Random Picture Challenge

I saw this on someone's blog and liked the idea so here goes!

The idea is that you find five photographs.  The five photographs must contain either random objects, scenes or shots that remind you of a great or funny time in your life.  If someone is in the shot you can only show body parts.  No filth!

Above all, the photos must hold a good memory, but it cannot be an "ordinary" photo.  Here are mine!

I love shoes, and my tattoos.
This is the day they had the perfect match

The Hanging Penguin - A very irritating Vettel
win on Grand Prix day.
We took it out on the
penguin.

Cocktail Hour the Night before my Best Friend's Wedding

A friend was missing on our holiday, so we made one

Fireworks on New Years in foreign climes.
The best New Years I have had.

The Big Match

IPhone v Blackberry.  Put a IPhone user or a Blackberry user in the same room and they could argue to the death.  People get as opinionated and as passionate about one or the another as they do about politics, animal rights…. You know, the actually important things.

The thing is, I have now entered that debate.  Before my last upgrade I had a Samsung I think.  Can’t remember which model but it had a keypad with very minimal touchscreen functionality.

I was, understandably, completely excited therefore to get an IPhone.  I absolutely loved it, still do.  For me, it is undeniably the best touch screen out there.  I’m not interested in an Android.  No particular reason, just personal choice.

I have however, hugely missed having a keypad.  Call me a geek, but I used to love the clickety click of tapping anyway.  Which brings me to my dilemma, and I’m asking, unashamedly, for help.

So here’s what I use on a day to day basis.  Email, Twitter, Facebook and, obviously calls/text.  Am not a big App person.  Games don’t really interest me and the few Apps I do use, are already on Blackberry.

This all therefore would lead me to moving to Blackberry.  I get the keypad I miss, and still the Apps I use.  If I move, it will be the 9900.  The battery charging reviews I have seen don’t bother me, as I am currently having to charge my IPhone twice a day.

Problem is, I, like everyone else know about the downturn on profits with RIM, with people saying that bankruptcy is a possibility, the question I have really is this. 

I will probably sound stupid for asking, but then, if you don’t know, ask!  If the worst happens, they go bankrupt and I have committed to Blackberry, what happens with the phones currently under contract?  Would I then be screwed?

Help, for the uninformed and ditzy, please!

I have a Girl Crush

Just a short post today and it's a blog recommendation.  Please, please checkout The Bloggess. 

I LOVE her.

If you are the type of person that thinks random thoughts, for instance if Jesus was resurrected, does that make him a zombie?  If you are the type to laugh hysterically at the things you shouldn't and have that little bit of crazy in you, I promise you will love her too.

Word of warning though, don't be drinking something while you read.  You will spit it out in laughter.

That is all.

Supernatural or Unexplained

Sooooo, this is one of those things where you go, is she crazy? Well yes, probably, but here goes...

I have always had a belief in the supernatural to a certain extent.  I've never seen a ghost and tend to only believe what I can see, but there are some things in my life that I can't explain,

Ever since my dad died, I have always seen, especially when I was sad, little lights.  I can be sat somewhere, be it work, home, anywhere really and all of a sudden, I am surrounded by tiny little floating lights around me.  This started right from when my dad died and has continued throughout my life.

No one else can see them, just me.  The scientific thinking will probably explain it away with some reason or another, but I like to think that it is my dad watching over me.  It has certainly faded over the years, the occurrences are less, but then again, I needed him more in the earlier years.

It is a visual thing, something that I am not imagining.  I've seen them for 24 years now and to be honest, I don't want the scientific explanation.  When they appear they make me happy, and if sad, they always cheer me up.

The other thing that happens, and this has happened only in recent years is this.  I moved to a new office about four years ago.  They tell me it is haunted, I have never seen anything so I can't comment on that.  However.... some strange thing does happen.

I have a very bad habit of biting my nails, I say this because of what I am about to say next.  At least once or twice a month, when I am sat in my office, I suddenly get scratches on my neck and chest.  Always the same areas.

My neck will start to burn all of a sudden, and itches.  I look in a mirror and I always have one or two raised welts on my neck or chest, like someone has scratched me with their finger nails.  Sometimes hard enough that there are a couple of blood drops there.  Can't explain it and never found anyone that has been able to explain it.

I can't explain these occurrences either.  I did wonder at one point if it somehow was caused by when I'm stressed out at work, but after monitoring when it happens, nine times out of ten I am calm and just getting on with my day.

So there you go, crazy or supernatural - it is unexplained at any rate.  Love the lights, hate the scratches.  Discuss!  haha

Shocking, Apparently

I am going to make a very shocking comment.  Apparently.  I do not want children.

I say “apparently” because I don’t find it a shocking statement.  But I am amazed at the amount of people who, when told (having asked), have reactions that range from scandalised to scathing and some who refuse to believe me.

The most irritating comment I get, on a frequent basis, is “You’ll change your mind”.  I’m sorry, but last time I checked I know my mind very well.  At 32 I’m quite able to make the big decisions.  Or the other classic “You just haven’t met the right man”.

People can, and do make the big decisions all the time.  Meat eater or vegetarian, gay or straight, religious or atheist, the list goes on and on.  All these choices are now socially acceptable.  You always get the idiots of course who will question these choices, but the majority of people will take what you say and that will be it.

But say that you don’t want children and people just don’t understand you. 

I would never dream of asking a parent why they wanted children.  Not just asking, but badgering, asking for detailed reasons.  But if you don’t want offspring, you find yourself under near interrogation sometimes, justifying your choice.

Personally, I am not a “child” person.  I have never had a maternal instinct.  In fact I would be the first person to admit that I am too self absorbed to have children.  I also couldn’t afford one either.  But my views on that particular point are a whole different blog.

So, to the “normal” people, as I have heard referred to as all those who want children as opposed to us “oddballs” who don’t want them, I say this.

I respect your decision to have children, please respect mine not to have them.  I work full time, I pay my taxes and in part, I am financially supporting you in your decision.  Please bear that in mind next time you question my decision.  

Mini rant over. 

Ranty Ranty

Well. We have reached halfway through the first month of the New Year and as yet, no ranting posts on the blog.  Considering the “Rantthedayaway” title, I felt that it was about time for something of a ranting nature.    It has all become a little bit to much "nicey nicey". 

Trouble is, and I will probably look at this in a couple of weeks and laugh, I don’t have anything to rant about.  This means you can guarantee that I will shortly be inundated with things to rant about.  So instead of a rant about a particular subject, I have a list instead.

Things That Fuck Me Off

         ·            Animal cruelty. 

         ·            Rudeness.

         ·            People who don’t understand sarcasm – actually that’s more of just an irritant.

         ·            Mornings.

         ·            Snow & ice.  I do not like falling over.

         ·            Winter in general.  It’s cold, enough said.

         ·            Liars.  You WILL always get caught out in the end.

         ·            Sebastian Vettel – yes I count him as a thing.

         ·            The fact that until four years ago, I had never seen Formula One.  I was stupid.

         ·            People who hate Twitter and the people who tweet.

         ·            Social network snobs in general.

         ·            People who judge on face level.

         ·            Child proof bottles.  I can’t open them.

         ·            A closed mind.

         ·            Shoes that I can’t walk in.

I think that might do for now.  I could have gone on all day.

Challenge Update

I think I may be doing a few of these blogs relating to the whole cut down smoking thing.  Apart from anything, when I am typing, I can’t smoke!

Cutting down 6 cigarettes a day doesn’t sound like a lot, compared to those who go straight into the quit, but you have to do what is right for you.  Personally, I prefer to do this on a slow process. 

I’ve been on 20 a day for over ten years and this is the biggest effort I have made.  On day 10 of  the intended 14 a day I have been good to my goal.  Some days have been 15 I have to admit, but in the long run, that isn’t a major thing.

Tonight however I have a problem.  I have reached my 14 limit, and have had the extra one.  Bed is not in sight anytime soon and therefore smoking is inevitable. 

You can say to yourself “It’s weekend, don’t worry, do what you want” but I can’t do that. I have my goal and going past that is not something I want to do no matter what day it is.

So, with that in mind, my goal for tonight is just not to go past 20.  When   at home for the weekend I have always smoked more, sometimes 25-30 in one day as opposed to the usual 20. 

As long as I am strict with myself and go back tomorrow to the goal of 14 I am not worried.  I have never done this quitting thing before, obviously, so I am just going with the flow.  Whether it is right or wrong I don’t know.

That’s the update so far.  Progress report was doing well, but today has to read: Could do better.

Baby Steps

I’m a smoker.  I have been since the age of 14.  I’m not proud of it, but I’m not ashamed either.

Many people seem to look down on you when you say that you smoke.  If you are a considerate smoker, i.e. never smoking around non smokers, I don’t see why you should feel ashamed.  It isn’t like I am saying I’m a heroin addict (which I’m not before you ask).

Over the years I have thought about quitting, but until now that is all I have done about it.  Think.

The trouble is, I love smoking.  I bloody love it.  It calms me down when I’m stressed, it’s enjoyable with a drink of something alcoholic or after a meal. 

Obviously I am aware of the health issue.  It has always been at the back of my mind but unfortunately that competes with the side of me that doesn’t like being told what to do and it someone says I shouldn’t do something, I more than probably will. 

Over the New Year however I was away with friends, none of whom smoked and as such, the amount of cigarettes I smoked went down.  No one likes standing out in the cold for a cigarette and particularly not when you are on your own. 

I am usually a 20 a day person.  Over the New Year I went down to about 14, which given the amount of alcohol consumed over that period is amazing.  It started me wondering when I returned home if it was something I could keep up.   So I decided to give it a go.

The end plan of course is to eventually quit.  Health issues aren’t going to scare me out of smoking but the fact that I could have a lot more money at my disposal is more than tempting.  At this points “shoes” runs through my brain.

So for now, my little challenge is to maintain the 14 a day I started with at New Year.  Then once I have a handle on that, well, we will see how we go from there.  Baby steps, not a marathon is more likely to work with me. 

The end goal, stop smoking (without a goal date though as I don’t like to be pushed).  Present goal, maintain what I’m doing for a month and then review.  If I manage to quit completely, my aim is to use a few months’ worth of the saved money for a pair of Louboutins.  Now that is something to aim for as I am after all at heart a shoe girl.

I’ll let you know how I go on.

New Years Resolutions?

Soooo, New Year’s resolutions.  Don’t really stand much faith with them.

People make them, and then break them.  I know people who already who have  broken theirs.  All drinking related, you alcoholics!

I do have a few things I want to change in my life, but making a “resolution” is not my thing.  So instead, am going to make a list of things I am going to continue doing instead.

1.  Keep ranting.  I love it and haven’t had any complaints (as yet) !

2.  Make sure that at least one holiday planning is on the burner.  You need something to look forward to.

3.  Find a way, any way, to watch every F1 race next season.

4.  To keep saying what I think and not agreeing when I don’t.  Not connected to ranting!

5.  Maintain the absolutely fantastic friendships I have got going.  I love my “jebs” more than anything.

Hope everyone had a fab New Year’s Eve xx

Holiday Times

After years and years going out on New Year’s Eve, usually spending a king’s ransom, getting pushed and shoves in crowds at the bar, waiting forever for a taxi at the end of the night and waking up the next morning wondering why I did it, it was time for a change.

So three years ago my friends and I decided enough was enough.  For what we were collectively spending on one night out at New Year’s, for just a little more we could have a holiday instead so that is what we decided to do.

The first year we decided on Portugal.  That was, and remains the best New Year’s Eve I have had to date.  A new place to explore, the 5.00pm cocktail hour, spending the night with people you actually want to see.

We spent New Year’s Eve in a small local Portuguese bar where we were made as welcome as any local to the area.  At midnight champagne was passed round and we then raced to the beach next to the bar, in time for the fireworks and a paddle in the sea. 


The year after was spent in a beautiful cottage in the Lake District.  Log fire, en suite bathrooms for all, champagne flowing and lots of fun times.  This year was more of the same.



These three years have been the most fun I’ve had on any of the New Year Eve night’s out before them, plus you get away for a few days, spend time with the people you want to, what is better than that?