What will you be doing differently in 2014?

My year begins on October 3 and each year on my birthday I say thanks for the year before and set a focus for the year ahead. I don't call it a resolution because I believe I'm tempting fate which could lead to failure but I do set myself goals. Since I do this on my birthday I ignore the new year hype but if I'm honest these goals are very much focused on my own very personal needs and as I start in a new role in Jan and I was inspired by this post from Topshop (see photo) I've decided to pull together a list of things I will be doing in 2014.

1. Getting to work by 9.30am my usual time is circa 10am.

2. Making regular use of my gym membership throughout the year not just pre holiday or an important event. Let the focus be health and fitness rather than hotness.

3. Sending friends and loved ones cards and letters I started doing this at the end of this year. It's such a small thing but the response when they're received is lovely - it's such a nice surprise.

4. Improving my baking techniques - especially icing.

The hardest one for me to achieve will be getting to work earlier so it will mean early nights (in bed before 12) and getting out of bed rather than lounging in it - hopefully getting up and going to the gym will help this. What will you be doing, what's your biggest challenge to achieve it and how will you overcome your challenges - do let me know maybe we can motivate  each other.

Thank you 2012

2012 has been a roller coaster year for me some really big highs and some real lows but all in all I would say it's been a good year and I have lots to be grateful for. Most of all I'm thankful for these things (in no particular order):

Everyone who has read this blog thanks I don't know who you are but thanks for reading; if you do have any feedback than please let me know. My very own feedback to myself is proofread and spellcheck.

That all of my loved ones both friends and family have made it through the year; having them in 2013 will be a blessing.

London 2012 was such a highlight for me not only did I get to experience the actual games as a spectator on a couple of occasions - 4 to be exact; but it also gave others an opportunity to experience the city I love in one of its finest moments. Super Saturday was emotional - the video of my screaming 'go Mo' as the stadium erupts is hilarious.

I learnt a lot about myself this year, about the person I want to be, what's and who is important to me. The life lessons or challenges provided this clarity -  I believe everything happens for a reason.

My Samsung SIII and my iPad giving me the best of technology; life with an iPhone wasn't all that it could be but I still missed the App store. Now I have the best mobile phone and tablet both doing the jobs they were meant to do.

Great tv - Scandal, Homeland, Boardwalk Empire. I need more like this. I'm going to try again with Girls and I loved my ratchet tv more LHH please.

Anything French - Paris and Les Miserables are examples of some of the great memories I will have from this year.

Good music - highlights Walk the Throne concert, Hackney Weekender, Nas, Frank Ocean, The Weekend, Kendrick Lamaar.

Seeing friends get married, have babies, and make the next step in their lives and reacquainting myself with people I had lost touch with.

Being part of Pride's  beauty round table.

My Cineworld card.

Life.

instagram.

Why I should be a lady of leisure

Now that the Christmas rush is over and I'm still on leave from work I've had the chance to have a little me time, which I've spent sale shopping, baking and movie watching. But today I thought it was about time I made a venture into the great outdoors and did two things; the first was visit my new gym. I recently ended my gym membership with Fitness First and joined The Gym Group, www.thegymgroup.com because of cost - it's £26 a month cheaper which is a £312 saving over the year, as well as actually being closer to home #winning. I will miss Fitness First because it had a great range of classes, although I only went to Spin, and the free magazines - I am going to have start buying Look. Today was my first visit to the gym but it had all the equipment I needed and was clean and I would totally recommend it if you have a local Gym Group gym near you - my gym going isn't always as regular as it should be so it makes sense to not spend a lot of money on membership fees. If you prefer to attend classes you may wish to try another gym but if you happy to focus on using machines then this is perfect for you, you can trial the gym for £5 and its open 24 hours, so if you feel the urgency to exercise in the middle of the night you can.

My next stop was one of my favourite places in London, the V&A, where I spent the evening viewing the Ballgowns - British glamour since 1950 and Hollywood Costume exhibitions. The Ballgowns exhibition was exquisite especially the more recent dresses, I always stay up to tweet the red carpet so I just loved the contemporary ballgowns, but the whole collection was beautiful and if you are into glamour then I would definitely go and see the exhibit. It ends on Jan 6 so do make sure to go ASAP if you are interested. It costs £10. The Hollywood Costume exhibition showcases costumes from many classic films including Titanic, Batman, Indiana Jones, Legally Blonde, Elizabeth and much more and includes interviews from directors, actors and wardrobe designers. The exhibits showcase the importance of costume to a film, and the vital role they play in getting the actors into character.

One of the things I liked most about the collection and the interactive displays was that it enabled you to get a real feel for the role of a costume designer - unless it's a period drama my view was that it was a relatively easy job, but there is a lot more to it than just choosing a wardrobe and ensuring continuity. Costume is a key part of the film and the importance of its role in the success of a movie is showcased superbly. I would totally recommend this exhibition for film buffs, general film goers, or just anyone interested in clothes. Be warned it takes about 1.5 hrs to see everything, but it's a really good exhibition to go and see with someone who isn't into museums or galleries. It costs £14 but tickets are sold out on line and can only be purchased on site. This exhibition ends at the end of Jan but it was really busy when I went and I've always found that the last weekends are very busy so I suggest you go before then.

As I was in full museum mode I also decided to check out the Architecture collection, which I loved and surprisingly hadn't seen before - I love architecture so I wasn't quite sure how I hadn't checked this out previously. I also saw the modern Iranian photography exhibition, which has some really great photography and provides insight into Iranian society. Who knew that magazines are censored with black crosses and dresses are extended to meet the Iranian moral code?!

I also took the opportunity to pay the African Collection, which I mentioned in a previous post, a visit. This is quite a small collection but showcases items that are in the V&A's archive but haven't been displayed previously. One of the exhibits is a range of photos purchased from an exhibition of negro art at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1935; as I said this a small collection and I'm not sure I would make the journey just to see these exhibits but if you are at the V&A then do pay it a visit.

If I didn't mention a price it's free to visit these particular collections, the V&A ask for a donation of £3, but I love it there so I'm going to become a member. If you do go and see any of these exhibitions or have seen one that you would recommend let me know. Further info is available at www.vam.ac.uk #ballgowns.

I didn't take photos of the ballgowns or costumes but did take some of the other exhibits - naughty! Check them out ...

A lost life - Indian rape protests

So today I shed a tear for the 17 year old Indian young woman who committed suicide after trying to register a crime of gang rape (it's been reported) that she was told by the local Punjab police that she should either accept a cash payment or marry one of her attackers.

Sometimes it seems like the world is full of grey skies and rainy days. I hope that the world's attention on this sad loss of life changes the way that victims of rape are supported in this region of India.

Update 29/12/12 - Thought it would be useful to clarify that the current protests in India are in relation to a seperate gang rape attack in Delhi, another case where the victim has died- but this time due to the injuries inflicted by the rapists during the attack. More definitely needs to be done to protect women from rape in India and to ensure that victims are supported to convict their attackers and not shunned; although I'm not sure releasing the details of every sex offender (as currently proposed by the Indian government is the why forward).

Loving the Fiat 500 The Motherhood ad

I love this advert - one of the best I've seen in a while

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=eNVde5HPhYo&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DeNVde5HPhYo&gl=GB.

Do check it out and let me know if it rings true for you? I wonder what mumsnet had to say about this!!?

It's Friday

Woke up this morning to see this photo of Solange - I'm obsessed I know - so making today Solange Friday and will be head nodding to her EP today.

Product I love - hair conditioner

So I've decided to rest my hair from the creamy crack for a while; and am currently having a long stretch - aiming for 16 weeks. I've been wearing a weave for 6 weeks but the hair was in a need of a revive.

I'd purchased the Macadamia natural oil deep repair masque for my relaxed hair but had only used it once. With the other products I use I found it slightly over moisturizing which was great but it just meant I had to change the frequency of using oils and other products on my hair - which took a little getting used to.

Last night I used the masque on my hair (weave - I paid for it so it's mine) and my hair has a gloss to it that it didn't have before. Unfortunately I don't have a before photo to share but this has definitely made a difference; I now have really shiny hair that also feels smoother.

Anyway I would definitely recommend this product if you are in need of an intensive deep conditioning treatment. When comparing it to the Moroccan oil deep masque I would also say that this provides better results.

I purchased online for £13 but I think it retails for £24, I just searched for sellers of the product and who was cheapest.

If you do use it let me know what you think.

Not funny - racism is not something to be laughed at

So today I read two things on Twitter that I personally don't find funny at all. One was a joke by a white comedian "if you're having sex with a Jamaican girl, don't ask her who's the daddy"; and the second was a quote from an article on the racism Lorraine Pascale has faced on Twitter and in her general life. Although stating that Twitter US should do more to stop racist tweets, when told in a country pub that 'n**g**s need to go back, but your ok because my wife likes your cakes'; Lorraine gave an icy stare, paid for her pork scratchings and left the pub. But commented in the article that you just have to 'laugh these things off'!

Jokes are funny, and perhaps I'm being slightly sensitive about the joke I mentioned above (don't worry I know who my father is and my son's) - let me know if you think I am?! But racism is not funny at all; its not ok for people to make comments like that and if they do they need to be told that it's not appropriate. When I was 12 my friend's grandmother said that 'the coloured girl [me] was so polite and helpful'; I overheard the conversation and told Nanna Breda that people don't use that word anymore it's black.  I wasn't rude and although I did find it offensive, I knew she wasn't doing it out of spite, just a lack of knowledge.

We all have a service to do in educating those who are unaware or plain ignorant to prevent them from saying something like this to someone who can't laugh it off. I hope in hindsight  Lorraine thinks i would have done more if i could;  as its not just the authorities who have a part to play. Although I say this I do understand Lorraine's response especially as the initial shock and outrage may have meant she went into autopilot. But as a public figure speaking up at the time as well as at a later date in the media may have had an impact and made the landlord think before opening his mouth.

As I'm on the subject of racism I just want to know what the jury were thinking when they let the police officers off who called the women a monkey and asked if she was going home to cook bananas!!! I'm glad that the police are following up with a case of gross misconduct; but what do you have to do to be convicted for this crime. It seems that saying it's a joke (John Terry) or a reference to evolution (this particular case) are adequate excuses. Someone may have to relook at the law or ensure that the cases being brought forward meet the burden of proof required by the judiciary.

Read the full Lorraine Pascale article on the Daily Mail.

More details on the police officers who were acquitted.

Lorraine does make exceedingly good cakes, I totally recommend her cook books Let them eat cake and the Bakewell tart are my personal favourite recipes.

Rant over
Nadie