Glad tidings of great news!

I recently downloaded the Blogger app for my iPhone and I really want to test it out to see how it works! So far everything seems to be working smoothy. I wonder can I add a picture though?

Yes I can! Welcome to the world, Daisy Joy Craig! Born on the 14th November to Matt and Gayle I am really happy for them and she is just a wee cutie!

Your Twenties ... such a confusing age!

I came across this in my blogger drafts folder, at some stage I probably decided against sharing, but I'm feeling in a sharing mood tonight, so I'll go ahead and post it.  I'm not standing over it as what I think now, I just think it's worth someone other than me reading it!

*** WARNING - this is a personal blog post. If you are chicken, don't read on! ***

I was just thinking while browsing friends' Facebook pictures. Uh-oh I hear you say, Laura's thinking again. Well it probably is one of those silly thoughts you were dreading, but I'm going to say it anyway because I think some other people might find it useful.

So, as I was saying, the thought that came to mind was that some people my age and younger, are married and have babies and look so old and mature simply because of that fact. It makes me think that I (and other of my friends) must look so young, naiive and even immature.

But then I saw some other pictures of married people my age with children, and they just looked weirdly out of place, too young for so much responsibility, and I think, okay maybe it's my friends and I who are normal, and they are not.

And then there are some people that depending on the picture, fit into both categories!!

I think your twenties are such a confusing age, especially in Christian circles, and it's hard to navigate the politics, the social situations, the pitfalls, the increasing responsibility, or lack therof.

And, I think it depends on what your social circle is, how you feel about it. For example, in some circles that I operate in, and these are people between 21 and 30, I am in the minority. I am not married and most people are, or in non-christian circles, are as married as they will be for a while. Many also have children. So in those situations it would be easy to think that you were somehow abnormal. Yet a couple of weekends ago I had the blessed opportunity to hang out with some 40 20/30 somethings, the majority of whom were single. Nothing abnormal about them, they just hadn't found the right person yet. And they were not at all worried. They were out having fun. And so was I.

In your twenties you are neither too young to be married or too old to still be single. That much is fact. But it's how you interpret that, how others around you treat you, and whether you are in the majority or in the minority that determines whether you believe this fact or not. I suppose the really mature of us have learned to believe that fact, regardless of circumstance, company and treatment by others. Those people have found true contentment.

And I'm in...!

So, after trying to jump through lots of hoops to get Google to allow me in here, I finally found the piece of paper with my password on it.  When I say found, I knew exactly where it was once I remembered that it existed!  Blogger has changed an awful lot since I was last here, in fact I'm not even sure I would need to access the HTML code anymore, which is ever so slightly sad as when I did this before it made me feel like I actually knew something about computer programming (which I pretty much don't).

I would really like to revive this blog as I either write too much on Facebook, causing people to switch off, or I don't express myself enough in the written word, as I condense what is going on in my life to a short, witty status.  And that's okay, because I don't really think the 500-odd friends I have on my Facebook page really want to know all about my life.  Many of them have added me and never talked to me.  Some are just curious as to what I'm up to now.  Which is fine.  A handful though will want to read on, these are probably the people who also have blogs, the people who used to have blogs before we really had Facebook, the people who used to read my blog and whose blogs I read, and some who really are just that interested!

I am starting to enjoy writing for writing's sake again and that's really good because ever since I set up this blog back in 2005 (!!) I did enjoy trying to make the mundane sound interesting, or writing some new inspiration I had (usually not very profound)... Anyway, I hope to update this a little more regularly, but I can't promise anything, you ALL know what happens every time I do. 

I am also going to post something I found in my drafts folder which I DO think is quite profound, but I'll not be linking that one to Facebook as it's ever so slightly personal...

So you thought I was done travelling?

I admit I've been a bit quiet on the travel front since returning from New Zealand. It actually started to worry me for a while. But not any more. I've caught the bug again!

A year ago I won a free trip to Scotland in a PTA fundraiser, and I had been waiting til I got my car fixed to take it. I was determined that I was going to drive myself, as it had been a lifelong dream to drive myself the very familiar road between Stranaer and Glasgow! I finally got the car fixed after a whole lot of hiccups, and here I am!

I'm currently relaxing in extremely nice surroundings at The Lime Tree and uploading my photos etc. I'm a bit disappointed in the photos actually. Firstly with my camera battery life, which has dwindled to about 15 good photos, if even. Secondly with the graininess and blurriness of my phone photos, which usually perform well in low light. However if you want to check out the photos you can if you're friends with me on facebook.

I started off this morning with a very early start that I almost didn't make! Thankfully I did arrive at the Port O' Larne in good time to get checked in and wait around for ages. Surprisingly enough I actually felt seasick on the boat, but not sure if it was seasickness or the PG tips tea!

... I will finish this tomorrow night, need to go to sleep as I've another early start in the morning!

Go Debs!

I would just like at this point to give a shout out to someone who I think embodies the essence of great blogging ... the ability to write about our lives in an interesting and entertaining way.

Read it now on http://debsshares.blogspot.com/

I HATE ECO-FRIENDLINESS!!!

Yes I'm writing in caps. For a reason. I'm shouting (can't you tell?)

I have long been a quiet non-supporter of eco-friendliness but I have just reached my limit. Eco-friendliness as an alternative lifestyle which many support is great. But when Government-enforced eco-friendliness encroaches on my life and the ability to lead it as I want, that’s where I get angry!

Example 1: Inhalers
Back in the day I used a dry powder inhaler which worked really well, and a preventer which, while it contained CFCs, worked equally well. Even Asthma UK says CFCs are not harmful for ashmatics. Then about two years ago they changed my prescription and now I no longer have the powder inhaler which I loved, and my preventer doesn’t work as well and tastes different. The powder one is because of NHS economy not being able to afford Ventolin that’s not eco-friendliness, but the other one is because CFCs are being phased out to protect the environment. But they don’t work as well. So my question is IS SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY HEALTH?

Example 2: Fabric Softener
I have been quite happy with Lenor Blue Non-Concentrate for many years. It kept my clothes nice and soft and smelling nice. My friends in Primary School used to sniff my coat when it got washed because of this (but that’s a different story). About a year ago I stopped being able to buy Lenor in the shops. I thought this was just big corporations not selling my favourite brand. I tried everything else and my clothes just felt hard all the time. Then I spotted Lenor Non-Concentrate in Woodsides and bought two bottles. I thought great I’ve found a supplier. Then I went last week to buy more and was told it’d been discontinued and Lenor only produced the concentrate version TO SAVE ON PACKAGING. The concentrate version is no good –I’ve tried it. So my second question is COULD THEY NOT ADVERTISE THE CONCENTRATE VERSION, PUT IT ON OFFER, STOCK MORE OF THEM, BUT STILL GIVE PEOPLE OPTIONS?

Example 3: Recycling collections
I say ‘great’ - give us the option of recycling and please pick it up for us. I am actually a big supporter of recycling paper, I waste so much of it I’m only glad to put it to some use. I keep an old Xerox box top for putting my scrap paper into.
But to force us to do it, to stop our weekly bin collections so we have no choice, and to make us WASH OUT MILK BOTTLES – YUK! That’s where I draw the line. There is only so much watered-down milk I can take without being sick. Maybe if they let us put dirty milk bottles, tins etc in I wouldn’t mind so much – I’d like to think they still did their own washing of the containers before recycling them anyway!
Oh and to FINE someone for getting it wrong? That’s going to stop us even trying!!!

Example 4: Paper
Recycled paper is crap and the ink bleeds through. That is all.

Shopping Trip

So I went shopping this evening, and I got a few bargains. This is what I bought ...

Dress that I thought of buying at £50, reduced to £25 (score - planned purchase!)
Hareem pants that I thought of buying at £25, reduced to £15 (score - planned purchase!)
Topman Boys' T-shirt (they're really comfy especially for PJs!) which was £6, reduced to £2 (okay so this wasn't planned but the price excuses it!)

And some Avoca Scones and Tomato Chutney (this probably cost more than what I saved above LOL!)

I promise not all posts will be as boring as this if you thought this was boring!

Easter Sunday Video

And... just to finish my trilogy of videos... one to remind us all of why we're eating eggs today.

It's Friday ... but Sunday's comin'!

Last year I was at Easter Camp in New Zealand and they played several brilliant movies related to Easter. This was the first one, for Good Friday, and although it's a little late, I thought it would still be worth putting up here to share with you!

I'm Back!

So I'm sure that most of you have realised that I am not, in fact, in New Zealand anymore and that I am back in the Home Country of Norn Iron. For those that haven't, I'm just letting you know that I have been back for 9 months (eek!) and it's only now that I have got around to switching my blogs around and to updating this one. If you didn't even realise that I was in New Zealand for six months last year, then visit my NZ blog (http://laurainnewzealand09.blogspot.com) to read about my work and travels there.

I really do plan to keep this blog more up-to-date as I am finding Facebook status updates a little unsatisfying right now and would like a forum to express my ramblings! Therefore keep checking back or add it to your RSS feed and prepare to hear some interesting/not very interesting/random/useful/useless/funny/serious/work/leisure banter.

New New Zealand Blog

For the next six months I will be volunteering for SU in New Zealand. I've set up a new blog to follow my life there which I've linked to from the right hand side of this page. Read it for now, but don't forget to come back here once I get back to NI!!!

Hello

Hello and welcome back . . . to me!!!

Yes, erm the reason I haven't been blogging on this for a long time is that I forgot my username and password! But I have now finally returned to the world of blogging!

I haven't been up to much, just doing a bit of everything work-wise to keep me going.

The biggest news I have is that in January I will be going to New Zealand with SU for 6 months! That's one of the reasons I made a special effort to remember how to get into this thing, because while I'm away I would like to keep you posted on what's going on with me!

I will post again soon with some more news about the big trip, but at least I got back on here for now!

Hi Stavroula!

(I really hope I have spelled your name right!)

Elia was saying yesterday that you missed people updating their blogs so I thought I'd say hi! I haven't really anything interesting to write on my blog, got my ears pierced, that's about it. Maybe I'll put up some photos sometime!

Oh and by the way...

... the reason I have so much to say today is because I'm off sick - I woke up with this annoying nausea which hasn't as yet turned into any puking (thankfully) but hasn't quite lifted yet. So I'm at home sitting on my couch (the literal one, as well as the blog) and doing a mixture of internetnetworking and tv watching. When I feel better I will do a bit of work for Monday as it's my birthday this weekend and I don't really want to be working then, I want to enjoy being at home with friends and family and doing fun stuff and relaxing and basically that which I feel I never usually have time to do.

On the weather front it's looking quite nice today again for the 4th day in a row, and I'm looking forward to sitting in the garden and recouperating with a nice big cup of tea. I think the weather is going to break before my birthday :(

PS I that is the second sad smiley I have drawn in the last two posts, but don't worry I'm not as sad as that may suggest.
PPS when I read what I had written above it sounded a little bit like morning sickness. But that is impossible because I am NOT pregant (nor will I be until I find a good man to marry and that seems unlikely since good men do not exist - only kidding), unless food babies count - they have accounted for a little stomach bump so maybe food babies can give you morning sickness too? There's some food for thought... which of course I will not be eating given that I need to lose some weight!!!

Oh how i wish i could change my url...

I realise I haven't blogged in ages and it's probably because I haven't had anything to say. And because the little bits of news I have shared has been shared in my status update on Facebook. And because my photos are on Facebook because I've run out of space on Flickr [note to self: BUY A FLICKR PRO ACCOUNT!!!]

And all I have to say right now is that I wish I could change my url just like I changed my blog name a little while ago. You see 'The Couch' was the original name of my blog, and that derived from my msn spaces blog, and the reason for the name 'The Couch' was that it was a comfy space - get it? The tag line on my msn blog explained this a little although right now I can't remember exactly what it said! But you see without all that history 'The Couch' as a blog name just makes me sound like some kind of shrink, which I'm not. So I changed my blog name to 'Rhapsody in Pink' which I thought reflected more the type of person I am - whimsical, musical and a little bit girly (but only with a black background!) But, and this is the big BUT - once you register your blogger url, it's yours for life, and unless I want to set up a whole new blog (no thanks!) then I'm stuck with http://thecouch85.blogspot.com. :(

So I suppose that will explain the url if you were wondering (which you probably weren't) and explain why Dermo has me linked as 'The Couch' (you probably weren't wondering about that either) and maybe makes you think I'm a little bit insane, or at the least a chronic perfectionist!

Just as a wee note, I thought Anonymous' anonymity blog post was very interesting. Read it here on I Might Be Wrong. Think me old-fashioned but I subscribe to that sort of idea as well, I think the world wide web is a very useful thing, but a little bit dangerous to be putting all sorts of personal info out there for the world to read!

Liar of the Lost Ark

Did anyone watch tonight's Channel Four documentary about the Ark of the Covenant?

I did, and strangely found it very interesting. The man (can't remember his name) did provide some very good clues as to where the Ark was and he seemed to stick pretty closely to the Bible text. What he said about the distant Israelite tribe in South Africa also ties in well with the Diaspora (scattered Jews) talked about in Acts. However he unfortunately lost the plot in what he said of the Ark being misconceived as golden and ornate. Not only did I disagree with his thinking because it was in direct conflict with what the Bible teaches, but his main argument for this was fundamentally flawed even by his own loose translation. He said that the Israelites wouldn't have had that much gold out in the desert ... however ... did he forget in his journey through Exodus to read Exodus 12:33-36 where it is written that the Israelites asked the Egyptians for gold objects which they gave freely! The idea that some african drum is the lost Ark of the Covenant is preposterous. However I did enjoy watching the programme even just from a purely intellectual point of view and it gave me a chance to research that section of the Bible again when I was testing his theories against the truth!

Current Adverts

I never cease to be amazed with Apple's impeccable eye for detail - even the adverts are so stylish and simply done! I was just watching the latest one for the Apple Airbook where it comes out of one of those v cute envelopes with the two discs and the string to secure them!

On the other hand, the Sacla advert in my opinion encourages dangerous knife wielding - I know the advert uses several frames but to me it just looks like the guy is jumping around the kitchen with a knife and in the frame where he's on the far left hand side please tell me it is not the knife he has down by his side???

published photographer...

You can actually see my picture on BBC - I was just looking in the wrong place!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7296452.stm

Happy viewing!

Walking Pictures

I did mention in my earlier post that I had walked from Portstewart to Portrush. In fact I did it twice - on Sunday I walked only one way, and on Monday I walked there and back - Monday's walk was about 6 miles!!!

Sunday's walk was abosolutely gorgeous. Monday's was actually sunnier, although I didn't wear enough so I was pretty cold. Especially on the way back. I did actually intend to get the bus back on Monday, but of course there were no timetables on any of the bus stops, I had no credit to ring Translink and I just kept walking. Eventually halfway home and between bus stops a bus passed me but I couldn't be bothered running for it (it would probably have been impossible anyway). My legs are aching :(

Here are some pictures:

I'm a famous photographer! (Not really)

The other day I was looking at the BBC NI Big Picture and it said you could send pictures in! So, for a laugh, I sent a photo in, and apparently (although I didn't see it myself) it appeared on the news website today! So for those of you who missed it, here is the picture below:




I also have a few pictures to put up of my recent walks from Portstewart to Portrush, but they can wait! On Monday I walked a total of 6 miles! My legs are wrecked.