Horsemeat scandal

I have been taken quite by surprise when this scandal came out, not because horsemeat was included but because the public has been deceived and lied to. As a consumer we have the right to be provided with what is on the label and Tesco and other big industries such as Findus have done the total opposite.

The first time we heard about this horsemeat scandal was back in 1948 where horses were killed and sold on the black market mostly to restaurants who want to save a penny or two, fast forward to 2013 and we have the same thing going on but now on a wider spread.  It has become so out of hand that authorities have officially stated that they cannot come up with a definite number or how many products have been contaminated by horsemeat.

First discovered in the budget burgers offered at Tescos and then in Findus lasagne and then cases multiplied, including  school canteens food.  Why shouldn't a person paying for a budget burger get an honest product, in the Premium products there was no traces of horsemeat found… so does this mean that people who cannot afford Premium products have less consumer rights?

This has made me question the meat that I buy. I'm currently living in Austria and my German skills are not very good (ok they are bad, horribly bad) so I always buy meat from Supermarkets where I do not have to ask anyone and won’t have to humiliate myself  trying to explain that I want chicken breast not chicken wings (mental note I have to Google translate Chicken to German). How fresh is it the meat that we are buying from these supermarkets and how long did it take to get there?  

Although as customers we will most probably always be deceived by these big chain supermarkets, one thing is for sure, I shall never buy meat from these supermarkets again and will opt to the original butcher who offer local and fresh meat who knows maybe it might help me improve me my German skills.

Tips not to over shop!

Pinky: I have a habit of purchasing anything that is cheap! That's how my wardrobe is always so full yet still i find it difficult to choose an outfit. (plus my wardrobe is one big mess)

So this time round I plan to tackle my Dublin shopping sprees in a different manner. Let's give it a shot.

1. I shall not start my shopping in Primark/Pennys. I shall try out TK Max, Forever 21(still need to discover this) and other shops i usually visit.

2. Once I locate an item I shall ask my self- Do I need this? Does it go with anything I have in my wardrobe?

3. If one of the above questions is a Yes I shall look at the price tag if its within budget I shall try it on then purchase.

4. If its something I don't necessary need such as a cartoon print t shirt, a set of hair pins I shall look at the price tag and if its below 8euros the yes I can purchase it!

5. I've also planned a list of things I NEED to buy :) here's the fun part. Such as black flat boots and a khaki coat with a hood if possible! I'll try to stick to the list :)

What do you think brain? is this Dublin mission possible?

Brain: Pinky as much as I would like to say no this is total;y doable it is going to be a big challenge, with our shopaholic syndrome (yes that is also classified as a syndrome) and all those bargains screaming at us .. how are we going to be able to keep the budget?

I think your points are very good I only have a few remarks

- Point 1 please add A wear, cannot not ( yes I used a double negative) go there they have good quality clothes and can find good bargains there.

- Point 4 - I think 8 euros is far too high for the prices that primark have, make it 5 much better

- Points to add

6. lets avoid buying sky high heals and opt for more comfy shoes, at least they will be worn more and not only for sit down meals

7.   do not let me buy another scarf, I have enough to last me a lifetime... ok maybe not a life time

8. we both have a lot of braclets, necklases etc, lets make it a point not to go all crazy at Primark when we get to this section

Pinky- I agree :) thank you brain...will try to steer away from sky high shoes that i can barely walk in :)

Here comes the bride!

I have recently just finished a really good and gripping book by Khaled Hosseini, called Thousand Splendid Suns. Based in Afghanistan, the books tells of the struggles of an illegitimate girl,a harami Miriam and her struggles which then lead her to Laila. This is the third book I have read based in Afghanistan. I started with another Khaled Hosseini book called The Kite Runner, and moved on to The book seller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad.

All three books have been eye openers to me, I realized that I live in a bubble and I really do not appreciate how free I am. I was given an education, I can go out shopping alone, wear a skirt, sing and dance, something that during the Taliban regime was impossible especially since I am a girl. Medical care is offered for free in my country (Malta), we have clean hospitals proving food and comfort. Till this day people in Afghanistan have no access to medicines and only 2 from 5 children live to the age of five. Most of these deaths can be prevented with basic medication.

Coming from an anthropological and philosophical background I kept in mind that this was a different culture, different practises and beliefs. But then again in 40 years Afghanistan was ruled by so many different leaders, groups and countries all of which imposed different laws. The Afghani culture was abused and twisted to what the party or leader in command wanted from the people. This I think has led to turmoil, abuse of power and discrimination.

Another issue which startled me was the young age at which girls are married off. I wanted to know more about all this. In Thousand Splendid suns Miriam was forced to marry so her father could keep face, other families married their daughters as they cannot afford to feed them any more  Some hope for a better life for their daughters and in some cases the daughter's feel that this is the right choice.

This National Geographic video posted below is a short lecture about this. The photo journalists has some stunning and dramatic images of these girls. She started her research from a hospital were a large number of girls were being treated for self harm. This led her to investigate the world of child brides to find our more. Child brides are not found in Afghanistan but all over the world.

 Warning- video contains graphic images. 

If you are interested in all this the learn more from the  NGO Girls not Brides.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Nelson Mandela

Update- I came across this article which reminded me of my post. Although its from the Daily Mail you can watch the video of the girl on you tube.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2373151/Go-ahead-marry--Ill-kill-Escaped-child-bride-11-explains-ran-away-home.html

Wedding Fails

So let me start by stating that I am no Fashion Guru, although I do try to follow fashion, I am not a slave for fashion either. Yet I do think that I know a thing or two about what to wear that suits my figure (thanks to the constant money spending on magazines and the time spent on the net looking at dresses that fit a curvy figure). I believe that with a little research a fashion disaster can easily be avoided nonetheless many people still fail miserably at looking their best.

 My concern on this matter has been haunting me for ages, how people go wrong in their fashion choices. Lately I have attended a wedding of a friend of mine and although the bride, groom and entourage looked superb, the guests were a complete different story. It amazes me how some women think they look great in some dresses. There are some basic rules to follow when one attends a wedding.

Firstly knee high boots are not appropriate for a wedding, yes knee high boots, that’s what I said,  you are not going for a hardcore night at Paceville, and to make it worse she had leg warmers coming up from underneath the boots. This was followed by a mini skirt with the most hideous design that I wish to never ever witness again in my life.  This fashion disaster Ied to me taking 3 strong Jack Daniels shots. And when I thought that I had seen it all from this particular guest, she decided that her shoes were hurting her, so she took off her unsightly boots to reveal her neon striped socks, and then goes to dance in the middle of the dance floor.

If it was my wedding I would have kicked her out, if your shoes are hurting sit down and rest a little but don’t make it known what your socks are. As much as they look funky over the shop counter they are not to be exposed in the middle of a wedding.

It is a fact that us women enjoy torturing our legs for that extra height, and I am no exception, the higher the better is my motto. But what most women fail to see/ do/ practice before going out with these shoes is to check where it hurts most. I have this guiding principle to go round the house with a new pair of shoes to check if I will need plasters when I wear it in front of people. The amount of women that you see walking like penguins by the end of a night like this is uncountable. And believe me you are not sexy at all. Try wearing comfortable shoes when you are attending an event where chairs are difficult to get hold off. 

Another fashion crime that I saw at this particular wedding is when women wear dresses that that do not do them justice; if you have chubby hands do not wear strapless dresses, and if your boobs cannot be kept in place with a strapless bra do not try fooling anybody with the plastic straps, seriously, they are worse than a toupe. If you are opting for a strapless dress try wearing a scarf to cover up but please try to keep it simple a nice small bolero will do, silver scarves that look like tin foil ( yes unfortunately I had to witness that too ) are not aesthetically pleasing. 

I believe some people fail to see that less is more, and in a wedding especially. I am big fan of accessories and I can never have enough of them, but in wedding I try to keep it plain and simple, a nice small bracelet with a matching necklace is always appropriate. Some women (mostly the older generation ) decide to wear all the gold that they can get hold of. Less is more and if I can get people to understand that I will believe that there is a God after all. (Sorry Mum)

One day we'll take over the world!

Pinky: Ok so WE have a plan!! We shall conquer the world! Wow that sounds so Pinky and the Brain. Thinking about it we are sort of like Pinky and the Brain; little tiny lab mice in a huge world with simply no importance. Very Philosophical of me and yes I would be Pinky since I'm the blonde one of the pair. Oh and yes I started the first post as I'm the social one and Brain is more… hmm how do I say this… ah yes reserved. Well why start a blog? Cos I can is a good answer, or cos I want to be heard, or since I live in a tiny Island in the Mediterranean where Divorce is still Taboo I wanted to express my opinion, practice my freedom of speech so to say. And you Brain why did you suggest that we start a blog?

Brain: Well first of all I'm the Brain, because I had to arrange all the I’s in your paragraph, and secondly because you wouldn't have survived 3 years at Uni without me. Yes I'm proud to say that out of the two I'm the brainy one, however, having said that, I ain't comparing myself to Einstein , for Christ sake , she’s calling herself Pinky….I suppose you all can see with your two eyes that I have loads of patience when it comes to dealing with my beloved friend Pinky. OK enough about Pinky/ Blondie / Etc... more ME time. Well I suggested to start this blog cause basically I have loads of ideas in my mind and it feels good to let them out for the world to see. (Well after all that’s why blogs are for). Another thing is that I enjoy discussing several irrelevant issues, which in the long run won’t make the world a perfect place to live in but will definitely make it slightly better; such as which is the best outfit for a night out with friends, why slightly obese women are not that pleasant to look at when they are wearing a skin tight boob tube, and why I think one should not intervene in a civil war…Yes I told you they are irrelevant stuff… but wouldn't you agree the world would be slightly better.

Brain:That’s it world, you’ll hear from us soonish with something irrelevant but yet still fun.

Pinky: One day we'll take over the world...

Dublin- Things you should do while there!

Dublin...what's there not to love about the birth place of Guinness, the land where leprechauns roam and the greenest day in the world.

No. 1
So you're in Dublin! First thing you should do is....head over to Temple Bar! Locate PorterHouse, we always go to the one in Parliament street and order a pint of Plain (which is their version of stout. You won't find Guinness in this pub) and if you're lucky they may have Strawberry beer!

No.2
While you're there head over to Leo Burdocks for a yummy Fish and Chips and DON"T forget your garlic sauce to dip. Mind you the portions are massive and we usually have left overs for breakfast (NB we share the fries)

No.3
The Irish are famous also for there music, and 90% of the pubs play traditional live Irish music, make sure to find a handsome Irish and let him teach you Irish Dancing..warning - you might look like a fool like we did but it is fun. After 4 pints your dancing will improve, we know from experience

No.4
A stroll in St. Stephens Green is quite pleasant and relaxing (when it is a good day that is) buy/ prepare a small lunch and go eat it at Stephens Green. ( we opt for Subway as it is in the area and we are too lazy/ hungover to prepare)

No. 5Talking about hangovers, what a better way to cure a hangover than a fry up. Make sure to get an Irish breakfast, it is good in so many wrong ways, oily, greasy, fattening but so darn tasty. A small suggestion for a great Irish Breakfast go to Brams, it is not very central but good value for money.

No.6
You need to catch the DART(the Irish railway line) and go to Howth. A fishing village where you also find a Maltese owned restaurant and ...SEALS!! Now there is a particular spot you need to go to if you want to see the seals. Stick to the left and walk along the harbour one or two are surely to pop up and say hello. You can also enjoy a nice fish and chip meal here, a bike ride as well as an ice cream while enjoying the picturesque scenery this little sea side village has to offer

No. 7If you got time to visit Dublin during Paddys day, please be warned, most probably you will meet more Spanish, Brazilians than Irish but it is still an amazing experience that one has to do once in his/ her lifetime. Just buy an overly huge green hat, and roam around the streets of Temple Bar, try to squeeze in a pub, if you find an empty stool, grab it and don't let it go, it is a rare site during such an event, so treasure it. Personally we were not impressed with the parade, ditch the parade and go have some black stuff instead. If you feel that you need something to eat, fast an quick, pop by to Mr. Arepa's Latin Food in Merchants Arch Temple Bar and grab a traditional Venezuelan Arepa, they are heavenly. One has to have one to keep craving for more. ( Mental note to self try to find a recipe how to make them) 

No. 8
Are you a shopaholic like we are, if so Dublin is a great place to find some really good bargains. Make sure to head down to Dundrum Shopping Centre and there you can find a wide selection of brands, it is busy during the weekends, but still nice. while you are there grab a sushi from Yo Sushi it is very good and reasonably priced. However, our favourite store has to be Swamp in Stephens Green shopping Centre, a lot of stylish vintage looking clothes, great friendly staff and not so expensive. a great place for a bargain.

We really should stop talking now and search for a flight to Dublin as I am getting the Dublin Syndrome again. When shall we go?

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