So, while I was out to work....my profile made it to +25 'likes' , and I have a user name!!!!
''mywritingworld.leonorasophie'' is to be typed after facebook.com
Or, just tap here for easy access!!! Lee's Facebook Page!!!
Wow, so many 'likes' in one day - the pressure is on!
Time to WORK!!!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Productivity
Well, this week was about getting things off the ground.
I have done this in many ways.
Burning the midnight oil is one.
Creating a Facebook page is another.
To be honest, Facebook promotion is the scariest of all. Showing any work I have done leaves me open to criticism and it is scary. However, to have a stranger criticise, I can ignore, but to have someone you know judge you is difficult.
But, I must remember that, not all if it is going to be criticism. Hopefully there is actually something there for people to like (not just the page).
So, for those who you who want to see what I am talking about, click here - My Facebook Page. I hope you will enjoy.
On another note, did you know that the word 'Facebook' has made it into spell check? I am being pulled up for my lack of capitals and for not making it the proper noun that it is! Shame on me.
I have done this in many ways.
Burning the midnight oil is one.
Creating a Facebook page is another.
To be honest, Facebook promotion is the scariest of all. Showing any work I have done leaves me open to criticism and it is scary. However, to have a stranger criticise, I can ignore, but to have someone you know judge you is difficult.
But, I must remember that, not all if it is going to be criticism. Hopefully there is actually something there for people to like (not just the page).
So, for those who you who want to see what I am talking about, click here - My Facebook Page. I hope you will enjoy.
On another note, did you know that the word 'Facebook' has made it into spell check? I am being pulled up for my lack of capitals and for not making it the proper noun that it is! Shame on me.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Travel Diaries
This week, I am focusing on my travel blog.
I am determined to keep it updated with anything 'travel', even if this means fun stuff from time gone by.
I am writing up the 'Indo Diaries 2010' - a story of a volunteer trip come holi-moon, come adventure around Java and Bali, Indonesia.
Have a peek if you want!!
Indo Diaries...and more!!
I am determined to keep it updated with anything 'travel', even if this means fun stuff from time gone by.
I am writing up the 'Indo Diaries 2010' - a story of a volunteer trip come holi-moon, come adventure around Java and Bali, Indonesia.
Have a peek if you want!!
Indo Diaries...and more!!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Flower baskets
I am very pleasantly surprised at one basket in particular...
I planted some Ivy. You can't go too wrong with Ivy, can you?
And, some ポーチュラカ (Portulaca umbraticola) , which, incidentally, looked as if it would not make it when I planted it last week, but there it is at the front, bursting out of the basket! It has grown a lot in the past week alone. It is an American weed originally and flourishes in the sunlight. Sadly, the sun has just disappeared for a few days....
and some イエロームーン (Yellow moon?). I'm not sure of the translation exactly, but it is a very pretty and popular flower.
This basket below, we inherited form Shane, who has just left Japan. Geraniums are great flowers. Here's hoping they flourish too!
Too busy procrastinating...
Honestly, I have just rearranged all my pens, pencils, post-its....
Get on with your work, Lee!!!!
OK, but before I do...have to share this!!
We got Elbi a new bean bag this week...Why???
He got a little too excited the other day while the cover was off!
And, quite simply, no other cushion or blanket will do. If he isn't trying to hump it, he is trying to eat it!!
No, he wants a bean bag!
Oh, how he loves it so....
Get on with your work, Lee!!!!
OK, but before I do...have to share this!!
We got Elbi a new bean bag this week...Why???
 |
| Can you see all the white balls?? The bean bag exploded on him! |
And, quite simply, no other cushion or blanket will do. If he isn't trying to hump it, he is trying to eat it!!
No, he wants a bean bag!
 |
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
(My) Tohoku update
Being back from holiday is great. feeling so ready and refreshed to do so much.As I wrote before, there was to be one promise and that was 'my pace'.Sadly, this pace includes the financial path as well as the mental one.
If I could have it my way, I would be back now to help this weekend. But, such things are not possible.
Work, Elbi, many personal projects (work related) and then some visitors too, all stop me from dropping things and going up north.
So many people are helping and this is great.
We have a plan to go up (my husband and I together) once again in October. There is a long weekend, and we can devote more time to the work needed.
In the meantime, there is still plently to be done from Saitama. JEARS is still running strong and we must update the facebook page almost daily. The animals are all being cared for by amazing people who still need our support.
Sadly, Susie had to return to the shelter she came from. Having two dogs completely opposite to each other was difficult. She needed walking at 5am, Elbi just wanted to muck around. He never accepted her, she never responded to his play requests and subsequently hit back one time damaging his eyes (now recovered - phew).
The shelter is is at, is HEART, Tokushima. I have mentioned it before (one of the 3 JEARS shelters). We promised to go down and help at the shelter, but I just checked the flights down there and it isn't cheap, so we may have to wait until we have a longer break in order to use the time more wisely.
In the meantime, we are still collecting donations
and you can read about all the updates on our facebook page.
London riots - The aftermath
I haven't really ranted here about the events of last week so much, but I feel I should, just a little bit.
I have never really been political per se. Right and left meant nothing much. Even a knife and fork can change hands, and so do the plans and manifestos of the governments.
I have never really believed that one person could be so strongly swayed in just the one direction and I still believe this.
So, if you ask me whether or not I am a full blown conservative, don't expect a direct response.
I hate it when people so stubbornly claim to be on one side (whichever that may be, people are always stubborn, but they usually choose the side they believe to be the right one!) and, as a result, come out with some harsh criticisms of the other.
In the UK right now, people are blaming the government. What government, we don't know. Certainly the rioters don't know...
They talk about the fun of it. Sure, drinking at 9am can be wild. Hopefully they will have a hangover to teach them something to that effect
But, they talk about 'showing the police that they can do what they want.' It's a kind of freedom, then, I can only assume, proof that they, the rioters are in control.
But, who are the rioters exactly?
We have had reports of an Olympic hopeful, supposedly representing UK next year (remember we are supposed to be hosting the Olympics next year too), I read about a 12 year old, (whose mother blames the government for creating enough things to do for her child), there was a doctor's daughter, a millionaire's daughter too. How are they disgruntled?
There wasn't just the 'yoof' with nothing to do but go on a crazy spree, there were men in their 40's too.
I have been told that they are just 'angry' people. Angry about what I wonder? Job cuts, unemployment, dim prospects....
I am not going to be anywhere near the top of the line in advertising my home country, nor city as a place of paradise. but, it isn't all that depressing is it?
Ok, so there are no 'youth centres' for the kids to hang out and occupy themselves when they aren't at school. Let me just point out, that I was on my way home from a youth centre when I was mugged at knife point in south London. I was 11, my attackers, 16. Youth centres are not the answer.
I haven't lived in England for almost 6 years, so, yes, I am out of the loop. However, I knew that I had to study to make it (what/wherever 'it' was - still learning). I knew that there was a difference between right and wrong. Surely this is a basic instinct?
But riots, revolutions, passionate protests aren't always about basic instincts. They aren't even about getting results, but no one is going to stop to think about it, are they?
One brave lady even tried to tell the rioters this as they ran amok on the streets of Hackney. You may have already seen it (it made it to various news sources).
And she is so right in her words.
What results did the rioters want last week? New trainers & a six month jail term?
Yes, the law is coming down so super hard on this rioters. Some say too hard (labour /liberal supporters) and some say not hard enough (conservative supporters).
I say they deserve the penance for sure. You commit a crime, you do the time. It is simple logic and nothing left or right, well just right.
There is talk of taking away their benefits (super conservative). It is true, some people are living on ridiculous benefits.
This is nothing to do with rioters, but a family from Somalia are living in rented accommodation. They have just moved form the north to Camden council area, and are in a house where the rent is £8,000 ((!!!)) a week. Camden council are picking up this bill. The saddest thing here is that that money could house so many families from Somalia. It isn't a question about immigration, but about balance and fairness.
Now, those who say that the conservatives have caused all this damage, we must remember that we had labour before for 13 years. Those who do remember, are pointing out that both governments are Thatcher's doing.
Now, I was a lot younger, and I don't remember her policies so much. But, I do remember there was no bullshit. I also know that it was the current conservative government who actually lowered the maximum housing rental allowance to the unemployed to £400!!! That is quite the sum and you can get a neat pad for that in zone 3/4.
We need balance.
I agree with some of the jail terms, although I wonder what purpose it will serve later down the line. Will anyone learn?
I agree with the Liberal Democrat suggestion of getting people to do community service as punishment. Doing time and helping the communities (they have damaged) will teach them so much. It can teach anyone a lot, criminal or otherwise.
So where is the balance between the apparent conservative's headline grabbing sentences (I can't say I agree with four years imprisonment for inciting a riot on facebook, when some murderers get let of with less than this) and those who believe it would be more important 'talking to the rioters'???
We have a big rift going on amongst the UK coalition government.
One of the things we need to be prepared for is that that this may happen again. It may not be in such a scale, but there will always be rebellion, especially in the UK. What we need to do is find out why it happens / has happened (during their community service/jail time, of course) and be prepared.
It is pointless fighting crime with few cell spaces or adequate laws in place.
Good luck England! You're going to need it!
I have never really been political per se. Right and left meant nothing much. Even a knife and fork can change hands, and so do the plans and manifestos of the governments.
I have never really believed that one person could be so strongly swayed in just the one direction and I still believe this.
So, if you ask me whether or not I am a full blown conservative, don't expect a direct response.
I hate it when people so stubbornly claim to be on one side (whichever that may be, people are always stubborn, but they usually choose the side they believe to be the right one!) and, as a result, come out with some harsh criticisms of the other.
In the UK right now, people are blaming the government. What government, we don't know. Certainly the rioters don't know...
Listen here for a horrendous example of who is involved and the mind set.
But, they talk about 'showing the police that they can do what they want.' It's a kind of freedom, then, I can only assume, proof that they, the rioters are in control.
But, who are the rioters exactly?
We have had reports of an Olympic hopeful, supposedly representing UK next year (remember we are supposed to be hosting the Olympics next year too), I read about a 12 year old, (whose mother blames the government for creating enough things to do for her child), there was a doctor's daughter, a millionaire's daughter too. How are they disgruntled?
There wasn't just the 'yoof' with nothing to do but go on a crazy spree, there were men in their 40's too.
I have been told that they are just 'angry' people. Angry about what I wonder? Job cuts, unemployment, dim prospects....
I am not going to be anywhere near the top of the line in advertising my home country, nor city as a place of paradise. but, it isn't all that depressing is it?
Ok, so there are no 'youth centres' for the kids to hang out and occupy themselves when they aren't at school. Let me just point out, that I was on my way home from a youth centre when I was mugged at knife point in south London. I was 11, my attackers, 16. Youth centres are not the answer.
I haven't lived in England for almost 6 years, so, yes, I am out of the loop. However, I knew that I had to study to make it (what/wherever 'it' was - still learning). I knew that there was a difference between right and wrong. Surely this is a basic instinct?
But riots, revolutions, passionate protests aren't always about basic instincts. They aren't even about getting results, but no one is going to stop to think about it, are they?
One brave lady even tried to tell the rioters this as they ran amok on the streets of Hackney. You may have already seen it (it made it to various news sources).
And she is so right in her words.
What results did the rioters want last week? New trainers & a six month jail term?
Yes, the law is coming down so super hard on this rioters. Some say too hard (labour /liberal supporters) and some say not hard enough (conservative supporters).
I say they deserve the penance for sure. You commit a crime, you do the time. It is simple logic and nothing left or right, well just right.
There is talk of taking away their benefits (super conservative). It is true, some people are living on ridiculous benefits.
This is nothing to do with rioters, but a family from Somalia are living in rented accommodation. They have just moved form the north to Camden council area, and are in a house where the rent is £8,000 ((!!!)) a week. Camden council are picking up this bill. The saddest thing here is that that money could house so many families from Somalia. It isn't a question about immigration, but about balance and fairness.
Now, those who say that the conservatives have caused all this damage, we must remember that we had labour before for 13 years. Those who do remember, are pointing out that both governments are Thatcher's doing.
Now, I was a lot younger, and I don't remember her policies so much. But, I do remember there was no bullshit. I also know that it was the current conservative government who actually lowered the maximum housing rental allowance to the unemployed to £400!!! That is quite the sum and you can get a neat pad for that in zone 3/4.
We need balance.
I agree with some of the jail terms, although I wonder what purpose it will serve later down the line. Will anyone learn?
I agree with the Liberal Democrat suggestion of getting people to do community service as punishment. Doing time and helping the communities (they have damaged) will teach them so much. It can teach anyone a lot, criminal or otherwise.
So where is the balance between the apparent conservative's headline grabbing sentences (I can't say I agree with four years imprisonment for inciting a riot on facebook, when some murderers get let of with less than this) and those who believe it would be more important 'talking to the rioters'???
We have a big rift going on amongst the UK coalition government.
One of the things we need to be prepared for is that that this may happen again. It may not be in such a scale, but there will always be rebellion, especially in the UK. What we need to do is find out why it happens / has happened (during their community service/jail time, of course) and be prepared.
It is pointless fighting crime with few cell spaces or adequate laws in place.
Good luck England! You're going to need it!
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