And so this 31 day unrelenting stint of blogging is at an end! 31 days on the trot! Kind of a relief it's over but I am really glad I have done it. Any sort of talk of going on some sort of emotional, mental journey leaves me cringing and thinking of the X-factor/Strictly and over reality TV shows so I won't go down that route, I don't think I've been on a journey but I've poked my nose into a few more doors than usual, but it has been an interesting experiment. I largely stuck to the briefs each day with a few digressions into other posts
I did try to set out with the intention of visiting the other participants and I probably managed about half of them (that's about 60!) and left comments on those who had comment settings that allowed me to but in the end, I just couldn't. I had a few, not a huge amount of other BEDMers coming to reciprocate, but I appreciated those who did, most notably, the wonderful Zoe Pennyblossoms , Lizzie Cole, Janet B , Liz, Zoe Splodz, Laura Lojo. I even gained a few followers which for my slow moving follower list is astounding! Thanks to Laura, Zoe Splodz, Liz, Lynn Holland, SENCO Cat Herder, Rebecca, Carville, Two Squirrels and HI! Special thanks to my regular blog friends who have unrelentingly commented, especially Ivana and Denise who have literally been daily on here with insightful, caring and supportive comments and there's more of you too!
I followed a few, including Liz at Distract me now please, Zoe at Splodz Blogz and Laura at Lojo versus the world, all of whom are great, so please go and say hi!
In doing BEDM, I had a look over my past posts and realised I didn't have as much variety as I thought, quite a lot of mediocre outfit posts, over time I've got a bit lazy, though I have consistently waffled for England so I think it was good to make myself consistently blog about a few other things.
In trying out beauty blogging, I didn't find it quite as dull as I thought it would, so you never know, I might just occasionally post about something I like, I definitely would like to do some more collaborating as I loved my interview reciprocally with Zoe at Pennyblossoms and I think it would be fun to collaborate more. It was fun to think about travelling with the A-Z of travelling post and I liked trying to link things I wanted to post about with the briefs such as a bluebell expedition turning into a philosophical discussion tenuously linked to healthy living. The worst post was about my work space. If it isn't pretty or doesn't create a story, it doesn't excite me. My favourite post was probably my photographic visit to Mersea Island and I LOVED sharing the talents of the wonderful Ang Almond with my question mark shirt!
During the course of BEDM, I've met up with 3 bloggers (2 still to be posted about), been to a wedding, disappeared off to Devon for a week as well as normal life!
So, onwards and upwards- I've got a ton of things I want to post about so whilst I would relish a kind of break, I really don't want to, I'm a glutton for punishment or an addict-delete as appropriate!
BEDM, it's been a blast!!!
xx
Showing posts with label #BEDM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #BEDM. Show all posts
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015
BEDM 30: 11 things you wish some folks would understood about teaching
So these are linked to teaching. I know most of you on here are wonderful enlightened people but I thought I'd try and make light of some difficult elements of life in the teaching profession.
1. IT. IS. NOT. A NINE. TO. THREE.JOB. Make me repeat that and you may regret it.
2. I am not sitting at my desk marking whilst little darlings get on with their work quietly. I am preventing World War 2 every three minutes, trying to get blood out of a stone, soothing hurt feelings, searching for the missing pencil sharpener for the nth time, reading minds as well as trying to teach and help individuals.
3. "Yeh, but you get long holidays,". Yes, and if I didn't get those holidays I WOULD DIE!
4. "The summer holiday is too long." I don't understand this one. Well, I do, for full-time working parents and the difficulties and costs of childcare but seriously THEY, the children, do need it. They are a wreck at the end of term and actually they need that long break in the summer. I do too-it's the only holiday in which you really can switch off for a while and feel totally human. After you've spent days clearing out your classroom, passing on assessment data, filling in end of year assessment data, filing everything you didn't have time to file earlier, changing classroom, doing INSET day or two, then planning for next term.
5. You cannot just use your plans from last year. You may think we just reuse last year's one but no, goalposts are moved every year, every new government has some bright idea about what else must be crammed into a day and children are different.
6. I am not there to solely teach your child how to behave, parents- I am there to reinforce and model what you should have started!!! (True fact- one parent told a friend that it was her job to teach her child how to behave, not hers)
7. Children are germ-pools. If I am off sick, it is because I have been breathed over by germy children, had to hold snotty hands and subjected to more cold strains than an Antarctic wind. I am not being a layabout. I will get ill and I might, God forbid, have to take a day off to try and recover. It is no good teaching when 31 relentless people need your undivided attention. Yet why do I feel utterly wretched and guilty about trying to get better?
8. Children will vomit over your shoes. Yes, that has happened to me.
9. I will fret over every lesson in which something didn't go perfectly thinking I am the worst teacher ever. We do care and want to do our best.
10. I detest papiermache and rubbish junk instrument making. Make me make cereal box string violins (they doesn't work- it will ALWAYS collapse!)with your child and 30 others and I will cry ! That said, I will make things that sound acoustically good! If you want to make amazing junk instruments have a look at the Land filharmonic orchestra that Denise posted about! Now THAT is amazing junk instrument-making.
11. If you think your report doesn't show enough detail, believe you me, if I were allowed to, I would write MUCH more- but I am restricted for conciseness and a page limit! There's only so much about your child's full development in an entire year I can write in a small section without sending you to sleep!
I do love my job but there are some people that don't quite get the difficulties! Hope you see the tongue-in-cheek nature of this as well as a few genuine difficulties that we face!
xxx
Monday, May 25, 2015
BEDM 25: Trying something new: Beauty blogging: organic products
Tomorrow's brief for BEDM is stepping outside your comfort zone. In fact, I will be doing something for that tomorrow, sort of, as well but since today is about National Barbecue Day and I haven't had a barbecue (vegetable and egg vermicelli FYI), I figured I would promote tomorrow's brief today instead.
Beauty blogging. I have read a fair few beauty reviews of products on some of my favourite bloggers' domains but I confess, hoping I am not offending anyone I like, it's not really my thing. I read and comment out of liking and affection for the particular blogger, but it's not something that grabs me or I would ever consider myself any sort of expert at or have any zest for. I am also not a products driven person either. Sure, I love my Yves St Laurent Touche eclat, Urban decay glitter shadows and I love my CK be perfume and numerous other items but I don't have a yearning to try new things that often.
Therefore, I figured reviewing some beauty products might possibly be a brave choice for me to take me outside my comfort zone. I'm really not sure what to talk about but I will give it a try.
What DOES particularly interest me about beauty products is the use of natural ingredients, organic ingredients and those that are lacking elements such as Sodium Laureth sulfates and avoiding certain products which have dodgy connotations. I have tried brands like Green People, Weleda,Jason organics, Neal's Yard remedies and Dr Hauschka amongst others.
I came across a brand called 'Herbfarmacy' when I was on holiday in Hay-on-Wye a few years ago. Dr Paul Richard 's ran small shop and beauty treatment room selling products using herbs grown around Hay. We bought some at the time,loving the premise of this brand and CBC bought me some further products for Christmas. This Christmas, I asked if he could buy me a few more of the products as I liked them so much.
Here is the description of Herbfarmacy in their own words:
1. Citrus Handcream
This was sent as a sample along with our order and CBC, who is a confirmed snob when it comes to products, is a firm fan. He has conserved this sample well and says just a small amount is soothing and works well on his rough hands. It is very rich BUT does not leave you with a greasy feeling on your hands which for me, is an ABSOLUTE must when it comes to handcream. I physically cannot sleep if I can feel a hand-cream product on my hands or it has a pungent, non-natural smell. One well known brand of Citrus handcream really did keep me awake with its artificial smell whereas this product has a delicious, delicate smell. CBC feels similarly. You can purchase it from here for £12.95. The key notes are: Sweet Orange, bergamot, mandarin, sweet grapefruit and it uses 81% organic ingredients. It is also good for Vegans. CBC has said he will definitely buy a larger version of this as he's enjoyed it alot.
2. Rose and echinacea toner
I have had this bottle for absolutely ages ever since CBC bought me the first gift set of Herbfarmacy products. It lasts a very long time so even if you think the price is a little too high, it really does have longevity and doesn't lose its smell. This product comes usefully in a pump-action bottle so you can spray it onto your face and blot with a tissue. It has a wonderful rose smell. Considering I don't like the smell of roses themselves, I cannot get enough of rose in the form of rose-tea or facial products. It is the perfect product morning or evening after cleansing and I feel the smell soothes me especially as I go to bed and cools my skin pleasingly. It contains 98% organic ingredients.
You can purchase it here for £17.50 or a small bottle for £5.00, It also comes in the gift and travel packs, both of which I have had.
3. Wash off cleansing mousse
To use this product, you apply and massage in a thin layer to the skin and then use a warm, damp muslin cloth to remove it. I like the subtle smell of this. I am still not the hugest fan of using cream-cleansers as opposed to gels or soap (psychological I think), so I don't use this every day, but this does stop my skin from drying out which it usually does when I use soap (ayuvedic handmade soaps) on other days. It removes make-up well and it does feel like you have actually cleansed your face which I am not always convinced about cream-cleansers. use a can be bought here for £15.50 for 95ml or also still in a small jar 20g for £4.00. It contains Chamomile, Marshmallow and oils like Rose Geranium and Ylang Ylang which I know my skin appreciates. I remember a lady asking in the shop if the shopkeeper knew how to make edible marshmallows from marshmallow plant when I first bought this. This product received acclaim in the 2014 NaturalBeauty Magazine awards which I am not surprised about. 80% of the ingredients are organic.
4. Starweed Face Cream
CBC has been using this cream so I thought I'd offer you a male perspective on beauty products. I have a different fragrance which I haven't opened yet and it is a while since I finished my last jar of Herbfarmacy face-cream. I have been using up all my other sample bottles and travel-sized bottles that I have been accumulating over the years. CBC assures me it is not at all greasy to apply and it feels natural, not like you have applied cream (which he detests). It has a very subtle fragrance (I've smelt it and it is very gently herby in a way that males would like but also myself), it is hardly noticeable once applied, which he thinks is a good thing. Once you've applied it, you don't feel it on your skin all day, it is well absorbed but does feel moisturised. At the end of the day, if you wash it off, you still notice it on your skin though. This product good for combination (me!) and sensitive skin and can be bought for £15.65 here. It is nourishing but gentle, not too thick and I think I might give this a go next time as I can't stand thick feeling creams and this feels like it will fit the bill. If you have a man you'd like to buy something different for, I recommend this!
So is there anything I don't like about the products? Not really! If I had to say something, my own personal, (very small) objection to the face-creams, is not the product themselves,they are wonderful, but that the packaging has changed. When we bought our first set of Herbfarmacy face moisturising creams, they came in Glass jars that you dipped your fingers into and could easily rescue every last morsel of this delicious product (and I like recycling glass) but now in the pump bottle, I am not sure you can get every last drop and I don't want to waste any of this wonderful cream. I presume the change is for hygiene and preserving reasons.
Fundamentally, what I like about the products is that it started off locally, in Hay, which is a town that really is proud of the area and individual, local products. I bought them from the founder and creator's own shop. They have received acclaim through national beauty awards. Obviously, they are slightly more expensive than high-street generic products but I do think it is important to know pretty much what every ingredient is going onto your skin, not a long stream of miscellaneous, mysterious sounding laboratory creations that you do not know the long-term effects of, which is the case with most of what I come across. And of course, knowing exactly WHERE the products came from too. This is not some anonymous firm. I sincerely think they are worth the cost.
There are many more products available. You can also try samples of the products when you order something else. We received about 5 mini-samples with our order of 2 full-sized moisturisers before Christmas and we'd only ordered 2 to try!
Beauty blogging. I have read a fair few beauty reviews of products on some of my favourite bloggers' domains but I confess, hoping I am not offending anyone I like, it's not really my thing. I read and comment out of liking and affection for the particular blogger, but it's not something that grabs me or I would ever consider myself any sort of expert at or have any zest for. I am also not a products driven person either. Sure, I love my Yves St Laurent Touche eclat, Urban decay glitter shadows and I love my CK be perfume and numerous other items but I don't have a yearning to try new things that often.
Therefore, I figured reviewing some beauty products might possibly be a brave choice for me to take me outside my comfort zone. I'm really not sure what to talk about but I will give it a try.
What DOES particularly interest me about beauty products is the use of natural ingredients, organic ingredients and those that are lacking elements such as Sodium Laureth sulfates and avoiding certain products which have dodgy connotations. I have tried brands like Green People, Weleda,Jason organics, Neal's Yard remedies and Dr Hauschka amongst others.
I came across a brand called 'Herbfarmacy' when I was on holiday in Hay-on-Wye a few years ago. Dr Paul Richard 's ran small shop and beauty treatment room selling products using herbs grown around Hay. We bought some at the time,loving the premise of this brand and CBC bought me some further products for Christmas. This Christmas, I asked if he could buy me a few more of the products as I liked them so much.
Here is the description of Herbfarmacy in their own words:
Herbfarmacy is the home of organic British skin care. Dr Paul Richards, a member of the Soil Association, has been growing organic herbs on our farm in Herefordshire for 30 years. Using Paul’s expertise we steep the herbs for many weeks to produce oils rich with their benefits. Our skin care products are ideal for people with sensitive skin and, of course, have only been tested on us! We are a dedicated team of local people, passionate about the benefits of organic herbs and proud of the products we produce.
1. Citrus Handcream
This was sent as a sample along with our order and CBC, who is a confirmed snob when it comes to products, is a firm fan. He has conserved this sample well and says just a small amount is soothing and works well on his rough hands. It is very rich BUT does not leave you with a greasy feeling on your hands which for me, is an ABSOLUTE must when it comes to handcream. I physically cannot sleep if I can feel a hand-cream product on my hands or it has a pungent, non-natural smell. One well known brand of Citrus handcream really did keep me awake with its artificial smell whereas this product has a delicious, delicate smell. CBC feels similarly. You can purchase it from here for £12.95. The key notes are: Sweet Orange, bergamot, mandarin, sweet grapefruit and it uses 81% organic ingredients. It is also good for Vegans. CBC has said he will definitely buy a larger version of this as he's enjoyed it alot.
2. Rose and echinacea toner
I have had this bottle for absolutely ages ever since CBC bought me the first gift set of Herbfarmacy products. It lasts a very long time so even if you think the price is a little too high, it really does have longevity and doesn't lose its smell. This product comes usefully in a pump-action bottle so you can spray it onto your face and blot with a tissue. It has a wonderful rose smell. Considering I don't like the smell of roses themselves, I cannot get enough of rose in the form of rose-tea or facial products. It is the perfect product morning or evening after cleansing and I feel the smell soothes me especially as I go to bed and cools my skin pleasingly. It contains 98% organic ingredients.
You can purchase it here for £17.50 or a small bottle for £5.00, It also comes in the gift and travel packs, both of which I have had.
3. Wash off cleansing mousse
To use this product, you apply and massage in a thin layer to the skin and then use a warm, damp muslin cloth to remove it. I like the subtle smell of this. I am still not the hugest fan of using cream-cleansers as opposed to gels or soap (psychological I think), so I don't use this every day, but this does stop my skin from drying out which it usually does when I use soap (ayuvedic handmade soaps) on other days. It removes make-up well and it does feel like you have actually cleansed your face which I am not always convinced about cream-cleansers. use a can be bought here for £15.50 for 95ml or also still in a small jar 20g for £4.00. It contains Chamomile, Marshmallow and oils like Rose Geranium and Ylang Ylang which I know my skin appreciates. I remember a lady asking in the shop if the shopkeeper knew how to make edible marshmallows from marshmallow plant when I first bought this. This product received acclaim in the 2014 NaturalBeauty Magazine awards which I am not surprised about. 80% of the ingredients are organic.
4. Starweed Face Cream
CBC has been using this cream so I thought I'd offer you a male perspective on beauty products. I have a different fragrance which I haven't opened yet and it is a while since I finished my last jar of Herbfarmacy face-cream. I have been using up all my other sample bottles and travel-sized bottles that I have been accumulating over the years. CBC assures me it is not at all greasy to apply and it feels natural, not like you have applied cream (which he detests). It has a very subtle fragrance (I've smelt it and it is very gently herby in a way that males would like but also myself), it is hardly noticeable once applied, which he thinks is a good thing. Once you've applied it, you don't feel it on your skin all day, it is well absorbed but does feel moisturised. At the end of the day, if you wash it off, you still notice it on your skin though. This product good for combination (me!) and sensitive skin and can be bought for £15.65 here. It is nourishing but gentle, not too thick and I think I might give this a go next time as I can't stand thick feeling creams and this feels like it will fit the bill. If you have a man you'd like to buy something different for, I recommend this!
So is there anything I don't like about the products? Not really! If I had to say something, my own personal, (very small) objection to the face-creams, is not the product themselves,they are wonderful, but that the packaging has changed. When we bought our first set of Herbfarmacy face moisturising creams, they came in Glass jars that you dipped your fingers into and could easily rescue every last morsel of this delicious product (and I like recycling glass) but now in the pump bottle, I am not sure you can get every last drop and I don't want to waste any of this wonderful cream. I presume the change is for hygiene and preserving reasons.
Fundamentally, what I like about the products is that it started off locally, in Hay, which is a town that really is proud of the area and individual, local products. I bought them from the founder and creator's own shop. They have received acclaim through national beauty awards. Obviously, they are slightly more expensive than high-street generic products but I do think it is important to know pretty much what every ingredient is going onto your skin, not a long stream of miscellaneous, mysterious sounding laboratory creations that you do not know the long-term effects of, which is the case with most of what I come across. And of course, knowing exactly WHERE the products came from too. This is not some anonymous firm. I sincerely think they are worth the cost.
There are many more products available. You can also try samples of the products when you order something else. We received about 5 mini-samples with our order of 2 full-sized moisturisers before Christmas and we'd only ordered 2 to try!
Would you try any of these products? What's your opinion on natural beauty? Is it worth the price? And how did I do as a beauty blogger?
xxx
This is one of my final week of 'Blog every day in May' posts!
Thursday, May 21, 2015
BEDM 21: Pennyblossoms interrogation!!!
Morning!!! Or even afternoon. Oh wait,no, Evenin!
I'm collaborating with Zoe over at Pennyblossoms today. We've asked each other some questions to answer for BEDM. Zoe's idea was for me to teach her Chopsticks via Skype but I am a bit technologically challenged so not sure HOW to skype. Maybe another time...
Anyway, so onto Zoe's Self-named Kezzie Quest. I love her questions, they are super!
Here she is looking amazing. I thought she was Sade!
Ha! I AM So procrastinating as I type this. I can think of MANY bugbears. One of them is my complete inability to go to bed early. I don't know what is wrong with me but I seriously need to get to bed!!! I think this is MUCH to do with procrastination too! I'm also highly frustrated with my inability to be tidy!
2. I’m not sure how many instruments you can play, but if you were to excel at one particular other one, what would it be?
I can play many instruments (flute, viola, piano, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, Balinese Gamelan etc) but I guess I would have LOVED to have learnt the Japanese Shō . This amazing instrument is a form of mouth-organ makes sounds through reeds inside bamboo pipes of differing lengths. I first learnt about it during my Music Traditions of the Far East elective at University. I just fell in love with Gagaku music, the Imperial Court music of Japan. The music is pentatonic (uses five tones which gives it that distinctive 'Oriental' sound we Europeans associate with Japan and China but the Sho plays these clusters of pitches called Aitake which are more scrunchy and pitches other than the 5 tones. The sound is supposed to represent the sound of the phoenix escaping the ashes and the way the pipes are placed is supposed to look like the wings of that Phoenix. Gagaku is considered the oldest Classical music in Japan. I've always hankered to learn it.
2. I’m not sure how many instruments you can play, but if you were to excel at one particular other one, what would it be?
I can play many instruments (flute, viola, piano, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, Balinese Gamelan etc) but I guess I would have LOVED to have learnt the Japanese Shō . This amazing instrument is a form of mouth-organ makes sounds through reeds inside bamboo pipes of differing lengths. I first learnt about it during my Music Traditions of the Far East elective at University. I just fell in love with Gagaku music, the Imperial Court music of Japan. The music is pentatonic (uses five tones which gives it that distinctive 'Oriental' sound we Europeans associate with Japan and China but the Sho plays these clusters of pitches called Aitake which are more scrunchy and pitches other than the 5 tones. The sound is supposed to represent the sound of the phoenix escaping the ashes and the way the pipes are placed is supposed to look like the wings of that Phoenix. Gagaku is considered the oldest Classical music in Japan. I've always hankered to learn it.
3. Sprouts or cabbage?
4. What skill eludes you?
Where shall we start? Being able to give directions from a map whilst driving; getting up early; anything remotely skilled like knitting or to stay tidy for long.
5. What makes you go “Wow!”?
An amazing view, a skilful musician, when my school children do something unexpectedly brilliant, a miracle, the kindness of other people! I'm easily wowed!
6. Favourite Dr Who? (Are you allowed a favourite?) And why?
Awwww, no fair!!!! Ok, so if you had asked this when I was 14, I would have said Paul McGann because I had a total crush on him! I have HIM to thank for me totally and utterly getting into Doctor Who and acquiring much memorabilia and reading, watching and even going to a Convention. I still have a soft spot for him and think he got a rum deal in terms of not getting a series. If I had to choose, Peter Davidson was always the one I loved the best! I loved his more gentle nature. He was the KINDEST of the Doctors.
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| Borrowed from Wikipedia |
7. Favourite food(s)?
Well, I DO love Crisps, this is no secret. But healthy foods? I love Sweet corn and I love Pak choi. I adored a dish in INdonesia called Cap Jai/Chai which was of Oriental descent I was told. It was a spicy red chilli sauce with green leafy vegetables, carrots, scrambled egg mixed in and bits of chicken. To be eaten with boiled rice.
I am a complete sucker for Tempe and Tofu cooked in the way that they do in Indonesia- SO many ways. Other than that, I am not sure, really! I love Tempeh Goreng as in the second picture down. SO tasty. Tempeh is a fermented soya bean curd.
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| Image borrowed from www.cakwigi.blogdetik.com |
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| Image borrowed from http://forums.soompi.com/en/topic/211487-tempe-goreng-tempe-kecap-indonesian-food/ |
If money was no object, I would… Complete the sentence!
I would not be a teacher! Honestly don't know. I would live somewhere pretty and I would visit somewhere tropical and lovely with no dodgy creepycrawlies or snakes.
Have you ever done anything that would shock/surprise me?
Er- I am really, really ashamed of this. But when I was about 3, I was in Sainsbury's and I remember looking at the Pick n mix. I distinctly remember looking at a massive tub of sweets that had a gold and brown striped wrapper- probably some form of chocolate toffee. That is my last recollection, staring at them and wanting one. Next thing I remembered was being in my Mum's car in the school carpark to pick up my older sister. My Mum left me and went to get her and I remember pulling out two of those sweets from my pocket! Ahrgh, I shoplifted and I have no recollection of even doing it!
Mantra to live by? (In a perfect world and all that!)
Well, really, it should be for me, the greatest commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your mind, with all your soul and love your neighbour as yourself. "
If I did that everyday, I think I might be a nicer person and the world would be a better place. Sadly, I am human and flawed and can be horrible!
Ha, thank you for your lovely questions, Zoe, I loved them!
Was great fun to collaborate on a BEDM post!
xx
Was great fun to collaborate on a BEDM post!
xx
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
BEDM workspace
Today BEDM asks us to share our workspace. Either our official work or our Blogspace.I can't share my school workspace since that's a bit of a no-no but I will share where I usually do my blogging. I am afraid it is a mess. I am not a tidy person by nature and a messy table is fine for me. I've identified a few items on the table. I always like a snack when I get back. In this case, it was Sweet and Salty popcorn but you can see the remains of the Paprika Lidl Pringle crisps (now empty) and of course a cup of Earl Grey. My ID tag as ended up on the table as I forgot to take it off my neck- must put in Handbag. There's also a Kinder egg box was was full of swiped mini-Smarties from the wedding. Vaio laptop- was J, my Mother-in-law's. I've never actually bought a new computer, I have cast-offs. Hankie- gross, I know but somehow, I leave it lying around if I have no pocket! Junkmail seems to have squatted here and that Lindt bunny bell has been there a while... Pencil case lives here by default. Not pretty, not decorative but that's the way I roll!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
BEDM: Indonesian Pamper nostalgia
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| Image borrowed from Jakarta city life |
I'm not really a pamperer in the traditional sense of beauty treatments and the suchlike. I'll have a pedicure every once in a while, usually one in the summer and I'll have my hair cut. I'm definitely not adverse to the idea of a massage, pedicure, facial etc- I love them in fact, but I rarely have them. But, my idea of a pampering often includes lying in bed late on a Saturday morning, large mug of tea by bed, book to read, curtains shut but with a little light. This is my idea of bliss.
But when I lived in Indonesia, I was introduced to a wonderful form of pampering and how I long to experience it again.
It is called a 'Creambath' and that's what it is called in Indonesian too!
I was introduced to it by my private Gamelan teacher. He was teaching me and our Thai friend Waewdao and the three of us went to a salon to try a Creambath. We even used to nickname him Pak Creambath because he LOVED having a Creambath treatment.
You would take your top off (with underwear) and wear a towel- velcroed or buttoned towel round your top. You would sit in the chair and what happens is, they wash your hair and then after a little towel pat dry.
Then, they take a pot of rich, nourishing conditioning cream (based on your hairtype). This is a thick mixture usually with some natural ingredients- there was one that involved avocado, coconut or milk, carrot also. The beautician would then apply it to your hair along form the scalp to the full length and massage it into your head. It was incredibly relaxing. The massage was quite firm but felt like it was doing your head great good as well as your hair. When they had applied it to the full length, they would then put you under one of those head steamers (you know one of those head-dryer things that senior ladies who were having a hairstyle set would be put under. You would steam for some 10-15 minutes. Whilst that was happening, the beautician would massage your neck, upper back, arms and hands with moisturiser. It was very nice and they were very good at massaging those awkward knots!
Finally, they would wash your hair and then then dry it (I think- it is 9 years since I last had one). Your hair would feel incredibly soft, nourished and smell absolutely amazing after the treatment.
My favourite salon was one in Penatih where my teacher lived. The treatment was very reasonable and cost me about 20,000Rp from that place (around about £1.60!) some 12 years ago. It was also very important for me when I was there as I was using a traditional Kamar Mandi (bathroom) in the Kos (room) where I lived and only had cold water and a scoop to wash my hair- I wasn't so good at using the Kamar mandi for washing my hair effectively!
I think longingly of going back to Bali and a Creambath would be one of my first treats when I was there!
Have you ever heard of a Creambath or something similar and would you like one?
I'd also love a great big long foot massage!!! Do they do such things in the UK?
xxx
For a little more info, you can look at Jakarta Citylife article about it
Friday, May 15, 2015
BEDM 15- Mersea Island- a beautiful Spring beach
Mersea Island in Essex on the Blackwater and Colne estuaries lies 9 miles south of Colchester and is famous for its oysters. One of my ancestors, a Great, great Grandfather was an oyster-picker here. He lived in nearby Tollesbury. We visited on the Bank Holiday Sunday and I eluded to this outing as ousting my 2-day old headache. You can see the colourful array of beach-huts,many oyster shells and long beaches as the tides were out. It was windy but sunny and beautiful and I really enjoyed the walk. In its history, it was a place much used by Smugglers and its name originally meant, "Island of the pool." The island, which has an East and a West half is linked to the mainland by a causeway that will flood at high-tide.
I took a multitude of photos, mostly of shells and beach huts, but I thought the weather conditions were so perfect as were the subjects for photographing that they make me look a better photographer than I really am. BEDM brief for today was to share your photograph skills, so here are mine.
I'll leave the words at that. Sometimes, less is more.xxx
Info from Wiki
I took a multitude of photos, mostly of shells and beach huts, but I thought the weather conditions were so perfect as were the subjects for photographing that they make me look a better photographer than I really am. BEDM brief for today was to share your photograph skills, so here are mine.
I'll leave the words at that. Sometimes, less is more.xxx
Info from Wiki
Thursday, May 14, 2015
BEDM 14: Top tips?
Er- I was a bit stumped for this prompt for today's blog post? I'm not sure I am an expert in anything that might be interesting to the general masses. I've already done a post on tips for parents thinking about starting their child off on an instrument if you want to see it here. It's very comprehensive and full of sensible advice which is a rarity in this here blog! I have nothing to add to advice about blogging, charity shops, clothing, crafting, photographing, waffling that you don't already know and Grandmother already knows how to suck eggs!
So, hmmmmm, what shall I talk about?
I know!!!!
It's time for a bit of Cloud spotting!! This post should really be entitled 'What is it? #31?' but I'm hoping to trick some people into reading this post who would otherwise ignore it thinking I'm a twit (you know who you are!!!!) and then they'll feel guilty about the fact I AM HIGHLY OFFENDED that you usually shun it, and hence join in!!! ;-)
So, above, is a cloud. Yes, that's right. It is a cloud. BUT BUT BUT, it is a cloud that resembles something other than condensed waterdroplets SO to join in, please leave me a comment below telling me what you believe it looks like? This one is reaaaaally clear methinks!
To give you some ideas of what my lovely imaginative commenters thought last time, let's look at
What is it? #30
I thought this looked like a couple of people's heads, leaning backwards like reclining in a chair. To the right is a character with a quiff hair, bulgy eyes, large nose and pursed lips with a pointy chin. It reminded me of the character Wendelina from Wallis and Gromit. To her left, is an old, bald gentleman with a short wrinkled forehead and fluffy eyebrows. He too has a large nose and his mouth is open guffawing at whatever show they are watching!
There's an ingenious selection of opinions from the audience below:
There's some great ideas here. Most in tune with me were Julia with her man with furrowed brow (Julia often sees the same in clouds as me) and Melanie who got it spot on with her couple, woman behind man!)
I'd LOVE it if you joined in! DO leave a comment if you like!
And I've thought of a tip from my very special area of expertise.
How to find pictures in clouds.
You need find a day when there are big fluffy clouds, possibly cumulus, cumulostratus and cumulo nimbus types where there are gaps in the sky. The sky generally needs to be blue, not grey- I never see anything on grey days. I don't see much when we've had Cirrocumulus or Cirrus-stratus clouds.Not sure what these are? Check google search here. Look for lone clouds or edges of clouds, particularly when you can see some gaps or darker patches- these often suggest 3D detail. Chances are, you'll see faces, shapes, animals, particular characters. I saw Miss Piggy in a cloud once!!!!
Early evening, around 5.30-6pm is often a good time, particularly on days where the sun is streaming through the clouds towards sunset in the evening- especially those orange and red clouds. Have a look and see what you can see!
xxx
P.S.
Here are some older clouds I saw as examples
Shark
Wicked witch (of West sans hat) profile with Toto
Giraffe head
Pecking pigeon
Zepphelin/Catfish
Pacman/Animal from Muppets
Cartoon poodle
Emaciated Oriental gent
Zeus shooting fireballs
So, hmmmmm, what shall I talk about?
I know!!!!
It's time for a bit of Cloud spotting!! This post should really be entitled 'What is it? #31?' but I'm hoping to trick some people into reading this post who would otherwise ignore it thinking I'm a twit (you know who you are!!!!) and then they'll feel guilty about the fact I AM HIGHLY OFFENDED that you usually shun it, and hence join in!!! ;-)
So, above, is a cloud. Yes, that's right. It is a cloud. BUT BUT BUT, it is a cloud that resembles something other than condensed waterdroplets SO to join in, please leave me a comment below telling me what you believe it looks like? This one is reaaaaally clear methinks!
To give you some ideas of what my lovely imaginative commenters thought last time, let's look at
What is it? #30
I thought this looked like a couple of people's heads, leaning backwards like reclining in a chair. To the right is a character with a quiff hair, bulgy eyes, large nose and pursed lips with a pointy chin. It reminded me of the character Wendelina from Wallis and Gromit. To her left, is an old, bald gentleman with a short wrinkled forehead and fluffy eyebrows. He too has a large nose and his mouth is open guffawing at whatever show they are watching!
There's an ingenious selection of opinions from the audience below:
11 comments:
There's some great ideas here. Most in tune with me were Julia with her man with furrowed brow (Julia often sees the same in clouds as me) and Melanie who got it spot on with her couple, woman behind man!)
I'd LOVE it if you joined in! DO leave a comment if you like!
And I've thought of a tip from my very special area of expertise.
How to find pictures in clouds.
You need find a day when there are big fluffy clouds, possibly cumulus, cumulostratus and cumulo nimbus types where there are gaps in the sky. The sky generally needs to be blue, not grey- I never see anything on grey days. I don't see much when we've had Cirrocumulus or Cirrus-stratus clouds.Not sure what these are? Check google search here. Look for lone clouds or edges of clouds, particularly when you can see some gaps or darker patches- these often suggest 3D detail. Chances are, you'll see faces, shapes, animals, particular characters. I saw Miss Piggy in a cloud once!!!!
Early evening, around 5.30-6pm is often a good time, particularly on days where the sun is streaming through the clouds towards sunset in the evening- especially those orange and red clouds. Have a look and see what you can see!
xxx
P.S.
Here are some older clouds I saw as examples
Shark
Wicked witch (of West sans hat) profile with Toto
Giraffe head
Pecking pigeon
Zepphelin/Catfish
Pacman/Animal from Muppets
Cartoon poodle
Emaciated Oriental gent
Zeus shooting fireballs
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Hope your having a great weekend.
Hugs,
JB
DenisesPlanet.com
Lizzie Dripping