I like old movies..

After and evening of 5 star procrastination, (which I am quite proud of actually, avoiding work for 8 hours straight, even though you are sat at your desk with the work right in front of you the whole time, takes some serious skills) I decided on thursday to just give up pretending that I'm being productive, and just watch TV, because there really is no point trying to fight the procrastination bug at 2am.

My favourite tv ad comes on, the match.com advert, you know the one that goes 'I like old movies.... like the godfather.... threeeee... not considered the best one.. But thats just me'. Brilliant advert, so cute. Anyway, so I though I would just check it out, see what all the fuss was about, mainly because I like the advert I'm not ashamed to say, I am influenced that easily by adverts. But Alas, you have to set up an account to actually see anything other than the log in screen. I should mention now, I am not looking for love. certainly not on the internet! There is something about online dating that screams 'desperate and can't get a date'.. I would like to assure you, thats not me! (yea sure jemma, keep saying that and it will most definitely be true)

So after spending a good hour filling in my profile page, carefully thinking about how many times you can use the word 'cool' before you start to sound like a teenager from the 80's, the profile is finished. Who knew that a brief description of yourself could be so hard? One of the questions: 'how would you describe yourself?: Very attractive, attractive, average, unnattractive'.. Well what on earth am I supposed to say to that?! If I put very attractive I sound really narcissistic, if I put average I'm underselling myself, unattractive then nobody will be interested. But if I put attractive and people don't actually think I am (which they can tell by the carefully selected profile picture, which may as well have been painted by Davinci after the amount of time spent chosing it) then they'll think I'm really vain! You see the dilemma. And do I really care anyway?!

Some of the things the men put on their profile, jesus christ! A man in his 40's, probably was atrractive once, not so much anymore due to the hair protruding from his nose and ears, puts 'if you are unnattractive please don't expect me to email you'. Good god! Its a dodgy business this online dating malarky, particularly because if you like someone's profile, you let them know by metaphorically winking at them. *CRINGE*. I definitely feel like Ive entered an online version of take me out, where everyone is judging me and saying cringy things and winking all over the shop.  

And can you really find love online anyway? I'm a firm beleiver that you don't find love until you stop looking, and I honestly don't know if its good that you can pick and choose your future partners traits. It should be called BuildmeaBoyfriend.com. And what makes a good partner anyway? Someone who is exactly the same as you in every way? because that sounds insanely boring to me. I mean lets face it, if you dislike everyone who isn't the same as you then there must be something quite wrong!

So I guess what I'm saying is that this online dating thing is qute frankly weird. It makes me feel like a combination of how I felt when I first watched Requim for a dream and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like something isn't quite right and that a dominating transvestite might jump out and wink at me at any point. No, not quite like that. I didn't check the 'I'm looking for a transvestite' box.

Knowledge, Passion and Madness.

So, having just come from my place of work (I use the term 'work' loosely here, as most of the time I just drink coffee and chat) which this morning was at a social morning for the over 50's, I have an uncontrollable urge to blog again. Clearly some kind of addiction is forming here. I should explain that for work, I volunteer for Age Concern Southampton, partly in the office and party helping out with activities for the over 50's.

Anyway, at the weekly session there are two fascinating women that never fail to amuse/ inspire/ confuse me. The first is a lovely vietnamese woman, who despite the fact her English is not very good, always wants to talk about deep and meaningfull topics such as religion and knowledge, Atoms and science. It is, admitedly, often a little heavy handed for 10am on a friday, when I have yet to drink the first and most vital coffee of the day. Nevertheless, the woman made some good points today, that really made me think. She talked very passionately about her 7 (7?!?!) Grandchildren a lot, and given that it has taken her 30 years to leave the comfort of her own home and come to a social morning to discuss the things she has learned, it was clear that her family are important to her.

Now, my family isn't the biggest group of people, but in the past year when times have been hard I have come to be more and more thankful for my parents. Yes, they have their faults, like when Mum doesnt do her filing for 4 years at a time until one day, when I'm looking for that one letter which is so important that not being able to find it might actually end my life, the MOUNTAIN of filing topples over onto me and sends me to an untimely reclyling bound death. Or when Dad really helpfully slips in a few bits of my washing, sets it to his usual 145 degree cycle and I'm left with clothes that are only fit for the wardrobe of a Barbie doll.  Strangely, those are the things I love most about them because they are the most endearing and probably the memories that I will take to my grave. 

The other lady, I'm afraid I do not know much about. Other than that she seems to have a burning passion for just about everything. On a weekly basis, she comes into the social morning bearing a world of goods wrapped in a co-op bag that probably hasn't been made since the 1950's, and from the heavenly parcel she withdraws all manner of cooking recipes, cat calenders, alottment guides, newspaper articles about chair making, photos of andy warhol and almost certainly a poster, card or pamphlet about international womens day. You may be thinking that she sounds mental, and to be honest there may well be a few marbles missing from the bag, but her passion never fails to impress me. The women could get passionate about a thimble if she wanted to, infact, she probably already is. It is this broad passion for just about anything that I really wish I had right about now, when exam stress is starting to kick in and my motivation for Uni work is thin and far between.

Procrastination over. Time to crack on with life!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Forgive me for adding another blog to cyber space,  some blogs that I have read are quite frankly, BORING. Who really wants to read (in extragavent detail, I might add) some poor buggers 1500 word rant about how their boyfriend leaves his toenail clippings on the coffee table?! This will not be one of those blogs.

On the other hand, some of the blogs I have read are hilarious, thought provoking and heartwarming, Particularly a blog by a family friend - Musings and Learnings. A bloody good read, and good when combined with the morning coffee, despite the somewhat dark content. 

I do wonder how people think up the name of their blog? I've spent probably a little too long trying to think of a title that is funny, random and inspiring, relevant, fashionable, that reflects who I am (if you have a blog, you probably know already that its not actually possible) and am left somehow feeling a little.... deflated. Who knew summing up your life in under 8 words could be so taxing? For goodness sake its only a blog, Yet the title of this soon to be awe inspiring blog has consumed my life for approximately 26 minutes now. Get a grip Jemima...

Moving swiftly on.. Welcome to my blog. I sincerely hope I don't bore your tits off, and maybe one day some fashionable city slickers will be reading my weekly digest with their coffee in the morning, soaking up the inspiration (example below), entertainment and life lessons within. Yes, unlikely it does sound, but one must set their targets high!