50 Shades Of For Goodness Sake

With all of the publicity about the anti-women side of 50 Shades of Grey, I decided to watch it with a girlfriend and find out what all of the fuss was about.

I have to say, I was neither shocked nor disgusted by this film but what I was shocked by was the media attention to it...I DO NOT SEE THE BIG DEAL!!!

Peo

She knows what she is getting in for right off the bat and she is the one who makes the rules...the scene with them having the meeting about the contract; she says what she doesn't want to do and he complies. He asks her to stay, she says no, and he lets her go.

He buys her nice things....this does not mean he is controlling her, I would LOVE to get new clothes, a new car and a laptop and anyone who says they wouldn't is lying. This does not mean she is whoring herself out to him, in fact, she desperately tries to give the stuff back yet he won't accept them. We know he doesn't do the whole love thing, maybe this is his way of showing he cares. Accept it with good grace love!

She ASKS to be shown what the 'worst' is...not in a 'she's asking for it' kind of way as in she ACTUALLY says "I want you to show me the worst it can be, so I know". He asks her 3 times if this is ACTUALLY what she wants, and each time she says yes. Afterwards, she tells him he will never do that to her again. Not asks, tells! 

She then walks away. 

She. Walks. Away. 

This is a powerful thing for a woman with her Cryptenite, someone who she would do anything for. When you can walk away from that, it sucks and you hurt, but you also feel very much empowered, I know, I have done it! At the end of the day, you may not agree with S and M or the story, but maybe this is what the film is actually intended for; make women and men alike stand up and say "this is not what we want to be, we don't want our sons treating women like this and we don't want our daughters to feel they have to". Maybe this film has brought something great...maybe this film gets people talking about the problems of gender inequality. And maybe it is just a film that some people didn't like and others did.

Either way, hats off to the granny's out there buying rope. You know who you are...

The Day Of The Grinch

The only day of the year where I can guarantee you I will be a MASSIVE Grinch is Valentines day. Reason? It does my head in! 

A holiday invented by Clintons to make couples feel they have to spend money on each other to prove to the rest of the world how much they love each other. What the hell that is about I will never know! 

Now a lot of you may now be thinking "wow, she must be a single and lonely girl" and in fact that is far from the case; I am in a very happy and loving relationship and it is safe to say, my lovely boyfriend hates the fact that I hate Valentine's day which shocks me because surely it is a good thing because he doesn't have to buy me cliches of jewellery, flowers and chocolate? Mer.

The real reason I hate this crappy day so much is because of the people who don't have a partner today. Everyone has been that person at least once in their life where their friends are receiving roses at school and flaunting it in your face and you feel like the only one who hasn't received them. So I made a pact never to celebrate Valentines day with a boyfriend. Instead, I invite my girlfriends round to watch movies and remind them that just because they don't have someone to kiss goodnight it doesn't mean they aren't loved.

Call me a pessimist if you want but I don't see it that way. I feel the pain of those who feel unloved and alone and want to remind them they ARE loved!! Please don't feel alone today as I LOVE YOU!!! And remember, when all your friends are spending all of their money on crap cards and flowers and chocolates and goodness knows what else, you are sat at home watching horror movies and bingeing on chips dipped in chocolate and you don't have to share it with anyone!! 

And just to end it in a positive...... Have a big kiss from me :) 

Once A Cheat, Always A Cheat

My name is Charlie and I am a cheat.

I can't help it. I cheat. I food cheat!! When I was told I could no longer eat Wheat, Lactose and Mushrooms I was completely devastated. I know that sounds very drastic but imagine your favourite foods in the world and then you get told you can't have them anymore. 

IT SUCKS!!!

Tonight I was alone in the house, I had just won £20 for a competition at work and wanted to treat myself so decided to order a pizza with mushrooms. And garlic bread with cheese. Safe to say, 2 hours later I am feeling like ASS!!!

This is an addiction. I want to stop but sometimes it is just too hard to say no. 

My name is Charlie and I am a cheat. 

Clophill Choir Crawl

Firstly I would like to apologise for not writing in a while...it has been a busy busy few months but I am back and ready to throw some stories your way!!

Last night, a group of 12 of us in the Clophill Christmas Choir went around the village popping in to 8 different houses to sing some carols and get people in the festive spirit so we met at Ali and Jon's at 4 ready to make our rounds.

Upon arriving at the first house, we were ushered into the living room and all 12 of us stood around the tree...I personally felt like the angel sat at the top with the branches sticking right up my... Sorry, I digress. Once we finished, we were handed a glass of wine. Not that we had any time to drink it; 2 minutes after being handed said glass Jon (our conductor) piped up with "come on guys, drink up, coats on, lets go" Wine downed, coats and scarves on and out the door we go to house number 2.

This house was a very different group of people all very much in the party spirit shouting out "Sing Fairytale of New York, that's my favourite carol!!" This house offered us champagne and the most amazing platter of food so we got to stay there for more than 1 drink so when the champagne bottle came around again I thought I had time for another. Unfortunately that wasn't the case; "Drink up, coats on, let's go"...so I downed the champagne and we left.

For those of you that know me will know that having now had 3 glasses of the bubbly it had started going to my head and I was starting to get the giggles. House number 3 was no different but this time a wonderful Rioja was offered to me and I was left next to the cheese board. Yep. That got devoured! House number 4 was more up market as it was a black tie event so we all felt a little out of place all in our red christmassy jumpers and comfy boots. And then in front of 30 or so people, Jon turns to me and says "OK Charlie, can you sing the opening to Away In A Manger? Brilliant, David notes please. And...." Thank goodness for all that wine now in my system, no chance to get the wobbles.... "And now Once In Royal...Charlie if you will?" Umm...WHAT?!?! Have I drunk too much?? Did I just get asked to sing solo again? OK...Let's do this!! Yet another glass of bubbly downed and off we went again.

The next house was an emotional one for most people as Bob, the man of the house, died earlier this year and his favourite song was Silent Night and he always wanted the choir to sing it in German so this year in memory of Bob we did (not entirely sure if the pronunciation was correct though!) and it was so beautiful. I am not sure how my Mum, the soloist in it, managed to get through without crying as everyone else was in tears. We all wished we could stay at this house longer as it had such a lovely, warm and positive energy surrounding it but there was Jon "drink up, coats on, let's go"---bubbles downed, coat on and out the door we went. 

Now by this time I have the equivelant of a bottle of wine in my system and an entire cheese board floating around in the stomach. I am lactose intolerant. I shall just say I sat the next house out... Meeting back up with them ready for the next house I was greeted with the lovely choirs harmonies of "Yay, Charlie is back" it seemed clear to me that now everyone was feeling very jolly from all of the wine.

The last 2 houses were much the same as the rest and made me realise a few things; I was drunk, I love village life and I am a nosy begger---nothing like looking around a house which you have walked past on many occasions but never had the chance of looking inside. You can forgive a girl right?

Last night was such a magical and Christmassy atmosphere and I loved every second of it. What a great way to end the dark and the cold with the Winter Solstice coming tonight. It was such a great evening and I am very grateful that I got to be a part of it. I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Lots of Love from me and lets chat in 2015 xx

A Man With His Dog

A man with his dog.....
No, a man with his pug are walking towards me.
There is no lead, just an obedient and loyal pug, man's best friend.
What can I see?
He isn't very tall by the looks of things. 
He is quite far away and walking at a calm pace.
No, not calm, careful.
It seems to me that his pace is careful.
He knows his route and his eyes look around him continuously.
Yes, his pace seems careful.
It's cold out here in the park but he has the sleeves of his burgendy jumper rolled up revealing weather beaten arms.
And upon closer inspection I can see his arms are covered in hair.
A lot of hair.
And his feet? 
You can tell a lot by a person's shoes.
He is wearing a black and white shoe somewhere between a converse and a trainer.
I guess he likes his comforts.
And why not?
I would say he is in his fifties, enjoy that comfort good sir!
His hair is neatly cropped with a sprinkling of grey.
It's a salt and pepper pot.
It matches his trousers.
Once were black but have been so well worn with stains and fluff.
He is stood near me now, bent down to re-attach the lead to his happy, little, golden pug.
A flurry of colours swirling around them in the Autumn wind.
If this wasn't reality I would take a picture.
A snapshot.
He seems so sad.
His eyes are suck quite far into his skull leaving dark circles under his eyes.
He gives the sweet pug a rub behind the ears and says "It's time to go home".
No happiness in that voice.
I can't help but feel for this man.
They slowly follow the path round to the park gates.
And the man with his dog are gone.

Winter Is Coming

Winter is coming. Those from the north in game of thrones couldn't be more right. The days are getting shorter and the air is turning colder day by day. But let's just take a minute to talk about the understated season of Autumn. No one seems to love this beautiful season as much as myself. Spring is lived for the coming of the summer season and the bringing of new life. Summer brings the warmth and laughter which everyone needs after a long winter and winter is loved for Christmas celebrations and the start of a new year. But Autumn? Everyone starts to get moody because they know that the warmth of summer is leaving us and winter is coming.

So let me tell you why I love autumn so much....

1. The beautiful colours everywhere you look- reds, yellows, greens, orange, it is like looking at Joseph's technicoloured dream coat

2. Who doesn't like to run through those glorious crunching leaves kicking them up into the air?

3. The celebration of Hallows eve where you can stuff your face with sweets and chocolate. In fact, children are encouraged to do so

4. The food- pumpkin pie, squash salad, hearty soups, fresh crusty bread, toffee apples, cinder toffee, heavy creamy dishes and any excuse to eat a roast dinner, the list in endless in the autumn months

5. And most importantly in my eyes, the fashion! In summer you are forced to wear barely anything just so you don't faint with heat exhaustion on the tube but Autumn you can bring out hats, scarves, belts, layer clothing up, tights, boots and you can still look great with out having to look like snowman as you do in winter.

So to those who dislike Autumn, I ask you to take a second look around at how beautiful this earth looks this season, heck, even London has a charm about it and I don't say that often! Take a look in your wardrobe and fill it with tan, burgundy, navy blue, cream, olive and emerald. Get out your silk scarves, hats and most of all go and pick up a lovely pair of boots and enjoy every moment of the fashion of Autumn. And to top it off? A lovely trench coat.

Enjoy Autumn lovely people and see you on the other side of winter

Edinburgh '14 Wrapped Into One

Another Fringe over

The Snow Dog has gone home

The cars are packed and ready

How this year has flown....by

An 8am start and we say our farewells

Hat and I set off, coffee in hand

The Carpenters on CD

All packed up in the van

5 hours later, we cross the border 

It's raining, what a shock....

Eventually we're here in Edinburgh

To the Pleasance is our next stop

The wings are tiny with no space to move

Where will the sofa and bed go?

And what about the 4 huge masks?

4 actors, a husky? Hang on, and me though?

It's midnight now and no time to think

Tomorrow we shall finish up here

A restless night and another early start

The tech is over, time for beer!!

The month is filled with lots of promo

Handing out flyers, meeting the dog

Dressed as an Inuit giving kids balloons

Up to the Royal Mile we jogged

We have seen a lot of shows

Some good some bad

Comedians who made us laugh

And theatre which made us sad

The last few days have been just great

The get-out went really well

The sun was finally shining

And which made our last day swell!

Last night we went to dinner

The cast, the crew and friends

Hat and Ben gave us presents 

None of us were ready for the end

We then went to karaoke 

And sang the night away

We danced and drank, then danced some more

The time we had was great.

I'm going to miss this company 

For all it's quirks and charms

The month has been quite mental

Here, there is no such word as 'calm'

To Hat and Ben I say thank you

For giving me a job

You both are simply amazing

As I write I'm trying no to sob

Because this month has had highs and lows

Yet you have made it fun

It's great being part of the Flouse family

And I am sad it is now done.

To Charlotte, Becky and Colin

3 more great friends I have made

You are wonderful in every way

My sanity you have saved!

So thank you all for the memories

Of geography, colours and food

The laughs, support and a damn good show

Snow Dog '14 I LOVE YOU!!!