Birds on the Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

Theposieparker — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:23:06 -0000

It's not the discerning viewer that is susceptible to believing the poorly researched storyline, it is the already ignorant that are wrongly educated here. The danger with Soaps banging on about brilliant research in every red top and cheap magazine is that it peddles the myth that Soaps can be a reliable source of information. Therefore they parade Barbara Windsor to sell the realistic portrayal of a cancer victim and then claim 'it's only fiction and drama' when they are pulled up on a crazy story like this.....

I do not watch Eastenders.

Re: Twitter for the small niche business: does it pay to get personal?

Anita — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:52:14 -0000

That is fab Suze,a really interesting post! Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Re: Beware your mortgage lender

Cathryn — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:39:25 -0000

It's also a good idea to keep business banking and personal banking separate for similar reasons.

Re: Do we, the viewers, want Pretty Young Things?

Anita — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:35:03 -0000

Thanks for the great post Babs :)
There are so many organisations that make decisions 'on our behalf' that I just don't understand! There are definitely double standards! I am sure that because of these decisions such as removing Miriam and Moira and many more from the front line so to speak, makes us look at the normal ageing process as something to be feared! It's terrible! I have always enjoyed Countryfile, but since Miriam was dropped, it has lost it's appeal slightly for me.

I admire many women who are in their 70's plus, so the fact that Miriam who is a mere 53 years old is considered old, frightens me - not much to look forward to then ... We need older women role models, and as a society we need to stop obsessing about the age we will be considered as 'over the hill' or 'past it'! What about who we are, experience, expertise...

As we are living longer and longer, what was considered a long life is changing every year, so we need to readjust our thinking

I admire Miriam for saying no, and glad she has won her case! I hope her ideal job that values her will just be around the corner!

Re: Do we, the viewers, want Pretty Young Things?

Sarah Arrow — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:03:48 -0000

Old is the new young! Well done Miriam, we should all expect better from a publicly funded organisation.

Re: When was the last time you experienced great service?

Morag Gaherty — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:14:15 -0000

I haven't had especially great customer service anywhere recently (must be because I don't go out much!), but I can certainly vouch for Richard Branson's influence at Virgin.

Many years ago, my parents flew to the States with Virgin and there was some problem on the flight. When they got back, my Dad wrote to Richard Branson (he always writes direct to the CEO rather than to customer services) in complaint. The apology letter back was handwritten by RB himself and was accompanied by a rather lovely box of smellies for my Mother.

Commercially, Virgin did not lose out, because my parents always chose to fly with them in the future, if that was a viable option. RB is no fool! :)

Re: When was the last time you experienced great service?

Angiewelly — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:13:41 -0000

Hi Linda,

Thanks for your comments as they all count! In an age where we see Customer Service falling by the wayside somewhat, it is good to know there are companies out there that value us as customers. I think things are changing for the better and although some companies are still to notice the value of good Customer Service, more and more are making the changes needed. Angie

Re: When was the last time you experienced great service?

Linda Mattacks — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:47:45 -0000

These are really heart warming, Angie and great to hear 'feel good' stories :-)

My contributions are from my sister in Canada rather than my own, but I'll submit them and hope that they count...

1) TV bought for my Mum a couple of months ago. Sister received a letter about 10 days later from the store saying that particular set was now on sale so the price difference would be credited to her account.

2) Sister bought a webcam from one store and saw it advertised for about $30 dollars less elsewhere a few days later. Phoned the store she purchased it from: Immediate refund of difference plus an extra 10%.

Next time we speak I'll be able relay your experiences!

Re: Christmas is for Christmas not for Life

Rhiannon Hill — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:51:31 -0000

I loved this blog, I personally would ban Xmas but I am a member of the Extreme Humbug Society. I believe there are two main reasons why people are so attached to Xmas: First, in a sea of stress and adult misery, it invokes for many of us very happy memories which we long to relive of our childhood Xmases. Second, it's an excuse to get wasted for a couple of weeks in the middle of Winter.
Since it represents huge chunks of revenue for certain businesses, the pressure to comply with the Xmas spend is huge and I totally resent this especially at the moment but, hey, it's a free country. Ish. Nice blog.

Re: Fat Chance!

Rhiannon Hill — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:42:37 -0000

Absolutely Linda, I've thought for a long time that people overeat because their bodies are sending them signals that there's no nutrition on junk food. Thanks.

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

AnnGodridge — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:24:49 -0000

Years ago, didn't Channel 4 have some thing witha red dot in the top corner of the screen to indicate a film had sexually explicit content?

I do recall people used to opt to switch off when the red dot was missing ;-)

Re: The Great Flu & Cold Scandal

Morag Gaherty — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:37:00 -0000

I suspect most people have absolutely no idea about the difference between a cold and 'flu. To put it into context, the Great 'Flu Epidemic of 1918 killed 20-40 million people worldwide. Killed. Not gave a sniffle to. Even now, flu kills about 50,000 people a year.

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

Linda Mattacks — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:18:20 -0000

Oooh! We could have all kinds of categories and/ or ratings. They'd have to stay somewhere on screen throughout the entire programme in case someone tuned in half way through to save them being without guidance - and we couldn't have that.

Do you want to start a new post for suggestions, Ann? Mind you, we might end up needing

For example, within Comedy:
Thinking person's Stand up Solo
Non-thinking person's Stand up Solo
Stand up with guests
Thinking person's Sitcom
Further suitability:Grannies/ granddads/ adult/ family/ children/ pets
Sensibility/ insensibility warnings:
Racial/ sexual/ height/ weight challenged

Trouble is: Where would you start and where would you stop?
Who would be qualified to allocate the ratings?

I have to admit I'm veering back to the on/ off/ change channel buttons...

Re: Recruitment Checklist [2] Define

IT recruitment agency — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:00:22 -0000

"Once you have decided who is involved make sure that everyone is clear on what their role is and when they need to participate."

Couldn't agree more. If you are using an agency, make sure you know exactly where you stand from day one. That way no time is wasted and you are more likely to turn the vacancy around quickly.

Re: Who the hell is Kenneth Tong?

Ejacks71 — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:37:10 -0000

Simon Cowell isn't on Twitter it's a fake account!

Re: The best possible wife

Jackie Walker — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:20:27 -0000

My husband told me he was the best husband I'd ever have, maybe it's a guy thing? I am just me, I'll be the wife I am. My ego stops me saying I'd be the best anything, other than myself!

I will be genuine, loving and willing and expect the same from my husband. Some days I'll be into cooking and cleaning and some days I won't. Some days I'll want passionate frolics, and some days I won't. Some days, I'll be full of emotion and most I won't.

It won't change me being the best person I can be at all times, and that's what makes a good wife (in my opinion)

Re: The best possible wife

Sarah Arrow — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:07:51 -0000

I thought about this a lot Jackie. When I got married I never thought that I would be the best possible wife, quite simply because that wasn't compatible to being me. I have been married twice and both of my husbands swear they are the best possible husbands I could have, yet they are vastly different.

Like you say, it's open to interpretation and I am inclined to think if being such a good wife was such hard work with very little reward, what would be the point of it all?

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

AnnGodridge — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:36:42 -0000

Netmums are complaining about Damian Hirst's latest work now...

What if Mumsnet and Netmums are on different sides on the next drama - can we get Channel 4 to persuade them to wrestle for it?

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

AnnGodridge — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:34:27 -0000

It is still fiction though, so surely anything to do with the storyline can be just made up. Advice is a different matter entirely, and of course there's some responsibility there.

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

C37 — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:53:28 -0000

Well said!

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

AnnGodridge — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:10:31 -0000

I agree about it being depressing, Helen. But all drama has to be about some kind of conflict - as Tolstoy said, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

Carolinepanico — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:08:23 -0000

er does this even warrant an answer? well, ok yes it does...without even having read the article (shame on me)...the answer is 'of course bloody not'....who is on mumsnet? likely a bunch of middle class mums with nothing better to do than be on the internet all day (cough)....I think they are possibly the last group of people to ask any question which may translate into a form of entertainment.....

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

AnnGodridge — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:07:10 -0000

It's interesting that the BBC have caved to them, though. I find that faintly disturbing.

Re: Should Eastenders scripts be approved by Mumsnet?

Helen Lindop — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:48:46 -0000

I haven't watched Eastenders in years, it was just too depressing and that was in the mid-nineties! I do agree that if you don't like it, switch off (I have). But I think it's cynical how Eastenders are playing on the fears of every mum with a young child by having a cot death/ baby kidnapping plot. If anyone complains they play the 'raising awareness' card which is clearly not true - it's a ratings game, nothing more.

I'm a little nervous at how Mumsnet seems to be speaking for all of us parents of young children at the moment.

Re: Surviving Holiday Shopping

eurostar prices — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:44:23 -0000

Nice shopping tips. I want my wife to also read all of these, so that she wont spend too much time at shopping :)