Before anyone decides to start rumours about me (HDC) i thought i would step in with my quote of the week....
" I have a real thing about men " - which taken out of context could be a bit tricky!!!!
What i actually meant by the above is I have a real thing about men being Men. I am not even sure what that means or looks like. But I do get frustrated when I see guys being prevented from (or in some cases just not bothering) being the Men they are meant to be.
Last week I had a really good conversation in which a friend and i discussed the old fashioned notion of 'chivalry' - does it still apply in our post modern, empowered women world?? Do we want men to treat us well, opening doors, paying for drinks, buying us roses etc..... or do we want to be seen as equals with them, splitting everything by half and stuffing old traditions as crushing to the "weaker sex".
Tricky..... I don't know any woman who wants to be seen as weak, but then again i don't know many who don't like being treated really nicely, treated like they are worth something to the guy in question.
I think a whole lot of good came out of feminism (i say at this point that i know v little about the movement so may have picked up the wrong end of the stick!!), we got to vote, equal pay and rights which expanded our world to go beyond the school run and the kitchen. We have so many things that so many women in the world do not have - and that is something i am really grateful for.
But did it maybe go a bit too far?? Did we, in saying that we can do anything a man can, make men a bit redundant. Or at least feel like they are easily expendable - who needs a man when we can multi-task to such an incredible degree? Perhaps that is why so few men feel empowered to be who they really are - either there is no space for them to do that (due to multi-tasking, all powerful woman in their lives) or that even if they did try, a woman would come and do it anyway, so why bother!!
So somehow I want to encourage the men in my life (Dad, brothers, in Christ) to be all they can. Does that mean me being weak? the damsel in distress looking for a knight to come and save me - only from the dishes!! No. well not totoally i don't think.
I think it means recognising that neither me or the men, can be all we are meant to be without the other sex. We both need to partner, together, to get to the end. That means me trusting him, and not taking control, while he values what I have to bring to the partnership and allowing our gifts to compliment each other.
That will look so different in every relationship, friendship etc - but its defo something i am out to encourage in those i have the privaledge to be in.....This is defo not new thoughts, but just thought i would share mine. although the above is not complete or fixed. am open to suggestions!
Other exciting news includes I got a new camera bag (for xmas). Its Crumpler and ruby red..... it makes me smile a whole lot. It has v useful but ingenious pockets and velcro in all the right places. Has given me a great level of satisfaction. Thanks cate for leading the way!!! (and yes i probably need to get out more if i get so giddy about a camera bag. but i think cate will understand!)
Next week - packing and london........
my new motto - be realistic. Demand the impossible.
London seems like a good place to start living that one out!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Sunday, October 23, 2005
moss side is strangely beautiful at 7 in the morning when the sun is only just starting to rise behind the clouds. It makes the sky a funny blue purple colour which somehow sits well with the bright orange street lights. everyone is asleep save for a baby crying, and two kids on bikes going down the middle of the road. why not - its empty!!!!
Its really peaceful and the birds are starting to twitter - its almost like its not moss side or something.
You know weekends are good when you see faveorite people, chill out in lovely ways (like reading in trof when surrounded by friends, noise and drinking a great hot chocolate), and then stay up half the night nattering about everything under the sun and drinking lots of t.
I have been trying to find a new winter coat - to no avail. They ar either grey and black (boring and far too london) or not really coats at all, not much thicker than a summer coat. boo.
but i did find a great bottle green one - thinking on that one. A friend of mine has some great winter coats though, perhaps i should ask her.
Mum is flying over this week to do the christmas shopping - she's the most organised santa i have ever known, sometimes she starts in febuary.
More exciting than christmas shopping and the christmas market here (which i will miss, boo!) - my parents are returning to LIVE, in britain, after 10 long years in the desert. (now come on - there must be a prophetic word in there somewhere - how much biblical imagery does one need!!! they are even coming back from Egypt!)
I am v excited for them - they get to do normal things and remain in the same place for years on end, not needing to jump on a plane. Trust me - it can get reaaaally boring!!! So this christmas we will have even more reason to celebrate and eat lots of amazing mum food for days on end!!!! not only that but we will be in the hills and by the sea - oh my.
Its really peaceful and the birds are starting to twitter - its almost like its not moss side or something.
You know weekends are good when you see faveorite people, chill out in lovely ways (like reading in trof when surrounded by friends, noise and drinking a great hot chocolate), and then stay up half the night nattering about everything under the sun and drinking lots of t.
I have been trying to find a new winter coat - to no avail. They ar either grey and black (boring and far too london) or not really coats at all, not much thicker than a summer coat. boo.
but i did find a great bottle green one - thinking on that one. A friend of mine has some great winter coats though, perhaps i should ask her.
Mum is flying over this week to do the christmas shopping - she's the most organised santa i have ever known, sometimes she starts in febuary.
More exciting than christmas shopping and the christmas market here (which i will miss, boo!) - my parents are returning to LIVE, in britain, after 10 long years in the desert. (now come on - there must be a prophetic word in there somewhere - how much biblical imagery does one need!!! they are even coming back from Egypt!)
I am v excited for them - they get to do normal things and remain in the same place for years on end, not needing to jump on a plane. Trust me - it can get reaaaally boring!!! So this christmas we will have even more reason to celebrate and eat lots of amazing mum food for days on end!!!! not only that but we will be in the hills and by the sea - oh my.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
almost finished....
my time here in manchester. phew i hear some of you say. me too. I have been talking of leaving for about 6 months, so its good to finally see the door out.
Am off to london in pilgrim style. back pack on back and a place to stay for a few weeks. no "proper job" (whatever that is) and a few pounds. i can't wait. it feels like the adventure has been a little static these last 12 months, so am looking forward to being more mobile.
the leaves are b-e-a-utiful at the mo.
I have discovered that canadian geese are not the brightest birds in the sky . yesterday while in a cleaning frezy in the local pond one decided to do the head down - bum up pose, only to tip a bit too far and end up on his back, legs flapping and all!!!!! He quickly righted himself only then to fly around swarking at the seaguls in an embarressed, i've just ruined my rep sort of way. defo kept me chuckling.
also reminded me of another type of canadian, prone to random acts of silliness, like putting knickers in the deep freezer! miss u lots - bring on the harley!
Having seen so many friends leave here, it feels a bit late to do the "last things to do in the city" thing, but I am enjoying seeing manchester with fresh eyes - taking notice of the little things which for the past 2 years i have walked past. But moe than that, I have realised more and more what an amazing bunch of people i have known here.
Every time i go to the park i find myself talking to strangers, who are generally lonely and just looking for a bit of company. But in my time here i have been really fortunate to have people about, who although did not always get me, at least wanted to try.
Soon however i will join the "they used to live here" group, who seem splattered all over the world. I look forward to that, but for now i'm really thankful that i live here.
Am off to london in pilgrim style. back pack on back and a place to stay for a few weeks. no "proper job" (whatever that is) and a few pounds. i can't wait. it feels like the adventure has been a little static these last 12 months, so am looking forward to being more mobile.
the leaves are b-e-a-utiful at the mo.
I have discovered that canadian geese are not the brightest birds in the sky . yesterday while in a cleaning frezy in the local pond one decided to do the head down - bum up pose, only to tip a bit too far and end up on his back, legs flapping and all!!!!! He quickly righted himself only then to fly around swarking at the seaguls in an embarressed, i've just ruined my rep sort of way. defo kept me chuckling.
also reminded me of another type of canadian, prone to random acts of silliness, like putting knickers in the deep freezer! miss u lots - bring on the harley!
Having seen so many friends leave here, it feels a bit late to do the "last things to do in the city" thing, but I am enjoying seeing manchester with fresh eyes - taking notice of the little things which for the past 2 years i have walked past. But moe than that, I have realised more and more what an amazing bunch of people i have known here.
Every time i go to the park i find myself talking to strangers, who are generally lonely and just looking for a bit of company. But in my time here i have been really fortunate to have people about, who although did not always get me, at least wanted to try.
Soon however i will join the "they used to live here" group, who seem splattered all over the world. I look forward to that, but for now i'm really thankful that i live here.
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