R.I.P Barney

It was a sad day on Monday. I was driving to work in the morning, when lo and behold, Barney had turned into roadkill. So long my roadside chum.

To block, or not to block...

There are two types of companies. Those that block facebook, and those that embrace it. Oh yeah, and those that allow you to use your 'quota time' minutes to login to it. Pah. (I'm currently working in the latter environment).

I think it's a big mistake for organisations to start blocking these kinds of websites. Sure, go ahead and block the porn, but don't take away my social networks!! Although it's generally the view that by blocking certain websites staff productivity will increase (oh I've seen the graphs), I disagree.

We'll find a way to waste time. We'll chat. We'll go for a little walk. We'll make 10 cups of tea in a day. We'll then go to the bathroom just as many times. We all need a break away from work every now and then, even if it's just 5 minutes to check your webmail (yeah that's been blocked too!!!)

Instead of blocking potential distracting websites, companies need to embrace them. Set up a blog, create a wiki for your team, start a facebook group for your staff, get linkedin. Give employees a way to communicate and engage with each other beyond board meetings and group emails.

Otherwise they'll just end up pointlessly ranting about it on their anonymous blog like me.

So that's my mission in my new job. To turn around a whole organisation's way of thinking and help them see that the web really isn't that scary after all.

Let the battle between IT and Marketing begin! (eek)

The lifecycle of Leona Lewis

Seriously, what is Simon Cowell doing with the Leona Lewis brand? I know, I know, why try and re-invent the wheel. Vocal acrobatics worked for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and given that Leona Lewis pretty much sounds exactly like a hybrid of the two - it makes sense to go down that route.

She's had number one's internationally, so it's obviously working. But it's just such a shame that she's being slotted into a power ballad box with the occasional 80s sounding pop track thrown in for good measure.

It's just so boooring.

Sure, I know nothing about the music industry and how it all works, but I'm a consumer dammit, so here's my prediction of the Leona Lewis Lifecycle (ooh):

1. Starts of with the big voice singing the big songs in the big ol' predictable dresses.



2. Speands a year in the US working on her next album



3. Becomes an 'independent woman' and releases next album, spouting lines in interviews such as 'This album is definitely edgier and funkier and I feel it really reflects me as an artist'. Possibly fires manager.



4. Decides that she'd like to try her hand at acting. How hard can it be?



5. Stars in a Hollywood film in which she plays a girl from the 'hood' who wants to make it as a singer and says things in interviews like 'I really felt a connection with a character and really feel that this whole experience has helped me grow as an artist.'



6. Launches her own range of fragances and/or underwear and/or clothing line.



7. Makes the fatal decision to appear in Celebrity Big Brother. It's all over.

Oh we've seen it all before!!

(but I'm sure she'll be fab)

I'm bad luck for black cats

Over the weekend I did something that wasn't very good.

I know it's supposed to be bad luck when a black cat crosses your path...but what about when you step on one?

Yes that's right. I stepped on a black cat!!!

I was carrying a box out of the front door, and naturally being a Stick Girl, any box is a big box for me. So, thanks to the box, I couldn't see where I was going and totally missed the cat curled up on the front step. Until I stepped on it and in ran into the house and back out again in a panic.

Poor cat.

Although on the plus side, it's lucky it got stepped on by a Stick Girl and no one else.

I think the only sensible answer to this little episode is to get people to carry things for me from now on. For the cat's sake.

Alternative Transport

I saw a rickshaw on my way to work this morning:



In Surrey.

Hmm...

Times a-changing

A lot of things have been changing lately.

First off, I've moved into my flat. Yes, I've made the move to the suburbs! My drive to work consists of 20 minutes of winding country lanes and lots of trees. Lovely. And on my way home, the same pheasant crosses the same road at the same every day. We're becoming friends.

I think I'll name him Barney.

Anyway. Much more importantly - Pizza Hut is rebranding to Pasta Hut. What's that all about?! Is this really a good idea??? In an attempt to answer this truly global question, The Schizophrenic Hut is running a poll on their website to find out. Current votes stand at 29% loving Pasta Hut, and 71% clinging onto Pizza Hut.

I have a feeling this might all be some cunning marketing ploy to get our attention. They'll change back to Pizza Hut. You'll see. It's a classic case of Choco Krispies - and we all know we'd all rather have a bowl of Coco Pops (boom boom).

StickGirl's back

I think the longer you put something off, the harder it is to do - hence the two month gap between this post and the last.

I started my new job two months ago and absolutely love it. In fact things have been so rosy that I haven't had anything to rant about in two whole months. I drive along to work in the morning listening merrily to Johhny and Lisa (my aerial's a bit buggered, can only pick up Captial FM) and enjoying the travel updates informing me of delays on the tube, strikes on the buses. Mwah ha ha. Although I am trying to fit in a bit of road rage to and from work and manage to get a few lines of 'stop driving up my f*king arse' in every week.

It's quite surprising how much extra time I've had on my hands, what with the lack of ranting and all. I went to sunny Madrid, drank sangria, ate tapas and did lots and lots of shopping. I've also been looking for somewhere to live. And at the end of the month, I'm officially becoming StickGirl in the Suburbs. Yup, clean air here I come!

Really must get round to changing the title of this blog...

In at the deep end

Today was my first day in my new job - and yes, I did swear a few times at idiot drivers who don't know how to indicate or stay in their lane - but overall, it was definitely a much needed breath of fresh air.

As with any new job, I have definitely experienced information overload today. So I've just been making like a sponge and going with the flow.

Although I do think I've been thrown in at the deep end a bit. Tomorrow I have to be at work at 8.30 to attend an external meeting with my Director, in place of the Head of Marketing and Comms. Eek. This also involves an hour long car journey to and from the meeting with the Director - that's two whole hours people! Bigger EEK.

Hum...bring it on!

And then we came to the end

So that's it. It's all over.

As of today, I no longer work in the city. No more hour long journeys travelling to and from work in the make shift sauna that is the tube.

Although my lovely work chums did buy me a copy of The Piccadilly Line: An Illustrated History, so I will never really forget the fun times me and the old purple line had over the last one and half years.

I packed up my Whack It and was on my way!

And now I have four long days to start getting nervous about my new job...eek.

Can facebook groups bring about change?

I really wish I could put an end to poverty...


Aha!

I'll create a facebook group - that'll do the trick!

I don't know about you, but I seem to be getting invited to an increasing number of facebook groups that begin with the words 'I bet I can find 100,000 people who [fill in the blank]'. Typically these can range from grandiose worldwide humanitarian/political/ethical issues, to which BB contestant you hate the most (all of them).

Some of them no doubt are worthwhile in recruiting members and getting people to take action by signing a petition or writing to their MP etc. And if these groups get big enough to make it into the press - even better.

But some of them just seem to exist for the sake of it. Like, for example, 'I bet i can find 1,000,000 people against Abortion'. Yes, I bet you can, seeing as facebook has almost 124 million unique users. Pretty easy bet if you ask me.

Although after having a nosy around that facebook group, I do think that it opens a good forum for discussion and provides a place for people to air their views.

The real question is, can these groups really bring about change? I suppose time will tell...and awareness raising is the best place to start.

The Kellogg's Special K Overdose

The Kellogg's Special K Challenge has been bugging me for a long time - so I think a rant is long over due.

You must have seen the adverts encouraging you to get 'Slimmer for Summer'. If you haven't, I'm sure if you settled down to watch Loose Women or Home and Away, an ad will no doubt grace your screen.

Of course, with summer looming (actually, apparently it's here already - who knew?!) we're being bombarded with self-tanning, travel insurance and feel-good fitness ads left right and centre. Annoying, yes. But to be expected.

But the Special K Challenge is annoying for a different reason. To give you a quick summary, the challenge is to lose 1 inch from your waist in a mere 2 weeks. What a challenge, you cry! But you're wrong - it's not a challenge, it's a hoax!

I could accept the challenge if you had to tone up by exercising and eating healthily - that sounds reasonable to me. But all Kellogg's want you to do is eat their cereal for 2 out of your 3 meals in a day. So for a whole two weeks, instead of eating 28 meals (lunch and dinner) and 14 breakfast meals, you will now eat 28 bowls of Special K and 14 regular meals. And don't worry if you get bored of all the cereal, you get to break your meals up with 2 great tasting Special K snacks every day!

In the words of Alf from Home and Away, 'What kind of kangaroo court is this?!'

Of course if you substitute a proper meal with toasted rice flakes you're going to lose weight. It's really not rocket science. But in case you're not convinced, Kellogg's has even provided us with a 'science' section just to prove that it IS legitimate, it is, it is!

At least Kellogg's will always have the Crunchy Nut ads...

My last week: The countdown begins...

This is it. My last week working in the city has finally arrived. After a year and half of regularly complaining about the tube, the people on the tube, tube advertising - generally ALL THINGS TUBE - I can finally hang up (er, or remove from my wallet) my Oyster Card.

Yep, as of next Monday, my world will no longer look quite so much like this:



Courtesy of www.staynl.com.

But despite all my moaning, I think there are definitely some things I will miss about working in London (after the haze of B.O. and tube rage has lifted):

1. Being able to pop out at midday and choose from a wide range of worldwide foods for lunch.



2. Being able to meet up with friends who also work in London and are a short tube hop away.



3. Being able to stop at the giant Topshop on my way home from work.



4. Being able to go out for a quick drink after work at any number of bars that are on our doorstep.

So it's not all bad, I will be (a little bit) sad to leave...and I'm sure all this will kick in once I've settled into my new job. But for now, leafy 'burbs here I come!

Ever feel like you're having one of those days?

Father's Day Menu

Incase you've forgotten, or have been blissfully unaware of the massive increase in DIY and 'tool' adverts popping up on the telly, it's Father's Day tomorrow. Yep, that wonderful commercial holiday where we get to pay homage to our paps and fill the pockets of commercial giants like Hallmark.

I'm not quite sure if my dad even realises it's Father's Day tomorrow, but nonetheless, I'm taking the opportunity to knock a top notch Sunday lunch. I'm quite into my cooking, but just never really get the time to experiment.

For Mother's Day I went for something quite elegant and a little bit fancy:

Starter: Green-lipped muscles with a garlic breadcrumb crust

Main: Chicken stuffed with red peppers and pesto, wrapped in Parma ham. Served with pasta and roasted courgettes.

Dessert: Chocolate souffle

(she's that kinda lady)

But Father's Day has got to be a little bit different, something a little bit more hearty:

Starter: Warm salad of roasted squash, prosciutto and parmesan

Main: Beef stew with crusty bread

Dessert: Summer fruits and cream

*Drool* Starter and Main courtesy of cheeky chappy (and slightly annoying) Jamie Oliver.

I'm not really a 'stew' person...I'm not really 100% sure if I've ever eaten it, and I definitely haven't made it before. But it looks pretty scrummy and I think my dad will like it, but I guess we'll find out tomorrow...

The Konkans

The next book on my reading list is The Konkans by Tony D'Souza. Yup, 'D'Souza' not 'De Souza' - so he's a proper Goan.

I like to keep my postings fairly anonymous (which, I suppose, is all in vain because chances you probably know me anyway). Sure, you know I'm a StickGirl, I work in the city, blah blah.

But seeing as I read about this book in the Metro the other day, I now have to talk about my Goan heritage. Something which I actually know very little about.

For example, who knew that the Konkans are actually a 'marginalised group of Catholic Indians from Goa whose faith is the result of the brutal Goa Inquisition carried out by the Portuguese Catholic church during the 16th century'? (Yeah, I ripped the article out and brought it home with me). Who even knew that Goans are called Konkans?? Not me!

All this time I've been bumbling along thinking I'm a Goan, when in fact, I'm a Konkan! Sounds a little bit too much like 'conker' for my liking...

And sure, we all knew that Goa was a Portuguese colony - hence all the Portuguese surnames - but I wasn't aware of the savage conversion programme that took place in the 16th century.

Growing up in a Goan Catholic family, St Francis Xavier was definitely the big cheese, the ultimate big saint on campus. But now I'm discovering that he ordered this inquisition that, from the sounds of it, was pretty brutal. Oh those deceiving robes...

Ok, so obviously I'm not going to rely on the Metro for all the facts. But it's definitely made me more aware of my heritage, and the fact that I know so little about the history of my ancestors.

Plus it's inspiring to read about a successful and bestselling Goan writer (even if he's only half Goan) - who knew there was life for a Goan beyond accountancy?! Hooray, there is a light!