Art Hobby Craft Members Focus On Art for Drawing Day

It’s been fabulous to see members adding their drawings to the Drawing Day Event and Gallery. Every drawing has something to say, captures a scene or the essence of the subject, person or animal in the drawing.

Drawings have been submitted by our members who have a wide range of drawing skills, from professional book illustrations to life-drawing and even some computer enhanced drawings.

Which Drawing Belongs To Which Artist?

View all members drawings here in the Drawing Day Gallery then click on the image you like, and you’ll land on the Artists drawing (photo). You can then click on the artists name, above the image, to visit their artist profile, where you can find out more about them and see more of their art work.

If you spot a drawing that you like in the gallery, I’m sure the artist will be delighted to read a comment from you, or give them a tweet or a facebook like?

A BIG THANK YOU to all Art Hobby Craft Members for joining in Drawing Day

The organisers of World Drawing Day have been working hard to put drawing on the world map – For further details about the Drawing Day Organisers and other supporters.

Andrew Lansley’s “listening exercise” has been carefully stage-managed

Most “listening” events have been closed to the public.

In Sheffield last Friday, 38 Degrees members handing in a massive petition discovered that a “listening exercise” event had been held nearby hours earlier – but was kept secret until it was over.

That’s not the only reason it’s a sham.

Behind the scenes, health officials have been told to carry on with Lansley’s original plans.

Do You Rely On The NHS?

We all rely on the NHS sooner or later, to take care of us and our loved ones. It’s not perfect, but that’s no excuse for ignoring the advice of the real experts and pushing through these huge, untested changes.

Doctors, nurses, and patients’ groups have been queueing up to say how dangerous Lansley’s NHS plans are. Last week, the Royal College of GPs said they could “unravel” the NHS.

And on Sunday, The Observer revealed that one of Lansley’s top advisers told private health companies to expect big profits when the NHS moves to a US-style “insurance system”.

Two Weeks Left To Make Andrew Lansley Listen!

The next two weeks are critical.

By working together we can expose this sham and stop the listening exercise being used as cover to push through Lansley’s plans.

• If we club together, we can buy full-page adverts in national newspapers to sound the alarm about Lansley’s phoney listening exercise.
• We can tell the millions of people Lansley’s ignored how to join the Save Our NHS campaign.

These adverts will help sound the alarm and stop Andrew Lansley using this listening exercise as cover for pushing through his plan.

But we can only run them if enough of us chip in.

If the future of the NHS matters to YOU Get Involved and
Please donate now to help sound the alarm and get our adverts in newspapers next week:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/lansley-isnt-listening

Following on from previous article about the proposed NHS changes (if you haven’t listened to the Andrew Lansley rap yet, you’ll find it here)

Personal Perspective

“I don’t know about you but I’ve not really got the hang of the personal use of Facebook yet. I know, I know, it’s all brilliant for business and for socialising with your friends, followers and their dog, cat or budgie, I hear you say.

But it takes up so much time being virtually sociable that I personally prefer to spend that time in the ‘real’ world!”

I wrote the above statement in this previous Facebook article just the other day from a personal perspective.

Business Perspective

For business, social media – Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter etc, are now well recognised as being good for business and many, many people have been using Facebook etc, to create a lot of money online, build their brand, attract more customers or get more clients, but you’re not! Now answer this …

If FB Brought In £7k Per Month Do You Think You’d Use It?

Dumb question?

Yes of course you’d be very happy chatting away on Facebook being virtually sociable, comfy in your slippers – and bringing in £7k every month! But is it possible for beginners and how?

Is it Really Possible?

Yes of course it’s possible! If you’re using it and you have a product or service to offer people, that they’d be interested in buying from you, and yes it’s possible, especially if you’re comfortable being virtually sociable.

How To Understand Social Media for Beginners

When you’re new to social media or you just need a little bit of encouragement to start building your social networking strategies, you may find a how to understand social media course helpful to get started.

Sadly a ‘web mum’ friend of mine who is brilliant at all this, due to personal circumstances, is not currently online – if she was I’d have asked her to create a course specially for you!

A Virtual Quest

So, I had to go off on a little research trip, avoiding the mega expensive ‘Guru’ courses and the scam’ster reports you can get for 50p, with the aim of finding a suitable beginners course.

It took a while, but eventually I found one! Obviously, I bought the course so I can give you my honest opinion about the content. I found a lot more than I was actually looking for.

What’s On The Inside?

To be quite frank, there’s far too much to cover!

Rest assured, there’s everything you need to know about using Facebook and YouTube. But then there’s a secrets to success section, video vault, weekly coaching calls, expert interviews and even a 90 day coaching programme and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

However, from ‘the beginners’ perspective, I couldn’t find fault with the course content.

Has The Woman Gone Mad?

I was thinking she must be just a little bit crazy! Not only does she include everything in this course that I mentioned above, she’s adding even more courses – I’ve actually lost count of just how many she’s got planned. Mad or intent on adding value?.

Whatever your own conclusions, you’ll not fail to be inspired by her infectious encouragement, her quirky laugh and her sincere desire for you to succeed at this social media malarkey. PLUS, she’s the proof I was looking for that social media CAN help you create money online and she tells you how much as well as showing you how to do it too!

So what’s it worth?

I’m not even going to tell you how ridiculously low priced, high value this course is! No, not even wild horses can drag it from me! You’ll just have to click on the comfy slippers pic below to find out ‘everything’ yourself, straight from the ‘horses’ mouth (so to speak).

Who it’s not for? It’s not for you if you’re above the beginner level.

Personally, I’m not very virtually sociable – although it’s possible I may soon be converted!

“Virtually Shy” – I’m working on it!

Are You?

Ready To Get Your Facebook Slippers On?

Social Tweeting is Not for Breakfast!

Virtually everyone is tweeting something or other! Once you get past the “what I’m eating for breakfast” tweets, you can come across some really interesting people, offers and conversations to follow.

For social tweeting you can follow celebrities, local businesses, your mates and your favourite TV programme discussions. You can find best buy offers, coupons, hints, tips, meet ups and treats galore to give your social life a boost from the virtual world into your real world.

That’s all well and good if you know how to open a Twitter account, but what if you’re a total beginner online and you want to get into this tweeting ‘malarkey’ , but have no idea how to even open your account?

Well, don’t let that stop you, pop over here to Twitter Beginners Social Media and download a free Quick Start Guide to get you started.

The guide is a recent update (April) and reflects the new account set up process changes on the Twitter Website, they have a nice new design.

Some technophobe friends and family members have followed the guide to open their accounts, if they can do it, so can you.

Just please don’t tell me what you are having, or have eaten, for breakfast!

You’re not on your own!

Most of the British population is wondering exactly the same thing!

Mr Lansley, he’s the Health Secretary, just in case you don’t know his name yet, rises in fame, not to be mistaken with a rise in ‘popularity’, all thanks to this fab rap Video entitled “Andrew Lansley Rap” what else!

You might want to watch, listen to and enjoy this brilliant rap before I get all serious on this topic and start insulting David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

Are you STILL wondering why the Government feels the need to ‘tinker’ with the NHS on your behalf?

Truth is, they just can’t help themselves!

Don’t You Know That Tinkering with the NHS is Obsessively Compulsive?

Yes really, it is!

Every blooming Government that’s managed to scrape themselves into ‘power’, for as long as I can personally remember, has suffered from the obsessive–compulsive disorder that drives them to tinker with the NHS.

It’s sad, but they can’t forewarn you either, say in their pre-election manifesto for example, because the disorder only seems to strike once they get into the power sweet shop! It’s a bit of a ‘pick and mix’ affliction.

They justify their obsessive compulsion to tinker as being a prescriptive essential for YOU!

All in the name of making YOUR life or near death experiences more cost effective and efficient!

Whilst at the same time assuring you that tinkering will be saving you / we, the tax payer, a not so small fortune.

Tinkering Their Way To Total Reform

Not to leave the Labour party out of the loop, they’ve had a jolly good ‘tinker’ here and there over the years. Shame on you! Ed you’ll have to do better ‘if’ there’s a next time!

I’m ignoring Nick Clegg, for now. He simply hasn’t mumbled anything of real substance with any authority, that I’ve heard so far, to set him apart from the proposed Coalition Government position.

Yet, the word ‘tinkering’ doesn’t sufficiently describe what past, and as it appears, present Conservative Governments do in reality when their compulsive disorder takes hold.

I should describe their [The Conservatives] and David Cameron’s tinkering as something more akin to total reform of the NHS.

There’s An ‘Act’ For That!

If you’re not familiar with the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, by all means go fuddle your brain with some of the finer detail!

Although it’s all too much for relaxing bedtime reading, glancing over the headings alone will give you a pretty good idea that everything to do with the NHS, Social Care, Community Care, Mental Health Care, you name it, was affected by this Act.

Rather quickly,

…the contents of the proverbial bed-pan hit the fan and we are [they are/who is?] still trying to clean it up!

This Act and many associated reform and policy documents were my business reading throughout the mid 80′s & 90′s, and whilst some areas within the NHS have certainly improved, there was much to be complied with, in all care and social sectors.

Much of this ‘tinkering’ was to the detriment of the NHS and social care as a whole. In reality, little was fixed and much was created that still needs fixing!

Even Gerry Robinson Tried To Fix The NHS

‘We have this really precious thing which is free delivery of healthcare when you are ill. We shouldn’t pretend it is a business, because it’s not, but, my God, we should be running it well.

‘The health service works brilliantly in so many ways, but it is failing in the sense that it is not getting the most out of huge amounts that are now being put into it. Given that there is enormous willingness among the staff, we should be able to get it right.’ [quote source]

When this particular TV series was released, Gerry Robinson was instantly added to the top of my favourite ‘business man with common sense‘ list.

Gerry summed up the whole NHS issue in the first 35 seconds of this clip, which was aired in 2006. His summations are still very relevant today.

The remainder of this interview is also worth a listen.

Rest Assured David and Nick Are Listening Too – Allegedly

Well, they must both have missed Gerry’s TV Series, but according to the Daily Mail David Cameron and Nick Clegg are preparing to launch a ‘listening exercise’ later this week in a bid to reassure critics of the shake-up.

Of course they appear to be blaming poor old Andrew Lansley for failing to explain why the changes are necessary. The topic of scapegoats aside, if you want the Governmental Duo to listen to YOUR views …

38 Degrees members voted to : work together to protect the NHS.

Right now, the government is rushing through damaging changes to our health service. Experts warn that these changes would break the NHS up, handing power to private health companies, and wasting money at a time when funding is already being squeezed and beds and wards being cut.

Sign the NHS Petition The first batch of signatures will be delivered to key coalition MPs this week.

Recessionary Reform Costs More Than Money

No matter how the Coalition Government paints the pretty picture for us, there’s no escaping the fact that we are still very much in recession and that reform costs money, costs jobs and very possibly costs lives!

Ha! And there you were thinking your life was in the caring hands of NHS Doctors and Nurses!

Well, maybe for now we’ll survive. What the future brings us, who knows? We’ll have to see what transpires as the ‘listening exercise’ and hopefully the debate unfolds.

What, with all the medical breakthroughs going on, just maybe the cure for Governmental obsessive-compulsive disorder is just around the corner?

Oh and a final note for David and Nick : just in case you’ve not been listening – check out how you could save £400 million, which at the same time will stimulate growth at home in our local communities. Just the sort of progress we need in the current financial climate. Local Economy Boost Led by Nottingham Hospitals NHS Trust It’s a start!

personal thought: what the hell is a ‘listening exercise’?

I’m going to bed with visions of Nick and Dave standing in front of a mirror wiggling their ears at each other. You know, where you use your muscles to move your ears up and down independently without your face moving!

That’s it, nightmares are a dead cert tonight!

Gigi and Marianne hosted a wonderfully inspiring teleseminar last week for parents of a child, or children, who have a disability or special need.

Last weeks teleseminar was the first of the two parts, the second teleseminar is coming up this week, on 15th March. Anyhow, I couldn’t make it to the actual call on the 8th, life happens!

Thankfully Gigi and Marianne provide replays to each of the teleseminar calls to registrants, much to my relief as I’d have hated to have missed the call completely!

There were so many things I loved about the call, not least the interaction and participation of those parents who did attend the live call, but also how understanding, caring and compassionate both Marianne and Gigi are.

Disability can be a touchy subject to some and when it’s something you live with or have to cope with on a daily basis the last thing you’d expect to find on a teleseminar on this topic is lots of laughter!

Ha! well, there was plenty of laughter on this first call!

If you or someone you know are living with ‘Different Abilities’, there’s still time for them to register on the second call. Further info here: ‘Different Abilities‘

On the 15th March – Gigi will share viewpoints from the perspective of being a parent of a child with special needs and Marianne from the perspective of being an Adult who was born with a disability.

Thanks to Gigi and Marianne, both of whom are qualified coaches, for a brilliant first call, looking forward next weeks call.

till then,
ttfn
Diane

I’ve mentioned Gigi several times throughout my blog, she’s such an inspiration whether you have a special need or not, and she really wants you to be living your best life. Here’s an earlier article you may like to read : Are you living your best life?

Existing members will see them dropping into your inbox shortly.

The little green man on the left….

[ for some reason reminds me of the Petula Clark song, "Little Blue Man", which I used to listen to on something similar to This 78's Player : I was VERY VERY young when I listened to that song honest ]

… is free for you to download now if you can use him somewhere on your own blog.

• Just right click and download him, save to your computer and do as you will with him.

If you’d like to collect more free icons and graphics, join here.

Ok, that’s enough frivolity for one day – it’s time for my afternoon nap!

Have fun and be safe this Bonfire Night by the way!

I remember when my gorgeous twin girls arrived into the world a month earlier than they should have done. Thankfully, they didn’t have major health issues, but they both had some time in incubators and on feeding tubes, with a two week stay in NICU.

Compared to the worries of other parents of special babies, my experience was minor, yet to me it was one of the most worrying times in my life as a Mother. My girls were essentially healthy, they had nothing that was life threatening, so I knew they’d get stronger as each day passed, and they did.

Those two weeks were probably the longest of my life.

What struck me at the time was how mixed my emotions were. Going home without my babies was a strange and most emotionally conflicting experience. It wasn’t ‘natural’ and despite how I felt, family and friends couldn’t quite understand, although they tried.

Their well intended reassurances didn’t really help so ‘putting on a brave face’, with my practical and positive head, was the best I could muster to get me through those first early weeks.

Despite my own experience, I can hardly begin to imagine how parents must feel when faced with their extra special babies potential for survival or the challenges of coping with their ongoing special needs.

Thankfully, I was able to bring my twin girls home as healthy thriving babies, and despite their older sibling giving them chickenpox, they continued to grow and thrive.

I do look back on that experience though and wish I’d had someone to talk to at the time, someone who could relate and empathise with how I felt, someone who could ‘understand’.

Having known Gigi of Families Blossoming for some time now, I really wish I’d had someone just like Gigi to turn to for support.

Is your baby an extra special baby?

Find out more about Gigi and Families Blossoming

The kids went back to school, now everywhere you go you’ll spot Chester Mums smiling, chatting and generally looking rather happy and relaxed, even whilst trailing around the local supermarket.

The summer school holidays, although brilliant for having time with your kids, if you’re a work at home mum at least, it does bring a variety of challenges.

Not least, finding quiet or convenient time to fit in some work, especially if you can’t have the whole summer away from working!

And it’s not been great summer weather has it?

The challenges you faced over summer depends on the age of your kids.

I’m pretty lucky that my kids are teenagers, so I haven’t had to find ways of ‘entertaining’ my three on those wet and dreary days.

If that’s been a challenge for you, I have strong memories of those days and I feel for you!

Teenagers find it very easy to entertain themselves, so as you can imagine, they’ve had lots of parties and late nights.

All very well for them, thank you very much!

Be warned, when your kids become teenagers, you’ll be awake half the night waiting up for them to get home, before you can get your beauty sleep knowing they are all safely in their beds!

Thankfully, now they are back at school, sleepless nights will be restricted to weekends!

… and before you know it, it will be Autumn school holidays, quickly followed by Christmas!!!!!

Tell us below : Did you have school holiday challenges over summer?