Google

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Do roses have thorns, or Fridays are you in love?

Being a linguist as well as a copywriter, this morning I had a few songs from the Spanish-speaking world on my MP3. I was listening to Julieta Venegas, one of my favourite artists. Dearest Julieta was singing about how she was leaving to find a better love. And she knew the very kind she wanted too: 'the type that makes salt sweet and the sun come out'.


A lovely lyric from this Mexican heroine of the accordion, and one of the reasons I love her so much.

Having somewhat ecclectic tastes - or outright weird, some might say! - Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn came on a little later. Possibly one of the best rock ballads ever written, the song features heartbreaking lyrics such as:

Instead of making love, we both made our separate ways...
And now I have found somebody new...
And that I never meant that much to you...
To hear that tears me up inside... 
And to see you cuts me, like a knife... 


A few songs on and it was the turn of the Cure with their uncharacteristically happy Friday I'm in Love. Great song! How can you not love joy-joy lyrics including Thursday - never looking back, because Friday I'm in love... Dooey-dooey-doooo!


Which all brings me to the subject of today's entry: which type of feelings inspire the best lyrics? Do people who 've had their heart torn out and tossed into the grinder write better songs? Do the truly brilliant songs come from people who life has mercilessly chewed up, spat out and then spat on?

Or do they come from people who life smiles upon with unbridled happiness, instead? Maybe they come from happy-go-lucky types who fight for their dreams but, though they never come true, never lose hope either.

It's a tricky one. Probably best if I sit it out and let you decide! Whaddayasay?

Monday 29 August 2011

An Alternative Guide if You're Thirsty for More

August is drawing to a close and so has the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. There are fewer and fewer plastic beer glasses on the streets... the tourists and dreadlocked street performers are all making their way home... and the posters are coming down.

The Fringe will melt away for another year until August 2012, which is when it happens all over again!

Call me premature, call me well organised... it's your shout, but after reflecting on the past month as an Edinburgh dweller, I thought I'd give you a short survival guide for next year's Fringe. Here's what you'll need:
  • Patience - The streets are jam-packed with tourists at festival time. You can only put half a foot in front of the other without stepping on someone. The quick 5 to 10 minute bus journey may degenerate into a 30 minutes plus ordeal! So be patient.
  • Adventurous spirit - Some of the best acts at the festival aren't always the most famous ones or ones that have been most promoted. Book a random show and you could be in for a pleasant surprise.
  • iPod, MP3 and book - Entertainment kit for when you're stuck on the bus!
  • Cheerful countenance and disposition - If you're not a laugher or a smiler, stay away, because the city doesn't want you! Eeeeverybody laughs and smiles in Edinburgh in August. You'll stick out like a sore thumb!
  • Raincoat and suncream - The rain's been a pouring here this summer, but because people are of that cheerful disposition we talked about, they've neither noticed nor cared. When the sun gets out, it really gets out, but take a raincoat too and enjoy the best of both worlds!
And that's my alternative guide for enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Most of the items on the list are affordable. But if the iPod or the MP3 are over your budget, invest in a copy of War and Peace or the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You won't make it to the end of them while you're here. They're just for good measure!

Tuesday 23 August 2011

That innocent way about them

If you asked my friend 'Who'd win in a techie war - Steve Jobs or God?' he'd answer 'Steve Jobs is God.' In a matter of seconds, your trick question would have backfired on you!

He loves all things Apple. Their 'his' brand and can do no wrong. I've got to admit they're pretty good!

When I'm not ensconced in a crime or spy novel, I read books on marketing and business for my work (copywriter). After reading A Book About innocent: Our Story, I think this quirky smoothy company is 'my' brand. (If you're thinking of starting your own business it's well worth a read.)

Why? Well, I love their values and principles, their interaction with their customers and their ethical way of running the business. Most of all, I love their creativity, warmth and sense of fun! And how can any copywriter not worth their salt dislike the copy on innocent labels! The drinks are non too bad either!

So yeah, innocent are my brand. Now grab a smoothy and tell me which is yours.

Friday 19 August 2011

Looking for a fourth place?

Suppose you need a place where you want to avoid home life and work and don't want to spend money or interact in your third place. Where do you go?

The hopeless romantic in me would like to say the answer's written in the wind. But it ain't - it's written in cyberspace, a world in itself these days!

Just a few months ago, my friend sent me this truly wonderful link: http://www.panoramas.dk/index.html. It allows you to transport yourself to just about anywhere in the world - far beyond my third place, Costa cafe! - and enjoy a panoramic view of landmarks, big international events and other cool stuff. 

And you don't have to stop at a fourth place either. Treat yourself to a fifth, sixth or as many as you want! So far I've:
  • stood at the top of Mount Everest
  • attended a UN General Assembly
  • marvelled at Machu Pichu
  • been at the French presidential election 2007 (I think I got lost that time!)
  • and received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama (my personal favourite).
Other fourth places you can go to? Well, maybe you can take refuge in your dreams. They're always a welcome haven.

Or you can disappear into the shoulder of your partner. Your head will fit perfectly between their shoulder and neck. Then they can run their fingers through your hair, transporting you to anywhere but here. 

I'm single at the moment, so that'll be one panoramic walk along the Great Wall of China for me please, barman!

Where would you make your fourth place?

Thursday 18 August 2011

Three's Company, Two's a Crowd

Ever heard of the 'third place' concept? 

Apparently, home is our first place and the workplace is our second one. But more and more people these days are looking for a third place. This third place is public, encourages interaction and is our haven or sanctuary from home and working life. It can be a pub, coffee bar, park or anywhere else that feels like a mini escape. 

The other day I discovered I was one of those third-place seekers! Costa Cafe is fast becoming my own third place. For the past two weekends I've purposely headed to Costa from my flat (with my trusty backpack), and then eased myself into the couch with a coffee, a good book and not a care in the world. 

It's my third place in my first-class good times oh yeah!

Oh and not that I'm really looking, but this hopeless romantic has a sneaky feeling I'll meet a new flame in this third place of mine. Only time (and this blog!) will tell.

But that's enough about me! Do you have a third place, and if so, where? Hey, if it's nice enough I might even move in with you haha!

Saturday 13 August 2011

How to be good

Was just reading about the Scorpio star sign personality to see if I live up to the profile or not. Do I, you ask. Well, the answer is yes and no... Nes, you could say! 

Who am I?

Let's have some fun! Starting with the good news, Scorpios are:
  • Dynamic
  • Loyal
  • Passionate
  • Resourceful
  • Observant
Dynamic? Well, one day I'll have chicken roll in my sandwiches, the next it'll be pork, the next it could be beef... I may even live on the edge and have chicken roll two days running or, get this, eat out at the Subway. You just can't tell with this Scorpio haha!

Loyal? Well, that is definitely true. If a person is kind to me I do try to return the favour, especially in my adulthood. I take their money, so it's only fair they get their coinage's worth out of me! Seriously though, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Passionate? I'm sure ex-girlfriends will confirm this is the case. Crushes I've stalked in the past - or, to use the Twitter euphemism, 'followed' (!) - will also testify in my favour! Oh come on... do I really look that depraved to you?

Resourceful? I think so. I started this blog on my own initiative. I freelanced for six years. I've studied a new trade. Apparently, Scorpios make superb doctors, surgeons, scientists or leaders. But you know me best. Would you trust me with a scalpel? Taxi!...

Observant? As a blogger I do my best. Put me in the witness box and I can't promise you'll get a 'Not guilty' verdict though!

Now for the bad news...
Like other signs, we Scorpios have our down side. Scorpios are also:
  • Jealous
  • Obsessive
  • Suspicious
  • Manipulative
  • Unyielding
Apart from that, I'm a pretty nice guy! 

Do I get jealous? Nope! 'Tis the most ugly of feelings. Everyone deserves a time to shine, and eventually they get their chance.

Am I obsessive? Friends might say yes (yeah thanks a lot, guys, I must return the favour some day!). To my surprise, not one but three people made my sandwich at the Subway last week. When I went back, four people were in on the process. Cue productivity jokes and two weeks' worth of mileage out of them oh yeah!

Do I get suspicious? Where did you get that information from? From the Feds? Come to think of it, you've been acting really strange lately...

Manipulative? No, but I'll give you a tenner if you tell everyone about my blog. That's a joke!

Unyielding? I prefer determined, persevering or steadfast!!!

Cross-examination over!
Right, that's enough baring my soul for one entry! It's your turn to check out your zodiac profile. Do you match it, or is it all just a load of crystal balls to you? 

Maybe your own horoscope has come true. I'd love to hear about it. In fact, why am I asking these questions? I can already feel the answers in the air!...

Monday 8 August 2011

The Company of Strangers

I remember when I first started this blog. In one post in particular I commented how train delays brought strangers closer together. Well, I'm feeling kinda daft today and I'm going to come back to it.

My question is, what is the funniest thing you would like to see happen between two strangers in everyday life?  Noticing how people sleep on the train from work, I'd love to see one stranger zonk out on a complete other stranger's shoulder next to them, cuddling up to them as they do it.


The sight of that would cheer me up after a hard day's work. The image of them both waking up and exchanging apologies or embarrassed smiles, or even laughing about it together... Yeah, that makes me laugh. Wouldn't it you?

I have to commute to work myself. So who knows... Maybe I'll meet my next partner that way. I'd have to be the sleeping one though. I don't see a working girl getting a comfortable hour's shuteye on my shoulders, the commuting equivalent of lumpy pillows!

Monday 1 August 2011

Let Battle Commence!

Strangely philosophical, The Simpsons recently churned up the age old debate of religion v science.

I'm not a fan of religion (science can be cool though!) and the science v religion debate has seen better days. It's about time we had a new debate: Facebook v Twitter!

Which one do you think is better?

I've got two friends who say Twitter's where it's at now. On Twitter, users answer the question 'What are you doing now?' in short 'tweets' of 160 characters or less. The website's aim is to spread information and knowledge.

Facebook is for sharing photos with friends and family and writing messages. It's for a whole host of things, in fact! But if you don't have a Facebook account, don't feel so bad. There are still people out there rebelling against the 'Good Book'!!

I have to admit: I luuuuurve Facebook! I enjoy writing cheerful and cheeky messages on friends' 'walls'; I enjoy seeing their photos; I like to be back in touch with people and see where life did or didn't take them.

Not as big a fan of Twitter, but I am gradually getting into it: though sometimes the retweets drive me spare!

So there you go, I've sworn my allegiance to Facebook. If you could use just one network for the rest of your life, which one would you go for?

Tell me which and why - in less than 160 characters, of course! Oh and while I'm here, may I just wish my friend and flatmate 'Happy birthday!' (17 characters!).