Horse riding weekend away

My friend asked me whether I fancied going on a weekend Away to go horse riding. I thought why not it's quite a good deal, £200 all inclusive of Travel, horse riding, food and accommodation.

So off to a Welsh village near Brecon  via the mini bus that picked us up from Ealing Common station; I was a bit sceptical because of the poor weather conditions, but in the end it didn't really bother me; when it rained, it poured in sessions!

The accommodation was at the organiser's farm house, was basic amenities, but was fine bonus was there was a hot tub in the garden!

During actual horse riding day was a good little adventure but 18 of us lined up on horses did slightly slow the pace of things. Majority were beginners in riding and couldn't control their horses who lingered to snack, one girl slipped off her saddle twice because it was too loose on the horse. Was funny when one of the horses started playing with the water as we crossed the river.

Evening was chilled majority of the people were playing this murder mystery game, but I chilled with my cognac and lemonade with my magazine by the fire- very unlike me for a Saturday evening but was nice (^^) I didn't join the game as they spoke Mandarin, a dialect I'm poor at (mental note, still need to have lessons in that language of throw myself to the actual country to learn it!!)

This is a lovely escape out of the city, unwinding and getting aching thighs from the riding. Was quite a bit of me time which is nice, since I wasn't really able to participate in some conversations. It's a good break for a large group of friends especially if it was a birthday, Tony the host makes a treat of a Baked Alaska, very yummy (^.^)

Definitely would recommend this trip to people

http://www.bushwakkers.co.uk/

Throw me into the matchmaking!!

On the weekend as I was catching up with he Old Dear that is my Mum, before my call she was catching up with my best mates mum. Aunty was asking Mum whether I had a boyfriend; Mum didn't know and said no but then was quizzing me about it. No I replied, messaging down the line from Aunty, as she pressured me back on Royal Weekend when I visited, that I needed to hurry up and find a man in my life!! When I pass 27 I'm buggered and all the good men will have been snapped up.

As My best mate is now engaged and pregnant, 2 years younger than me, then our other good childhood friends Si and Lewis, brothers- Simon now married for 2 years and Lewis girlfriended up, leaving me the only one still single. (･･)

I think majority of the young professional women working in London, like myself aren't really searching as it isn't really a priority; or like me having too much fun out and about mingling and socialising to think of my love life haha haha!! XD

Well I decided to throw myself into it... I went speed dating! I've been before about year and a half ago, decided to accompany a friend of mine. Such a small world encountering some familiar girl friends, was pretty funny, I didn't expect them to be there.

24 men to chat to in space of 4 minutes is quite a lot of work for the mind, body and voice! A lot to remember, the person's traits that stood out!

There were many who were definitely I would like to stay in contact as a friend and get to know; a few are on the not sure so put no but a few possibles. Many couldn't believe I did mini notes on my card on each individual guy; it's the only way I'll remember what they were like!!

Overall speed dating is good fun, though a bit tiring chatting to so many at such a short space of time; doesn't help doing it on a weekday after work. But it is nice to meet new people out of the typical circles. However I know once I get those results, and check them up on Facebook, the degrees of separation will shrink!!

Night in the Zoo to B&Q (well not really)

Instead of the Science Museum for a change, my friends and I decided to venture to London Zoo after work on a Friday evening. We couldn’t help taking up the opportunity especially Groupon doing the deal for £9, absolute bargain!!

I have never been to London Zoo before and was definitely one of those places to go explore in London. I think what puts me off the zoo is the cost, finding the company and of course what every London dweller in conscious of, time and weekends tend to be overcrowded with families.

I find the problem with going with a big group of friends is that you need to wait for them, especially when you’re coming from work, everyone is based in all parts in the M25 Bubble, so of course we were a bit late, didn’t get into the zoo till about 7.30pm, the animal rooms were opened until 9pm, so we had a lot to go through.

We decided to split up in twos to make it easier; unfortunately I didn’t get to see all the animals, gorillas my friends said were really amazing and there was drama in their room as there was a bit of a scrap with the male vs. female gorillas.

Seeing the animals were very fascinating especially the giant ants, birds of prey and the new enclosure for the penguins, they were so cute!! ^.^ It’s a shame I didn’t manage to get to see the meerkats, giraffes and nocturnal animals as they were on the other side of the zoo!! >.<

Good thing about late night events, no kids! The ability to walk around without any bulky prams, children screaming, and allowed to take alcohol around apart from some areas like the bird cages as the birds may knock it off your hand! Bonus with the late night events is that they have the silent disco as well, I didn’t bother going as I’ve been there and done it, but it’s a definite experience very fun! Wasn’t so happy with the cost of food and drink; however it was nice the individual tents serving different varieties of food, funny bit was the hog roast that was actually not far from the bearded pigs!!

This trip is definitely worth going but the duration of 2½ hours in the zoo wasn’t enough for me, should have got there about 6.30-7pm!!

The Chavalution

I think this post of thoughts has actually been lingering in my mind for the past few weeks now, and the conversation with friends on the subject of fashions and encountering the Essex Clad in Movida on Friday triggered it off :P (note I do go off on history ranting tangents, and can be not PC)

I know mainly in Britain they will know what the hell a Chav is but I can explain it to those who don’t. Originally from the working class mainly youths who have poor education, a lot of aggression and attitude and have a very common taste in fashion and lifestyle. Some are also they type constantly on benefits, getting knocked up, lethargic characters that don’t go out and find a proper job. They also have a tendency to either loiter around public places such as parks and shopping centres or are racing around in their second or third hand worn out cars with the bass high and music turned up loud to raving music to Hip/hop rap. (Ok I’m stereotyping but it’s kind of true!) Little Britain's Vicky Pollard would be the perfect example

Other names relating Chavs – Townies, Boy Racers, Rude Boys, Kevs, Spides, Kappa Slappers, White Trash (for more the American term) my thoughts in the 21st Century ASBO (Anti Social Behavioural Order) Kids


In the 90s came along Harry Enfield and Chums and his character Kevin Patterson, the adolescent with a lot of attitude, bad tempered and lethargic. But I suppose this is a typical Teenage phase (went off on a slight tangent oops -.-")


Fashions of the Chav


Back in the Late 80s to early 90s the biggest fashion faux pas boomed into the UK, the shell suit. That “lovely” colourful item usually in sickening clashed bright colours 100% Polyester/ Nylon, fire hazard waiting to happen, quite a fashionable item, for the Chav. My colleagues were saying ash from cigarettes and set a flame to the shell suit and melt onto your skin (nice (!))


Fortunately I’m young enough to not know or who have seen and experienced the Shell suit trend! (^^ )


The next wave of fashion appeared to our High Street trends for the 90s - the sport tracksuits!


Adidas, Nike and of course who could forget Kappa for those born in the 80/90s (hmm does the brand still exist?) the love of the zip up sports hooded jackets made out of 100% polyester and track suit bottoms especially the ones with poppers on the sides, a disaster of someone pulling them off the wearer waiting to happen! For women this fancy sportswear was usually paired with clumsy gold jewellery from Elizabeth Duke @ Argos (or something worse and cheap that turned your skin green), slick backed with hair gel high Pony tail, choice of outer wear, the big unflattering Puffer jacket; kind of sums up Melanie C AKA Sport Spice from back in early Spice Girls days. Reason they were called Kappa Slappers! Haha!


I will admit, there was a slight dip in Chav fashion I dipped into back in the early 90s - I owned a pair of those popper trousers £4.99 couldn't complain!! I also did own a scrunchy of two but mainly wore for school to match the uniform... oh the fashion faux pas, then moved on to the fashion phase everyone usually goes through, the black and listening to Rock music phase!!

I suppose in the late Nineties into the new millennium (2000s) early Noughties Burberry was the popular choice for Chavs with the Brand's House check applied onto many garments, particularly the baseball cap that was particularly favoured, fake or real deal. Fortunately, Burberry discontinued their baseball caps in 2004, I'm sure it's still available in the car boot or eBay if you really want one! I'm afraid poor Burberry had the association with Chavs, who went OTT with the use of the House Check; their brand was a bit damaged. Fortunately it bounced back with Christopher Bailey at the helm and gaining designer of the year in 2005.

Who could not forget that Welsh band GLC (Goldie Lookin' Chain) who burst into the music scene in 2004. Patronizing the lifestyle and attitude of Chav culture, from styling of sportswear, baseball caps and their signature piece, their gold chains; with hilarious phrases for example, "I buy me tracksuits from Primark"

I suppose from 2005 onwards, the Chav evolution developed endorsed by popular culture from music with bands like Blazin Squad and Atomic Kitten and reality shows like Big Brother evolution of D list Celebrities arrived, e.g. Jordan. With money gained from royalties and some form of endorsements splash out on the tackiest things. So going a bit “up market”, taste-wise in clothing; however still wearing the staples of white trainer, polo shirts with collars popped up, gold chains sometime the baseball cap, but taste in brands change to the likes of Hackett; thanks to the age of footballer’s WAGS (wives and girlfriends) World Cup 2006 Wayne & Colleen Rooney came to the picture. The slappers love Ugg boots, Juicy Couture velour zip up tops and sweat pants. Though the name tags being brought, flashed and worn got a bit classy, they're still Chavvy.


Ok so we Brits may have categorized ourselves to be the Neo-Snobs. We look down at them and slate them at their taste and lifestyle; it’s a part of life and self opinion.

Shabba dabba Rah!!

Shabba Dabba Dah is the monthly event over in Shoreditch's Avalon club. Filled with all the fashion clad who dress to the nines in how they feel and won't be Judged but admired and complimented. It's the new wave from the Boombox Scene.

Now West London has now launched Shabba, where the night is called Shabba Dabba Rah Friday night was it's first launch night over at Movida by Oxford Circus.

As I was waiting for a friend to get into the club, I was very confused. There was a queue if girls dressed in tight body con dresses, high heels, fake tan and hair extensions; very Only Way is Essex type of crowd. I was thinking this crepe I'm sure are not for Shabba!!

The club was actually split into two sections, bottom part with dance floor for the crowd mentioned above and the top section was for Shabba and the fun artistic gashionistas.

I really do admire what the crowd stylize and create with their outfits or makeup.

Music-wise there was dance, house, dub step overall some not bad music played; however I will say that music in Shabba Dabba Da is more fun with feel good vibes. Maybe it was because it was a Friday night, my work mate & I felt so tired and left the venue 2-3am, could have been long day in the office, the darkness of the venue or the mixed drinks we consumed! 

Workmanship in Fashion

I am happy I am finally able to be able to blog a bit more now some activities are cut down, sort of…

 The office lately has been dry due to fact there haven’t been many orders coming in from retailers, problems with budget cuts a lot of people in the fashion world are feeling the squeeze

Honestly, I’ve been driven bonkers this month by factories making things wrong, with our fast turn over orders we have to maintain delivery and deadlines or fines & cancellations occur. The factories have been pretty slow in giving us samples, and what drives me mad is that they don’t bother checking the samples before sending it to us; though the Bulls**t about saying they did check the goods.

But as they arrive into our office they’ve looked pretty shoddy and I have to go bonkers at them for not checking, causing delays to deadlines and deliveries…. Hmm gone a bit too work mode talk for my liking here ( “ , )   

Here’s images of failures they joys they create that my Garment tech self encounters



Left: Approved for production Right production sample recieved, Hem uneven WRONG!!

Uneven Hem rib FAIL!

Unfinished corner of hem, Sreiously! >.<

You may think I'm being nit picky, but it's part of my job. Well at least it's not as bad as some other factories garments I've seen.....

Pon De Floor

I do enjoy my music and will admit to having an Eclectic taste.

I wonder is Major Lazer is getting royalites with people sampling his Pon De Floor Track dating back to 2009. It's a great tune to dance about go running to, but I feel so many people pillage this particular track

Examples

Dirty Diddy Money- Ass on the Floor




Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)
 


Now Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud has pikeyed the sample to her new tune!! Only got a snippet



Seriously some musicians these days! (¬.¬")

Childhood's favourite Confectionary

A thought popped into my head today, what has happened to penny sweets? do they still exist?

I remember going to the post office after school & getting a few cola bottles, sherbet straw, sour dummies, childhood nostaligia -^.^-

This week when I popped into a Newsagent to get some water before my Zumba class, I noticed they sold the classic chocolate Freddo! what completely threw me off was the fact the original Freddo plain chocolate, was costing 20p, whereas the Caramel centred Freddo 3p cheaper at 17p...... What the Hell Man!!!! When did Freddo bars fluctuate/ double in price?! I swear they have shrunk too!!

Not impressed! ( I.I ")