tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79428543277018247012024-03-16T00:03:54.565+00:00Alison Day DesignsAlison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.comBlogger597125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-76584276770890309372024-03-04T19:59:00.006+00:002024-03-04T20:47:15.870+00:00Harnessing the Hues of Autumn: A Vision Board for Surface Pattern Inspiration<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nMaprfhPKgr8bPsr_xhmPvIEXc4XLF9Kwd2iFV687SrwUYmFRRDCJvfkJklZuQbVGgFoUGeToXGtDeq4vTbdW0ECUQJFHx1dDSYUzUkOhI1-3yzVpNSooKIMSDeOSk4mj9GrcCZLz3JTzADFCDDn7A5refe9afb7199AvQeOANpXk5n3aV36te_rV2g/s2619/IMG_4564.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1911" data-original-width="2619" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nMaprfhPKgr8bPsr_xhmPvIEXc4XLF9Kwd2iFV687SrwUYmFRRDCJvfkJklZuQbVGgFoUGeToXGtDeq4vTbdW0ECUQJFHx1dDSYUzUkOhI1-3yzVpNSooKIMSDeOSk4mj9GrcCZLz3JTzADFCDDn7A5refe9afb7199AvQeOANpXk5n3aV36te_rV2g/w400-h291/IMG_4564.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Vision board created for week two of the Surface Pattern Design course: Immersion. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My initial aim was to create a Spring themed vision board, but, I feel it has ended with a more autumnal vibe. with: dried Cosmos and Lisianthus blooms; poppy & honesty seeds and the papery moult from a silver birch tree; citrus slices and the browned leaves from a Red Baron grass plant. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The mosaic Blue Tit is one of my mini mosaics. These tiny, but fierce birds make me smile and visit the garden every day. They have decided that the fat-cake hanging from the ornamental cherry tree is THEIRS alone and not for other birds! 😄 </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I love the sea and am interested in marine life, so. I’ve also added shells and a decorative fish tin lid. 🐚</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I want to design my first collection around the theme of Spring, I’ll need to create another vision board - as they say practice makes perfect!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a></span></p><p><br /></p>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-7638410232869870422024-02-24T11:11:00.004+00:002024-02-24T11:11:58.285+00:00Immersion: Diving into the World of Surface Pattern Design<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpdyrjuyhRi5o1gIxqAiHXxmF6nxwJa9HyNfYVpNon3E512ct2jcwkPGjRhAR-T5CjPQL1fhTo4jno0ZNvb-VkJG3PumpVM57dBMMjhwK4nccJAdiQmdMEKecwZMg76XElNOo7SuyvNfAtLQA6uAHc49TMi7hCO1PfrJU4sOyQOAB-3K0SLWdFOFPj9M/s1670/IMG_4477.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="1670" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpdyrjuyhRi5o1gIxqAiHXxmF6nxwJa9HyNfYVpNon3E512ct2jcwkPGjRhAR-T5CjPQL1fhTo4jno0ZNvb-VkJG3PumpVM57dBMMjhwK4nccJAdiQmdMEKecwZMg76XElNOo7SuyvNfAtLQA6uAHc49TMi7hCO1PfrJU4sOyQOAB-3K0SLWdFOFPj9M/w400-h399/IMG_4477.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">My collection of dried, pressed flowers and leaves, grown last summer and picked from my garden</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> or collected en route somewhere are a great source for sketching. I’ve even created floral sheets for inspiration.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="1637" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SJ4LhUoMKsR9j8vDa911f3Ibm9R8Xa1qWya9AE2OYoTFCfFdHQ1xaWuVHtHQOTVAzFUGVelfUCvR0UQQaPANwLDkdEtDPJOtQnnP3S50HueyF6f_B7a1bIBJQVIuG1MPLK8RsagUci-I3jNve1D5JBb19yt7hDpov7yfMQb_eHmKM1Vrx7dWe5P5qu8/w398-h400/IMG_4475.jpeg" width="398" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Below is first attempt pattern: Fuchsia Frolic - using a favourite plant that I grow each year in my garden for inspiration. This was created after taking part in free a 5-day pattern challenge, generously offered by </span><a href="https://www.bonniechristine.com/startsimple" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;" target="_blank">Bonnie Christine</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Although I’ve used Adobe Illustrator before for publications, it was a learning curve on what else Illustrator can be used for. The pattern still needs a little tweaking, but was a lot of fun to make - I love a challenge!</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GqD6WsqcG_PWHTJ-z7CKE2OH7IZdbdqdrBPbOU2qU_3qrNcveF_9IINs1pu5CLc7s-Tf5wRg6amz6tGPjFJd-fNgCeB9SA0AVFmR0HKyN_tpHzjxwHTjm-SsJZfNZslKxbxr2geXssGYGSZbifW26-3hhaDAfAlIJe6X5hfzMkDHGRLIuofQSXnk78w/s1942/IMG_4478.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="1942" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GqD6WsqcG_PWHTJ-z7CKE2OH7IZdbdqdrBPbOU2qU_3qrNcveF_9IINs1pu5CLc7s-Tf5wRg6amz6tGPjFJd-fNgCeB9SA0AVFmR0HKyN_tpHzjxwHTjm-SsJZfNZslKxbxr2geXssGYGSZbifW26-3hhaDAfAlIJe6X5hfzMkDHGRLIuofQSXnk78w/w400-h365/IMG_4478.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The prospect of what learning surface pattern design could add to a my business long term, in terms of creativity and passive income is exciting. So, I’ve signed up for </span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">Immersion</span><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, an 8-week course (offered by Bonnie), to add this skill to my repertoire. The stunning course book and goodies have already arrived in time for the start on Monday !</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">🌸</span></p><p><br /></p>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-4102231732124210602024-01-06T14:26:00.037+00:002024-01-14T14:42:12.084+00:00The Ivy, Oxford: Falling Far Short of the Grandeur (& Price Tag)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUGTpkVTdrHgBDlRjqqh1tNGyY2u-5aVhZa6yvympzx8scBP3DpsL4kPsUcHiNoNkAlwdFCBWrLVxkr-VodCEog4ZGL2RIvPT7LA-eWu0K3SC95yix6nIpekqtJcl6dqhtRl3jhpq1DB7PjaBoB6ER9lWAYmkoQN1D0jz6M0UFsBgh_aFAeUNr2OLrMw/s1221/Screenshot_20240106_135454_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUGTpkVTdrHgBDlRjqqh1tNGyY2u-5aVhZa6yvympzx8scBP3DpsL4kPsUcHiNoNkAlwdFCBWrLVxkr-VodCEog4ZGL2RIvPT7LA-eWu0K3SC95yix6nIpekqtJcl6dqhtRl3jhpq1DB7PjaBoB6ER9lWAYmkoQN1D0jz6M0UFsBgh_aFAeUNr2OLrMw/w562-h640/Screenshot_20240106_135454_Gallery.jpg" width="562" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Having planned to to spend the festive season abroad, visiting my son in the Netherlands, I suggested to my sister that we have pre Christmas celebration dinner together. The Ivy in Oxford was on my list of restaurants to try, so after we had both taken a look at the menu, I booked a table.<br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Founded in 1917, the original Ivy restaurant was in the West End and was popular with both celebrities and theatre-goers. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since then, The Ivy Collection has grown to a chain across the UK and Ireland.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Researching the menu online, it </span><span style="color: black;">looked promising and offered</span><span style="color: black;"> a variety of choices. As an artist, I was also intrigued by the sumptuous interior photos. Both my sister and I were excited by the prospect of our festive meal.</span><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Arriving earlier than our booking, we sat at the bar and ordered cocktails while waiting for our table. In the interim, I enjoyed the interior decor and botanical illustration reprints on the walls.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yG5vxiswV_jDHb5PIwmlA4Ty0HbJMj6bgI0lnBT8W_yb0Jac22HUxLpcWJ1Buxz_1TRAOyGgzsMiIH0nt3hXqzdY0eLuF2CrwVMTeh54x4K-vGpay_fo0IJOrCujVNsB98X10K1xjpZvQMRjeqFap2iPnngukCVC9_Fm3LaqG_M7vKgG_WT8GtgXIfs/s1065/Screenshot_20240106_135619_Gallery%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1054" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yG5vxiswV_jDHb5PIwmlA4Ty0HbJMj6bgI0lnBT8W_yb0Jac22HUxLpcWJ1Buxz_1TRAOyGgzsMiIH0nt3hXqzdY0eLuF2CrwVMTeh54x4K-vGpay_fo0IJOrCujVNsB98X10K1xjpZvQMRjeqFap2iPnngukCVC9_Fm3LaqG_M7vKgG_WT8GtgXIfs/w634-h640/Screenshot_20240106_135619_Gallery%202.jpg" width="634" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black;">The cocktails came. I had ordered </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black;"><i>The Lost Paloma</i>, tequila based with lime and grapefruit soda and my sister a <i>Foxhound</i>, brandy based with cranberry and lime juice. The barman introduced my cocktail as he presented it to me, in a manner befitting a cocktail. However, in the interval between serving the first and second cocktail, like the gust of an incoming storm, the barman's attitude changed and with</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black;"> a face like thunder, he</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> literally hurled the second cocktail in my sister’s direction, without an introduction. We were astonished at the change, although I had observed </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black;">his manager </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">admonishing him during the making of our order. </span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Back to the cocktails, both were pinkish, tasted almost identical and were watery. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The usual cocktail promise, of flavour infusion coupled with expert mixology, was totally absent!</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our table ready, we moved from the bar, disappointing cocktails in hand, to a table for two, close to a serving station. This proved to be <i>too</i> close, because shortly after sitting down I was unceremoniously elbowed in the head by a member of the serving staff.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">The ambient lighting of the restaurant was too dark and the fact that I had forgotten my reading glasses, meant I was unable to read the tiny font of the menu. We requested candles, which our table was lacking and although pretty they didn’t improve the twilight. To</span><span style="color: black;"> read the menu, I </span><span style="color: black;">used the torch on my mobile</span><span style="color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;">as did the rest of my fellow diners.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUduzhwrv_pj8F0o3ItV_iBfsfYMffVUsEzQ-vdQr1052hz8N5WyvfrNVvPxxWB8XXtqqFwjXpBlr9ZSKnu5tvYWxs_xODPKX35niSJGgNNv2JgGd4hvL1kiQ7EW-DDQL5B9Xy_aF3oVWB4AiCLeo9q_pCv2rCARODKi0X6pGhLEN3SkeF8mw_Hf_T3Y/s1192/Screenshot_20240106_135610_Gallery%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1075" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUduzhwrv_pj8F0o3ItV_iBfsfYMffVUsEzQ-vdQr1052hz8N5WyvfrNVvPxxWB8XXtqqFwjXpBlr9ZSKnu5tvYWxs_xODPKX35niSJGgNNv2JgGd4hvL1kiQ7EW-DDQL5B9Xy_aF3oVWB4AiCLeo9q_pCv2rCARODKi0X6pGhLEN3SkeF8mw_Hf_T3Y/w578-h640/Screenshot_20240106_135610_Gallery%202.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">First we ordered wine and water from our waitress. Opting for something new, we chose a Greek wine: Assyrtiko White Ash (Santorini, Greece) and Elra, a still water.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’ve never experienced such a fiasco, surrounding a bottle of wine. As the waiter, who spoke little English, opened the wine, we asked if the wine could be chilled in the ice bucket, which at the time was situated behind my sister’s chair. No reaction. He labelled the bottle with our table number, hid the bottle out of reach at the service station and disappeared. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In anticipation, we drank the water, but the wine didn’t return. Eventually, we managed to catch the attention of our waitress, who said the wine was coming. When it finally reappeared, after about 10 minutes, it was dumped unceremoniously in the ice bucket - <i>without</i> ice.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzpxUXs5ISbP_58mjyoDoRP4ddkPr02DLYdF5tyEvbeMbirGH0CHW6jTY4Q9_MBI4ffiooH1lwQCzZnGuF8so4srYRiqqZiflPx7r2kAXkNrVZUWc5JjLE1P1rtHPvlrNmfP94CIuty1CbojPgYpWTIhqLizp-jvXLz5zwM3uLkfBkZeuxzKmLQY3xww/s1153/Screenshot_20240106_135604_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzpxUXs5ISbP_58mjyoDoRP4ddkPr02DLYdF5tyEvbeMbirGH0CHW6jTY4Q9_MBI4ffiooH1lwQCzZnGuF8so4srYRiqqZiflPx7r2kAXkNrVZUWc5JjLE1P1rtHPvlrNmfP94CIuty1CbojPgYpWTIhqLizp-jvXLz5zwM3uLkfBkZeuxzKmLQY3xww/w598-h640/Screenshot_20240106_135604_Gallery.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The request to pour our own wine, so as not to be hurried through an £80.00 bottle of what turned out to be a poorly chilled and uninteresting Greek wine, was met with surprise and the various attempts to fill our glasses were quickly nipped in the bud. Requests for the ice bucket to be filled with ice, to cool the tasteless, now warm wine, caused confusion. It took several requests before ice was finally brought by the manager, with apologies for the delay.<br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Making the staff aware of our dietary requirements - my sister is Vegan and I have an allergy to gluten went smoothly, but greatly reduced our menu choices. My bugbear was that a lot of food items had been cooked in the same oil as food containing gluten. Chips as a side had to ruled out for this reason and additionally because they had been (unnecessarily) coated in an ingredient containing gluten, to make them more crispy. My sister’s choices were reduced dramatically as well, to salads and the cliché go to option of sweet potato curry, favoured by many a restaurant.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Onward and upward, the food arrived…<br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27.9px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vAadjMjFmKmnTq3d0prLexDIkbDpw3uCARSGLBAy6JKenlPpOOTiRqZullXXDXwEOhXvgM4bSof_NMVO9Q38oVe9JxoLPn7j3QfHXQmPFNCmAzPkKNW7aPGoathK0E10dioQ20MWadQPnz3cpMrRoxCicXj6Nct4McXmOLJRFbHQtpw7V5eBbJjjPSw/s1080/Screenshot_20240106_135507_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1080" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vAadjMjFmKmnTq3d0prLexDIkbDpw3uCARSGLBAy6JKenlPpOOTiRqZullXXDXwEOhXvgM4bSof_NMVO9Q38oVe9JxoLPn7j3QfHXQmPFNCmAzPkKNW7aPGoathK0E10dioQ20MWadQPnz3cpMrRoxCicXj6Nct4McXmOLJRFbHQtpw7V5eBbJjjPSw/w640-h466/Screenshot_20240106_135507_Gallery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My starter, a lobster and prawn cocktail was served in a bowl held by a striking crab holder and was delicious. This was followed by duck curry, kept warm by a tea-light lamp, rice and green beans with almonds. It was tasty, but not particularly special. Not being in the mood for the sweet potato curry, my sister opted for a salad starter and salad main, which were so-so and uninspiring.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A trip to the ladies loos, was the most fun I had all evening. On the way, the walls are covered with pictures and replicas of exotic botanical prints at every turn. The toilets are a fantasy in pink in a variety of shades and tones. The loo is pink and the floor tiles a pale pink. Climbing roses and beautifully detailed birds adorn golden walls, with statuesque Greek gods posing in between.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27.9px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpDBHqTE4MZ3W50A3HCqXegn8gfRiP3_LWRNh6VmX0b4ayOJyidldSZmHHUPoBc5aUtU5erIuuYa6fOWtKjCftYlrvvMoJ01N4QEjp1urQ4A2x2LVvWdcA_VxzWFBT6euDCYEANA3FvtFacR7fH9SVziCQnjjwOBJMG-u5FzCRGG4nvFBI2904nGLv_w/s1290/Screenshot_20240106_135600_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpDBHqTE4MZ3W50A3HCqXegn8gfRiP3_LWRNh6VmX0b4ayOJyidldSZmHHUPoBc5aUtU5erIuuYa6fOWtKjCftYlrvvMoJ01N4QEjp1urQ4A2x2LVvWdcA_VxzWFBT6euDCYEANA3FvtFacR7fH9SVziCQnjjwOBJMG-u5FzCRGG4nvFBI2904nGLv_w/w536-h640/Screenshot_20240106_135600_Gallery.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black; font-family: arial;">Not wanting to be subjected to another course, we opted for the simplicity of <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">an</span> after dinner digestive. A Sambuca for me and a 6-year old Calvados Camut, for my sister. To avoid further artistic license, I stipulated that my Sambuca be flaming and have</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black; font-family: arial;"> one coffee bean in it. This arrived as ordered.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUncXueVd0ZkAD3xUlnlDoLxBHJSBbeklEC3LwKSrTl-ecQQ8vcu5Cv3f7v5jOJ8-GHG-SnZ_K5uyicR-caDmwJ3e1Gg2Hlhqon_yLWAypSc0Dm8vm5Nm2hSptNN7mlraFxbs8PzKtDqkOiWl9DC2rqgTBOn92qSPe3d3ZUSedYRunM2FHBQR49WCZfrg/s1378/Screenshot_20240106_135528_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUncXueVd0ZkAD3xUlnlDoLxBHJSBbeklEC3LwKSrTl-ecQQ8vcu5Cv3f7v5jOJ8-GHG-SnZ_K5uyicR-caDmwJ3e1Gg2Hlhqon_yLWAypSc0Dm8vm5Nm2hSptNN7mlraFxbs8PzKtDqkOiWl9DC2rqgTBOn92qSPe3d3ZUSedYRunM2FHBQR49WCZfrg/w502-h640/Screenshot_20240106_135528_Gallery.jpg" width="502" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">We requested the bill, which came to an interesting: £239.29 (including a 12.5% service charge !!). </span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">In summary, the over all experience of The Ivy, Oxford can only be described as having a patchwork service of: initially helpful, embarrassingly servile, not always there when needed and total incompetence, à la </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Fawlty Towers. Added to this, the food and drink is </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">average. Needless to say, there won’t be a second visit.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_RnhPe_wlItZOfcnzMn69IldneXqBRvakUeF_NQ-NUyDUVHLufqIRIfmsD3rx2XbNjnjUoz6mG0q8_Fuuq3cisH2c-oJHECsbRahr7M9_kwAJqeQWWADxIqKMHYe4GSZIzMncu2amViV4lGBZjwnaAMYYYjqvOeWS9B1Fd7wCkdVb3ai9cUEufsyBZU/s1173/Screenshot_20240106_135800_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_RnhPe_wlItZOfcnzMn69IldneXqBRvakUeF_NQ-NUyDUVHLufqIRIfmsD3rx2XbNjnjUoz6mG0q8_Fuuq3cisH2c-oJHECsbRahr7M9_kwAJqeQWWADxIqKMHYe4GSZIzMncu2amViV4lGBZjwnaAMYYYjqvOeWS9B1Fd7wCkdVb3ai9cUEufsyBZU/w369-h400/Screenshot_20240106_135800_Gallery.jpg" width="369" /></a></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Re-awaken your inner creative in 2024 and grab my FREE download: <a href="https://alison-day-designs.ck.page/571d323e2a" target="_blank">The Ultimate Kickstart</a></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a></span></div>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-27025024809546935782023-12-07T19:07:00.021+00:002024-01-08T21:32:15.981+00:00The Next Stop Is . . .<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecnN16rTlnmDAYCvOSDtvQTznuGP7I9pGD6I4i0sZrRinpC5j_tuvvgayexQD2AM7N1gKVxo_DRUbrFQPB-cWPe5ZDgiJggYsvmSdcxa8dKzwWrYcVzhtROnRTB-DPjcJ2RMU0S3EtPw5QblgJMrS842zAjwtBdTZXNMeNYqXnZCs9KJN2f9QMdl5TzQ/s1219/E0402DA0-A32B-4F36-BD03-892B2E098634.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecnN16rTlnmDAYCvOSDtvQTznuGP7I9pGD6I4i0sZrRinpC5j_tuvvgayexQD2AM7N1gKVxo_DRUbrFQPB-cWPe5ZDgiJggYsvmSdcxa8dKzwWrYcVzhtROnRTB-DPjcJ2RMU0S3EtPw5QblgJMrS842zAjwtBdTZXNMeNYqXnZCs9KJN2f9QMdl5TzQ/w568-h640/E0402DA0-A32B-4F36-BD03-892B2E098634.jpeg" width="568" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Waking up in the dark to go to work isn't my, or I should imagine anyone else's, preferred start to the day. But, once on a bus, I'm resigned to the current 9-5 work segment of my day.<br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Chauffeur driven, I'm left with my thoughts, the Internet and podcasts. It's December and I'm bundled up in a duvet coat. I share the commute with a variety of travellers at close quarters. Unavoidably, it’s the season of coughs and sniffles, which I hope will serve to strengthen my immune system, rather than make me ill.</span></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZLtVcZtm0iiI69Cu9MdLVFPhp3WfJfWbG1JiBCmgVy3QGKd0Z7b6KEDauN2I-N60kw_5xW0AWRB7N1Y0Mx4gHPl7H7P6aeNAX3AjvEVqpLSVZGnKLt3irfV7qMIFQxXn5EzG8W97nFmQLWWbND2n-sqoCkVJw9VuZ5YZkTWhrTu678pOaEAuXlHxP9E/s1215/3399655E-DB77-4679-BCBD-B5FD545F598B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZLtVcZtm0iiI69Cu9MdLVFPhp3WfJfWbG1JiBCmgVy3QGKd0Z7b6KEDauN2I-N60kw_5xW0AWRB7N1Y0Mx4gHPl7H7P6aeNAX3AjvEVqpLSVZGnKLt3irfV7qMIFQxXn5EzG8W97nFmQLWWbND2n-sqoCkVJw9VuZ5YZkTWhrTu678pOaEAuXlHxP9E/w568-h640/3399655E-DB77-4679-BCBD-B5FD545F598B.jpeg" width="568" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-dAYj2qarVpKwrQLCxqmz3xhDPf3Eo_x5XtjyVOzfPi4ZdRzE8kxZqFRt4tXbHzGIuz81qb_R7RIW9a8dplN7LirXfNEVzfVzS5dks__0Z7a1bP1VNVzyRYyte5tKsdMNQ_lpodEV2VauYTvri0ltJRncDn79O23lChTLreiE_haZH4pooSoA7VdFmA/s1487/IMG_3922.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="1251" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-dAYj2qarVpKwrQLCxqmz3xhDPf3Eo_x5XtjyVOzfPi4ZdRzE8kxZqFRt4tXbHzGIuz81qb_R7RIW9a8dplN7LirXfNEVzfVzS5dks__0Z7a1bP1VNVzyRYyte5tKsdMNQ_lpodEV2VauYTvri0ltJRncDn79O23lChTLreiE_haZH4pooSoA7VdFmA/w538-h640/IMG_3922.jpeg" width="538" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As the blue-black of night relents, revealing a damp, pale, blue-grey dawn, filled with seemingly motionless trees and shrubbery, another day begins.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Arriving in the city, shop doorways bear the evidence of late night feasts. The </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">revellers have long since gone, leaving behind </span><span style="font-family: arial;">makeshift cardboard carpets, takeaway packaging and lone bottles.</span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVJHeiVsjrfieHAMu6kkWSD4R7XwD_P7AaxrI6JSIePga10wG61GeJ8xTbm1nlvj17dIqyRe1j5kz-xmClI1g36K5hQkEemkoTkHb7YYevPFGwZTWOpyHFKpLFu6vbP1izQ47du6iDM-7byonqEbJIgRHNPCOhwjOoRlVIp9huDNQjq5o955Fm2k1Ha4/s1179/IMG_3925.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVJHeiVsjrfieHAMu6kkWSD4R7XwD_P7AaxrI6JSIePga10wG61GeJ8xTbm1nlvj17dIqyRe1j5kz-xmClI1g36K5hQkEemkoTkHb7YYevPFGwZTWOpyHFKpLFu6vbP1izQ47du6iDM-7byonqEbJIgRHNPCOhwjOoRlVIp9huDNQjq5o955Fm2k1Ha4/w584-h640/IMG_3925.jpeg" width="584" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Christmas Market stalls connected by twinkly string lights and conical Christmas trees promise a variety of delights come opening time: cheeses from home and abroad; wooden animals and figures made from teak roots; cashmere and woolly hats alongside original handmade silver jewellery; mulled wine and churros to nibble while pondering a potter’s plates.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEjCjh-WlCbEIuKxw5G6XAGtEbZ0ZK6Mw_PdB6Vl8V090lLOaG6y_3hCj6bS9BsqZ2eS5Qv2G-y-dRrkf2u1axqcTnMCinQ-kT030yAQt5slW6itG9TUVnX9kEQPeesqAP5v59Wxf56RcXX5lhnov9r6F7QBLD4yCN_xN7X0hCdm3ZnsSmnMz9kKmKfA/s2401/IMG_3926.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1773" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEjCjh-WlCbEIuKxw5G6XAGtEbZ0ZK6Mw_PdB6Vl8V090lLOaG6y_3hCj6bS9BsqZ2eS5Qv2G-y-dRrkf2u1axqcTnMCinQ-kT030yAQt5slW6itG9TUVnX9kEQPeesqAP5v59Wxf56RcXX5lhnov9r6F7QBLD4yCN_xN7X0hCdm3ZnsSmnMz9kKmKfA/w472-h640/IMG_3926.jpeg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.frys-teakgarden.co.uk" target="_blank">Fry’s Teak Gardem Furniture</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Not wanting to be late, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I stride by. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Later, on my return journey, I'll pass by the stalls in the dark once more, but this time they’ll be busy and the street will be filled with people, the air with music and the Christmas lights will be twinkling.</span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Homeward bound, rain puddles have become lakes and I queue for the bus</span>: </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">wash, rinse, repeat.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BPLXeM0lmmOkuFKpKzVzJi_4NYIlFMMUBsVGzHR4_Y-K6F_itRe0qZQpSELRxd_Ra6lJJtpY-Wm3RI9bghv0wN8Dkwok6A1EqlGCh-Z1g-0cu2kfO0QM7WjItLk5Xhz-kaC4Rgf5I7oSR_bQZx2xu2rGiZZCbBHqMqhyphenhyphenZqTwdoiHXsaLGHuvSrJ9eoY/s1661/IMG_3924.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1661" data-original-width="1187" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BPLXeM0lmmOkuFKpKzVzJi_4NYIlFMMUBsVGzHR4_Y-K6F_itRe0qZQpSELRxd_Ra6lJJtpY-Wm3RI9bghv0wN8Dkwok6A1EqlGCh-Z1g-0cu2kfO0QM7WjItLk5Xhz-kaC4Rgf5I7oSR_bQZx2xu2rGiZZCbBHqMqhyphenhyphenZqTwdoiHXsaLGHuvSrJ9eoY/w458-h640/IMG_3924.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Re-awaken your inner creative and grab my FREE download: <a href="https://alison-day-designs.ck.page/571d323e2a" target="_blank">The Ultimate Kickstart</a></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;" /></div></div>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-32487833307420488662023-11-18T13:07:00.023+00:002023-12-09T08:32:59.240+00:00Unlock the inner artist: Creativity for a busy schedule<p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AizpP0lWGMRdnETiJ-BSjSV48BzzHOIq4GVeYMl5UxIEvENYDk-TkMkJAAvUIJgxN8eQyYcUE4AsN7d1LvvouyMwMojEruTXDQLtCDImvib8MWc1EsBba0p0uaGmgh94682WzlI3_teZZdUiGLLtydh3Vp6PHV2zsA-KEREw9BHz5Bmum1pYhkIoHBM/s940/Splash%20of%20Color%20Facebook%20Post.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AizpP0lWGMRdnETiJ-BSjSV48BzzHOIq4GVeYMl5UxIEvENYDk-TkMkJAAvUIJgxN8eQyYcUE4AsN7d1LvvouyMwMojEruTXDQLtCDImvib8MWc1EsBba0p0uaGmgh94682WzlI3_teZZdUiGLLtydh3Vp6PHV2zsA-KEREw9BHz5Bmum1pYhkIoHBM/w640-h536/Splash%20of%20Color%20Facebook%20Post.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>Have your creative passions faded into the background, in the daily hustle and grind of work and family responsibilities that demand constant attention?</span><span> </span><span class="s1"></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Does the spark that once ignited your artistic spirit seem like a distant memory, buried beneath the weight of endless to-do lists and urgent commitments?</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is your inner artist searching for an outlet for creative expression?</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For those seeking to rekindle their creative spark, the world of hands-on, creative, digital courses offers a gateway to unlocking artistic potential, while fitting into a busy schedule. Courses that provide a supportive and nurturing environment, where new skills and art forms can be explored.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The beauty of these courses lies in their flexibility; whether you're a complete beginner venturing into the realm of art, or a seasoned artist seeking to refine your skills. There's a course tailored to your expertise and available free time. Online learning platforms offer a treasure trove of options, allowing you to access courses from the comfort of your own home during those precious moments of downtime.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With a vast array of creative disciplines to delve into, the possibilities are endless. From the intricate art of paper quilling, to the mesmerising world of digital animation. Embrace the tranquility of painting, the meditative rhythm of knitting, or the power of storytelling through photography or filmmaking.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Engaging in creative activities has been shown to enhance cognitive function, boost problem-solving abilities and reduce stress levels. A therapeutic outlet for emotional expression, allowing you to process and navigate the complexities of life through art.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Moreover, joining online creative courses provides an opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded individuals. This sense of belonging can be particularly enriching and offers a supportive network and space to express one’s authentic self.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As you embark on your journey, remember that creativity is not about achieving perfection or conforming to a specific standard. It's about embracing the process, the joy of exploration, and the freedom to express yourself without judgment. Embrace the imperfections, the unexpected twists and turns, and allow yourself to be guided by your creative spirit.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">So, with this in mind, why not start by dedicating a few hours each week, for some </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">me time</span><span class="s1">? Explore a new art form, take an online course, or simply pick up a paintbrush and let your imagination run wild. You'll be amazed at the transformative power that this can bring into your life and remind you of the boundless potential that lies within.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Re-awaken your inner creative - grab my FREE download: </span><a href="https://alison-day-designs.ck.page/571d323e2a" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">The Ultimate Kickstart </a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">🌸</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.9px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-58317606691624024272023-11-05T19:53:00.021+00:002023-12-09T09:06:30.300+00:00The Ultimate Creative Kickstart - in 5 Bite-sized Steps<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJHqzkWoQDOr51h_g4q4QAYYI8cd7wzeRx_JWhUN_bsbXF_dH0FANphD9JxerN2EnOUNR-3L50tzP6Y8zIMQuDCpGtg4ZiOWIgY3nDeEGd4ztSWXIBijX0Ij3i0lK92qZX1oWZi1dRQBJ3EoCcrl9hS6T7pzIizYE5_GddQHHjLl-ihKEAWXCnkRWzcM/s1925/IMG_3530.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1925" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJHqzkWoQDOr51h_g4q4QAYYI8cd7wzeRx_JWhUN_bsbXF_dH0FANphD9JxerN2EnOUNR-3L50tzP6Y8zIMQuDCpGtg4ZiOWIgY3nDeEGd4ztSWXIBijX0Ij3i0lK92qZX1oWZi1dRQBJ3EoCcrl9hS6T7pzIizYE5_GddQHHjLl-ihKEAWXCnkRWzcM/w640-h488/IMG_3530.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Do you find yourself staring at a blank page in your sketchbook, or </span>the computer screen hoping that something will spill out?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ever found it difficult to set aside some <i>me time</i> for your creativity?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Or, are you feeling just downright uninspired? </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Let me show you how to re-energise your mood, </span>give yourself space to breathe and<span class="s1"> (re)awaken the inner artist, with a bite-sized - 5-step inspiration and Creative Kickstart</span>.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">🌸 Re-awaken your inner creative - grab my FREE download:</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a href="https://alison-day-designs.ck.page/571d323e2a" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">The Ultimate Kickstart</a></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-29378310823982132542023-04-03T12:59:00.013+00:002023-12-09T09:11:31.794+00:00April Jane, Spring of 1881<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="573" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaN4nOu1p_kLzINcLbE2wXkMT9vIKfX6LhGdLSP14ARYXBTy4feAagZ7PgZSoU5LlmnPxMoL5ppAUd5IxmfprizXuK9t5D8QZ6dWgPE-Bvw4a9fC2VeX8YZTn3BE1PrCpWM3xKx8z2EAxbThg6ny3kNZbnQNLrnS9bP8OsMbt6RxsNsC69SsnYiay/s600/5E2CD10B-FAA5-48F1-9EF5-66DE0EFA593C.jpeg" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Book cover design for a novelette: </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">April Jane, Spring of 1881</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Design</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="display: inline !important; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">@alisondaydesigns</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-83772062930645314232019-12-28T20:04:00.005+00:002023-10-20T00:54:14.804+00:00The Ultimate Guide on How to Avoid being Fleeced, as a Temp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><b>Having repatriated to the UK in 2018, after over two decades abroad, I found myself in the unenviable position of seeking employment. Temping seemed a good place to start and the long and arduous process to permanent employment began. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><b>Many job applications later, I managed to secure a three month temporary contract, through an agency in a position at local government, starting January 2019.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Upon hearing that I had the assignment, the agency (</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Service Care Solutions: www.servicecare.org.uk),</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> then announced that they outsourced their payroll, because: </span><b><i>We’re too big to deal with payroll</i></b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. This meant that I had to pay for the ensuing service. Covering their interests, they assured me they had already informed me of this, to which I replied: </span><i>Don’t be ridiculous! If I’d known this from the onset, I wouldn’t have accepted the job.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">With no other work alternative in sight, I resigned myself to the rip off and entered into the agreement. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The company I was temping for was unaware of this procedure and so I enlightened them. Over the following months, they saw the stress it caused me and were equally surprised that something like this even existed.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">To receive my wages, I had to be enrolled with an Umbrella company — a financial company that would do the payroll. I could select one myself, or choose from a couple of names they gave me. Incensed and unwilling to invest any extra time in this nonsense, I suggested they select the company they thought best. They came up with: Freelance Professional Services - (https://www.fpsgroup.com)</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><b>Definition of an Umbrella Company</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">An </span><span class="s4" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">umbrella company </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">is a separate </span><span class="s4" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">company </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">that acts as an employer for contractors working on fixed-term contracts. They also serve as an intermediary between the contractor and their end client or agency. The principle function of an </span><span class="s4" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">umbrella company </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">is to organise payment for the contractor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="s1">Disturbed by what I felt was an unjust system, I asked my contact at the agency again why they needed to outsource their payroll. This time the story was: </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;"><b>We’re too small to deal with payroll</b>.</span></span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="s1">Well, which was it?... </span>Smell a rat? I certainly did and continued applying for other employment, in the hope I could bypass this situation fast. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Unfortunately, I remained in this role for a period of seven months, the outcome of which resulted in me paying the payroll company a weekly 3% admin charge, which totaled at £40.00 per month, multiplied this by seven months and you get the picture. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">For what? </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Plus, this was in addition to tax and National Insurance.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">But that wasn’t the end of it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1">On my first wage slip, I noticed that I had also not only been charged the usual Employees National Insurance (NI), but also </span><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold;">Employers National Insurance </span><span class="s1">(NI). Alarmed, I phoned them and insisted that they explain why. After all, aren’t I the <i><b>employee</b></i>, not the employer? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1">Again, I was told they had informed me from the beginning, that both Employees NI </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;"><b>and </b></span><span class="s1">Employers NI would be taken out of my wages, along with holiday pay. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>Bullshit!</i> </span><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Adamant that this <i>wasn’t </i>the case, I reiterated once </span><i>again </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">that had I been informed of this from the onset, I wouldn’t have accepted the position at all. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">How is it possible that a company is allowed to get away with dumping the Employer's NI costs on a temp; a cost that they should be covering?</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">If this scenario had continued it would have led to weekly deductions of: £30.00 on top of tax—<b><i>just to get paid</i></b>! On a monthly basis, this would: £120.00 —for what?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Threatening to walk out on work that I desperately needed, I demanded a re-negotiation. Sensing I was serious, they agreed to raise the hourly rate to cover the 12% Employers NI deducted from my weekly wages. I accepted, but upped my job search and applications, with the idea of leaving asap.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">In my ensuing online research of temporary workers being ripped off, I discovered that there were many others in the same predicament, which I found alarming. Paying to be paid is downright wrong, regardless of how you look at it. It is also <b><i>not </i></b>a service.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">I found this article interesting as a overview and although now out of date (2016), gives an overview of the ‘service’ that umbrella companies ‘provide’ : </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/oct/21/temporary-workers-umbrella-companies-extra-costs-dodging-ni-cutting-rights-supply-teachers" style="font-family: arial;">Umbrella companies</a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">As for Service Care Solutions, you’d think with the pay roll outsourced they might be able to offer a service to reflect their company name. Not so, during the seven months I worked via them, I also spent an inordinate amount of time chasing my wages, to be paid on time. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">Sad to say, that was not all...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1">The final fiasco appeared in the form of another surprise deduction, again without my permission. After three months, in an ongoing temporary role, temps are automatically enrolled in a hair-brained, mandatory Government ‘pension scheme’ entitled: </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">NEST</span><span class="s1">. Deductions are made </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">in addition </span><span class="s1">to the state pension. This rings major alarm bells with me, as to the current health of the state pension and its ability to support anybody reaching pensionable age.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1">Furious, I called the umbrella company, FPS and demanded they reverse this and return the payments. They were unable to do this. It was </span><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold;"><i>required by law</i> </span><span class="s1">and the first payment had already been made to HMRC. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Opting out of NEST</b>:</span><br />
<span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In order to extricate myself from this nonsense and opt out, I was told I had to wait for a few weeks before I could opt out. You’d think after that it would be plain sailing... not so! </span><br />
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<span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">First, I was sent an opt out form to fill in. This could take up to 10 days to process, after which MY money would be returned to me. </span><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Alternatively, I could call a number, give my personal details and my pre allotted </span><span class="s3" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">NEST</span><span class="s1" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, client number, to a stranger in a call centre, somewhere in the world and opt out verbally. I chose the latter and faster route. Amusingly, the conversation was recorded, so they had proof, if I ever decided to change my mind about opting out from something <i><b>I’d never signed up for in the first place</b></i>! </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">After the allotted 10 days, the deducted monies were paid back to FPS and in turn to me. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">Another interesting point I discovered is that there is no way to pre opt out of this pension, it has to be done after the fact. Additionally, if I were to start a new temp job, after three months the same scenario would happen all over again, with me having to repeat the opt out again. As far as I’m concerned this is a scene taken directly from the film: Ground Hog Day.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">Added to all this, apart from the opt out procedure being time consuming and stressful, I find it more akin to shameful theft. The idea is conceived by a Government who has decided that it’s OK to fill their coffers further, in the guise of ultimately what would be yet another taxable pension, on top of the existing state one.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">Let’s be honest, a better explanation of this idiocy, is more likely that when ALL the baby boomers finally reach pensionable age, the pension probably won’t have been indexed correctly, in order to cover the cost of living at that time.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">As for the agency, I no longer work for them and have long ended my association with the Umbrella Company. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">I am <i>appalled </i>at the legality behind a company dodging Employers National Insurance and making the temp pay both Employers and Employees National Insurance, as well as paying the company a percentage of their wages—TO BE PAID—How unethical is that?</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">If an agency wishes to outsource its payroll to an Umbrella company <i>they </i>should cover the service. This is nothing more than companies dreaming up ways of making extra money by separating temporary workers from more of their wages and should be made illegal.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">Have you experienced anything like this as a temporary employee? I’d be interested to hear your experiences.</span></div><div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;">Alison Day</span></div><div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com" target="_blank">Alison Day Designs</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">@alisondaydesigns</a></div></span></div><div class="p3" style="color: #e4af0a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s6" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #454545;"></span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-45820933596807630902019-12-22T10:05:00.002+00:002019-12-22T10:05:20.040+00:00Prickly briar gallop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9nyHFHL7jjpdOEtf7bpoA6PboAN7__1TaSH3CdyIEmdQhSh5ZBsm3L1hYiPgvXmA7r9Fmiiq5a407XKb78iIQa_7TKfam8qAd0cYpOR5pi_zzcXNxoMJwL-zDL-POM_mZufxdt7bzVQ/s1600/1D7C923F-EED7-4B45-9990-5A42CB26F3E6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1091" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9nyHFHL7jjpdOEtf7bpoA6PboAN7__1TaSH3CdyIEmdQhSh5ZBsm3L1hYiPgvXmA7r9Fmiiq5a407XKb78iIQa_7TKfam8qAd0cYpOR5pi_zzcXNxoMJwL-zDL-POM_mZufxdt7bzVQ/s640/1D7C923F-EED7-4B45-9990-5A42CB26F3E6.png" width="636" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 15/30 - Prompt: Falter</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesigns</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesign</span></a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-84722506262223418282019-12-22T10:01:00.000+00:002019-12-22T10:01:00.563+00:00Nature’s Empire Falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaepWmm2Ai7gTJto5JNcwCOg6wJAp8_KbIRLqRMEBKElzoIjdxjHVbBtZa7HTxyD6DkssIO55JBE1y5JCdKrmQa8bwSn8E_8zHSQrAaLhxTquNpllGOu5BtKmN32_o14h1RzkQHHIlvo/s1600/CD657870-1082-4489-9F73-DE6B62F89264.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1095" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaepWmm2Ai7gTJto5JNcwCOg6wJAp8_KbIRLqRMEBKElzoIjdxjHVbBtZa7HTxyD6DkssIO55JBE1y5JCdKrmQa8bwSn8E_8zHSQrAaLhxTquNpllGOu5BtKmN32_o14h1RzkQHHIlvo/s640/CD657870-1082-4489-9F73-DE6B62F89264.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 14/30 - Prompt: Late</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesigns</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesign</span></a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-61763785613868756892019-12-22T09:57:00.001+00:002019-12-22T09:57:54.365+00:00Formless and Fuzzy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrk03mF_u4yuZ-gghyphenhyphendQcpUWEnIg-1ksEWemIskLOpnApOMjBcPMb2av6mNrAdYn7-8I07QX6ipPX9njCf-kGCmWvATkLYxFugV1GIhMtsrjZksr8QKn8-5LQyX0hqkoxepAeisRLPdY/s1600/2840A42F-7E9A-4430-BB95-2762DF69D2B8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1095" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrk03mF_u4yuZ-gghyphenhyphendQcpUWEnIg-1ksEWemIskLOpnApOMjBcPMb2av6mNrAdYn7-8I07QX6ipPX9njCf-kGCmWvATkLYxFugV1GIhMtsrjZksr8QKn8-5LQyX0hqkoxepAeisRLPdY/s640/2840A42F-7E9A-4430-BB95-2762DF69D2B8.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 13/30 - Prompt: Blur</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesigns</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesign</span></a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-9498437898237167572019-12-22T09:50:00.001+00:002019-12-22T09:50:39.329+00:00Realm of Hope<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ylkb1NnLMsHMB4aRIgkn_NgjS5gU-U_4I5mYkgXArFt8HqMRaCfczeRLX0LM1-Y0rDw39MxyijtuJHHjEbXN6uV5JQU1yw24zBEOZlzI5yZWCuUuGmMHMgRTyIivky87j_E7iOYiIPA/s1600/59D23009-6050-4ACF-952D-E8AB9F5123D2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1083" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ylkb1NnLMsHMB4aRIgkn_NgjS5gU-U_4I5mYkgXArFt8HqMRaCfczeRLX0LM1-Y0rDw39MxyijtuJHHjEbXN6uV5JQU1yw24zBEOZlzI5yZWCuUuGmMHMgRTyIivky87j_E7iOYiIPA/s640/59D23009-6050-4ACF-952D-E8AB9F5123D2.png" width="632" /></a></div>
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<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 23.2px;">
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<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 12/30 - Prompt: Hope</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesigns</span></a></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s2" style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText";">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/"><span class="s3" style="color: #e4af0a;">alisondaydesign</span></a></span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-46773474074193695202019-12-22T09:42:00.000+00:002019-12-22T09:51:41.157+00:00Origins unknown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimn9mv-IvZzpfRpA-dNxpinuGvady7gK_ILt_zHvpFFPPGlaGGKGPhmvfkuxC1ut5woVuRVb9trQziQoEFUOdsx79ZXtyiZ6c2xWevLKuaFMrRtvdtpXE1ZyUBSu6YRJj1LeVcXoBLJOQ/s1600/BA07B67A-C135-45CE-BADF-0B589FBE40D3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1095" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimn9mv-IvZzpfRpA-dNxpinuGvady7gK_ILt_zHvpFFPPGlaGGKGPhmvfkuxC1ut5woVuRVb9trQziQoEFUOdsx79ZXtyiZ6c2xWevLKuaFMrRtvdtpXE1ZyUBSu6YRJj1LeVcXoBLJOQ/s640/BA07B67A-C135-45CE-BADF-0B589FBE40D3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.199999809265137px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 11/30 - Prompt: Found</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-56619280392508104892019-12-01T18:28:00.001+00:002019-12-01T18:29:01.465+00:00How to lighten seasonal blues<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 10/30 - </span>Prompt: Chocolate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-22367856083558411172019-12-01T18:27:00.002+00:002019-12-01T18:28:34.635+00:00Double trouble<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkyGr1R475J6zrVDtOPitzcA7Az7bUIGLJAw63seWsREfPhVGAGHnYk20QphfQE75nqGJ5wAwtSdFRIHThylB0A7o-RRtoO9RHdZXF-vQWiGYgquU3uXHBZfePsq2EsG_Yx4sHb1mIRQ/s1600/9_30+trouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkyGr1R475J6zrVDtOPitzcA7Az7bUIGLJAw63seWsREfPhVGAGHnYk20QphfQE75nqGJ5wAwtSdFRIHThylB0A7o-RRtoO9RHdZXF-vQWiGYgquU3uXHBZfePsq2EsG_Yx4sHb1mIRQ/s640/9_30+trouble.jpg" width="628" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiny daily poem - Day 9/30 - </span>Prompt: Trouble</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-67828663534241134732019-12-01T18:26:00.001+00:002019-12-01T18:26:35.075+00:00Do we really listen? <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZVK004Rd5fsZUEFn26QEeI8ypz1_WxlQjqBAhZzs-yXnzrFB50R3w8tMTaVGOkPvHdd5YXbjvR-e4h7tF73nqf-L8YeNpVllCDFBGassr5qOPyLi4ZwEUheEDaxibCaeAfu9phWxlFU/s1600/8_30+listening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="504" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZVK004Rd5fsZUEFn26QEeI8ypz1_WxlQjqBAhZzs-yXnzrFB50R3w8tMTaVGOkPvHdd5YXbjvR-e4h7tF73nqf-L8YeNpVllCDFBGassr5qOPyLi4ZwEUheEDaxibCaeAfu9phWxlFU/s640/8_30+listening.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 8/30 - </span>Prompt: Listening</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-25171413103927147942019-12-01T18:25:00.002+00:002019-12-01T18:26:56.105+00:00Familiar like a maternal embrace<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireQREHLHlKIGzPUr4CndigSB-amzw13tW6V4M5Z3JIZZ43W-SA5Tx3W4OuVXitcdThILjOPFMEx2Xe2q-xJbLJuI2h71wLXKMRudQUWLq-L4042zszZjMU9ybmqTwAf2ONTHAMuFAfRU/s1600/7_30+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="509" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireQREHLHlKIGzPUr4CndigSB-amzw13tW6V4M5Z3JIZZ43W-SA5Tx3W4OuVXitcdThILjOPFMEx2Xe2q-xJbLJuI2h71wLXKMRudQUWLq-L4042zszZjMU9ybmqTwAf2ONTHAMuFAfRU/s640/7_30+home.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 7/30 - </span>Prompt: Home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-6712346741606029342019-12-01T18:24:00.004+00:002019-12-01T18:24:39.140+00:00A place to doodle<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiny daily poem for November - Day 6/30 - </span>Prompt: Margin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-57334056659054834062019-12-01T18:22:00.003+00:002019-12-01T18:23:07.371+00:00Tell me the truth<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daily tiny poem, day 5/30 - </span>Prompt: Truth </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" target="_blank">alisondaydesigns</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-38357465676430429842019-11-14T18:14:00.001+00:002019-11-14T18:14:55.866+00:00Pucker up and introduce yourself<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This tiny autumnal November poem highlights the art of kissing and the types of kisses we share, as part of our communication and interactions with each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4/30 - </span>Prompt: KISS 💋</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Light as a feather introductory greeting </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fleshy facial parts briefly touching </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A kiss and a hug setting the world to rights</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Superficial air kisses missing their mark</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Passionate lips, hot and heavy entwine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A blushing memory</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of what was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" target="_blank">alisondaydesigns</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-30016213024824466332019-11-14T18:14:00.000+00:002019-11-14T18:14:40.443+00:00Returning to the familiar a stranger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfvuPu2hOzpFTbVuBN08c9MMJyZFWk5kKNU5IJ2XzXMukx9cpb938T5UR1S0Bw-q7Jyo8LSpUgCdriM1ok0CjZAbR7jj2HiUqE-b651TpEE8-BNNIUhMvsdEYabYmqUExZZPR6svq8mU/s1600/1751FBA5-4A03-4737-AAC0-A72A532B39BC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfvuPu2hOzpFTbVuBN08c9MMJyZFWk5kKNU5IJ2XzXMukx9cpb938T5UR1S0Bw-q7Jyo8LSpUgCdriM1ok0CjZAbR7jj2HiUqE-b651TpEE8-BNNIUhMvsdEYabYmqUExZZPR6svq8mU/s640/1751FBA5-4A03-4737-AAC0-A72A532B39BC.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This tiny autumnal November poem highlights repatriation after a long residency abroad. U</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ensuing culture shock, emptiness and feeling lost is very real. You may speak the same language, but something essential has changed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One can never fully return to what was and should never want to, but it’s possible to start a new chapter in a familiar place. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This poem emphasises the benefits of how lost I felt and often still feel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 3/30 - </span>Prompt: LOST 💫</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surrounded by my life in boxes and cases</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feeling empty like the house</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take a moment to reflect</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nearly three score years and 10</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A full circle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Older, certainly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wiser, maybe</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Experience richer, definitely</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was this move necessary?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is it the final one?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Depends...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo & text: @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" target="_blank">alisondaydesigns</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-32027138503312507522019-11-14T11:46:00.000+00:002019-11-14T17:29:59.263+00:00Weather that makes you feel like hibernating<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtV1yT6guYjvA261J-7JUh8wrvgsKVGhu43ER1GUBFtDs3e7akW5WO6Z4aZMCBVc_s1JzJRk_h8TTi8cHsq22h8PA2S1d8RT_9A5yZKkXOYT8OI60JmiRXX3vesiqC-HqsvD2UNvtRhw/s1600/AC83918B-3C10-4A91-B684-D85FD8A48ADF.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtV1yT6guYjvA261J-7JUh8wrvgsKVGhu43ER1GUBFtDs3e7akW5WO6Z4aZMCBVc_s1JzJRk_h8TTi8cHsq22h8PA2S1d8RT_9A5yZKkXOYT8OI60JmiRXX3vesiqC-HqsvD2UNvtRhw/s640/AC83918B-3C10-4A91-B684-D85FD8A48ADF.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’ve just discovered my blog, for the month of November, I’ve been writing a daily, tiny autumnal poem, inspired by prompts, set by Beth Kempton. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To add to the fun, for each poem I’ve created a photographic visual to accompany it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For day 2/30 the prompt is: RAIN <span class="s3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">☔️</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morning warm duvet</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deep breath and wriggle toes</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listen</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1000 hooves pound the street</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rhythmic gallop</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beat never ending</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Autumn is arriving</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo: #Rain by @alisondaydesigns</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" target="_blank">alisondaydesigns</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Website: </span><a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-9033088828809281912019-11-14T11:30:00.000+00:002019-11-14T18:17:43.918+00:00Time to pause and reflect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23d8Rrvdlq_7HYPUYn4asX0POku8T-F-rTzZvwyYXRWNbxoz7Nt9ZepNHwSnFwWS-LUzpPjrwqjCrDrQKoyt9Y5WX5-UYjf3I5k2KfUgFGpf1aRvQo-J4qLfYerMcy02VCUJmH3UKDTU/s1600/5D449E61-151F-4191-83AD-2797F1E71023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23d8Rrvdlq_7HYPUYn4asX0POku8T-F-rTzZvwyYXRWNbxoz7Nt9ZepNHwSnFwWS-LUzpPjrwqjCrDrQKoyt9Y5WX5-UYjf3I5k2KfUgFGpf1aRvQo-J4qLfYerMcy02VCUJmH3UKDTU/s640/5D449E61-151F-4191-83AD-2797F1E71023.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the month of November, I’ve been writing a daily, tiny autumnal poem , inspired by prompts, set by Beth Kempton. To add to the fun, for each poem I’ve created a photographic visual to accompany it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This poem emphasises the benefits of pausing and reflecting in our daily learning lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And do let me know what you think in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1/30 - Prompt: PAUSE 💫</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finish the sentence</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rinse the brush</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Close the window</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Away with the rush</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pop on the kettle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mint from the garden</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clock ticking</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo & words: #MoroccanMint by @alisondaydesigns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisondaydesigns" target="_blank">alisondaydesigns</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.alisondaydesign.com/" target="_blank">alisondaydesign</a></span></div>
Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-80106861098555939862018-12-31T14:11:00.003+00:002023-08-12T12:53:04.697+00:00Smartie Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">When I was a child, every Wednesday my maternal grandparents would come to visit. First to arrive was my Grandmother, Freda. She would arrive with a rustle of bags, on a celery scented wave, having just been to the local fruit and vegetable market in Oxford. Of course her bags had goodies for us too. Comics such as: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Whizzer & Chips</em> and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Diane</em> and there was always a big bag of cheesy shapes –savoury biscuits in mini diamonds, triangles, hearts and clover leaf shapes. They were very popular and disappeared by the handful into our hungry mouths.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This would keep us quiet for a while, but as we neared the end of the afternoon, our excitement would grow at the imminent arrival of our Grandfather, Joe. Ex-Merchant Navy and publican of a local watering hole in his home town, before he retired, he wore a brown checked sports coat with deep pockets. From these he would produce three tubes of smarties – one for each of us. Popping off the coloured plastic lids, first we would compare the alphabet letters on the underside of the lids. Then we’d upend the tube so that the multi-coloured smarties would slide down into our hands, like a conveyor belt. There was an art to eating them and favourite colours were always saved until last. Once the Smarties were gone, the tube was still fun. Replacing the lid, if you blew hard enough down the tube, you could get the lid to shoot across the room like a pop gun.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Then there came the week that Grandad turned up with the devastating news...</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">‘No Smarties this week, your Mum says I’m not allowed to give you sweets every week,’ </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">he said. Of course we didn’t believe him and searched his deep pockets, but this time they were empty. But Grandad was the kind of soul who played by his own rules and couldn’t bear to look at our downcast little faces for long. As if by magic, he would produce three unopened tubes of smarties from an inside pocket. On future visits, if he said he hadn’t got any Smarties with him, we wouldn’t believe him. It turned into a game, to search his pockets for the forbidden tubes, until giggling we found them.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Although these were never as fun as the tubes, Smarties also came in small boxes too. I’m delighted to say that one of my illustrations, of a retro Smarty box has been included in the delightful <a href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Uppercase Magazine</a>: Packaging Portraits, issue #38.</span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942854327701824701.post-63909507509923323142018-12-31T13:59:00.002+00:002023-08-12T12:56:43.094+00:00The Embroider<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw0w5lzbntCkRX8WAb9InPnj9BV_SqSUA2BgTFK6QAGUM0jV476Zao77jgB7a7ZRJl4_3HxMSpe7aoOfNtiu_GVNdd7t0a-JQFmxzjLpvy8OFyPA_wrceseIh7Qg9Hw41PhaR0spsbwo/s1600/embroider_daffs_web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw0w5lzbntCkRX8WAb9InPnj9BV_SqSUA2BgTFK6QAGUM0jV476Zao77jgB7a7ZRJl4_3HxMSpe7aoOfNtiu_GVNdd7t0a-JQFmxzjLpvy8OFyPA_wrceseIh7Qg9Hw41PhaR0spsbwo/s1600/embroider_daffs_web.jpg" /></a></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around—</em><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Vanilla Sky</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Early 2018, I awoke one morning with the decision to throw my current life in the Netherlands to the wind. I’d been living on the continent for over 27 years and remaining there no longer served who I was and what I wanted out of life. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I decided there and then that before my next birthday, in April, I would repatriate to my hometown area of Oxfordshire in the UK. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">So, I put my house up for sale at the start of March and began a major life laundry, clearing up, throwing out and closing down my life there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The move was complex. A moving company took the bulk of my possessions to the UK and put them in storage; my brother drove over with his transit van and picked up me, my two cats and remaining possessions. The overnight journey by boat went well and the cats became expats.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Since then, re-activating my life has been complex: buying a house; finding a job and getting used to England again. The feeling that I’m on Mars has lessened, but it’ll take a while before I feel as though I belong. The urge to speak Dutch has vanished, although the odd Dutch word will still pop up now and again thwarting my flow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Finding a job is the main task at the moment and Internet searches on job sites are interspersed by appointments with employment agencies. It’s a slow process and my enthusiasm goes in peaks and dales.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">On my trips to the centre of Oxford, I notice the increase in the number of homeless people, living on cardboard box panels, under duvets. Over the years, it’s increased exponentially and it’s a sad sight to see in what is considered to be such an affluent city. Alongside the street dwellers, are opinionated preachers, musicians and young people, showing off acrobatic or football skills, in the hope of a few coins from passers by.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">One person, however, stood out from the rest, and who actively seemed to be trying to make something more positive out of her circumstances. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, on a sleeping bag, she was totally absorbed in the process of sewing a picture on a large canvas, using brightly coloured, embroidery thread and wool. Ironically, her back was facing the outside wall of a well known bank. Her pictures are happy scenes embroidered onto material, guided by roughly sketched outlines. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Every so often she would be forced to take a rest, due to the arthritic pain in her hands. The results of her labours are charming, colourful pictures, which have a naivety to their style.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Stopping to chat, I found out that this was Carol’s turf. She’d sat here every day for the past six years—sewing. Her pictures were not limited to canvases, there was also a large lamp shade that someone had thrown away, which she had covered with her creative stitches, plus a rather macabre looking doll. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">‘I’ll sew on anything I can get my hands on’, she said. At one time, she made a series of small dogs, which became popular and sold instantly whenever she made them, but she found making things to order boring. That’s not why she sewed: ‘I do what I do, because I have to,’ she said.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Whenever the police tried to move her on she would say: ‘I’m not beggin’, I’m working.’ To the tourists who want to photograph her she says: ‘ If you want to take a photo of my work and help me do what I do—throw some coins in the box.’</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I told her that I kept a blog and asked if she’d mind if I photographed her and her work for a blog post: ‘You do what you’ve got to do—at least you asked, most people don’t’, she replied. ‘I’ve been on telly and photographed before’, she added. As a raised my phone, she went quiet, adverted her eyes and bent her head to look at the ground. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Like many artists, Carol was doing, in her words ‘what she had to do’. How she came to be there is of course another story and not relevant to my conversation with her. I was touched by the way she embraces her creativity as a means to survive on the streets, but ultimately shies away from the limelight.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">If you’d like to see Carol’s work, or have a chat, you’ll find her sitting at Carfax, at the end of Cornmarket Street.</span></div>
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Alison Day Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411137433693803333noreply@blogger.com0