I am listening to the X Factor.

Allegedly there is an Essex girl in it and I know I should be supporting her,

but all the singing has been abysmal. Last week one of them sounded like were being murdered and another howled like it was a full moon. It’s not about talent but popularity it seems. The more they are told off, the more the public root for them. Its the modern day equivalent of … arrggghhhh as I type some young boys are ’singing’ Ghostbusters…. it’s frightful!

Now, this is an innovative idea for Simon Cowell and the X factor crew. Hook up the PC to a big Screen behind the singers and feed the twitter mentions of the X factor. Louis will be able to see exactly what the public think – in real time.

I can’t bear to listen. I am only listening because I want to spend time with my husband who likes this type of entertainment.

And now Simon has said the Ghostbuster boys have done well… OMG….

The X factor isn’t fun its car crash TV and it should be rated 18 and only shown after the watershed.

Sarah

You will be forgiven for thinking that its a Birkin or something by Chanel. It’s not.

It’s an Eco canvas Remembrance bag, designed and made by Anita Hunt of NitaJoy. Anita who I have had the pleasure of meeting raises a lot of money for charity, her books donate money to Bullying Uk and her bags donate to appropriate causes throughout the year.

The bag that is being fought over is a stunning Poppy Tote that each purchase donates a £1 to the British Legion.

How to get one? well there is no waiting list at present (although that may well change) so they can be bought from arts and crafts store NitaJoy or you can win one by writing a poppy related blog on Remembrance day on BT Tradespace.

As someone who was born on Poppy Sunday almost 37 years ago, Poppies have been a constant through my life and possibly the reason why red is one of my favourite colours. It was also my nickname for many years from one of the most amazing grandfathers a girl could have. He was patient and spent a lot of time with me as a child, gave me a love of films, medium rare steak topped lightly with french mustard and a passion for reading. In my teens we got to the stage where we could share books and he introduced me to adventure books, war books and history books when everyone else was reading Jackie Collins

I have nieces that unfortunately I rarely see and they have two aunt Sarah’s. I am spoken about to them as Aunt Sarah Poppy. So even though I am without a grandfather to remind me of Poppies, its attached to me and lives on.

Enjoy the blog for a bag comp

Sarah

PS remember to add a Poppy twibbon to your twitter profile

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I have been having problems finding out to add another site to adsense. I am allowed to use this site for it and now I want to add it to another site.

So I thought hmmm, I shall go and buy an idiots guide to Adsense and pick up what I need to know, then tweak it and then give up and have only wasted £20 on a book rather £3 trillion on an expert… you know the story. I am one of those rare people that if I can make it work,  I actually stop doing it (or playing with it as I call it) and then pay an expert to do it because by then I know what I want

So I went into WH Smiths in Basildon, and among all the self help books was a dummies guide to playing poker online as well as a dummies guide to nutrition. I thought there must be a copy of it in the computer section but no, there was nothing of the sort – Windows 7 just out and a guide for that already and several guides for seniors but nothing for Adsense. Nothing in Waterstones either.

Thats Ok I thought, an excuse, I mean reason to go to Lakeside. So I went into a well known bookshop there and had a stand up row with the shop assistant there.

Me: “I’d like you to see if you have a copy of  ‘Adsense for Dummies’…”

Shop: “Do you mean Adwords?”

Me: “No, I mean adsense”

Shop: “No such thing, you mean Adwords…”

Me: “If I meant Adwords I would have asked for it. I mean AdSense… the one where you put ads into your blogs not the one where you pay to get attention. Can you order me a copy?”

Shop: “Never heard of it”

Me: “Thanks. For. Nothing.”

Shop: “no need to be like that, you mean Adwords”

I left at this point and decided perhaps a trip to WH Smiths Lakeside was in order. Books all over the place there. Marketing, business plans, cv writing, what colour is my parachute 2010 (he’s STILL going!) books by the Times, books by everyone on the flaming planet, but nothing on Adsense. Not even a lite version with only 30 pages in it, no pocket guide, nothing…

I was beginning to wish that I had paid the 65p some site wanted for me to download a PDF copy as this was a bucket load of grief that I did not need and I only want to know how to add another website to my account!

And retailers wonder why they are losing out to online stores? Hmmm, I could give you a few pointers starting with listen to you customers and finishing with patronise them too much and they will give Amazon your money, leaving you with the overheads.

So does anyone know how I add another website to Adsense at all? Anyone?

You have until Amazon deliver to reply

Sarah

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Get your fake bake ready ladies, and tease out your extensions (both nail and hair) Jordan aka Katie Price

will be visiting Waterstones Lakeside 30th October 2009 at 5pm to sign copies of her book.

The new book is about her make up hair and wardrobe.

Whilst she isn’t my style icon, I know a lot of Essex girls do love her and so it’s my duty to mention it on my blog. I may order a copy from Amazon for my wag. I am having difficulty explaining the virtues of tinted moisturiser over orange foundation. One of those times when words have failed me

Personally I would rather be comforting Peter Andre whilst listening to him sing that song from The Little Mermaid.  Wonder what he is like at cooking and scrubbing?

• Jordan vs. Peter: An Affair To Remember?! (perezhilton.com)
• Bookshops ‘will not stock Jordan’s latest book’ (telegraph.co.uk)

Recent press hasn’t been kind to Katie/Jordan (much of her own doing and Peter Andre, c’mon luv be gentle on him) and I do wonder if she really is like she is in the press, in real life.

Anyway, enjoy if you are a fan.

Sarah

As any discerning Essex girl knows looking good isn’t easy and it doesn’t come cheap. From fake bake to fake nails, if we don’t have it, we are certainly going to buy it.

I am a member of a Facebook fan page of the Riverbanks clinic and over the last month Dr Ravi Jain has posted questions and advice to members of the group.

Me being a gobby cow (like most East Londoners in Essex) has made a comment or two and today he sent me a tweet saying my contributions have won me some free samples. That of course thrilled me to bits and has made me want to post a blog about it straight way…

This has got me thinking, why are not more people in his community not asking him questions and picking his brains? How often do we get a real live doctors attention for longer than 3 seconds?

More to the point, if we chat and we like what we hear, he’s only up the road in Luton.

I have a whole heap of questions about facial peels that I want to ask – like do they make your freckles disappear? I am sure you have questions too, so  join the facebook fan page and join in. You may win some samples, you will definitely  get some great advice and we may need to organise a ‘road trip’ to Riverbanks

Sarah

The Rottador puppies I have mentioned in previous blogs are now ready, so if you would like a son (or daughter) of Spartacus, you can. The mum and dad can both be seen with the pups.

Spartacus as you may have read is as daft as a brush and very loving, Holly the mum is a chocolate Labrador and if she has 3 brain cells thats an over statement she is also a calm, loving dog (and a good mum to boot).

Ma has 5 of the original ten left, and would like sensible offers from nice homes for these cute puppies. Drop Mum a text on 07931 106386 if you are interested. She (like me) isn’t very good at picking up messages, so a text works best.

Some pics for you…

And whilst looking at them today, we have taken one home….

Sarah

It was Jasmine’s birthday a few weeks back and we chose a ‘Baby Alive’ for her. She loves her babies and mothers them expertly and often walks around with a baby under one arm and a buggy in the other. It looks really cute.

So we decided that she would love a Baby Alive that drinks and poo’s and would appeal to her 4 year old mothering instincts.

As soon as she unwrapped it, it was hate at first site.

Jasmine threw the doll to one side and said to Kira “Kir thats your baby, it’s ugly”. Nice one Jasmine.

Kira started playing with the doll and Kev and I looked at each other in despair, the doll was quite expensive and her main present and she hated it. Kira however loved the new doll, and she asked Jasmine if she wanted to be the babies dad. An emphatic NO was the response. Jessica then tried… “what about the being the babies auntie like me?”.

Jessica was given the ‘evil eye’ like only a stubborn 4 year old can. I jokingly said to Kev that I thought Jasmine had post natal depression…. she overheard and shouted “have not, am not that babies mummy she is ugly”.

Ok, what do you do when a 4 year old rejects her baby? and leaves her older sister to bring her up?

I managed to avoid mentioning the baby for the rest of the day. Wondering what could make a child dislike the baby so much? After JuJitsu where Jasmine declared to the world she was going for a black belt as they didnt have pink sparkley ones, we had a small birthday tea.

Jessica brought Connor and Elise, Jasmine’s favourites of Jessica’s friends over and whilst we had pasta, Kira looked after Baby.

That baby needs a name I told Jasmine and she looked at it and squinted but said nothing. Kira started to play again and the baby started to cry. I was pleased as I thought the new batteries had failed already but it appears the doll had been turned off. Kira couldn’t shush the baby and it was crying louder,  Jasmine was making turn that blinking baby off gestures and Kira was ignoring her.

Jasmine was quite annoyed and snatched the doll from Kira and started to cuddle it and gave it a bottle. She burped the baby and was about to hand it back to Kira when the doll said “I love you mummy”. Jasmine’s heart must have melted as she turned to Kira and said “I’ll be mummy now Kir” and Kira (thank the heavens) was ok with it.

What are you going to call the baby I asked, Sally came the prompt response.  Jasmine dressed the baby for bed and that night, and every night every since Baby Sally has slept at the bottom of Jasmine’s bed. She is now her devoted mother and Sally of course is a devoted daughter, eating and pooing on demand …. if only it was like that in real life. Jasmine now demands on an almost daily basis toys, sweets and clothes for Sally who is her ‘little darling’

For those of you who don’t know, Sally is named after reknowned Pharmaceutical Marketer, Sally Church, who Jasmine has never met, but followed her pic on twitter and other social media.  For Jasmine to be like Sally or called Sally is the highest honour a person can have.

Sarah

In the tradition of great oral story tellers, a tale of Essex in days past. Only it’s written down.

I really enjoyed the read. Here’s a small extract, click through and read it in full whilst having a cuppa

In times gone by, highwaymen were executed here but these days Gallows Corner was better known as a five-exit roundabout celebrated for its traffic congestion and its workmen’s café on the A12 going east. That day the A12 exit was completely blocked and workmen were digging holes on the roundabout itself. Usually Lenny rather liked roundabouts because you only ever had to turn left to get off them but today he was confused because a diversion was in place.

Jeffusions

Sarah

I can’t believe it’s almost half term already. It seems like they have only just gone back to school and now I am planning half term activities! Half term is from 24th October to 1st of November and already it seems longer than the six weeks holidays

Arrive and Drive in Wickford (makes me wish I had a quad bike!) Every day during the half term ‘Off road party kids’ are organising a week of ‘turn up and go’ so kids can try off road buggie rallies, quad biking, paint ball target practice and other outdoorsy things. It’s aimed at kids aged 6+

More details at their website http://www.offroadpartykids.co.uk

Cricket camp is available on the Monday and Tuesday in Chelmsford for kids aged 1-12 years, more details at http://www.essexcricket.org.uk

Hadleigh Library has Lauren the ladybird visiting between 2 and 3pm for those under 7s. They can be contacted on 01702 559676

Great Pardon Library in Harlow has Shark week, now this sounds right up my girls street, but Harlow is just that bit too far. They will be making shark books, learning how to feed sharks (I wonder if they will have some small ones there?) along with the usual games and activities. They can be contacted on 01279 435101.

Basildon has a good load of activities going on

Tuesday 27th they Autumn art in the woods at the Langdon visitors centre. Leaf mobiles, stuff with clay and painting and printing leaves are all planned. Suggested donation, £5 per child. Tel:01268 419103

Thursday 29th of October and Basildon have the flying a kite thing going on at Wat Tyler park in the Discovery zone (the RSPB centre to everyone who doesn’t know what that is). They are making their own kites as well as flying them and it’s free admission and a small charge for some things (and it is small, my girls have been to these before). Its from 10am to 4pm.

Wizards and Warlocks are the theme of the day again in Basildon on the 30th of October. Back at the Langdon visitor centre. It’s from 10-12pm and a £5 doantion per child is requested. I think this is an outdoor things, with outdoor games and fun on the agenda.

Hyde Hall Gardens in Rettendon has autumn arts and crafts planned. It’s £1 on top of normal admission. This is ideal for those kids that are a bit older, the age guidelines say up to 12 years. From 11am to 3pm. The Gardens are well worth a visit if you haven’t been before and they often have kids activities going on.

If it’s spooky stuff you are after, then Waltham Abbey have a weeks worth of action going on at Lee Valley Park farms (is this Essex still? technically yes, I suppose…) Open 10am to 4pm costs can be found out by calling 08456 770600.

Marsh Farm are doing a pumpkin week (yes, I shall avoid it like the plague! Halloween is really not my scene at all) again from 10am to 4pm they can be contacted on 01245 321 552.

That little lot will hopefully keep all the kids out of trouble during the holidays

Sarah

Yesterday we took Spartacus our year old Rottweiler to the vets to be ‘done’.  We took him to Cherrydown, his usual vets in Basildon.

Spartacus loves the vets,  Sarah his usual nurse wasn’t there and she is his second fave person in the world. One look from her and he will roll over and lick her feet.  He really loves her, she can do anything – clip his nails, give him a jab, chip him, you name it Sarah can do it to him, he loves and trusts her completely

Rottie prejudice. Well yesterday was not a first for us, Kevins family are very prejudiced about rottweilers, and even though they have never met Spartacus the refuse to visit on the grounds he is a dangerous kid killing monster. Makes me wish I had got the dog sooner if I had know they would stay away    Kev’s family are very dangerous and spread misinformation like wild fire, they are just not dog people and certainly not capable of looking after a bigger dog.

The vetinary nurse yesterday also had a fear of  ‘dangerous rottweilers’ and treated him accordingly, and now Spartacus hates the vets – thanks love, suggest you get a new j0b soon preferably not with animals or small children. The nurse said he was snarling and aggressive to her (no regard for the fact that she had crammed him into a small cage and was acting very nervous around him, something that Sarah never did, she is the leader of the pack and he knows it!), she didnt take into account he hadn’t eaten for 12 hours and a lot of dogs get a bit growly when hungry, so do cats now I think of it.

When he left the vets the nurse was moaning loudly about Spartacus and saying he was dangerous, which left us all sad because he is as daft as a brush.

It also means Cherrydowns in Basildon has now lost a customer in us.  We look after animals and they are ‘maintained’ all because some nurse with Rottie prejudice failed to understand dogs, the pack mentality and treated him badly.

Well, the poor lad is ‘done’ now, I hand fed him chicken breast last night to help him overcome his ordeal and even though he was tired, he still licked the girls when they stroked him and nuzzled them goodnight. This morning he is laying on conservatory doorway in the sunshine, using his cone to block the cats entry and exit and just as I read this to him, he pawed the office chair around to give me a cuddle. Yes, he does like a cuddle and often ‘demands’ one.

I have been fortunate to be around people who are strong with animals, my dad never had hassle with a dog in his life. Kev is strong with them too, and Angie rescues them (and she is also strong with them) and I guess being around people who are good with animals made me assume that everyone was like this. But they aren’t. Thats really sad, there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.

Sarah

Ps If you would like a Rottador, Ma is flogging the puppies they are ready to go now!