What is going on in the world? First there is the (unlikely to end soon) recession. I'm not doom and gloom, in fact I am an optimist. But I am also an economist, and I do have some common sense despite popular belief. And I know that if we (individuals, groups, countries) continue to do what we've been doi g so far, we won't get anything different from the current dire results. Then there's people's reaction to the recession. Some burry their heads in sand. It won't affect me, I've got a job, I'm ok. No, because there are too many things outside of our control as individuals. And lack of action is probably worse than the wrong kind of action.
Then there are the politicians. And I'm not necessarily, or not just, thinking about the UK. In fact they're not too bad here. I'm thinking of politicians in countries badly affected (Greece, Italy spring to mind) and in my home country Romania.
I am proud of being Romanian. Maybe that's why it makes me so angry when I see glimses of Romanian politics. There's a lot of rhetoric. What would you expect? It is politics after all! But there is a lot of finger pointing. Trying to prove a point (after the fact) as if we didn't know that we are all smarter when we look at things with hindsight! And there is a lot of inaction, or at least that's my perception.
Since when do politicians go on strike? Well, if you haven't heard it before, apparently they are going on strike. When it would be much better to just pull our efforts together, and come up with solutions.
I am a law-abiding citizen, who votes, but unfortunately does not see the point of becoming a politician. I wonder, if people like me were to get involved in the politics, wouldn't world be a better place???
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Self sufficiency
This evening, after a rough afternoon with baby G, I have decided to take a break from leadership and such articles and to return to my neglected blog. I've been thinking for a while, how would it be to become self-sufficient? You know, grow your own fruit and veg, keep chickens, have a cow and pigs etc... The wonderful, blissful country life, away from the "ratrace". Since I bought my house, I've been toying with the idea of growing my own stuff. No, not live stock, that would be way too much! But some herbs and maybe other things that are not too high maintenance.
So, the first step to self sufficiency has now been made. My mum has done such a great job clearing part of the garden that I couldn't not take advantage. So off to shops we went. And came back with seeds for onions, garlic, radishes, peas, lettuce, and can't remember what else. Obviously I'm not that serious about this since I can't even remember what is to be planted, but my mum is! We already have some herbs (or whatever is left after the slug attack we had in the autumn), so now I am looking forward to the Coven crop.
Could I do it on a bigger scale? I don't think so. I quite like the ratrace. And I guess I also got a bit lazy. Probably the power of capitalism, if you can buy the stuff why work hard to get it yourself?! Especially as my yield would be nowhere near was good as the professionals', and we should listen to Porter and the likes who kept talking about competitive advantage. I somehow don't think agriculture is mine! Could be an interesting hobby. So if I remember, I will keep folks posted on the crop situation!
So, the first step to self sufficiency has now been made. My mum has done such a great job clearing part of the garden that I couldn't not take advantage. So off to shops we went. And came back with seeds for onions, garlic, radishes, peas, lettuce, and can't remember what else. Obviously I'm not that serious about this since I can't even remember what is to be planted, but my mum is! We already have some herbs (or whatever is left after the slug attack we had in the autumn), so now I am looking forward to the Coven crop.
Could I do it on a bigger scale? I don't think so. I quite like the ratrace. And I guess I also got a bit lazy. Probably the power of capitalism, if you can buy the stuff why work hard to get it yourself?! Especially as my yield would be nowhere near was good as the professionals', and we should listen to Porter and the likes who kept talking about competitive advantage. I somehow don't think agriculture is mine! Could be an interesting hobby. So if I remember, I will keep folks posted on the crop situation!
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Working mothers
Yet another milestone in my and baby G's life. I went to work for 3 days this week. Thought, how hard can it be?!? Quite hard, actually.
Before G, I kept thinking whenever a friend or colleague took a long time off with her baby (one year or longer), how can they take so much time off? Aren't they getting bored? Besides, being "out of circulation" work-wise for such a long time surely makes you a bit rusty! Now I understand...
The UK has some progressive stuff in its maternity regulations. For starters, maternity leave can be up to a year. Ok pay is rubbish unless the company you work for is generous, but it's one year! Then, you can go to work for a few days to keep in touch before coming back to work. You can also "give" some of your maternity leave to the father (not that I know any man who took this fantastic opportunity...either sexist or old fashioned or of course they get paid more than women!). And if you're still breastfeeding when you return to work you are entitled to certain adjustments.
So I had 3 days at work this week. I thought, great! Let's see if my brain is still working. I love my job, and I love the company I work for. So I'd been looking forward to these days but also been apprehensive about leaving baby G. And off to work I go...
First day was great. After a partly sleepless night of course, it was after all the first day back as a mother! It was exciting, I got back into it instantly (I guess all those emails helped!), not much had changed which also helped, and my regular breaks to go home and feed G were working well.
Day 2 came. And G was in a bad mood. When I was coming home to feed her, she wouldn't even look at me. Smiling was completely off the table! It was as if she was really upset with me. I had the silent treatment. Now I know how men feel when they get that! And worse, I knew how mothers feel when they go back to work.
Fortunately things got better in the evening, and day 3 was more bearable - and G was treating me more nicely as well. It made me realise how hard it is to go back to work - less tiring than staying at home with youor baby (yes, really!) but missing them, seeing their little faces with your minds' eyes, needing a cuddle, and then going home to be punished is a lot to cope with!
Will I go back to work? Yes. Full time, after 7 months off. Needs must, and I really do love work. The experience has however made me a bit more understanding... so watch out, there will be a lot of talking about the baby from me!
Before G, I kept thinking whenever a friend or colleague took a long time off with her baby (one year or longer), how can they take so much time off? Aren't they getting bored? Besides, being "out of circulation" work-wise for such a long time surely makes you a bit rusty! Now I understand...
The UK has some progressive stuff in its maternity regulations. For starters, maternity leave can be up to a year. Ok pay is rubbish unless the company you work for is generous, but it's one year! Then, you can go to work for a few days to keep in touch before coming back to work. You can also "give" some of your maternity leave to the father (not that I know any man who took this fantastic opportunity...either sexist or old fashioned or of course they get paid more than women!). And if you're still breastfeeding when you return to work you are entitled to certain adjustments.
So I had 3 days at work this week. I thought, great! Let's see if my brain is still working. I love my job, and I love the company I work for. So I'd been looking forward to these days but also been apprehensive about leaving baby G. And off to work I go...
First day was great. After a partly sleepless night of course, it was after all the first day back as a mother! It was exciting, I got back into it instantly (I guess all those emails helped!), not much had changed which also helped, and my regular breaks to go home and feed G were working well.
Day 2 came. And G was in a bad mood. When I was coming home to feed her, she wouldn't even look at me. Smiling was completely off the table! It was as if she was really upset with me. I had the silent treatment. Now I know how men feel when they get that! And worse, I knew how mothers feel when they go back to work.
Fortunately things got better in the evening, and day 3 was more bearable - and G was treating me more nicely as well. It made me realise how hard it is to go back to work - less tiring than staying at home with youor baby (yes, really!) but missing them, seeing their little faces with your minds' eyes, needing a cuddle, and then going home to be punished is a lot to cope with!
Will I go back to work? Yes. Full time, after 7 months off. Needs must, and I really do love work. The experience has however made me a bit more understanding... so watch out, there will be a lot of talking about the baby from me!
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Relationships and children
When I found out that I was pregnant, some people warned me about how relationships change. Amd ever since I kept hearing comments that a child changes the dynamics of a couple considerably. In some cases, the couple stops being that and becomes something less and more in the same time.
Before I go on, let me make this clear. This is not based on my experience, I'm too busy with baby G to do this level of introspection!!! (or maybe herein lies the issue?)
So what is the problem? How do you continue being a couple - having moments of intimacy, going out for a nice meal, having a chat about work / a film / your boss / the good looking neighbour / weather / etc (delete as appropriate)? How do you find time (and childcare) to go to the movies, go out with friends, enjoy a read before going to sleep together? I'd say, make the time. Enlist friends and / or family to help. Talk about it. I don't want to have a friendship, or a partnership. I want a relationship, to be in a couple. Yes, a child changes your life dramatically, to an extent I didn't think possible. But equally, a child should enhance the parents' life together. So go on, pack your things, the little one(s), and go on a holiday!
Any experiences or thoughts you can share?
Before I go on, let me make this clear. This is not based on my experience, I'm too busy with baby G to do this level of introspection!!! (or maybe herein lies the issue?)
So what is the problem? How do you continue being a couple - having moments of intimacy, going out for a nice meal, having a chat about work / a film / your boss / the good looking neighbour / weather / etc (delete as appropriate)? How do you find time (and childcare) to go to the movies, go out with friends, enjoy a read before going to sleep together? I'd say, make the time. Enlist friends and / or family to help. Talk about it. I don't want to have a friendship, or a partnership. I want a relationship, to be in a couple. Yes, a child changes your life dramatically, to an extent I didn't think possible. But equally, a child should enhance the parents' life together. So go on, pack your things, the little one(s), and go on a holiday!
Any experiences or thoughts you can share?
Dream and reality
Last night I was very busy. I couldn't fall asleep to start with (was it the full moon? The Transylvanian in me?). Then I had a very vivid dream, which lasted a long time, and was multilingual (show off!).
Which then made me stay awake thinking about dreams and reality. Some people believe that dreams are like premonitions - they give you early warnings of what it is to come. Others say that dreams have their roots in the happenings of the day/week/mnth/year/childhood etc.
What do I think? Here's my two-pence (or two-cents) worth, based on some of the stuff I read and on what I believe.
The human brain gathers information all day and all night. But we are extremely busy during the day, running around doing out usual stuff. So the brain doesn't get the chance to catch up with itself. We also don't have a lot of time to carefully think through options in order to make the best decisions. When we sleep, the brain has this chance to "catch it's breath" and quietly and calmly think things through. So it goes through the events of the day/week/month etc and signals go between it's different parts. So we dream based on what our subconscious or even unconscious processes. Those dreams are either the effect of some important events, or hidden wishes that we have, frustrations, desires, even fears... Or short glimses of what the future might hold based on the decisions we have just made. Dreams can also send us some messages on dangers ahead, which instinctively our brain (probably the amigdala) recognises, but we (intelligent, advanced beings that we are) ignore completely.
sweet dreams everyone!
Which then made me stay awake thinking about dreams and reality. Some people believe that dreams are like premonitions - they give you early warnings of what it is to come. Others say that dreams have their roots in the happenings of the day/week/mnth/year/childhood etc.
What do I think? Here's my two-pence (or two-cents) worth, based on some of the stuff I read and on what I believe.
The human brain gathers information all day and all night. But we are extremely busy during the day, running around doing out usual stuff. So the brain doesn't get the chance to catch up with itself. We also don't have a lot of time to carefully think through options in order to make the best decisions. When we sleep, the brain has this chance to "catch it's breath" and quietly and calmly think things through. So it goes through the events of the day/week/month etc and signals go between it's different parts. So we dream based on what our subconscious or even unconscious processes. Those dreams are either the effect of some important events, or hidden wishes that we have, frustrations, desires, even fears... Or short glimses of what the future might hold based on the decisions we have just made. Dreams can also send us some messages on dangers ahead, which instinctively our brain (probably the amigdala) recognises, but we (intelligent, advanced beings that we are) ignore completely.
sweet dreams everyone!
Sunday, 1 January 2012
The War of Sexes
I've been thinking of this for a few good days now... What is it that is making us, men and women, so different, to the point of fighting (and sometimes inflicting pain, physical or psychological)? From the point of view of a woman (I know, flawed already!), there are millions of reasons... If you lack a good sense of humour, better stop reading now. And before you carry on, I am not a feminist - in fact I love men, couldn't live without them, life would be too dull!
Are men really from Mars and women from Venus? If we believe that men are warriors - or ready to get into fights - and women are beautiful (which they are of course!) then yes. And if you're not sure why, Mars was the god of war and Venus the goddess of beauty in the Roman mythology. I digress!
Can women read maps? I can! And I don't like it when I'm told that women can't read maps or do any orienteering - that's a good enough reason to start a war! And besides, I think women are brave enough to stop and ask for directions, shamelessly:-).
Multitasking... Why is it that men typically have to concentrate on one thing at a time (and sometimes not even finish it!)? As for women... I sometimes talk on the phone while working on something and answering someone else's questions in the same time - and usually not failing any of these tasks! Not that one could fail chatting but that's beside the point!
And why is it that we are programmed from when we are kids in being so different? I would love to be able to fix my plumbing, or replace the electrics, connect the dishwasher, drill holes, etc etc etc. In fact I've been seriously considering enrolling on a course to learn how to do all these. Maybe at some point in the future... Or look at professions. Far more men are engineers, far more women are nurses. And although women probably cook more than men at home, apparently the best chefs are men. Although a man told me that, so I'm not so sure about that!
Not to mention pay differentials - I think in the UK the pay gap is 25%, I won't be working by the time the gap is closed at the current rate. If I'm still alive to see that day I'll be lucky!
I don't believe in quotas, forcing things in. I believe in meritocracy. There are differences, and we should celebrate them, they are what makes us individuals!
Have fun battling!!!
Are men really from Mars and women from Venus? If we believe that men are warriors - or ready to get into fights - and women are beautiful (which they are of course!) then yes. And if you're not sure why, Mars was the god of war and Venus the goddess of beauty in the Roman mythology. I digress!
Can women read maps? I can! And I don't like it when I'm told that women can't read maps or do any orienteering - that's a good enough reason to start a war! And besides, I think women are brave enough to stop and ask for directions, shamelessly:-).
Multitasking... Why is it that men typically have to concentrate on one thing at a time (and sometimes not even finish it!)? As for women... I sometimes talk on the phone while working on something and answering someone else's questions in the same time - and usually not failing any of these tasks! Not that one could fail chatting but that's beside the point!
And why is it that we are programmed from when we are kids in being so different? I would love to be able to fix my plumbing, or replace the electrics, connect the dishwasher, drill holes, etc etc etc. In fact I've been seriously considering enrolling on a course to learn how to do all these. Maybe at some point in the future... Or look at professions. Far more men are engineers, far more women are nurses. And although women probably cook more than men at home, apparently the best chefs are men. Although a man told me that, so I'm not so sure about that!
Not to mention pay differentials - I think in the UK the pay gap is 25%, I won't be working by the time the gap is closed at the current rate. If I'm still alive to see that day I'll be lucky!
I don't believe in quotas, forcing things in. I believe in meritocracy. There are differences, and we should celebrate them, they are what makes us individuals!
Have fun battling!!!
Friday, 23 December 2011
Christmas
So now that I have announced my Christmas excitement to the world, what am I looking forward to?
There is always the hope for snow... I live in the UK and we all know that the stuff that we get out of the sky most of the time is...rain! But I'm an eternal optimist, so maybe we'll get at least the ground covered this winter.
Then there are the lights-Christmas lights everywhere, spreading joy. And of course the tree. I usually try to protect the environment, but when it comes to the Christmas tree, nothing can beat the smell and touch of real one!
Let's not forget the food - all those goodies, savoury and sweet, that my mum is making. I don't know how she does it, but at the end of a few hard working days there are mountains of stuff ready to go straight on our hips and bellies! Wouldn't change it for the world...
I also like sending and receiving Christmas cards - the old fashion ones, on paper, with just a few hand-written words. The electronic cards are cute, but to me they lack the human touch.
And of course there is Santa or Father Christmas. And I still believe in him, in his spirit.
Sadly the father of a good friend of mine died yesterday. Heartbreaking. It has made me think about what is important. Spend as much time as you can with the ones you love, don't miss any opportunity to get together, and when you think you've done enough, do some more!
Be loved and happy - Merry Christmas everyone!
There is always the hope for snow... I live in the UK and we all know that the stuff that we get out of the sky most of the time is...rain! But I'm an eternal optimist, so maybe we'll get at least the ground covered this winter.
Then there are the lights-Christmas lights everywhere, spreading joy. And of course the tree. I usually try to protect the environment, but when it comes to the Christmas tree, nothing can beat the smell and touch of real one!
Let's not forget the food - all those goodies, savoury and sweet, that my mum is making. I don't know how she does it, but at the end of a few hard working days there are mountains of stuff ready to go straight on our hips and bellies! Wouldn't change it for the world...
I also like sending and receiving Christmas cards - the old fashion ones, on paper, with just a few hand-written words. The electronic cards are cute, but to me they lack the human touch.
And of course there is Santa or Father Christmas. And I still believe in him, in his spirit.
Sadly the father of a good friend of mine died yesterday. Heartbreaking. It has made me think about what is important. Spend as much time as you can with the ones you love, don't miss any opportunity to get together, and when you think you've done enough, do some more!
Be loved and happy - Merry Christmas everyone!
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