The Throw Away Generation

We really are a throw away generation (thirties and under). I have just watched an advert that suggests, rather than throwing away your broken items you should recycle, well this is just nuts. Whatever happened to repairing items? Our folks (the majority of them anyway) had to make do, they repaired broken items where possible and almost never threw anything away!

When did we become such a useless group of people? I know people who would rather get a new washing machine than have it repaired. This is such a waste of money and these are people who are not rolling in it, they are regular people on minimum wages and yet they’d rather fork out a small fortune for new items than have the ones they already own repaired. It just doesn’t make sense!

Recycling should be the last step in any items life - reduce, reuse, recycle. SO why not try getting it fixed first?

Another bee in my bonnet in this vein is the mazuma etc ads. These companies are not helping the environment, they re-sell the items and make a profit, or take part, such as the tiny amounts of gold in a phone and sell them on. They, in my opinion, couldn’t care less about the environment and certainly aren’t doing anything to help it, they simply aren’t (hopefully), adding to environmental issues.

If you really want to help the environment, go see what you can do for The Soil Association, or Friends of the Earth (Greenpeace only care about small aspects of the environment, not the whole system, as I found out during the foot and mouth days/months).

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

What the hell is happening in America?

I just read the paper today and saw something that shocked the hell out of me. A new report states that 20% of women in America – that’s the USA, not a South American country, have been raped at least once!!! That is 1 in 5 women! I know more than 5 American women and this report means that there is a good chance that at least one of them has been raped! So I’m sitting here thinking what the f**k is going on in America that this could be so?

This report also states that of these 20%, 1 in 4 were severely assaulted by a partner! Almost 80% of the victims were raped (their first rape that is) under the age of 25. 1 in 8 of the women surveyed said that they were raped by a member of their family.

This is horrific. The thing that makes this really scary is that this is a report from the CDC, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the US.
My heart goes out to all those affected by these horrific statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/features/NISVS/

Ready for Winter - Be Prepared

Winter is now here and with it snow, freezing temperatures and more icy roads/pavements are to be expected. So what can we do to stay safe, warm and well?

In Scotland, the government are running a Ready Scotland campaign, to help prepare for this cold season and its possible dangers.

In the meantime, what can we do?
Make sure you have a supply of salt or cat litter or ash for your driveway to keep ice to a minimum.
Buy in tins of food and packets of pasta/noodles in the event that you cannot get out for a few days.
Make sure you have alternative heating - so if your electricity goes off, you have a small gas stove or a fire you can use in the meantime. Likewise - a cooking gas stove, such as you would need for camping, will be beneficial in the event of a power cut. Warm duvets and blankets are a must.
If your home is drafty, use draft excluders and heavy curtains to keep drafts to a minimum.
Make sure you are up to date with all your prescriptions and have a complete first aid kit in your home/car.
Carry blankets, food, water and a shovel in your car in case you are stuck anywhere for a time.
Those under sixty may wish to look in on older neighbours who are afraid of slipping and who may remain indoors for long periods of time.
Wear shoes/boots with good grip or buy add-on grips

With fuel bills at an all time high, many of us are very reluctant to use oil/gas/electricity but this is the time of year when we need it most. If you have a fireplace and chimney in your house, it may be worth having it looked at to see whether you can use it and if you can, do so. it is far cheaper than the bills the fat fuel companies would charge.

Stay warma dn well this winter.

Current Political Policy

It seems that the Conservatives are happy enough not to do anything constructive in this current economic crisis. They would rather ride the wave to the end of their term and hope that nothing much worse happens than help get Britain out of the mess they have made of it.

When will all political parties get the message that constantly bringing up the mess they inherited from the previous party does nothing for them except make them look like petulant children. They are all guilty of this and they must know by now that people are sick of hearing it. Yes, the last government messed things up, we know that, we were there. But the Conservatives have been in office for more than a year and a half now and they have no right to say that anymore and frankly, we really don't want to hear it.

On a final note, I feel I need to rub a few faces in this. I was just old enough to remember the last time the Conservatives were in power and I swore I would never, ever vote for them. At Edinburgh Uni, I met (I was 24, classed as a mature student) 18 year olds who did not know what it was like to live through this government before and Scots - yes, Scots, said they would vote for them at the upcoming election. Well now they see the mess this party like to make of the UK, how they disregard the north (North England and Scotland), Wales, the South West and Northern Ireland. The Conservatives are a party of money-makers and aristo's and even the middle class are being 'squeezed' as a result. This is their legacy, just as it was in the ‘80s.

Economic stability on the horizon?

Having been keeping a close watch on the news re Europe and the Eurozone crisis, it is finally looking as though things may be turning around. With Greece looking ahead, and Berlusconi hopefully on the way out, things could finally be looking up. Indeed, the FSTE was looking promising this morrning, for the first time in a while.

On another note, I was saddened to hear that people had taken to burning poppies for whatever horrible reason. This is both sad and offensive. The poppy is not, as some people have suggested, a political or a religious symbol. It is merely a symbol of sacrifice - the sacrifice of the men who lost their lives in wars. Originally for the first and second world wars, it has come to symbolise all wars and is therefore a global symbol, of remembrance. The money raise also aids the recovery of our soldiers, both present and heroes of older conflicts.

I urge those people who think they are making a protest on political or religious grounds to stop and think, think about what they are doing and how it makes others feel. This is neither a brave nor a commendable act. Please show some respect, even if you do not agree with the symbol. I would not ask that you mark this Sunday with 2 minutes of silence, as this is clearly something you do not agree with but please respect others who do.

Inflation busters

With inflation rocketing out of control, David Cameron doesn’t seem especially inclined to do anything about it.

Instead of doing one of the most basic things to kick-start the economy, he avoids questions on what his own party will do regarding Europe.

Cut the fuel costs. Ridiculously high fuel prices have a knock-on effect on the price of everything, from groceries to furniture, to the cost of oil. By cutting the cost of petrol/diesel more people will be able to afford more extravagant items, boosting the economy. It’s not rocket science and yet the Conservative Party seem incapable of making that small leap of imagination!

On another note, it was Annabel Goulding’s last parliamentary question time in the Scottish Parliament. While she may be a Conservative (most of Scotland, myself included, detest this party), she is an intelligent woman who has done many good deeds in her time and will be missed. I really do wish she would become independent or join any of the other parties! Farewell Annabel!

Facebook bigot facing jail sentence

A bigot, Stephen Birrell, faces up to 8 months in jail after posting sectarian comments on facebook. These posts occurred days after he was released from a 12 month sentence. Clearly, a stint in prison has done nothing to curb his tongue (or typing in this case).

One of the many things that really annoy me about this is that technically, this is a breach of freedom of speech. Firstly, I would like to say that I totally abhor any form of ism - racism, ageism, sectarianism etc - they are the most pathetic excuses for disliking someone. Secondly, everyone in the UK is entitled to say what they like, as long as it is not threatening. Thirdly, having read some of the abusing posts, it is more pathetic than threatening, more stupid than personal. The posts are simply the drivelling rants of a small child-like mind.

Given that this idiot just left jail, clearly being behind bars has done nothing to rehabilitate him.

Rather than wasting the public's money by housing and feeding this eijit, I think it would be far more beneficial to set him up with community service working with catholics and for anyone particularly offended to sue the pants off him.

While I know this is deterrant for the bigger picture of football hooliganism, I do think we can better spend public money.

Berlusconi wins vote of confidence

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi won the vote of confidence from his parliament today. MP's had called a vote of no-cofidence and they spent the majority of the afternoon voting whether they had faith in their Prime Minister.

This came as a huge shock to many throughout the world, given how Berlusconi has handled the financial situation and his own not-so-personal private life.

What really shocks me is that Italy is one of the oldest parliaments is the world and has been held in high regard until Berlusconi began his very public displays of womanising and complete lack of concern for what his voters thought of him.

It is genuinely shocking that a man so lacking in decorum and self restraint, someone who clearly does not care what the public thinks of him - and by default, what the world thinks of Itlay, has retained his powerful position.

We can only hope that Italy will wake up to his lack of professionalism and the fact that he makes the whole country look bad politically.

I genuinely feel for the people of Italy at the moment.

Easyjet

Firstly, I must apologise for the delay in putting something up. It has been one of those years – death, car accidents, weddings etc. A real roller coaster. Sincere apologies for not taking some time to write a few items for my blog.


Easyjet

Having recently used this company for flights to Europe, and having not used them for a while, I was more than a little surprised by several changes.

Ignoring the costs (which have also risen, especially baggage-wise!), and the reduce in number of destinations when flying from Scotland, they now have a system of no booking groups. This means that regardless of whether you show up well in advance or not, you still have to queue for a long time to be able to sit with whomever you’re travelling or face being split up.

Some person seems to come along about forty-five minutes prior to departure (often before the plane has even shown up), lining up straight away and like sheep, the majority of others form a queue behind them, leaving you no choice but to join in instead of having a comfy seat until boarding time.

This smacks of bad management to me. No other budget (Really? Still a budget company? I think not!) airline company (that I am aware of) feels the need to put their passengers through this. Speedy booking isn’t really any faster, it simply means you get to stand at the front of the queue. However, this costs extra.

In the past, they would call out boarding groups and while this was not as good as individual seats, it was considerably better than the way things currently stand (pun intended).

While I would recommend shopping around, you can access Easyjet through their website:

www.easyjet.com

Highlands top for UK tourists

A fantastic boost for income/tourism and business in the Highlands of Scotland but hopefully not all these soon to arrive tourists will be driving.

With many roads in very poor conditions after 2 very cold winters in a row, heavy traffic is an issue, not to mention terrible drivers and ignorance of how to drive on single track roads.

People who learn to drive in the city and spend most of their time driving on motorways or other straight roads are not only a hindrance on Scottish roads but are in many cases the cause of so many road accidents (this is aimed at all city drivers, including Scottish ones).

The poorest driving I see, and unfortunately on a very regular basis, are the ones who speed up on the straight and break, doing 30 miles an hour around any slight bend or curve in the road. This means those who know the roads are held up on the bends but don’t get the opportunity to over-take on the straight. This is bad and dangerous driving, causes frustration and encourages people to take more risks than they normally would. It is no wonder the amount of road traffic accidents more than trebles (all over the UK, not just in the Scottish Highlands).

While most people are more than happy (and indeed welcome) tourists to their area, we would very much appreciate it if many more of you would use public transport instead of frustrating people/causing accidents.

Enjoy your holiday but please take the bus/train ;D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13599177

Icelandic Ash Cloud Grounds Flights – Again

The Icelandic Grimsvotn volcano is at it again, belching out smoke/ash/pryoclasic bits into the atmosphere and grounding flights in Scotland once again.

So many travellers will be stranded once more, trying to get to or indeed, come back from, locations that are part of a holiday, or a business trip, or for whatever other reason they may be travelling.

Some ignorant environmentalists will be hailing this as a boon for the airways but indeed, volcanic spewings are almost never beneficial.

Acid rain, anyone? That’s right, acid rain is a common side effect of a large amount of volcanic material (most often the large amounts of sulphur) billowing up into the stratosphere. It has happened before (Sweden was bombarded by acid rain less than 50 years ago) and it will no doubt happen again.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a huge cause for panic yet, and especially not within the UK or mainland Europe, no, it is the Scandinavian countries who most often bare the brunt of this rather nasty side effect.

This is most certainly going to have an effect (a direct, not a side effect) on the weather and especially on climate temperatures. If you will remember back to the last time this happened (last year), we had a cool summer and a really cool (though short) winter.

Lets hope this year will have less disruption and no signs of acid rain or any other nasty side effects.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13498477

Rothesay to get lottery funding of 1.5mn!

Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, is to be given £1.5mn as a ‘revamp’ from the heritage lottery fund. This money is to go towards building regeneration.

Now is it just me or could this money not be used for far better things, like helping get people back to work or going to support care services, health services, or a whole host of other far more worthy causes, rather than making Rothesay prettier?! Having been to Rothesay, I know it is a pretty town and really does not need this cash.

This appears to be a terrible token gesture by someone who has no concept of what would genuinely benefit the town and the island community.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13412133

Osama Dead and Gone

This is such an odd and negative start to a usually cheerful month.

While I do believe in justice and I do think that criminals need to be brought to justice, the thought of celebrating the dead of anyone is not only revolting, it is amoral, regardless of the person. When we celebrate killing someone we become as bad as we perceive them to be.

A legal, sanctioned trial and (where believed necessary) execution is something that should be solemn, an ending to a nightmare for the victims and their families. None of this occurred when America killed Osama bin Laden. Regardless of whether this is a justified killing (that really isn’t the issue here), celebrating the death of another human being is just wrong.

I am so shocked that people who call themselves Christian can do this. Christianity is about forgiveness and acceptance (much like Islam), not about celebrating when hearing of someone’s death.

My heart goes out to the families of those lost on the 11th of September, I hope this may bring you some peace. I hope you can find closure and that something good may come of this.

I urge the US to show a little caution here. The situation with America –v- the Middle East/Islam is a precarious one. Rubbing salt in what must at the moment be a wound will merely provoke retaliation. I truly hope this is not the case, there have been enough lives lost already. I hope President Obama takes this into account.

http://writing.wikinut.com/Questioning-the-Celebrations-of-Osama-bin-Laden-s-Death/25qsnfly/

Peace be upon you (literally).

The Government and Money - Libya

So we are being told that we all need to tighten our belts, that there have to be cuts in benefits because the government cannot afford to pay out money, that they must raise taxes, especially fuel taxes, because they have no money, they have a deficit left over from the previous government etc etc.

And we are currently sending our air force over to Libya - costing millions of pounds.

I'm sorry, where exactly did this money come from? If you can afford to put your nose in where it does not belong, you can afford to drop the price of fuel, food and a whole range of other essentials.

Get it right, Cameron.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Frugal thinking may be the way ahead

In times like this, the price of everything is on the rise, especially food.

Food is the one thing we cannot do without, so what do we do when money becomes so tight that we are worried we cannot even feed ourselves? We tighten our belts and look to student-type budgeting.

This article deals with eating on a budget: http://www.wikinut.com/university-life-%e2%80%93-eating-on-a-budget/zfdmlxf8/pwz3999h/
And this one deals with life on a budget, just learning, or re-learning in some cases, how to budget: http://www.wikinut.com/top-10-tips-for-university-life-on-a-budget/14ik-j-2/207e.8zk/

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Money really doesn't grow on trees

With money so thin on the ground as to be almost non-existent, what is a person to do about their dire financial circumstances?

The first thing anyone must do is look at what you are entitled to with regard to Benefits and Working Tax Credit. http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx
Selling items on the likes of EBay is another way to get rid of a few items you are not using.

Jobs are few and far between at the moment, so if one comes up, apply for it if it is within your capabilities.

Not sure what else to do, why not go for a bit of rep sales work, such as Betterware, Avon and Kleeneze.

This is the time of year where it is possible to ask for a pay rise. While many employers will not entertain this it is possible and you should not feel that you cannot ask.

This article covers a few more tips on how to make extra cash. http://www.bukisa.com/how-to/actually-make-money-online

The Pitiful NHS

The NHS is in deep trouble. I don't mean financially, I mean Personnel.

Medical staff (especially nurses but doctors also) used to care about patient welfare, it used to be a 'calling'. Now people are attracted to the job for the salary and patient care has gone out the window.

I do not wish to call out all nurses and doctors, there are always exceptions to any rule. There are people in the medical profession who genuinely care and want what is best for the patient but these people are few and far between in what is becoming a 'careless' environment.

Dispatches on Channel 4 recently did an expose on the lack of care, respect and consideration for patients by the NHS. It was shocking and sadly, one patient mirrored a situation in my own life.

We are a society of greedy money-mongers and in order to get the care we need, the care we deserve, we need to ensure that the RIGHT people take care of us. I'm not sure how we should go about this. perhaps reducing the salary of those in medicine, to ensure that the greedy do not apply. Perhaps they should take psychology tests prior to interviews? Who knows. What I do know is that something must change. Human beings deserve better than they are being treated by the NHS currently.

Peace out.

Financial Clearout - Sort Your Finances Now

February is a time of clearing out the old to make way for the new. it is a time of going over your accounts, your bank statements and all your outgoings to make sure you know exactly where you stand. This is good as a general practice, but especially good as the end of the financial year looms.

Take time to make sure all you debits are relevant, and you haven't forgotten to stop one you no longer need. Make sure you have any necessary overdrafts renewed and you are repared for tax time.

In your home, on a much smaller scale, sort your finances as you can. Make sure you are getting the best deals for home and car insurnace with sites like and , as well as going over what you spend on groceries - are you throwing food away? If so, make a shopping list of all you require for your weekly shop and stick to it, do not allow yourself to be tempted by advertising or tasty looking extras.

De clutter your home and make several piles - rubbish, charity shop, selling on or
piles.

This isn't rocket science but it is solid advice. We often don't bother to plan ahead, take a few early steps to prepare for the financial new year and generally make sure we're not being ripped off. Sorting your finances now is better done early.

Going to University - what you should know

It’s that time of year when we need to start thinking about applying for university. Making the right choices now saves us a lot of time, energy and possible heart ache later.

When trying to decide which university you should apply to you need to keep a few things in mind.

- Write a list of all your requirements
- Write a list of your university choices requirements
- Take a good look at the location of the university, the campus and accommodation
areas
- Be aware of options with regard to special needs
- Do not only apply to one university. Places are limited, with more and more
people applying. You may not get a place from your first choice. Apply to at
least five separate universities

Always remember that it is you who will be going to university, you who will be studying and hopefully obtaining qualifications at the end. Do not let yourself be influenced by where your friends apply, or where your parents want you to apply. This is your life and you need to do what is best for you.
Have a look at this article for more information: http://www.bukisa.com/how-to/choose-the-right-university-for-you

Choosing your degree subject is at least as important, as this will influence your choice of universities. Do not make the assumption that universities like Oxford and Cambridge are automatically the best locations for all degrees. Research your subject, research how many graduates from your choices go on to work in your field of choice.

This article has the ins and outs of choosing your degree: http://www.bukisa.com/how-to/choose-a-subject-to-study-at-university

The Screen Machine - The Mobile Cinema

In the West Highlands of Scotland, we have a mobile digital cinema, also called the Screen Machine.

This wonderful public service travels around the west of Scotland, from the very north, to the islands and down into Argyll.

It is a mobile cinema that is also a truck and seats approximately 90 people. It usually takes 10 weeks to travel back to your location, so every 10 weeks the cinema comes to you - or you can travel to it at other times.

At the moment, it is showing the American and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt1, as well as Megamind.

It usually costs £6 for an adult to view and they do not serve food or beverages, nor do they supply a toilet (this is just not feasible, given the space restrictions).

The Screen Machine can also be hired out for provate functions, times allowing. For more details on the Screen Machine, please follow this link:
http://www.screenmachine.co.uk/

Extortionate Fuel bills cripple

A lady in Strathpeffer, Highlands of Scotland, put her heating on for 3 days over the Christmas holidays and it cost her an astounding £300!!! She lives in Albyn Housing accommodation and her GP even sent them a letter to inform them of the health issues of people living in very cold accommodation.

Albyn Housing Association admitted that there was 'room for improvement', according to the Ross-shire Journal.

Many of the tenants state taht they sit in their homes with quilts on over their clothing to stay warm, as they cannot afford the huge electricity bills, and they are calling on AHA to provide a new fuel supplier as a matter of urgency.

For the full story, go to www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk

Steve Jobs - Get Well Soon

Currently in the news is Steve Jobs’ leave of absence from Apple due to medical reasons.

Now most people would think poor man, hope he gets better soon. But the financial world? They want to know why he didn’t tell them sooner, or why he hasn’t revealed why he is taking a medical leave of absence!

This article goes into the details a little more. http://www.bukisa.com/articles/441622_steve-jobs-the-whole-of-apple

It truly never ceases to amaze and shock me how callous some people can be towards other human beings.

Get well soon Steve Jobs.

Politics in general

Is Britain completely disillusioned by politics and especially by politicians? I’m sensing that this is not unique to Britain either.

I think we are now a nation completely disillusioned. We are sick of being lied to and no longer believe in our so called representatives.

Watching the UK parliament on the BBC is much like watching a crèche of infants throwing tantrums and names at each other. It is truly one of the most pathetic sights to behold. Men and women in their thirties, forties, fifties and older behaving like squabbling toddlers, stamping their feet and jeering at the opposition. Pathetic is the only word to use.

Looking around the world, it seems this is not an isolated matter, although perhaps for varying reasons. Politicians are no longer seen as representatives of the public, but as business men and women, trying to out-do one another is a field where they should be showing co-operation towards a common goal, that of the improvement of the lot of their voters.

One point that all politicians seem to have forgotten is that they are servants. They serve the people who put them in office, not the other way around. A politician is a servant of the people and yet the only people they serve are themselves.

Many of us are aware that when a party comes into power they are subject to laws and regulations within the government itself. Civil servants keep them in line. Perhaps they are not aware of just how much power the civil service has, but they are not completely restrained from making the changes they claim they will, prior to election.

It seem to me that election these days means not obligating the manifesto’s they create to become elected.

I would like to hear any suggestions as to what could be done about this!

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/438911_jean-claude-baby-doc-duvalier-returns-to-haiti

Poor Mans Illnesses on the Increase

Illnesses once thought eradicated in the UK, and the West, are returning with a vengeance.  Tuberculosis, Scurvy, Rickets, Typhoid - are all on the increase.  Why?   Bad diet, usually caused by lack of funding, is the main reason.

This article talks about each illness, symptoms and possible preventions.  Is the UK reverting back to Victorian times in respect of health?

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/439377_poor-peoples-illnesses-come-back-with-a-vengeance

Tweet

Just how big a bunch of bankers are they?

Another bank joins in the billion pound bonus disgrace.  Now, normally I wouldn’t be too concerned about bankers receiving bonuses but these particular banks are either part or almost fully owned by the tax payer, so we are forking out the billions for the their bonuses.

Royal Bank of Scotland announced recently that they were giving bonuses (RBS is 80% owned by the tax payer) and now Lloyds Banking Group are saying they expect their boss, Eric Daniels to do the same (they are 41% owned by the tax payer).

I’ve attached 2 articles for your perusal.  I cannot remain objective on this, these people make millions in salaries, now they want millions more in bonuses, and in many cases, the same again in shares!  It’s daylight robbery.  They really think they can get away with it and you know what?  The awful truth is they can.

http://business.wikinut.com/More-government-aided-banks-following-the-big-bonus-fiasco!/ohbtuivw/

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/431970_banks-give-big-bonuses-again

The government is so scared they’re willing to do anything to keep these (alleged) blackmailers around!