with, amongst other things - domestic violence and physical maltreatment then this "accelerated erosion," is likely to be even worse. 
We can see then that far from being harmless, bullying in childhood can have a long lasting impact on us as adults. The study only looked at those in their 20's, but all the same, it is clear evidence that rather than a simple rite of passage, bullying can follow us in the shadows long after we've joined the adult world. 
There were also other risks recognized such as poverty, physical health, relationships (and the ability to have them) as a result of bullying in childhood. 
Interestingly, bully-victims, those that were both victim and perpetrator at any time, were also more likely to be diagnosed with "a serious illness, smoke regularly, or develop a psychiatric disorder, compared to those not involved in bullying." They'd also have more chance of being poor in adulthood. 
For those of us nodding our heads sagely saying "I knew it all along," will be more than pleased with the results of this study, but more research needs to be conducted. It's also blindingly obvious that more needs to be done in schools and at home and although there are plenty of agencies with a focus on bullying and awareness raising, attention is only drawn to its insidious impact when there's been a tragedy and the media has drawn attention to it.
http://www.tolerance.org/blog/finding-place-belong 
 Sadly, it'll never be eradicated completely, it's human nature to attack those who are perceived as weaker, but if we can understand it, if we can see what the long-term impact is as well as the short-term, then perhaps we can stop it in its tracks a lot sooner. 
For those such as myself, life goes on, there was much less awareness of the impact of bullying as a child and as a result little was done about it, despite my mother's persistent visits to the school. But there's hope for the future - as long as we continue to understand it and study the long term impacts as well as the short-term ones. 
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore prospectively the association between peer victimization in childhood and adult psychiatry, diagnoses and suicidality." 
Let's hope it's not the last......

References & Further reading:
Copeland, W.E,  Wolke, D; Angold ,A, Costello J.E,  (2013) Adult Psychiatric Outcomes of Bullying and Being Bullied by Peers in Childhood and Adolescence   Adult Psychiatric Outcomes of Bullying and Being Bullied by Peers in Childhood and Adolescence 70(4). p.419-424

Advice and Guidance
http://www.bullying.co.uk/ 
 http://www.safenetwork.org.uk/help_and_advice/Pages/cyberbullying-support-services.aspx (for online bullying)
http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/ 
http://www.stopbullying.gov/
http://www.childline.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx








Tuesday 4 November 2014

A bilingual Welsh Christmas

Do you need a Welsh Copywriter?

Do you need your web pages translated for potential Welsh clients?

You could be missing out on custom from Welsh language speakers who are out there waiting to hear about YOUR products and YOUR services, who prefer communicating through the medium of Welsh.

Even if you don't speak the language yourself, just having a bilingual site shows a willingness to connect with Welsh speakers who could add so much to your business.

I can translate web pages and provide Welsh blogs on your behalf and provide you with that important connection with Welsh clients/customers who will appreciate your efforts.

My rates are reasonable and I have plenty of experience in providing web pages, sales letters and blogs, for mainly English clients, but I speak Welsh fluently and can provide a seamless service.

If you want to reach your Welsh clients/customers this Christmas, then get in touch and let's see what I can do to help.



*********************************************************************************

Ydych chi anger ysgrifennwr Copi Cymraeg?

A Ydych angen tudalennau we cyfiethu a'r gyfer cleientiaid Cymraeg?

Gallwch chi colli allan gyda siaradwyr Cymraeg sydd yn aros  i glywed am EICH cynnyrch ac EICH gwasanaethau ,achos  mae'n  well ganddynt gyfathrebu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg .

 Hyd yn oed os nad ydych yn siarad yr iaith eich hun , os wyt i'n yn cael safle dwyieithog mae hyn yn ddangos parodrwydd i gysylltu â siaradwyr Cymraeg a fydd hyn yn gallu ychwanegu cymaint at eich busnes .

Gallaf gyfieithu tudalennau gwe a darparu blogiau Cymraeg ar eich rhan, a helpu cysylltio gyda  chleientiaid Cymraeg / cwsmeriaid a fydd yn gwerthfawrogi eich ymdrechion . 

 Mae fy cyfraddau yn rhesymol ac mae gen i ddigon o brofiad o ddarparu tudalennau gwe , llythyrau gwerthiant a blogiau ar gyfer cleientiaid, yn Lloegr yn bennaf , ond dw'i yn siarad Cymraeg yn rhugl ac yn gallu darparu gwasanaeth di-dor . 

 Os ydych am gyrraedd eich cleientiaid Cymraeg / cwsmeriaid y Nadolig hwn , cysylltwch â ni a gadewch i ni weld beth y gallaf i wneud i helpu.


Midwinter Reading

How many times have I promised to read A Christmas Carol each year as December approaches? And how many times have I clutched that little book in my sweaty palms ready to open its pages and start reading those familiar words.....

"Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail."

First edition 1843
And then something happens and I don't read it and it lies unread, unattended to, lying abandoned on the coffee table like last year's tinsel.

I will read it this year I swear, for I can think of no other book that will take me to the station marked "Enthusiasm and exuberance for Christmas" quicker than this.

If you're an avid reader like myself, is there a book that gets you in the Midwinter Christmas mood, if so what is it?

What do you read at Christmas?

And don't say the Bible.....please

 The ghosts of Christmas visit Scrooge, and we all feel Christmas approaching
Is there a finer image of Christmas than this?

The Outsider

Will you go your way, or their way?



I remember reading Albert Camus, The Outsider, about a man who losses his faith in God, kills a man and is executed for it. But the story isn't as straightforward as it seems, he’s offered a reprieve if he weeps for his dead mother, but because he doesn't express what is expected of him, and doesn't renounce his atheism, he’s executed.

Social convention dictates that we must behave as we’re expected to - cry when we’re expected to and laugh wherever there’s meant to be laughter. We must all play the game at some point in our lives in order to survive. But if we ever defy convention, if we ever rebel against the norm, fight to express our feelings in a different way, there is a heavy price to pay.

For those of us who aren't able to express our emotions in the way society expects us to – we pay a heavy price, regardless, of whether we deserve it or not. Man needs this so that when he looks in the mirror, he sees what he expects to see staring back at him. He cannot be confronted by something he does not recognize. He should be able to second guess you and even if he fails, you must play the game and pretend that you are that easy to read, you must be an open book for all to skim.

For those who know how to play the game they’re safe, they’ll sail smoothly through life, but for those of us who aren't or won’t – they’ll have an unpredictable and stormy path ahead.


Society is only for those that can conform to what's demanded of them, for those that can play the game and play it well. For those of us who refuse, or are unable to abide by the rules, will pay the price at some point in our lives.

Saturday 1 November 2014

Ebola

Ebola

Guinea 1018 dead
Death by statistic
Statistics of the dead
Figures of casualties
Thousands gone

Liberia 2413 dead
Western Africa 89 hours
3, 943.7 miles 
A big enough reason
To ignore

Sierra Leone 1510 dead
Numbers, figures, strangers
One death a tragedy
One million a statistic - 
Stalin said.

Western Africa 4941
A total, a figure, a number
An ocean of distance
A world away
Not on your doorstep.

How much suffering can be ignored
And when do you care?
When it's on your own doorstep?
When you're the statistic?

Thursday 30 October 2014

My meandering mind

If you were to treat each and every day as if it were your last, would that mean you were living each day as if you were about to die? Would you be able to generate that much enthusiasm every morning when you wake up. How do you get excited about every day  unless you know how it feels to nearly have not woken up at all, and wouldn't that have made you miserable at some point in your life?

It would surely be a repetitive way to live, for doesn't a little misery go a long way to adding some variety to an otherwise tedious life.

And who wants to be Pollyanna anyway, constantly finding joy in everything you see, a positive where others see a negative. A little joy mingled with misery can only enhance our ability to appreciate the good in life.  For if we are permanently happy - we can never convey our joy when we've known what it is to be utterly miserable.

I cannot bear people who are permanently happy.

I prefer to be miserable and happy in equal parts..on a rota basis.

So I can appreciate both all the more. To wallow in both emotions leads to an appreciation of the various mental states.



“unbroken happiness is a bore: it should have ups and downs.”

Moliere 

Wednesday 29 October 2014

Do you fear?

Do you fear what I fear?
Do you see what I see?
Do you like awake at night
Do you fear the light.

Can you feel my terror?
Can you feel my heart?
Are you really near me,
Somewhere in the dark.

The darkness, the light

The  darkness, the light, the darkness, the light.
I see through the neon glow of the imitation light.
There's plenty of scope to carry on talking,
No real need to to let the darkness consume you.

The darkness, the light, the darkness the light.
A little here, a little there, a little pink, a little green,
I am alone, I am not alone, I am here, I am there.
In the light, in the dark, in the glow of the light.

The darkness, the light, the darkness, the light
All you need to fear is the bright white light
It comes, when it does, to consume you all
That brilliant, bright, white, shining light.
The light was shining in my eyes 
It took away my vision - temporarily.
I looked for clarity, for lines and colours, 
All I could catch were pinpoints of light,
Flashes of shimmering gold and glistening glass.

The light was shining in my eyes 
And I couldn't see that far - temporarily.
The rainbow of colours danced before my eyes
And the slivers of silver danced in my face.
Those dazzling, horizontal lines,
They gave me hope, but took away my sight.

The light was shining in my eyes
And I hoped for vision's return - temporarily.
I watched the light grow stronger,
I watched the lights grow dim.
The light was shining in my eyes 
And it gave me hope, but only till it dimmed.
I'm having a bad day, a "Why am I doing this day?" which I've decided to wallow in. That may seem counterproductive - after all self pity can be such a destructive force.

However, I do believe that when things don't seem to be going your way, a regrouping, a regathering of arms and a period of reflection can do the power of good - as long as you don't spend too much time there.
I'm using this time to reevaluate my situation, what I could have done better, how I can do it better in the future. 

It's a time I'll use to blog, market and analyse the current state of play. I know that if I allow myself to go too far down the rabbit hole, I may not come up again, but if I use the time wisely, I may come out just that tiny bit more clearer on what my objectives should be.

I'll read, look for hints and clues, while I sort out current work in my timeline. I'll make myself a coffee, prepare a light lunch and, essentially, be kind to myself. I'll check my diary, my projects for the next few days or weeks and try to relax. Give myself an internal pep talk.

I need to reexamine my past work patterns. How much work am I doing, am I putting the hours in, is the quality of my work good enough - and if so, then how can I get even better?

Good is never enough, in order to succeed, I have to feel that I've given 110% and if that isn't bringing in the pennies, then what am I doing wrong - is it the marketing, does that need some revaluation?

I spent a short period of time as a teacher - and the emphasis was always on evaluation, think about what you'd done during lessons, what had gone well, what hadn't and how you could improve. How could you have done it even better? It was hard, but it really set a standard for me in terms of evaluating my work today.

And now I'm ready, to fight on, to write, to work, to get my act together. I'm battle ready and my armour is still intact.

So what do you do when you're having a "Why am I doing this day."?

Shut yourself away in a darkened room?

Carry on going, or do you do what I do, stop, regroup, reassemble and reevaluate?



Interior decor for furnished rented accommodation

You move into a new home, you're grateful it all worked out okay, you now have somewhere to call your own, but unfortunately that'll prove difficult when your new home looks like someone else's.

There's someone else's furniture, someone else's curtains, someone else's tables and chairs. There's nothing that points to your personality, nothing that gives a flavour of your tastes or interests. The whole place, in fact, looks and feels like someone else's altogether. There's even someone else's ornamentation, and someone else's picture frames.

What can you do?

Well, you can think accessorise, accessorise, accessorise, because this is where you have hundreds of choices and ideas to turn that house you've moved into, into your very own home sweet home. And it doesn't end there, with a little imagination you can personalise it into something that says so much about you and not your new landlords.

If at this point you're thinking that you've already spent enough on moving and the expense of it all has left you with nothing but loose change - don't be disheartened. You don't have to spend a fortune to personalise your home. In some cases you don't even need to spend any money at all.

Get creative

I love jars, so much so that I collect them. They're so on trend right now, you can even buy them as drinking glasses - but why go to so much trouble when you can customise your own. Get old jam jars,
pasta jars, anything that's jar shaped, remove the labels and lids and wash them out. You have some brand new jars of your own that can be used for just about anything. Vases, drinking glasses, you can fill them with sea shells and sand. You can fill them with sparkles and stars, you can use them to hang
up by attaching handles and place tea lights inside them. There's no need to buy the custom made ones.

There are some excellent ideas here  and here.

Cushions and throws

These are definitely something that can make a real difference to sofas and chairs,  and if you can't afford to spend much and you're handy with a sewing machine, then why not create your own?  You can match certain colours, or blend them with the rugs or curtains.

If you can't afford throws, then see if you know someone amongst your family or friends who may have an old eiderdown or unusually coloured fabric that you can use to throw casually over the sofa and chairs. There are some beautiful ones here. And if you're thinking how old fashioned they look, then think shabby chic for a truly inspiring vintage look. There are some beautiful fabrics out there, a particular favourite of mine is Toile de Jouy, a Georgian inspired pattern with repeating shapes on a white background, with greens and blues.

Rugs

A rug can add character to a room and add some serious colour to an otherwise boring internal landscape. There's nothing worse than wall-to-wall beige carpet so brighten it up with colourfully woven rugs. They don't have to be manufactured synthetic ones either. There are some gorgeous woven ones in fascinating weaves.

Finally, ask your landlords whether you can remove their pictures, paintings and ornamentation and 
replace them with your own. You can either hand them back to the landlords, or put them out of harms way until the end of your tenancy.

Replace them with your own special photographs, old seashells that remind you of special holidays, hand made, personally decorated jars and tea light plates and you have something that's chic and in keeping with your own personal style.

There may be many things you can't change in furnished accommodation, but it doesn't have to be boring, you really can turn that house into a home - your home.






Tuesday 28 October 2014

On those beautiful libraries and their shelves of knowledge....

"Plunging into the ocean of words, roaming in the broad fields of the mind, climbing the mountains of the imagination...."

"That joy must not be sold. It must not be "privatised," made into another privilege for the privileged. A public library is a public trust.
And that freedom must not be compromised. It must be available to all who need it, and that's everyone, when they need it, and that's always."

The wave of the mind....
Talks and essays on the writer, the reader, and the imagination.
Ursula K. Le Guin
My Libraries

#libraries #books #reading

Monday 27 October 2014

Interior decorating for rented property Part 2

Part 2

Bedrooms 

Bedrooms can be brightened up, with the bed being the main feature, with good quality bedding that matches the curtains or carpet. Again, rugs and accessories will make the room more personal and unique. Not everything has to be too matchy matchy. Pick out particular colours that stand out and choose things that complement each other. You may want warm, earthy colours for the autumn and winter and paler pastels and primary colours, for the spring and summer. 

Wardrobes

If you don’t have a sliding door interior wardrobe, then you’ll be choosing your own, choose something that’s a little slim line in order to give yourself some more floor space, and make sure there’s plenty of shelving. You don’t want to bombard the room with too much furniture. It needs to be a tranquil and relaxing place for the end of the day when you want to unwind. You don’t want to be tripping over furniture, or bags of clothes you can’t find room for. 


Stay individual

Finally try and add some individual touches. If you decide on a particular theme, try and add something that makes it more uniquely yours. If you decide on shabby chic or minimalism, then it can all too easily end up looking like a furniture shop window display without any personal touches at all It’s important to have it just as you’d like it, but something that tells the visitor about yourself, such as photographs, books, ornamentation – just adding your own personal little quirks. 


You may not be able to paint it in a colour of your choosing, you may not be able carpet it yourself or choose the flooring, but at least you can bring your own personality to it, so it looks more like your home – and not the landlords.

Interior design for rented property Part 1

How can you personalise your home if it’s rented?

(This week: - Unfurnished property)

Part 1:

When you read articles about interior design these days, the focus is always on those that own their own property. They talk about house extensions, and there are dramatic colour dynamics for the living room and bedroom with all sorts of interesting lighting ideas for the kitchen, or dining area.
Yes, it's boring, but you can make it more interesting

However, if you rent, then many of those options are simply unfeasible, and with so many people being in a position where they CAN’T afford to buy their own property, then there are bound be restrictions on how far you can go in terms of interior décor.

For whatever reason, you may be renting, if this is the case, then you may be feeling frustrated by the fact that you can do very little to individualise the interiors of your property because your landlords won’t allow it.

Your landlords could be either an estate agent, or the landlords themselves, who rent it out directly to earn a little extra income.

Your home is your castle…


Although you’re grateful to have a roof over your head in such hard times, sometimes you’d like to be able to give it that unique touch that says it’s yours, to add your very own idiosyncratic touches that make it instantly recognizable, your own personal “gaff,” a place where people you know feel instinctively relaxed and comfortable.

Unfurnished property

If your home is unfurnished there’s room for manoeuvre, because although you have the expense of furnishing it, you can at least add a degree of personal choice. If it isn’t, then you’re slightly hampered by the fact that the furniture isn’t in keeping with your personal tastes.

This week, we’re going to take a look at ways you can turn your home into a tranquil haven that says so much about you and less about your landlords. In this first part, its focus will be on those in unfurnished property. All you need is a little imagination and a creative way of thinking and you really can personalise it in an original way.

If you’ve just moved into your property and you’re wilting at the sight of magnolia walls and beige wall to wall carpets, or the ubiquitous imitation wood-flooring linoleum then don’t despair. Yes, it is quite neutral, bland and unimaginative, but for landlords and estate agents, it’s an easy and cheap way to maintain the property, and once you move out, they can quickly paint over it without having to worry about an undercoat. The flooring is easily replaced with cheap plain carpet or linoleum.

What’s important is how you decorate and furnish it in order to give it an original touch and make the whole place your own.

Of course you will be restricted by how many pictures you can put up, whether you’re allowed to use nails and how your landlords feel about blue tack. Don’t forget that if you use tape, that when you take your pictures and wall hangings down, you may take down half the paper down with you, so be aware. If there are already nails in the wall then there shouldn’t be a problem in you using them in order to hang something up. If there aren’t, then ask permission before you start putting things up, you want it to look original and there’s nothing worse than a bare wall.

Walls

You could put up a series of pictures of your family at various stages in their lives. A row of black and white photographs would look simple and classy against a bare wall. If there’s a picture rail then even better, you can balance pictures along it (depending on its thickness). You could also consider wall tapestries that can be hung up, not only will they hide a bare wall, and a dirty looking wall after a few months of wear, it’ll add colour, as well as matching colours in your furnishings.
Hang up inspirational quotes as picture hangings rather than stickers

What’s on trend?

Inspirational sayings that can be stuck to the wall are quite popular right now, but beware, they’ll be hell to pull off, and you may be saddled with a bill for replacing the paint/paper. Also bang on trend are wall hangings that are brass, silver or gold with  flowers, geometric shapes, flowers, or plants with gemstones and coloured beads. By all means hang those on any pre-existing nails or put some up if you’ve had permission.
 
Wall hangings can add colour to a room and conceal bare walls
If you have a favourite local artist whose landscapes you admire then why not see if they’re prepared to offer a discount if you buy a 3 part series or a couple of pictures, rather than one? They’ll draw attention away from the walls and on to the paintings.

Curtains and blinds

Curtains can be chosen to match the cushions and sofas/chairs, they don’t have to be identical, they can simply have one or two colours that bring out a colour in a set of cushions, or the colour of the sofa’s fabric.

You may have blinds, in which case you’ll have to stick with them and you probably won’t be able to change them. However, if there’s a curtain rail you could perhaps hang curtains up, so they can be drawn at night.

Woods

If you’re going with woods then try and stick to one e.g. dark or light, pine, oak, or mahogany. That’s book cabinets, coffee tables, corner tables and if you don’t have your TV mounted to the wall, then a cabinet to sit the TV and DVD player.

A unique feature for your coffee table could be a vintage suitcase or chest that could be used for coffee and magazines. They can be sourced in online antique stores and shabby chic interior stores.
Either brand new or second hand, a chest can really add a unique touch to a room

Rugs

Purchasing a rug will not only save on wear and tear to your carpets, it’ll also brighten the room and offer a soft and much warmer tread for your feet. Pick something that matches something in the room, perhaps a colour or two in the furnishings or woodwork.
Rugs can brighten a room too and their softer on your feet


Rugs can add colour as well as wall hangings -