Little Acorns, Big Know-It-All Oaks

Last Thursday, I waited anxiously, along with so many other parents, for my eldest son's GCSE results.  Obviously, it got me thinking.. how quickly time flies?  I remember when he was born - the feel of his skin, how he smelt, the grasp of his hand around my finger. 

He started school, in Dublin, when he was four.  So confident, eager to start.  He loved his teacher - she replaced me as the centre of his world, if only for five hours a day.  He relished homework. 

Then when we moved to the UK, he made a seamless transition to his new school, loving how new and different it all was, immediately falling in love, yet again, with his teacher.

And as he passed through, year after year, he always did well.  Always tried his best. Always was pleasant and polite.  Always was the best that he could be.  And I've always been proud of him.

He's no angel, don't get me wrong.  What kid is?  He can be impossible to live with.  He is an impossible know-it-all.  And incredibly cocky.  But it turns out he had reason to be.  

When he finally decided to text me and put me out of my misery, it turns out he had done as well as he said he would.  He did very well indeed.  

Next is his A levels.  Watch this space!

Twitter Policing Big Brother

I'm no longer a fan of Big Brother.  I think since they moved it to Channel 5, they're appealing to a younger audience than me.  But also, because of work and that, I really don't have the time to commit.  

However, I found myself watching the launch of Celebrity Big Brother last night - partly because there was nowt else on and party because of all the chatter on Twitter.  And I chattered along, giving my tuppence worth.  It was an interesting mix of people, some more famous than I was expecting.  Alas this post isn't about the TV, it's about what transpired on Twitter that night.  It left me fuming.

Now I know it's horses for courses.  I know while some eagerly await that latest reality TV, some abhor it.  But the acid bitchiness that poured forth towards those who chose to indulge left me speechless!  The superior attitude, looking down and deriding everyone else.  These were grown women, mothers, established bloggers and yet the derision, the blanket assumptions, the snide comments passed from one to another perplexed me.  

I don't watch much reality TV, I don't watch talent-type shows, I don't watch much sport nor am I bothered with current affairs programmes.  Yet I choose not to block any hashtags - the only thing I've ever blocked is Alan Sugar, 'cause he gets on my tits and he keeps appearing anyhow!  Sometimes, I avoid Twitter while X Factor is on but only because no-one is talking about anything else.  I don't, however, think that gives me a license to lecture people I follow about their viewing habits, what they tweet.  I CHOSE to follow them and continue to follow them because we converse, because they interest me, because so many of them have become friends.  When I pop round to my friend's and see what's on her telly, I don't take this as an opportunity to tell her where she's going wrong.

I totally understand when people block hashtags, especially when they follow a lot of people.  I LOVE some of my grumpier followees, who have a right moan about reality TV and some of the more inexplicably popular TV programmes.  I do like to make a sarcastic comment every now and then too.  However, just because I don't watch them, I don't think it makes me any better than those who do.  I don't think what I watch is any more intellectual (says she watching Peter Kay).

So, I exercised my Twitter right and unfollowed.  I rarely follow new people or unfollow old - again I consider them my circle of friends so why would I?  I don't engage in either passive/aggressive tweets or twarguments - life's too short.  I didn't challenge any of these tweets directly because I don't do "virtual" confrontation.  I had my usual moan by DM with those who are always there to listen.

Okay, I'm done now.  If you feel I am being unfair, feel free to comment.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion... I think that's the whole point of this post.

I DON'T Need A Kindle

So, since staying with my sister, despite the wonderful hospitality (she may be reading this, y'know..) the lack of a bedside lamp has meant that I've not been keeping up with my nighttime reading. Then I realise, sure I have the iPad, with a perfect Kindle app, which conveniently is backlit. I'm off now to remove a certain video from YouTube as I no longer need a Kindle!

Post Party Politics

So last night, my son had his 16th birthday party over here in Dublin. We left around 3:30am and came back to my sister's for a nightcap. And while we drank, partygoers had already started posting photos to Facebook. Not an hour previous had those photos been taken and already Andy's friends could see the celebrations. Isn't technology amazing?
(Also, my niece, who is living in Canada at the moment, was able to join in while in a pub with friends via Skype... just blows me away!)