http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com Share It | Interviews | PowderRoomGraffiti.com en-us PowderRoomGraffiti.com Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:25:10 +0000 60 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-jo-fazel.html It was a few years
back, not long after the birth of my first child, when I had the pleasure of
meeting Jo Fazel through the Meet-a-Mum page of a website called Netmums. Jo had invited me round to her home, and there I
sat clutching the cup of tea she had made me, when I asked her how she was
enjoying motherhood. lsquo;It's great' she replied. lsquo;I'm hoping to start my own
business and work from home. I'm researching my market but haven't had time to
do much else. I'm still supposed to be returning to work, so I'm not sure.'
Read More]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/from-the-outside-looking-in.html I have a friend who, for all intents and purposes,
has it all: Two very upscale homes; a successful doctor husband; more than
enough money, courtesy of her very successful husband so that she isn't
required to do the 9-to-5; three children; and the freedom to explore whatever
it is that she wants to explore. The latest explorations are into yoga and
juicing. She's big on self-help.
]]> Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/savoring-the-moment.html lsquo;Slow down,' my
body tells me every day in many different ways. Aches I never had make me take
just a little longer to do everything as I head to the far side of my fifties.
But there is no need for my body to teach me this lesson. I've learned to
slow down, to savor the moment and cling to the joy of the everyday.
]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/mothers-of-many.html As Julie welcomes me into her home, I
notice the sweet smell of baking. This immediately confirms my
suspicions about
women with five children; they are all-nurturing, all-baking superwomen.
I ask
Julie what she has made and she reaches into a kitchen cupboard. lsquo;I
saved one
to show you,' she says, laughing. I am looking at a perfectly formed,
perfectly
black, croissant. Julie explains that in the morning madness she set off
on the
school run leaving the croissants that were meant for breakfast, in the
oven. Ah
good, order restored.
]]> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-thirteen.html Sometimes when I look back at my life one
year ago and my shenanigans with Porsche Man I can only sit back and
think to
myself...for the love of God, WHAT WAS I THINKING
]]> Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/neither-here-nor-there.html My mother is in between - often lsquo;there,'
though not permanently (yet) and sometimes lsquo;here,' though not reliably
so.
Yesterday, for instance, after I'd hugged her goodbye, she held me at
arm's
length, looked at me, wide-eyed and childlike, and said, lsquo;Before you go,
will
you tell me who all these other people in the house are' She lives with
several others in the lsquo;in between' she inhabits. There's George. There's
her
husband. There's lsquo;the man who is the father of my children - you must be
one'
(she tells me). And there's lsquo;the man who cares for us.' In addition,
there's
the man who lsquo;helps her with buttons and hooks,' and there's the man who
lsquo;knows
everything about...]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the-shit-my-dad-says.html There is a
new TV show in America called lsquo;Sht
My Dad Says,' which is based on a
Twitter feed that a son wrote about his father and, of course, the
shit that he
says on a daily basis. The old guy's comments are pretty
hilarious but they are
also pretty damned foul and nasty at times. You chuckle and then you
cringe.
Read More]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-julia-and-malcolm-donaldson.html Julia
and Malcolm Donaldson are sitting
opposite me in a noisy cafe in the Montmartre district of Paris. As
Julia tells
me about lsquo;Zog' her latest book with illustrator Axel Scheffler,
Malcolm's eyes
begin to twinkle. He turns to Julia, lsquo;Can we tell Mel about the
picture' Julia
chuckles naughtily, lsquo;You can!'
]]> Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/that-was-then-this-is-now.html When I was looking for my first job out of
university back
in 1984, I heard about an opening at a prestigious London publishing
firm. It
was an entry-level job, but an exciting prospect nonetheless. I talked
to the
hiring agency over the phone and after the usual pleasantries, the agent
asked
an unusual question: How did I feel about having my bum pinched by the
boss
Apparently he was a notorious groper.
]]> Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/does-familiarity-breed-contempt.html My friend is affluent. She's married to a surgeon
and doesn't have to worry about money. She lives in a charming, rose- and
vine-covered farmhouse, tends her dogs and flowers and reads her books, while
he lives in their lake house and does doctor stuff. I don't specifically know
how far apart these two homes are but let's just say that they are not within
walking distance.
]]> Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/learning-to-live-in-my-body.html
It is now over a year since I had
my double mastectomy and I am still coming to terms with what a failed
reconstruction has meant for me and my relationship.

I loved my breasts, corny but true.
They were the best part of me, even after giving birth to two children over a
15 month period. They were just right and I felt comfortable in my
body. It didn't matter that I still had some mummy tummy from my
c-sections, my breasts were bigger than my tummy, so I didn't look like an
apple.
]]> Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/dad-is-coming-home-now-what.html I have managed, in my semi-old age, to become
flexible, like a rubber band. Schedule Uh, not so much so. Routine Uh, maybe,
maybe not. Not only can I bend over and place my palms flat against the floor
(but not with ease, mind you, since lsquo;arthritis' is my middle name) but I
have also become mindfully and patiently flexible regarding my life.
Life takes you where it wants to. I don't see that I have much choice at times
and, really, what the hell The unexpected, the curveball, can be an adventure.
]]> Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-arabella-dymoke.html
The Good Web Guide is the definitive guide to the best sites
on the internet, and a lively source of information about life online.
It
reviews thousands of websites which cover a wide range of interests (be
warned,
once you start browsing, you can be on there for ages!).

Writer
Arabella Dymoke worked for the company for 7 years,
and became so passionate about the site that when the chance came to buy
out
her partners in 2007, she took it.
Read More]]> Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/im-ok-im-holding-on.html
Holidays
are meant to be fun right Somehow I have the knack of taking an
adventure
holiday one step too far and my trip to Kaziranga National Park in India
was no
exception.


This is remote India; a section of the sub-continent
not often
visited by western tourists. It is the home of the fabled one horned
rhino, and
for a lucky few, offers the chance to see one of the few wild tigers
remaining
on earth. Adventurers climb aboard elephants to gain a closer look.

]]> Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-twelve.html
One
man, one woman, one sofa and a bed. Throw in a lovely dinner and a
bottle of
champagne and you'd think it was an easy sum to add up but actually no,
the
truth is that on my deal breaking date with The Venezuelan, I spent the
night
in his bed, alone and he crashed out
on the sofa.


Needless to say, I pretty much kicked that one to
the kerb. Or so
you would think.

Read More]]> Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/picking-up-chicks-on-the-internet.html
I'm going
out on Saturday night.


I'm seeing
a chick I met on the Internet.


Oh I've
been very careful. We've been chatting for quite some time. She lives
some
distance away so I haven't been able to do a drive by and validate her
address.


But I
trust that she lives there.


She
would, wouldn't she

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/vanilla-love-vs-alfred-aknopf.html
A guy at a party asks me what
I do.


lsquo;I write,' I say, punching
the lsquo;T' for emphasis.


lsquo;Oh really' he says, mildly
interested, lsquo;Publish anything'


lsquo;Oh yes,' I say, lsquo;I write a
monthly humor column, and I'm working on a book about Russia, and,' I
pause for
effect, lsquo;I have a blog, which is about the funny side of life in
Russia.'


lsquo;Do you like, make any money
from the blog thing' he asks.

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/learning-to-drive-the-test.html As my slow and painful mission of
learning
to drive continues - rather later in life than usual - I reached the
stage where I
was on the waiting list for a date to sit my theory test. The phone call
finally came, letting me know that there was a cancellation and, lsquo;Would I
like
to sit my theory test in four days time' I confirmed that I would. I
then
spent the following four days sneaking in hazard perception and
theory tests at any given opportunity.
Read More]]> Fri, 21 May 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the-big-questions.html At what age do you begin to speak with your
child about sex When do you begin to speak with your parents, and
spouse about
end-of-life issues It's all in the timing isn't it On both issues if
you leave it too late, there can be
unfortunate consequences.
]]> Fri, 21 May 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-fiona-hewitt.html
It was a chance encounter with a small pink
tin that led me from Paris to Brighton.

I saw the lsquo;Baking Kit' in a shop and loved
the detailed artwork. It looked like a lavishly decorated
Chinese
tin, exhorting me to lsquo;Bake with Joy and Enthusiasm' yet I was puzzled. The hallmarks of Communist China were
there - the red star on the girl's cap and the trumpeting slogan - but
the
artwork was modern and I detected a hint of irony. Since when do the
Chinese do irony
]]> Fri, 14 May 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-eleven.html The scene was set for magical date
number three with The Venezuelan, or, as it is commonly known, the deal
breaking lsquo;make out' session. If date number three goes well, who knows
what
might happen next The
Venezuelan
had invited me to dinner at his house and as a result, we had spent an
entire
week batting e-mails backwards and forwards to each other. lsquo;I love food'
I
wrote. lsquo;And I usually eat in quite nice restaurants. No pressure...'
lsquo;Don't
worry,' he replied lsquo;I lie awake every single night wondering to myself,
what on
earth I shall cook for my very special guest.....'
Read More]]> Fri, 07 May 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-jane-hallenga.html Jane Hallenga knows about breast cancer. She
has spent hours talking to oncologists and researching treatments, drugs
and
diets on the internet. Given Jane's age, 53, this is not so unusual; 81
of
breast cancer cases in the UK occur
in women aged 50 years and over.
Read More]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/change-and-the-career-girl.html
I recently lost the bulk of my income when my job as a chef
in a small hotel in Rome went from being full-time to barely part-time.
Being
the kind of person who prefers to seek change, it is disconcerting to
find that
change has been thrust upon me.


Suddenly left alone with too many
thoughts and
not enough work or money, I am tempted to crawl into bed and just hope
for the
best; a divine deliverance for good to create a counter-balance for this
sudden
downturn in my wheel of fortune.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-hayley-chalmers.html Hayley Chalmers has had enough. She wants clothes that are
stylish and that fit her properly, and she wants to have a decent
choice. But
at 5' 1quot; she has to shop from the ranges of lsquo;Petite' clothing available
on the UK
High Street which are either frumpy and ageing, or make her look like
she has
been raiding a teenager's wardrobe. She describes the task of finding
decent
office wear as lsquo;the devil's job.'

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-jane-milton-foodie-expert-extraordinaire.html
Jane Milton has a love of food and a talent for networking.
She combines these passions by running www.notjustfood.co.uk
a
consultancy for food and drink manufacturing businesses, and www.thefoodnetwork.co.uk
which helps
to connect people from all areas of the food industry.


She has written several
books about Mexican cooking,
but is currently working on a new book which looks at the advertising of
iconic
food brands from the 1940s to the present day, and how this has
influenced what
we eat. Here she talks to PRG about the people and the experiences that
have
influenced her life - oh, and of course, food!

Read More]]> Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/learning-to-drive-scheduling-the-road-tests.html It took me a long time to recognise that it
was time to learn to drive. It took me a long time to choose a driving
school. And
yet it took me only seven short lessons to finish off my driving
instructor.
Read More]]> Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-ten.html It's a funny old thing about online dating, or indeed any type of
dating,
but once you get into the swing of things, there always seems to be
somebody
new waiting in the wings. This concept was anathema to the old me. If
something
had gone wrong with a past amour, I would have crawled back into my cave
and
licked my wounds - alone - for a
good, ohh, let's see now, several years
]]> Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/senior-second-time-around.html
It seems like just yesterday that I was a
teenage girl staring across the room at the back of Billy's head,
lsquo;willing' him
to turn around, smile at me and ask me to the Senior Prom.


I see myself
in the
dress that I convinced my mom to buy, although the dress and I never
made it to
the prom. You see, in order to go to the Prom I had to be asked,
and not
just in my daydreams. Sadly, in real life, Billy never did ask me.

]]> Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/piste-off-with-the-kids-part-two.html Our last skiing
holiday with four children was a disaster,
but we had decided to give it one more try. With just weeks to go I was
alarmed
by my son's truculent assertion that he wouldn't ski. It felt like there
was a
war looming so I began the battle for hearts and minds by asking my boy
to come
on the pre-ski food shopping trip.
Read More]]> Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/interview-with-wife-in-the-north.html Judith O'Reilly
has had the sort of success that makes bloggers salivate with envy. Towards the
end of 2006 she agreed to follow her husband from London to Northumberland in
the North East of England. In part because her husband came from there and
wanted to return, in part to fulfil a promise they made to each other to try
and lsquo;be happy' after their first child was stillborn.
Read More]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/like-mother-like-me.html
lsquo;I want to be Ellen,' my daughter told me
the other morning.


Ellen is my friend. She has a very
glamorous job in the entertainment industry. She dates all types of men, from
firemen to lawyers.

]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-nine.html
Bizarrely, being dumped by a man that I really liked was a turning
point for me. In fact, it was nothing short of a revelation. I had learnt to
trust my gut instinct and what's more, it had paid off.


I knew in my heart of
hearts that Finance Man liked me so I asked him what his problem was - in
slightly nicer words than that. Simple. All that time I had spent in the past, asking
questions and never letting any of them go any further than the inside of my
own head. All that angst, and the answer was so elegantly straightforward. Ask.
If you don't know the answer to the question, just ask.

Read More]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/fairy-tale-interrupted.html I have had a
great life so far and I'm looking forward to more; I mean a great life - filled with hope,
disappointment, failure, success, adventure, danger, grief, bliss, sadness,
pain, love, and happiness. I can truthfully say that I have never been bored. I've
climbed mountains and had babies. I have felt the blackness of grief, as well
as the joy of love from more than one good man.
]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/learning-to-drive-behind-the-wheel.html Having made the commitment to learn to
drive, I successfully obtained my provisional licence, and then the first real challenge
was to decide how to learn. The
trouble was that everyone was very keen to step in with their advice.
Read More]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-yana-berlin-of-fabulously40com.html It's three
o'clock in the morning and you can't sleep. What do you do Go get something to
eat Watch TV Surf the internet Well, if you're Yana Berlin, the founder of
the website Fabulously40.com, you jump out of
bed and write up a business plan.
Read More]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the-pain-of-not-knowing-part-three.html After 35 years of alternately refusing to think about the
baby that she had given up for adoption and remembering it all too well (every goddamned
anguishing second of it) my friend, Lucy, set out to find her son. She did. In
fact, between our combined efforts, it took less than six hours to learn his
name, find out where he was and set up a meeting with him.
Read More]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-cheryl-benton.html Having
spent more than 30 years in the advertising industry, Cheryl Benton is
well-placed to see that marketers don't seem to care about women in the prime
of their lives. All around her in New York City she could see successful older
women who love clothes, shoes, jewelry and make-up (and have the money to buy
them) but are largely ignored by the marketers.
]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the-pain-of-not-knowing-part-2.html
My friend Lucy gave up a child for adoption 35 years ago.
She didn't talk about it very much, although she and I talked about everything
else incessantly. This was the one area that I intuited was off limits, and I
let it alone. I didn't ask my usual 10,000 questions in rapid fire sequence. I
figured she would talk about it, when and if she wanted to.

That day came.
Read More]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-kate-monro.html Ever
been stuck for a conversational ice-breaker If you are Kate Monro then
probably not. Her belief is that once you get people talking, they will tell
you the most amazing things. She knows this because she has spent the last 3
years talking to people about the experience of losing their virginity, and
documenting the results in her blog - The Virginity Project.
Read More]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the-pain-of-not-knowing.html My friend Lucy was a wild child. I am older than
she is and was in college during her reign of teenage terror. Lucy was a
late-in-life baby and she was hell-bent on hastening her elderly mother's
demise with her bad girl shenanigans. She was the topic du jour of many bridge club gatherings that my mother's
generation attended.
]]> Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/living-oprah-by-robyn-okrant.html
You have to live in Chicago to really appreciate the
magnitude of Oprah. Most of us know at least one person who works at the Harpo
studio, and we all have our little lsquo;Oprah story' whether it's first hand,
hearsay, or heresy.

When Oprah recently announced her 2011 lsquo;retirement,' audience
members wept openly as they tried to imagine life without the O. In the US, she
has a cult-like following that watches her shows, buys her magazines and even lives
by her recommendations. Lay people like me often wonder what motivates them to
worship at the altar of Oprah
]]> Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/expat-in-waiting-part-3.html We've
finally quit talking about it, and moved the family to Russia. Amazingly, it's
all gone relatively smoothly to-date; schools are in place, a new house
acquired, the internet connected. But there is one area of life over here that
continues to frustrate: Making myself understood.
Read More]]> Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-julia-macmillan.html Julia Macmillan is an artist, sculptor and entrepreneur. In 2007 she
set up the dating site ToyBoyWarehouse.com in an attempt to challenge
the traditionally held view that women should have relationships with
men older than themselves. The site has attracted thousands of feisty
independent women looking for fun, and even more good-looking men who
appreciate intelligence and a decent conversation.
]]> Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-eight-2.html
I had fallen at the first
hurdle of my online dating career, or, more precisely, Finance Man had dropped
me from a large height.


Finance Man, to all
intents and purposes, was a lsquo;grown up'. He worked in the City, he had been married
and he wore a suit. I was also nuts about him. Partly, it must be said because
I had never been out with a man that wore a suit before, but mostly just
because he was as cute as a button.

Read More]]> Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/interview-with-the-make-it-mend-it-ladies.html
On
December 9th 2008 Liverpool beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in the UEFA
Champions League. On the same day German astronomers confirmed there is a black
hole at the centre of the Milky Way. Also on that day, four women met for lunch
at the Adam Street Club in London, a private members club for business
entrepreneurs.


Over
scallops and wine the conversation turned to their school years in the 70's and
the practical skills that used to be on the school curriculum. They were
incredulous that children growing up now do not know how to sew or cook, wire a
plug or hem a skirt.


Read More]]> Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/learning-to-drive.html
To admit
that I can't drive, makes me feel very silly. I feel childish, slightly
inferior, and horribly dependent. Pretending that I can drive has put me in
awkward situations, while admitting that I cannot makes me face awkward
questions: lsquo;Don't you wish that you could' lsquo;Wouldn't it make your life easier
if you could' lsquo;Why didn't you learn when you were younger'


So, it is
time for me to make a decision: either I climb on the eco-bandwagon and claim that
it is for the greater good of the environment and humanity...or I stop lying
about it and bloody well learn.

]]> Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-liz-carr.html Liz Carr is a comedy chameleon. As a columnist she writes
entertaining, achingly funny observations about her life. As a broadcaster she is
the jovial co-host of the BBC's disability radio show (and a regular contributor to the
refined schedules of Radio 4). As a stand-up comedian she performs no-holds-barred
material that is so rude and unflinching, it makes your eyes water. As a
performer she has been involved in burlesque (lsquo;Peelers on Wheels') and a spoof
all-women wheelchair-using line dance troupe (lsquo;The Rhinestone Rollers').
]]> Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/piste-off-with-the-kids.html
Did you go skiing before you had children Me too. Happy gatherings of
like-minded friends who were ready to party, help with the cooking, could
remain upright on skis, and would schuss with a hangover. Those holidays were
hard on the legs and the liver, but weren't they so much fun


Fast forward many years and someone said to me, lsquo;You should get your kids
skiing when they're young.' Before someone more sane could say, lsquo;What the hell
are you thinking Four kids under 10 and you want to go skiing' I had booked
the chalet.

Read More]]> Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-suzanne-kantra.html We love lady geeks
here at PowderRoomGraffiti - those women who are technically savvy, and as
confident with their iPhone, laptop and digital camera as any man on the
planet. But Suzanne Kantra takes this to an entirely new level. The former technology
editor for Martha Stewart's properties and lsquo;Popular Science' magazine (the
bastion of geekdom) can certainly mix it with the top techies. Last year she
set up Techlicious.com, a female-friendly review site, offering women advice
about technology that is neither snarky nor dumbed-down.
Read More]]> Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the.html You may already be thrusting ahead with plans for 2010
(well, maybe after you've had a second cup of coffee...) but here's a quick
recap of the lsquo;most viewed' articles of 2009 on PowderRoomGraffiti. Enjoy!
]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-seven.html
I
was excited about my second date with Finance Man, partly, it must be said,
because he may just as well have come from another planet. Allow me to recap.


As
his name suggests, Finance Man was not my usual default setting of
scruffy
haired, dope smoking musician. Finance Man was a fully paid up, suit
wearing banker who had never touched an illegal substance in his life.
I was also
ridiculously attracted to him. Perhaps this was because I felt that he
reflected a new, more grown up me. I remember my mother warning me
about this
when I was younger.

]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/my-christmas-then-and-now-4.html So here we are. The weeks of
shopping, stressing, thinking and spend, spend, spending have led up to this
point; December 25th. This is the day when we unite family, friends
and festive cheer. But how does your Christmas compare to the ones you used to
have
]]> Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/itll-be-alright-on-the-night.html
The North Pole buzzed with activity when I
arrived for my final interview with Mrs. Claus. Elves were running in every
direction. Some were carrying large bags overflowing with gifts. Others were
grooming the reindeer.


One elf stood on a step stool polishing Rudolph's
nose, while in the kitchen the Superstar himself was polishing off a large
dinner and bottle of wine.

Read More]]> Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/my-christmas-then-and-now-3.html The danger with articles comparing the past with the present
is that the past always wins. lsquo;It was simpler in the olden days, not as
frantic, much calmer.' Never is it more tempting to believe this than at
Christmas time. Now, there is online shopping, relatives texting me about
presents and digital photos that I have to make into a calendar for Granny. None
of that existed in the 1970's. Then, you did your shopping the old fashioned
way, wrote lists with a pen and Granny waited weeks for the photos to be
developed, or you bought her a Polaroid camera. However, lest we become maudlin
and long for days of yore, there is one area of Christmas that we have improved on immeasurably. It is the tree.
]]> Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-collette.html
Up until the 1970s, jobs around the house were allocated on
a strict gender basis. The women did all the child-rearing and the cooking, and
the men did all the DIY and home maintenance. Fast forward to the present day
and not only are men far more involved in the raising of their children, but it's
impossible to move for male celebrity chefs, their TV programmes and their cookery
books.


But the corresponding shift of women into the DIY arena has
been much less pronounced. Collette and her business partner Craig Phillips (the builder
who won the very first series of 'Big Brother' - and gave away all his prize
money from the show to help a sick child) have responded to this challenge by
setting up Chixamp;Mortar, running weekend courses... Read More]]> Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/role-play-and-pole-play.html For our second interview, Mrs. Claus suggested we meet at the
Polar Spa amp; Meditation Center, located at the far end of the Village. After
a wonderful mud bath and massage we sat in lounge chairs wrapped in warm
blankets, sipping eggnog and rum drinks.
Read More]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-sophie-mckenzie.html Sophie McKenzie is the award-winning author
of lsquo;Girl, Missing,rsquo; lsquo;Blood Ties,rsquo; the lsquo;All About Eversquo; trilogy and her latest
series, lsquo;The Medusa Project.rsquo; She recently agreed to speak to PowderRoomGraffiti, and as a big fan of her writing
I was delighted to interview her.
Read More]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/my-christmas-then-and-now-2.html As the
nights draw in and it gets colder, all I want to do is grow into the sofa and
watch crap TV whilst wrapped in a blanket. If only the world would let me be. But
it has been decreed that in December I should feel festive and have lots of
fun. Yet when I look at what is done in the name of festive entertainment these
days, I feel genuinely perplexed.
]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-elisa-camahort-page.html Earlier this year, lsquo;Forbes' magazine asked CBS news anchor
Katie Couric to list the Seven Most Powerful People in New Media. In amongst the
founders of Google, Twitter and Facebook were Elisa Camahort Page of BlogHer,
and her co-founders Lisa Stone and Jory Des Jardins.
Read More]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/expat-in-waiting-part-two.html So, we decided to take the plunge and become expats. Almost
immediately I was faced with my first task; telling family and friends of our
momentous move. This was an interesting experience because misconceptions about
our destination - Moscow - abound. Few people in western Europe have travelled
there, so it's understandable that in the same way that London is universally
known by those who've never visited to be constantly rain-soaked, gloomy, and
require copious use of galoshes in all seasons, and Amsterdam is portrayed as a
den of iniquity with red-lit windows on every street and lsquo;coffee shops' on
every corner, Moscow has its own fair share of myths that are believed to be
thoroughly grounded in fact - and most of which contradict each other.... Read More]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-clare-mulley.html It took Clare Mulley 8 years to write her award winning
book, lsquo;The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb the
Founder of Save the Children.' During that time Clare also managed to work,
study for an MA and produce 3 children - quite a feat of multi-tasking.
Read More]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/the-power-behind-the-sleigh.html During this time of the year
one man in particular starts to get all the attention. Yes, Santa Claus is no
stranger to the limelight, but as we all know, behind every successful man
stands an even more successful, understanding and brilliant woman. So who is
Mrs Claus And how does she feel about the supportive role she plays in the
life of her husband
]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/xxx.html If you stand still for long enough in Alirsquo;s
kitchen, yoursquo;ll be offered refreshment. It might be a cup of coffee, or if itrsquo;s
after 12, probably wine. You might get some olives marinated in oil and garlic,
or a delicious slice of cake, because Ali loves providing food (and drink). As
she bustles around her large kitchen she explains,
]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/my-christmas-then-and-now.html It's that time of year again when I flip effortlessly from easygoing,
young (seeming) woman to very grumpy, old (sounding) woman. Why Christmas. It's
been going on for weeks already, with buy-one-get-one-free on mince pies,
ruthless toy marketing at the kids, tinsel, decorations, wrapping paper....stop!
]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-melynda.html To say that Melynda's childhood was not idyllic is an understatement. But as
an adult, she took the decision that she would no longer be a victim, and set
out to help other adults who had been subjected to abuse as children.
]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-six.html Well now, I
never expected to like a man in a suit. Rock lsquo;n' Roll boys with scruffy hair
and torn jeans, yes. Men in suits that work in the finance district: no.
Finance Man single handedly managed to change all that and I'll tell you how.
]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-mandy-garner.html
As editor of flexible working website WorkingMums.co.uk, Mandy
Garner is usually on the asking rather than the receiving end of interview
questions. Here we get to turn the tables as Mandy talks about her early influences, and her busy life as an editor and a press officer.


As if doing two jobs and raising 3 children wasn't enough, Mandy is also an honest and entertaining blogger.

Read More]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/expat-in-waiting-part-one.html I suppose that you could say the writing was on the wall regarding
my becoming an expat. I'm married to one, for goodness' sake, how on earth
could I imagine that I wouldn't at some point become one myself And to tell
the truth, I had always thought that I would quite like the opportunity. You
know; foreign travel, somewhere warm, preferably with lsquo;help' on tap like all
our friends in exotic far-flung locations seem to have. Hot and cold running
nannies, a driver to take you to the supermarket, a maid in the kitchen
cupboard, what's not to like
]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-jane-sales.html At PRG we are always keen on technology that helps women and
makes their lives easier or more interesting. Jane Sales is a founder of Ambient Industries,
who have recently developed an exciting new application called flook which
allows users to browse, create and interact with location-specific content via
their mobile phones. In the way that Twitter can be explained by the
question: lsquo;What are you doing' flook asks: lsquo;What have you found'
Read More]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/jennys-triathlon-diary-4.html
Triathlons completed: 2


Flies swallowed: 8


Wasps in cycle helmet: 1 (but a big one, one worthy of a
large, girly scream)


Minutes spent going the wrong way: 11


Tri Suits worn: 1

So this is it, I did it! I suited, booted, packed the bike
on top of the children and set off to compete in my very first on-road
triathlon.
]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/meet-jo-smith.html
Jo Smith is
an unusual woman. Don't be fooled by the gorgeous old
cottage where she lives. Or the flowery
hanging baskets, home grown vegetables and chickens roaming free. For all is not as it seems. After Jo has made you coffee and cut you some
homemade cake, lsquo;When I get stressed I like to bake
like a bastard,' why not cross the garden to her workshop


That's what I did, and it was
quite an eye popping experience.

]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-debbie-knight.html During a holiday in Florence four years ago, after
recovering from treatment for breast cancer, Debbie Knight was attracted by a unique
room fragrance in the hotel where she was staying. She followed her nose to
discover the artisan perfumer's workshop, and subsequently became the selling
agent within the UK - despite having no experience in retail. Her company Senti
specialises in delicious and subtle room fragrances, candles, bath oils and
soaps.
Read More]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/september-highlights-on-prg.html We know that the women who visit Powder Room Graffiti are an
intelligent and feisty bunch. So which articles had the liveliest Comments
last month
]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-five.html Chemistry. It's a funny old thing. If we could only
stick on a lab coat, take out some test tubes and check for its existence. As
it is, online dating is a little like the IVF equivalent of conception. It's
not an organic process. It was not going to be like the time that I met Ben, a
boy who made every one of my girlfriends weak with desire with his scruffy
blond hair and puppy dog eyes. I just thought he was dull. He was far too good
looking to be interesting so I ignored him. Reader, I ended up going out with
him for five years. And the reason for that was that I had absolutely no
expectations. The magic took me completely by surprise.
]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-maggie-dammit.html Maggie is someone who truly believes in the power of
speaking out, and telling it like it is. Not only is she an accomplished writer
and much-loved blogger, but earlier this year she set up Violence UnSilenced -
a website where victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse can
tell their stories, and help each other get access to the support they need. Maggie
believes that talking widely about these issues strips abusers of their favourite
weapons: secrecy and shame.
Read More]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/jennys-triathlon-diary-3.html
Miles run/biked/swum: quite a few actually, some of them
during a mini triathlon (I know!).


Pennies in the swear jar: 0 (we've redefined what a swear
word actually consists of. Anything with vowels doesn't count).


Medals won: 1 (by me, me! All by myself).


Tri suits worn: 0 (but I really am working on it).




]]> Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-lavelle.html Not only is she deserving of all manner of Mother's Day
appreciation, but LaVelle has also proved she is a kick-ass fighter of breast
cancer. From diagnosis to surgery to treatment and on with life, she never once
lost her stellar attitude and positive outlook - if you ignore that day her
hair came out in large chunks. Her daughter would love for everyone to
get a glimpse into the world of this fabulous lady.
]]> Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/30-year-school-reunion-part-3.html
There had
been about 150 students in my final year of high school - and another 100 that had started with us, but who either left
at 15 years, or moved away. To get 120 to a 30 year reunion was pretty impressive.


For nearly
half to then continue on to the pub after the reunion lsquo;proper' meant there must
have been something positive going on with the night. With name tags now removed
the challenge was on - I was still running into people I didn't recognise!

]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-supa-fresh-widow.html
When Supa Fresh Widow's daughter was 7 months old, her husband was
diagnosed with a stage IV rare cancer with very limited treatment
options. He fought for 22 months until he died in 2006.


Supa credits other widows and widowers with helping her through those
tough times, and maintaining her sanity. She sees widowhood as an
experience, not a label, and hopes that by sharing her story she may be
able to give someone else the type of support that was so valuable to
her.


Despite the tragic subject matter, her blog is honest, heartfelt and unsentimental - with streaks of wicked humour!

]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/30-year-school-reunion-part-2.html
lsquo;Everyone
looks so old!'


I had to
laugh. It was a despairing observation by an old schoolfriend, not long into
our 30 year school reunion.


Well, yes,
she was right. We did look - oh - about 30 years older than we did when we left
school as fresh-faced teenagers, ready to conquer the world. Now we were about
as old as our parents were when we left school. Or older! We all know we are
well and truly down the track of life now, but the lsquo;then and lsquo;now' images at this type of function kind of slug
you in the face.


Read More]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-jen-yates-from-cake-wrecks.html When Jen Yates started keeping pictures of professionally
made cakes that had gone lsquo;horribly, hilariously wrong' she had no idea that
within a year, she would have a hit website on her hands, and plans for a book
tour of North America. But Cake Wrecks is so much more than just photographs.
Somehow, all human life is there, and with the addition of Jen's razor sharp
captions, it is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry or ask lsquo;what the
hell were they thinking'
Read More]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/30-year-school-reunion-part-1.html
It's my 30
year school reunion this weekend. And, with some fear and trepidation, I have decided to go.


It is a
strange beast, the school reunion. A bizarre ritual of getting together
socially every 10 years with people, that for the most part, you never see in
the interim. The fact that you don't see them in those in-between years means,
surely, that you don't have any burning need or desire to maintain that social
contact throughout your life. Doesn't it


Sure, some
people don't end up moving far from home, and their social circles still
connect them to many of their peers from school. Others, like myself, have kept in touch only
erratically with a handful of old high school mates. For my part, tertiary education, jobs,... Read More]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-ali-d.html Ali D's frank and funny accounts of life with small boobs and a hairy bikini line
have been extremely popular with PRG's readers. But this displaced
Aussie's first love is co-writing a comedy web series about 'Polly G' -
the single friend that we've all had at some time.
Read More]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-wendi-aarons.html
Wendi Aarons' humorous writing has legendary status online. As part of the BlogHer09 Community Keynote Speech she read out a post from her
blog about her love of Diet Coke, which was laugh-out-loud funny - as all 1500 women in the room would testify.


In addition, her delightfully acerbic letter to the Brand
Manager of Proctor and Gamble about 'Always' maxi pads has become a blogger
classic. Many have tried to imitate it, but none of have come close.

Read More]]> Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/august-highlights-on-prg.html
Here is a round-up of the most popular articles on the Powder Room Graffiti
site in August:


Live It


Kitchen's Closed by Mya Greene


If you are tired of cooking for an ungrateful partner, try
this tactic.





Love It


Rediscovering the Garden by Mel


After fish fingers - Green Fingers. Does gardening fulfil a
need to nurture





Byte It


My Weekend With Kindle by kellysblogs


Kelly warmed to the Amazon Kindle ebook reader, but would
she forego groceries for a month in order to buy one





Feel It!


Warning: Hot Flashes Ahead by Janie Emaus


The last time Janie... Read More]]> Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-janie-emaus.html Janie is a Graffiti Artist and an active member of the PRG community.
Her warmth and easygoing charm make her the sort of person you would
want to have as your best friend. She is the archetypal 'woman's woman'
- yet she has been married to the same man for thirty years!
]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-melissa-silverstein.html Melissa Silverstein is a marketing consultant, writer and blogger. Fed
up with the male domination of the entertainment industry, she set up
her company Women and Hollywood to focus on bringing attention to the
films, TV shows, theatre and other
entertainment that highlights women and their contribution to the
culture. She is fequently quoted in the worldwide press, and has become
an authority on issues relating to women in Hollywood. Her feminist
perspective on this depressingly male-dominated industry makes her a
fresh and interesting lone voice in the wilderness.
]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-four.html
I
got some fabulous emails in my early days of internet dating. One man from up
north made me laugh so hard with his witty missives that I could barely wait to
open them. They were sharp and eloquent and I felt like he was wooing me in an
old fashioned way. But I had no intention of getting involved, partly because
he lived so far away and partly because I didn't think I fancied him. But I
kept on talking to him nonetheless.


That's
the trouble you see, it had been so long since I'd had any bona fide attention
from the opposite sex that I was drunk on it. Giddy with the sheer romance of a
man composing words for me, even
though I knew deep down that it probably wasn't going to go anywhere.


When
men do this sort of... Read More]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-superwoman.html Just our type of girl, Carolo is an executive in New York City who puts
in long days and likes to kick back with a nice glass of red wine in
the evening. Not one to let the grass grow under her feet, she has
survived cancer and one very bad guy. We wouldn't mind getting a glass
of wine with her ourselves one night and hearing some of her war
stories. She sounds like she has a few. Enjoy getting to know her.
]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/jennys-triathlon-diary-2.html t's been a month, a
whole month since I started training for this sprint triathlon and have I
moaned once At all No. Well not to you anyway - you'd probably stop reading me
and I do need to be loved. I deserve a medal just for my reticence, surely.
Anyway, this month was the one in which I became a bone fide
athlete. Seriously, a proper athlete complete with that qualifying badge: The Injury.
]]> Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-margaret.html You can only imagine the search terms that bring some visitors to
Margaret's website 'Nanny Goats In Panties.' What they find when they
get there is not a pervy paradise but sharp, quirky humor from this
iconic blogger. Having shuttled between Sacramento and Los Angeles for
the last 10 years she has finally settled back in her native
Sacramento.
]]> Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-jody-devere.html
Have you ever felt intimidated, or worse, been made to feel stupid,
when buying a car or dealing with a garage mechanic The website AskPatty.com
was set up as a safe place for women to get advice on car-buying,
maintenance and other related automotive topics. In addition, the
company has developed a network of Certified Female Friendly retailers
across the U.S, who are held to a high level of customer satisfaction
for women consumers.

Jody DeVere the President and CEO of AskPatty.com is
a passionate advocate of empowering women, but it was the challenges in
her personal life that led to her becoming the fearless woman she is today...
Read More]]> Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-mother-at-large.html From the excitement of a career in journalism to the simpler pleasures
of looking after her two young daughters, Mother at Large has packed a
great deal into the last few years. She is also an enthusiastic blogger
whose special interest is first-time motherhood later in life.
]]> Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-josa-young.html Josa Young has always loved the Virago Modern Classics - intelligent books written by women for women. When she wrote her new novel lsquo;One Apple Tasted'
it was this sort of story that she was aiming to tell. lsquo;The convention
in romantic fiction is that the woman is rescued by a man - I so
disapprove of that' she says. lsquo;Most romantic novels deny the enormous
strength of women.'
Read More]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-elizabeth-harper.html Elizabeth is originally from the US but has recently moved to rural
Cornwall, after meeting her English husband on the internet last year.
She has had a varied working life, including the night shift in a
greasy spoon diner and a stint in the US military. She writes a blog
and is a photographer too.
]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-three.html Not only that, but there is every chance that once they see that you've
been checking out their profile online, they might just write to you,
and, horror of horrors, ask you out on a date!
]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-vicky.html
In 2006, Vicky moved from the UK to Queensland, Australia with her
family. Based on this experience, she wrote a lively guide called 'Digeridoos and Digeridon'ts: A Brit's Guide to Moving Your Life Down Under' which contains information about relocating to Australia, as well as detailing her own personal highs and lows.


As Vicky says: '...problems always seem to feel better in the sunshine, unless you have photosensitivity of course.'

Read More]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-cindi-pearce.html Cindi jokes that she has had a 'checkered' job history, but most of her
jobs have involved some form of writing - including fiction,
non-fiction, short stories, articles and columns. She has also been
married for 30 years, which could be classed as a major achievement!
]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-brigitte.html Brigitte is a former competitive bodybuilder, who keeps in shape by
going to the gym, walking or bike riding. She has had many jobs in a
variety of industries, but she is now a writer and a painter too.
]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates-part-two.html Assuming you want to internet date, there is one very important thing
that you have to know first. No one forewarns you about this. It's one
of those mysteries, like childbirth, that no one wants to tell you the
truth about and they figure you'll find out soon enough anyway. You
have to write your own online profile....
]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-mel-on-the-black-bus.html Escaping the rat race and just heading for the hills is a common
fantasy, but Mel and her husband Andy decided to make it a reality.
They converted an old Leyland bus and set off to wander the Highlands
of Scotland in true nomadic style. They have a wonderful blog, which
has samples of Mel's poetry, and a website selling Andy's stunning
photographs (http://www.photoboxgallery.com/dafthermit).
Read More]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/jennys-triathlon-diary.html OK, I may have just made a monumental error, one so catastrophic I may
never emerge from my duvet again. I have, in three nutshells, turned
on my laptop, clicked onto a triathlon site and registered for a sprint triathlon.
]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-amanda.html A change in personal circumstances was the catalyst for Amanda to set
up her own catering business in 2000. Having flown over the Atlantic to
the US from the UK over 20 years ago, she now spends a great deal of
time on internal flights, visiting her extended family.
]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/kates-dates.html Dating at 40, who would have thought it Quite frankly, getting to 40 was a surprise.
Read More]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-lelenka.html Lelenka is one of those women that makes you shake your head. Not
because you haven't heard her story before. Let's face it, there are
tons of stories about people overcoming oppression, communist curtains
and language barriers. But how many of those people have you actually
met
]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-caroline.html Caroline (or Frog) lives in rural Monmouthshire, where she runs an
online party bag company called Frog in the Field. She also blogs
regularly about her busy life, her family, her piglets and her
colourful wellies.
]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/catherine-patterson.html Her coolness mesmerizes me. Talking about multi-million dollar
mediations between Fortune 500 companies and Mars Space projects as if
this is something we all do, is, well, super cool.
]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/parry-ray.html Parry Ray didn't let anything get in the way of following her incredible dream.
]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:02:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-jean-james.html Jean is a Graffiti Artist and a 'been there, done that' type of girl.
With a long term nursing career under her belt, Jean has also studied
cooking at the world renowned French Culinary Institute in New York.
And if that isn't enough to pique your curiosity, when she was a nurse,
Jean first specialized in erectile dysfunction prior to the advent of
the 'little blue pill.'
]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:01:00 +0000 http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/share-it/an-interview-with-mel.html Mel is a Graffiti Artist and we love her.
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