Saturday, May 30, 2009

Reality Bites

So tonight was the finale of Britain's Got Talent and did I watch it. Nope. Even though the lady with the teddy bear hair lives only a few miles from my door. I know she didn't win though, and I know who did. And why? Because these shows have become so much part of the fabric of every day life that the incidents and outcomes make the news.

Slow news day or no news day or catering for the masses?

Another point is this fascination with sticking the beak into people's family lives. I'll admit I've watched an episode of Jon and Kate plus 8. The idea of sextuplets is of curiosity, I know what two are like so triple that...Only the show seemed more about the mother, I am judgemental, I didn't really like her and it would seem that reality was not so much what was depicted as the concept behind the show. Okay, I'll be blunt, as is my want, she came across as a bit of a bitch and not exactly a warm and caring mother. That is entirely my opinion and I wouldn't expect anyone else to follow what I say.

Only there are people who watch these programmes, who become so involved with them that they get carried away in the lives of people with teddy bear hair or beaver tail hair. (I have a thing about hair at the moment as I'm trying to grow mine into some kind of reasonable mess.)

I suppose it is one way of ignoring all the horrible things that are going on at the moment, a form of escapism.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Its Not Over 'Til Its Over


This week, in fact in the next couple of days if I want a chance of actually passing the course, I need to send in the final exam for my OU Advanced Creative Writing course. It feels strange that I am sorry it is over.

Not my studies that is, but this is the last of the "literature" part to my degree. I've made friends on this courses who I will stay in contact with I hope. So much has happened. During my first writing course my marriage ended, during this one my father died. Perhaps I should be thankful there isn't another one to take.

I am not, though, I liked the deadlines pushing me on. I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this course as much as the Level 2 writing course, but I did enjoy the script writing aspect and have chosen that as the medium for my parting shot. Unlike the previous workbook I didn't feel as inspired by the exercises in the Advanced Creative Writing one but that is not the point. I know what I've always wanted to do and never had the courage to actually take the plunge and go forth and actually *do*. I wonder if it is too late, I hate the nagging devil on the shoulder who still chides that this is not for people like me. If I have stories to tell then surely it is for my own satisfaction to tell them - have I really not shaken that self-doubt that plagues my every second? Well no, of course not. Otherwise I would feel that this was more the jumping-board into further opportunities than the door closing with a final slam.

Friday, May 08, 2009

"But they said I could!"

Now repeat the above in the whiniest voice possible and you too can be an MP my dear~

Having been somewhat in the red for the past few years (no he still hasn't stumped up properly, yes I'm still left paying for it all) I wonder if there is a possibility that for every bath plug and packet of sweeties I needed I could claim the money elsewhere. (Actually I have never needed to purchase a bath plug.)

You see while people are losing their jobs and homes and old folk are spending meager pensions on council tax there is one group who are doing very nicely thank-you-very-much. Those who smile and say "don't worry about it" for every rise in tax, who declare they understand the high cost of living have made sure that their nests are very comfortably feathered.

And what respect is left? Seriously, why should they get nearly all of the items they have claimed for? Certainly some are necessity, the office expenses etc. But it is about time that an outside source was made responsible for examining each and every stinky little receipt. And no, Mr. Speaker, your wife's taxis are not reasonable either.

Hats off to the people who made sure we knew just how corrupt our lovely government (and I mean every single MP of every single colour, who will defend their crime by saying that it was in the rule book as though that should absolve them of guilt.) This very government who chastise single parents for wanting to look after their children rather than take an underpaid job just to then pay most of it to the childminder. Who waffle on about a need for cut backs when there is a glaringly obvious enormous saving to be made here.

If you don't mind I won't be buying any papers over the next few days, I feel sick enough.