Politics
Life-blood innit? We always had dinner round the table when I was growing up, and always discussed politics - I was always quite politically aware. When I was 16 I decided to take Government and Politics A Level. It's the course I've loved most, of any subject, at any time (save, perhaps, for when I started to read). I became really interested in all the machinations and still are. Oddly, however, I'm not party political at all. Around 1 nation Tory is probably where I'm happiest. I vote every time, but usually on differing issues. Europeans I voted Libs on the grounds that I thought the green would be safe, but no chance of getting 2, and I figured there was a chance of 2 Lib Dems. My politics has arguably moved to the left since I left uni, and since I got involved with my fella. At my old job my paper to read was the Guardian, and I developed a love for it, so that it's the one I pick up on a weekend. My fiancé is pretty left-wing and hates the Tories, so I think I'm arguably further left than I was 2 years ago.
London
I've always loved London. Even when I hate it - the crowds and the rudeness - it's still mine. Living in Brussels made me miss it so much it was a physical wrench. However, if I could live somewhere else now, maybe I would. It's because of the cost, and I would like some countryside. However, I reckon we're pretty much stuck here - I couldn't do my job elsewhere and neither could he.
Coupledom
I'm a coupley person. I've rarely been out of relationships - longest was around 9 months, and even then there were often "people around". But then I've rarely been in couples. That cosy safe feeling. Sometimes I do find it slightly suffocating, having always to consider someone else, but I am happiest in a couple.
Travel
I've never felt this longing "to travel", the idea of going miles around the world. There are places I'd like to see still - Berlin, South America, New York, but I don't have this urge to see everything everywhere. I have to travel for work, and generally I don't like it. Having my routine shifted, missing my fella etc. Maybe I'll hit 40 and feel the need to go on a world-wide trip, but I doubt it.
On Being Blonde :)
I was 18 when I started colouring my hair - it's naturally a sort of dark blonde/mousey colour. I can't imagine not being blonde now. It is more than a hair colour I think. I used to have long blonde hair - to the degree that at Uni me and my then bf were called Ken and Barbie. it was quite a big thing, having it cut. I can't remember when I did now first - perhaps in Belgium. My view was I didn't want to be just a girl with long blonde hair. I used to have it long, because I figured if you had long blonde hair then you had to be pretty. I didn't want to have to rely on that.
Let me know if any of you crazy kids want 5.Current Mood:  melancholy |
(otherwise known as oh crap, the vote is on Thursday and I haven't done anything on this yet)
The EP, as opposed to the General Election is done on PR, through a system called the D'hondt method. I, not having a mathsy brain find this fiendishly complicated, but there's a good explanation here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D'Hondt_method
It basically means that every vote counts. For those of us in London, this is even more true. Last time the BNP were the next block down (e.g. if the Tory who came third had got fewer votes or London had one more seat allocated to it, we would have had a BNP MEP). Since then, disenchantment with mainstream parties has heightened. We are in serious danger of getting a BNP MEP.
This isn't like living in Horsham and being a Labour supporter, or even Huddersfield and being a Tory. The BNP want a platform for their disgusting views, and will be pouring a lot of resource into getting their vote out. We need to do the same.
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Okay, I realise I'm going to greatly aggrieve many of you, as you are cat owners - but...in the broader picture - can we really justify pet ownership?
With increased pressure on natural resources - e.g. food, land etc, we're often told to limit the number of children we have. Are pets just an indulgence in this context?
As for dogs and cats I'm sure they give their owners a lot of pleasure, but for the rest of us they're just a pain!For a short while dog owners actually seemed to bother clearing up their pets' mess - now it's just left to spread over all the pavements/parks etc. Now to what's probably started this rant. We've moved next door to a cat owner. Never have I before realised the true horror of these things. "Cats are so clean, they never mess in their own garden". No, they jump over the wall to mine and shit everywhere - and this is just one cat? How is this fair? Would people expect my neighbours to clear up my mess if I shat in their garden? No, I would probably get arrested! But it's fine for their disgusting flea-ridden moggy to crap all over our (paved) garden.
So, aside from Seeing/Hearing/Epilepsy-predicting dogs is there REALLY any justification for keeping pets - particularly dogs and cats which make everyone else's lives a misery?Current Mood:  angry |
1. Where is your cell phone?
in my bag
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?:
is now fiancé
3. Your hair?:
needs washing tonight
4. Where is your father?
In broadstone, happy
5. Cheesecake?
Toffee or Blueberry
6. Your favorite thing to do?
snuggling with him
7. Your dream last night?
is not remembered
8. Your favorite drink?
champagne, that cliché
9. Your dream car?
runs oil free
10. The room you're in?
our new lounge
11. George W. Bush?
Bad AND stupid
12. Your fears?
are mostly tamed
13. Nipple rings?
and why not?
14. Who did you hang out with last night?
my lovely fiancé
15. What you're not good at?
avoiding procrastination successfully
16. Your best friends?
are amazing people
17. One of your wish list items?
house I own
18. Where did you grow up?
Ilford, not great
19. The last thing you did?
ate a carrot
20. What are you wearing?
brown wrap dress
21. Tattoo on the lower back?
really not good
22. Ketchup?
Not my thing
23. Your computer?
heavy old dell
24. Your life?
Now forever entwined.
25. Your mood?
sick but happy
26. Missing?
my wonderful man.
27. What are you thinking about right now?
forever and ever.
28. Your work?
actually means something
29. Your summer?
I can't wait
30. Your relationship status?
engaged. hip hooray!
31. Your favorite color(s):
baby pink mostly
32. Last time you laughed?
Last night, livechat
33. Last time you cried?
nearly every day
34. High school?
is over forever
35. This quiz:
Is now too!
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Going back one, Europe matters because the vast bulk of our laws now originate there. Standards across trade, environment and a host of other policy areas are set in Brussels. Well, Strasbourg strictly speaking, but I digress.
However, you often hear from people who think they have the slightest clue over how it all operates, saying "the parliament is powerless, it's only the Commission that makes law and that's unelected". This is woefully misguided.
It's true that the Commission makes initial legislative proposals. However, the legislation then goes to Parliamentary Committees. These have the power to drastically amend the legislation, and in most cases the Commission and Parliament have to agree the final text. The parliamentary committee will be in the subject area - e.g. International Trade and is made up of MEPs from all parties. They are very different to our Committees in Westminster -number one, all MEPs tend to be on at least one Committee and number two, they're far more powerful.
As the parliament is elected through Proportional Representation each vote on a committee can be crucial. It also means that any MEP can put an amendment forward and get it voted on. In addition, rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs are appointed from each political group (e.g. the equivalent to Labour, Cons). The rapporteur will take the report through Committee, then the whole parliamentary vote and argue out the final details with Commission. Therefore effectively the rapporteur is as important as any Minister taking forward legislation. The rapporteur can be any MEP on the Committee. Basically each group is given a number of reports per year, dependent on their size (the bigger centre right and centre left groups get the most) and then it's up to their leads on each Committee (the coordinators) to dole these out. Therefore, any MEP can play a lead role on progressing legislation - certainly something that can't be said of Westminster!
Once a piece of legislation has gone through committee, it will go to a vote of the whole parliament - but the place for amends is the committee, where votes are often won by just 1 or 2. The finished piece of legislation, after it has gone through committee often bears little resemblence to the original dossier and 50% of amendments proposed by parliamentarians end up on the statute books!
Hopefully this has explained why the European Parliament matters - and why even a backbench MEP is potentially far more powerful than anyone save Ministerial level at Westminster level.
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| » The European Elections - Part 1. |
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I've just been to a Euro-elections briefing by Burson Marsteller, and it just reinforced my view that there's a real dearth of knowledge in this country about the Euro elections. So, I'm going to post a couple of blogs on the subject. But this is the initial one to say PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE - there's a couple of weeks left to do this.
First one coming up, European Parliament - why it matters.
But, basically there is a chance the BNP could get a seat in London. And see this: http://jen-c-w.livejournal.com/35724.html as to why that's a problem.
May. 8th, 2009 @ 11:42 am
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| » Forever x |
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My fella and I have got engaged. I am very happy.
x
Apr. 14th, 2009 @ 02:40 pm
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| » five words not questions - from chicken feet |
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1. Stalkers
This automatically makes me think about T, the guy from Belgium. I didn't have a sustained stalking from him, but for 24 hours I had an indication of what stalking was like as he called me/leaving voicemail 45 times and continually text messaged me. He'd call me and tell me he was about to kill himself and that he wanted to speak to me one last time. It all culminated in him trying to break into my flat for an hour and a half, after saying that he'd kill himself and anyone in there if he got in. I had nightmares for literally months after that, and I don't know how people cope who have sustained stalkers.
2. The Sun
I love the Sun. Not as much as I did but I like it - it's a diversion. I can't be high brow all the time. I don't consider it a newspaper as such but a gossip rag, like Heat, Closer etc (which I also buy). It's also not as openly rabidly right wing as things like the Mail et al.
3. Exes
I've always found it odd how the ones that linger aren't neccessarily the ones you were with longest, or even most heavily involved with at the time. Only two really linger on for me, T and OSD. Not that I'm not over them...just...I guess I think about them the most. T controlled and manipulated my life and my mind so expertly I think that's why - and OSD I guess as most recent.
4. Violent Crime
I've always been terrified of being physically attacked/beaten up. I've seen a couple of boyfriends come close to physically laying into me, but it's never happenned, but I am scared of the being attacked by gangs thing. I also think, however, that the media blow up what isn't a massive epidemic. One more teenager was stabbed in London last year than in 07. You would not have thought this.
5. London
I have always loved London and missed it desperately when I was in Brussels. However, now I do long for a bit of green space and to have more of my salary to myself. So we will move out of the centre. If my and my partner's work permitted it (which for neither of us it does) I would think about moving elsewhere entirely - like perhaps Manchester. But I have to be in or around London. I'll probably fall more in love again when I'm further out. Familiarity and all that...
Mar. 1st, 2009 @ 09:06 am
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| » Frankie asked me questions, leave a comment if you want 5. |
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(1) How do you think you've changed since you've been on LJ - and how have you stayed the same?
Cliché, but I think I've grown up a lot. I'm a lot more settled now - this is partially/a lot? due to external circumstances, but I also feel like I've resolved quite a lot in my self - I don't *think* that if everything ended with my man tomorrow I'd fall to pieces, perhaps I'm tempting fate, who can say. I think my politics have moved to the left, of which more below. I think I'm more open to different ways of life/points of view (although I think that this has been an ongoing process since I first temped at 18).
In terms of stayed the same, I think I'm still very hard on myself, and worry about who I am/what I'm achieving/where I am. I do this a lot less now, but it's still there, and something I have to fight against.
I think what I want - e.g. the happy ever after has stayed the same. I've always wanted a family life and rewarding career. I care more about whether I have children now though.
(2) How would you describe your values?
I am not religious, nor absolutist. The closest I can get is "if none of what we do matters, then all that matters is what we do". So it's trying to be nice to people, and be a good person - for example sleeping around is fine, but not if you're going to be hurting other people by doing it.
(3) I get the impression that you're a Conservative, and also you seem to show lots of concern about issues like civil justice that I don't often associate with Conservatives. How would you summarise your political beliefs?
I have a Conservative background - by the time I came along my parents were nearly 40, and therefore had quite a conservative outlook - which I picked up on. And studying economics for A Level made me think that Conservativism would be the right answer for Britain. I like the idea of a meritocracy. However, things I've learnt - being exposed to people from less priviledged backgrounds than mine - is that there is in no way equality of opportunity - and before you can have a meritocracy you need at least a stab at that. So my politics have become increasingly to the left. I don't now have a strong political belief, and despite working in politics full time, I don't even know how I'll vote in the next election.
(4) What do you look for in friendship?
Someone I can trust - that I feel has my interests at heart and would be there if I needed them. We obviously have different degrees of friendship with different people - sometimes absolute trust is important other times not. People are so different that it's odd to call on one thing - for example some of my closest friends I may not hear from for weeks or months - but I still trust them, and love to be around them. A good sense of humour is pretty important as well.
(5) What makes you laugh?
My boyfriend. He has a lovely dry wit, and one of the reasons he makes me so happy is I laugh so much with him. Aside from that it's generally satirical or cutting stuff/observational.
Feb. 25th, 2009 @ 10:19 am
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| » what year is it? |
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an unpopular Prime Minister at the end of a long period of their party governing, opposed by a young, popular opposition leader.
Calls for the PM to go, particularly by a long-standing senior member of the government.
Remember Harriet, like Hezza, he who wields the dagger, never inherits the throne.
More interesting is what happens next - Thatcher of course finally gives up, and pushes for her heir to get the role, whom is relatively unknown amidst the big beasts (yes, I know he was chancellor, but that's not the point). One of the Eds as next PM - it's not unfeasible...
Feb. 18th, 2009 @ 11:37 am
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| » Happy Anniversary |
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As my birthday approaches I am in reflective mood. 28. Ten years of being an adult. Ten years of "grown-up" - or something approaching it - dating. Ten years since I started my first job - June of 99, and ten years since I had my first epileptic seizure.
Yes, 1999 was quite some year...
I know, that amongst grand mal epileptics I am very, very fortunate. I no longer take medication, and my seizures are down around one every two years. But it has changed my life, and indeed, cast a shadow over it. Epileptics are said to have a mortality rate 2-3 times that of the general population, although I find this an odd statistic (surely we all suffer mortality?). There's also SUDEP - or sudden death in epilepsy. around 500 people each year die of this in the UK. What causes it, no one knows, basically there is no clear cause of death. Some research suggests that during a seizure you might stop breathing - and then not start again. It's likely to have been what caused Jett Travolta's death. It sits with me. I am scared. In a similar way I know that the bulk of epilepsy deaths aren't caused by SUDEP - it's more likely to be drowning in the bath (sorry, I'm not giving them up, but I try only to have them when my boyfriend's around) or hitting your head or crossing the road...
The more fits you have, the more likely you are to have them. It's the neurones misfiring you see, and the more often they do that, the more they "learn badly".
On the medication side, I took medication for nearly four years. During that period I had two fits. After a while clear I gradually reduced the dosage, and then stopped taking them. Since then (August 2007) I have had one seizure, last October. Drugs just lower the threshold of you having seizures. There's no cure. I try not to think about my funny little head generally.
But the anniversary's getting to me.
Feb. 16th, 2009 @ 03:41 pm
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| » Yeah. they might have loved their wives |
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Just not as much as they loved themselves
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2212542.ece
People that climb mountains/jump out of helicopters etc aren't doing it for any greater good - it's hardly Marie Curie dying of radiation. They do it for their own pleasure and to satisfy their egos.
There are better things to waste tears on. Hopefully the women will get someone who'll put them first.
Feb. 6th, 2009 @ 02:47 pm
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| » the best I can do in terms of dress.... |
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for some reason our photographer failed to take pics of me. But here I am, right on the edge of the pic - should give you an idea of cut and colour if nothing else.
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=111l91v&s=5
Feb. 5th, 2009 @ 11:13 am
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| » dress soon, demonisation now |
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Thanks to all for their dress suggestions. i got a red silk-jersey just below the knee number with three quarter sleeves from ghost. Sadly they don't have a website, but I might, just might, post a piccie.
But that's not what I wanted to post about. For those of you in the UK, have you seen the proliferation (apparantely the DWP's advertising budget has not been credit-crunched) of anti-benefit cheat adverts? An example is here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/benefit-thieves/
The adverts are nasty. No other word for it. They seek to demonise and ostracise those that claim benefits whilst picking up a bit of cash-in-hand work, or living with a partner.
Now, I find benefit fraud exasperating. I pay tax and without children get little back in the way of benefit. But the cases of people making a fortunue out of benefits are few and far between. And when you hear the reasons why it's not normally for wide-screen tvs or holidays in the canaries, it's the mother who wants to send her talented child to music lessons so does some cash-in-hand cleaning as well as drawing dole, or the guy in debt for drugs who rents out his council flat and moves in with a friend so he can try and pay off the debt. Are these people really demons, or merely desparate?
I would love to see benefit fraud extingusihed, the same way I'd love to see disability benefit fraud stopped, but I think demonising people who already feel alienated, and on the fringes of society is not the best way to do it. Maybe it's time to look more at the root causes, rather than just seeing people as bad - who'd've thought it from a Labour Government?
Jan. 26th, 2009 @ 10:03 am
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| » Perfect Dress not Kiss |
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This item may only be relevant for frankie, but I would appreciate any other bright thoughts anyone has...
I need a dress, for a reception we are organising. It's a work reception, so needs to be fairly formal, but I also want something a little bit razmatazzy - e.g. a cocktail dress, but not too much, or a work dress that's a little bit special.
There is one specific issue, I don't want black. I wear black ALL THE TIME, and I want something a little different. This http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10001_63069_798897_-1
Would be ideal were it not for the colour issue.
I have tried HoF, Debenhams and John Lewis. Does anyone have any thoughts....physical London outlets preferred if poss.
Jan. 9th, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
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| » it would be wrong |
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to make a list of my exes relationship statuses.
But if I did, it would probably go married, married, engaged, married, engaged, living with someone.
I hate facebook sometimes.
Dec. 23rd, 2008 @ 06:07 pm
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| » Christmas |
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And as the boy is out I decide to get into pyjamas and do a full-on internet shop (and catch up with hollyoaks, natch).
So, put together my little list, and off we go. With the exception of the man.
I am absolutely stuck. What the hell does that mean? Why can't I think of something to buy for him? I've bought xmas pressies for guys I've been with a couple of months before, no problem. We've been together just under two years and NOTHING.
What does that mean? It's probably not a good thing though is it?
Nov. 28th, 2008 @ 09:14 pm
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| » and while I'm here...Richey James Edwards |
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Funny, the boy and I were talking about him at the weekend, and then on Monday morning saw this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3514147/Richey-Edwards.html
On the Ceefax, entertainment news. The Manics were my favourite band, back in the early-mid 90s, and Richey was of course my favourite member. Of course, as a troubled teen they appealed - and the beautiful, damaged, puppy-dog-eyed guitarist most of all.
I bought the records as soon as they came out, brought each magazine they were in and lovingly tore out the interviews. Select (remember that) had his disappearance as one of the events of 1995 - I kept the pic on my bedroom wall for years. Most of my English GCSE coursework was about him as well. I even sometimes wonder whether the fact he'd done political history influenced me at all. Not to mention my period of being attracted to damaged, highly intelligent men.
And always I was convinced he wasn't dead. That I'd somehow "know". I wonder why the family have decided, just now that it's the right time. Perhaps they just couldn't face another Christmas, another of his birthday's, another of the anniversary of his disappearance - all due in the next three months - without some sort of clarification.
That beautiful, intelligent, talented, damaged boy. Rest in Peace, my angel.
Nov. 26th, 2008 @ 10:09 am
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| » that meme thing |
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On the offchance that any of you still read, given how rarely I update...please do the Meme
What has surprised you the most about me (if anything) since beginning to read my lj? Was anything completely unexpected or have I always fit the picture of me you have in your head?
Post this in your own journal (NB if you like, no obligation) and see how you have surprised people.
Nov. 26th, 2008 @ 10:07 am
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| » a worky one |
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Work - my career - is very important to me. More so than a lot of people I know. The Boy is very supportive of my work - he gets cheesed off if I work late too often, but generally offers me support and tell me how proud he is of me.
T always used to knock what I did - called me a glorified secretary and said it wasn't proper work. I wonder whether this partially makes me more determined.
As the man says, everything happens for a reason.
Nov. 21st, 2008 @ 10:24 am
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