UK Visit
Posted by Eliza on Tuesday, 28-Oct-08 at 12:09 PM CET
Apologies for the lack of updates these last few months. Life has been a series of unfortunate events. I am currently staying with relatives in the UK, and am awaiting an operation on Thursday. I am a little nervous, but finally the end of three months of almost constant pain and discomfort is in sight, not to mention heartache. Although I fear I may feel the heartache may continue for sometime to come…
I am torn because I need so badly to talk about the events that have lead me to this moment, but I am afraid of the judgements that I would no doubt attract. So instead I confine those most intimate details to my personal and very private journal. Needless to say, its been a nightmare.
I’ll be back to blogging just as soon as I have something beyond the negative to communicate.
You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and believe strongly in your personal morals.
Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!
Topical Tuesday #21 Social Network Sites
Posted by Eliza on Wednesday, 30-Jul-08 at 11:30 AM CET
Meme: Topical Tuesday
Topic : Social Networking Sites
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Social Networking Sites are big news at the moment. Some people are painting them as the scurge of internet, on a level I think with violent movies and pornography. Most of this is the media targeting yet another means of communication and networking, which are subject to very little control.
I am a member of a few social networking sites - facebook, flickr, and myspace. Those are the ones that I joined, and do still return to occasionally. Not mentioned are the ones I joined, never to return to again if I can help it. I have no problem with social network sites, when managed correctly they can be extremely usefulextremely useful. When not, well lets get round to that.
My biggest concern is security and privacy. These two issues are something I battle with everyday when I consider writing a personal blog post, or posting a picture of myself. Its also something that comes to mind whenever I consider joining yet another social network site.
Social Network Sites (SNS) are not without their problems though. Only yesterday there were reports that Facebook had come under fire from having an application that allowed you to ‘Shank’ other members, shanking being the slang term for stabbing someone. Via Once Upon a Blog
Sarah is quite right to raise this example, and sure enough if security is an issue for you be sure to read guides such as this.
Social Network sites have little to no protection in place to protect your personal information. A story of images snatched from applications such as facebook appearing on porn sites is just one example which did not escape my notice.
I don´t have a problem with social networking sites. They can be extremely useful, provided that is we all exercise a little caution in the information we provide.
Grieving
Posted by Eliza on Wednesday, 23-Jul-08 at 08:57 PM CET
This entry rambles on a little more, but you cannot view it until you register and login. Added bonus of membership - Google ads are not visible to registered and logged in members - only unregistered guests.
Topical Tueday #20 Do you take food with you on a foreign holiday?
Posted by Eliza on Tuesday, 22-Jul-08 at 01:03 PM CET
Topical Tuesday is a new meme intended to inspire the art of discussion via our blogs. Each week, on a Tuesday, a new topic will be placed on the main site for people to post about. Topics are open, and don’t necessarily need to be intended for serious discussion - after all a meme should be nothing if not fun!
I´m British. I live in Spain. Before, when I was just a mere tourist, I never once brought food with me to Spain. When I travel abroad it is to immerse myself in the culture as best I can, to experience a culture different to my own. A very large part of that is to experience a cuisine that is different to our own. Wherever I have travelled, be it Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Iceland, or the other countries I have seen along the way, I have never once only sought out British restaurants and supermarkets. In fact, I tend to avoid them like the plague.
Brits here quite often spend vast quantities of money importing their food and drink from the UK. They import their clothes, shoes, and other misc purchases too quite often. But then, they do tend to live in what I term “Little Britain in the sun”. They live in British residential areas, only eat at British bars where they serve British food. For me, to live like that, I wonder why they bother being here at all - except for the sun, sea and erm, other things.
Design Changeover
Posted by Eliza on Wednesday, 16-Jul-08 at 07:05 PM CET
I firmly believe that the Pink October design has been active long enough, and since it is not really me I am re-implementing the old design. Please bear with me as I attempt to find all the layout errors and eradicate them!
Topical Tuesday #19: Teen Pregnancy
Posted by Eliza on Wednesday, 16-Jul-08 at 06:04 PM CET
Topical Tuesday is a new meme intended to inspire the art of discussion via our blogs. Each week, on a Tuesday, a new topic will be placed on the main site for people to post about. Topics are open, and don’t necessarily need to be intended for serious discussion - after all a meme should be nothing if not fun!
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Teen Pregnancy is not, as many believe, a relative new phenomenon of modern society, but it is on the increase once more. When I was a a teenager it was only just starting to make headlines in the news - and I knew three girls in my year who fell pregnant and had children before the age of 16 - two aged 14, one aged 15. One of them was a relative. Granted, all three made excellent mothers, but the essential point is, that on a whole young girls do not have the maturity or life experience to succesfully raise a child. Do they not want a life themselves first?
I acknowledge that not every man or women wants a career, but there is so much more to life than breeding, and to consider it when you are, legally, still a child yourself is madness. To hear that some girls are planning pregnancy as young as 12 years old amazes me.
Is this a breakdown in sex education? or a breakdown, as some claim, in the morality of society? I cannot deny that sex education in my experience was rudimentary to say the least - especially since most of us spent the entire lessons crying with laughter at how the teacher blushed whenever he mentioned key parts of a person´s anatomy.
Contest for the non blogathon
Posted by Eliza on Monday, 14-Jul-08 at 12:27 PM CET
As there is no blogathon as such this year Yoshi is running a contest - entitled ”Most embarrassing moments in your life”. I have held back on this story for a very long time, but here it is. Make the most of it being public, because eventually it will be made members only.
As a teenager I was a competitive equestrian. I used to compete regularly on my horses in Show Jumping in particular.
In 1991, the year I left school, I was in a National Competition for Young Riders. It was a big competition, held at a large show ground attracting thousands of people to every day of the competition.
I was a funny teenager, and was quite vain. For example, I would never really wear anything except a thong under my jodphurs for fear of a line showing (I always wore them skin site).
I was doing very well, and was through to a jump off. There were several of us on clear rounds (the horses had cleared every fence in previous rounds), and now we were to jump against the clock.
I had a problem with my horse prior to entering the ring. He is a temperamental chap, and had thrown a wobbler and pushed me back against the horse box before I mounted. But I am now running late, so rather than do my usual checks I jump up and dash off to the ring. The horse is already warmed up.
I enter the ring, jump a clear round in good time. Nothing remotely embarrassing about that.
I exit the ring, and notice a large percentage of people are laughing (bear in mind there are two regional film crews there too). My Mum dashes up, and congratulates me whilst throwing a blanket over my horses quarters, and rather stangely, me. She adds quickly after whisking me off to the horsebox that she has set aside a clean pair of jodphurs - owing to the fact mine had wripped round down the back, and I had just jumped an entire round showing off my arse to the audience over every fence.
Oh, I came second too. The lap of honour was a nightmare.
You know you have lived in Spain too long when…
Posted by Eliza on Sunday, 13-Jul-08 at 02:55 PM CET
Drinking red wine diluted with lemon, orange or coca-cola (especially at lunch time) becomes not only acceptable but a refreshing mid day drink in the heat.
Munching on pickled garlic frequently throughout the day is no longer consider a way of losing friends, but as a low calorie healthy and tasty snack (pickled baby figs too)
Spanish TV seems interesting and entertaining.
You begin to think that eating your evening meal before 9pm is a little strange.
You begin to think your name is “rubia” or “guapa” after all.
When not giving a new acquaintance “dos besos” seems to be rude.
You no longer want butter with your toast on a morning. You would much prefer a nice drizzle of olive oil and a quick rub of garlic.
You find yourself saying ‘bueno,’ ‘vale,’ ‘venga,’ ‘pues nada’ in nearly every sentence.
You begin to consider coffee with cold milk revolting.
A meal without bread? What is this?
Both sugar and Leche Condensada are normal in a very very small coffee
and for a few more check out Mizmoe
Topical Tuesday #18 Paid Bloggers
Posted by Eliza on Tuesday, 08-Jul-08 at 07:39 PM CET
Welcome to Topical Tuesday - a new meme where we try and get people to just discuss topics on their blogs. Topics are posted on Tuesdays. Post your thoughts and opinions on your own blog! Pass it around!
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Topic :: Paid Bloggers
Blogging is mainstream now, that is certain - and when something becomes this popular it was not bound to be long before business started deriving benefit. But what is your take on the paid blogger or those who blog for cash (pay per post bloggers for example)?
I have been blogging now for over eight years in one format or another, and in that time I have seen a lot of changes - some of them good, some of them, well, not so good. Search on google for Paid Bloggers, and you know how blogging has become big business for some, and a means to make extra cash for others. Granted this has been met with opposition in many quoters, with the hard edge blogger finding it repulsive. Personally, I don´t have a problem with anyone attempting to make a little extra income out of the blog. Provided it is an honest income, and the fact that it is a paid post is disclosed.
‘’In our opinion, paying bloggers is no different than Tiger Woods getting money to wear the Nike logo.”
There is a difference where a blogger opts not to include a notification advising the reader that it is a paid entry. People know that Tiger Woods is sponsored for wearing Nike. That is the crucial point. Personally, I don´t have an issue with this as such, but I believe that it is dishonest when a blogger states an opinion that is not his/her own in order to be paid - especially when this involves recommending a product, site or service.
Webcam Images
Posted by Eliza on Monday, 07-Jul-08 at 01:28 PM CET
A treat for members only - Images taken as I read the comments from previous entry! Heh!
This entry rambles on a little more, but you cannot view it until you register and login. Added bonus of membership - Google ads are not visible to registered and logged in members - only unregistered guests.
Fiesta
Posted by Eliza on Sunday, 06-Jul-08 at 02:38 PM CET
The last week in June was fiesta time here in Sunny Spain. Although I did not partake in all the fun and frolicky I am exhausted, because the all night discos were about 100 yards from my apartment. Terrific. We now have a few days break before the July fiestas begin!
I have some lovely photos to post in my photoblog (when I get around to it of course). But, just to keep you content, I have decided to come out and post the first webcam image of fembat here on my blog. Exciting right?
This entry rambles on a little more, but you cannot view it until you register and login. Added bonus of membership - Google ads are not visible to registered and logged in members - only unregistered guests.
Day of Blogs
Posted by Eliza on Sunday, 29-Jun-08 at 09:02 PM CET
Just to let everyone know Blogathon 2008 will not be taking place this year, as it is having a vacation. Instead this year will be Day of Blogs
Day of Blogs will take place on the 26 July 2008 (details below)
7/26 @ 900 EST to 7/27 @900 EST
7/27 @ 2100 EST to 7/27 @ 2100 EST
The site is currently in the development stage (and I am working on the design!) but please consult it for further information. I understand that the whole event will work in very much the same way as Blogathon. Of course, we all hope to see the Blogathon return again in 2009, but lets make the most of this years event by taking part in Day of Blogs
As before I will once again be blogging for One Parent Families, (for more information please refer to the post below. Whether I can actually partake in blogathon by the designing of themes during the 24 hour period as yet has to be seen, but I will keep you updated. I would like to but I find myself lacking access to a computer at home! (my last imploded). If I win the lottery, or obtain a rich patron I will of course oblige you all once more. If you want to check out what I have done before please check out my Blogathon Theme Site
In the meantime please check out Day of Blogs and Fembat Blogathon Themes - participate if you can, and sponsor if your circumstances permit. Also please pay a visit to my charity of choice One Parent Families
Topical Tuesday #17 The Time to Tell Them
Posted by Eliza on Tuesday, 24-Jun-08 at 11:40 AM CET
Welcome to Topical TuesdayTopical Tuesday - a new meme where we try and get people to just discuss topics on their blogs. Topics are posted on Tuesdays. Post your thoughts and opinions on your own blog! Pass it around!
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Topic :: The Time to Tell Them
You are invited to write a blog entry, a letter or even a poem (if that’s your thing) to someone. This someone could be someone you know very well or it could be a stranger you met briefly but who had a great impact on you. It could be to your partner, your parents or your high school teacher who believed in you. It could even be to someone you have never met before but whose actions you read or heard about and changed the way you see something. Your post should be about how they affected you and how one thing (maybe even more than one thing) they did, big or small, gave you strength, inspired you or changed your life. Tell them how you feel and how much they mean to you. It doesn’t matter if you have told them before, do it again
Dear A,
I remember your face so vividly - those twinkling eyes, and laughing smile most of all. You had the most amazing skin. You always smelled so good when you gave me “dos besos”. Thats what I remember most about you. That, and your enormous heart.
I had seen you in the bar a few times during the course of the first month there. I thought you extremely handsome, and extremely funny. But you first approached me on my lowest day. I had been mugged, and had lost a great deal of money. You came up and gave me a dos besos and a hug, and told me that I had friends now, and I wasn´t alone. You never once broke that promise.
I have so many good memories of you. Most of them centred around the bar, when we would play games. There was the time we were really silly, and spent a few hours playing by the bar when you had finished work. I kept sneeking up and knocking your hat off. We really made people talk that day, and subsequently your girlfriend became less than friendly.
People were so sure we were more than friends. I spent so much time arguing the contrary that I never stopped to consider that maybe they sensed something we both didn´t - or chose to ignore. You were always so loyal and good.
You winding Dave up when France was beating England in the football. You were so proud to be French. You and M dressed up as women for the yearly festival. You both looked more feminine than half the women in that bar, especially M.
Remember the fancy dress party? I didn´t have a costume, and you rescued me, and we dressed as Geisha´s. You were very drunk A! The date was the 7th of March 2008. We won the fancy dress. You behaved like a complete loony, but it would not have been as fun without you. You were the life and soul of any party or bar. For the first time I sensed that maybe there was something between us. We were walking from your flat to the bar, arm in arm. You were telling me what a fantastic person you thought I was, I was so busy thinking how I wanted that moment to last forever.
Two weeks later I found you drunk outside the bar. You told me it was the anniversary of your son´s death. You were in so much pain. I sat and talked to you for two hours, convincing you that you had everything to live for. You kept saying you wanted to die too. That you had nothing to live for. I am glad you told me that you wanted to live the next day, because of me and what I had said.
Two weeks later, to the day, (the 7th of April 2008) I was sat outside a house with dozens of people, equally desperate for news that you were alive inside that calapsed cave. We waited, and waited, as various rescue teams attempted the delicate task of finding you and M amongst that rubble. The cave was very unstable, and it was a dangerous job. I saw you come out, I knew it was you because I had heard that you were closest to the door when the cave calapsed. I knew you would come out first. Even seeing you and M being brought out in body bags did not prepare me for the news that you were found “sin vida”. To this day I still cannot handle it being said about you. I heard the news you were dead around the same time we entered that bar dressed as geisha´s just a month ago 10:32pm.
I went to the viewing. M was in a closed casket, although he had an Orthodox blessing and so we saw him when they blessed his face. You were in an open casket. I am afraid I broke down. Various people thought you looked asleep. I think they must have been seeking comfort, because for me, the essense that was you had gone. It was just a shell.
The day of the viewing the only comfort I could find was a recurring memory, which I treasure to this day. Its a simple one, but it was the last time you, M, S and I were together. S was behind the bar , stood at the corner. M, as usual, on the opposite side of the bar, but stood at her side. I was stood next to M´s side, and he as usual was taking the piss out of me whilst flirting with S. I looked up, and you were stood at the far side of the bar. You looked at me, smiled and winked. This was Saturday night. We were happy to be together, completely unaware of what was to come.
It took your death to make me realise that there was some grounding to those rumours. The saddest part was that a note was found a short while ago, from you to me, telling me how you felt. It was the same. I miss you so much. I have left the town now. But I will never forget my Frenchman. I just wish I could hear you sing “I believe I can fly” once more. You were a terrible singer A, but no one sang it like you.
¡Fiesta!
Posted by Eliza on Thursday, 19-Jun-08 at 08:55 PM CET
One of the things I do love about Spain is its inclination to party! Its fiesta time here, and as such these enourmous constructions (such as the one pictured above) are springing up in every Barrio - some of them costing as much as 90,000 euros!.
All the bars are appearing, as is the sweet stalls and churro vans! It is not difficult to be carried away by the anticipation.
Topical Tuesday #16 Morality
Posted by Eliza on Tuesday, 17-Jun-08 at 05:31 PM CET
Welcome to Topical Tuesday - a new meme where we try and get people to just discuss topics on their blogs. Topics are posted on Tuesdays. Post your thoughts and opinions on your own blog! Pass it around!
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Topic :: Morality
“In its first descriptive usage, morality means a code of conduct held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong, morals are created by and define society, philosophy, religion, or individual conscience.”
Who defines your sense of morality? Are you religious? Do you rely solely on your individual conscience?
Morality is a term given to a man made system tailored, specifically, to create social order.
What does moral and immoral mean? Isn’t it about weighing the good and harm of certain actions and behaviour? Morality, with its roots in ethics discourse, is governed by some basic principles. In deontology, it is unethical, or immoral, to steal because you wouldn’t like it if people stole from you. Thus, to discriminate and make hate speech against minorities is immoral because you wouldn’t like it if either you were a minority or people made hate speech against you. (via Sam´s ThoughtsSam´s Thoughts)
My morality comes primarily from my personal reasoning skills. I would not like to think my actions would cause harm or unhappiness to another human being, and so I modify my behaviour in order to prevent that from happening. Its a simplistic view of things, but I find it works quite well for me. It comes from a staunch belief that as people we should aim to do no harm to others, and since I cannot read minds I use what I would find painful, or can imagine someone else would, then do all I can to avoid doing it.
Even as a staunch atheist I cannot say that my moral code was not affected by religion. Of course it was, I come from a Christian family. As a child I went to church. Even though I developed my atheist beliefs early I cannot with all honesty say that my sense of morality was not impacted by Christianity.
Basically however, I treat others the way I’d like to be treated. Such defines my sense of morality.
