January 2008
Monthly Archive
Lightish
Posted by Suzi on 31 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Blog post
I’m having a Jamie Oliver moment! Isn’t he great! Good on him for raising the whole battery chicken issue. It’s a disgrace that they are treated so badly. I for one always try to avoid chicken because I can’t bear the thought of their painful lives and deaths. I’ve known a couple of people who worked in chicken factories and the stories they would tell were horrendous. I’m sure most of my avid readers are vegan and are horrified at the thought of meat eating so I’m sorry for bringing the subject up!
On a lighter note I’m happily working in London still. I’m now a regular attender at a poetry class where I am attempting to learn how to analyze poems. It’s great fun and will hopefully inspire to post some more up. I’m too scared to post anything serious up so you’re all treated to a diet of lightish verse instead!
I’ve just spent a pleasant half hour chatting to Erin on the phone - nothing like a natter with old friends to make you feel comfortable and cozy. I should really finish planning an exciting lesson for tomorrow but I may have to go off and watch more Jamie Oliver.
I posted up some photos from my week away in Rutland so check them out if you’re bored. I really like the close up of the flower. I know they’re not amazingly interesting as they’re primarily landscape shots and they don’t really demonstrate any technical skill but it was so lovely I just wanted a postcard kind of memory of the place.
The smallest county
Posted by Suzi on 21 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Travelling
I’m currently in Rutland on holiday. It’s lovely to be in the countryside. Rutland water streches silvery and peaceful in front of out window and the fields are so green. We’ve just walked the 3 miles into Oakham to use the free internet at the library and I’m looking forward to a relaxing swim in the pool this evening. We checked out Barnsdale Lodge for a drink yesterday evening and I would recommned a visit if you’re in the area. Sunday night ensured it was lovely and quiet and we supped drinks while playing chess in warm, cozy, embroidered surroundings! If you’re in Oakham - check out the ‘castle’, the library and the museum because they’re all free. If you want to spend money then try thee charity shops - they’re all very good here. There is lots of countryside to walk in and adorable little towns so there is plenty to do if you love the countryside 
Australia declares whale hunts in antarctic waters illegal
Posted by Suzi on 17 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Blog post
Australia declared whale hunts in antarctic waters illegal just hours before Potts and Lane boarded the Yushin Maru. For more details go to Indymedia or this Australian news site. The two have now been handed over to the Australian. You can read more detail on the BBC website.
Hostages taken by Japanese Whaling Ship
Posted by Suzi on 16 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Blog post
Two men from Sea Shepherd were taken hostage this morning as they tried to protest illegal whaling. They boarded the vessel with a letter stating their non-violent aims but were taken hostage and tied up.
If you can then send an email to Japanese Embassy at info@jpembassy.org.uk and send a copy to info@seashepherd.org to let them know that you care. A copy to Foreign & Commonwealth Office wouldn’t go amiss. The address is msu.publicin@fco.gov.uk
The Telegraph covered the story as did The Mail On Sunday (I can’t believe I’m linking to them but it’s for a good cause!).
From Turner to turnips
Posted by Suzi on 13 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Art, Blog post, Travelling
I’ve just had a lovely weekend in Keele and am now back in London awaiting an afternoon of fun with K’s family. I went to Liverpool yesterday which didn’t strike me on first appearances of being capital of culture but then what do I know. We walked into the city center and I wasn’t overly impressed but the dock area all done up with coffee shops and the Tate was quite nice and we spend a pleasant afternoon avoiding the over priced ‘Beatles Story’ and instead went to the Tate which was free and all the more wonderful for being free. If you go to Liverpool do nip into the shop at the ‘Beatles Story Experience’ as it is a pricey experience all of it’s own. Someone is making a lot of money for selling t-shirts and whatnot with lines from Beatles songs.
Jon and I saw the Turner Prize short-listed artists: Zarina Bhimji, Nathan Coley, Mike Nelson and Mark Wallinger. All quite good and worth seeing for yourself but as today is the last day maybe that’s not going to happen. The Turner Prize is quite interesting because it’s judged by directors of art galleries and journalists and not really by people or artists as you might imagine from the idea of nominations. For a laugh at the Tuner Prize check out these amusing cartoons.
The Turnip Prize is also a joke inspired by the Turner Prize.
However before you laugh too much at the Turner Prize remember that it’s worth £40 000 and it might be worth becoming an artists just to be nominated!
Therapeutic Norwich
Posted by Suzi on 11 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Blog post
I had a wonderful time yesterday having Norwich therapy. I nipped up after work to see Will, Ella, Joe and Rich. We met up in Pulse which I think is a lovely café/vegetarian restaurant. I adore the way their slices of cake leave you stuffed. Yesterday was my first experience of eating their veggie dishes and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Being amongst old friends was remarkably therapeutic and a visit to Elements of Health for a relaxing massage was the best thing after almost a whole week at work!
Pulse is a great café if you’ve veggie or vegan. It’s got a great relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I’d heard the food wasn’t great but I was happy with my Mediterranean vegetable tian at just under £7. I love popping in for tea and cake and chilling out on their sofas. It’s definitely one of my favourite venues in Norwich.
I dashed back to Norwich for work this morning and then faced the pouring rain to come up to Keele. I’m curled up in Jon’s front room with a roaring fire spending a little internet time writing this! He has a massive TV so I’m catching up on years of TV deprivation! Not that I’m advoacting getting a TV. No siree! I say throw it out of the window and go for a wholesome walk. But it is lovely when someone else has one and you can watch it 
After the relaxing holidays it was a little hard on the first day of work. The job is going well but I’m heartened by thoughts of a holiday in the third week of January where I will be treating myself to daily swims and saunas. I have just enrolled on a contemporary poetry course where I am hoping to learn how to analyse poems quickly and efficiently. It might have the effect of making me write more poems for your reading so be warned!
Happy New Year
Posted by Suzi on 02 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Blog post
A brand new year and I’m still on holiday. What bliss! I spent a very pleasant holiday with family in Keele and then Devon - photos coming soon I promise! I’m hovering in London for a few days and then flying up to Northamptonshire for a spot of country air! Norwich people watch out cos I’ll be popping in soon to see you all too! Happy New Year everyone!