Harping On

Apparently there is to be a Royal wedding this Friday? It's come as quite a surprise really, I mean, you'd think someone would have mentioned something by now? Oh no wait, they did, roughly every five seconds for the past month. Ironically including my post, but its for a good reason as it points out that it's not all bad and there is at least one good thing which has pleased me from this occasion; that is Charlie Brooker's report on Ten O'clock Live last Thursday. He showed a clip from a BBC program, documenting how Catherine Middleton came from a family of coalminers. In response to this program Charlie Brooker commented,

"Hmm... Yes... Incredible. Apparently the early Middletons were a species know as homoplebeous. Primordial, primordial northern slug folk who lived in holes and foraged for mud, but now thanks to generations of cross breeding with more advanced, more southern humans they’ve evolved into a life-from that can mate with a royal without contravening bestiality laws. If only, if only Kate can make it down the aisle on her hind legs without defecating we’re in for a magical day."

I must admit, even a week on, I am still laughing to myself every time I think of this. Please follow the link if you would like to see the whole sketch. Some parts are liable to offend, but it is very funny.

Charlie Brooker clip from Ten O'clock Live

In line with the conclusion of that clip, I am tempted to buy one piece of Royal Wedding memorabilia... the faithful vomit bag ready for the special day. These screen printed bags are beautifully designed and are the most practical thing you can buy ready for Friday. Personally I prefer the purple and gold, shown below, compared to that national rail red and blue; which seems to be the allocated colours for some reasons. It doesn't really say 'Royal Love' to me; though the below seems more fitting for the event.

Family Tree

I've always known I have a fairly big family, but I wondered just how big? So I decided to graphically represent everyone and find out; only counting from both sets of my grandparents. I counted blood relatives and their partners they are married or in life commitments with today; so divorced or separated spouses are not included even though they may have children with a blood relative. Deceased have been represented with an outlined circle.

I was very surprised to count there are one hundred and fifteen people! Deducting those who have married into the family or are life partners, a total of seventy-six people have directly descended from both sets of grandparents. In the past eighty to ninety years since my grandparents were born, that's a lot of people... almost one every year.

Treading the fine line between work and play

It was a risky thing to do, but I just couldn't help playing around with a few rebranding idea's for my friends company before actually telling her what I was up to. Half way through setting myself this project, I suddenly realised that she might actually hate what I've done and take great offence to this rebranding gesture. Thankfully though, after humbly approaching her with the ideas she loves it and isn't at all offended. Though she would like to have a rebrand which keeps certain elements to her current brand, she has said she'd love for me to take this project on. It's a good start and I'm looking forward to continuing with this project.