I attended a webinar last week. My first ever experience of one too. I must say it was really rather inspirational. It was all about the power of internet marketing and how to use some quite basic free tools to assist ones internet visibility.
How come these things seem so straightforward when other people say them and appear so much more complicated in reality? It's either that or I must be more thick than I had thought!
So I have made a stab at a capture page and also a campaign through mailchimp.
Its very early days and I've not really thought it through but I thought I'd try and work it out and see if it helps me at all.
What I really need to do now though is something that gets my charity fundraising for the March trek noticed so I can get the sponsor money rolling in.
Off to see what else I can find! Oh and if you have any ideas add a comment below. :)
17 Dec 2010
When I die and they lay me to rest
I attended a funeral last week the first for many years. It was for Debbie, the partner of a friend of mine, who died following a short illness age 45 years. I didn't actually know her but went along in support of my friend.
It was a bitterly cold morning and the crisp chilly day seemed to echo the starkness I felt at the funeral.
My friend looked devastated. He looked like the life had been sucked from him and he was propped on either side by his teenage daughters.
The chapel at the crematorium was filled with friends, famly and work colleagues as I joined my friends standing at the back. The presiding minister talked about Debbie's life and her passion and joy of living; of alternative therapies and her spiritual connections and how she fit so perfectly into my friends life and that of his girls.
My friend was far too distrught to address the congregation and so the eulogy was read out on his behalf. It was one of those moments when you glimpse a sign of what true love must be like and I don't think there were many there who didn't shed a tear or two. His daughters had also written an eloquent and moving piece far beyond their teenage years and those of us that didn't really know Debbie, caught glimpse of the wonderful person she must have been.
There were no religious hymns but a couple of Michale Buble songs which made people smile. Half an hour later we were ushered out as quickly as possible into the chilled morning again, being told that another funeral was waiting.
Out in the cold light of day my friends and I walked back to the car park and saw a line of cars behind a funeral cortege waiting to take our places as soon as we drove off. There was a sudden realisation that whilst for half an hour that chapel had been a private place to share collective grief and say goodbye to someone, it was also the same for another group of grief stricken family and friends every half hour all day most days.
Conveyor belt cremations; the reality of how we deal with death in the 21st Century. Whilst for some it may be necessary for a quick half hour service with no time to think, to ensure the agony is not prolonged, for me I would much prefer a tailored ceremony that is not defined by the amount of time before the next body is due in.
When I was in Nepal, I was priviledged to see part of a Hindu cremation just outside Kathmandu. What struck me about this particular funeral rite was that it wasn't closetted in a religious building for half an hour but in the open for all to see and share. To me it felt a much more integral part of life and far removed from the crematorium funeral of last week. It felt so much less clinical that our cremations and had a much more spiritual quality to it.
No one likes to think about their own funeral but I am sure that I definitely do not want my coffin to be queuing up in the car park waiting for the previous coffin to be disposed of in the crematorium and the people to be ushered out to make way for me and anyone that happens to be coming to wave me off.
So what do I want then?
I would like a natural burial in an area of beauty and a non religious ceremony where people are not just there but actually feel involved.
I'd also like to ensure that it is as eco friendly as possible as I am sure that throughout my life I have plundered (not intentionally) the earth's resources and so therefore wish to give myself back to her. Therefore I'd like to be buried in a degradable coffin or shroud and interned with a tree planted above me. I'd like there to be some music and dancing, some poetry and laughter. I'd also like to write my own eulogy I think (to save some other poor bugger having to try and find things to say about me!)
I'm going to join up to the natural death centre and find out more.
How do you want to be disposed of?
>>>> Off to write my eulogy>>>>>>
It was a bitterly cold morning and the crisp chilly day seemed to echo the starkness I felt at the funeral.
My friend looked devastated. He looked like the life had been sucked from him and he was propped on either side by his teenage daughters.
The chapel at the crematorium was filled with friends, famly and work colleagues as I joined my friends standing at the back. The presiding minister talked about Debbie's life and her passion and joy of living; of alternative therapies and her spiritual connections and how she fit so perfectly into my friends life and that of his girls.
My friend was far too distrught to address the congregation and so the eulogy was read out on his behalf. It was one of those moments when you glimpse a sign of what true love must be like and I don't think there were many there who didn't shed a tear or two. His daughters had also written an eloquent and moving piece far beyond their teenage years and those of us that didn't really know Debbie, caught glimpse of the wonderful person she must have been.
There were no religious hymns but a couple of Michale Buble songs which made people smile. Half an hour later we were ushered out as quickly as possible into the chilled morning again, being told that another funeral was waiting.
Out in the cold light of day my friends and I walked back to the car park and saw a line of cars behind a funeral cortege waiting to take our places as soon as we drove off. There was a sudden realisation that whilst for half an hour that chapel had been a private place to share collective grief and say goodbye to someone, it was also the same for another group of grief stricken family and friends every half hour all day most days.
Conveyor belt cremations; the reality of how we deal with death in the 21st Century. Whilst for some it may be necessary for a quick half hour service with no time to think, to ensure the agony is not prolonged, for me I would much prefer a tailored ceremony that is not defined by the amount of time before the next body is due in.
When I was in Nepal, I was priviledged to see part of a Hindu cremation just outside Kathmandu. What struck me about this particular funeral rite was that it wasn't closetted in a religious building for half an hour but in the open for all to see and share. To me it felt a much more integral part of life and far removed from the crematorium funeral of last week. It felt so much less clinical that our cremations and had a much more spiritual quality to it.
No one likes to think about their own funeral but I am sure that I definitely do not want my coffin to be queuing up in the car park waiting for the previous coffin to be disposed of in the crematorium and the people to be ushered out to make way for me and anyone that happens to be coming to wave me off.
So what do I want then?
I would like a natural burial in an area of beauty and a non religious ceremony where people are not just there but actually feel involved.
I'd also like to ensure that it is as eco friendly as possible as I am sure that throughout my life I have plundered (not intentionally) the earth's resources and so therefore wish to give myself back to her. Therefore I'd like to be buried in a degradable coffin or shroud and interned with a tree planted above me. I'd like there to be some music and dancing, some poetry and laughter. I'd also like to write my own eulogy I think (to save some other poor bugger having to try and find things to say about me!)
I'm going to join up to the natural death centre and find out more.
How do you want to be disposed of?
>>>> Off to write my eulogy>>>>>>
10 Dec 2010
Proven: The link between horse poo and dog behaviour and hearing!
Recent independent research has proved beyond doubt that horse poo can have a dramatic affect on a dogs hearing and behaviour. As yet there is no known rationale for this frustrating and irritating syndrome, which it appears is short lived and yet exceptionally intense.
As part of this independent research please read below the most recent story of a dog in Dorset.
Smudge is a 6 year old Saluki Cross. I am not entirely sure what he is crossed with but I suspect it is a mix between a Tasmanian Devil and a Whirling Dervish. His preferred traits are those of an aloof self opinionated Saluki however at times probably best known to himself he forgets his Saluki roots and becomes something very strange indeed!
Yesterday whilst out for his early morning walk in the melting snow, he was happily playing 'fetch' with me. Well when I say 'fetch' what I really mean is that he runs after the toy and then runs off with it and drops it whilst I have to fetch it back to throw it again. ......And so it continues.
Only it didn't quite continue as normal. Smudge caught a whiff of something and ran off in the direction of a clearing. How he could possibly catch a whiff of anything whilst he was busy playing 'fetch' I have no idea especially as there was a heavy frost which I'd assume would cover anything smelly.
Anyway he was off like a rocket and so I followed to pick up the toy he had dropped on route. I went back from whence I came as I saw another dog walker with one of Smudge's friends. I stopped and chatted a while with the other walker and usually in this instance Smudge would come running to say hello (well he doesn't really say hello... he just sniffs the other dog's bum).
I called Smudge to alert him to the fact that his dog pal was there but he appeared completely rooted to the spot. So after the other walker had gone on, obviously bored by my company, I called Smudge again using our 'Ready...... Steady....... ' trigger words which means I'm about to chuck his toy into oblivion for him to follow. Still there he was head down, rooted to the spot, apparently completely deaf to my calls.
It suddenly dawned on me that unless he had all four paws frozen to the spot and was actually unable to move he must have found something delicious to eat. So I went towards him, lightening my tone to try and sound encouraging but knowing in my heart that I actually sounded a bit frenetic.
Knowing that this dog likes to run circles around me I stood a distance away and called him again. He didn't even look up at me the bugger. I could have been talking to myself and of course, I was. I rapidly came to the conclusion that his hearing had been dramatically affected by whatever it was he was eating and that I could stand and yell at him for all my worth and he probably wouldn't hear me anyway.
So I had to resort to plan B and see if rather than him responding to my command, which clearly he couldn't hear, I would go to him.
As well as deafness it appears that Smudge's behaviour was even more erratic than it is usually. Once I was within his peripheral vision he grabbed a large portion of what turned out to be frozen horse poo and ran madly in wide circles around me. If he had the capacity to laugh I'm sure he would have. "DROP" shouted me trying to remain calm assertive (yeah I've watched the Dog Whisperer!). Anyway he didn't hear me, munched whatever he had in his mouth and went back for more from the frozen poo pile.
So I then decided to resort to Plan C. Jumping up and down to get his attention (he is part sight hound after all) I started to run hell for leather as far away from him as I could and hid behind a tree. After what seemed like enough time to consume at least two more frozen poo lumps, he came bounding up to me as if nothing had happened.
'Sit', I commanded. Miraculously his hearing returned and he sat as I put on his lead to take him home.
Dogs!
The offending frozen horse poo, that's known to cause temporary deafness and behaviour issues in dogs.
As part of this independent research please read below the most recent story of a dog in Dorset.
Smudge is a 6 year old Saluki Cross. I am not entirely sure what he is crossed with but I suspect it is a mix between a Tasmanian Devil and a Whirling Dervish. His preferred traits are those of an aloof self opinionated Saluki however at times probably best known to himself he forgets his Saluki roots and becomes something very strange indeed!
Yesterday whilst out for his early morning walk in the melting snow, he was happily playing 'fetch' with me. Well when I say 'fetch' what I really mean is that he runs after the toy and then runs off with it and drops it whilst I have to fetch it back to throw it again. ......And so it continues.
Only it didn't quite continue as normal. Smudge caught a whiff of something and ran off in the direction of a clearing. How he could possibly catch a whiff of anything whilst he was busy playing 'fetch' I have no idea especially as there was a heavy frost which I'd assume would cover anything smelly.
Anyway he was off like a rocket and so I followed to pick up the toy he had dropped on route. I went back from whence I came as I saw another dog walker with one of Smudge's friends. I stopped and chatted a while with the other walker and usually in this instance Smudge would come running to say hello (well he doesn't really say hello... he just sniffs the other dog's bum).
I called Smudge to alert him to the fact that his dog pal was there but he appeared completely rooted to the spot. So after the other walker had gone on, obviously bored by my company, I called Smudge again using our 'Ready...... Steady....... ' trigger words which means I'm about to chuck his toy into oblivion for him to follow. Still there he was head down, rooted to the spot, apparently completely deaf to my calls.
It suddenly dawned on me that unless he had all four paws frozen to the spot and was actually unable to move he must have found something delicious to eat. So I went towards him, lightening my tone to try and sound encouraging but knowing in my heart that I actually sounded a bit frenetic.
Knowing that this dog likes to run circles around me I stood a distance away and called him again. He didn't even look up at me the bugger. I could have been talking to myself and of course, I was. I rapidly came to the conclusion that his hearing had been dramatically affected by whatever it was he was eating and that I could stand and yell at him for all my worth and he probably wouldn't hear me anyway.
So I had to resort to plan B and see if rather than him responding to my command, which clearly he couldn't hear, I would go to him.
As well as deafness it appears that Smudge's behaviour was even more erratic than it is usually. Once I was within his peripheral vision he grabbed a large portion of what turned out to be frozen horse poo and ran madly in wide circles around me. If he had the capacity to laugh I'm sure he would have. "DROP" shouted me trying to remain calm assertive (yeah I've watched the Dog Whisperer!). Anyway he didn't hear me, munched whatever he had in his mouth and went back for more from the frozen poo pile.
So I then decided to resort to Plan C. Jumping up and down to get his attention (he is part sight hound after all) I started to run hell for leather as far away from him as I could and hid behind a tree. After what seemed like enough time to consume at least two more frozen poo lumps, he came bounding up to me as if nothing had happened.
'Sit', I commanded. Miraculously his hearing returned and he sat as I put on his lead to take him home.
Dogs!
The offending frozen horse poo, that's known to cause temporary deafness and behaviour issues in dogs.
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