Dec 7

So is it a time to reflect or a time to regret? Over the winter season, I shall be celebrating the wonderful woes and weird ways that make our season so special… the four big F’s. (Compare, contrast and discuss)

“Let’s slew ‘dem bells” with stockings, ice, and snowstorms in martini glasses…

Faith

“I taught you to remember the words of Jesus. He said; “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Passage taken from the Bible Act 20:35)

* Please return soon to read text messages of feelings from thos of other faiths at this time of year.*

Food

Ingredients

1 stick plus 1 tablespoon soft butter

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

Royal Icing, recipe follows

*Read here soon for a diary passage from a person struggling with an eating disorder this year*

Family

(Greetings Card)

To a Wonderful Granddad at Christmas

This very special message brings wishes just for you

For a happy healthy Christmas

And a perfect New Year too

*Read here for an email account of Christmas for people without the 2.4 family*

Finance

(Advert)

“Holidays are coming… holidays are coming… always Coca Cola”

*Read here soon for Facebook posts from those living with debt this Christmas*

Whatever the weather, seasonal joy or greeting grief and, whether you like your nativity via Facebook or read in the pulpit – this time of year means so much to so many – let’s indulge in our idiosyncrasies.

Dec 7

“This one’s the slew dem Christmas put ‘em on the Christmas hit list… All that gluttony and greed, we forget what people need…”


The words from a Grime rap I challenged myself to perform and ‘bounce’ to three Christmas’ ago (2007).  I was Indeed one of the writers and performers for ‘Mistletoe and Grime,’ a funky fusion of Burlesque and Grime, needless to say I was from the Burlesque field but then found myself in love with the art of Grime. The bounce, the beats, the lyrics – we could all join in a mass ‘bouncing’ (bobbing up and down, with angry faces) to our own lyrics about our own Xmas experience.

So let’s slew ‘dem bells with stockings, ice, and snowstorms in martini glasses… of course.

Come what Mei at Christmas for me

From a childhood of Lapland to a teenage lap dancing ‘Naughty Nativity’ party – I have had everything but, tacky tinsel at Christmas.

Oh and with a sprinkling of depression, a sparkling cast on my arm and a few family feuds, I can’t help but love the landmark each year.

2007: This one was the “Slew-dem Christmas” of experimental theatre, a new boyfriend, a job at Selfridges and the final frolics of first year at University.

2008: “La vita è bella”… a natale in Napoli con ‘Preserpe’ (Nativity scenes) – I returned home with my family after spending a semester working as a dance and drama teacher in Naples. I became less of a ‘femme fatale’ to more of a ‘femme too thin.’

2009: A stocking full of sport that I endured… before I fell on ice and broke my hand. A sparkly cast on my arm I did have and, I ate my words from last year’s rant that “I’d prefer to break a bone than have depression…” and wham bam snapping hand – it happened.

2010: No broken bones as yet, no more Naples and not even a Grime rap in sight – I’d hate to think I’d arrived at The Waltons…

NO CHANCE!

For a self-employed spendaholic (and occasional student) it is a two-day regimented routine, each year that I revel in…

Day 1 = Xmas 1 (Christmas day) at the Fathers’

No riff-raff here – we enjoy a very quaint family Christmas at the house of my  Dad and my other dad (my dad’s civil partner) along with my elder sister (a fashion designer currently working her way through New York) and of course Fudge – our beloved fat cat.

The house’s interior belongs in an issue of ‘Homes & Garden’s,’ the tree will be separated by my step-dad (no tinsel just 2 alternating colours) and no doubt my dad will have recreated a scene from Channel 4: ‘Kirsty’s home-made Christmas.’

Morning is filled with stockings – well a little more sacks than stockings – as my dad shops throughout the year ensuring we all have stocking fills and more. We then scrape up a continental breakfast and strong coffee until I can no longer breathe… present time!!!

A system at play – Only one person at one time can open a present and once you have done so the wrapping goes in the recycle (I some time’s like to stir-up my step-dad by leaving it on the woolen carpet so the cheery smiles of Santa clashes with the Farrow and Ball wallpaper … muhaha).

The afternoon is spent with us finishing the chocolate in our stockings whilst step-dad slaves at the stove to create a family feast for ten to fifteen – all depends how many ‘add-ons’ we’ve added between us. There are the standard three close friends who join us each year and then… maybe a foreign student who is stuck in the snow, a new boyfriend or just someone my dad will have took sympathy on…

Nonetheless, each year there is a plentiful of vegetarian offerings, normally in the shape of a roulade, but never a Turkey in sight just the stuffing, the roasted tats and a platter of vegetables. (We like to offer a bit of pudding but only I back in my ‘good days’ of careless free youth could fit it in).

Queen’s speech! Well in our household, we’re bigger followers of Sharon Osbourne’s words of wisdom, plus an annual addiction to ‘Noel’s Christmas surprises’ – where the dads and friends weep and my sister and I, sleep off the heavy meal…

The night is fun-filled with guests (normally the one’s like us who rely on good friends – family or not) and we all celebrate by watching Dad do the buffet and drinking a glass of bubbles or ten.

(Please note: this is subject to change as the day alternates with my mother’s family)

Day 2= Xmas 2 (Boxing Day) at the Mother’s

Still no Turkey in sight as we are a vegetarian’s delight (myself now a Vegan so chocolate shall be a challenge this year)…

We arrive back home at Mum’s (sometimes just me or my Sister and I) to be greeted by my mum and her husband (our step-dad) plus a couple of impatient younger step-brothers.

We all sit around our oriental-style round table with plates of nasi lemak (Malay rice, fried egg and curry – a breakfast dish), baked bread (for the ‘boys’) and a selection of stir fried vegetables for my sister and I, as well as a cracker for my step-brother (who is autistic so he must have the same breakfast eachyear – this includes witnessing a bitten carrot and half-drunk glass of Sherry on Xmas/Boxing day morning). After a few burnt buns, some yummy stirfry and an odd bit of dancing to Christmas pop (another tradition of by step-bro’s) we then embark on our little living room full to the brim of presents.

Again the important order – one person at a time and we must all watch and go “ooh-ahh” otherwise my stepbrother refuses to participate. It is the funniest of family scenes… especially to see our poor little tree which has been decorated to death over the years with tinsel, hand-made school crafts and chocolate coins (well, wrappers).

NEXT – the ladies of the house go into the kitchen (out of choice not societal err’s) and we make the most weird and wonderful Christmas carvery of Chinese food, duck (made from potato’s) and again a feaslty feature of a roulade…

Then the buffet.

Then the TV.

Then the pub/bed.

Love it. Since I was at nursery I have always held on to Christmas being that time of year where you thank the bunting that you don’t just have one home but you have two – you even have 3 dads! And friends well friends and extended family are what build our bricks – two create two very different season’s in two very different households – but what we have and we share is a little bit of love.

And extra presents.

Actually double a ‘2.4 family’s’ amount of presents.

I wrote in primary school: “I love Christmas to see all the people in both my homes and I get 2 of everything, even 2 Christmas dinners. Who needs leftovers?”

Nov 30

Uni can make you a princess…

Once upon a time, a young brunette embarked on her journey to study for a degree in Art History at University of St Andrews.

One day, she took part in the University’s Fashion Show where she modelled a see-through mesh skirt. She decided that one item was enough and wore it down the catwalk as a boob tube dress.

It was this walk that led her to Buckingham Palace…

As Prince William, heir to the throne after his Father Charles, watched on, the slender beauty caught his eye as she strode down the catwalk in her revealing outfit.

He had met his princess. Together, they courted; they briefly separated and then started courting again. In this time they went travelling and prince William took his late Mother’s engagement ring with him.

As he travelled with his ‘moderate’ backpack with the Sapphire and diamond ring inside, he proposed to his long-term girlfriend and student buddy Kate Middleton.

The pair celebrated and quickly announced their engagement to the British media. The soon-to-be princess donned a Sapphire blue dress matching her ring as she revelled in her newly found royalty.

She is the envy of many wannabe royalty WAG’s. Since the proposal the couple have assertively decided to marry on 29th April at Westminster Abbey (where Prince William sadly buried his mother, Princess Diana) ‘the royal church.’

The government have even announced that it will be a national holiday.

In the after-math of proposed cuts student’s placards read ‘I can’t meet my Prince at Uni now’ referring to the fairytale that Kate Middleton will finish happily ever after.

The End.

Nov 23

World Aids Day Vigil electronic flyer

Please share the news not the stigma

ACT AWARE – RED PARTY

Time Wednesday, December 1 · 7:00pm – 11:00pm
Location BAR 360

FITZWILLIAM ST

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Please join us for a Red Party – dress in red, free entry, red cocktails and lots of chat next Wednesday

World AIDS Day is a chance to raise public awareness, and hopefully breakdown some of the unwarranted stigma that surrounds HIV. There are many ways in which you can do something to make a difference.

More people than ever are living with HIV in the UK and each year new infections occur.

People living with HIV in the UK

The number of people living with HIV in the UK has trebled in the last 10 years

More than 90,000 people are living with HIV in the UK

Over a quarter of people with HIV in the UK are undiagnosed

About two thirds of people living with HIV are men and a third are women

Over half of all people living with HIV are aged between 30 and 44, but there are significant numbers both of young people and older people now living with HIV

What people living with HIV have asked…

“I would like to see society’s attitudes change, so that I don’t feel that I have to hide the fact that I have HIV” Alan, London

“I would like people who are living with HIV whom are confident to do so, to share their own stories about how they have overcome the barriers and challenges of living their everyday lives” Danny

“I would like everyone to think seriously about HIV and what it means to live with HIV – and therefore be realistic, aware and practical when it comes to safer sex” Maurice, London

“I would like there to be a focus on education and stigma within younger groups of people, with attention paid to cultural differences and needs” Richard

“I would like to see more positive role models of people living with HIV” Danny

“I would like it to become possible for people to write they are HIV+ on job application forms without fear of being discriminated against” Michael, Somerset

“I would like people to realise that HIV and AIDS is a pandemic that can potentially affect everyone and is not confined to the gay community and drug users.  It’s unfair for people to categorise the huge problem in this way” Sean

“Within some high risk groups e.g. young gay men, lack of self worth and hope for the future can be a big demotivator for safer sex.  I’d like to see this understood more fully and see more action to help change this” Mike

“I know my status – do you know your status.  Be visible and stand out, stop the prejudice and discrimination in our society” Mark

“Having lived with HIV for nearly 27 years, have attitudes changed. No, so ask yourself why? Ignorance and fear, so changing attitudes and improving education at all ages and levels of our society may make that difference.  More awareness, better understanding and increased acceptance that HIV is here and not going away” Michael

Nov 17

# 2: Cairo Travels

Monday morning and as ever running late – had not even packed yet for my flight that afternoon. After a mad screwing up of my clothes and shoving in some shimmy belts I was good to begin my trip to Cairo… well asides from needing currency, buying train tickets and meeting my good friend Jen.

Needless to say, at midday Jen and I united at Sheffield Station to embark upon our first trip to the Nile Festival, Cairo.

We had a fun and frivolous journey as we changed planes in Amsterdam along with another security ‘strip’ check and throwing more bottles of water away. We finally found ourselves at 3am Tuesday morning in a relatively humid Cairo airport. As per, I was stopped at passport control due to the dodgy nature of my passport photo…

Whilst waiting for our bags a simple task of buying bottled water turned into a mass ogle in the duty free shop with the assistant pushing gin and ‘Nile water’ into my basket.

We were saved by our taxi driver, from Beach Tours, who sampled the dirty looking bottle. And off we went to Pyramisa hotel for a week – long festival of everything bellydance!

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