Only watch this...

(posted by Elizma)

...if you want to be inspired. Be warned, I shed a tear, but then - I'm a girl ;-)

[Leon says: another link here, as the one above may have been removed. PS I also cried :-)]

Terrorists? What terrorists?

(posted by Leon)

A friend pointed me to this Register article about the recent so-called terrorist plots for bringing down several planes. This makes for some very interesting reading...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs

Next they're going to be telling us that this incident is part of a wider threat and that they need to invade XXXXXX to prevent the coming atrocities!

(Replace XXXXXX with the random name of any non-US oil-producing nation)

Scary Statistic

(posted by Elizma)

There are now more overweight people across the world than hungry ones, according to experts. Could it be a direct result of our 'westernised' culture of instant gratification and self-indulgence?

Got it!

(posted by Elizma)

Our applications for British Citizenship has been approved. We just have to go to the citizenship ceremony now and pledge allegiance to the Queen of England. We're really glad we're on the final straight and look forward to our first, visa free trip. Hopefully somewhere in the States. Just because we can...

Safely Home

(posted by Elizma)

I'm really glad to be home. Our flight was on time, which is always a bonus and we were allowed hand luggage. No passenger flying out of Heathrow were allowed any - only their most important belongings in a see-through plastic bag. It looked quite strange seeing everyone walking around with these bags. And duty free did not do too much business as passengers could not take it on board. I hope it's better by the time we fly to South Africa week after next, but again I'd rather be safe than sorry...

Stuck in Finland

(posted by Elizma)

Well, I'm stuck in Finland for the moment. No flights to Heathrow because of the terror alerts. I really hope it is sorted before tomorrow night as I don't feel like spending a weekend here on my own. We might try to fly to Manchester and then take the train down to London as Stansted and Gatwick Airports are also affected. However, safety should always come first...

Charity Shops

(posted by Elizma)

I forgot all about charity shops. No, not that they exist, but what it is like to take take them things.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't expect them to fall at my feet in grateful abandon. I just don't want to feel that I have to convince them that my stuff is good enough for their purposes.

As per all the previous times, my arrival yesterday was met with a kind of a frown and not even a greeting. After hesitantly greeting them, I pointed in the direction of my goods and asked if they would be interested in it. When the frown didn't change, I started citing their worth: only read once, very good condition, etc, etc, upon which I was asked to leave it in the corner. I almost didn't ask if they wanted the second-hand camera I still had in the car. 'Bring it in if you want,' was the response.

Not a very positive experience. I'm not sure if ALL charity shops are like that, but the ones I've been to has all been the same. Once I was even told that they have enought stuff and I should try someone else!

I do understand that they sometimes receive things they can't use, but it's sure not encouraging me to go back and I might really consider binning the things in future instead of taking it there. It is a hassle as they are only open in the week and are mostly situated in the high street, where there is never any parking. I do it however as I believe it is for a good cause. (Maybe a small part of it is the fact that I can't stand waste and would rather have things re-used, which could seem a selfish reason for making the effort...)

Wouldn't it be better to just take the things (with at least something that resembles a smile if they can't muster the real thing) and throw out what they can't use? It might create more work for them, but at this rate no-one will want to take them anything and in a couple of months, they might run out of stuff to sell. And they'll probably wonder why...