Baby On Board – so what? Just another con.

I was on a fairly long post-Christmas drive today, and saw quite a few of those ‘Baby On Board’ signs on various cars.

I have always wondered what these are meant to achieve (other than to make profits for the companies producing and retailing them).

As another driver on the road, what am I meant to do upon being informed the car in front has a baby in it?  Should I alter my driving?  Does this suggest the driver may be distracted or something?  Surely if this is the case, then it is the driver of that car that ought to be fully aware of the fact there is a baby present and make sure that they act safely!

Or are the signs there to try to be a reminder to other drivers to drive safely?  If they don’t care about their own safety, why would they be likely to take greater care because there is a baby in an anonomous care close by?

As far as I can make out such signs, especially when not in the most legible types, just serve to distract other drivers rather than letting them get on with concentrating on the road ahead.

The inronies of the Christmas Number 1 race

I have to admit I must be having one of my cynical moments – I tend to whenever I hear X Factor in the news, because generaly whatever happens it is always good for the show.

For instance, this campaign for the Rage Against The Machine single to beat the X Factor winner to the Christmas Number 1.

As a result of this, even if RAGM win, I am fairly sure the X Factor single will have sold more singles than it would have without a competitor!  Final result – more profits!

Now, I don’t know where the campaign started, but I wonder if it’s also a conincidence that both these singles are from the same record company?  The cynic in me thinks that since the Christmas Number 1 has stopped being a decent contest, the amount of singles sold would have fallen, so it’s in the record companies interest for there to be a contest again!!  Final result – more profits!

The annoying thing to me about this is the naivety of the media.  If these people really wanted the X Factor to be beaten they ought to stop publicising the figures during the week, as this will only encourage people to purchase the X Factor single.  It’s almost as though it’s been manufactured – and I’m disappointed in ‘news’ organisations falling for it.

The one thing about the X Factor I have to admire – the people behind the beast are obviously very clever at how to manipulae the system!

Customer Facing Jobs

I don’t, and have never really, worked in an environment working with the ‘general public’.  My job is more dealing with other companies, and being a bit miserable / short can often be of benefit in discussions.  And that is what I appear to be good at!!

I would hate to have to deal with ‘people’ all day, that is individuals, rather than employees representing large organisations.  The only individuals I do deal with is on a business basis, where I effectively have something they are after (i.e. money).

I think if I was working in a shop, or having to cold call people trying to sell them a product, after a few hours my politeness would soon wain.  Just not something I could deal with on an ongoing basis!!

The Joy of Giving Presents

Growing up, I have to be honest, a great part of the fascination with Christmas was looking forward to presents I would be given.

I have realised in the last couple of years that as I grow older, I genuinely do seek joy from giving presents, rather than look forward to recieving presents.

  I wonder if this is as a result of, in general terms, not ‘needing’ anything in life, and having a comforatable lifestyle.  I find people hard to buy presents for as, in the main, if they would like something, they generally will have bought it – I know I will have. It is for this reason I find the main purpose when choosing presents is to cause enjoyment, mainly by the ludicrousness or complete inappropriateness of the object

Due to this, many presents I purchase are novelty items, and probably have little or no use once the festive season is done with.

I know I have a box here that has about 5 presents from last Christmas that I have not touched since playing with for small periods of time last year.

So, what is the result of these various thoughts?  Should we cease this frivilous spend, and maybe use this money for charity?  I am pretty sure I have seen a charity offering a service such as this, where if you donate them an amount of money they will send people who would have recieved presents stating the money has been used to donate to a worthwhile cause etc.

Personally, while that is a great, worthy, idea, it is not for me.  I still, possibly selfishly, enjoy the enjoyment of others opening presents you have given them, with that expectation of their reaction!  And for me that is a great part of Christmas (as a social event rather than a christian celebration) – the spreading of joy.

Fed up with winter

Cancel that post I wrote recently about winter.

Fed up with it already, being cold and wet.  Don’t mind cold so much, but wet is miserable.

Only bonus I find is having hot chcolate to warm up – suddenly in last couple of days been reminded how nice it is!

But it’s the weekend, and I am in an hour or so about to catch up with a friend I have not seen for what seems like years and have a few beers, so all is good – but will review that last comment in the morning!!

Winter – Real Winter!!!

I have been having a (what I consider) funny thought over the last couple of days.

The weather has for the first time this winter been proper cold.  From recollection we have been very lucky with temperature and lack of precipitation, but last few days have been very wet, and down to almost freezing.   And do you know what, even though it is not comforatable, I have enjoyed it.    Maybe it’s a reminiscing thing, remembering happy times in the past of winter days, but there is something (to me) enjoyable about getting in out of the wet and cold and wrapping up in the warmth indoors.

The negative influence of digital photography

I have realised recently that, although I take quite a few photos, I very rarely look at them once they are downloaded.

This is a result really of digital photgraphy.  With old ‘prints’, whether they were left in the little cardboard wallets or arranged in albums, it was easy to pick them up, have a quick perusal through them, and reminisce.

The only time I find myself going through digital photos on the computer is if I am looking for something specific, and then don’t really take the time to really studt them.  As a result, I have decided to print off some of my favourites through the www.snapfish.co.uk website.

In a funny way this has resulted in me having a good look through them to establish which are worth printing.  I am also going to get a few printed off to a larger size to hang up.

The irony of Internet Shopping

I have, for a change, managed to get organised fairly early to buy Christmas presents.

I realised yesterday that having had quite a few presents delivered – there was something I needed that would be far easier bought ‘for real’ and not virtually – wrapping paper! 

In fact I have wrapping paper left over from previous years (I normally impulse buy cards, paper, tape, those little cards etc when I do my yearly impulse Christmas shop on about 20th Dec, and have lots of remnants somewhere).  What I really wanted was brown paper, so as to send a present through the post.

I did consider going online, but could see the absurdity of getting brown paper – how would they wrap it for a start!!!

Wrapping the presents was a complete nightmare – but that’s another story!

Woolworths is replaced by . . . . . . . Woolworths?

I don’t often go shopping – it’s not my thing (to put it mildly).

The Woolworths in the High Street has been empty ever since they closed, but I noticed whilst out and about today that it has been replaced by a Poundland shop.

 

I went in there actually, as I needed something.  WH Smith had sold out, and I couldn’t think of anywhere else that may stock it.  I was impressed.  The general layout, and I would say 90% of what they stock, is similar to Woolworths.  I would have thought the business models were almost identical.

It does seem ironic that the institution that was Woolworths, the original ‘penny store’,  failed, but (in this case) has been replaced by a pound shop!!

I found what I was looking for in Poundland, and also picked up a few things I had not been planning on getting, but the value they give is exceptional in some cases!

When is a pot of tea not a cup of tea? At BHS!

This morning, it being a weekend, and the weather being dry for a change, I visited BHS to have a breakfast in their Restuarant.

I must say, whilst it is not anything fantastic, it is remarkably cheap.  I worked out a while ago (can’t say I’m a regular there, possibly every few months) that they make their money on their drinks.  I had an 8 piece breafast once, with an orange juice and a pot of tea.  The food was something like £2.50 – the drinks £4.20! 

Anyway, so, this morning I had my breakfast, with a pot of tea.  Since I last went (I have worked out it was end of August) they have obviously changed the pots they use for this.  I was most surprised to see something that appeared to have come out of a child’s play set.

I poured myself a cup of tea – well tried!  As can be seen the entire contents of the pot was just enough for one cup.  So, why do they bother with the uselessly small pot?  Must be twice as much cleaning costs, but I suppose they make their money by charging £1.25 for a pot, which sounds better than for a cup!!