Natasha’s Notebook » 2008

There’s a reason for everything

June 29th, 2008 by Natasha

I WATCHED part of a docu-programme last night about shameful secrets of celebrities and society in general. And this is what the show revealed ~
People in the public eye like Geri Halliwell and Cherie Blair are lonely souls. One way the rich and famous have defeated this, is to employ the (astonishingy expensive) services of a life-style guru, who becomes their confident, mentor and general style-councellor.
This explains the rise of the ‘life-coach’, a role never before heard of until the tabloid tales emerged on Cherie’s guru Carole Caplan.
Greasy Spoon Cafe
Next shameful secret was the death of the good old British hang-out of ‘the cafe’. Before US sitcom ‘Friends’ introduced the concept ‘coffee culture’, Britons up and down the country met up with their mates, either in the pub or at the local cafe, where for £2.50 you could get a full English breakfast with all the trimmings ( and a ‘cuppa tea’ of course).
But since Friends took the nation by storm in the late 90s, so did coffee shops. Take any UK high street today and you will notice an abundance of Starbucks, Cafe Nero, Coffee Republics…
Let’s Pretend
Lastly, the show highlighted the rise of cockney speaking middleclass boys. These are blokes like Madonna’s fella, Guy Ritchie and 90s band Blur’s front-man Damon Albarn, who have Lords for parents and have gone to posh paid-for schools but speak… with a cockney accent?!
The simple reason behind this idiosyncracy is the simple reason, cockney is ‘cooler’ than Received Pronunciation. Boys will be boys!

Posted in TV | No Comments

Why do party organisers love seating arrangements?

June 26th, 2008 by Natasha

YOU know, something niggled me yesterday. I sent my acceptance email to the social committee at work regarding the much anticipated Summer Ball and while doing so, I asked about seating arrangements for the dinner.
The reply back, assured me that I would be put next to people I know. This made me understand that we would indeed be placed wherever the committee members decided.
I know everyone at work and so specified to the committee that I wanted to sit with my friends in the HR department.
Airlines
I am in shock. Why do party organisers do this? You find this at weddings and Christmas functions.
I have decided that when I get married next year, people can choose wherever they want to sit. Airlines got rid of this ancient tradition years ago.
It makes much more sense to arrive in good time and take a seat with your friends.

Posted in Observations | No Comments

Stay Out… Crime Watch is on TV!

June 25th, 2008 by Natasha

BLIMEY! Did anyone watch Crime Watch last night? Talk about making you want to curl-up with a cuppa and never leaving your house ever again!
While it was on, I received the following text message from my little sister: “Guess what? Phil is here watching Crime Watch. I hate Crime Watch, it scares me! Ahh never mind… Big Brother is starting soon so she’ll turn the channel!”
After the programme I spoke to my man’s mum. She said: “I’ve been watching Crime Watch. What I don’t understand, are the horrendous murders which take place for no apparent reason what-so-ever! I have drawn the curtains and instructed FiFi Cat to stay indoors!

Posted in TV | 1 Comment

Primark… doing its bit for society?

June 24th, 2008 by Natasha

PANORAMA exposed Primark last night for using children in India to sew sequins on its tops. The BBC1 investigating programme showed that this violated what the fashion store states in its code-of-conduct.
However, when I caught glimpses of the show I thought the children, who were videoed undercover, looked quite well dressed. And as my sister pointed out: “At least they have jobs now!”
My Experience at Primark
I went to Primark in Marble Arch for the first time myself, two Saturdays ago and it will be my last. Piles of cheap tops piled high and hoards of men, women and children hungry for bargains. I couldn’t wait to get out. And upon doing so and seeing those brown Primark carrier bags saying ‘Primark’, I thought: “Two words need to be infront of that… I survived!”

Posted in Out and about in London, Observations | No Comments

‘Fanaticism Breeds Contempt’ (to butcher an old cliche)

June 21st, 2008 by Natasha

LAST night I attended an Audi TT meeting at the Elstree Aerodrome Cafe in Borehamwood. This was a gathering of UK TT Forum members, a website dedicated to the Audi TT and its owners/lovers.
Those who know me, are aware I drive a Volkswagen Polo and so will instantly recognise the fraud but I was accompanying my husband-to-be in his Audi TT V6.
As we pulled into the carpark, as I expected I saw a group of men pointing out their cars to one another while a smaller group of women, their wives and girlfriends, sat outside the cafe chatting over a few drinks. Everyone was friendly and I felt instantly at ease until someone asked me if I was a TT lover. I replied honestly and admittedly without thinking: “Not at all! I think they are beautiful cars but I don’t love them.” “They’re objects/machines,” I thought in my head.
Gearsticks and noise
Conversations moved on to latest modifications and the highlight was Eric’s gearstick, made specially at a Jewllers in Monoco in a metal that I cannot remember. Then there was another guy who lamented drivers who insisted on parking right next to his car in carparks when he deliberately parked as far away as possible from other cars to avoid careless door-openers.
I even overheard one TT owner, as he watched my fiance drive to another spot to avoid the above-mentioned complaint: “Ah… not as loud as mine!”
Rebel with a cause
I liken this situation to the following example… my mother just adores this family we know and insists on inviting them round and making them feel at home. And unfortunately, due to her over exposing these people into our lives, the rest of us have grown to resent them and the way my mum goes out of her way to entertain.
Under normal circumstances both ‘objects of desire’ would remain harmless but, when over indulged by loved ones, the ones left behind start to rebel.

Posted in Out and about in London | No Comments

Coleen & Wayne’s wedding pictures…

June 18th, 2008 by Natasha

YESTERDAY, while browsing in the newsagent near my work place I spotted the OK! souvenir special of Coleen McLoughlin & Wayne Rooney’s wedding! And guiltily, I took it from the shelf and paid £2.95 to wallow in the glossy images of perfection. Well, with Wayne by her side… near perfection%-)
Anyway, I was struck by the simple elegance of the dress, well.. Coleen’s main dress; she had two you see. Now, with a wedding next summer to prepare and budget for myself, it got me thinking ~ do I have to get spray tanned also? %-/

Posted in Observations | 2 Comments

It’s a good job, not worrying about things…

June 16th, 2008 by Natasha

I WENT to a Language Recruitment Fair on Saturday and arrived at the London hotel, where it was being held at about 1pm. When I got there, I could not believe the never-ending queue which went round a couple of corners. I really wished I had got there when it opened at 10am.
Luckily the queue was moving so I didn’t have to curse myself for too long. Once inside I made my way to the first stand of interest - Claire’s Accessories. The brightly painted representative from the company informed me that all roles were in Birmingham.
So I went to another possible stand - Apple. “All roles are in Cork, Ireland,” the Apple rep said. White Concierge, an interesting personal service company were looking for people to work in Peterborough! I thought: “Well it’s a good job I didn’t awake early on my day off in the end!” There wasn’t one job available in London, despite the recruitment fair being held here%-/

Posted in Out and about in London | No Comments

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