The Sad Wedgwood Story
January 6, 2009
The English pottery industry has been in a poor state for some time now. Though, now it seems that the last stand has finely fallen and the heart of the Stoke-on-Trent pottery industry is set to die.
Stoke-on-Trent was built around the pot kilns and smoky sky’s many years ago. The culture, economy and people have had pottery in their blood for 250 years and now sadly it looks to be coming to an end.
The loss of jobs shouldn’t be forgotten but I think the whole of Britain should morn in the loss of the great manufacturing giant of years gone past. A truly global dominator from what now seems history. I doubt very much that the Chinese or whichever newly industrialised country takes over the production will do the goods justice. It does beg the question as to whether people will buy Wedgewood if it is not produced in the UK as surely that was the whole point?!
A Bleek Outlook For 2009…
January 5, 2009
Well, Christmas is over and we are officially back to work with 2009 moving full speed ahead.
What does 2009 hold for us? The recession has officially kicked in and unemployment is growing at an unsustainable rate, businesses are going under and Britain is getting depressed. Christmas brought a much needed holiday to the misery that is the UK at the moment.
The youth of today have no interest in politics and have learnt from an early age that politicians talk crap and have no grip on reality today. How can they? Earning £60,000 a year each and rarely mixing with normal society.
I do worry about Britain; it’s true it’s going to the shitter. The people entrusted to run the country have no idea; they talk of ideals while the rest of us worry how to pay the bills.
I do hope that this year improves as it is going to be a long 2009 if it doesn’t!
Finishing For Christmas
December 30, 2008
I must have worked hard this year. I don’t know where the time has gone and I feel exhausted!
Never before have I felt so ready for the break. In years gone past I have been a real bar-humbug! This year I am totally prepared for Christmas, my presents are under the tree and I am sorted! I have a full week off work to chill out and be festive and I for one am going to make the most of it!
My only problem is that no matter what I do, I have to keep one eye on my young puppy dog as he seems determined to open my presents before Christmas morning!
Pipe Dreams And Lottery Wishes
December 25, 2008
My Dad always said that if he ever made it, he would buy a big yacht; could you imagine the shipping insurance on that? He said he’d only ever buy one if he could afford the top of the range model with luxurious interiors and that could house the whole family. I bet at the moment we couldn’t even afford the shipping insurance! It’s all pipe dreams and I am quite sure that unless some kind of lottery miracle occurs this will never happen.
I have decided that the best way forward is to have lots of small achievable goals. My first point of call is a small, newish, hatchback car with some ultra modern applications such as; power assisted steering, central locking, electric windows and perhaps even remote locking. Yes, at the moment a three point turn has me looking more like Popeye than Olive Oil and I really don’t need a work out every time I turn my car around!
Then perhaps to be out of debt, though I can’t see that one happening any time soon? When I went to university they told us that we have brilliant deals on our student loans and that the government had our backs and that the money would come out of our bank accounts as we started to earn more. Now I have a decent job, mind you not decent enough to be able to afford to pay off a chunk of my student loan off, but somehow I ended up owing an extra £600 on last year?! I guess I must have imagined it when they said it would be a good rate?!
Oh well, I guess I’m yet another poor old soul that will be waiting on a Lottery Miracle!!
What Are You Doing This Christmas?
December 23, 2008
Make the most of this Christmas with Free Online Bingo! I am sure many of you will be getting new laptops off Santa Claus so you can have a crack at internet gaming! With so much competition in the online gaming industry companies are offering bigger jackpots and free online bingo games.
I am not much of a gambler however, since I received my new laptop I have now become an online shopping addict. In my younger years I was a high street shopaholic, well at least until the credit card companies caught up with me!
Now I am far more reserved shopping on the high street and only buy things when I really want them and they fit perfectly. My new problem is that online they look so pretty on the screen and the model makes the clothes look so nice! I always think that they will look that nice on me and I am hook line and sinker for something that I just don’t need.
The other problem is that the bargain that I have inevitably fallen in love with has a massive delivery charge, which means the bargain is not actually a bargain at all! Spewing!
Christmas Around The Fireplace
December 15, 2008
This Christmas I can’t wait to huddle around the fireplace! It’s going to be so festive! 
Fireplaces actually give the Christmas stockings somewhere to live. It will look so authentic and old school Christmas like. I might even get some satsumas and mulled wine to get into the spirit.
The only problem I face is the crazy husky puppy that I have had recently brought home. I’m sure that he’ll cause himself injury as surely he will not know to stay away. I am told that if he does it once he won’t do it again, but he is so beautiful that I cannot let him run the risk.
We put the Christmas tree up and that was hard enough, try telling a 5 month old puppy that baubles are not for tea. The lights are actually integrated into the tree and I was very worried that he would be electrocuted by trying to nibble on one. He’s at that age where all he wants to do is eat stuff, anything and everything!!!
The biggest travesty is that I haven’t even been allowed chocolates on the tree as the pup will become even more hell bent on eating the tree.
It’s a good job he’s cute!!!
Conference Antics
December 9, 2008
I went to a conference the other month and had the misfortune of having to wear an embroidered polo shirt. The worse of it was that we had to wear them with black work trousers, jeans fair enough we could have pulled off the look with some dignity, but embroidered polo shirts are the pits of fashion! I think we looked like we worked in a bar rather than being marketing experts.
Then some silly promo bird decided that she didn’t like me?! Every time she paraded past our stand she managed to smile at everyone about her, giving them free bags with nothing in them and then slyly gave me the daggers while no one was looking.
On the second day (amidst my terrible hangover) she found herself a friend. While the pair walked past me (in tights with nothing else – except camel toe) she pointed at me saying “she’s the evil one”?!?!
Now I am only 25 and a couple of years ago was in fact a promo girl. Never did I act like such a little diva, parading with paper bags and camel toe?! A part of me did begin to feel crap that I was wearing my embroidered polo shirt with mismatching trousers and shoes, but then I thought I have risen above the promo work and now have a proper job with knowledge and respect. Miss Thing just needs to get over herself!
Bigger Condoms for the French?!
November 29, 2008
According to the French they need the biggest condoms in Europe. Greeks operate just fine with smaller ones according to an EU wide study by a German consultancy providing condom advice. 
The study included over ten thousand men, throughout 25 countries, measuring their willies with their number entered into a database.
The results tell us that on average the French claim use over 15.48cm long condoms, which is 3cm longer than those poor Greeks.
The study took eight months to complete, though Jan Vinzenz Krause, the director of the institute would not comment on how honest the Frenchman were.
The studies objective was to educate young people about responsible sex and the use of effective contraception.
The Wonderful World of Sports Supplements
November 28, 2008
Are sports supplements ethical? Surely it is just the same as eating healthily to improve your fitness. When people (for example Dwain Chambers) take illegal enhancing supplements clearly this is unethical as the competition is not able legally to get the same aids to improve their performance.
The actual effectiveness of some sports supplements is disputable as they are merely a weight gaining shake rather than something that increases protein synthesis in your muscles as steroids do.
Most sports supplements are riddled with creatine that basically gives you diarrhoea. Surely this would offset the weight gain, as you would be constantly getting rid of any weight that you put on. Not only that, but you could become anaemic through having the squits indefinitely.
This begs the questions, exactly how far will some people go for success? It’s not only prevalent in sport; models starving themselves to be the thinnest and most famous on the catwalk. What about business moguls working 18 plus hour days and literally walking into an early grave?
With any level of excellence comes some level of sacrifice, be it physically, socially or impacts on your friends and family. If you are that driven to succeed then it is likely you will take what help you can get from enhancers, depending on your ethics; the legal or illegal ones.
Baby Showers?
November 25, 2008
What exactly is a baby shower? Initially, I thought it was a miniature shower that makes the cleanliness of babies easier. No, apparently it is a celebration for women during their pregnancy, mainly for the middle class. 
Baby Showers do somehow seem a little bit cruel. All those slender women, gathered around drinking, while you sit, holding in your flatulence, miserable and sober.
Would a baby shower have a different atmosphere if it was an ‘oops’ pregnancy rather than a long planned and desperately wanted heir. I guess you wouldn’t bother having a baby shower if the shattering news of the forthcoming birth hadn’t quite sunk in. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to have an ‘Oh my God, my life is over’ shower? The guests could bring round gifts such as nipple cream, stretch cream, gherkins and baggy pants, just don’t bring a noose! There could be lily’s everywhere much like a funeral.
Yet still I can’t get my head round a party where the host can’t get hammered?! I guess that’s why it’s called a ‘baby shower’ and not a baby party, because in fact it doesn’t qualify as a party.
I hope when that fateful time comes for me (in the very distant future) I will be ready for the great delights and thrills of baby showers. If you are there now then all the best and happy sprogging!