Blog

We've just been having a chat in the office and here are a few initial thoughts:

I watched BBC3’s “Like A Virgin” programme with interest last week for three reasons:

I've recently been having this ongoing debate with a male friend about the validity and viability of transitory/temporary relationships; Relationships that are entered into on the mutual understanding that it is finite, i.e, will more than likely/definitely end within an allotted amount of time. (I'm not talking about 'Holiday Romance's' although the same arguments might still apply...)

The digital ether has been pretty quiet about the latest series of the Channel 4 programme, The Joy of Teen Sex.

(You can read our response to first series, here)

Maybe we're all just weary after all efforts to remove it from the nation’s retinas’ proved futile? Quite possibly. Clearly, it received too much air time and so is back with a vengance. Maybe a blackout is the best approach this time.

Another Give as you Live Experience:

 
Our office is never quiet. It’s never quiet because I insist on playing music alllll day. Don’t get me wrong, I totally agree that silence is golden…sometimes…but mostly I just like having something to sing along to. I have quite eclectic taste in music and tend to play anything from Bon Iver to Beyonce (depending on my mood and my colleagues’ preferences.)

The Romance Academy team has a new favourite programme:

Educating Essex – the latest Channel 4 fly-on-the-wall documentary, following the lives of the staff and pupils at a Passmore High school in Harlow.

Mr Drew and his students.

Re-cap: I bought a dress last week through Give as You Live. My first step towards raising money for Romance Academy – undoubtedly the greatest charity in the UK – by simply maintaining my online shopping addiction. My line-manager even allowed me to shop for it on work time just so we could try it out. Winner.

This blog sadly marks the end of my public exploration into the world of Give As You Live. Never fear, the private shopping for Romance Academy will live on, but this will be the last item you all know about.

My Give as you Live Experience:

Those who know the ladies of Romance Academy well know that we are hugely into clothes. We could lie and say it’s because a large proportion of our job is public/client/youth facing but actually, we just have a slight addiction. I say we, I mean I have a slight addiction to online shopping. Oh, the convenience! No pram bashing or endless queuing, just my bedroom and an age to decide if I really need another pair of shoes.

I stayed up until way too late last night watching the footage of the riots in London. Some of it happening not too far away from my house...

Such a mixture of emotions: disbelief, fear, anger, disgust, judgment (lots of this!) before finally, overwhelming sadness. These young people are totally lost and what we are seeing is the overflow and symptoms of a much bigger issue.