Fifty Shades of Grey

Purely because everybody has been raving about this book, I just had to read it to see what all the fuss was about. I must say, despite the fact that I found the writing to be slightly juvenile, I enjoyed it. Why? Duh. Christian Grey.

 In the fantasy world, I find Christian's character to be undeniably sexy, however, in reality, if a man tried to control everything I did, I would probably laugh in his face and throw him through a window. I give EL James serious kudos for being able to make Christian's character so likeable and- even more amazingly- irresistible. Anastasia's character, on the other hand, was a little bit less endearing. Her awkwardness got really old, really fast and she began to annoy me pretty early on in the book. She is a little bit too pathetic and naive to be entirely 'relatable'. Her childlike thoughts and qualities put a dampener on the 'boiling over sex pot' that is Christian Grey. Despite this though, the dynamics of their relationship are still very interesting and,  ultimately, make her character tolerable. Hopefully she becomes a little bit more mature as the trilogy continues.

This is a book that makes it possible for people all around the world to embrace their sexualities and to not feel 'dirty' or 'strange' for exploring- or wanting to explore- the realms of the 'taboo'. I love the freedom that the book allowed me to experience and I cannot wait to read the next two books of the 'Fifty Shades' trilogy. Even if this is not your kind of novel (I must admit, it wasn't mine either), it is a must-read. I have a small feeling that it could become the next 'big thing' and even exceed the popularity of the 'Twilight' series!

Till next time...

B
xx

Kindle- The Best Present Ever!

Happy Saturday everyone :) As usual, I am at home enjoying some mindless TV with my fantastic mother (the social scene is not really my thing). Now, before I go to bed to indulge in my brand new (belated) birthday gift, I thought I would share my opinion with you... the Kindle is the greatest invention EVER. Seriously, while I understand the sentimentality when it comes to a tangible book- the smell, the feel of the pages between your fingers... in truth, all of that means nothing at all when you compare it to the convenience of a Kindle. Here are the reasons why I am in love with my Kindle:

• Great Discounts: You can buy books for HALF the price you would pay for them in a conventional book shop- this includes best sellers... AND the classics (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens etc.) are FREE,
• Instant Access: Once you have purchased your book, it automatically downloads onto your Kindle. You can read it right there and then!
• Font Size: You can adjust the font size of the book you are reading to suit your preferences- great for people like me with bad eyesight.
• Percentage Progress Bar: The Kindle does not show page numbers, but rather shows you a status bar which tells you the percentage of the book that you have read, as well as the different chapters. With ordinary books, I tend to get pretty OCD about page numbers- with the Kindle I can relax and just enjoy the story. FAB.
• Storage: The Kindle can store hundreds of books, so you can keep your entire library in one place- AND it only weighs a few grams. 

There are so many other reasons, I just can't record them all. But seriously... take my advice- if you are a reader, this is the ideal gadget for you! Save a tree, buy a Kindle! You will never, ever look back.

Hope you all have an eventful weekend... as for me, I am off to hop in the bath and then I am jumping straight into bed to enjoy my latest, greatest toy ;) Ciao for now.

B
xx

FREE Internet Marketing Workshops

Is anyone out there interested in attending FREE internet marketing and SEO workshops? The company I work for, Ipcoweb, frequently holds these workshops and they are becoming more and more popular as the days go by. Guys, seriously, I cannot explain to you just how beneficial these workshops can be if you own a business. The SEO tips that you will receive are truly priceless and will make all the difference when it comes to learning how to take advantage of the internet for the marketing of your business.

The Ipcoweb internet marketing/SEO workshops cover the following topics and more:    

• How do I get on Google? How do I increase your ranking using SEO techniques and strategies?
• How to SEO like an expert. Which techniques for SEO are ethical and which are not.
• What is PPC?
• How do I get PPC?
• How do I use Google analytics with my Website? How often should I use Google analytics?
• Do I need a website for my small business? How will having a website improve my small business and generate new clients?
• What is the difference between a sponsored link and organic links? Why are backlinks necessary?
• How will the Google Panda Update affect my ranking?
• Basic ad words and what to do with your vouchers
• Creating an effective key word strategy and why regular keyword research is so imperative.
• The different types of keywords
• SEM

Take advantage of this opportunity and look out for the dates and times of our next workshop. You will be so glad you came!

B
 xx 

Sister Reunion

This blog post is dedicated to my brave, beautiful, hilarious, intelligent, crazy sister, Roxanne Leigh Delport. I saw her again last weekend for the first time in 10 years. You know that someone is really and truly your sister when you have been apart for so long and yet, when you see each other again, it is as though you have never been separated at all. I love you, big sis. I can't wait to see you again.

"Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister?"  ~Alice Walker

"Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister. " ~Katherine Mansfield

"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden."  ~Author Unknown

"When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?"  ~Pam Brown

"Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow."  ~Benjamin Disraeli

 "A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life."  ~Isadora James

Sisters forever <3

B
xx

It's a Miracle!

I am so happy right now!  I have just experienced a miracle! Where do I start?

Right, so those who know me are aware of the fact that I am a HUGE animal lover and I literally wouldn't hurt a fly (once, there was a fly buzzing around my head while I was trying to sleep and I tried to shoo it away without really looking. The next thing I knew, I had accidentally smashed it against the wall and murdered the poor thing. I had a funeral for it the next day. Yes, seriously).
So, every single night, before I go to bed, I put food out for the hungry birds to eat in the morning. I have a bird feeder for the smaller ones (although the pigeons still  manage to get inside and chow down somehow) and I sprinkle bread crumbs on the ground for the larger birds. Then, every morning, as I drink my first cup of tea, I sit and watch them eat. Over the few months that I jave been doing this, the birds have become like my children. I know most of them and have even named a few. Recently, they have become a bit more tame and don't tend to fly away when I come outside. I really love my birds.

Now, my little dog has got an obsession with chasing birds and she's really,really quick. Today she caught one of my pigeons. Somehow she got the poor little thing stuck under a tarpaulin and I heard her shaking it really aggressively. When I shouted at her, she dropped it and came running out from underneath the cover. I was so upset, in tears and bawling my eyes out. When I lifted up the cover, the bird was motionless and looked like it had a broken neck. Devastated, I ran back inside and cried myself sick. I felt so guilty that I had let something like this happen to one of my birds! After a good half an hour of sobbing, I went back outside to get my bird so that I could bury it. The bloody thing was walking around and chowing bread crumbs like nothing had ever happened!!! I could not believe it! Besides a few ruffled feathers around his neck, he was perfectly fine. All that I can think of is that my pup must have knocked the poor thing unconscious? Either that, or it was a real miracle! My birdie is alive. Hallelujah!
 

B
xx

A Dream Within a Dream

Hi folks,

A while ago, someone very special to me introduced me to the works of the impeccable genius, Edgar Allan Poe. He is truly hypnotic and I find that whenever I read his poetry, I am able to conjure up a detailed mental picture according to the feelings that the poems evoke within me. It is rare for that to happen... so, I would like to share with you one of my favourite Poe poems, 'A Dream Within a Dream':

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream? 

 

Or a nightmare within a nightmare...
 

Inspiration

Hi everyone,

So although I am a copywriter, I am also an avid poet and enthusiastic creative writer. My greatest inspiration? *drum roll* LOVE. Surprise, surprise! I don't think there is anything else in this world that is more interesting or more enticing than love and all of its horrors. I say 'horrors' because there is an extremely ugly side to love as well as a beautiful one. The fact is that you are never more vulnerable than when you are in love. Trusting someone completely is a dangerous state of affairs and can often end in disaster. I have experienced that before... it still haunts me... but damn, it sure makes for some amazing inspiration.
 

I know of many people who come near to killing themselves for their art. They do not allow themselves happiness... they thrive on pain and sorrow. It's not healthy, but, because of it, they are truly masters of creation. Is extraordinary art worth putting yourself through hell over and over again? I suppose the answer to that is subjective...

 

B
xx