tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45843479924861954962024-03-14T03:04:16.379+00:00 The Curved OpinionA thoughts and opinion blogVictoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.comBlogger947125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-9606707390451690672024-01-30T11:17:00.008+00:002024-01-30T11:17:50.524+00:00Cyber Crime: 5 Tips to Avoid Getting Hacked<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <img height="550" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/1kno0qRlmsSPonjBSm__TwvQ9jvp-PbKuLuq6HFzhidPLwuSou_A2ThOAqUhPoeEPj7It1zE4p-EHYQOP5mLi1Bbij6x63BMdTN6UhlV89HxqpWxyVjp6-L7oJ3Pq-C630CEffJtvdDMbPwkfYo6Zzo=w367-h550" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="367" /></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0c45ab77-7fff-d190-ade3-b7f3624a24ab"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-holding-laptop-computer-with-both-hands-2036656/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Image credit</span></span></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your online security has never been more critical than it is now. With more and more people using online services and even more cybercriminals looking to exploit those living digitally, being able to stay safe when conducting digital activities should be paramount for everyone.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's thought there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds, and falling victim to any type of hack, cyber threat, scam, or other criminal activity can have massive implications on your life. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This post is going to look at some of the best ways you can protect yourself online to ensure you don't compromise your identity or safety.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Use A VPN</i></span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A </span><a href="https://clearvpn.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">vpn</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is a virtual private network that establishes a connection between you and a remote server. It allows you to border the internet securely and desire that none of your data is shared, be it your location, digital habits or anything else you get up to online.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, it's important to know that while VPNs encrypt your data and offer you some levels of protection, they're not a complete security package on their own and are best used in conjunction with other measures for complete security and privacy online.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Update Software</i></span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Using outdated devices and software will leave you vulnerable to hacks and cyber attacks from people looking to exploit weaknesses in the software. </span><a href="https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/install-the-latest-software-and-app-updates" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Software updates</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> allow developers to identify issues, fix them, and then roll them out to users to offer added protection and features.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Neglecting to keep your software updated, even your mobile phone software, can leave you at risk from threats that have been identified and viruses or malware that will take full advantage of these issues. Set your devices to accept automatic updates so you don't miss anything and are always up-to-date and secure.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Monitor Your Social Media Settings and Usag</i><span style="font-weight: 400;">e</span></span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/do-your-social-media-profiles-make-you-vulnerable-to-hacking-11623188990" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cybercriminals can glean a lot of information from your social media accounts</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. In the first instance, you need to go into each platform and check your settings. You want it locked down to private so you can limit who can access your accounts and what you share. You also want to make sure that you have a strong password and use additional authentication steps to help secure your account.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From here, you need to be mindful of what you share, too. For example, try not to update where you are in real-time and save tagging places or locations until you have left so people can't track you. Avoid connecting to third-party apps you don't know much about, as they are often used to mine data and will typically learn more about you than you realise. Avoid accepting friend requests from people you don't know or clicking links in messages pertaining to the platform itself, as generally, these are phishing scams, and as soon as you log in and enter any details, they have your account. Always delete the message and change your password by logging onto the social media site in your usual way.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Clear Your Cache</i></span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Never underestimate how much your browser collects during your time online. Your browser will save searches, cookies, search information and more from each session until you clear it.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can use the browser setting to clear the data held by the browser and either completely delete it or choose which settings to delete. Or you can use Ctrl+Shift+Del to open up a dialogue that lets you choose what to delete and what to keep.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Passwords</i></span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If passwords are the bane of your life, then you need to rethink how you approach them. Your passwords are integral to the security of all of your online accounts. Even logging into your device needs a secure password so people cannot access all of your details.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some top tips for secure passwords and password activity include</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not using a saved password features in browsers.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Using a password manager or store and suggest strong passwords</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use a combination of lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols in your password.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Combine random three or four-letter words to create a password, e.g. helptimepull, as these will be harder to guess; add in random capital letters, numbers and symbols to make it more challenging still, for example, hElptImepUll258$ will add additional security to your account.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use different passwords (this is work; the password manager and generator come in handy) for different accounts.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Change passwords regularly.</span></span></p></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Staying safe online should be something that you pay attention to, and knowing what you can do and what to avoid will help you avoid common pitfalls associated with cybercrime and ensure that you make it as hard as possible for people to get a hold of your information or complete some of the more common online scams.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-18884808200173112802024-01-04T16:04:00.003+00:002024-01-04T16:04:48.376+00:00My End of Year Post<p style="text-align: justify;">* This post was supposed to be written in the Christmas break, but I was having fun and spending some much need relaxation time with my boyfriend, family and friends and as such, this post has been delayed!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">W<span style="text-align: justify;">hen I used to write frequently on
this blog, I always did an end of year post.</span><span style="text-align: justify;">
</span><span style="text-align: justify;">A rounding up of the past year, what had happened, what I had learned
and what I was taking forward.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This year has been quite the year. Many ups, many downs. Coming back to my writing now, I feel like an
end of year post is fitting.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When looking back, it is easy to
only look at the bad and fixate on that.
But I always think that it is important to counteract the bad with something
good. Even if it only what you learned from
the experience.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We always grow from our
experiences, good and bad. It is up to us
which way we grow and in what direction we choose to go. Forward is the best direction of course, even
if the path isn’t straight and looks long and winding. Onwards and upwards is the trajectory that we
always aim for, however we reach them.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So where do I start with 2023?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I learned many things in 2023. I learned (again) to grieve a loved one lost, my wonderful Uncle Jack. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I learned that some people who were in my life are capable of far worse than I ever imagined. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I learned that other people in my life are capable of being far greater and stronger than I ever knew. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I learned, or came at least to realise; that no amount of revenge will ever truly satisfy you, so why dwell on it. <i>Karma usually finds it mark eventually</i>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I came to understand that I am not responsible for the actions of others or the hurt that they have caused myself and others. I now choose not to feel anger about the whole situation any more, because in reality all angers achieves is more pain and gives away your power to the person you are angry at. I refuse to give anyone control of my emotions. I want no part in that. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">There was a lot to learn and process in 2023. But what about the good things? The kind that you don't need to learn from and understand. The fun stuff. The joy. Here was mine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I moved into my second year of living together with my boyfriend and am still and continue to be utterly in love. I am forever grateful to whatever kind of kismet brought us together. He is perfect for me and I am so happy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I went on three holidays last year including a stay in the beautiful village in Portmeiron and also ten days in Greece where I saw my wonderful friend get married.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I think perhaps the most important thing for me in 2023 is that I realised that I could, and wanted to plan ahead in my life. Wanted to think about future years, not just where I am now. That only comes with happiness, with security and knowledge that you are safe and secure enough in your life to do so.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">There will be changes afoot in my life in 2024 and that is so exciting. I will let you know when they happen!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-49323286553854558252023-11-30T15:30:00.002+00:002023-11-30T15:30:29.190+00:00A Thank You To My Former Self<p style="text-align: justify;">I talked recently about how many different versions of you there are and will be in your life. A <a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2023/09/a-thousand-different-women.html">Thousand Different Women</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of all the women I have been, there is one that I look back on with awe. With gratitude. She saved me.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I am scared, when I think I don't have the guts, when I am sad, or lonely or lost; I think of her. I am so far away from the girl I used to be, we are practically polar opposites, but our core remains the same. I owe my life to her. I have to honour the gift that she gave me. That gift was my future.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I do not exaggerate when I say that my <span>early twenties almost killed me. I was falling down a deep hole of depression that I did not understand. I wanted a reason for it, but in truth there was none. At least not one that I could recognise back then.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>I cried every day. The pain I felt nearly consumed me and it felt like my soul was splitting in two. I could see no way out and many times, I thought that it would be better if I were dead. Nothing could be worse than this pain.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>I would go out with friends at weekend and drink to escape it. It worked, for a few hours at least, until I drank too much and the pain came back.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>I never spoke to anyone about how I was feeling. I was too lost. Too afraid of telling my best friend, the only real friend I had back then. What if she couldn't handle it? What if my problems were too much? Instead though, she got to see the times when the pain crept back in and I drank too much. I should have told her. I should have told someone. But I didn't. I suffered alone.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Sometimes I went out driving to try and clear my head. It was on one of these drives that I passed a cliff road, not too far away from where I lived. That night was the first night that I really thought about suicide. Whether I should drive off that cliff.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>I cannot remember how many times I went back to that place. Three times, maybe four. There was a sort of car park there. I presume for people who went walking. I would park up and sit in my car and sob. I knew that this could not go on much longer. I could not go on much longer. The walls around me were crumbling.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>My sadness had consumed me. Nearly whole. </span>All that was left of me was a fragment, held together with pretense, sticky tape and a strong stubbornness to not to let anyone else see my pain. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>The last time that I drove to that car park, I had a plan. I couldn't do this anymore. I could not take the never ending pain. I just wanted it gone. Me, gone. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I clearly remember driving faster as I got nearer to the cliff. I had made my decision. But then, as I neared the place, something deep inside me fought back. A strength, a voice that seemed to surge from nowhere. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>No. Don't you fucking do it. I am not dying today. No. Pull the fuck over.</i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was the strongest feeling that I had ever had, both then and since. I knew that I had to live. I did actually want to live. I just didn't know how.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The black dog of depression had had me for so long, pinned down under its feet that I could not see a way out. That day, I had felt that there was nothing left of me. I was consumed. Yet from nowhere, a tiny fragment of what was left of me, won the battle that day. A new woman was arising out of my ashes. She was strong. She would fight for me. And she did. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I cannot say that my life became easier after that, or for many years after. I still hid the worse parts of me in the shadows. Still hid the pain. But something had changed. I knew that there was a strength in me. A strength so powerful that it stopped me dead (pardon the pun) in my path of destruction.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Over the years I had fought many battles with the black dog, sometimes taking many steps forward, sometimes a stagger or two to the side. But I had never stepped back again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps this is why that I always
refer to myself as being different versions, different women throughout my
adult life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because there have been many
versions of me, many that I could not identify with now, or even understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But each version of me has been
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another step to the person I
am today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone who is whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone who is happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no longer lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Found by myself and found by the man in my life who loves me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the “all” part that was the final healing peace of my soul.<o:p></o:p></p>I have already fought the battle for my life. I won. The sadness and pain that consumed me back then will never do so again. Because I have built the foundations of my soul back together. I have healed. I have grown.<p></p><div>It is stems back and is thanks to the part of me, that version of myself that stepped up and said no. Not today. Don't you dare. She is still in me. I will never forget her. I am live today because of her.</div>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-1278124029583063482023-10-29T22:15:00.002+00:002023-10-30T10:51:50.507+00:00Navigating Grief<p>Grief is a strange bedfellow.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One minute you are overcome. The loss of the person taken from you seems overwhelming and you don't know how you will get through it. The next, you have to rally, organise, be strong and somehow; you manage it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Grief ebbs and flows. There is no constant. It a wave that you have to ride until you can find a calm again, some peace. Whenever that may be. There is no timeframe.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Death, whether expected or not, is always a shock. You can, as we all can, only hope for the kind of death that is the best that you can hope for. No suffering. Your family around you. Given a chance to say goodbye. A quick death, not long and drawn out. While you still have dignity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is no one way to deal with grief. But the most important thing to do is allow yourself to feel when you need to. Do not bottle it up. Do not busy yourself in an attempt to hide from it. Because it will find you.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">That is the thing about grief and loss. It hurts. A lot. But running away from that hurt will only ensure that it finds you at the worst time, the worst moment. Or will manifest in other destructive ways.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I lost a close family member to me this week. Having lost my dad and my step already, he became like a father figure to me. He was always there. Ready to help. Always showed love to my mum and I. Someone that you could always turn to. I loved him very much.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Having already lost two major people in my life, I know how this grief thing works now, sadly. Which I why I share my thoughts and words with you today.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I find myself committing the sins of what you should not do and had to check myself. Because self care when you are grieving is extremely important. Especially when you have others who you need to be strong for.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I found myself asking for more time. The thing is, you are <b>always</b> going to wish for that. Because there is never enough time. You can always think of things you wished that you had said or things that you had done. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">While at the hospital I chose to give my time to those that needed to see him more than I. His sons, my mother. By the time it was my turn to see him, things had turned for the worse and my time was missed. So no, I did not get to say goodbye, but I did the right thing and importantly, he knew that I was there. I wonder if he understood that. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I also found myself wondering if he knew how much I cared, how much I loved him. It only struck me after he died, I had never thought about it previously, that if I had ever got married to my partner, it would have been him that I would have asked to walk me down the aisle. He was proud of me and I think that he would have loved to do it. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">All of these go round in my head and by doing so, they make the grief worse. Questions that can never be answered. Actions that can never be carried out. They torment you.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I said however, I have been down the winding path of grief before. So when I start to question, when I start to worry about what ifs and what could have been, then I know I need to go back and remember the important things. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I know that he loved me and he knew that I loved him. He, my mum and I went through some tough times together and it created a bond with the three of us. We were family. We would always be there for each other.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am currently writing something to say at his funeral. I want to celebrate the man that he was. A good man. A kind man. There will be many there to say goodbye to him and I confess that I am nervous to stand up and speak. Public speaking is not my forte. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I will do this and hopefully do him proud and do him justice. My wonderful Uncle Jack.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLboJ7oiwHBkjYhBGGKO-BINl_evIj49nALmjrMXRUYLrZOGkg3cGmLcehHe52L5g3gonaEa-RlsHys0SZ4FboagQxtJWj7L-AkFYD8oOhi6hrYQN5eor8tFC4Le_XL1AofeDycrrlR1qhAoNG5bIGvoYqFllXYdLFFwNNAupTZ9FkMZET21YffDkC5-8/s3923/freestocks-r_oV6smBBYk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2615" data-original-width="3923" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLboJ7oiwHBkjYhBGGKO-BINl_evIj49nALmjrMXRUYLrZOGkg3cGmLcehHe52L5g3gonaEa-RlsHys0SZ4FboagQxtJWj7L-AkFYD8oOhi6hrYQN5eor8tFC4Le_XL1AofeDycrrlR1qhAoNG5bIGvoYqFllXYdLFFwNNAupTZ9FkMZET21YffDkC5-8/w391-h260/freestocks-r_oV6smBBYk-unsplash.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-70810696742922485902023-10-29T21:48:00.005+00:002023-10-30T16:15:05.188+00:00Year Round Ways to Save for Christmas<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljmYn5WiBHQ3-uDHGfh6tOw2iMBGGAeHaEnIVzEJxBvmYPKov3UZilubF6prxUW6901iviFgvdbjx5mY2ZsAO-u-krizpTWCYc7WFu9SGLDTYnu8OggYIrXE4SICT7g0_wXL7wR53VttmLVWkIavAfsxbJLtkES9ve4Y5mnrjz_27CmkCfNgxkD8TXcM/s5698/freestocks-k-Rp0V0XWWU-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3799" data-original-width="5698" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljmYn5WiBHQ3-uDHGfh6tOw2iMBGGAeHaEnIVzEJxBvmYPKov3UZilubF6prxUW6901iviFgvdbjx5mY2ZsAO-u-krizpTWCYc7WFu9SGLDTYnu8OggYIrXE4SICT7g0_wXL7wR53VttmLVWkIavAfsxbJLtkES9ve4Y5mnrjz_27CmkCfNgxkD8TXcM/w365-h243/freestocks-k-Rp0V0XWWU-unsplash.jpg" width="365" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p>We have reached the middle of
October now so it is perhaps safe to start to use the C word?</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Combing the C word and the P word often
strikes fear and terror into the eyes of people you talk to at this time of
year, but I am going to say the words.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Christmas
presents.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas is a time of year that
I love.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finding the right gift for
people is something that I enjoy and I take as much pleasure in locating the
perfect gift (hopefully) as when it is received.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But presents take planning, not just the
planning of what to buy for your loved ones, but also making sure that you can
afford them and not break your budget.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With food costs and energy prices
soaring in the last year(s), it is more important that ever to plan ahead for
Christmas.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are various ways that I
plan for Christmas presents and making sure that I can afford to buy what I
want.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So here are my tips for things
that I do throughout the year:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Getting Your Cash, Back</u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is something that can be easy to forget, but one thing that I do year round is use a cashback site.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As this is not a
sponsored post, I won’t give you a link, but the one that I use is Topcashback.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I use this site as much as
possible for my spending as well as searching out the best deals for home
insurance, car insurance, vehicle insurance, travel insurance etc etc.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> You can easy use it for things like food delivery, Ebay, there is much more on there that you realise and even the smaller amounts add up. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">By doing this I usually manage to get £200 in my account by the end of the year.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It should be noted that you need to do this intelligently. If you are using a discount code on the website you are buying from, then you generally will not also be given cashback. So clothes shopping etc will generally not track for me as I usually only buy when I have a discount code that I can use. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Keep Your Receipts</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also use a receipt scanning app
where you scan in your receipts for points.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> only takes a couple of minutes to scan your receipts in for the day
and by the end of the year I usually have £40-45 which can be transferred to my
bank account, used as an Amazon voucher to buy gifts with etc.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Save Your Points </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One thing that most people have
is a Boots card.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But there are
definitely ways that you can use your Boots card intelligently in order to
stack up points. I keep an eye on the offers and try to buy in bulk when there are offers on for a few hundred points when you spend X amount. I also buy my lunch there and all my beauty and hair products. By the end of the year I usually have around £50 - £60 worth of points, which comes in handy for gifts and stocking fillers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6njY7BXUQNxYnvPeJ6phqINeX1C_1CD4iZgX9PdQywED6GQW5gC0QbHJWUUZ-2Em2lLUi34rJ8qcFdNori4Rk-Oo5_20Q9fqhNBM8SHZCmjhwdqP5iHiR1XsmMYwDPzNTk77iEqWPMt7NIiGh_uQtWjg7blTGeXExoFAdf90IXlb0qSomkKbx6Cf_fc/s4723/micheile-henderson-hQSDJhTf2Po-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3149" data-original-width="4723" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6njY7BXUQNxYnvPeJ6phqINeX1C_1CD4iZgX9PdQywED6GQW5gC0QbHJWUUZ-2Em2lLUi34rJ8qcFdNori4Rk-Oo5_20Q9fqhNBM8SHZCmjhwdqP5iHiR1XsmMYwDPzNTk77iEqWPMt7NIiGh_uQtWjg7blTGeXExoFAdf90IXlb0qSomkKbx6Cf_fc/s320/micheile-henderson-hQSDJhTf2Po-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Double up on Rewards</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Although this one only applies for people who are with EE, not many people seem to know about this (or use it), but EE have a rewards programme.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I have linked my current account and my credit card to the Rewards programme which gives you a percentage of what you spend. Greggs at the moment for example gives you 10% back on what you spend there, places like Boots generally gives you 5%.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So by using this programme, I not only gain Boots points and points back on uploading my receipt (as discussed), but I also get cashback which turns into money that I can knock off my phone bill.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I have been using the rewards programme since January and I have been knocking £10 from my bill every other money, which equates to £50 - £60 per year which I save towards my Christmas shopping.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> By using the above and integratiing them into my daily life, overall by the end of the year, I have managed to save around £350, simply by making some small changes to the way that I shop and scanning receipts.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What ways do you save for Christmas throughout the year?</p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-71941030323280090022023-10-13T13:47:00.004+01:002023-10-29T21:50:47.546+00:00Creative Corner 4 - It Started with Humming<p><span style="text-align: justify;">Another short story for you today!</span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">It started with humming.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">The beginning of what I thought was the end
of my engagement.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The way I met the man I am going
to marry was the kind of meeting that you see in the typical romantic comedy film. A “meet cute” I believe they call it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We were both in the food court of
the shopping centre, me trying to balance my food tray, my handbag and my
ringing mobile phone and him with his tray full of food and drink in one hand and a book in
the other. Both preoccupied with our
distractions, we crashed into one another. Our
eyes met as drinks and food flew into the air and that, as they say, was
that. Fate. Love over spilled food and flying coca cola.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After mopping up the spills,
numbers were exchanged; something that I had never done before. Giving my number to a stranger? Never!
Yet I looked into this man’s eyes and somehow, I had never felt safer in
my life.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">From the start I felt like I was
on a rollercoaster with this man.
Adam. And my name? Eve.
You can imagine the jokes that we get.
A rollercoaster where it started with food flying at our faces and
ended, far, far faster than we anticipated, with him asking me to marry him a year later.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Adam and I are polar opposites in many ways. They say that opposites attract. Well that seems to be the case with us. Where he yings, I yang and yet somehow, we always end up in the middle. Together. I am the romantic, he is the pragmatic one. I live my life by whimsy, he leaves nothing to chance. He is a gamer, I am a film addict. He is serious, I am undoubtedly the silly one of the two of us.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Adam is not a romantic. But he shows his love in other ways. He wants to make me happy and he does. The way he makes sure my car is running properly, the way he walks next to the road when we walk along the street. The fact that although he hates the smell of coffee, he went out and bought an expensive coffee machine for his house because I love the stuff. But you hate coffee? I said to him. But I love you, was his answer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNWYGYLKtG1-Qa4LAPPHCsu3-0_r6XANR8QA-eMzIoPxJH4tEr2qaeCdjQaPpHX5v68Nwpbr4uy8IjQduGEdeslEMviqqC00jIQwzVbkIrh8nbtRM2P1x7qnNKlRlb4tdbm3Rpm4o-GhCLYY7tX5-5F5ul4L6SRCBzlfvldAWKjCaXosDrE6KiKk0WuY/s6000/michael-fenton-0ZQ8vojHNuc-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNWYGYLKtG1-Qa4LAPPHCsu3-0_r6XANR8QA-eMzIoPxJH4tEr2qaeCdjQaPpHX5v68Nwpbr4uy8IjQduGEdeslEMviqqC00jIQwzVbkIrh8nbtRM2P1x7qnNKlRlb4tdbm3Rpm4o-GhCLYY7tX5-5F5ul4L6SRCBzlfvldAWKjCaXosDrE6KiKk0WuY/w389-h259/michael-fenton-0ZQ8vojHNuc-unsplash.jpg" width="389" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, as it happens in
the films where you get a meet cute moment, there is inevitably the point where
an unexpected twist occurs and the relationship that you were so sure about hangs
in the balance.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As I told you at the start of
tale, the beginning of what I thought was the end of our engagement, was
humming. Adam didn’t hum. Didn’t sing.
Yet suddenly, out of the blue one day, he started humming. In the kitchen, when working on his car. What he was humming I could not tell,
although it seemed to have a melody of some description. He also seemed to have no idea
that he was humming. I mentioned it to
him a couple of times when I walked in on him humming a nameless tune and he
would immediately deny it. Odd.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Then his gaming, which I enjoyed watching, suddenly increased from playing at home, to going to gaming nights with friends. Sorry baby, boys only he said. The host of the gaming nights he claimed was an old friend that I had never met and "I don't think he is your sort". </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I tried to be supportive but couldn't understand why suddenly one, which then turned into two nights a week, were unavailable now. Tuesdays and Thursdays were now off limits. No questions. This had now been going on for two months.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Then one night when we were cuddled up on the sofa watching a film, he went to the kitchen to grab some snacks and his phone pinged. Not intentionally (she says) but I looked over to his screen which had flashed up with a message. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Sarah. <i>"Sorry, I can't do tomorrow now, my parents are coming to town, shall we raincheck till our Thursday session?"</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow was Tuesday. His gaming night with his friends, he said. Thursday was the other night. So who was Sarah? My heart sank and I feared the worst, yet when he returned to the room laden with Doritos and dip, I said nothing. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Some time later he checked his phone and said "Oh gaming is off tomorrow, Dan has his parents visiting, do you fancy going for dinner?" Lying, right to my face. I lied right back to him about a meet up with a friend and said I couldn't change my plans. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Unable to look at him and feeling completely overwhelmed I then faked a migraine and insisted that I wanted a night in my own bed when he offered to put me to bed and look after me. I could not understand it. This man, who looked after me, cared for me, loved me, or so I believed; was cheating on me?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When I got home I went over everything in my head. Maybe I had read the message wrong, maybe the name was not Sarah. And talking about a "session"?? Was that a gaming session? God. I hoped so. A session with another woman meant only one thing that I could think of in that moment.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I couldn't quite believe that a man who had planned for me to move in with him next month, ready for our marriage two months later, would do this to me. Redecorated his whole place in a way that suited both of us. Put me on his car insurance. This man who planned everything in his life wouldn't do all that, just to cheat. Surely?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The next night I decided to make my lie into the truth and got my best friend to meet me at a bar. After a bottle of wine and a chaser of sambuca (or five) had passed my lips, a plan was made. I would follow him on Thursday. See where he going. If he was meeting with a woman, then at least I would know and could confront him. It neither occurred to Jess and I to simply ask him. The sambuca said "follow him". So follow him I would.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the cold light of day in the morning, a hangover brewing, I started to question my decision. Why not just ask about the text? But, I could not get past the fact that he had lied to me. I wondered if I did ask him, if he would lie again? I was certain now of what I saw. I resolved to carry out with my plan.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After I finished work I parked up my car near to Adam's place, out of sight and positioned myself in the alley where I could clearly see him leave the house. Hangover gone and adrenalin pumping, I was ready now. For whatever I may see. I just hoped that he had not already left.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At 6.30pm I saw Adam leaving the house but instead of getting into his car, he started to walk down the road, towards the high street. I started to follow him. I felt at this point that I was betraying his trust, but he had betrayed mine and I had to know.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After a few minutes walking down the high street, with me ducking and diving into shop doors to avoid being seen (I just pray no one was watching me), he disappeared down a side road. When I reached the beginning of the street, he was nowhere in sight. I had lost him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I scanned the buildings on each side of the street. A combination of shops, a restaurant, some flats. Dare I risk looking in the windows? Had he gone to the restaurant? This was getting ridiculous and I contemplated going home.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As I lingered at the corner of the street, about to leave, suddenly I heard music. It was muffled like it was coming from a building, but I could hear it. And it sounded a little like Adam's humming. Listening further, the song sounded familiar.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Unable to stop myself I started walking down the street, trying to find the source of the music. After passing a few shops, I came towards what looks like some sort of studio. The sign above me read "Sarah McCarthy Dance". </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Sarah. <i> Sarah.</i> The name from the text message. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The music from the studio was now clear as day and I did know the song. Jackie DeShannon - What the World Needs Now. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I noticed that there was a window to the side of the ground floor studio and moved around to see if I could look in. There, dancing a waltz with an instructor, Sarah, of course, was Adam.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I had talked with him many times about wanting to do a first dance together at our wedding. He had always shied away from it because he said that he couldn't dance. "I can only drunk dance darling and you don't want that".</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This man, who cared for me and always wanted to ensure that I was the happiest I could be, was learning to dance. For me. For our wedding. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I quickly moved away from the window. I felt like the luckiest person in the world. Because I get to spend the rest of my life with this man. I will never tell him what I did.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I will forever be grateful that I did not spoil the surprise of this wonderful thing he was doing for me. I vowed then and there to make sure that I made him as happy as he made me.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I walked back down the high street away from the studio. Humming.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XieZAjBTkr4?si=ZkF38R_Xyi_tR06I" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-86320766575989252662023-09-22T10:55:00.001+01:002023-09-22T10:55:15.755+01:00Waiting for The One<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrq4eu4yuUy_TKpMih5PeQOjDNJ5W_O8R1p28wsUQ2kW8wHA-uJoktwB6mmMtTYr6wHCaDk0PeFNibQ2VxT2cuv2NtFjTfxuYoummAQyWLfEZg2bjLaPZPEwi-K7hm1dIfEByfLbb6jrW6caqGQZQvlXW4Cmn_YhpkaMQtd6qBsjx_HK6jtK6keBPnApg/s4359/freestocks-Y9mWkERHYCU-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2907" data-original-width="4359" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrq4eu4yuUy_TKpMih5PeQOjDNJ5W_O8R1p28wsUQ2kW8wHA-uJoktwB6mmMtTYr6wHCaDk0PeFNibQ2VxT2cuv2NtFjTfxuYoummAQyWLfEZg2bjLaPZPEwi-K7hm1dIfEByfLbb6jrW6caqGQZQvlXW4Cmn_YhpkaMQtd6qBsjx_HK6jtK6keBPnApg/w406-h270/freestocks-Y9mWkERHYCU-unsplash.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I found the man I wanted to spend
the rest of my life with much later than normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, what is normal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my case, I was 39.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yes, much later than the average let us
say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I spent years of my
life having no confidence, no self worth.
Having a meaningful relationship with someone is not really possible or at least certainly not healthy when you feel this way about yourself.
I met men here and there of course and had a few short relationships,
but nothing that I would have called one that would last.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I always knew the kind of man
that I wanted to be with. Although I did
not visualise him in my head other than the usual kind of physical attributes
that you find attractive, in my case a good smile and taller than me; I knew
the type of man that I felt would be the one. I somehow felt that there was just the one person for me, somewhere.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My lack of confidence aside, I
also knew that this was something that I would not be willing to compromise
on. I was prepared to walk alone on the winding path of my life forever if I did not find him.
Nearing 39, I had reached a point where I knew that this was likely to
be the case.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This is something that the people
around me I think found hard to understand.
I wanted a relationship, wanted to be with someone. I wanted desperately to fall in love, but I
also knew in myself, somehow, that that one person would just come along and I
would know. A fool’s wish you may
say. Unrealistic expectations that would
more than likely not be realised.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Looking back now, I realise that I would have been ready for a proper relationship much
earlier than when I found him. I worked
on myself for years, finding my confidence, my self worth, my voice. Being happy in who and what I was, was only a
recent thing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I do believe in fate, in the
right timing and in trusting your gut.
So you can appreciate, or maybe you can’t, that it felt like the stars
aligned when I found myself, and then found him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I had been on a couple of dates
in the months previous, each of them ending with me running for the hills. One who admitted on the date that he was
diagnosed with severe anger issues and was seeing a Psychiatrist about his
violent behaviour and the other who was just, very very odd. Absolutely not my type, or my kind of odd
(aren’t we all looking for our particular brand of crazy?).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I then started talking to this man online and
from the beginning I had butterflies. He
was handsome, but more than that he was interesting. He had
thoughts about a million different subjects.
He intrigued me in a way that I never have been before. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">We had our first date and no alarm bells rang. He was as interesting in person as his messages and I found him extremely attractive. The butterflies grew in size. I was cautious about my heart and wary about getting too excited, but after a few dates with this man, I could not help myself. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Still I exercised caution. My problem has always been that I give my heart away when I should not. The only man that I had really loved before was a massive mistake. A friend. Someone who I tried to morph myself into being the person that he would want. He didn't. In hindsight he was also not the right person for me. At all. In fact I don't think that he would like the person that I am now. That thought amuses me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I give my heart, you get all of it. I am like the Oodkind from Doctor Who. I hold my heart in my hand and I offer it completely. I knew that if I fell for this man I had just met as I knew I was doing, he would have my whole heart. Not something that you should trifle with or give away lightly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We really spent our time getting to know each other. He said that he had not been looking for a relationship, having only got out of a long term relationship 6 months earlier. But then, as he said, he found me. We found each other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nearly 6 years on, I write this with a smile on my face. I look at my phone which has his picture saved on my home screen and every time, my face lights up. He is, without a shadow of a doubt, the man that I was waiting for.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am the ying to his yang and together, we have both found a happiness that neither thought was possible. He makes me smile, he makes me laugh, he encourages me and we talk about so much, all of the time. I found my peace and my joy with him. He tells me that no one has ever loved him like I do. I feel the same. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was worth the wait. I also, as I said before, believe that I would not have been ready myself for this relationship until the time we met. Every thing I went through in my life, every journey, every voyage of discovery I took within myself led me to him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I look forward to spending my forever with this man and I forever grateful that I trusted my gut that told me that one day, he would arrive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's to love.</div><p></p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-36392688665118800802023-09-16T15:42:00.063+01:002023-09-20T11:04:14.544+01:00A Thousand Different Women<div style="text-align: justify;">I read a poem recently which resonated with me so completely that I wanted to share it here today. I believe that the author of the poem is Taryn Nergaad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Make peace with the women that you once were</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>lay flowers at their feet.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Offer them incense, and honey and forgiveness.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Honour them and give them your silence.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Listen.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bless them and let them be.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For they are the bones of the temple that you now sit in.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They are the rivers of wisdom that led you to the sea.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have been a thousand different women.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the world that we now live in, we are encouraged to move ahead, get ahead, improve, inspire, aspire, succeed and never look back. Forwards, upwards and onwards is the trajectory that we are told is the path to take. Don't look back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I believe that looking back is an important part of knowing who we are, what we are and how far we have come.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpyKzUXGYKUJXI7INPMvURhWEx00js1YBfkWQ-NpMalBroWD9kuvBG4gK8uUjqFKOWgInpEdYafMYKMRNJaDuro2ByqdxaQ7rl2Mi6PcXUN88Ei0EpgYQ6UHsFxiBiA8puYuWNVpaiUcZIHO3QX_0NIZvqomFqrIMkiIhUwplqvIMaWcJxS9wug-HWS8/s5184/jackson-david-WUydTfaP3t4-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpyKzUXGYKUJXI7INPMvURhWEx00js1YBfkWQ-NpMalBroWD9kuvBG4gK8uUjqFKOWgInpEdYafMYKMRNJaDuro2ByqdxaQ7rl2Mi6PcXUN88Ei0EpgYQ6UHsFxiBiA8puYuWNVpaiUcZIHO3QX_0NIZvqomFqrIMkiIhUwplqvIMaWcJxS9wug-HWS8/w406-h270/jackson-david-WUydTfaP3t4-unsplash.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been many different women, each touched and changed by the experiences that I have had through my teenage years, my twenties and beyond. Each of these women has left a mark on me in some way. Has helped me. Formed the person that I am today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of these women have been stronger than me, some weaker. Some lost, some found. Some with unfound hope and some with a sense of purpose to improve. There are parts of these women that I have been that I will never be again. Other parts have stayed with me. But all of these women I am thankful to in some way because without them; I would simply not be me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am so thankful for the women who lived in this body before me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I often wonder if I travelled back in time to earlier versions of myself, whether I would even recognise the person before me. Because until now I have never really looked back and tried to remember those women.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I want to acknowledge some of them today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you to the girl who loved to write. You stayed with me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm sorry to the girl who had my worst years. You were drowning and I did not listen.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you to the girl who fought the black dog of depression and won. The girl who was and is the strongest that I will ever be. I am alive today because of you.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you to the girl who knew what she wanted, beyond doubt and sometimes reason. You stayed with me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you to the woman who decided that she was worth more than the value placed on her by others. And by me. She went looking for and found it. She stayed with me too.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you to the woman who broke through her shyness and found her confidence with each passing day.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you to the woman who had hope that she would find her person and tried again. She found her ever after.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember the women that you were before you became you. You owe them everything.</div>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-90926546536406986892023-05-12T15:35:00.000+01:002023-08-30T11:30:03.180+01:00Creative Corner 3 - It's Just The Baby Blues <div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I wanted to really challenge myself with this next creative writing post, so purposely chose something I know nothing about and cannot relate to, being a mother!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prompt – “It is just the baby blues they said - postpartum depression in the 1950s” #triggerwarning suicidal thoughts</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I cannot remember the day when we stopped being happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together for two years, then married for two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two years yesterday to be exact.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I remember that glow I used to feel when I was around him. It felt like that the sun had come up when he walked into a room and everything was just that bit brighter. He said that he felt the same. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We were so in love. We wanted the same things. Marriage, a family, a wonderful life together. We shared an interest in current affairs, books, films. We both knew that the other was “the one”. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I was 19 when got married, Michael was 22 and an insurance agent. I had always been raised to be a stay at home wife. This was expected not only by my family, and Michael; but also was and is still the done thing in the society we live in. But Michael always knew that I wanted more than just that. My interests took me to places far from the stove and the bathroom floor. I wanted to know, learn, do, be.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We talked before we were married about my doing a correspondence course. We planned on having a library of sorts that we could read from and discuss. He was proud of me he said. My clever girl he called me. We were perfect for each other.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We decided that when we married, we would hold off a few years before we started a family. To have a time that was just us. We were still young after all. Children were absolutely wanted, just not yet.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We both walked into this marriage so excited for our future together. Now, today, I am walking out of it. He doesn’t know. No one will remember me fondly or kindly when they realise I’m gone. Not only leaving my husband of two years, but also my child, Lucy. The child that I thought that I wanted so much. That I had always planned to have. Knew I would love. Except, I didn’t. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For the first six months of our marriage, everything was perfect. Although I struggled at first with settling into the stay at home wife role, I soon found that I loved it. My house was my show piece, the meals I cooked showed my love to Michael and how hard he worked for us. He encouraged me to start the correspondence course we had talked about and I was already enjoying it. We still went on dates and talked about everything, from politics to travel to what was on at the movies that week that we might like to see. Life was good. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Then, I missed my period. I didn’t think too much about it as I had not always been perfectly regular, but when the second one was missed; I went to the doctors and took a pregnancy test. We had been being careful as children was not on the cards just yet, so I was sure that it must be something else. <br />It wasn’t. I was pregnant. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We were both shocked but after the initial shock had wore off, Michael was so excited. We can still live as we have been darling, he told me. But now there will be three of us. I was not happy that I fallen<br />pregnant so soon, but fate had decided so I decided to go along with it. What could I do after all?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I didn’t have an easy pregnancy but was determined to be the best mother that I could be. I read everything I could about babies. Decorated the nursery. Made plans about how to schedule keeping up<br />my home, cooking and the baby. My course would have to go on the back burner for a while of course, but the baby was more important.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We decided on names. George, after Michael’s father if it were a boy and Lucy, after my favourite aunt if it was a girl. I felt that I was as prepared as I could be and waved after offers from my family to come and help after the baby was born. I could do it all. My mother had. With four of us. Michael was not really involved in any of the planning or baby talk but why should he? I would be looking after it. Michael had his job. I had mine. The house and now the baby.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Lucy arrived at 6.15pm on a stormy night on the 15<sup>th</sup> October 1953. I could hear the torrential rain and lightening bolts bang and crash outside as I delivered her. It felt strange, wrong. Surely the world should be calm and peaceful for the arrival of my baby?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I don’t know what I expected to feel when the doctor told me that we had had a girl and put the baby to my chest. Love, elation. But I felt, nothing. She looked alien to me. Like she was not even from me. A part of me. She was a screaming bright red creature, a demon that seemed to have come from hell itself. I felt terrified. I said nothing. All others in the room were saying how beautiful she was. They didn’t see what I did.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Soon I was moved back into my room and after being cleaned up, washed and dressed more appropriately, Michael was let in to see me and meet his daughter. See me first though I thought, make sure I was alright, but yet he ran straight to her. I didn’t get a second look. It was excitement of course, joy at his newborn daughter, a completely normal reaction yet I had never felt more alone in my life than I did in that moment.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>I hoped that these feelings would leave me. No one actually noticed. Why would they? Everyone visited the hospital to see our new baby, she was the centre of attention. As she should be. Michael showed her off to visitors, the proudest father you have ever seen. As he should have been. But me, I was just not, there. I felt cold, detached, like I was looking at everything from behind a mirror. I looked at my baby and still felt nothing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When it was time to leave the hospital I decided to pull myself together. Lucy's birth had not been easy, and also earlier than expected. I was not ready. This was all new to me. I simply had not found my feet yet I decided and love for Lucy come quickly now I was out of hospital. I was sure of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The problem was, that love never came.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">At first I put it down to struggling with keeping the house up to the same standard and making dinner. Michael would arrive home to a house in disarray and food only half way prepared, or not at all. Take it easy love he would tell me, this is all new. You will find your way. But my world was turning dark and I feared that the path was being hidden from me.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The world seemed to be turning against me. As soon as I got into some sort of organised mode where the house no longer looked like a tornado had hit and meals were, mostly, on time again; Lucy got colic. She screamed. All of the time. It never ended. Except when Michael came home and was able to miraculously sooth her. Something I seemed unable to do.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I thought perhaps that Lucy knew. Knew that I didn’t love her. Didn’t even like her. I could not understand why, but I felt nothing. Nothing however was turning into dislike. Why would she settle for<br />Michael but not I? </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thoughts that I knew to be irrational started to float around in my head. Michael preferred Lucy to me. She hates me. I was never meant to be a mother. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong. I want to die.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I told no one for a long time. What could I say? I didn’t like my child? I regretted becoming a mother? I wanted to run away? I could not say any of that. Everyone else managed, why couldn’t I? Everyone else loved their children, why didn’t I?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">But then Michael started to notice the difference in me. The coldness. The detached way I looked at Lucy. That I cried at the drop of the hat. I admitted to him that I was not coping well. I told him that I didn’t think Lucy liked me. He didn’t understand. He tried. But he didn’t get it. He got to leave the house, go to work and the baby was much happier when she was with him. He slept through her screams in the night. He always slept through everything. I remembered joking once that he could sleep through a hurricane. I wasn’t joking any longer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When Lucy was four months ago I tried to talk to my mother, telling her that I was not doing as well as I had thought. That Lucy never settled for me. How the screaming was starting to get to me. In truth, the screaming was driving me slowly insane. I had started to hate her. She insisted that it was just a little of the "baby blues". I would get over it in no time she said. Just keep at it she said. So I tried.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Although the colic thankfully dissipated after a few months, it seems that the damage was done. This baby, whom I now realised was indeed beautiful and not a demon, was not meant for me. I was not meant to be a mother. I was a bad person. A terrible person. I didn't deserve her, or Michael. I wasn't event the same person that he married.</p><p class="MsoNormal">They say that crazy people don't know that they are crazy, but I knew. I knew that I wasn't normal. This wasn't normal. That I alone was the problem. I tried to keep up a façade to Michael and my family that everything was fine, but it was not fine. I was drowning. Michael had started to look at me differently. Demanded to know why I cried, all the time. Why couldn't I be happy he said? We have a wonderful life, a perfect baby. You want for nothing. It was true, yet I was dying inside.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That brings us to today. Michael and I's second wedding anniversary. The plan was to leave Lucy with my mother, spend the afternoon getting ready and go out for a meal with Michael at night. I had taken my bath and was supposed to be getting ready. Yet I had been sat on the bed, with one thought running through my bed. Run. Get away. They will do better without you. Lucy will be better off without you. She doesn't like you anyway.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Decided, I got up from the bed and headed towards the front door. I was leaving. I didn't realise that I had not packed a bag, or even put on a coat. I was leaving. That was all that matters. All I hoped is that I could run far enough away that I even lost myself.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This was the end, wherever it led.</p></div></div>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-62308759135107497962023-04-27T16:15:00.000+01:002023-04-27T16:15:06.545+01:00Small Details to Improve Your Bathroom's Appearance<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZuk5bTdlXzR8XH9b3_9tjykC8u4BzQ4RKJl4oQPGPiY7JEOwXOJRQ-7MzGW0XsaT5neofKNm5pAFZPbFUZkQRaRQspGg2tqBjoctlRrUA6eAR5miQA-VZR7FyzerWOP9SJeM4Y5VwhymtLRDRtks9felaruMBW6yCbk7x6f2tCxK0r8UbBZlczUH/s320/GIJR4ASl6EBDSkDnBA29w_BZ5Qd4jhiQyVytXt3OPgNPaq2i9L-1NtMZd2PvTnydtvgPsteupznWUtMmzUBKVDjBAeuZ3AnP-0TZDJYAO7O112Fdv0X4I5f5bY3m_V9mkEVZR2doymDyZXF3B14FRFeu3VMFdzPaOr2paIaBWHfoYJAphgGibA=s2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZuk5bTdlXzR8XH9b3_9tjykC8u4BzQ4RKJl4oQPGPiY7JEOwXOJRQ-7MzGW0XsaT5neofKNm5pAFZPbFUZkQRaRQspGg2tqBjoctlRrUA6eAR5miQA-VZR7FyzerWOP9SJeM4Y5VwhymtLRDRtks9felaruMBW6yCbk7x6f2tCxK0r8UbBZlczUH/s1600/GIJR4ASl6EBDSkDnBA29w_BZ5Qd4jhiQyVytXt3OPgNPaq2i9L-1NtMZd2PvTnydtvgPsteupznWUtMmzUBKVDjBAeuZ3AnP-0TZDJYAO7O112Fdv0X4I5f5bY3m_V9mkEVZR2doymDyZXF3B14FRFeu3VMFdzPaOr2paIaBWHfoYJAphgGibA=s2048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Image Credit - CCO License</p><div style="text-align: justify;">Something that you may want to bear in mind is that the bathroom is a hugely important part of the home. When it comes to your <a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2022/12/how-to-add-more-privacy-to-your-windows.html?m=1">interior design</a>, the bathroom has a huge effect. The way it looks affects the way the entire home looks, in fact. For that reason, you’ll want to make sure it’s as good as possible. And to make sure of that, it’s wise to focus on a few small, key details. Let’s look at what those are, and how you can ensure you are paying thorough attention to them.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thematic Touches</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">First of all, you’ll want to think about the theme of the bathroom in general, and whether or not it is as you would want it to be. This is something that is both a small detail and an overarching thing, but it really is often detailed in the way that it gets used. You’ll be able to do it subtly, for instance by having a few choice colors here and there, and often that is the best way to make it look how you want. So this is one of the first things you should make sure you are happy with if you want your bathroom to look its best.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Grouting</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Most bathrooms are going to have tiles - whether on the walls, the floor, or both. Sometimes, you’ll even have tiles on the ceiling - and there will certainly be some around the bath and shower area too, not to mention the sink or basin. One of the details that makes the tiling look its best is if the grouting is as it should be. Using <a href="https://completeconstructionproducts.co.uk/grouts-anchors/fosroc-conbextra-gp">fosroc conbextra gp</a> to keep it clean and looking new can really make a huge difference, as can cleaning the grouting whenever you feel you need to - especially if it is getting mold.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Faucet Options</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">You also of course have plenty of options when it comes to the faucets, and this is another small detail that can have a surprisingly large effect on how the overall room appears to be. So if you are keen on trying to keep your faucet looking great, make sure that you choose well. You need to think about color and material, of course - whether brass is appropriate or not makes a huge difference, for instance. And you’ll need to think about size and any ornate designs you may or may not want them to have as well.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Rugs</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, you may decide to have a rug or a runner on the floor of your bathroom. If you do, you need to think carefully about the effect it will have on the room as a whole, and on the effect of the home’s entire decor. Again, this can be surprisingly important, so it’s definitely the kind of thing you should make sure you are focused on. If you can be happy with this choice, it will make for a much more <a href="https://www.realhomes.com/buyers-guide/10-ways-to-improve-your-bathroom">attractive bathroom</a> on the whole, and that is a great thing to have.</p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-34343254367693549302023-03-23T13:17:00.000+00:002023-09-11T11:41:49.340+01:00The Moment You Turn From Child To Prey<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus according to the book by John Gray. We may not be Martians or Venusians, but while men and women are both human beings, we are wildly different. I do not know how a man thinks. What he feels, how he feels and how he expresses those feelings. A man cannot know that about a woman either.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our bodies, our hormones, our way of thinking, the experiences that we have growing up; these all form what it is to be a man or woman. Society has always had expectations and presumptions of both sexes. But for women, it is our bodies that puts us at an lifelong disadvantage.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>In a normal childhood, a girl enjoys the first years of her life being safe.</span><span> </span><span>You are looked at and treated as the child you are.</span><span> </span><span>We are innocent and are allowed to be in that cocoon of safety.</span><span> </span><span>Most of the time. Until that one day arrives. That day comes at different times for all of us, but we all feel the same when it arrives. We want to go back to the cocoon where it is safe.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was an early developer. At the age of ten I started my periods. My breasts started to develop. I didn't know then that the world would change. But it did. It felt like overnight. I was a child, but the way I was treated <b>immediately </b>became different.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The way that some adult men interacted with me changed. The way that they spoke to me. There was a change in their voices, an intonation that I did not understand. A unfamilar expression on their faces. A smile, but with a strange leer. I did not understand back then these men were flirting with me; a ten year old girl.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What I did understand was that feeling that I got when they did it. That uneasy "danger, danger" feeling that comes upon you. You know that something is not right, even if you do not understand why. Those are the first lessons a girl learns, a child learns in my case, how to extract yourself from an uncomfortable situation without letting them know that you are scared. How to remain polite when inside, you want to run.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There used to be a playground near my old house that I sometimes used to frequent. The street where I lived was full of old people, with no other children to play with and as a result, I often used to make my own entertainment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I remember being around 11 when I went up to the nearby playground to read my book on the swings and have a go at the merry go round. It was only around the corner and I felt safe there. My mum had no qualms in letting me go. Whilst sat on the merry go round slowly spinning around, I remember a group of boys approaching me. 14, maybe 15 years old. They surrounded me. Talking about how I was young to get "titties" and asking if they could touch them. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I didn't understand. I was a child. But I felt the danger. I took advantage of one of the boys saying "leave her alone she's a kid" and ran.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I got home I told my mum what had happened. She told me that it probably wasn't a good idea to go to that playground alone again. That we maybe should throw away that jumper. That was the first time I truly understood that the world I lived in had changed. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The change in your reality that you realise that you have suddenly become prey, in a world where half the population are men and as a result, the way that you look at, not just men, but the boys around you; changes too. It is inevitable.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">You shouldn't have to feel that way at 11. But for me, that was the day that the world changed. My growing female body was now restricting me from going to places because of what may happen to me. Because I was female. Even though I was still a child, that label no longer meant that I was safe.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I learned too that it was my job to protect myself. Don't go places on your own. Don't wear that jumper, it will attract the wrong attention.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I remember being so excited when I was a little girl about becoming "a lady". I remember watching my mum getting ready on a Saturday night with her pretty dresses, makeup and lovely hair. How her womanly shape looked so amazing and how much I wanted to look like her. How my dad admired and complimented her. It all looked so exciting. What could be better? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Except now my growing body was something I no longer wanted. I wanted to still be a child. I didn't want boys leering at me in a playground, intimating things that I did not understand. I didn't want grown men speaking to me in a way that I knew wasn't right, but again I didn't understand quite why. I didn't want the breasts that attracted more and more attention.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I remember being in my first year in high school and an older boy telling me that because I already had "tits", it meant I was going to be a slag. I didn't know what that was. But it didn't sound good. Also, he was leering at me the way that adult men did.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ccO-lZfNA8RNwq28TKB0cBdQZjkagrCZBA-KaCCP2G8sEKTCFLwQrc3rlWnOW3GNaFkESL4f4KUVeNQgD--5SXfTusDoJfEF3hyWObYUGmlpL8znEIPq8f0i8SVGKMI4XiSLVbVDCw1mGwapm0rY80XlIPb-EcXIsl0AtgFICpfDegBsytRPRSnMKQ/s3255/mika-baumeister-jbHLLCgWs3M-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3255" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ccO-lZfNA8RNwq28TKB0cBdQZjkagrCZBA-KaCCP2G8sEKTCFLwQrc3rlWnOW3GNaFkESL4f4KUVeNQgD--5SXfTusDoJfEF3hyWObYUGmlpL8znEIPq8f0i8SVGKMI4XiSLVbVDCw1mGwapm0rY80XlIPb-EcXIsl0AtgFICpfDegBsytRPRSnMKQ/s320/mika-baumeister-jbHLLCgWs3M-unsplash.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">The problems, as I called my breasts at that time had started growing early and as a result, I was a C cup by the the time I was 14. Any woman reading that will probably have the same reaction. Closing your eyes. Oh god. Because every woman knows that that is not a good thing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By 14, the rest of my body was also catching up and I no longer looked like an early developing child. I looked like a woman. With a pretty dress, hair done and make up applied I could have looked similar to my own mum who I used to aspire to be when I saw her getting ready on a Saturday night. But I did not want that anymore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I was stuck in this body and as every girl learns, you have to just, deal with it. You learn how to build your defences. You learn the right responses. How to remove yourself from situations you don't want to be in. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As time goes on, you realise that your womanly shape, your curves, your breasts hold a power. A power that you understand that you have and try to weld; yet you do not fully understand how dangerous that power is. And that is isn't really power at all. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm reminded of the famous line from The Breakfast Club. If you don't, you're a prude. If you do, you're a whore. My growing body earned me many forms of the latter insult, despite having not even yet kissed a boy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I raged against the injustice of it all. I had to be careful where I went, what I said, what I wore, how I acted. Boys were not held to the same standard. Although they were going through their own experiences of puberty and teenage years, which as I have said, I cannot understand as a woman as it is their experience alone, they were allowed to get away with so much under the clause that infuriated me beyond all else (and still does). Boys will be boys.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Boys will be boys I was told when I told a teacher about the name calling. Boys will be boys I was told by another teacher when two boys frequently tried to grab at my breasts. It's their hormones! I was told. Wear a larger shirt, they said. My shirt was not tight. But no shirt could have made my breasts disappear. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking back now, my mind boggles that these excuses were used to justify and allow this kind of behaviour. If you were to report a sexual assault to the police, I don't think a "he just couldn't help himself" would wash in a Court of law. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But would it? Because now I recall a case in Hull where the Defendant was found guilty of raping a sleeping woman and the Judge told him "She was a pretty girl and you fancied her. <a href="https://www.salon.com/2014/07/03/judge_says_man_who_raped_sleeping_woman_is_not_a_classic_rapist_just_lost_control/" rel="nofollow">You simply could not resist</a>".</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Most women have stories similar to mine. The truth is that from the time a girl hits puberty to the day she dies, she is prey. The lifelong game we play is how to avoid the carnivores that would hurt us.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is a game of life that we never signed up for. But has also prepared us, has strengthened us and has bonded us together. It is why we fight for our rights. For our single sex spaces. Why we hold on so strongly to the word woman. Because we know what it means. And what it takes to be one.</p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-3151224271783424432023-03-13T14:47:00.000+00:002023-08-30T08:59:58.853+01:00A Piece of Me<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpLgHK0gF_iHni-iCvrALDGUNiO0GYCN396Fyuxnttr4KxgH9YtHNf4E6GgQaBzvcafHVKvSdi4MVEKsiL6KzKbmIh8ckbTJYzpiwdA8U-QrQuoc_VNYMWXyj14WLoMP0w-SkTmwNFaazcB8KEkRDD6gzMVkuKVBEkhGZ2yByu_HMDcucWrYNuIUA7A/s4617/s-o-c-i-a-l-c-u-t-FluPNkHfCTs-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="4617" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpLgHK0gF_iHni-iCvrALDGUNiO0GYCN396Fyuxnttr4KxgH9YtHNf4E6GgQaBzvcafHVKvSdi4MVEKsiL6KzKbmIh8ckbTJYzpiwdA8U-QrQuoc_VNYMWXyj14WLoMP0w-SkTmwNFaazcB8KEkRDD6gzMVkuKVBEkhGZ2yByu_HMDcucWrYNuIUA7A/w399-h248/s-o-c-i-a-l-c-u-t-FluPNkHfCTs-unsplash.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I used to write my old blog, it was a place where I could say many things. I wrote about fashion, my personal life, opinion pieces and then in time, wrote advertising pieces for businesses. The blog was, and I still think of as, my baby.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although many posts have been deleted from there now, much of the person that I am today is as a result of the things that I wrote there. The gains in confidence I made, the clothes I wore to put in its pages; the realizations that I came to as my thoughts flowed through my fingers to the page.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I always found it easier to work through whatever was troubling me by writing and that has not changed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What did change was that my beliefs and opinions grew, as I grew. My gender critical beliefs no longer mixed with what companies wanted in a blog that they could use to advertise. Many of my personal posts also had to be removed (because my sister decided to spy, steal, show and tell) which made me feel like I could not write about my life and my thoughts anymore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Which finally brought me to this new place.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have been writing various opinion pieces now and again here, with a short story or two; but have not yet made this place my home. My writing home. The place where I can write anything. I want to write as I did before. Without a care of what anyone may think or need to tailor my works to satisfy a client.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This blog is anonymous, my real name is not listed here and I have no clients to worry about. My sister does not know that this place exists. Which makes it special too. I may speak about her in a future post. I want to. When I am ready. I will.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have no worries about what I can write here. I do not have the "following" that I had from my previous blog, nor the Twitter followers that were attached to it. I am free as a bird to write about what I wish, because I can choose to share, or not. If I share, the small amount of people who will read it, don't know the real person behind my words.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So what I really wanted to come here today and say is, hello. You are going to be getting a piece of me. It is time that I talked again. Wrote again. Allowed my heart to flow through my words again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Let it begin.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-1927970877142416852023-01-13T13:49:00.000+00:002023-08-30T08:59:59.020+01:00Creative Corner - Writing Prompt 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_DfJKP-UxXcnwSWC_2iIylxqG84utcq0dm1NeuqklTc5eSIFSbNRnvSs5fy8ApWvDVHs_Ox4ctQFVMHrkdZ97U-UPG-iQ0EXaV5k-aBuiSJ8ntifi4-gINqtuwSuC3SsziD-RAD67hFfHVBDNPOFw9te9D7P1Pk9g6d93mBlcevSGK7LifT3p9oqRw/s5184/kara-eads-nvo7jmzDDew-unsplash%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_DfJKP-UxXcnwSWC_2iIylxqG84utcq0dm1NeuqklTc5eSIFSbNRnvSs5fy8ApWvDVHs_Ox4ctQFVMHrkdZ97U-UPG-iQ0EXaV5k-aBuiSJ8ntifi4-gINqtuwSuC3SsziD-RAD67hFfHVBDNPOFw9te9D7P1Pk9g6d93mBlcevSGK7LifT3p9oqRw/w395-h263/kara-eads-nvo7jmzDDew-unsplash%20(1).jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Today's writing prompt is:</p><span></span><br /><span></span><span><strong><u>A houseplant is dying. Tell it why it needs to live.<o:p></o:p></u></strong></span><br /><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></o:p> </div><span><div style="text-align: justify;">Jenny looked at the dying Snake Plant in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please don’t die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are supposed to be indestructible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve loved you, watered you, why are you dying on me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plant of course, didn’t reply.</div></span><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was no ordinary plant to Jenny, this was the only thing left that she had some control over, the last thing before everything in her life collapsed, or so it seemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past two months she had lost her job, her boyfriend had left her and now her landlord was threatening eviction if she didn’t make up her payments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything that Jenny touched lately seemed to crumble away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her world had shrunk down piece by piece until suddenly; the only thing that she felt that she still had control over was that goddamn Snake Plant that her mother had bought her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now even that was dying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jenny wheedled and cajoled the plant over the coming days to revive; convincing herself that if the plant made it, so could she.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plant ignored her and got worse by the day, with its now brown and black leaves falling all over the old carpet.</span></div><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By day five Jenny had given up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plant was showing no signs of recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started packing boxes up around it, readying herself for the move back to her parent’s place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t know what road lay ahead of her but couldn’t see anything good.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On moving day, Jenny was carrying the last box out of her apartment when something small and green caught her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hidden near the centre of the plant was a small green shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New life amidst all the decay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The plant went into the box and Jenny left the apartment with a small smile on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe things would work out after all.</span></div>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-22747094032802746592023-01-11T15:10:00.000+00:002023-08-30T08:59:59.192+01:00Creative Corner - Writing Prompt 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7c3pzd8p-btM3lkbrFKij-81RTlEU4EqrNPY1YvnkZwgzW78ZsUPtjUyVyt8bfjSIucR-496aa4u45Q0cpTrMlNZiuInNND1gWZRR8HjQG8HgE0aVECcaAb_4mOnrGhjmQL1KIRbK_B42sSUlF4eiUX34HksAeDZeKo1URiH_4GzPN7UbyORqZFXmA/s11000/florian-klauer-mk7D-4UCfmg-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11000" data-original-width="7500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7c3pzd8p-btM3lkbrFKij-81RTlEU4EqrNPY1YvnkZwgzW78ZsUPtjUyVyt8bfjSIucR-496aa4u45Q0cpTrMlNZiuInNND1gWZRR8HjQG8HgE0aVECcaAb_4mOnrGhjmQL1KIRbK_B42sSUlF4eiUX34HksAeDZeKo1URiH_4GzPN7UbyORqZFXmA/w295-h320/florian-klauer-mk7D-4UCfmg-unsplash.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing prompt for today - </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="text-align: justify;"><u><br /></u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="text-align: justify;"><u>You are looking down through the skylight as chefs prepare dinner for your ex-fiance’s wedding.</u></strong></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am sat here, on the roof of the hotel where my ex love is getting married, peering through the skylight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a million questions running through my head right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did I get here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did it come to this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why has the bastard got the same cake design that we chose for our wedding?</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark always used to tell me that I was too organised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So organised it seems that I have helped him plan his wedding, to someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can it be that only nine months ago we were planning our own wedding yet here I am today, staring down at everything we had planned, but I’m not invited.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The kitchen is busy with waiters running around, chefs shouting to get the first course out; I see Mark stayed with the prawn and mango salsa starter that we had decided on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I only meant to take a peek around the door of the venue, how did I end up on the roof?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am here, I’m not sure if I'm insulted or if I just want to laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The menu looks to be exactly the one that we chose, the bespoke wedding cake that I had designed is there; I have no doubt that if I could see into the reception room, the place settings and decorations would be the same too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where is the bride in all this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is Sarah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Mark left me, he told me that he wanted someone who wasn’t so fiercely independent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone who would stay at home, have the children, become the perfect wife that he always wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has never been me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I always used to notice the way my friend Sarah looked at Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The</span> look of longing that she thought I didn’t notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I did, but never thought anything of it, until a week after he broke our engagement and I saw the two of them strolling hand in hand down the street.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I wonder what life she has chosen for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her own wedding, chosen down to the napkin holders by someone else, by me, the friend that she betrayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the best start to married life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was over all of that, yet here I am, sat on the roof like some deranged stalker.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashamed, I move back to the edge of the building, looking round to make sure I won’t be seen as I descend the fire escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder, have I made a lucky escape or has he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the one in the wedding suit and I am crawling around on a roof.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I made it back down to street level and start walking around the building, anxious to get away. I spy the wedding car pulling up to the front entrance in the distance and my heart starts to beat faster. Do I hide, do I walk past; do I turn back? Instead I linger at the corner, unnoticed by the people now crowding at the entrance.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sarah looks happy, but also a little nervous (perhaps she thinks I am going to jump out of the bushes?). Mark looks smug. His loud voice carries down the street. I hear him telling people that they are going to be amazed by the reception. All his own work and planning. He's taking credit for everything, as he always used to.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I smile to myself. My heart stops it's relentless pounding. I'm done with this man. I wait for them to enter the hotel and then walk away, entering my own new life.</span></span></div>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-21710267533693300652023-01-09T21:00:00.000+00:002023-08-30T08:59:59.612+01:00The Turnstile<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9itJX-PHvxBll5kdMTWqHE0KcPdBVHtZIHGqzyyQ7Vz8MDKFj-vJF-D3nUCQJNgGOM1ovwgQlWeZG9V03km-BLy3diimkaHsPmyleTUsEGDqDNz-qZvBMU7c4dFTep6bMaZJDy3qdiDwW4w4_7X8FJ1nnJ7SXGIGnr75h_wPKnGeRdThZ2meUEQFbg/s6945/arnel-hasanovic-MNd-Rka1o0Q-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4635" data-original-width="6945" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9itJX-PHvxBll5kdMTWqHE0KcPdBVHtZIHGqzyyQ7Vz8MDKFj-vJF-D3nUCQJNgGOM1ovwgQlWeZG9V03km-BLy3diimkaHsPmyleTUsEGDqDNz-qZvBMU7c4dFTep6bMaZJDy3qdiDwW4w4_7X8FJ1nnJ7SXGIGnr75h_wPKnGeRdThZ2meUEQFbg/w449-h300/arnel-hasanovic-MNd-Rka1o0Q-unsplash.jpg" width="449" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Have you ever had one of the moments when you have a sudden realisation that you, or your life (or both) has suddenley changed?</p><p>I was reminded of one such moment today and honestly, it is moment that I will treasure forever. I even know the date that it happened. Thursday, 4th October 2013. Nearly ten years ago. Such a small moment, but huge at the same time.</p><p>Firstly, let me give you some back story. As I have not written on this blog for over a year, I am writing as if I am starting afresh. So let me tell you about me.</p><p>Before I started down the gender critical path and found my true voice, I used to have another blog. This blog was started as a plus size fashion blog. The aim was to bring my wardrobe out of the depths of black that it had sunk into and for me to find some confidence.</p><p>I started out slowly, posting photographs of outfits that I bought, terrified with every post as if someone was going to reach through the screen and tear my tiny, but growing confidence, to shreds. I wanted so much to feel better about who I was as a person, feel more confident and dress better. I saw other girls doing it and wanted to do the same.</p><p>I started to get to know other bloggers and a few brands sent me some clothes (which was the most unbelievable thing that had ever happened to me). Imagine, a clothing brand emailing you and asking you to pick out some clothes to review, and keep!!</p><p>I started to get a good readership and my confidence, not only in the way that I dressed but also, and more importantly, in myself, started to change. I grew, not in size, but as a person. I could feel myself changing as I forced myself to do more things, go out to places I would not have, speak to more people and challenge myself.</p><p>So comes to the day in question. I had been asked by a brand to travel down to London to a dinner and reveal of a clothing line. The thought of travelling to London on my own and doing all of that was absolutely terrifying to me so of course, I said no.</p><p>But then, the brand came back to me and offered not only to pay my rail fare, but also book a hotel for me. All I had to do was go. I couldn't turn down such an opportunity which would be great for my blog and I knew would a turning point for myself.</p><p>I remember my best friend telling me that I would be a different person when I came back. I didn't really understand what she meant at the time. But she was right.</p><p>I never travelled alone, or did anything outside of the house on my own so believe me when I say that I was terrified on that train journey down to London from Preston Station. I had planned out the tubes I would need to get to get to my hotel and figured that I would take each step at a time and try not to have a panic attack at Euston Station when I decided that I was lost.</p><p>I managed, after negotiating around an Ecaduarian embassy in the middle of the street I was staying, to find my hotel. I got dressed and went to the launch which was amazing and quite unreal to me. I was there as "blogger press" alongside actual fashion journalists, other bloggers and also prizewinners who had entered a competition to be there. </p><p>We were given a three course meal with wine up to our eyeballs and then were shown the clothes. We were encouraging to try on and take any photographs we wanted, as well as, again to my shock; allowed to keep anything that we wanted.</p><p>I honestly felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, except a shorter, dumpier, not so beautiful version. I felt amazing none the less.</p><p>The moment I realised that I had changed was on my journey back to Preston. I had navigated my way through the tubes and had arrived at Euston. Travelling down to London I had worn all black, black boots, black coat. Travelling back I had decided to wear some of my new gifts along with what I had brought with me. A black dress yes, but with colourful flower detail. A bright red coat. Mary Jane heels.</p><p>I did not really think about the outfit when I put it on that morning. In truth, I had never worn anything like it before. Colours and prints, together. Heels when travelling. </p><p>So to the moment. I was coming throught the turnstile at Euston and I caught sight of myself in a mirror. I didn't recognise myself at first. I saw the outfit, liked it, then realised that it was me. But more than the outfit, it was the expression on my face. No worry. No self conciousness. Happy. I looked so happy. I looked like a different person.</p><p>I was a different person. I had grown so much in 24 hours. Although I still had far on my confidence journey to go, this was the biggest leap I had ever taken. I just wish that someone could have taken a photo of me right then, that outfit and that expression. That feeling.</p><p>It was one I will always remember and I will always cherish. Because it was the first time that I realised that the pieces of me that I kept inside, the person that I wanted to be, was showing on the outside.</p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-52942848985543578122022-12-05T10:00:00.003+00:002022-12-05T10:00:20.775+00:00How To Add More Privacy to Your Windows<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: #0e101a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most people enjoy having large windows that let a lot of light into their homes; we know that natural light is good for us, and our bodies work better with the right amount of natural light per day. The only problem is if you want to keep plenty of natural light and still have some privacy - it can be tricky to find the right window covering to help. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f7a44b53-7fff-117c-4e32-f114f7e4bc55"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 401px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="401" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5uF_yt9Wm3EJX0JT0KnTkIyiMjdYPzQHRti8OIR6eTL5g6KBBbgT1WkxTeDyS8U3IOhNyc1766J07o9cM5W84qmAgQtZkHmSO5dXSPyRsW7IDVwBcTMwglGjsP63p3nfk_js6vbEUq_vMItvf4zz6jB-xtiK2eQJyDQLNrAj4RKnKXU3E46Ddijk_V-guA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Photo by</span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@iprefermike?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mike Cox</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on</span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/blinds?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unsplash</span></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Window Privacy Screens</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many people use a window privacy screen, also sold as a </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Major-Pest-Control-AEQW-WER-AW128052-Insect/dp/B00187MESK" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bug screen</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to add an extra layer of protection. These are great because they let in a large amount of natural light but offer a little more privacy due to their dark colour. And, of course, they keep mosquitoes and other unwanted insects out too! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Window screens are a cost-effective option for most people because they can be very simple and attached just with velcro pads or a slot in a plastic frame. </span></p><br /><h2 dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Window Film</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Window film comes in a few different options; you must check which ones will work with your glass in advance. If you have floor-to-ceiling windows, then window film applied in strips can let in a lot of light but block out the view from the outside. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Window film typically attaches to the window with static rather than a layer of glue, making them a great choice for renting or not wanting to make a big commitment. </span></p><br /><h2 dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plantation Shutters</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.inshutters.co.uk/locations/kent" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plantation shutters</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> offer a few benefits, but one of the biggest is that they are one of the best options to let light in and still get plenty of privacy. All types of blinds are popular because they are stylish too, and they come in a range of colours, thicknesses and opening styles too. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s more, is that they offer a varying amount of privacy based on which style and colour you choose. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What makes blinds a great option is that as night falls, you can close them! Unlike many of the other options, you can have complete privacy if you choose to. </span></p><br /><h2 dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voile </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both voile and net curtains are the go-to options for people who want to maximise the light in their home and have a reasonably high level of privacy too. They do some in such a wide range of beautiful options there is something to suit every type of interior decoration. The great thing about voile is that it, too, comes in different fittings, so you can have panels or a long hanging piece of fabric. The choice is yours. </span></p><br /><h2 dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frosted Glass</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to make a bigger commitment to privacy, opt for either textured or frosted glass. Often frosted and textured glass is used for doors or windows that may look into the bathroom. However, you can opt for this type of window in any room you like. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You might want to completely overhaul the look of your windows, and a replacement might be on the cards: </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2022/04/is-it-time-to-replace-your-homes-old.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is It Time To Replace Your Home’s Old Windows?</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-18389263077327366682022-11-16T09:56:00.003+00:002022-11-16T09:56:29.574+00:00Finding the Right Movers<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may already know that moving is one of the most stressful life events that anybody can ever deal with. Whether you are moving to a new street because you are looking for </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2022/04/is-it-time-to-replace-your-homes-old.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a bigger house</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or you are moving to a new state because you are looking for a better job, moving is going to be stressful regardless of what you do. You need to make this occasion, and it really is an occasion, be easy. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9e8539ff-7fff-196e-403a-27f3d57a4a9a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You need to be able to wake up and feel excited that today is a moving day, even when you are </span><a href="https://www.northamerican.com/household-moving/long-distance-moving" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">long distance moving</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Eliminating the stress and worry of moving is easier when you hire a great moving company to help you do it. Knowing that somebody is going to come and collect all of your belongings and take them to your new property in good condition is one of the best things about moving house. You need to know that you could feel reassured, and here are some of the best tips that you need for choosing a great moving company.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 750px; overflow: hidden; width: 500px;"><img height="750" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EbNWX3_RbcdG0lMhGHeLtazyeO27Gp2IZFSGI3iXITUuxd0rS3yWVQu3MfwzuCHrm8dhSLyGzhc4wK_rtnG9W5-py9QZdB4Aq_ksF4q61SlZhlA2N-qUXdmKrW_LwpnKU6LUzFTe15YfjXWKHR4L9i2LrDhUbyl_cMXf-pPViWw-vxJXk97BrvO0r8jzJQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="500" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/cardboard-boxes-on-living-room-3434533/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image source: Pexels</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ask people for recommendations. The best thing you could do when you're looking for a moving company is to ask around. Getting some honest recommendations from friends and people that you trust is a good way to start. Ask people who have just moved to the area that you are planning to move to who they used to help them to do it. You can go ahead and do it alone, but it's always </span><a href="https://www.rentco.com.au/blog/should-i-hire-a-truck-or-use-removalists-when-moving-house/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">easier to hire a moving company</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Do some of your own investigating as well, because what one person likes about their moving company you may not enjoy so much.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get all quotes in writing. You know that a company is a good moving company when they provide you with all moving quotes and an estimate in writing. They should do this up front so that you have something up today intangible to be able to use so that when you are planning your move the goal posts are not going to change. You need to know all potential hidden costs, and you need to know what the insurance is going to cost as well.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't forget the red flags. There are actually some red flags to pay attention to when it comes to moving. Most customers don't actually see the red flags or they could even refuse to acknowledge them. If removal companies require you to put down the large deposit before the move has even taken place, reconsider using that company.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ask questions. Good moving companies will always be upfront and transparent about their qualifications and their services. Don't be afraid to get all of your questions answered because no question of yours should be considered a burden. You should ask about local licenses, the qualifications, and whether they are properly insured. You deserve the very best for your move.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moving house is always far easier when you have a moving company on your side, so don't be afraid to shop around and make the right choice.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-34962087553921480952022-04-06T10:37:00.006+01:002022-04-06T10:37:46.243+01:00Is It Time To Replace Your Home’s Old Windows?<p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="401" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/9nKRmcJQNklJu3S--p4z5r3L3MASXAaQrVWpdCnrF8XpT9_NDGuJ-O3SG6asG6bWXPr5VD3XjVgwMBVi6L-bonsL2UKoafcVlMYcqW3TwPd8QkC8S4pTFh5ZtGgeIx2mNvYgjg5m" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="602" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6edabde8-7fff-074e-9536-883d97a4aef3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/windows-with-red-shutters-5216112/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pexels. CCO Licensed.</span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Windows aren’t easy or cheap to replace. However, you could find that it’s worth the time and cost if your windows are very old. Many older windows have poor heat insulation, poor security and poor soundproofing qualities compared to newer windows. They may even let in drafts and moisture, and may negatively impact the value of your home. Below are just a few questions to ask yourself to determine whether it’s time to replace your windows. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are they in poor condition?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Windows in poor condition may devalue your home and leave your windows vulnerable to break-ins, water leaks and drafts. Of course, some damage is fairly easy and cheap to fix - you can easily repaint wooden frames that are flaking or replace a broken pane on a single window. You should be more concerned if most of your windows are showing signs of major damage such as rot, cracking or water leaks. In most cases, it’s usually easier to just replace all your windows than to try to repair such damage. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do they offer any insulation?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A lot of older windows are single-paned. Such windows can lose a lot of heat, resulting in your home getting colder faster in winter. This often means using more energy to heat your home. By switching to double glazing or triple glazing you could help to trap heat in your home longer and reduce your energy bills. Of course, there are many other options to help prevent heat loss from windows including adding </span><a href="https://www.treehugger.com/best-thermal-curtains-5116596" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thick curtains</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, installing shutters or using insulating film. These could be a cheaper alternative to installing new windows. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How secure are they?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another good reason to upgrade your windows could be to improve your </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2017/01/home-security.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">home security</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Many old windows do not have strong glass or frames, making it easy for a burglar to break in. Some old windows don’t even have locks on the inside. Upgrading to new windows could help to make your home safer. That said, there are other cheaper ways to keep your windows secure such as these </span><a href="https://www.osbornescreens.com.au/xceed" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xceed security screens</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or security shutters. Consider these alternatives if you’re on a tight budget.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do they add to the character of your home?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Old windows may not be worth replacing if they add to your home’s character. For example, historic timber windows are often worth preserving due to the charm and value that they can add to a property. You may even find that you’re </span><a href="https://www.salisburyjoinery.com/blog/replacing-heritage-windows-doors" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not allowed to replace historic windows</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - certain features in old buildings are protected and you could face heavy fines for removing them. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How much will they cost to replace?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When replacing windows, you should look into the cost to determine whether it’s truly worthwhile. This is likely to depend on how many windows your home has and how large they are. While you can replace one or two windows, they may look out of place with the rest of the windows if you don’t match them with the exact same style. This is why it’s often better to replace all your windows at once. Collect multiple quotes from different contractors to get an idea of the average price and decide whether you can financially stretch to it. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-43068301734561074452022-02-21T15:27:00.002+00:002022-02-21T15:27:17.117+00:005 Cost-Effective Tips That TRANSFORM Your Decor<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creating the right interior design is no easy task—every homeowner struggles with defining the best decor to reflect their personality. Ultimately, not many people have first-hand experience in decorating a property. More often than not, we seek inspiration from magazines and Instagram, copying the designs we love the most. That's precisely why your home sweet home could be missing </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2018/01/the-most-important-parts-of-interior.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crucial aspects of interior styling</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, such as maximizing natural light passages or building a consistent and intuitive flow from room to room. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-473b0942-7fff-80c5-20bf-3f69995c1b87"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Picture the scene: You've invested a lot of money in decorating your home. Yet things still don't feel quite right. If you've checked for flow and natural contrasts between rooms and can't find any issues, chances are making these small changes will help your decor shine. Spoiler alert: They are inexpensive!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="416" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yatu1d6SwdMZyM0F9ExWx7vumtuEtlhG7IM9AWMTAAvQ7Vix2tLoRCeP6nJMs55UlD_Fn-FHtyw4aadvtIITAfWPcQnBSV8BSbb0lrF2bUmD6udtyegpWpQxFTY_pVzWBWgcA7Kp" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/7piUvTG2jIc" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unsplash - CC0 License</span></span></a></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#1. Clear glass panels</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your windows can accumulate a lot of grime during the year. However, you are unlikely to notice a difference. Microparticles of dirt are invisible to the naked eye. Yet, they could still affect how the light comes into your home. That's precisely why it's important to schedule regular </span><a href="https://laborpanes.com/location/charleston/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">window washing</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to make the most of your windows. It will help brighten your rooms and enhance your mood! </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#2. Add more green plants</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Houseplants are more than a decorative addition to your interior, and they can boost your health significantly. Indeed, plants </span><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/indoor-plants-can-instantly-boost-your-health-happiness-ncna781806" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">freshen the indoor air</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by releasing oxygen, which can make your home feel brighter, fresher, and more welcoming. According to NASA, plants can also play an active role in removing toxins from your indoor air, reducing the symptoms of building sickness. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Additionally, the presence of plants helps soothe the mind. You are more likely to enjoy your decor if you feel relaxed and at peace. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#3. Introduce scents to your decor</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your decor can become a full sensory experience through the addition of scents. Investing in an essential oil diffuser can help bring soothing smells to your home. Lemon can be uplifting, helping to see your decor in a different eye. Frankincense promotes inner peace, which can also transform the way you perceive your home. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For those who struggle with high stress levels, bergamot and ylang-ylang can help decrease blood pressure and negativity. Remember that your mood can affect your perception of your surroundings. Therefore, creating sensorial and soothing spots in your home will make the most of your decor. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#4. Open the windows</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Renewing your indoor air is free. It doesn't cost anything to open y our windows once a day and let the air circulate inside your home. You should spend 30 minutes to an hour every day to refresh your indoor air. It will remove the toxins that accumulate indoors and help make everything feel cleaner and fresher. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#5. Energize your interior</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a long day at work, it's natural to feel sluggish and lazy. But you can introduce pockets of energy within your decor. In moderation, the addition of bright colors, such as red or orange, can instantly make you feel more awake. It can be as simple as adding red cushion covers in your living rooms or painting the frame of your favorite picture in dark orange. Little touches of brightness will make a big difference to your mood! </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you change your decor without actually changing your decor? The answer is yes. These small transformations can elevate your interior and make you feel more at home! </span></span></p><br /></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-65817378282751753392022-01-27T09:17:00.002+00:002022-01-27T09:17:11.489+00:00The Gentleman's Guide for Packing a Suitcase for Travel<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When traveling, it is important to pack light. However, you also want to make sure that you have everything you need with you. This can be a difficult balance to achieve. This blog post will provide tips for packing a suitcase that will help ensure that you are ready for anything that comes your way!</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fdc3c42e-7fff-bc77-7555-d839b381f90e"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="416" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BXpmPTzkjIFsiH3w0ZY5LToA7qEyOzP28xGZKQJIfQk2FKvjbSTIImPGk5w0TimEZmImdT_3alKwAY-GwVfLcGe2jFSAJjshbWXcgdrTTzyaXHarZY0JsiHqu6ksj-BsnGZjvNVD" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-with-luggage-bag-on-train-station-896768/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Oleg Magni from Pexels</span></span></a></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">1) Start With The Essentials</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When packing a suitcase, it is essential to start with the essentials. This includes items like underwear, socks, shirts, and pants. Make sure to pack enough clothes for the duration of your trip, but try to keep it light. You do not want to be lugging around a heavy bag all day!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are traveling for business, it is important to bring along a suit or other formal attire. If you are doing any </span><a href="https://www.onetripatatime.com/travel-tips-sightseeing-strategies/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sightseeing</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or participating in other activities, make sure to pack appropriate clothing as well. It is also a good idea to bring along a few extra sets of clothes just in case something happens and you end up getting wet or dirty.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2) Pack Smart</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When packing a suitcase, it is important to be smart about how you pack. This means folding your clothes in a way that will save space. You can also use packing cubes to help organize your belongings. Another tip is to bring along smaller items like shampoo and conditioner that can take up less space.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is also essential to think about what you will need during your trip. If you are traveling with a laptop, for example, make sure to bring along the appropriate charger and cables. If you are going on an outdoor adventure, make sure to pack sunscreen, insect repellent, and other necessary items.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">3) Make Use Of The Available Space</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the best tips for packing a suitcase is to use the available space. This means using every nook and cranny to store your </span><a href="https://www.brother2brother.co.uk/balenciaga-m3128" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Men's Balenciaga</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> clothes.. You can use shoe bags to store smaller items or pack underwear and socks inside your shoes.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another great way to utilize space is by packing clothing that can be worn multiple ways. For example, a t-shirt can be worn as a shirt or a dress. A skirt can also be doubled up as a pair of shorts. By packing clothes like this, you will save room in your suitcase.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">4) Use A Suitcase That Is The Right Size</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When packing a suitcase, it is important to use a bag that is the right size. This will help you avoid overpacking and ensure that you have enough room for everything you need. It is also essential to choose a sturdy suitcase and easy to carry.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are traveling with children, it may be helpful to bring along a smaller suitcase or backpack that they can carry themselves. This will help keep them occupied and prevent them from getting tired and cranky.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">5) Label Your Bags</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When traveling, it is important to label your bags. This will help ensure that they are not misplaced during transit. You can use a luggage tag or some other type of identification system.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is also a good idea to pack an extra set of clothes and essentials in your carry-on bag. This way, you will be prepared if something happens to your suitcase and gets lost or delayed.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">6) Have Fun With It</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While it is essential to be organized when packing a suitcase, it is also important to have fun. This means including some personal items that will make you feel comfortable and at home.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This could include a favorite book, headphones, or travel-sized toiletries. By having these items, you will help ensure that your trip is enjoyable from start to finish!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">7) Stay Organized</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the best ways to </span><a href="https://www.today.com/shop/travel-packing-stay-organized-t222187" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stay organized</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when packing a suitcase is to use a checklist. This will help ensure that you do not forget anything important. You can either create your list or use one provided by a luggage company.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another way to stay organized is to pack your clothes and belongings in categories. This could include items like shirts, pants, dresses, and underwear. By packing this way, you will find what you need quickly and easily.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, there are a few key things to remember when packing a suitcase for travel. By following these tips, you can ensure that your luggage is well-organized and that you have everything you need for an enjoyable trip.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-73912496687744083772022-01-05T22:07:00.000+00:002023-08-30T09:00:00.280+01:00Why Part Of Me Will Always Be "Bridget" (And That Is Allowed)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSe3lcddsQk/X-zGHaZ_0-I/AAAAAAAACX4/paN1NnF9glcSJM4TLDalVEbpi9an-GPMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s670/bridget.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="670" height="330" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSe3lcddsQk/X-zGHaZ_0-I/AAAAAAAACX4/paN1NnF9glcSJM4TLDalVEbpi9an-GPMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w502-h330/bridget.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There is a thought that has been building in my head lately. Well, not lately, for some time now. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Why do I feel that, at a time where arguably (in the first world) women are at our most liberated, are there more rules imposed on women than ever?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We are at a point in history where we are told that women can be all things, that nothing is impossible. We can do anything we want, be anything we want to be. The rules and shackles imposed by society for so very long are being thrown away and we are creating and running our own lives the way we want to. Or are we?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Somehow, despite all of this liberation; it seems that we are once again being told what to do, how to look, how to act and how to think, increasing not just from men, but from other women. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes it feels that the only thing we are not allowed to be, <b><i>is ourselves</i></b>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was watching Bridget Jones Diary over Christmas. Bridget Jones Diary was written in 1996 and released as a film in 2001. For so many of us, Bridget encapsulated so much of who we are, our characteristics and both our flaws and our strengths.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Her silliness, her hope, her need for love and looking for it in all the wrong places. Her inability to make the right choices. Her ability to pick herself up and dust herself off to try again, after an obligatory vat of wine and a few renditions of "All By Myself". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I saw so much of myself in Bridget and indeed, now over twenty five years since the book came out, I still do.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The thing is, we are all multifaceted people. Aside from my many similarities to Bridget, I am also many other things. Many of which are contradictory to the other. I am independent, but feel an innate need to be loved, cared for. I am both secure, and insecure in my appearance, my character, my trajectory in life. I may have finally reached a point where I no longer walk about swathed in black, but I still change my clothes as many times before deciding on an outfit. Whatever the occasion. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have a career, but it does not drive me more than being happy in my life outside of work. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have both a traditional and non traditional relationship with my partner.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">All of the above is the way I choose to live my life. It is who I am. Because I am be more than one thing. I can, and do, have opinions about a thousand different subjects. They don't all have to be on the same wavelength.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This, for me, is what the women before me fought for. To be the person I am. To think the way I want. Act the way I want. Do what the hell I want.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After watching the film, I later watched a documentary about the writer, Helen Fielding who spoke about her own similarities to Bridget, which inspired her to write the book. One of the people in the documentary was Germaine Greer, who made comment about the routine that Bridget went through in order to ready herself for her first date with Daniel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Germaine was eyerolling at the fact that Bridget felt the need to do all of this. Why was she thinking more about whether to wear sexy underwear or control underwear rather than, as Germaine said "Don't worry about your pants girl, just kiss him".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-anQCt3BWb_0/X_DsFlMWdjI/AAAAAAAACb8/HggIBBB2GxQ_FHh7K_zIysElKHQtuz0WgCPcBGAYYCw/s298/greer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="298" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-anQCt3BWb_0/X_DsFlMWdjI/AAAAAAAACb8/HggIBBB2GxQ_FHh7K_zIysElKHQtuz0WgCPcBGAYYCw/w350-h282/greer.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">That is true enough. What we know, certainly by Bridget's age, is that a man cares more about getting into your knickers rather than their style. They don't care. From my own experience with my partner, he tells he loves the "wrapping", but it is what inside that counts. The body and the mind.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But should that mean that we should also not care? Is that now not allowed? The effort that we put in is never just about them, it is part of who we are. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, now, in 2022, being like Bridget is discouraged. Embarrassing even. All of those traits that we saw in Bridget reflected in ourselves are now frowned upon. At a time when even the word woman is being taken away from us, by men who have decided they are women; why are our feminine traits being seen as wrong and traits attributed to men, now right?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is nothing wrong with being confident. Forthright. Competitive. Single minded in our pursuits. Assertive. All typically "male" behaviours. An increase of these behaviours is all good for women, but more and more I see them the things that make us women, now actively discouraged and forbidden.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is no right way to be a man or a woman. We can be any and all things, but by our choosing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Even the choice to be a stay at home mum is now judged. I overheard a conversation the other day where a young twenty something was saying to friends that what she wanted most in life was to be a mother. At home, with her children. She was immediately jumped on. What about your career, your independence, your money. You can't "just" be a mother.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course she can. She can be anything she wants to be. Can't she? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am not writing an anti Germaine Greer post, but I saw this quote from her relevant to this post.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #101010; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If a woman never lets herself go, how will she ever know how far she might have got? If she never takes off her high-heeled shoes, how will she ever know how far she could walk or how fast she could run?</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Can I not wear high heels? Put on my makeup, take an eternity to decide on what to wear? Why do these have to detract from the person that I am? Does this now make me vapid and silly? Why can't I be silly? Doing those things are part of what makes me, me. It does not make me less intelligent, less willing and able to be successful and walk the path that I want to. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I want to walk that path the way I chose. <b>Not chosen by others.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It feels sometimes like we have moved on from changing from we look like and how we dress for men, to now editing who we are as people and the persona we show to the world, for (some) women.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I walk to the beat of my own drum. Not others. I won't be told how to live my life or how to act/be. I see how far women have come, what we have achieved, what generations before us fought for and gained for us. I don't think they would want me to be put in another box.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We make our own rules. What we cannot and should not do, is impose those rules on others. So yes, part of me is Bridget. And I am not ashamed of that. Nor should I be.</p>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-15076203176369276872022-01-05T12:10:00.002+00:002022-01-05T12:10:43.908+00:003 Tips To Buy Your First Motorcycle<p> <img height="435" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/fepkRnt-NjThVL-i4pHAae3k4wMUltQIN6YcztNc4G34N8-Z7Dj-nZzLLOXpM0KK-oBWUytXZSC6nIr0BPgqE1HfWrdyhwPeChyB-7_ULA_zpXLljJBWDYVHgt-lLMQxcAU1vIAn" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="602" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a2655488-7fff-7f9d-cd8e-088a0f511c1f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/motorcycle-transportation-monochrome-2077914/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Image Credit: Lars_Nissen from Pixabay.</span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quite a few people want to drive motorcycles rather than cars. There are plenty of reasons why. Many bikers claim that it offers more freedom.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s also a decision that you’ll need to put some thought into. That’s especially true when you’re going to buy your first motorcycle.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the same could be </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2018/10/buying-new-car-what-factors-influence.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">said for buying a car</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, it’s especially true with a motorbike. You’ll need to make sure you’re extra safe in it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you’re buying your first motorcycle, you’ll need to focus on a few key things. Once you do, you should be certain that you get the one that you want.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buy Your First Motorcycle Easily With 3 Tips</span></span></h2><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Focus On Safety</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Safety will be the most important factor to focus on when you buy your first motorcycle. There’ll be fewer safety features on a motorcycle than a car or SUV.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’ll need to maximize the safeness of your choice. There are multiple ways of doing so. As a first-time motorcycle owner, you should choose something that doesn’t have too much power.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You should also consider your riding gear. The helmet will be the most obvious part of this, although you’ll need to think of protective clothing too.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ll also need to be safe while driving. If you’re involved in an accident, </span><a href="https://www.thefllawfirm.com/tampa-motorcycle-accident-lawyer.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">discuss your case with a lawyer</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Know What To Consider</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Multiple factors will affect your decision when you buy your first motorcycle. You should be aware of these before you start looking.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doing so lets you keep them in mind as you’re researching different dealers and motorbikes. Some factors will be </span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-what-to-consider-when-buying-a-new-motorcycle/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more important than others</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The largest are:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Condition</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Price</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Technology</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Insurance Costs, and more.</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can use each of the above to narrow down your decision. Some options will be too expensive, for example, while others will affect quality.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing what you want and what you’re looking for will be a large part of the buying process. Spend enough researching things before buying.</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have A Type In Mind</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You might be surprised to know that there are multiple types of motorcycles. You could already be aware of some of them, though there may be more than you’re aware of.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They’ll all offer different advantages and disadvantages. Some of the more </span><a href="https://www.cycleworld.com/lets-talk-about-different-types-motorcycles/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">notable types include</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cruiser</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dual Purpose</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sport Bike</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Touring</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sport Touring</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Electric</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you’re buying your first motorcycle, you’ll need to differentiate between these types. Some will be more appealing to you than others.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To properly take advantage of this, you’ll need to put some research into the different types. Doing so lets you make a much more informed decision.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How To Buy Your First Motorcycle: Wrapping Up</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you don’t know how to buy your first motorcycle, the process could be slightly overwhelming. You’ll have multiple things you’ll need to consider.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once you know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t have a problem deciding which motorbike is the right one for you. Cost and other factors can also come into play.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These should come after the above, however. Safety and other factors will be paramount. These can often be worth paying for.often be worth paying more for.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-41401527452378468452022-01-04T14:23:00.006+00:002022-01-04T14:25:34.342+00:00Top Tips For Buying Your First House<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <img height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/SujpVZ0aR5KGo05lsYn3HUxnqtwFntWrAGsUzTlIB4Apy0EwqwLNrIWczPC_nqk3Wj0AnG-rxAGJ2t1a8iS94HFBv8Mu-LmAhmsXB_Rz9uLzCqVYIHGQypJXMzZ33LsUnrygWuMz" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="602" /></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-98b2e3f7-7fff-cf0a-7f11-b739a7cf7bfa"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/new-zealand-house-home-cottage-2609034/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Image Credit: 12019 from Pixabay.</span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone dreams of buying their first home. It takes quite a while to be able to, however. When you can, you’ll want to make sure you go about it the right way.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s much easier said than done for many people. When you’re buying your first house, it’ll naturally be your first time doing so. You mightn’t know what to expect.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’ll likely already know about budgeting, getting a mortgage, and more. These are the most obvious parts of buying property.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They’re not the only things you’ll need to keep in mind, though. With the various factors that can affect whether or not you’ll like or want a particular, you’ll need to know a few things.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you do, you’ll have </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2018/10/top-tips-when-moving-home.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no problem moving in</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What To Know Before Buying Your First House</span></span></h2><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check Out The Neighborhood</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While you’ll typically focus on the house that you’re considering, you should also consider the neighborhood itself. You’ll need to make sure that you like it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Visiting the neighborhood several times will give you an idea of what it’s like. You should make sure to do so at different times of the day and week.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’ll give you an accurate idea of what it’s like to live in the neighborhood. With how large of a factor this should be to the home, </span><a href="https://www.reallymoving.com/first-time-buyers/guides/how-to-buy-a-house-10-important-tips" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you’ll need to consider it</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Work With A Trusted Real Estate Agent</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Working with a real estate agent when you’re buying your first house is highly recommended. There are multiple benefits to this. They can guide you throughout the home buying process.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They can also answer any of the questions that you might have. You shouldn’t pick the first one you come across, however.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ll need to put some research into different real estate agents. The likes of </span><a href="https://www.compass.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compass</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, among other options, can be recommended, depending on where you’re looking.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For first-time buyers, this can be the best-recommended option.</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Know How Much To Offer</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many people believe that they should offer the listing price when they’re buying a home. In many cases, that wouldn’t be enough to secure the purchase.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’ll likely be other people trying to buy the house. These will often be different to your offer. You’ll need to </span><a href="https://time.com/nextadvisor/mortgages/how-much-to-offer-on-a-house/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">figure out how much to offer</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While a real estate agent can help you with this, you should also do your research. Online searches can be more than helpful with this.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Focusing on a local area and similar properties is recommended. Doing so will give you a ballpark figure of how much you should offer for a specific house.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though there might still be some negotiation after this, you should be much closer to a sale once you have this research done.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buying Your First House: Wrapping Up</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As thrilling as buying your first house is, you should go into it with your eyes open. There’s a significant amount of money on the line; you’ll want to make sure you don’t misspend it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there’s the fact that the house buying process can be an overwhelming one. You could have to see multiple properties, jump through countless hoops, and more.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s easy to feel stressed during this. Using multiple tips and tricks will minimize this, however. Once you do, you should be unpacking in your new home in no time.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-15608558124713785782021-12-26T18:16:00.000+00:002021-12-26T18:16:01.934+00:00How to Raise Money for Your Real Estate Investment<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-75e39414-7fff-9687-8562-3b804c88fcc4"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 569px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="427" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fPVtLU7QVGnei1cMC6zPo1H7s1obzAkWBIEBzlrpyA1gF0KzNg1KDeYIRSYcQ1Q4BaQ3S05tCKOcuCbnGA_fTO3EcZYJiGcJSRH6GiFCAgy3nMIcWQ0KZ-ISiWZF-qE3AFvI_9FV=w468-h427" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="468" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-businessman-counting-paper-bills-8872403/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image Credit</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raising money for your real estate investment can be a daunting and challenging task, but it is not impossible. There are many different ways to increase the capital necessary to invest in real estate.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is how you can use these methods to make your dream of investing in property come true.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A Mortgage or Investment Property Loan</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One way to raise money for your real estate </span><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-basic-tips-for-investing-in-real-estate_b_9072532" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">investment is by</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> taking out a mortgage or loan. This can be done through a traditional bank or lender, or you could look into alternative options like private money lending or hard money lending.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When getting a mortgage, consider the following:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The loan to value ratio of the property</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your credit score and history</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The current interest rate environment</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following are examples of mortgage companies:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wells Fargo</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bank of America</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chase</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Citi Mortgage</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quicken Loans</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can</span><a href="https://www.jenjewell.ca/homes-for-sale-veterans-park-orangeville-ontario/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> navigate here</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn more about your real estate investment mortgage options.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A Private Money Lender</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A private money lender is an investor who provides capital in exchange for repayment at a future date, usually in interest.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Private lenders are often family members or friends who do not carry lending licenses and therefore </span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/04/28/how-to-raise-capital-for-your-real-estate-projects/?sh=535c7ee1586e" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can lend without restrictions</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. These types of loans may come with high-interest rates because they are unsecured by your property, but their convenience makes them attractive to real estate investors trying to raise funds fast.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When getting a private lender, consider the following:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When will you pay the lender back?</span></span></p></li></ul><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is your repayment plan?</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How much interest are you willing to accept on top of the principal amount borrowed?</span></span></p></li></ul><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A Hard Money Lender</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hard money lenders provide short-term, high-rate loans for real estate investors who intend to sell their properties promptly. The terms of these transactions range from six months to two years and require borrowers to make monthly payments with vast chunks of interest at regular intervals.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However,</span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2018/03/setting-ambiance-of-your-home.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because these companies</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> focus exclusively on investing in precious property that they can turn around quickly, homebuyers looking for more traditional loan options might have difficulty qualifying or get approved through them. Therefore, when approaching a hard money lender—ask yourself what type of investment you are looking for.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Crowdfunding</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crowdfunding refers to online platforms to solicit donations or investments from a large number of people. It has become a popular way to raise money for all sorts of projects, including real estate investments.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are several different types of crowdfunding:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rewards-based crowdfunding</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: This type of crowdfunding is when investors receive rewards in return for their investment. For example, they may receive a product or service related to their funded project.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Donation-based crowdfunding</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: In this type of crowdfunding, investors donate money without expecting anything in return. This is often used for charitable causes.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Equity crowdfunding</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: With equity crowdfunding, investors become shareholders in the company and receive a portion of the profits generated by the company. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates this type of funding.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Conclusion</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Investing in real estate properties can be a very profitable and rewarding venture. However, to be successful, you will need a lot of money to get started. The above tips will give you a few different ways to raise funds for your next real estate investment.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584347992486195496.post-63576670275443575602021-12-09T21:55:00.005+00:002021-12-09T21:55:52.970+00:00The Jewellery to Wear for Special Occasions<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 484px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="394" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HDNw1bMrpgemnxn2YbhL_19OL050wHLkjShdFf9U2G4-mrz-v2sP-X4uxIS5Xj3abqlANrAN0EBr6aIx8e2LSXPOQcGk0jhsgxZXS_LLNsi1KTKXNA3dHOspEpgdL2t6JakwC-_X=w597-h394" style="margin-left: -54.579881656804716px; margin-top: 0px;" width="597" /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image Courtesy of </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/7vX5j06Qeeo" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unsplash</span></a></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e1aa171a-7fff-56b7-962b-1be99f26ca75"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wearing jewelled adornments commemorating elaborate events dates back to before the ancient Egyptians. Cultures all over the world still carry this tradition. Although many people wear jewellery every day, there are recognized pieces to wear for special occasions. Yet, it can be tricky to know what to wear and when beyond well-known events.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Wedding Anniversaries</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting married is an extraordinary commitment between two people. Therefore, it warrants remembrance and unique jewellery pieces to commemorate your special day. For each year of marital bliss, there is an associated list of modern and traditional gifts and materials. For example, clocks and paper represent your first year while china and cotton commemorate your second. It might not be viable to give these materials each year, but you can offer jewellery gifts for milestone years. For example, </span><a href="https://www.mydiamond.ie/rings/emerald" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">emerald rings</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and gifts are associated with 20 years.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Days Special to You</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, you don't need traditional anniversaries to denote a special day between you and your partner. Or even a special day in particular. Perhaps you like to remember the first day you met your husband or wife. Or maybe even the first time your business made a profit. Everyone has days that are special to them. The best part is meaningful gifts, and jewellery can be anything you like and traditional. For example, you might find solace in a Saint Christopher necklace when your child learns to drive, or your wife might appreciate a new charm each year on the date of your first special night together.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Pieces for Weddings</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many grand traditions associated with weddings. Formal hats, dresses, cutting the cake and the first dance. But many people don't think of wedding jewellery. Brooches are traditionally worn at </span><a href="https://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2021/11/how-to-have-wedding-that-guests-will.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">western weddings</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, while Rajputi jewellery is worn at grand Asian weddings by the bride, groom and specific guests. However, for the most part, you can accent your gown, whether bride or guest, with particular pieces. For example, delicate necklaces compliment your neckline, armlets break up monotonous tones and earrings accent a formal updo. </span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Special Birthdays</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jewellery makes a remarkable birthday gift. You can build quite the collection that marks each particular day and makes beautiful memories beginning as a child. Pandora charms are trendy, but birthstone jewellery adds a rich personal touch. Each month and zodiac sign has a corresponding stone. And these stones can be inserted into all kinds of jewellery, such as rings, necklaces and bracelets. For example, garnet represents January, and Aquarius is associated with amber. However, birthstones vary by eastern and western culture types. </span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Religious Occasions</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultural jewellery is prominent worldwide, and each religion holds specific patterns, symbols and materials sacred. These types of jewellery are traditionally worn to represent a religious belief or at particular times of the year. For example, as a catholic, you might wear a crucifix around your neck to show devotion to Christ. Whereas trending </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhumka_(earring_style)" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jhumkas jewellery</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> might be given as a gift during the Muslim celebration of Eid that encourages gift giving as a symbol of generosity.</span></span></p><div><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Victoria Franklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13009228001440066445noreply@blogger.com0