Friday 14 December 2012

Ben Needham- Do you know the boy in the red top?

This isn't the first time i have blogged about Ben Needham but as i'm gradually returning to blogging i thought i would start with something important and something that i care about. I suppose that sounds silly as i have never known any of the Needham family and yet through the news over the years i feel like i truly do care about this little boy who was taken away from his loving mother and  i desperately want to hear the news that he has been found and that there is some sort of reunion with his family that has a happy ending.

Anyway, i will start by posting a link to a recent mirror article. The article highlights a new lead in the search for Ben and a photograph that was sent in by a greek woman.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ben-needham-search-for-missing-ben-1483977

The photograph was apparently taken in the Corinthia area of Greece sometime in 1995

Using the wonders of Google, Corinthia it seems can be called Korinthia.





The photograph of this lovely smiling little boy has many similarities to the baby photographs of Ben Needham. In fact so much so that it's hard to imagine that it isn't Ben. As i get people all around the world reading this blog i thought it wouldn't hurt for me to blog about it. There is always the hope that someone reading may know who the photograph is of.
If you do know who the young boy is (take into account the photograph was taken approx 1995) Then there is the official facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/helpfindben where you will be able to find ways of contacting Ben's family to pass on the information to them.

 THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED DUE TO THE FACT THE BOY IS NOT BEN NEEDHAM :(




Thursday 25 October 2012

Back to blogging soon :)

Well long time no see! The reason for my prolonged absence is because i have been working on my OU Psychology course and it's really important to me. Sadly more than blogging.

I am pleased to report that so far i have passed 3 of my assignments and i am in the process of completing my final one for this course. *Phew* Next year i have chosen to take on two more courses (can you tell i really want that degree?)

I have begun to learn about so many interesting things that i thought i would share one with you, mind you knowing my luck you already know!  :)

I have discovered the wonder that is Phineas Gage, and the whole story about him has really gained my interest. To make it more fun i have included a fun song about him that i discovered on Youtube. He was a true medical miracle, through an accident at work a huge metal rod pierced through his head, and maybe obviously...his brain. I guess from what i have read that one of the main reasons doctors discovered they could operate safely on the brain was due to his injury. Anyway i don't want to bore you to death but i just thought i would let you all know what i am getting up to at the moment.


Sunday 8 July 2012

Simon Gray- Country Music Lovers- Holly Ann

Just a quick post to big up Simon Gray's new song called Holly Ann. I am a big fan of country music, and i just love Simon Gray's latest song which is getting plenty of radio time on The Ride 94.1 out of Globe AZ.
I also had a listen of some of his other songs and i caved and purchased Big Door Open on amazon and thoroughly recommend you give that a listen. Big Door Open It's having a lot of playing time on my Ipod at the moment.

Anyway, for those keen to have a listen to his music themselves. His website is here Simon Gray and his facebook is here Simon Gray fan page

He is a lovely man with a great music style. To me he is a mix between Loudon Wainwright III and Warren Zevon which is a total winner in my book.





Sunday 3 June 2012

Mouth works before brain

I have had this awful problem ever since i was a child and i'm sure i can't be alone?  My mouth often works a tad bit faster than my brain.

I will rewind over twenty odd years to me sitting in a classroom in Milton Keynes, *Big wave to Conniburrow school*  we were having a sex education lesson. I must of been about eight. Seems a bit early looking back on it now but i can't of been much older. Anyway enough waffle. The teacher drew on the blackboard male and female parts *snigger* Sadly we didn't have anything as flash as a whiteboard in those days. Our teacher asked as to name the parts that she pointed to, i am pretty sure that someone put there hand up and mentioned the word "penis" cue sniggers from every child in the class and then i remember thrusting my hand in the air like the eager child i was and said "i know miss, i know what the other one is, it's a virginia miss" Well as it came out of my mouth and the laughs started i just knew i had made a major boo boo. To this day i struggle to ask for Golden Virginia when shopping for my partner. You see, i got it wrong once,so  i could easily end up asking for a golden vagina on the next shopping trip.

Along the same lines, today i learnt what is not acceptable to say in busy a supermarket. "I fancy a joint on Monday"



Wednesday 2 May 2012

Playstation Access whinge

Ok time for a mini whinge. Hey i did warn you first.

Recently Playstation Access had a competition running, it was to design a cover for their magazine. Now i'm rubbish at this kind of thing but i did mention it to hubby and said he should enter as he is great with photoshop and very creative.

Anyway the other day i noticed the winner announced. It was a really good entry and i had a feeling it would win so i was really chuffed for him. Now the next bit might sound like sour grapes, in part it is as i really thought hubby stood a chance of getting picked to at least get his work in the magazine. He did follow all the guidelines set out in the rules and the image was good quality. The topic was "Gaming takes over the world" I'm thinking maybe they didn't like his entry because it didn't actually advertise "Sony" as such.
Quite a large amount of entries were picked to feature in the magazine, many more than i thought they would feature.Some are really good, others not so *in my opinon. Anyway my main gripe is that one of the entries was a stolen one that was taken and wrecked.

The original is here by someone called torsor , it's very good.

Deviant art torsor

The competition entry which is torsor's image but squished with an picture of earth added is here, take a look at the comments. Even torsor spoke up.  Stolen image


The picture below shows the entries that will feature. The row above the last one shows that this image and it will be used and featured in the mag. I find that quite disgraceful if they don't plan to credit the original artist. torsor is obviously talented and if you're going to feature someone else's work at least let them know and at least ask their permission. It is good manners after all.



Now i have had that mini rant i feel better. Time to go & play Just Dance 3 on the Xbox360. :)

Sunday 29 April 2012

Tonight i'm mainly loving Beatboxing!

I've got a new passion! If you hadn't guessed by the title it's beatboxing. I could never do it in a million years but i admire those who can. Especially Dave Crowe who i discovered on Youtube tonight. I would love to see this guy live. Not only is he amazingly talented at beatboxing but he also seems to be able to entertain a crowd.


"Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments"

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Purple Pledge campaign

My daughter has always been fairly healthy, that is until the end of last year when she had a seizure at school, at the time she just felt faint but on collapsing she banged her head off of the desk and the floor and then a seizure followed. I thought stupidly that it was a one off and that it wouldn't happen again until that is, she had another seizure one month later and epilepsy was discussed. Watching a seizure is frightening and scary and since it has happened i have done my best to research epilepsy and during this research came across the Purple Pledge Campaign which i want to highlight in my blog this evening.

Sadly, just because a child isn't born with epilepsy doesn't mean they are immune and that it won't develop in the future.




Paint the town purple!
Celebrities join forces with Young Epilepsy to launch My Purple Pledge
Young Epilepsy is urging people all over the country to back flagship campaign ‘My Purple Pledge’ this March, and make a difference to the lives of the 112,000 young people in the UK living with epilepsy.
Backed by a series of famous faces including Commonwealth, European and World Champion 400 metre hurdler Dai Greene, Young Epilepsy is asking the public and celebrities alike to do something purple and help put a spotlight on this misunderstood condition. 
Pledges could range from wearing purple to work or school, baking and selling purple cakes, taking part in a Purple Zumba, or even being sponsored to lie in a bath of blackcurrant juice! Anything goes and the quirkier the better!   Any pledge – big or small – will help raise vital funds for the charity which is the UK’s only national charity dedicated to children and young people with epilepsy and other associated neurological conditions.
‘My Purple Pledge’ coincides with Purple Day (26 March 2012), the international day to mark epilepsy awareness and National Epilepsy Awareness Week (May 2012).
Young Epilepsy Ambassador, Dai Greene, said: “My Purple Pledge aims to put epilepsy on the map and make people aware of what it really means. I’m fully behind the campaign and will be pledging purple to help improve the lives of a lot of young people with epilepsy. I’m hoping that as many people as possible will be ‘in the purple’ for the 26 March and help raise desperately needed funds for such a deserving cause.
“Epilepsy effects over 112,000 children and young people under the age of 25 – including myself - and is the most common neurological condition in the UK.  Despite this, it’s still relatively unknown and has little awareness.”
Lisa Farmer, Director of Fundraising at Young Epilepsy, commented: “My Purple Pledge is a fun way of generating awareness about a very serious condition.  All monies raised through the campaign will be used to provide life-changing support through our special school, college, medical centre and residential homes.  Ultimately, it will help young people with epilepsy across the country to fulfill their potential.”







  Waterloo Road actor backs epilepsy fundraising and awareness campaign
Philip Martin Brown, who plays the grumpy Grantly Budgen from hit BBC show Waterloo Road, is urging the nation to back flagship campaign ‘My Purple Pledge’, and make a difference to the 112,000 young people aged 25 and under living with epilepsy in the UK.
Launched by Young Epilepsy – a national charity dedicated to children and young people living with epilepsy – My Purple Pledge coincides with International Purple Day (26 March).  Its aim is to encourage people to make a ‘purple pledge’ and help raise vital funds to create better futures for young lives living with the condition.
Having been diagnosed with epilepsy himself at the age of 19, Philip is a Young Epilepsy ambassador and has made his own purple pledge: donating Waterloo Road memorabilia signed by all the cast – including a script from the last series and a visit for four to the show’s set in Scotland.  The prize is being auctioned as part of the My Purple Pledge campaign.
Philip Martin Brown comments: “My Purple Pledge aims to put epilepsy on the map and make people aware of what it really means. I was diagnosed in my late teens and am fully behind the campaign that is helping to improve the lives of young people with the condition.
“I’ve made my pledge and I hope as many people as possible will join me and help raise desperately needed funds for such a deserving cause. Your pledge could range from hosting a sponsored ‘wear purple to work or school day’ to baking and selling purple cakes – basically anything that helps raise money. The options are endless.”
Backed by a series of other famous faces - including Commonwealth, European and World Champion 400 metre hurdler Dai Greene - Young Epilepsy is asking the public and celebrities alike to do something purple and help put a spotlight on this misunderstood condition. 
Pledges can be made online at www.mypurplepledge.com and can range from hosting a purple themed event, taking part in a Purple Zumba, or even being sponsored to lie in a bath of blackcurrant juice!  Anything goes and the quirkier the better!   Any pledge – big or small – will help raise vital funds for the charity which is the UK’s only national charity dedicated to
Epilepsy is a serious debilitating disorder of the body’s nervous system causing symptoms such as paralysis, muscle weakness and seizures.  It affects around one child in every primary school and five in every secondary school.   Around 6,000 young people will experience communication, learning or behaviour problems. In some cases they will also have a significantly higher mortality rate.
The Children’s ISA is the main My Purple Pledge sponsor for 2012, with the first commercial partner being EasyLink UK, which provides epilepsy seizure monitors.
Please visit www.mypurplepledge.com for more information or to follow My Purple Pledge on Twitter @purplepledge.
Here is a youtube video showing what to do when a seizure happens.



Me and my daughter are hoping to bake some purple cakes for National Epilepsy Awareness Week. (Anyone know the best place to get purple icing?!) We will upload the photographs when we make them and perhaps we will create a just giving page and do a raffle or something similar. I will update as soon as we have figured out what we will be doing to help the cause.

I have been granted permission to use the images and information regarding the purple pledge campaign by www.youngepilepsy.org.uk/ and i thank them for allowing me to highlight such an important subject on my little blog.

Friday 24 February 2012

A Song For Ben

Thought i would quickly post this up as i think the more people that take the time to share this, the more chance that Ben Needham will be found one day.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Syria doesn't have anything we want

It's a blunt and straight to the point heading but it's the only reason i can think of as to why we are not helping the innocent people who have been dying over there for the last 2 weeks.

I rarely watch the news, it's either government funds related or celeb orientated non news or at least it seems that way but i did manage to catch the news yesterday and was horrified at how bad things were in Syria, and how little of it had been publicized in the newspapers.Well certainly not on the front pages anyway.


Today there will no doubt be a rush of reporting as one female reporter Marie Colvin for the Sunday Times has sadly died. I watched a news report yesterday and she was reporting over the phone, it must be one of the most frightening places in the world at the moment and there is no doubt that she was one very brave woman.  However as much as i find this all so tragic. Why is it that it takes her loss for people to be outraged, why not the loss of the little boy, the fathers or all the other deaths that have happened over these few weeks. She obviously wanted to highlight how bad it is there, make us take notice and get these people the help they so need.

I really pray that someone will help these people. Before it's too late.

R.I.P. Marie Colvin, French photojournalist Remi Ochlik and all the other innocent victims in Syria.


Friday 17 February 2012

Yummy Devil's Bridge chocolate & Roll Pizzas

While passing through we stopped off at Devil's Bridge in Aberystwyth the other day and my daughter grabbed some gorgeous chocolate so i just had to mention it. I love edible yummy things, especially when different and especially when chocolate!

They had loads of different chocolate to pick from, some with gummy frogs in! Nuts, fruit, oh there was so much choice it was like being in chocolate heaven.

If you're ever passing through Aberystwyth do stop off and pick some up!
Delicious Chocolate

Anyway tonight i ummed and ahhed over what to do for dinner and the kids as usual wanted to help so we opted for the quick and easy Roll Pizza's and yes they are as simple as they sound but the kids love making them and adding their own toppings, it's so simple even a toddler could get involved in making them. Tonight the kids had a tomato base, basil, cheese x 2, ham, olives, jalapeno peppers, sliced tomatoes.






They must of been good because they didn't last long and they didn't even save me one to try :(

Friday 27 January 2012

Speedy Gonzales - Ageing isn't all bad

Popped to the supermarket the other day and what should be zooming down the road but a scooter thingy. I can't wait to get old (er!) I am going to be such a menace..in fact i might deliberately aim myself at those teens who have their trousers half way down their legs and their pants on show and i will get right behind them and sound my horn which of course will be fabulous and play the first line of the song Dixie.


In truth i know it's a menace and i don't think they should be on the road but really..who is going to lock him up? He might get a stern warning by some officer who talks in a loud voice (why does everyone presume if you're over 65 you are deaf? )  and talks to him like he is all of about five years old but i can't see much more than that happening,

It's wonderful really..knowing that one day i can get up to all sorts of naughty goings on and blame it on my age! See... minus the grey hair, wrinkles, peeing when you cough, peeing when you laugh, sometimes pooping when you cough, and feeding poor fluffy to the neighbors dog... ageing isn't ALL that bad.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Use facebook? Have you been hacked without your knowledge?

I am so cross and upset. Some arse has managed to hack into my Facebook account, add what seems to be both a MasterCard and a visa card and spend a fortune on a texas holdem game app since December without me even realizing.

I don't own a Mastercard and the Visa card that has been used isn't mine!. Facebook is totally useless and provides no direct way to contact them even though i did go round in circles and manage to email them last night by selecting options that were probably irrelevant to me but should of (if it was a decent company) given me a response.


Yesterday i contacted MasterCard who told me to get a credit report, that will take 5 days for me to receive the pin. I also contacted the police today and tried my best to explain the situation to them and now it seems it's a waiting game to see if i get a response from Facebook or find out someone has committed identity fraud against me. Argh. So Friday 13th was unlucky for me.


This post is to warn others. I wouldn't of known about any of this if it wasn't for this message that greeted me when i was forced to log back into facebook.




I advise everyone to check that this isn't happening to you.
Go to the arrow next to the home tab at the top of your screen on the right hand side.
Go to Account Settings at the top of your screen.
On the left hand side it should be like the screenshot shown below.
Click on payments and then Credits purchase history to make sure nobody has been using your account without your knowledge and adding mystery cards to your account.
Please remember to check on a regular basis.






Thursday 5 January 2012

Could you be an Angel?

I stumbled across something online recently, as you do! I thought about what a wonderful idea it was and it reminded me of the film " Pay it Forward"  In the film a young boy attempts to make the world a better place.
The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead

Most of us nowadays struggle with money woes, if you don't then hey that's great but i know many are in the arms of debt and can't see a way out. Those that are better off well have you ever thought that you could be someones Angel?


The website i stumbled across is http://www.wishesandangels.com 

You will always get chancers and greedy people but i would like to think that there are also lots of genuine people in need. Just £1 could make a massive difference to someone. It could let them know that someone cares and get them one step nearer their wish.


This website when enough angels have helped actually give the item requested rather than the money. You can even go through the wishes and select a wish that you can relate to.


If you need help then go make a wish for yourself but look within yourself and see if you could in turn pay it forward when you have hopefully better circumstances in the future.

I ask that you don't take advantage of the website and be greedy but i'm sure those who read my blog wouldn't dream of such a thing.



Be an Angel in 2012 X

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Ten Chances to Win an E-Cigarette

Not from me i should add but from http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk

Comment on their blog and you could win! So many people say they will finally quit on January 1st but very few keep to it. I really do think the Ecig is the way to go. Get over the fact it's a bit heavier than a normal cigarette and give it a week and i'm sure you will be surprised and smoke free for the rest of 2012!

You have to be in it to win it, that saying is so true!. All you have to do is take a few seconds to tell them:

    * why you need an electronic cigarette
    * or, if you already use an e-cigarette, tell them why you would recommend it to a smoker

http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2012/01/switch-electronic-cigarettes-2012.html