Fire and Ice

Design Thinking

2009-11-13T14:03:00.002Z

I don’t often intersect my blog and my work so allow me the indulgence – because it really is worth it!

There is a great new course at the OU that is so good not only am I considering signing up myself but I think everyone that likes design, creativity or thinking in new ways should. Really. I don’t think the OU has ever offered such a cool course and I just want to shout it to the world!

The course is U101 Design Thinking and starts in February. It is a Level 1 course (60 points) and looks like seriously good fun, as well as fascinating and engaging. From my point of view, the best part of the course is the course materials offered.

If you are at all familiar with the OU you will know that the courses are conducted over distance (“supported open learning” in OU parlance) and all materials are included. For most courses this means a good supply of books, CDs, DVDs and even quirkier things like lab supplies. However, no other course has course materials like U101. They must be seen to be adored!

I don’t want to say too much about the course materials (called The Welcome Pack) themselves, because part of the course is discovering what they are and what you can make out of them, but I will say that they are unlike anything the OU has ever done. It is fitting that a design course has materials that have been carefully designed. The Welcome Pack is part fun, part education and is something tangible that will certainly impress students with its quality. In a way I wish I didn’t know so much about it, because I won’t be as giddy with surprise as registered students will be when they get their yummy box in the post.

The course itself is also fantastic and promises to change the way you think about the world around you. It is all about creativity, problem solving and interacting with other students. Basically, it is all fantastic and I’ll let you learn more about it. Maybe you’ll even want to sign up!

Travels around the World (Showcase) - Norway

2009-11-09T15:43:00.003Z

(This is probably going to be the longest-ever blog series in ANYTHING at the rate I’m writing it!)

As we travel around the virtual World Showcase we have already stopped in Italy, Japan and France. Today it is the turn of Norway – one of the newest pavilions and one that inexplicably hosts Princesses these days.

Norway is probably one of the most unusual countries for the average US tourist. It doesn’t have the heavy cultural weight of somewhere like China, isn’t accessible to them like Mexico or Canada and doesn’t have the effect on the imagination of France or Italy. It probably doesn’t figure on most US citizens’ “must visit” list and they probably know very little about it.

I must admit I was the same. I knew nearly nothing about Norway other than it was probably very cold, it was somewhere up north and had Vikings in its history. I could probably only name Leif Ericsson but no other famous Norwegians. I had no idea about the culture, industry, architecture or food from there.

As soon as I arrived in WDW as a cultural representative I had a crash course in Norwegian culture: it may seem odd but Norwegians and Mexicans are generally very good friends in the International Program – the pavilions are together and cast members from both countries share a cafeteria so that is probably why. As a consequence people from both countries become fast friends and there have been more than a few Mexico-Norway couples that have gone on to get married, have kids, etc.

But anyway, the thing is I suddenly knew more about Norway than I ever thought possible and not only because of my fellow cast members (and my incredibly gorgeous Norwegian roommate) but also because of the pavilion itself. I, like countless other Epcot visitors, can suddenly learn all about this country in the pavilion. We can discover their knits, their trolls, their industry and that beautiful stave church. They have some of the yummiest pastries in World Showcase and one of the few dark rides in the park, including probably the highest number of hidden Mickeys. The film presented is a bit dated and weird but it is also quite informative – especially to those of us that knew nothing about Norway!

Being one of the newest pavilions also means that it has a very nice layout, well thought of design and arguably the most gorgeous cast member costume in the park. It also had – until those Princesses took over – the most exotic restaurant experience in all of World Showcase. Where else do you know that does Norwegian food? And you know what? It was delicious!

A few years ago we had the chance to go to Oslo for a few days, to visit one of those Mexican-Norwegian couples I mentioned before. We had a great time – and great weather! – and it was nice to once again have the chance to compare the real country to its Epcot counterpart. So how do they compare?

As always, the Norwegian pavilion doesn’t really manage to convey the beautiful scenery that is prevalent in the country but it does a great job, I think, in portraying what the country feels like. Not just the architecture but the costumes and the goods in the shops all can give visitors a glimpse into what Norway is all about. I do think the film is very dated but it does go someway to show the landscape that Norway is famous for, and is very difficult to recreate under the humid Florida sunshine.

This pavilion is one of my favorites now, not just because of the ride and the yummy pastries but because of the way it ‘feels’. I think that most visitors to the pavilion have no real preconceived ideas of what Norway is like and in this case the pavilion works well. As always, Norwegians think that it is too full of stereotypes and inconsistencies but that is a feeling that all natives felt about their own pavilions.

The definite best part of the Norway pavilion was its food and I can not write a post without saying that I think it is a travesty that the native fare has been replaced with more ‘theme park’ stuff and filled with Princess character dining. It really doesn’t fit (which Princess exactly is from Norway?) and detracts from the authentic experience that World Showcase is trying to create. But I understand that the more typical Norwegian food is still available, just not all the time so if that is the case, I guess it’s better than nothing.

Overall, I think the Norwegian pavilion is the perfect example of one that is truly a ‘commercial’ for the country it represents. It really made me want to go and visit there someday and see all these amazing places, as well as enjoy the warm hospitality of the people. I am glad we went and hope to visit there again someday.

Of roundabouts and 4-way stops

2009-10-08T17:12:00.000+01:00

When I first moved to the UK (almost 13 years ago) I had to learn a lot of things all over again. One of the most useful was to ‘learn’ to drive UK-style.

As you probably already know, the UK driving is on the left – and of course I learned to drive on the right. It’s not just a case of sitting on the other side of the car and going though, think about it: all the controls are in the ‘wrong’ place and the mirrors too! Thankfully the foot pedals are the same but things are different enough that I really did have to take lessons and stuff.

I had been driving for more than 10 years when I had to do all of this. The actual mechanics of driving were the easiest part – the challenge was learning the new rules and driving decently, at least during the test. (Those that know me will agree that I drive like a lunatic with lots of bad habits. I drive pretty decently now, until I get back home and then all those bad habits and lunacies make an appearance!)

Anyway, one thing that was different was roundabouts. In Mexico these are treated like any junction so one road will have the right of way over the other. But here, the rules are different and we give way always to the right (so to those cars that are already in the roundabout). The whole thing felt very weird to me, but thankfully at about that time we were already thinking of moving to Milton Keynes – possibly the world capital of roundabouts. So on our frequent house-searching expeditions, I got a lot of roundabout practice.

The thing about roundabouts though is that they may seem a bit complex but once you grasp the basic rule – give way to the right – they are simple to navigate. There is a clear rule, so the issue of who goes and who stops is non-debatable. It is binary: you either go or you don’t.

Back home we are more familiar with 4-way stops. These junctions work differently – the apparent rule is that whoever gets to the junction first has the right of way. But more commonly, the drivers will actually make some sort of gesture to indicate their preference: usually letting the other car go first. It’s an effective way to negotiate a junction, I think. But the rule isn’t as black or white as it is for roundabouts: some human contact is required to make a decision. I like 4-way stops.

Whenever we are back home and my husband is driving, he trembles with fear at the thought of a 4-way stop. Thing is, he says, he never is sure what to do: who goes first? How does it all work? Why is it always different? I tell him that it’s a matter of simply looking at the other driver and establishing contact. He finds it all very amusing and rather scary.

Roundabouts and 4-way stops are good metaphors for the cultural differences between the UK and America (and I mean this in its correct, Continental sense). Brits like things to be clear and not ambiguous; they will follow rules and do so gladly. Roundabouts are all about rules and clarity. Whereas Americans are more comfortable with human relationships and a bit of confusion, so 4-way stops are perfect for them.

In my case, after much practice I got really good at roundabouts. I like them a lot actually, and embrace the fact that Milton Keynes is famous for its roundabouts. But I am also very capable of navigating through any 4-way stop with ease, and in a way prefer them to roundabouts as they involve human contact, which is always nice.

Does this mean I am a perfect cultural blend? At ease both in the UK and in America? Or does it simply mean that I am a better driver than I used to be?

The haircut that changed my life

2009-09-30T12:00:00.000+01:00

I hadn’t even intended to get my hair cut that day.

I did, however, have an appointment to get my hair styled for my friend’s wedding. This was back in Mexico, where one simply does not attend a wedding; much less a good friend’s wedding, without spending a couple of hours and some money getting our hair professionally done.

So there I was, in the salon on a Saturday afternoon, along lots of other girls who were there doing the same thing I was. The place was buzzing and full of the smell of hairspray, the sound of happy chatter and hair dryers. I was being prepared and suddenly my stylist breezed in, took one look at my hair and said:

“I can’t work with this.”

She was dead serious. But instead of being offended, I actually agreed with her. I couldn’t remember the last time I had my hair cut, other than some trims here and there. I am always so disappointed with haircuts here in the UK – they are expensive and hardly ever do I feel that they helped. I feel that I have to tell the stylist every little thing, when all I want is for someone to use their experience and expertise and tell ME what I need to do with my very thick, very dark, kinda curly hair.

So anyway, this stylist then asked if it would be okay to cut my hair. I agreed – after all, she couldn’t “work” with the mess in front of her. So off she went (presumably to work on someone else) while I waited for the roaming haircut lady. She was with me soon and without asking me what I wanted done, simply said that my hair was in need of layers and without missing a beat she started chopping most of my hair off. Very quickly she was done, then she blow dried it straight and already I could see that she had worked magic. My hair looked amazing!

The stylist then returned and did some amazing things with my hair. It was kind of half up, half down, curly and messy and looked fantastic. I enjoyed the wedding very much and had a great time.

However, it wasn’t until the next morning that I actually realized just how GOOD the haircut was. I washed my hair, dried it as usual and WOW. I had been given the best haircut EVER. The layers were just right that they make my hair still long, but removed all the weight and even enhanced the curl, making my hair much curlier and much less wavy. I loved it.

This haircut really has changed my life. For once I am happy with my hair and I can wash it and not even dry it, and it looks good. I can leave it down and it looks great. I can pile it on my head and it looks pretty. I can play with the curls, making them ringlets or just sexy waves. I can even go to sleep with damp hair and have to do very little to my hair in the morning before I go out. In short, I finally have the hair I always dreamed of – and it turns out I always did, I just hadn’t had the right haircut!

It's all about personal style

2009-09-10T14:13:00.001+01:00

As a scrapbooker, I am generally very restrained. I don’t shop for new stash very often, I don’t get seduced by the latest thing and I make the best of the stuff I already have. I have gone for as long as a year without buying anything new, except basics like adhesive and cardstock when they ran out. Yet my pages are, if I may say so myself, pretty acceptable and in some cases, actually very nice.

Why can’t I be the same way when it comes to clothes?

I am almost the complete opposite when it comes to clothes shopping: I am always buying something new, love getting the latest thing (if it suits) and sometimes do not make the most of what I already have. I have a lot of very pretty things hanging in my closet but, because there are so many things in there, I miss them and never wear them!

How can I convert my scrapbooking resourcefulness into the fashion world? What strategies can I learn from one to apply into the other?

First of all, I should stop the shopping. Just like my stash, my wardrobe shouldn’t grow every day. I should only buy things when I really need them or when I really, really love it. Ideally that item would also complement what I already have and it doesn’t lead into further shopping because I need shoes to go with it or whatever.

I should also do a full inventory of what I already have and what works together. Just like my scrapbooking papers, I should focus on trying to find what works with what and what outfits I could put together with what I already have. When I’m scrapbooking I take great pride in those pages that I managed to pull together from scraps, and this normally works because almost all my papers go together because I only buy things that suit my scrapping style. So in the same way, I should be able to find some fantastic outfits that can be pulled together with what I already have.

After the inventory I may well end up with garments that I definitely do not need – either because they don’t fit, are worn or simply were a mistake from day one. These items should be given away or donated, to reduce the number of pieces I have and make room for the outfits I definitely wear. This is exactly what I do with my stash: I don’t buy too much because I find that this makes choices much harder.

Can I go a whole year without buying any new clothes? I am not sure but I guess it’s worth a try. Limitation may make me even more creative and, who knows, I might end up looking pretty amazing too.

"Meet the Reader"...

2009-08-27T13:06:00.002+01:00

I have been a subscriber to Scrapbook Inspirations since it launched and while I think the magazine is not as good as others, I still subscribe and read every issue I get.

In terms of actual scrapbooking inspiration, well I don’t actually get that many great ideas from the magazine (so much for the title!) but there is one little section that I always read and enjoy. It’s called “Meet the Reader” and it features questions and answers to one of the magazine’s readers. I don’t know how they are chosen and I would love to be in this section. However, I think my chances are slim so as a complete indulgence – and because this is MY blog – I am going to make my own “Meet the Reader” slot right here!

How long have you been scrapbooking?

I actually don’t remember ever starting to scrapbook so in a way I have always done it. I remember way back in the early 90s I started purchasing some supplies specifically designed for scrapbooking and I also remember when paper piecing was THE big thing. So yes, I’ve been doing it forever. And I have the layouts to prove it - in over 25 albums!

What’s your most frequent scrap subject?

My son Samuel, but he is quickly being overtaken by his baby sister Jessica! I also scrap a lot of our holidays and days out.

How much time do you get to scrap?

Not as much as I’d like. I used to do it two or three evenings a week but when I started running I just couldn’t keep up this schedule. Also, the arrival of a baby didn’t help so these days I’m lucky if I get an evening a week. I work full time so evenings are the only available time for me. This means that I have to be an efficient scrapper so that I can make the most of my time. This means I keep my layout simple, use lots of photos and journaling and don't dwell on the little decisions - stick it down and on to the next one!

Do you do any sociable scrapping?

Oh yes! We have an all-day Sunday crop once a month and also meet one evening during the week, also once a month. We also have a retreat once a year when we do nothing but scrap all weekend, away from home and it’s coming up very soon so I can’t wait...

What camera do you use?

I use a Minolta 8 megapixel digital camera which I use the most. I have toyed with the idea of getting an SLR digital but I am not actually sure I would use it much, as the Minolta is so handy and small.

What do you most love about scrapping?

The creative outlet it provides. I like making things and making them look pretty and scrapbooking is one of the things I do to get this ‘out of my system’. I also like the way I can record memories and use my photos creatively, rather than just leave them on a PC or a photo album. I also really enjoy meeting people through crops and sharing our hobby.

Which tool or gadget couldn’t you live without?

I have very, very few tools and gadgets as I’ve been scrapping for a long time and always managed without all the fancy gear! I do love my MM trimmer though and I definitely can’t live without my Zig pens, which I use all the time to journal. And of course my adhesives - can't do much without them.

What technique haven’t you given a go yet?

Anything to do with stitching, fabric or getting my hands dirty. I also don’t use my PC much for scrapbooking, I guess it’s because I’m all about getting pages done quickly and simply and these techniques just take too much time and extra equipment.

Have you tried digital or hybrid scrapping?

I had a little dabble and while it does appeal – especially because I do spend a lot of time with my PC – I think I’m just too attached to the real thing. Besides, I have got too much stash and I need to use it! Maybe I will give digital a try again a bit further down the line but I don't think it is for me.

Tell us a scrapping secret!

I am probably the only scrapper in the world that still attaches eyelets with a hammer! I just can’t justify getting myself a new gadget when my old tools still work just fine...

Copacabana: mystery solved

2009-07-15T09:42:00.003+01:00

It is no secret (perhaps it should be!) that I really like Barry Manilow's music. So I was listening to Copacabana for the millionth time today and I remembered something I've pondered for a long time: why can't anyone figure it out?

If you know the story - and you know you do - we have Lola and her boyfriend Tony who both work at the Copacabana. Rico turns up, starts flirting with Lola and the boys fight. Then "there was blood and a single gunshot, but just who shot who?"

This is the part I don't get. I mean, it works out as a lovely rhyme but it really shouldn't be that difficult to work out who shot who! There was a single gunshot and we know from the song that Lola "lost her Tony" so surely Rico shot Tony. Another possibility could be that both guys ended up dead, in which case the body that has the GSW was shot by the other one (and in that case, how did the non-shot person die? Punched to death?)

For some reason EVERY time I listen to this song I end up a bit cross with it because it's so obvious to me what happened! Or am I missing something?

Thoughts?

PS. YES I should really be spending my time thinking of less trivial things but that's what happens when all I have to think about is baby stuff...

The lost art of letter writing

2009-07-13T12:55:00.000+01:00

Considering how much I like technology, it’s always been a little bit puzzling (at least to me) that I don’t have an electronic diary. Rather, I have a paper one and quite enjoy writing my appointments on it – with pencil in case I have to erase them! I used to have an electronic diary but somehow didn’t ever get on with it, even though it was quite a lovely gadget, but I ended up back on familiar ground with a paper diary and a pencil.

I feel the same about letters. I mean, I love email, as anyone that knows me will attest, but when it comes to writing from the heart, it’s just gotta be on paper and using a nice pen. There is something so different about writing paper letters that just can not be equalled with email.

Email is of course quick and very convenient. I am also a very quick typist so I can write reams and reams in no time at all. However, there are times when I just feel better sitting down with some paper and a pen and pouring my heart out to someone. Or just letting them know that we are all okay. Or even just a quick hello to a friend I may not have seen for a while. Paper letters are lovely and should not be forgotten.

The great thing about mail is that rarely do people complain about having to read a letter – by comparison, how often do people moan about email? Even if the handwriting is not perfect, there is something so personal about people taking the time to sit down and put pen to paper. Nobody ignores a letter. Getting a letter also means that you get something you can keep, something tangible, unlike an email which you could print out of course but isn’t as personal as a letter.

I have a friend that always sends me letters. We’ve lived apart for around 15 years now and she still finds the time to write to me, send me photos of her children and sometimes even tucks in a bookmark or some other gift into the envelope. I always write back, because I love getting her letters so much and it’s only fair that she gets the same joy from me. Letters take forever to get to us so in-between letters we still email but it’s somehow not quite as nice. I love getting the envelope, looking at the stamp, at the postmark and then settling down to read it when I get a moment’s peace.

Considering I’m a paper crafter I really should write MORE letters but I don’t. I make all these cards and things and then almost have no one to send them to so I’ve started sending letters out to my friends. They say that the best way to get letters is to send them, so that’s what I’ve started doing. Even though I email pretty much everyone these days, I have made a vow to send more letters and to always reply to the ones I do get. I spend time making a card or decorating notepaper and then I sit down, put pen to paper and write...

It may feel quaint and old fashioned, like a paper diary, but letter writing is such a nice thing to do and we should all do it more. So start writing – and if you send me one rest assured that I will definitely write back!

He was here to change the world

2009-06-26T08:31:00.003+01:00

Millions of words have already been written and, no doubt, million more will be written about the sudden death of Michael Jackson. He touched so many lives (not always in a good way) and he was simply the most famous person on Earth. He was also a part of my life in many ways.

When I was a teenager I idolized the man, like mostly everyone else did in the 80s. One of my first scrapbooks was all about Michael Jackson! My dream then was to see him in concert and I would have done except for my inability to get good grades in Math (long story...)

When my family finally got satellite TV and I discovered MTV, the very first video I saw was Thriller and I was amazed. It set the bar very high for all other videos and I remember at the time being very disappointed that other videos weren't 15 minutes long and had movie-style credits at the end. And the dancing: WOW. I loved the whole thing and of course bought the Thriller album, like millions of people did.

His connections to Disney are well documented and of course his most famous was the Captain EO 3D video that played for a long time in Epcot. It was some amazing piece of film - directed by Coppola, written by George Lucas and starring music by Michael Jackson himself. How cool is that? I know that a lot of people didn't quite rate the video but I loved it. I also remember watching the "making of" show on the Disney Channel more than once.

I could identify with his Disney obsession, after all, if I had the money I probably would also try to build Disneyland in my back garden! Recently there was that auction that never really happened, of items from MJ's house and within it there were hundreds of items made by Disney especially for him, like a gorgeous Peter Pan installation that was designed especially to fit the space on the inside of the house, with characters flying all around the ceiling - I loved that. I was also so jealous that he owned so many priceless pieces of Disney art!

As I got older I suppose the obsession tapered off to appreciation and while I still loved the music, I didn't quite get the person that he was turning into, with all the weirdness and the court cases. It was the mid 90s and was then when I moved to Florida to work at WDW for a year. I did in fact see Michael Jackson while I was working in Disney, in his disguise as an arab woman and while I wasn't allowed to approach him or even show that I knew who it was, it certainly was an exciting day for me. I was also struck by how small he was in real life. And how big his entourage was.

While living and working at Disney I met a lot of lovely people and among them was this guy who was very cute and also happened to like Michael Jackson. On a trip to the mall he bought the History album (2 disc set) and as he didn't have a CD player, I suggested he come round to mine so that we could listen to the album. It turned out to be a memorable evening, where we heard the whole thing twice (remember, 2 disc set!) and talked about everything and anything. That night things changed and we went from friends to a couple... all because of a Michael Jackson CD.

We got on so well that we eventually got married and I moved to the UK to be with him! One of the first things that we did when we moved to the UK was to go to Wembley and see Michael Jackson in concert - finally! It was an amazing show and I am almost embarrassed to admit that I too cried when he came out, just like you always see his fans do on every concert... it was very emotional and the show blew me over.

So Michael Jackson has always been there, sort of moving my life along. Every year we celebrate our 'anniversary' on the 25th June - the date that we got together to listen to History. We celebrate by listening to the album again and chatting like we did then... and we were doing just that last night... and then woke up to the sad news that the dude is gone.

So lots and lots of words will be written, some good, some bad but there is no doubt that Michael Jackson was a talented artist and perhaps a little bit weird; he was the most famous person in the world and also the most famous Disney fan of all; he was Captain EO and the father of 3 children. He was weird and wonderful and, like it was said of Walt Disney when he died, we shall never see his like again.

RIP Michael and thank you for the music.

Teacher presents

2009-06-17T11:16:00.004+01:00

It will soon be the end of the school year and time to get creative and put together something nice for my son's teachers... and this year I am trying to be organized so I've done them already!

I always try to make something (rather than just buy it) and also try to get my son to participate or at least to have some sort of input into what we're doing. This year I had the idea to make photo note cards but I thought that using a photo of my son would not make these note cards incredibly useful to the recipient. I mean, my son is cute but why would any of his teachers want his smiling face on a note card?

So instead I scanned a picture he made in school, which had his name written on the front, and used that as the artwork in the note cards. To make my life simple, I simply uploaded the image to the Kodak Gallery and ordered the note cards there, as I bought quite a few they were very reasonable. But I could have also simply ordered prints and then glued a photo to the front of a blank note card. Or even cheaper is to make my own note cards and envelopes but to be honest, I was into saving time.

Once the note cards arrived, I had to think of a clever way to present them and I had the idea to make some sort of note card holder. After some searching I found this video tutorial on how to make a very cute and easy note card holder (the tutorial also has instructions on how to make cute postcards for the inside, which is another cute idea). So I quickly whipped up a few of these holders using supplies I already had and voila! Teacher presents all sorted out. All I need to do now is slip them into some clear plastic wrappers, add a nice gift tag and present them to the (hopefully delighted) teachers.

I'm very pleased with how they turned out - they are all different as I'm using different papers and ribbons so the one pictured on this post is just an example. I think I may use this idea more often as it makes lovely presents that are easy to post!

The 80s are back! Or are they?

2009-06-15T13:14:00.003+01:00

Last week I was in the shopping center and when I went to one of my favorite stores, I was amazed to find an incredible amount of neon clothes - just like I remembered from the 80s! They had the lot: the legwarmers, fingerless gloves, bangles, head bands... everything in bright pink or orange or yellow. It sure took me back to my younger days.

I know that the 80s are big right now (and I'm not looking forward to shoulder pads again, but apparently they're on the way back) and like all fashions, it will eventually give way to another revival and that will go and another take its place... and so on. In fashion everything old is new again, eventually.

In the scrapbooking world it is often the same thing: trends come and go but somehow the 80s never really come back. I know not many scrappers remember those heady days when we cut photos into shapes, used bright patterned paper for everything and put together paper piecings. Sure, the trend for brighter colors seems to be making headway into the scrapping world, but what about the more embarassing 80s scrapbooking trends? Were they really that bad (like poodle perms) and bound never to return? Do I have to get rid of my Paperkins and page toppers?

To be fair, horrible 80s trends like blue mascara and enormous hair are NOT making a comeback, at least not this time around and the trends focus instead on a more 'refined' version of what we wore in the 80s. I guess as time goes by, we pick the good bits and leave the bad ones behind, and scrapbooking is simply doing the same. But I would just love to see someone cutting photos into cutesy shapes again!

I went into my pile of old scrapbooks to find an authentic 80s layout to use as illustration on this blog post but, like my embarassing 80s photos with huge hair and blue lashes, I think it's best to keep them where they are...

Sainsbury's vs. Marks & Spencer - the battle for nostalgia

2009-05-26T16:55:00.004+01:00

It appears that the latest marketing trend is to look back nostalgically at the 'good old days'. For example, Sainsbury's latest TV ad is all about heritage and history. The theme is "Trying something new for 140 years" and takes the viewer on a visual journey across the company's main milestones in these years.

Marks & Spencer, a competitor, have a very similar campaign out there also, celebrating 125 years. In this TV ad they have Twiggy going back in time on a visual journey across the company's milestones in these years... sound familiar?

I wonder what the marketing teams in both companies think about these very, very similar campaigns!! I also note that both commercials include the mention of avocados and the claim of having 'introduced' them to the UK...

The ads are so similar that I wonder what happened there - coincidence or something more sinister?

Which one do you like best?

Travels around the World (Showcase) - Japan

2009-05-22T10:35:00.006+01:00

I’ve already taken you around World Showcase twice: Italy and France. In my long-awaited continuation of this series, we will go a little further away into the amazing country that is Japan.

As a pavilion, Japan has quite a few things going for it. First of all, it looks absolutely stunning, especially at dusk. It has a wide open courtyard and is surrounded by a pagoda and a large building housing the shops and restaurants that make up most of the pavilion. The open courtyard gives the pavilion a very airy feel, but it also has some secrets.

At the far end of the courtyard is a replica of a castle or fortress and inside there is a gallery. Currently I seem to remember there is an exhibit on tin toys (a must, and almost always quiet!) but it has housed other exhibits in the past. Another quiet spot is the garden in front of the Yakitori House (incidentally, probably my favorite fast food restaurant in all of WDW). This garden is a lovely Japanese garden, full of gorgeous plants and even a koi pond, a great place to relax.

But my absolutely favorite part of the pavilion is the Mitsukoshi department store, which is a shopper’s paradise and full of absolutely everything Japanese – from chopsticks and candy to expensive kimono and pearls, but not forgetting Hello Kitty merchandise, sake, origami, bonsai... well, the list goes on. This shop is also my favorite in all of World Showcase and I can happily spend hours there. Above the shop is the restaurant which is also an experience that must not be missed – the food is incredible and the service amazing.

Japan is a country I have always wanted to visit, for some reason. I guess it was the Hello Kitty obsession in my childhood or something but for some reason I’ve always wanted to go there. My interest was further ignited when I visited the Japanese pavilion in Epcot and the more time I spent there, the more I wanted to see the real thing. Fortunately my husband had also always had that wish so finally in 2002 a combination of factors meant that we could go to Japan and we spent around 3 weeks there.

We traveled in the spring (and got lucky enough to see the cherry blossom) and stayed with a very good friend in Tokyo and also with other of our Epcot friends. This gave us a great opportunity to not only see the country but see how people really lived and we had a mixture of accomodations: from the single girl’s city appartment to a family home in the suburbs of Tokyo, a grand house in the country, and even a mixture of Japanese B&Bs and the most amazing hotel I’ve ever stayed at.

We spent some time in Kyoto and Hiroshima as well and the beauty and emotion we experienced there is of course much more than what visitors to the pavilion can even imagine. The tiny garden in front of the Yakitori House is a symbol of hundreds (perhaps thousands) of gardens all over the place, each one more beautiful than the next and tended to with meticulous care and a love of nature. Even the torii gate that stands in front of the Japanese pavilion is a replica of a real one, which we got to see in Miyajima.

We even went to Tokyo Disneyland and of course I loved it! The comparison between the US parks and the Tokyo park is probably another blog post in itself but suffice to say that it was incredibly busy, even though it was a weekday and not a holiday and everything was very familiar but still had a certain exotic touch that constantly reminded us that we were not in one of the US parks. I guess Disneyland Paris has a little of that too... but Tokyo Disneyland has many more "American" touches than the Paris park so sometimes it was easy to forget where you were - then you'd see a huge queue for gyoza sausages and you'd be reminded of exactly where you were!

I quickly fell in love with Japan (and to this day I dream of returning someday, with the kids) and there wasn’t a thing I didn’t like: the bustle of Tokyo, the amazing punctuality of the trains, the warmth of the people, the incredible food, the fantastic shopping... I could go on. We even spent a few hours in the real Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo and I can say that the Epcot version is of course smaller but it does the real one justice as the variety of items available is dazzling.

One thing that I did with my Japanese friend in Kyoto is get a “Geisha makeover” which is a much more elaborate version of the princess makeovers already available at WDW. We spent a couple of hours (yeah, hours) getting dressed and made up to look like Geiko (a sort of Geisha-in-training), then having our photos taken and then proceeding to remove the heavy makeup and finally getting to see the photos. It was a great experience and I’m glad we did it, for we got some very unusual photos at the end! I think this would be a great addition to the Japanese pavilion but they would probably have to find a way to make the experience not take hours but still end up with great results.

My time in Epcot’s Japan had made me aware of the warmth of the people and we experienced this in droves in the real thing. I even knew that they gift wrapped all purchases in the most detailed way and when in Japan I wasn’t disappointed! I just think that the pavilion needs another way of conveying just how wonderful this country is and that it is so much more than just food, shopping and gardens. But at least this pavilion, in my opinion, does a very good job of giving Epcot visitors a little taste of what the real country is like.

All about (my) running skirts

2009-05-14T13:23:00.007+01:00

As I've said before, I have now discovered running skirts and this is probably the best thing to have happened to my running. Not only are they very practical, they make me look cute (at least I think so), come in great colors and are something a little bit different and more modest than running shorts. I love wearing them so much that sometimes I go out on runs even when I don't feel like it, just so that I can wear one of my lovely skirts! So I am a total convert and would urge anyone who hasn't tried them to do so.

I actually only have five running skirts (well, six really but more on that later) and I love them all for different reasons. Lots of people have been asking me about my running skirts lately so here is the quick guide to all my skirts and the different reasons I love them.

One of the first skirts I bought was this navy/aqua from runningskirts.com:

Runningskirts.com have athletic skirts and running skirts - the difference being that athletic skirts have compression shorts underneath, while running skirts have spankies (yes, that is what they are called!) or briefs. I prefer their running skirt style because it makes layering easier. I tend to wear the skirts over capris or tights, and my favorites come from Thoosa.com. The top I'm wearing is one of my favorites and is from Under Armour. These skirts all have side pockets which are great for carrying keys, gels and even MP3 players so no more armbands for me, which is another great advantage.

I find that running skirts from runningskirts.com are available in lots of great colors, so I just couldn't resist buying a few more. So I got the navy pumpkin (above) which I love to match with my Thoosa v-neck tee in this fantastic shade of blue (I think they call it ocean). This top is one of my favorites and I like it so much that I have two and I wore this when I ran the WDW marathon in 2008.

A lot of my running wardrobe tends to be blue for some reason - I didn't plan it that way but there is a lot of blue and black in there... but what about pink? It is one of my favorite colors so of course I had to get a pink skirt!

Again from runningskirts.com, this one is the pink/sunset skirt, no longer available. You can just about see that the skirt is pale pink with a light orange panel on the side. It is a lovely combination and when paired with that pink top (an ordinary cotton top) it looks very nice. Still, I think I could do with another pink skirt someday, something a bit brighter... but anyway.

I also have one skirt from skirtgoddess.com - the very amazing commitment skirt in carbon/orange:

This skirt is hands down the best skirt I run in. You will notice it has compression shorts underneath (in a fab shade of orange) and this is the one skirt I can actually wear without layering over tights if the weather is right, and not feel uncomfortable, chafe or have the shorts ride up. It fits so well and is incredibly comfortable, it is well worth the money. It also has pockets for essentials, one on each hip. Here I am wearing it with an ordinary cotton t-shirt in orange but it also looks great when paired with my long sleeve pink tech shirt from Thoosa.

You may have also noticed that there is something of an orange theme emerging... well, I have always liked the way blue looks with orange, they contrast very well together, so it is natural to have that color in my running wardrobe. But a bigger reason is that the folks over at disneyrunning.com have chosen orange as the 'official' color so when t-shirts were created, they were in a VERY bright shade of orange! So of course I had to get a few skirts to match... The DR t-shirt looks fantastic with the carbon/orange skirt and with the navy/orange and also the pink/orange but it probably looks the best with my last skirt:

I told you the shirt was bright! It's great for being spotted when running outside, though. Anyway, the skirt is a New Balance one I picked up for almost nothing in the Sports Authority sometime last year, on one of my trips to the US. It has compression shorts underneath and even a small pocket on the hip, although as it's on the shorts (and not on the skirt as the others) it can be a bit uncomfortable when using it to hold my MP3 player because the cable gets a bit twisted with the skirt. But out of all my skirts this one is my favorite color and I love the fact that it is even a little 'flippy' when I run - makes me feel cute!

Those are my five skirts. There is, as I mentioned before, a sixth skirt - the very useful and highly recommended Fit Momma from runningskirts.com. This maternity running skirt was the most useful garment in my wardrobe for months and even now I still use it once in a while, as the extra-wide band can be folded down and provides some much needed support to my post-partum belly. In fact, this skirt is the only item of maternity wear that I have kept now that the baby is here and I plan to keep it for a little while longer. The only downside is that this skirt is only available in all black and I prefer my skirts to be bright colors.

So there you have it - everything you ever wanted to know about my running skirts. If you are a runner and haven't tried one, I suggest you do because once you run in a skirt you will never run in anything else!

Who does she look like - 2.0

2009-05-07T08:59:00.003+01:00

I've done this before but it's time to play the game again: who does Jessica look like? Because I'm biased and I think she looks like her brother, here is my evidence.

This is what Jessica looks like right now, at 3 months:

And this is what Samuel used to look like at the same age:

Very similar, don't you think? The same chin, same mouth, same nose and very similar eyes but Jessica does have bigger cheeks and her eyes look a bit more scrunched up. Also Samuel had bright blue eyes by this age whereas Jessica's are already turning sort of hazel (but they look brown on this shot). And of course Samuel was growing new, blonde hair by 3 months while Jessica still has her mop of brown curls.

Unfortunately there isn't a photo of me at that age (not that I know of anyway) but trust me on this one - Jessica looks like her brother! Or what do you think?

Swine flu - perspectives

2009-05-01T09:05:00.003+01:00

I've been meaning to write about this for a little while, then I would change my mind because I am not an expert in this so have nothing really to add. But the topic occupied my thoughts so much to the point that I can't think of anything else to write about so in an act of desperation... here I go.

I guess my only qualifier is that I'm from Mexico and have come back from there relatively recently (but long ago enough that I'm not really at any risk). I still have lots of friends and family back there and I get lots of information from them on what things are really like at ground level. So when I see the news here in the UK, I have those filters in my mind.

At first I even thought the whole thing was relatively funny - the media taking a small story and blowing it up, causing other people/countries to panic. Why was the story picked up in the first place? I thought that it was perhaps a diversion from the economic situation, or maybe some political move from the Mexican government (to cover something else up) or maybe even some sort of conspiracy, which I won't even write about here.

Stories got more and more serious and I even wondered if things really are as bad as they said. Basically the country is shutting down for a few days in the hopes of containing the flu virus - but isn't this weekend a long bank holiday weekend over there anyway? (1st and 5th of May are bank holidays) So in a way it is good timing to close things down, as schools would be closed anyway. True, people still would have had to go to work but the timing of the shut down seems very good. The bind is that people are being advised to stay at home instead of being able to get out and enjoy the days off. I am sure that this is driving a lot of moms crazy, having to keep the kids at home!

All deaths (except one and technically the little boy is from Mexico but happened to be in the US) have been in Mexico. Elsewhere it appears that people that catch the disease report mainly mild symptoms and respond well to drugs. At least in the UK, it appears that the result of having swine flu is to become famous and to have media fighting for their story. But this couple doesn't seem to have any serious illness other than greed - they have now engaged Max Clifford, the famous publicist, to sell their story. This for me has now been the tipping point: they have turned a flu into a money-making enterprise!

So far there have been hundreds of suspected cases and a few hundred deaths. While I'm sure it is very sad for the families concerned, in terms of numbers they are relatively low - outside of Mexico there are less than 200 confirmed cases (according to the BBC). To give this some perspective, malaria kills 250,000 children evey year in Nigeria alone! But this doesn't get broadcast on prime time on TV every night.

I'm not trying to say that this isn't serious because it probably is, but I'm just asking for a little perspective. The media love to whip us up into a frenzy because it sells more papers (which is good in these tough times) and make us thing the end of the world is nigh. It's a shame that Nigerians can not afford the services of Max Clifford, then their story would get more exposure and malaria would be erradicated by the 2010 deadline.

(To make a donation to the UNICEF and help the children of the world live better and fuller lives, visit this page.)

Normal service will be restored soon...

2009-04-16T13:27:00.000+01:00

I guess there are few things in life as disruptive as having a baby. There are of course events like getting married, moving house and others that create chaos but somehow, at least in my case, babies are definitely at the top of my "things that make me go argh!" list. Sure, they are cute and all that, but all hell appears to break loose around them and, because I do not do well with disorder, it drives me nuts.

But anyway, the good thing is that what at first is disruptive after a while it becomes routine. Things start to settle down and while they may never be the same again, a sense of order re-appears and predictability ensues. I'm at that point now where I can actually plan my days, when I sort of know what will happen and when I can make decisions that go beyond the next three hours. This means I can carve out a little of time to myself a bit more easily.

When it comes to filling that time, the possibilities are endless: I could spend it in a warm, relaxing bath or I could sit down and read for a bit. I could also watch TV (and catch up with all that I've missed!) or scrapbook or, if I'm feeling adventurous, do both at the same time. If the weather is nice I could go for a run outside or if it's wet outside I could go to the gym. If I'm feeling lazy I could make some jewellery or a nice headband. Or I can sit at the PC and check my email, catch up on Facebook, read the latest on Twitter, upload more photos or even update this blog.

Unfortunately I never get enough time to do all the things I would like to do - bizarre, as I'm still on maternity leave and this should mean that I have ALL this time but do I? Even I wonder what I do all day and where time goes... I must be doing SOMETHING. Anyway, the net result is that time is precious and I have lots of stuff I'd like to do to get a break. So I must choose and prioritize.

Whenever I get the chance I try to spend the time running and going to the gym. I feel that this should have top priority as I would love to get back in shape as quickly as possible and also I've found that exercise relaxes me and makes me feel much, much better. I then have more energy to run around, more strength to carry heavy items around (like a baby in a car seat) and even helps me sleep better. Besides, I've been buying running skirts like they are going out of fashion (this is my latest one) and I need to wear them for more than just cleaning around the house.

This means that all things crafty and sitting down have not really been happening. Sure, I have attended a couple of crops and even started the baby album but I am not scrapping at my usual rate. I haven't really touched my beads in a long time and although they are very quick to make, my headband production rate has slowed waaaay down. I'm even taking far too long in reading a book and have far too many things in my Sky+ box that I need to watch.

So all this is my way of saying - sorry I haven't been updating this blog but I promise that as soon as I lose another 2kg, finish a bunch of layouts, complete a necklace I started, catch up with Desperate Housewives and Lost and finish the book I'm reading, I'll be back. I haven't forgotten I have to complete my travels around World Showcase series! In the meantime, hope you enjoyed the baby photos I included in this post as a bonus to my loyal readers (just in case you actually wanted to see pictures of the baby!)

Not all is gloomy skies and chilly days!

2009-03-26T11:36:00.000Z

A week ago today I landed back in Heathrow with my baby girl and we came back home after being away from the UK for more than two months (or, in her case, for her whole life!). It was of course incredibly nice to see my boys, to be back in my own house and to have the whole family on the same continent again. It was nice to get into a routine again and to take things more slowly.

Being back made me realize that I don’t only miss things when I’m here but I also miss more than a few things in the UK. Obviously I miss my boys and being among my own things, but there are also some surprising things that I found myself almost pining after…

First of all, I really missed the UK attitude towards the environment. I’ve posted before about the shocking amount of plastic shopping bags I was using in Mexico, but I also found myself having to throw away paper and carton because there is no easy way to recycle it over there. I guess I’ve been on this side of the Atlantic too long but I found attitudes over there wasteful and short-sighted and it’s nice to be back here where I can recycle and no one things I’m being weird.

Linked to that, I also missed the fact that people over here tend to be more curious about where their food comes from and demand things like humane standards in the rearing and slaughtering of animals, food grown locally and organically and the limitation of food additives and other harmful chemicals. It can get a bit obsessive over here but back in Mexico no one ever thinks about where their beef comes from, what’s in it or how many chemicals were pumped into it. Sure, the food is delicious but every once in a while I would find myself worrying about what I was eating and even more so when I was actually nursing the baby. So it’s nice to be back in the UK where food is regulated and consumers are more educated.

On a less serious note, I also missed shops like Boots and Lush. Boots is a drugstore (like Walgreens) and I love browsing around to see what new lotion or shampoo I can try and there is just such great variety of products, some are even organic, that I really missed it. Lush is another great shop that sells handmade cosmetics with no chemicals and the products are amazing. I had a few pots of my favorites like Ocean Salt for exfoliating and Skin Drink for moisturizing but when those ran out I had to wait until I got back in the UK to get some more and BOY did I miss them!

Driving is of course very different over here and while I actually enjoyed the crazy driving I was doing back in Mexico, I kind of missed the more orderly driving I do here in the UK, mainly because I don’t have to be on the defensive all the time. I also missed the clothes on sale over here because I think they are much more fashionable and trendy than anything I could find over there (even including the US) but I also think that the weather is much to blame for this: it’s easier to look trendy when it’s chilly outside all the time!

The weather also means that there are many more flowers over here and I am glad I was back in time to see the daffodils blooming everywhere which looks beautiful. I’d missed that. I had also really missed British radio and TV - the Mexican versions are not as good (and TV is decidedly rubbish) so I was glad to get back to the BBC and my local radio station.

There are of course many, many things I miss from back home and I may list them another time. But this list goes to prove that the grass is indeed always greener on the other side and no place will ever satisfy me 100%. That’s the great thing about other places - they help to discover different things that may be even better than what you already know!

A very special tour inside Spaceship Earth

2009-03-03T01:10:00.000Z

Ok, the baby's asleep and hopefully I have time to share this story (and photos!) with you...

In another life, when I lived in Florida and worked as a Cast Member I got the chance to do some amazing things. One of them was an after-hours walking tour of Spaceship Earth and we got the chance to see the attraction up close and learn lots of things about it. But the best part were the photos we were able to take! Remember this was 1995 so the attraction has changed a bit since then.

So the tour started and there were about 7 of us if I remember correctly and we started by walking along the track, very carefully as there isn't an awful lot of room there! The good thing is that we can see perfectly as all the house lights are on which means that all the atmosphere is gone. But all the sound effects were still on so it was a weird mix of reality and fantasy.

Before long we found some maintenance guys starting their shift. They have a special cart thing that goes along the track and is also a great place to store their coffees while they work through the night. They seemed quite happy to be there!

Soon enough we were within the attraction itself and among the AI figures! We got great close-up looks at them and their props, so here I am looking over the shoulder of one of the monks:

David got a very good look at one of the sculptors and the work of art he was producing:

We then listened in to Morse-code guy and even read the books on his desk. They all have authentic details that regular guests will never get to see. A great example of the attention to detail that Imagineers are famous for.

This last one is my favorite photo: as you can see I'm listening carefully to whatever Renaissance man is saying!

The tour was a lot of fun and it was very, very informative. For example, we learned that most of the AI figures on Spaceship Earth were cast from the same models as the Presidents in the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom but with different hair and beards to look different and of course different costumes. I can't remember any details right now and I sure wish I was taking notes!

We also learned different stories about the attraction and a little about it's history. Remember those old WDW commercials where Mickey Mouse was standing at the very top of Spaceship Earty? Well, it was done for real, not with special effects or anything - at the very top of the ride (in the room with all the stars and the view of Earth from space) there actually is a small elevator that can take one person all the way to the top. According to our guide, Mickey at that time was performed by a girl and she was so scared being all the way up there, she actually had an accident while waving at the helicopter that was taking the aerial shots.

It was a fascinating evening and I'm grateful that I remembered to take some photos - but I do wish we'd taken some more!

Unwanted advice

2009-02-23T17:07:00.001Z

You know those reality TV shows where people live for days or weeks at a time, pretending to be living in some historical past? Where they spend time being Victorians or children in a 1950s school or whatever? Well, sometimes I feel that I am in something like that...

Somehow it appears that here in Mexico having a baby means that the mother immediately goes back in time to Victorian times and there are hundreds of things she mustn't do: top of the list is leave the house. Mothers are expected (along with baby) to basically never leave the house for 40 days unless there is some dire emergency. Needless to say, I would go crazy if I did that.

The day I left the hospital we took a quick detour to the local supermarket as there were things we needed. I also felt the need to be outside for a bit after 4 days inside the hospital and it was a nice day and I was feeling pretty good so we went. Didn't think anything of it but of course I have had nothing but negative comments about that.

In the days and weeks that followed I have been out because we've had no choice: we had to organize all the paperwork to request travel documents for my little girl so that we can fly back to the UK as soon as possible. So this meant trips to have photos taken, photocopies made, to register the birth, etc. I wasn't driving on any of these trips and some of them were very local and, again, I was feeling fine so it was actually a nice diversion from the endless tedium of three-hourly feeds.

It is all a source of amusement to me at this point, whenever I'm out and anyone asks me how old the baby is. I tell them and inevitably I get "and you're out already?" I can't see why I should hide inside like someone who shouldn't be seen. In fact, I think I would get a one-way ticket to PND if I did stay at home all the time!

The weather over here has been mostly beautiful every day (it was a little chilly a couple of days and those I didn't go out at all), both baby and I are healthy and doing well and a little trip to the local shopping center for a walk actually makes us both feel better. So why not go out? The baby is wrapped up warm, is comfortable and actually seems to sleep better when we've had a relatively busy day.

I have learned to ignore all these reactions and to try and ignore all the other bits of useless advice I've been getting (including such gems as don't walk barefoot around the house because I'll get some illness or even have problems with my legs later in life!) I do know that I don't know everything but some of these pieces of advice don't make sense in any logical way (why would I get cold from walking barefoot? Colds come from bugs, not cold floors) and it is very annoying to keep hearing nonsense. I know people mean well but it doesn't make the comments any less irritating!

I wish I knew how to ignore these comments without hurting people's feelings but also without having to change my lifestyle. I guess this will all improve when I do get back to the UK, where I will be exposed to a whole new set of beliefs and useless advice!

I need to go now as it's time for our morning errands and the sun is shining outside - begging for us to come out and play!

Who does she look like?

2009-02-18T04:14:00.000Z

When babies are born, there are a lot of surprises: date of birth, the baby's gender and who does she look like? In Jessica's case we already knew she was a girl and when she'd be born (and even roughly her weight!) so the main surprise is who does she look like? Everyone has taken the question quite seriously and there have been lively debates to try and settle the issue. It seems that everyone has different opinions, depending mainly on which side of the family you're in.

Just in case you've already forgotten what a cutie she is, this is a photo of my little girl Jessica:

Everyone thinks she looks just like I did when I was a baby. What do you think? To help you along, here is a photo of me as a baby:
Other than the obvious hair color (and the fact that we're both infants in the photos) I really can't see the similarities. I actually think that Jessica is the spitting image of her brother Samuel when he was a baby:
What do you think? Is she like me or like Samuel?

Been a bit busy lately...

2009-02-14T03:58:00.001Z

Aren't these two adorable??

Once life settles down I should be able to continue the usual service, in the meantime here's another baby photo!!

I think I can hear the choir now...

2009-01-28T23:03:00.000Z

About a year ago, I finished a marathon and I am very, very proud of that accomplishment. I still feel that my head goes a bit higher when I tell people about it, when they see my photos and when I show my medal off. Sure, my time wasn’t fast but I finished didn’t I?

This year I feel like I’m finishing another marathon, of sorts. In a few days I will, if all goes well, give birth to a little girl and these last few weeks have been like the last stretch in the marathon. You know, you start off strong and confident (but a little queasy inside), until you find your pace. Slowly you feel that you can definitely do this, it’s actually easy and you’ve already covered so much mileage. You feel yourself smiling and think “hey, I look quite good!” Everyone cheers you on.

But somewhere in the last third you start flagging again: suddenly not only your legs hurt but everything seems to. The really comfortable pace you’d set is becoming too much so you slow down. You feel heavier and heavier. The miles are going by slower and slower. You don’t look quite so good anymore. People still cheer you on but it can almost become annoying: “you’re nearly there!” they say, and you know that you’re nowhere near there, really. And you keep going.

The last mile is the longest… everything really hurts by now, even breathing. You know you can’t stop because you can’t wait to get to the finish line and get this over and done with. Your pace is all over the place by now: sometimes you slow waaaaay down; sometimes you can even come up with a burst of speed. Just to get to the finish line. People still cheer you on and this time you KNOW you are nearly there, so these shouts are encouraging. But the tiredness has made you cranky and you can find them irritating at the same time. But the real determination to get there has to come from within. You’ve come this far – what’s a few more steps? All that pain and toll on your body will be worth it in the end.

Suddenly, you hear a choir, you turn a corner and there it is – the finish line! The last few meters go by in a blur, almost too quickly and before you know it, you are finished and you have your reward… now is a time to celebrate, to rest and, of course, to recover. You did it! Sure, you won’t be able to walk for a while but your life will never be the same again.

The difference is that when I finished the marathon I thought “Never again!” which is in fact the same thing I thought when I had my first baby. I was eventually convinced to get pregnant again but this time I can guarantee that I won’t do it again, two kids is enough… but a marathon? I think I’ll do it at least once more… one can never have too many medals!

What keeps me awake at night

2009-01-27T15:31:00.000Z

It’s true what they say – ignorance is bliss.

I am about 4 days away from going into hospital to have a baby and I’m worried, in some cases even terrified. So much so that I’m struggling to clear my mind enough to sleep (or is that just another one of those pregnancy symptoms that make women’s lives so much nicer?) and I sometimes find myself over-worrying which is so unlike me.

While I am looking forward to losing some of this weight I’ve been carrying in my front for a few months now and look forward to not feeling awkward, clumsy and round, I am not so sure about the bit that comes after. You know, the whole recovery from surgery, the pain and lack of comfort and of course the whole life-with-newborn part.

Last time, with my first, I of course didn’t know any of this and throughout my pregnancy and subsequent periods I kept waiting for things to get better. It was a long time before they did but I was hopeful every day that it would happen. Now I know better and that little bit of hope is gone. So I have to get through this on reality alone which is a sobering thought.

It’s not all bad though – the experience has given me some confidence which I suppose can go some way towards replacing hope. At least this time I know what to expect and plan accordingly, and any improvement on last time is bound to be good news! This time at least I know how to change a diaper, make formula and pick up an infant: all things I had no idea how to do the last time.

So maybe this time will be better and I need to be more optimistic. I’ll check back in a few weeks and I’ll confirm whether or not ignorance truly is bliss!

The food is still better here though

2009-01-16T22:58:00.000Z

I've been back in Monterrey now two weeks and while time seems to have stood still at the same time I still feel so much like an outsider in my own home city!

It really is a feeling of 'neither here nor there' as I have been living in the UK for nearly 12 years now and a lot of the more practical things I've done I've only ever done over there, like buy a house, pay my bills, manage a bank account, shop for groceries, etc. So things I've never really noticed over here and take for granted in the UK - like direct debits - are practically unheard of here and it makes me wonder how people cope.

So being here isn't just about how much better things are here (like food and weather) and there are lots of things that I've now noticed here that I only notice because I live in the UK and have experienced a different way. The biggest thing that is bugging me all the time is in terms of environmental awareness. Here in Mexico, like in the USA, environmental concerns are there but certainly not in the way they are in the UK, where it is so engrained it is almost a part of life, especially when it comes to waste.

Everytime I go shopping for groceries here I get help packing (now, this bit I do miss!) and the packer gives me too many bags - in some cases he or she only puts ONE thing inside a whole bag! It may be a bottle of bleach or something and I understand the concern but it still strikes me as incredibly wasteful. In the UK it is becoming more and more common for people to use their own bags, fuelled in part by retailers making a charge for each bag. But the net result is that fewer bags get used and it's all good.

Reusable bags are available here but they are TINY. It almost seems like retailers make them available but don't really expect anyone to actually use them... and compared to even the most modest of reusable bags available nearly everywhere, the bags here are laughable. No wonder people do not switch over, the reusables are a joke.

I probably would have never really noticed just how many plastic shopping bags get used if I didn't live in a place where these things matter. I am trying my best to make my mom understand that she doesn't need the packer to give her a dozen bags for a modest shop but she doesn't get it. Sure, she understands the global environmental issues but doesn't really tie that back to the plastic bag waste and I'm pretty sure that is cultural. People here just don't understand these issues at all.

Examples like these are many and it does make me feel like such a foreigner when I notice that people around here love to drive and switch lanes constantly, or watch television programs that have no value to them whatsoever or do not seem to notice senseless waste. I only hope I can manage to pass on the best of both worlds to my kids!