22/07/2013

Monday July 22^nd 2013 was a pretty good day for me. Not only was it my birthday, but clever K-Mids and Baby-Cambridge (literally just announced to be called George) decided to reinforce the fact that it’s an excellent day for birthing. Congratulations Kate and Wills! I will now share my birthday with the future King of England*!

Their emergence from the hospital yesterday evening was pretty cute and they did indeed look rather happy. I did however, pick up on Wills’ comment along the lines of 'we've only just met him, this is a very special time' which I interpreted as ‘we’ve done out bit by showing you our baby, now please do your bit and give us some space and privacy!’ which I think is fair enough. I feel quite sorry for them and really do think that the media coverage is slightly excessive. Then again I think that certain articles such as this one are just unnecessary. I’m pretty certain that given the choice, they wouldn’t want any of this hype and they certainly haven’t asked for it. They simply want to enjoy some time with their newborn, like any brand new parents would! I think it would be wonderful if we could give them a bit of space, but also if people who are bitter / ‘pitying’ of the royals / whatever they want to call it, could just pipe down. If you don’t like the media frenzy, ignore it and go and read a good book. It will have died down soon enough.

*Not to put a downer on the mood at all, but wouldn’t it have been just a teensy bit more interesting if it had been a girl?! History would have been made, as she would have been Queen, regardless of brother or not!

Over the hills & far away, Teletubbies come to play..

The Metro (London) on Tuesday May 14^th: “Without a doubt, the UK is leading the world in pre-school programming with shows from Teletubbies to Peppa Pig.”

Pardon?

Now I have yet to experience the delights of Peppa Pig for myself, but I have indeed seen the Teletubbies. And world leading they are not… “eh-oh”

I think I was about 6 or 7 when they first appeared on the small screen and yes, I did have a brief but deep love for them. I even saved up my pocket money for a couple of weeks in order to be able to buy my very own version of Lala. Sadly my mama dear was not a big fan of the Teletubbies and was far from keen on my delight in their antics. She simply explained that such a program would lead to “verblödung” (like ‘schadenfreude’, this is one of those amazing words, which captures an entire English expression in one word. It simply means that ‘watching this program will make you dumb’)

So why is the Metro implying that programs like the Teletubbies are world leading? Perhaps because otherwise, we’d have to admit to ourselves that if our kiddiwinks weren’t watching the Teletubbies, then they would probably be playing on Dad’s/Mum’s/Granny’s/(god forbid) their own iPads.

Go and play in the dirt girls and boys!

Childhood v Adulthood

In continuing with yesterday's little post, I thought I'd compare the pro's of childhood with those of adulthood...

The pros of being a child:

1. You can do the most random and outrageous things and it’s (mostly) socially acceptable, sometimes even cute! If you want to have a little scream in Tescos and throw some apples on the floor then go right ahead.
2. Role playing is insane. Any career is a possibility. One day I was a mother, with an army of BabyBorn children that all needed my love and devotion. The next day I was a significantly successful musical super star in the West End. And the next I was Titania, Queen of the Fairies...and naturally ma petite soeur was my elfin slave.
3. Not only do I think that children’s imaginations are amazing, but also their approach on things. It’s usually so straight forward and direct. Things that us ‘adults’ simply overlook. (Brutal simplicity of thought Mr Saatchi? Employ some children.) For example: I was listening to a literary podcast where children around the ages of 5-7 years old were asked whether they would like to be Harry Potter and why. While most boys my age would probably have said yes and waved some pretend magic wand through the air shouting EXPECTO PATRONUM, the little boy on the podcast simply said “No. Because Harry is always having to do something or be something. He is never just normal Harry and hangs out with his friends.” I had never even considered that. (I would still want to be Ginny.)
4. Dating and interacting with the other sex. Oh my gosh, why did I never take advantage of how simple this is as a child?? “Hello, my name’s Lisa. Would you like to share my Smarties?” Nowadays an awkward lock of the eyes in a crowded bar could lead to an awkward “Would you like a drink?” followed by an awkward “So what do you do?”
5. The biggest worry I had was probably along the lines of whether Hattie had more Beanie Babies than me. Phone bill? Que?

The pros of being an adult:

1. I’ve spent 16 years in education to date. I’d like to say I have learnt a lot. Obviously I can’t remember exactly what I learnt in Year 4 in the Summer Term, (I think we did a pond project and I caught some tadpoles) but I’m confident that having overcome childhood I certainly have both more general and expertise knowledge than I did as a child.
2. Although I no longer have the liberty of choosing a new ‘career’ on a daily basis, I do have the opportunity to actually practice a career. QUOTE: if you find a job you like you’ll never work a day in your life and all that jazz. Having said that, if Titania offered a grad scheme I’d be on it like a shot.
3. Decisions. Yes I can still consult the parents on various matters, but at the end of the day it’s down to me to decide. Right from what time I go to bed, to where and when I’m going on holiday this summer. (Am I invited on the family holiday?!)
4. I am a lot less restricted in daily life! I can go on theme park rides for those over 1.4 meters, I can take out films labelled 18 and I can drive, drink and buy lottery tickets. 
5. I can do the most random and outrageous things. Ok so I may not be able to have a little scream in Tescos and throw some apples on the floor without being sent to a psychologist, but I could literally right this second get on a tube, go to Heathrow and get on a flight to Cuba. Why Cuba? Not sure.

3 Things that I currently do that I don’t have time for

What the title says. Literally & metaphorically – make of it what you wish!

*‘Kimye’ – it’s fine, I get it, they’re dating and they’re happy. Oh and in case you didn’t know, they’re having a baby. Which I incidentally feel should be named ‘PR Stunt Kardashian-West.’ This poor child is going to be splattered across the media so much so that it’s face will almost probably become more familiar to me than my own reflection…while earning mummy and daddy Kimye sweet sweet $$$$$$s

*Bern: the picturesque capital of Switzerland. Idyllic, charming and endearing. Superb for shopping it is not, but nonetheless well worth a visit. Japanese / Spanish / American tourists or locals, all bumble along the cobbled streets or gracefully meander through the arcades, stopping to ooh and ah at the delightful displays of local artefacts in the windows… Here two worlds collide. I am an excessively fast walker, I have places to go and people to see.. But no-one in Berne seems to share my mentality! And the arcades are so narrow. So narrow! I can’t get past!

*The cold air makes my hands dry and look unpleasant.

Christmas & New Years 2012

The Christmas / New Years season this year has been a good one... Friends, festivities, frolicking and food. In hindsight I’d say for me, the best things about this season have been:

Holidayyy Whether you love work or hate work, it’s always nice to have a little time off. This is probably the one time of the year where it’s totally acceptable to laze around in ‘loungewear’ all day and do nothing. Apart from drink. And eat. Even if you’re revising for GCSEs, A-levels, Uni finals, Accountancy exams etc etc it is frowned upon to get your revision notes out on Christmas Day. Make the most of it…

…On that note, it’s 100% acceptable to drink all day and take a nap whenever you feel snoozy!

Port wine & cigars on Christmas Eve This has turned into a bit of a Neiss Family tradition. Daddy’s dinner has been devoured and everyone is deliciously drunk. All the grown men and the children (or ‘semi-adults’ as I term myself) head onto the patio to smoke a cigar and drink some port wine. (Obviously the children are just there to smoke up the atmosphere. Not an actual cigar.) This year I pushed the boat out...I smoked a Virginia Super Slim.

Presents Giving, receiving, whatever takes your fancy. Who the hell doesn’t like getting new stuff or seeing that smile on mummy’s face when you’ve given her something cute and loving?! Christmas simply isn’t Christmas without a bit of giving and getting. After all, Baby Jesus got some gold, frankincense, myrrh, some sheep etc etc

Christmas carols and especially Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! This hymn has such a feel good factor about it that they should prescribe daily 10 minutes of singing it at the top of your lungs to anyone suffering from depression.

Christmas TV & Films The Muppets’ Christmas Carol! Elf! Miracle on 34^th Street! Love Actually! I could go on.. Christmas films + a glass of mulled = pure bliss. I’m not even going to start on Christmas TV specials… Christmas Specials are always bloody brilliant, no matter how bad the TV show.

Finally, I’m going to be controversial and say Christmas Eve. Yes. Better than Christmas Day. For my family, coming from a European background, this is the classic present exchanging time anyway, as opposed to Christmas Day. However I’m inclined to say that the Christmas Eve activities of decorating the tree, eating a good meal, singing a few carols, midnight mass and the anticipation of the next day are what makes it so great. Unlike Christmas Day, no-one runs out of steam and there isn’t a huge anti-climax.

-       Sub note: this year Christmas Eve was altogether something special... My aunt received a copy of the notorious Fifty Shades of Grey and post-port wine and champers, father dearest thought it would be a complete hoot to read from it. Aloud. Obviously only the sex scenes. 

Ah the Christmas season..!! 

A right royal baby!

Congratulations Kate & Wills, 'our' royal baby is on the way!! Some may whinge that they took their time, but honestly (not that it's any of our business really...) they really couldn't have timed it better... 2012 was the year of the British, but the birth of Baby Wales / Windsor in will ensure that Britain will stays firmly on the global radar into 2013!

On another note, maternity clothing is going to develop a WHOLE new royal concept! Oh and gutted for K-Mids that she won't be having Champers and Mulled Wine this Christmas though..

My arm party was about 7 years ago!!

Following on from my earlier fashion related post, I'd like to take this moment to congratulate myself. And my fashion savvy friends. The fashion craze de jour on fashion blogs covering all corners of the world wide web is, without a shadow of a doubtarm party. 

Let me explain: this is simply the fash-term of choice for stacking various bracelets and watches on your wrists, the more the merrier. Brownie points go to fashionistas with 'mixed textures' e.g. preferably a DIY bracelet made from biological twig (i.e. your back garden) and rope, coupled with a classic rose-gold plated Rolex Datejust II.


So here come my congratulations. My friends and I have been doing this / have done so for the best part of the last 7 years! I distinctly remember receiving my first Tiffany & Co. bracelet and my mother's subsequent horror when I promptly whacked  it onto my wrist and proudly displayed it next to the 2 year-old friendship bracelet handcrafted from bits of string!


Fashion bloggers 2k12..you're so Autumn / Winter 2004!

Taking out the trash

I now live in a flat. I have a job. I do the 9-5 (...or 10-6 or 9-6) I commute daily and I read my Kindle on the train. So far so good. I send out emails from my work outlook, attend board meetings, pitch topics to my colleagues and go to post-work drinks. Oh and I have to do the grocery shopping. But realistically, I'm still Little Lise who would rather frolic in the meadow with buttercups.

This whole becoming an adult / joining the Rat Race thing still seems rather dubious... When I was at school, I remember thinking I'd do A-levels, I'd go to uni and then wham! I'd be an adult and go to work. Somehow this has definitely passed me by! Although I have now joined the Real World I guess, I still feel like I child! But then today our Editor-in-Chief (who I definitely consider to be an adult) waltzed in wearing a Sienna Miller t-shirt and announced that she wants a dip-dye. So I guess we all just remain children inside?!