Products I Love

When you find something you really like, something that impresses you - well you have to share it don't you.

You know how precious my hair is having lost it all to cancer 5 years ago. I have grown it down to my waist and do my best to keep it in tip top condition. In order to keep it sleek I have been using hair spray on a brush until I found this amazing product.....

I love Got2B Argan Oil Spray!!!

To clarify.... I am just a regular "Josephine Blogs" on the street, I am not getting paid for this review I have just found a product which I love.

I bought it by chance on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots. I had selected 2 products and decided to have this as my 3rd just to see what it would be like. It was the best decision I ever made! Its so light, like hair spray and instantly calms the hair, keeps it straight and shiney. I use it every day especially after washing and I have found that the ends no longer get knotty.

So its not often that I shout out about a product but I love this so much I just had to spread the experience!

Things Are a Bit Weird

Technology!

Love it or hate it! 

Its great when its working but when its not, flip! its a nightmare!

My laptop recently gave up the will to live but thankfully I have an extremely capable husband who has fixed it. However, in trying to get to my blog I got caught up in google accounts confusion and even had to create a NEW blog just to find this one... give me strength!

It only seems like yesterday that I was pounding a typewriter and I thought I had "made it" when my boss bought me a semi electronic typewriter.

How technology has evolved in such a short time, its amazing.

Next month it will be 24 years since my big brother Peter died. He was a technical whizz but I wonder what he would make of our world today because in those 24 years we have become dependant on computers and electronics.

The jury in my head is still out with regard to social media. I got into it when I became ill in 2009, I wasn't physically able to whizz around at a million miles an hour and so I had time to become familiar with computers and facebook.

I enjoy being able to connect and communicate with friends from all over the country and world and follow my favourite band but on the flip side, I dislike the intrusion, the voyeuristic way people can watch you, the fact that people communicate but do so ineffectively..... I don't like it.

Karma - Let It Go!

I have some stuff going on in my life right now which is causing me distress. It's not major stuff so don't worry. I am healthy (as far as I know) and I am alive and happy. The part of my life is one which should be relaxing and peaceful but sadly by the action of others it is not.

I have been building up resentment in my heart and that in turn has upset me and stressed me out because I don't want to feel negative emotions, they are detrimental to ones harmony and well being.

Then, today, on facebook - this message was posted by Emma Sims Holistic Therapies - I read it and I took note.

This is so right so today I will meditate for peace in my soul and the release of my negative feelings. After all, I am not responsible for the action of others - their actions, their karma - their lesson.

Namaste.

Love Hope Strength

Steaking!

Hmmmm.... streaking..... for me it conjures up images of people running naked!!!!

But no, its not!

Streaking is about running.

I have been off my running during the summer because I tend to get very hot when I exercise and if I over heat I become very ill. This has become worse ever since my cancer treatments so I really do have to be careful.

There has been a heatwave this year and its rendered me completely useless. I have been unable to run, walk the dogs, ride my horse or literally do anything. 

I was feeling pretty low about my running, especially as I am taking part in Erddigs 5K race in September which I am doing to raise a bit of money for North Clwyd Animal Rescue. Then in Septembers issue of Running for Women there was something in it about streaking. Of course it grabbed my attention for obvious reasons but I am glad I did because it has revolutionised my running!

I have set myself my own personal goal of running every day for a week for one mile each run. I am currently on day 5 and still trying to get my head around the liberating feeling this has given me. I am not running for long enough to over heat, I can run at any time of the day and am not restricted to early morning and its short enough to fit it in at any time.

I am hoping to fulfil my target of a week - 7 days and 7 miles and then perhaps another week.

It has rekindled and revived my love of running and is definitely something I will do during summer months when I can't cope with the heat.


( photo courtesy of google chrome)

Eco Camping - St Davids

Many years ago when we were first married, we camped our way around Wales. I fell in love with the peaceful serenity of St. Davids. Indeed, I prayed on a Holy relic and my prayers were answered.....

We decided to return there as a family. What struck me was how busy it was but it was a beautiful sunny day and I still felt charmed by the place as before.

The boys on their way into the Cathedral

The entrance 

View from the entrance into the catheral

A cute little alley within the Cathedral grounds

Beautiful trees there

By the ford waiting to buy ice cream

Jason and his ice cream

Inside the ruins of the Bishops Palace

Bishops Palace

Bishops Palace

If you look at the dents in the grass, they are where bodies are buried #justsaying

It was a lovely visit only spoilt by a foreign person peeing in the car park and not making the slightest effort to hide what he was up to - disgusting!

Eco Camping in Boncath!

I really didn't want to go on holiday... the thought filled me with dread. The fact that I would have to leave my beloved animals AND go camping with two autistic teenagers made it an abhorrent thought.

I managed to sort out animal care for a few days and him indoors selected some camp sites in South Wales. The booking was left until last minute and as there was no reply from the two selected so HI decided to do an online booking with a camp site called "Top of the Woods Eco"..... What was I letting myself in for?

Eco camping.... this was a novel idea but sounded just right for us.

Arrived on Sunday evening with another two parties just setting up as well. The field was really a meadow and was HUGE, surrounded by woodland and trees (my favourite things) and a natural haven for wildlife large or small.

I was intrigued by the idea of solar showers but it soon became evident that they were bags of water which were left to heat by the sun.....

The Shower Tents

The Solar Showers heating in the sun. Behind you can see our tent and the owners tent which is available to hire

Catching rainwater!

The owners had very kindly put 4 solar shower bags out to heat up in the sun for us ready for our arrival which I thought was incredibly thoughtful.

The tent didn't take too long to set up, it was a first time for this one because it was purchased last winter in a sale. I am so glad I bought it, an Outwell Nevada M - lots of space, cosy and really easy to assemble.

Our luxury bedrooms!

HI decided to ditch the blow up camp beds and opted for rigid beds which proved to be much better in my opinion. The only downer for me was that having asked HI to purchase a new sleeping bag for me, he did so, getting my a very pretty pink one which was "short"..... hmmmm short....... short for a kid maybe?????????

No1 son weighed up the problem in hand and suggested that I placed the top on the bottom and have the bottom on the top so that at least the head rest part would cover a bit of my body. Good plan but not good enough - thank goodness HI had packed a woollen blanket!

HI - Him Indoors

One of our Oil Lamps with improvised holder

The Meadow Land

It was quite late by the time everything was sorted and we hadn't brought food with us so we went in search of sustenance. The local pub didn't serve food on a Sunday which I thought was a bit odd so we followed directions into Cardigan and had a take out meal of kebab and pizzas for the boys.

Bed at last but peace was slow to come. 

Tired and restless with pent up energy after a long car journey and search for food, the boys had a little tussle and bicker before going to sleep and giving us some well deserved peace.

I was flippin frozen that night I can tell you but I survived! 

The peace and quietness, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the camp site more than made up for bickering teens and cold nights in mini sleeping bags.

I will tell you about the rest of our adventures in my next post if you are interested?

Pay, Pension and Strike Action

Born into a socialist family, my dad was passionate about Labour and the working mans rights. No wonder because he and my mam were born during times where there was no National Health Service, no benefits - NOTHING.  If you didn't work you had no money, if you were ill you couldn't afford health care, indeed my mam and her village called upon the services of a "struck off" doctor who was nicknamed Dr Pink because he was "always in the pink!" - its little wonder that czc supported this political party and what it stood for back then.

When I started work I ended up as a senior shop steward and company council rep. This and the fact that I was a woman in the 90's had a detrimental affect on my career but the union was there to support me if I wanted...... I followed these paths because I felt strongly about fair play and treating the work staff well.

Industrial action is a last resort and is something not taken lightly.

I was happy to see John Smith take the lead of the labour party and extremely sad at his premature death. When Tony Blair took over the leadership I had hope for a good future but it was not to be.

Labour died with John Smith as far as I am concerned. He was the last of the true socialists who did what he did because because he believed in it. 

With Tony Blair came "new labour" and that heralded the death of all that I knew and held dear. 

So.... here we are..... 2014 and living during troubled times where some people get benefits while others can't,the rich have pay rises and bonus payments and the people in the middle who form the majority are bled dry. Disabled people are being treated like frauds as are the very vulnerable in society. The education and national health services are on their knees.

How is it right to cut a persons pay so that they are earning LESS than they did years ago when the cost of living is higher? 

How is it right to change the conditions and terms of work half way through their career?

How is it right to expect workers to work longer in jobs which are physical and if they are not at their young, physical peak - could cost lives?

How is it right that from my point of view, having worked since the age of 17 and obtained my qualifications while I worked, had cancer in 2009 and had to fold my business but was not entitled to any help?

I am angry!!!!

Can you tell?

I am an ordinary housewife and mother with autistic children who have been LET DOWN by the health service, LET DOWN by the education system and just generally LET DOWN by the government who should be protecting and helping us. WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN FAMILIES.

So today when those who can are taking industrial action - I SUPPORT YOU!

You are standing up for those who are not allowed to take industrial action and for those of us who are not represented.

Enough of pay rises and bonuses for FAT CATS! Enough of benefits and perks for those who should be doing a job FOR US.

Its time to stand up for what you feel is right.

Apathy is not an option.

YOU can make a difference if only in a small way - heck - I did.

When my dad was a councillor he didn't get paid for what he did and he didn't claim expenses either - he did it because he wanted to help to make a better and fairer world!

I am disillusioned and saddened by our country and I feel extremely let down.