Rachael Simpson

Blog Relocation

rachaelsimpson — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:58:41 +0000

I have moved!

www.rachaelcarmensimpson.wordpress.com

Social Networks

rachaelsimpson — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:50:13 +0000

social-networking-disorder-diagram

I spend a lot of time on social networks. I’m on facebook A LOT. Its not all mindless quizzes, I’ve spent some time abroad and like to keep up with my friends in different times zones, also I have a lot of ambitious friends who have moved abroad for work or, with the luckier ones, love.

postcards

Also I’m at an age where many of my friends are going through big life changes, buying homes, having babies, getting married and social networks let me see the photos, watch the videos and read the blogs.

social networking logos

Facebook and twitter are probably the two biggest contenders for my attention. Twitter I use for news and to speak with fellow journalism students. Facebook is more social and friendship related things. So far I have still not found the perfect networking tool for family. Although a friend of mine claims he has – with a password entry only personal website where he updates from Thailand to his family in the UK, however at this stage its a onesided medium.

I recently joined googlewave after an invite from Cristiana, but she is my only google friend and I haven’t really figured out what to do with it yet.

Anyway, network sites are everywhere and people really do use them, from Linkd In for prospective employers to bebo’s youthful charm and colour – they are the biggest digital game in town.

hippocratic-oath

So what better way to investigate social sites than by setting up my own! I have set up a group using ning.com which allows you to format the page anyway you want, put up media content, have discussions and blogs and members with their own profiles. I called it Music In Glasgow and so far I have one member, me.

my website homepage

Maybe people will join, I hope they do. The site is dedicated to any and all live music in Glasgow and I’m still experiementing with it.

Future Me

rachaelsimpson — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:45:02 +0000

So my friend is on facebook and says, this is an email I sent myself last year. And I read it and woah! it really is an email she sent her self a year ago, extremely personal but a year on she’s dealt with or been open about its contents by this point so happy to post it online. The concept intrigued me so I went onto FutureMe.com

A project inspired by a school assignment two blokes run the site for fun, and later for profit as many people volunteer their letters (name not included) to be public and are turned into a book. The email addresses and identities are kept anonymous but the letters can be read, so far around 15% of people have signed up for public letters. The boys on the site also accept donations through paypal.

So I wrote future Rachael a letter. It opened with a joke and ended with the deep realisation of my own faulty self esteem and marvelous over-achiever but totally low expectations special blend and that really I didn’t care if I had a job or a driving license or had lost 5 stones but I did hope that I will have lost that trait by next year and be more confident.

I also outlined what I was doing now and how I felt about it but not in so much detail. I have far too many thoughts and too many words as it is and with the NCTJ’s coming up word count is important. Sometimes I think I should be doing fiction rather than fact but 5 grand into a masters those thoughts are shepherded to the very darkest recesses of my mind!

I look forward to forgetting I sent myself the email and recieving it in the future, I am interested in what Future Me will be like…

101 things in 1001 days

rachaelsimpson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:28:13 +0000

I started this in January. These kinds of memes are a blogging phenomenon so I thought I’d put this up. Feel free to start your own1

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Dates Start 15th January 2009 – September 29, 2011 – I’ll be 28, yikes.
These are just in random order.

how are we doing?

I think a few of these could be changed actually, time changes your goals a bit.

My friend Laura has a blog over at www.cherryblossomadventure

s.com and she is doing pretty well in her list. I think its a good idea so I’m going to join in!

1. Run the London Marathon! This is quite a big ambition.
* This is a biggie, had an ankle injury this Jan though so taking it slowly

2. In addition to the getting fit enough to run a marathon I need to lose some weight, I’m not sure how much I weigh at the moment but probably a couple stone. I’d like to be anywhere between 9.5 to 11 stone, wherever feels comfortable when I reach it.
* Working on, hoping walking up and down to uni with a big bag will help. So far the newsroom munchies are ruining my good intentions

3. Get some writing published
* very much hoping to get this done at uni!!

4. Work for hospital radio. TICK
*I am regular presenter now for Royal One Radio

5. Visit 3 new countries. It might not seem like very many to my travel bugged friends but I don’t have a lot of cash at the moment and this seems possible.
*none yet

6. To work in another country.
* I have applied to be a volunteer at the International Journalism Festival but they have a lot of applications so we’ll see.

7. Have an exhibition. I’m not a professional artist or anything but I can do a bit with paints and a camera, I’d like to get some of my work hung in a coffee shop or something.
*not yet

8. Perform my own poetry out loud in front of people, preferably at a poetry night and not just pissed in a train station.
*Not yet, been too scared!

9. Go back to uni. I’m applying for an MA in Multimedia Journalism at Caley. All I had to do was wait 4 years for them bring out my perfect course in Glasgow! TICK!
*Done and done.

10. Get more involved at the BBC and actually get some real work going. I’m on a placement but I haven’t been in as much as I would like due to illness but now I’d like to make some a proper impact. Although the ‘work’ is not specific but anything to do with the News desk or programming. TICK!
*Finished up at the BBC and I got to do a few more things. Have applied to go back because it was so good the first time.

11. Pay off my overdraft! I currently have a big bad OD on my account and pay about 30 quid a month just in charges. I want to clear it completely and be in the black again! I have no credit cards or store cards though, and I’m proud of that so if I can just get rid of this, it’ll be magic!
*Yeah we’re still a LONG way off from this.

12. Learn to Drive. Seriously, I’m 25.
*Not yet, but hopefully some lessons may happen this year, money is very tight

13. Do some volunteer work.TICK!
*Radio stuff

14. Go the cinema at least once a month. I love the cinema but I never go.
*ongoing

15. Learn to cook 10 new dishes. I’m not a bad cook and 10 things over this amount of time should be easy.
*Halfway there

16. Join a choir.
*Maybe this Christmas

17. Join a book group.
*Not yet

18. Give blood. I feel quite bad I haven’t done this in 2008. TICK
* Yes I did this two days ago in fact!

19. Go a gig once every two months (ABC doesn’t count!) would like to go to more but I am very aware of my financial constraints. Not that I’m limiting myself if I do have the cash!
*Free gigs aplenty!

20. Improve my French. (To level of being able to hold a conversation)
*not yet

21. Improve my German. **
*not yet

22. Visit people more and see my friends who live abroad at least once (this is a tricky one as people live very far away!)
* have seen some good friends recently, trying my best!

23. DJ in Glasgow. (not just in my house, at a venue!)TICK
*I hosted my own clubnight at the Twisted Wheel – then it closed – the two are not related!

24. Put on a night in Glasgow TICK
*Done

25. Learn to juggle.
*No progress yet

26. Have a Star Wars day. We’ve been talking about it for ages, this is a 24 hour event involving replica light sabers, star wars battlefront, monopoly, a lot of drugs, junk food and drinks, geekery and obviously the films. TICK
*Pretty much done

27. Have a proper Burns Night with Haggis, Whiskey and reciting.
*Next year I think

28. Get my typing speed up to 70 words per minute.
*Working on it

29. Pass the NCTJ exams.
*hopefully will during my degree

30. Eat at 20 new restaurants.
* Hmm, no progress yet!

31. Jump out of a plane. I’d like to do a parachute jump at some point.
*No progress yet

32. Have a birthday party. I have had them before but they don’t happen every year.
*No progress yet

33. Sort out all my junk! I have alot of old clothes and just stuff I could probably do without. I’d like to have a big clear out.
*Half way done!

34. Sort my look. I go through about 3 hairstyles a month and none by professionals. I’m not saying I want to get stuck in one style rigidly, but I’d like to be a bit happier with whats going on. Generally I hate the way I look completely but I don’t give too much time to thinking about it or I’d never leave the house. Basically this is a makeover I guess. Ooh montage!!!
*getting there…

35. Make time to read every week.TICK!
*Going Well!

36. Drink more. Now most people would want to drink less. I however am very nearly teetotal. I’d like to start enjoying a few drinks now and again. In moderation obviously!
*Yeah I’ve revoked this and I’m now not drinking at all til I lose some weight and get in shape! My liver is happy.

37. Go swimming every week. I have just located the gym 20 mins walk away.
* Not started yet, can’t afford it.

38. Go out more. I’m a social hermit and need to start going to things when I’m asked! mostly I’ve been putting it off because I’m broke and lacking in confidence but I need to change it up. TICK
*Have been quite good, had some clashes even. – uni has taken over and once again I am a hermit.

39. Spend more quality time with Roy. I spend alot of time with him around, we live together but I intend to start making more of an effort to be a girlfriend and not just furniture! I guess this will be measured in dates, 2 dates a month.
*Yeah going good

40. Learn to Salsa or Swing dance. (whichever makes more sense where we live)
*No Progress Yet

41. Fix all the crap in the flat that needs sorting! This is the shower, the coat and picture hooks, the shower curtain, and other small things.
*THE SHOWER IS FIXED!!! still need hooks – The shower is broken again…

42. Write on Hellagood website at least 4 times a week.
*hmm, yeah, well, I write from time to time :p

43. Jam. I used to sing a long long long time ago and I’d like to sing, just even in the house with the boys. This is more difficult than it sounds as I have chronic stage fright, in my own flat.
*No progress yet

44. Go to 5 places in Glasgow I’ve never been before. (not restaurants or peoples houses) TICK
*Done I think!

45. Walk the West Highland Way.
*Plan for next year?

46. Pay all my bills and rent on time for the whole time of this list.
*Hhahahahahah! Nooooooo, not started yet

47. Go to the nurse for a Smear test. It’s been a while and its an important health check.
*still need to make my appointment, my nurse is still in Carlisle

48. Watch the news everyday
*I do watch the news but there’s so much!

49. Finish making my blanket. I’ve been knitting it for ages but ran out of white and blue wool so haven’t finished it.
*Still working on it

50. Make a groovy mobile for my room. Not sure out of what yet, possibly photographs or something.
*No progress yet

51. Redecorate my bedroom. We can’t paint it but theres lots of other stuff I can do!
*Done mostly!

52. Live on a pound a day for a month. I read an article about this. You pay your rent and bills first then all food, travel and entertainment must be for only a pound a day. I think it will be incredibly easy because I don’t spend any money at all as it is. I think it will be harder to find a whole 28 pounds in the first place… TICK
*yeah I’m just skint.

53. Organise all my cds and dvds into order.
*Still need to do

54. Make a snake. This is a draft excluder for my front door I intend to make out of old t-shirts and jeans.TICK
*done!

55. Finish writing one the many story ideas I have on my laptop.
* Still working on

56. Try and do the 365 day photo challenge, which is to take one photo of yourself everyday for a year.
*Not started yet, been taking a picture from our balcony everyday, you can watch the trees grow and the buildings go up!

57. Sponsor a child.
*Still waiting for a steady paycheck

58. Print off and organise my South Korea photos into an album.
*I have printed some and begun the organising

59. Print off some of my favourite pictures of friends, put them in frames and hang them. TICK
*proudly in the living room

60. Make up a playlist for doing exercise – loads of dance tracks!!! TICK
*DONE!

61. Start using the mobile Roy gave me for Christmas, put credit on it and text everyone the new number. TICK
*DONE!

62. Spend a whole week just going to shows at the Edinburgh festival from dawn til dusk. I’ve lived in Edinburgh but never really gone to see more than a couple shows.
* Maybe next year

63. Have a real Christmas tree. We have thinnest fake tree in the world. Real ones are expensive so I might just buy a tiny wee living one we can keep.
*Next year

64. Do a first aid course.
*No progress yet, hopefully can get involved soon.

65. Have a pet. I used to have goldfish but people were forever giving them unsuitable things to imbibe… I couldn’t have a pet in my current flat as its too small and not on the ground floor (plus we’re not allowed) but I’d like to have one by the end of this experiment.
*NO progress yet

66. Get my Tefl qualification.
*No Progress yet

67. Become a reserve firefighter – this is a lifelong ambition of mine, I’m aware though that while I’ll hopefully be fit enough to train by the end of this year, its a big commitment and I’d have to know I was going to be living in the area and have a car so it may not be possible in the time of this experiment.
* Future

68. Buy a copy of Manual_01 by Chemical Poets and get Ali to sign it for me.
*Haven’t seen Ali for ages!

69. Do the 888 book challenge, this was a 2008 thing among booklovers but I’m doing it for ‘09! Basically you have to read 8 different books in 8 different genres (one book can’t count for 2 categories, they all have to be different books.). I’m planning on – Crime, Classics, Science, Fairy Tales, Science Fiction, Historical, Scottish, Music(books about musicians and music history).
*Have been reading should make a note of the genres. I read loads.

70. Make the Hellagood site better and advertise. Move from just a blog to an actual function website.
*gonna get Mark to help!

71. Hike the Appalachian trail – southbound. This might not happen as it mean having a spare few months and a flight to America!
*NO Progress yet

72. Go to the SXSW festival – again America!
*No progress YET

73. Go the burning man festival. (seeing a theme)
*No Progress yet – If I can get to america for long enough I can do them all!!!

74. Go winetasting – lets pretend we’re in Sideways!
*no progress yet

75. Go see St. Johnstone play. They’re my home team, my fair city boys.
*no progress yet

76. Cultivate some of my own plants. This can be herbs or vegetables for the kitchen. TICK
*Check, house is full of plants but I would have a lot more if I could!!

77. Learn how to play 5 different card games. I’m rubbish at poker so re-learning that can be 1!
*No progress yet

78. Paint something on a big canvas good enough to hang in my house.
*I have a picture in my bedroom I made, though I would like to get a proper canvas

79.Visit my nieces and nephews and get to know them better. TICK
* though this will be ongoing

80. Plan around the world trip with Roy – including route, dates, finances and jobs along the way.
* IN progress…. the looooonnng progress

81. Become a proper journalist. (I think this means being qualified and getting paid for journalistic work, however little money)
*working on it

82. By the end of this experiment, to be happier than I am now. And I’m not unhappy but I’d like to be more confident and contented.
*we’ll see

83. Re-read my dissertation, I haven’t looked at it since hand in…. in 2006.
*not done yet

84. Buy some proper decks.
*Need some cash

85. Record comedy sketches and put them on YouTube. My friends and I have been compiling various sketch ideas for a while which we intend to film for fun and make a wee show out of.
*No progress yet

86. Make home-made food more often, soups, bread etc. I do this but I’d like to get it up to almost every week. TICK
* Due to the poverty, but tasty stuff!

87. Get my digital radio fixed so I can listen to it in my bedroom.
*still need to get fixed

88. Learn some form of martial art. I don’t need to be a blackbelt or anything but I’d like to attend classes for about a year. I did Aikido once and that was pretty cool, so maybe that.
*No progress yet

89. Practice yoga and t’ai chi at home. I did t’ai chi for a year when I was about 15 – 16 and yoga during the last year of uni. My friend Adam is an Bikram yoga instructor and I should really try it, he tried to get me to try it for about 5 months in Korea but I never did, so I’ll try to give it a go!
*no progress yet

90. Go on a boat trip down the Clyde.
* no progress yet

91. Create an awesome dance track and put it on myspace and become an online sensation. I swear I could totally do it. Watch your ass Basshunter.
*no progress yet, apart from the research!

92. Go camping. TICK
*camping of sorts though I got sleep in a bunk house!

91. Take 5 day trips to new places in Scotland.
*no progress yet, though I have been to some new places in England

92. Get my sleeping pattern back to a vaguely day time orientated one. TICK!
*university has forced me to be up but working in a nightclub doesn’t make it easy…

93. Buy some of my friends Shekina’s jewelery.
*not done yet

94. Get back in touch with 5 people I haven’t spoken to in the last year.
*I’m not sure if I have? I will!

95. Make a cool dress out of all my old rags. Cinderella via urban outfitters.
*No progress yet

96. Finish knitting Roy’s reggae reggae scarf – need to buy some green wool.
*Not finished yet, warm weather doesn’t make you want to knit

97. Clean out and organise chest of drawers in the hallway which is home to spare cable and unknown keys…TICK
*DONE!!

98. Smoke a real Cuban cigar.
*NO progress yet

99. Find some temp work for the next few months to pay my council tax bill.
*No progress yet, but we have managed to pay it. – We’re behind again, doh!

100. Go kiteflying – haven’t done that in ages.
*not done yet

101. Make a cheese, ham and pineapple toastie as I’m hungry after writing this list.TICK
*Done.
Ok lets go!!!!!!!!

Life On Mars

rachaelsimpson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:22:19 +0000

Dr Who on the waters of Mars

Ever wanted to be a spaceman? I have. In fact every time I watch a science fiction film or TV show I think, ‘I’d totally get into that TARDIS.’ I would most definitely, if given the chance, go into space and I’m still vaguely hopeful, one day it might happen. Not hugely likely but when I was a kid I didn’t think I’d be able to use the internet to do all the things I do today.

For example I never thought I’d be able to help NASA with their research of Mars through a website.

Mars Atmosphere

Recently NASA have realised they simply don’t have the manpower and hours to look through all the photographs sent back from Mars by spacecraft since the 1960’s so they have created a website where you – the public – can ‘be a martian’ and look through the landscapes for anything interesting. You can explore Mars from home.

http://BeAMartian.jpl.nasa.gov

They call this technique of using the public for scientific research (or I guess any research) crowdsourcing. To me this is a great opportunity. The site is a lot of fun and to be part of the great scientific moments of our time is amazing.

Not only is this a chance to get a few more eyes on the project but also to inspire the scientists of tomorrow. We need, as planet to get the kids into science. We’re more aware of things than ever before, but knowing facts is not enough encouraging a curious and hopeful character is what we need for the future. So go be a Martian – then we can go swimming on the Moon…

Also the TV series Life on Mars was fantastic. Perhaps Martians will look like this…

David Bowie - Interested in Martians

Gene Genie and Sam Tyler, possible Martians

Love Carlisle Firework Show 2009

rachaelsimpson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:19:23 +0000

On Saturday 7th November I went to the Love Carlisle firework show in Bitts Park. The Love theme was chosen as part of Carlisle’s bid to become city of culture which will be awarded in 2013, a UK version of the European Capital of Culture, which was awarded to Liverpool in 2008.

Celebrations were taking place throughout Love Day culminating in the massive firework display and bonfire.

The weather held as over 2000 fireworks were fired above a huge heart shaped reconstruction of the citadel. More than 25,000 people attended the show.

Here is a photo story using sound I recorded at the event and photographs courtesy of Carlisle photography student, my younger sister, Eleanor Simpson. I edited this piece with Windows Movie Maker which can be very limiting but hopefully will give you a feeling of the atmosphere.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This was by far the best firework show I have ever seen, beating even the Pohang firework festival in South Korea which I saw in 2007.

The fire show was organised by the Black Powder Monkeys. Carlisle city council have made a real effort to attract people to their city with their bonfire nights, previously there has been an old American west theme and a pirate theme for which a giant pirate ship was built.

Carlisle main attractions are the 900 year old castle, the city wall, their Cathedral which dates back to 1122 and the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Nearby there is the Birdoswald Roman Fort and Visitor Centre and Hadrian’s Wall.

The University of Cumbria runs a foundation degree in Performance, Festivals and Events which focuses on the creative and management aspects of events.

The Love Day and UK City of Culture award will be the subject of a radio package for my course – I’ll put up the podcast once its finished!

Magpie Eco Fashion Show in Govan

rachaelsimpson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:15:07 +0000

This weeks news story…

DO you have a passion for fashion? Are you keen for green creations? Then come along to the Magpie Eco Fashion Show, happening this St. Andrews day in Govan.

The event will be run by Glasgow charity, Starter Packs, who are dedicated to sourcing household goods for previously homeless people to set up their new homes.

The fashion show will feature designs from women who have attended dressmaking classes with Starter Packs and will celebrate the launch of the Govan Gals 2010 calendar.

The show is also a fundraiser for Starter Packs, starting at 3pm on November 30.

Reflecting the recycling nature of eco fashion, the event will be held in a transformed cell at the redesigned former Govan Police Station which is now the new Orkney Street Enterprise Centre.

Development Manager, Sarah Findlay said: “It’s a great opportunity for the women who have attended our dressmaking classes to build their confidence by strutting their stuff in their creations.

It’s all about promoting eco fashion as an affordable option. We are frustrated that so much ‘green fashion’ comes with a hefty price tag, as a charity committed to inclusion we couldn’t subscribe to exclusivity as a tag – unique and affordable fashion, that’s our message.”

Starter Packs packages contain a variety of basic household items including everything from cutlery to bed linen. Currently they require more donations than ever due to the success of the initiative, resulting in an increase of 33% more referrals than last year.

The community project also have their own retro, recycled and thrift shop and community refuse information point, the Magpies Nest, 25 Burleigh Street, a short walk from Govan subway stop. Dressmaking classes cost £10 and a mens clothes making group is planned for the future.

You can contact Starter Packs on 0141 440 1008 or visit their website at www.starterpacks.org.uk

Halloween Costume Photostory

rachaelsimpson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:04:08 +0000

A short photostory of making my halloween costume just for fun – I uploaded the clip to youtube so I could post it here. Unfortunately my computer doesn’t recognise my music so I used a piece which came with photoshop.

I was one of the Baobhan Sith…

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia -

A baobhan sith (pronounced baa’-van shee) is a type of vampire in Scottish mythology.They are also known as the White Women of the Scottish Highlands.

Lady Vampire

Usually found in forests or natural settings, a baobhan sith has the form of a beautiful woman in a green dress. One version of the legend says that they have deer hooves for feet, which they keep hidden under the dress. Often several baobhan siths will appear together as a group. Legends have them seducing young men with their beauty, inviting the men to dance with them and eventually drinking their blood.

There is a certain legend in regards to the baobhan sith, where a group of young travellers stopped for the night in a small glade in the Scottish Highlands.

The Scottish Highlands

They build a fire and begin to wish for the company of beautiful women. Four stunning women appear, and begin to dance with the men. The dance, which started out for enjoyment, becomes harsh, and the women tear at the men and draw blood. One of the men runs from their shelter and hides between two horses. The strange women circle the horses, but cannot seem to cross to him. When dawn comes, they disappear. He finds his companions dead and drained of blood. It is thought that the Baobhan Sith could not cross to him because of the iron in the shoes of the horses.

The weakness of the Baobhan Sith seems similar to most vampires: they cannot tolerate daylight. It also seems that they do not use fangs to draw blood; but rather they use sharp fingernails. Similar to other vampires, Baobhan Sith use seduction to gain their victims. According to legend, they arise from their graves once a year to feed, and a way to stop them from waking is to build a cairn over their grave.

Cairn

A fearful female creature in Scottish Gaelic oral tradition. A kind of succubus, very dangerous and evil, she will suck dry of blood any man who takes her embrace. Distinguish from the death-presaging figure of Irish folklore, the banshee, who is known as the ban-sìth, bean-shìth, or bean sìth in Scottish Gaelic tradition

Women at work

rachaelsimpson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:18:26 +0000

Just caught the end of Stepford Wives and it got me thinking about how womens roles have changed in the last 40 years. Well I think about it quite often but specifically women and their careers. Stepford Wives came out in 1972, a time when feminism was beginning to explode and a time unlike any before in terms of women and their careers.

During the second world war many women took up posts to provide support for the war effort. They took over the jobs the men could no longer do as they were off fighting. After the war, women didn’t want to go home, they didn’t want to give up working, they gained some respect from their years of service but its taken a long time for us to make our way into the work force on equal terms.

Pay is still not equal however, women still earn less than men. An interesting article on Americas history is here.

mad men women

A show I particularly love is Mad Men (set in the 60’s at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising company) and I really enjoy the way women are represented and the casual sexism of the time period which is neither overdone nor ignored, it fits the reality.

Betty Draper

One of the three main female characters we see is the blonde bombshell wife of Ad Executive John Draper, Betty, who over time unravels from her perfect housewife persona due to a realisation of her husbands infidelities and trying to suppress frustration about her modeling career being replaced by marriage. Betty is bored, but generally always looks fantastic and maintains her duty to her family.

Joan Holloway

Flame haired sex bomb of the Ad office is Joan Holloway, head of the secretaries, comfortable in her own sexuality and happy to use it to get on with her life. For many years she enjoys her independence. She is ridiculed by the rest of the typing pool when they realise she’s over 30 and still working. Given the opportunity to cover some TV research work she shines but is quickly replaced when a suitable man is found. Joan doesn’t fight for her corner, though hurt by this oblivious rejection, this is just the way men act towards women and she simply accepts it. Joan later becomes engaged to an abusive doctor although she pretends to be content and desire a housewifely life, she also shows signs of wanting a career and continuing her independent life but doesn’t see it as a viable option in the long run.

Peggy Olson

Perhaps one of the most interesting characters is Peggy Olson, a young woman hired as a secretary, she quickly during the series moves up through the ranks and eventually becomes junior copywriter, sharing an office with the photocopier. In her personal life she faces many challenges but the way she deals with them is not traditional of a female stereotype, she refuses to admit wrong doing on her part even under pressure from the church, while at the same time maintaining a quiet, calm and moral behaviour at work, unhappy to use someone else weaknesses against them, she wants to win on her own merit.

The show is a fascinating watch and the male characters just as engaging in their stories.

Woman today should be on a level playing field, and should be judged equally along side men, who ever best for the job, it should be a fair fight between us both. We should be well beyond affirmative action. Individuals should be valued for their skills and unique abilities, but at the same time, you’re always going to laugh or make jokes at the group which is similar but different from you so I wouldn’t expect jokes about men and women to go away, I just would hope that when people make them, they realise it IS a joke. PC behaviour doesn’t solve problems, it just masks them. Education is the real cure.

So often recently I read stories with research into ‘working mother syndrome’ where children suffer because their mothers have careers. Fathers are excluded from these studies, no-one seems to worry about the absence of a male role model – which is surprising given the amount of male emasculation happening within advertising and current lack of strong male role models in the public domain, perhaps another blog on that! Male parenting is just as vital. With the recession, mothers who have taken a career break to raise young children are finding it harder and hard to get back into work. If a woman has the luxury of choosing whether to work or stay at home then I think either decision should be supported.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I personally subscribe to the theory that it takes a village to raise a child so finding a balance between yourself, your partner (or simply the other parent), friends and extended family is what needs to happen.

While woman have remarkable talents you can’t be mother, lover, cook and career girl all at the same time, you need to be yourself first and foremost. Pressure on women is enormous if you look at magazines, I’m 26 and according to cosmo, by the time I’m 30 I should be married, have a mortgage, a career promotion or two, have run a marathon and also maybe have a kid on the way – not a bad plan by any stretch, but should I feel like a failure if I’m don’t do it that way?

Life is not by numbers, things will happen as they happen – Christine’s story about older engagements is proof of that!

The only person a woman should answer to is herself, life is to be lived, suffered and enjoyed.

Theatre at home in Govan

rachaelsimpson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:54:54 +0000

Looking for a flat in central Govan, with a mysterious past and some character adding fire damage? Then perhaps the Scottish National Theatre’s Allotment is the place for you.

A disused shopping unit was the unlikely scene for an interactive arts, music and theatre event last Friday. Govan’s community projects helped bring the night to life.

Over 200 people attended the fusion night which took place in the Govan Cross Shopping Centre. An empty shop was transformed into two flats, a karaoke bar and exhibition space.

letters to a lost lover

paperboat projection

The landlady sings

Established Govan pub, Brechins Bar appeared in a boat shaped bar, designed by the GalGael Trust.

Volunteers from the Bridges Project, who help asylum seekers and refugees find work experience in Govan, helped run the night.

Creating atmosphere were LUV Projects, Starter Packs Glasgow and Impact Arts, providing a taste of their work by styling the space.

Lynne Dickie of Govan’s Impact Art said: “It’s never been done before and it has totally worked. There are lots of local people here tonight. It’s good being right there in the community.”

The inspiration for the untraditional shopping unit with no borders such as a box office was inspired by wanting an audience like a supermarket queue with a wider range of people than usually associated with theatre, embracing a blend of community and professional projects.

Allotment Producer, Angie Bual said: “The community takes ownership of what Allotment is. Govan is a really interesting area and I wanted the project to be really close and recognisable.”

Actress Morag Stark played the landlady. Artwork came from Nic Rawling, Rob Drummond, Fergus Dunnet, Claire Halleran, Lyndsey MacLeod and Lynda Radley.

Visitors were invited to take part in a paper-boat vote if they would attend an Allotment project again. Upon last sighting the yes bucket was full.

Allotment returns to Govan December 5^th with a game theme.

Artist Nic Beard (Rawling) at work

No - body to find

Brechins Bar