I have been utterly useless of late but I promise that is going to change.
I have finally got into the routine of full time working life and have lots of lovely things to share with you. I am really enjoying working at Urban Outfitters and it is definitely the people that make it so good - thesweet discount definitely helps too. We had staff appreciation last week so I FINALLY bought the Crosley record player I have been fawning over for about a million years.
Work aside, my social life just got interesting too. I had a rare Saturday off, so Oliver and I
decided to go carbooting with his sister Alex.
If you have never visited the car boot sale on York race course
on a Saturday you are severely missing out, it was pretty much the best I've ever been to.
I had to hold myself back on several impulse buys though next time i'd probably not have the same sort of will power -I bought the Dirty Dancing OST on vinyl for £1.
Oliver had to buy a friend a birthday gift and picked out three items,
a Star Wars toy, a cowboy hat made from animal hide and my favourite of the three, a signed Blazin' Squad photo (yes, you heard right). We were done and home by 12 so we made a picnic and headed out on a bike ride near his house. Pot holes are no ones friend, needless to say I have a very bruised bum. We decided to play with an old Super8 video camera of Ollies', the countryside was the perfect setting, though you only get around three minutes worth of film per roll but I am excited to see how it turns out. Oliver showed me the eighties classic "Stand By Me" that weekend too, it's such a brilliant coming of age film, definitely a must-see if you haven't already.
Alex and Chris's puppy Blossom.
Thursday was my brothers twenty first and so we had a bbq party in his honor. There was a pinata, cocktails,and of course rainbow cake. Blythe and Oliver came over to keep
me company and we had lots of fun playing on my beautiful bicycle.
I went out for coffee with my friend Claire after work and discovered the most
amazing, oversized treats in Costa Coffee, and of course I had to sample them - I genuinely
don't think the Costa guy had ever known anyone be as excited about the giant biscuit as I was.
We recently held a surprise birthday dinner for one of my lovely friends Stephie down in Nottingham.
I introduced her to one of my best friends Will in December and they've been together ever since, one of my
fave. couples EVER.
Mama and I recently attended a 40's war weekend at a stately home near our house. We decided
to take a break from the tradition and fuss to look around the gardens and discovered this hidden beauty spot, I need a walled garden!
Finally, another car boot sale bargain, I found this vintage thermos flask for just 50p, isn't it a peach.
I also managed to pick up several vintage childrens books to add to my collection for very little money too.
You've probably noticed the words "Kony 2012" trending amongst your Facebook and Twitter friends over the past few days. If you haven't already been curious enough to click play, then I urge you to do so, it's possibly one of the most moving things you'll watch today. The twenty minute film, entitled "Kony 2012" is the work of activist Joseph Russell who wants the name Joseph Kony to become a household name but not for reasons you might think.
Who is Joseph Kony? -
Joseph Kony is the vile guerilla leader behind the bloodthirsty and murderous Ugandan rebel group, the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). Kony is the head of a violent campaign which worryingly, is not fighting for a single cause. For the past twenty six years, he has abducted thousands of Ugandan children often killing their family members and neighbours, multilating peoples faces and forcing the girls into sex slavery and the boys into his army where they are forced into being cold blooded killers, many being forced to murder their parents, siblings and other members of their families. Shockingly we are not talking small numbers here, Kony has reportedly abducted over 30,000 children for his army. The thing is, that despite this appaulling situation Joseph Kony still remains uncaptured and unpunished for his crimes and so Ugandan children live in fear of being captured like many before them and many of them are constantly on the run from their homes in order to retain their freedom, witnessing many horrors in the process.
The Documentary -
The viral features many heartwrenching facts that are unbeknown to the majority of peopleoutside of Uganda. The documentaries creator, Joseph Russell shares with us the many crimes of Joseph Kony. We are introduced to Russells' son Gavin (possibly the cutest child I've ever seen), one of the main reasons Russell has created this film and charity in the hope of it leading to the capture of Joesph Kony by the end of 2012, is to be one step closer in creating a better future world for his son and other children around the world. Russell also introduces us to a friend Jacob, whom he met ten years ago in Uganda where Jacob was running for his life, and rebelling from Konys' army with hundreds of other terrified children. At such a young age, Jacob had already witnessed many horrific things we could not even begin to comprehend, such as the brutal murder of his brother. As a young Jacob shared more and more of his story with Russell, he utters words far beyond anything a young child should even begin to understand, that he would rather be dead than live in the way that he was. This was when a promise was made by Russell and his team, to do whatever they could to end the stop Kony and his guerilla army, which is what he has spent nine years campaigning for and the reason this video has been created. They have already helped to rebuild schools, raise money and awareness, create jobs, and change the lives of so many, even building an early warning radio transmitter to alert as many people as possible of Konys' approaching army. Once they had raised initial awareness and gained the support of so many people from around the world, President Obama has now made a huge step in the fight against Kony and has committed a hundred US troops into aiding the fight and arresting Kony. Kony has since changed tactics, and is proving harder and harder to locate.
The video expires December 31st 2012, this is the date by which Russell, his co-workers, the charity Invisible Children, his supporters and campaigners and ME, want Joseph Kony to have been stopped and arrested by, and is the date by which each and everyone one of them want things to have started in the road to a changing world, a BETTER world.
How they aim to do this-
"In order for Kony to be arrested this year, the Ugandan military has to find him. In order to find him, they need to technology and training to track him in the vast jungle. That's where the American advisors come in, but in order for the American advisors to be there, the US Government has to deploy them, they've done that, but if the Government doesn't believe that people care about arresting Kony, the mission will be cancelled, in order for the people to care they have to know and they will only know if Konys' name is everywhere. This is the dream, Kony arrested for all the world to see, and the children returned home.
In order to get Kony captured, we must first make Kony famous, a well known face and name so that everyone knows about his crimes, so that people become aware, so that the Government know that the world wants something done.
Hit that 'Share' button, change the world you know -
Although I knew bits and pieces about Jospeh Kony before this film went viral, I will openly admit I did not truly understand the full extent of the damage he was inflicting on the lives of so many Ugandans. There are many conflicting opinions on the cause, some in full support, some who are completely against the charity due to claims of unfair distribution of the money they raise and others who strangely, seem to be angry at those who are "jumping on the band wagon" as it were. To those people I say, yes perhaps some people did not know a thing about this disgusting man or the charities who are working to capture him before this viral, and perhaps yes many people will click 'share' without understanding fully about Joseph Kony, but surely regardless of how much prior knowledge you had or did not have, the video is serving it's purpose, and suceeding greatly in spreading a hugely touching message. Since Tuesday (06/03/2012) when the Invisible Childrens online pledge went live online a massive 105,000 signatures have already been collected, and it has already gained 250,000 likes on Facebook. Whether you knew about Joseph Kony before the launch of Kony 2012, or whether you have been touched enough by the cause potrayed in the viral to spread the word, PLEASE keep clicking share and together we can help to fulfil the wishes of Joseph Russell in making Joesph Kony famous. If this was happening on your doorstep, would you keep quiet about it and allow it to happen without consequences? No, it simply would not happen, so why should it be allowed to happen elsewhere?
I am very much in love with Australian singer, Sarah Blasko at the moment. She has such an incredible voice and her songs make me super happy on my daily bus trips to work. If you haven't heard any of her music yet, here's my current favourite song, it's a peach! -
Sincerely, Alexa ♥
P.S Oh, and a pinch and a punch for the first of the month. Happy March!
I don't know about you, but I even if I get a day or two off work I never seem to be able to get
done everything I have listed in my head. I definitely need to be more efficient with my time. I've been super busy of late, making sure I have my 30 Day Drawing Challenge up to date (I promise you this drawing a day thing is a lot harder than it sounds) taking driving classes, job hunting, working and planning entries for both here and for Ma Bicyclette. Pretty much the only things that are keeping me grounded right now are my daily heart to hearts with Brionny and dreaming about future plans with Nicola.
One thing that makes me pretty upset about being so busy is that I haven't had time to go thrifting for a few weeks now, so that's definitely how my weekend is goingto be spent - I am home alone Saturday and Sunday so I am pretty stoked for some me time. York is amazing for thrift stores, I have a chest full of beautiful things which cost next to nothing saved up for when I finally move out (which is going to be the subject of my next post on Friday). I literally cannot help myself when it comes to pretty home furnishings, especially for my future kitchen. Do you love to thrift too?What's been your best purchase?
As promised here are my almost up to date drawings for the 30 day challenge - I'm saving
the most recent ones for next time:
Day Four - Draw Your Favourite Place
(This is a kitchen in a house in the Lake District me and my friends and family have visited,
most amazing place ever.)
Day Five - Draw Your Best Friend(s)
Day Six - Draw Your Favourite Book Character
Day Seven - Draw Your Favourite Word
Day Eight - Draw Your Favourite Animated Character
Day Nine - Draw Your Favourite Television Show
(Sorry, this is just awful)
Please remember to check out Ma Bicyclette for lovely posts from me and my beautiful friends, and for my latest post later today "Cocktails and Cream Tea". And if you're a new reader, follow my blog and my twitter and when I get to FIFTY followers I'll be doing a pretty generous give away (including some goodies from Fox Bunting).
I don't know about you, but I am absolutely addicted to StumbleUpon, and have just stumbled upon this little beauty and just had to share my favorites with you as they are the sweetest little notions about love I have ever read, and so impressive especially considering they are the words of children aged between four and eight years of age ♥
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4 (I hope someone will keep my name safe in their mouth one day soon)
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6
This really, really makes me believe in love again.
I promise I will write a post soon about what little treasures I recieved this Christmas soon!
