12,589 new notifications

Oh, and approximately...

49 suggestions....

35 invites...

10 pokes...

AND...

8 friend requests. Phew!

Yep, I'm talking about Facebook. And how ridiculous it, and it's many users, have become (well not all). Ok, so maybe I've slightly exaggerrated on my stats there but I think you get the gist.

So, the other week I decided to delete my Facebook account. So liberating. After uhmming and ahhing about it for months, I finally found the 'strength' (as it is so often put), to rid of my Facebook life. I was getting fed up of constantly checking it, being nosy and being nosed upon. It was slowly dawning on me that this phenomenon that is such a big part of people's lives, is actually, well a bit out of control. I remember first signing up and thinking, 'wow this is brilliant!', uploading endless photo's, updating endless statuses, and having enless wall-to-wall relationships with endless 'friends'. I felt I was being consumed within this online cult, being surrounded by people with a completely seperate online personality to what they are like in real life.

Another thing that was really annoying me were the random 'friend' requests. I find it fascinating that what it means to be friends with someone in real life has a completely different rule-set online in the social networking world. People that you haven't spoken to nor seen in years, surely aren't your friends?! Having discussed this with fellow users and friends, before leaving it is a common theme to have a regular FB cull. That is, binning those on your online-mental-blacklist. However, this ony goes and backfires when the recipient finds out, re-adds and emssages your inbox wondering why. Um, awkward!?

I felt uncomfortable that just under 400 people had seen nearly every possible photo of me, whiklst automatically gaining the privelge to comment upon it as they pleased. Although I had the strictest possible security and privacy settings, and it was my own faulty for uploading them all, I just felt really really wierd to think about this! I found that i was judging people by what they were like on Facbook based on their activities and status updates. But, this was mostly those really annoying people who state the most fucking boring things. You know who you are, now stop. No one likes you.

And should you be lucky enough to meet a potential partner when out and about, chances are that they have already checked out your profile before even arranging a date! (Which could explain the no date, ahem).

Another reaosn was that those in your friend list were able to keep track with your every day life, what you did, who you saw and where you were. All this sort of information could be found out from a single comment you may have posted on someones profile... to then be read by just about everyone else you and they know. The only problem with this is that when you do actually get to enjoy time with friends and family, there is a really good chance that they know everything about what you have been up to.

Hmm, brilliant for conversation and catching up, not.

What I found most annoying about the whole thing were the continuous suggestions by other people to join this or attend that or like such and such. Why?! Is it not up to me what my interests are. for example, if you 'like' rock music, it isn't long until you have hunderds of suggestions to join music groups. Also, when you are a member of a group (sounds so secret, so in the know. Not at all), that sends out a message, everyone gets it and other peoples subsequent replies. Which means you loads of private messages. The initial flutter of seeing Inbox (1) soon dies when you realise it's probably some idiot reminding you of the £1 shots at some shitty bar you went to once in freshers week. Hmf.

But what I have found most bizarre since doing this and informing my (shock horror) real human friends was the mixed reception I received. I thought most people would be indifferent about it, but mostly the response fell into 2 categories - one being a huge congratulations (as if I'd given birth to quads) or two, complete uncomprehension (as if I had 12 heads).

I understand the beauty of Facebook. It is brilliant for keeping in touch with those abroad. But then an email still defitinely beats this as it is more private, personal and you can spend time constructing a decent message. Also, it is brilliant socially. Nearly every type of event that is happening in your local city has its own group or event created in advance with dates, times and locations. this is great for planning cool things to do. Again, nothing the local free magazines don't do well.

I used to find those without a Facebook (and it is only a couple) really odd seeing as everyone ever had one. I just couldn't understand it.

I certainly do now. The power of a face-to-face interaction with those you love and want to be around is seriously underestimated. The likes of social networking however, with all its good intentions, only exacerbates this problem. Surely, if you are friends with someone enough to be in contact regularly and they know most things about you, then wouldn't their number alone suffice?

What I've written is from personal experience and it's not exclusisive to FB but we have all sadly heard/read horror stories associated with this online world. It is also very common to check it routinely throughout the day, especially with phone applications allowing you to do so at any time or place. I was not the only one who would check more than a few times a day. It can be addictive. And anyone who insists that they don't go on it far too much is lying!

This has been a quick but painful divorce. Irreconcilable differences despite extensive memories.

So, back to polishing my interpersonal skills.

Hey, maybe even handwritten letters will come back into fashion if more people follow suit?

Ok, maybe that's just wishful thinking...

My Element @ Volks

Here are a few snaps of my friend's band...... called My Element. Check them out :-)
It had been far too long since I had last seen them play live (sorry guys!) . Very much enjoyed their gig, especially the new tracks, but not forgetting the originals of course!

Standon Calling experience... Murderous!

Last weekend saw the 10th birthday of Standon Calling festival, where I was a lucky enough lass to volunteer at. The Standon experience was one of a kind - the festival describes itself as being boutique and prides itself by being non-profit, without a sponsorship brand in sight, hooray! Although the term 'boutique' could sound mildly pretentious, it was quite the opposite, possibly being one of the most intimate and friendly environments I've been a part of.

Located in Ware. Where?! (a very pretty little place in Hertfordshire), it is simply a diddly little get together that see's a few thousand from all over join together for the weekend. It really does cater for all, from children's face painting, to the til-6am-all-nighter parties. These weren't ordinary parties either, the one I found myself in on the Sunday was in a cow shed. Yes, really. But who likes ordinary anyway?

The fellow festival goers I had the priveledge of meeting were all lovely, there with the only intention to have fun, make friends and of course not forgetting to enjoy the amazing music on offer. A real mix of international stars to less well known, Standon is sure to nurture and be the first to host up-and-coming artists, for example Florence and her now very-popular machine. One of my many personal highlights was to see the Buena Vista Social Club band arrive at the festival. Most bands arrive backstage before their scheduled time, however the mainstage on Sunday evening learnt that BVSC do things differently - arriving in a bus, that drove striaght through the festival crowd, many of those chilling in the sun getting out the way and looking on in sheer awe. Nothing less I say!

Every year Standon has a fancy dress theme in which it is (almost) compulsory that everyone adhere's to. This year, the theme was 'Murder on the Standon Express' - which saw an array of amazing creative outfits, although my favourite had to be a group of men on a stag do ankle-chained together in orange jumpsuits! That and lots of fine young, strapping gentlemen, looking dapper in their very best detective outfits. Mmmm!

Working at a festival is very different from going as a guest, but equally just as much fun. The only downside is not having as much opportunity to grab photo's. What a way to celebrate a superb tenth birthday of a festival which has grown considerably (but not horribly like some!) from one with a few friends to what it is now.

Same time next year?

Yessiree :-)

SATC

Does anyone else always insist on forgetting how hideous London can be in at this time of year? Hot, humid, insanely crowded, with our personal space continually violated.

Having been to and from our beloved capital several times over the past few months, one would assume the ability to remember and prepare oneself. Obviously not, as the other week I found myself (once again) pretty much buried in someone elses rather disgusting armpit on a tube journey which I can only describe as, er, cosy.

The Evening Standard should be issued with anti-perspirant as 'standard' and the ever so lovely underground intercom lady should not only encourage we stay hydrated, but to promote the use of deodorant in the mornings. People, please!

London Underground surely qualifies as the new SATC? Sweat And The City folks, commuters and travellers alike beware, there's still just about another month of this!

The Big Smoke, maybe. The Big Sweat? Most definitely.

Calling all Rocker's

This weekend has seen Hyde Park host the daytime festival Hard Rock Calling. Which is in assocation with the Hard Rock (Cafe) brand. Funny that, for some reason it just didn't click at the time. Blonde moment number one, but no, I won't be going into that any further!
Swiftly moving on, Jen and I decided we wanted to see Pearl Jam, who were the headliners on the Friday night. Having arrived at Hyde Park, which we both forgot was ENORMOUS, we had to locate gate X9. Which in theory, should be in between 8 and 10, but clearly not.

Mr Vedder himself, casually knocking back Red straight from the bottle!

Found this in the loo's...So really, we should
all drop this eco-lifestyle change, and just go for a poo!

Anyhow, joining the mass of festival goer's we began to queue. Although, Vodafone customers got to queue jump. Unfair, until we realised that hardly anyone is on that network. And for a good reason!
The day kicked off about 3.30pm, eventually coming to a close at a rather civil, 10.30pm. Plenty of time spare for the old folk to maintain bed time. And with the nature of the headliners, there were plenty of old-school rockers!

Avid fan!

The Hives

The band that opened the show were called Robert Francis and it was their first ever festival performance. Felt a wee bit sorry for them as the crowd looked particularly uninterested, although I think everyone genuinely were just enjoying chilling out in the afternoon sun. Following their set were Gaslight Anthem, The Hives, Ben Harper & Relentless 7, and then finally Pearl Jam. The frontman from the Hives certainly had some energy! With the flow of alcohol picking up pace the crowd got going, as people started standing up and bopping about to the tunes. The whole crowd really were there to see the legendary Pearl Jam, who delivered a top class performance :-)

The British trend of not wearing usncream still going strong...

Gaslight Anthem

In true, un-original festival style, objects started getting thrown into the crowd. Such an unnerving feeling worrying if you're about to get knocked out by the cap-end of a bottle, which you can only hope contains something cold, and only cold! However, one I haven't seen before - massive loaves of Tiger bread being thrown in!! To be fair, it did look really funny, but then everything appears that way until it happens to yourself. Poor Eddie Vedder did seem concerned throughout the evening, stopping a few times to make sure we all 'looked after thy neighbours', though in particularly his comment that we ensured that our Queen to be well rested to watch Wimbledon tomorrow! Best left unknown what the unkempt mosher's thoughts were on that comment, but luckily we were well back from them.

Main Stage

This lady had the best/most amount of tattoos. In some wierd, perverted

way, I really wanted to see under her clothes...!

On the whole, a pretty darn good day. I did temporarily feel like I missed out on the true festival experience by not camping over for a few days like normal. However, the fact it felt like we were sat in a bin for the best part of 6 hours covered in old sweat, suncream and beer more than made up for that! That and overhearing a man giving directions over the phone.... 'Yeah, mate, we're by the Hard Rock sign, you know the one kinda near the stage'.... Wow, no wonder he never made it.

Robert Francis

Pearl Jam Tee

The only downside were the fact that the bottles of beer cost 4 pounds each FOUR squidders for a coke-can sized drink. Oh, and the event t-shirts were £20. Pffft, to be expected I guess. Note to festival organisers... Really???! Note to self? Better smuggling of "ginger beer".
A selection of pics,
Enjoy :-) x

Sweaty leg leaflet imprint. Nice!

In the summertime, when the weather is fine...

One of my most favourite things in the world = Summertime in Brighton. Amazing. The whole city just seems to, well, change as it were. Everyone is much happier and more chilled, and looking like they're having the best time. Much deserved, considering the mammoth winter.

One of my all time favourite's of this time of year has got to be, the beach BBQ. Which normally starts out fairly civilised, until the child in everyone is unleashed. Silly dancing, swimming fully clothed (and the only clothes you have... brilliant walk of shame) and jumping/rolling around on the beach soon follows after a few burgers, hotdogs and in Leckys case, WKD's!

Here are some pics of a recent BBQ's. Do excuse my friends, poor souls can't help looking/acting as they do!

:o)

This is exciting, I have my own blog! I've joined the (ever-growing) cult; the weak in me unable to resist the pressure.
Anyway, Hello :-)