The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 25,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals
Posted by Radiantlady on December 31, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/12/31/2012-in-review/
It has taken me a while to load this video. Firstly I cringe when I hear myself speak.
Secondly, I remember how much I miss my granddad for his wise words and wicked sense of humour.
He had a knack of delivering an important message, with a twinkle in his eye whilst making a gentle, humourous dig.
It’s not easy being a parent and although we all use excuses about time, money, ‘society’ other people’s children… his message is startlingly clear and up-to-minute.
Parents need to parent. Simple! How we behave, speak to other adults, speak to our children, their teachers, our parents, our children’s friends. This early modelling cannot and should not be underestimated in terms of the massive impact we have on our children’s development. Massive.
The demands on our time are relentless: jobs, other children, elderly parents, husbands, ex-wives, yoga classes, the weekly shop but those little people who live with us, look like us and love us (most of the time) require consistent attention and interaction.
I know, no one said it was easy. But this reminder from a man who lived to see his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up and thrive, carries some potent words and reminders for us all 
Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on November 7, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/100-years-young-an-elder-speaks/
Skimming through my Twitter feed, I spotted a post entitled ‘How to act in an interview’ which sounded helpful enough but something jarred with me – aha – it was the word ‘act’. As a career girl of some years (!) I have sucked up quite a few interview hours myself and thought I ought to do you the favour of passing this on, because (sorry to boast) I have a fairly good hit rate!
So, pens at the ready?
Conversation Between Friends talks about job interviews
1. DO NOT ACT.
Unless you are going for a drama audition and for tips on that you need to research elsewhere.. try Mark Summers Casting But assuming you are going for a corporate position, say in an agency, corporate business, finance sector, retail etc, it is not about playing a part, it is about being yourself. This is so important and I will explain why. Most jobs, in whatever sector you are interested in, are time-consuming, energy absorbing, exacting, demanding and occasionally enjoyable. Most people usually spend more time with their work colleagues than they do with their families. Read that last sentence again! So, if you have acted yourself into a financial role, demonstrating your aptitude for figures and your love of spreadsheets in order to get a job and that isn’t really you ~ you are going to hate your job and probably struggle at it. OR, if you have borrowed your fashionista friend’s Vivienne Westwood shirt to wow the interviewers at an up-and-coming retail chain, when your usual style is more quiet and laid back, again, it will jar with your personality, eventually draining you. Be true yourself, and truthful to your interviewers: it’s a win/win (Bit of management speak there, who spotted it?)
2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Research research research. Find out as much about the company as you can before you step foot into the premises. Even if you are interviewed in a pub (yes, I was for a publishing job and I’ve never worked so hard for a glass of wine!), you need to demonstrate that you understand the company, what they stand for (mission statement) what they believe (Values) and how they intend to achieve their business goals (Vision Statement). Smaller, boutique companies don;t always have that information on their website, but you can still get a feel for the company from the website itself, their Twitter feed, go into their stores and ask staff about the company (a bit of secret shopping is always fun). You may find in doing the research that the companies values are different to your own. For example if you are a vegan, or passionate about small furry animals, you may wish to look into a company that does animal testing. Find out, inform yourself, it will give you confidence and help the real you to shine through.
3. ASK QUESTIONS
Like any healthy and dynamic conversation, the interview process should be a two-way (or however many people are interviewing you) street. It shows intelligence and initiative to ask a question or two yourself, either about the role or the company or anything else related to your fulfilling the position. This shows you are really listening and thinking, two excellent skills in a potential employee!
4. THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
The job market is competitive, but let’s not lose sight of the fact there has always been competition for the jammiest jobs. The ones with perks like foreign travel, interviewing celebrities, free tickets and passes to gigs, shows, discounted clothes..you get the idea. Suffice to say, if a position is interesting, exciting, challenging with good perks, you will be slugging it out with the job market’s finest. A lot of employers now ask for a presentation of some description to test skills, confidence, application of knowledge, creativity, problem solving, the works. This is where you can let your personality shine, and if you put energy and time into this, this preparation will come across as professionalism and confidence on interview day.
These are just some of my edited highlights, of course there is a lot more to consider including getting to the interview in plenty of time, knowing how to calm yourself when your heart is hammering in your chest, but I wanted to keep it simple and so should you.
Here’s my executive interview summary: ‘Prepare to be your best self.’
Best of luck
© Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on September 26, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/interview-techniques/
Nothing complicated here.
Just a simple solution if you are feeling a bit tired, sluggish, run down or feel a cold coming on, or all of the above.
Body Brushing
Body brushing is a DIY health treatment that you can do at home with simple tools: long handled brush (loofah) and possibly a smaller brush with small massage like nodules. The brush is used to sweep along your body from feet up the legs, from hands upwards to the top of the arms. You can do a body brush treatment yourself, but it’s always easier if there is someone else that can brush your back. It’s important to do the whole body to get the full benefits from the treatment.
The only ‘technical’ thing to remember is to brush firmly but gently and all strokes must be towards the direction of the heart or the lymph nodes.
Have a look at this diagram if you are unsure:
There are a host of benefits:
It’s a great treatment that can be done for little cost at home, saving your pennies for the important luxuries. Add you own in here!
According to the Bank of England and the CEO of Sainsbury’s the economic squeeze is going to be around for a little while yet, so I plan to post some more simple health treatments you can do at home that won’t break the bank.
© Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on September 3, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/body-brushing/
Regular travelers of London Underground will appreciate that tube travel can often be a bizarre experience. Locked into intimate embraces with total strangers before you are released on to a travelator – a moving platform – only to be pummelled by people moving at great speed in the opposite direction.
The need for privacy in a big city like London is strong, but you will rarely find it in the Underground network. A hot, enclosed space with noisy people, some eating giant cornish pasties or Burger Kings, listening to music, making very important ‘phone calls and generally taking up your personal space.
Yet, some inspired person has taken this close proximity and turned it into a positive by creating a tubecrush, where the focus is wholly on the positive aspect of commuting. Gazing at attractive strangers! It’s a compelling idea: someone catches your eye for that 60 second – ten minutes (if you are stuck in a tunnel) of wonderment, you ‘pap’ them, move on. Post to site – presto you’ve just tube crushed someone!
Quite an entertaining and interactive way to make your tube journey move along.
tubecrush.net
© Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on August 29, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/farringdon-fancy/
Dear Mum – Conversation Between Friends loves letters from little ones!
Dear Mum
I have tidyed my enomously
messy room and I cleaned
the hallway
your sinsirley
Jake + the Asops fables storie was good
bye for now
turn over
I have colored it yellow for a reson that reason is becuase I know your
favirote color is yellow
as well as mine (scratched out)
Out of the mouth of babes. There is more than a hint of Poor Bear about this letter and I just love it. Letters from children are so pure. I found some from my daughter recently written when she was about ten, she’s a teenager now. They are quite hilarious. Letter writing is an important part of communication and self-expression. I love writing and receiving letters and even in this digital age, they have lost none of their charm.
Texting and tweeting: handle both with care!
Texting, in contrast ~ with its brevity and immediacy not dissimilar to tweeting ~ can easily be misunderstood and badly received ~ it’s partly the nature of the medium. Letters and to an extent emails, allow for more explanation, more accurate delivery of your thoughts and messages and ultimately more successful communication.
Forgiveness letters
Writing a letter to a loved one who has passed on, or a lover or ex-partner is a known technique used by some therapists, which encourages you to write your thoughts and feelings, in detail, perhaps saying things you didn’t say in person. The established process is that the letter is not sent but the act of writing it helps you to ‘process’ your thoughts or feelings and ultimately move on.
Who would you like to write to today? Remember, you don’t need to post it ~ what freedom!
Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on August 24, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/dear-mum/
“Once you get it into your head that you want someone, you move full steam ahead in pursuit. You do not give up your quest easily. You are nurturing and caring.
Defender of the letter ‘D’ you little devil!
If someone has a problem, this turns you on. You are highly sexual, passionate, loyal and intense in your involvement, sometimes possessive and jealous. Sex to you is a pleasure to be enjoyed. You are stimulated by the eccentric and unusual.”
Yes.
Wanna read about another letter?
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/what-do-your-initials-mean-e/
Posted by Radiantlady on August 20, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/what-do-your-initials-mean-d/
My family is outspoken, passionate and hard working. Elegant one-liners, witty reposts, sharp put downs are the order du jour. Pens do have significant might over swords and emotions can be hurtled long distances with words! Some of our softer edges, are communicated through the medium of poetry. This is a form of communication I have enjoyed from an early age, and we have recently become reunited.
My grandfather used to quote Shakespeare, my mother Chaucer, Bryon, Rossetti, Blake. I didn’t see this as strange, the words would provide colour and seed for my imagination as I tried to make sense of my young life.
A very British Education
Education was a strong theme too: my mother and grandfather were educated in Jamaica, schooled in traditional classic texts using rote learning techniques. This did not seem to stifle their individual growth or imagination, quite the opposite: I witnessed a thirst for knowledge and adventure; one of my grandfather’s mantras was the importance of trying to learn a new word every day! He retained a sharp mentality right into his nineties as well as the ability to complete the cryptic crossword everyday.
School of Poets
Enjoying a coffee and reading the New Golden Treasury of English Verse recently, I read a poem to my son. He asked to find one that he could read to me. He chose Blake’s ‘Tiger Tiger’: “I know this one, we’re learning it at school!” he said excitedly.
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
William Blake
Hearing him read this out loud, I felt the chains of history and the family love of poetry, clink securely into the future.
I recall learning poetry at school too, language archaic and modern transported us away from adolescent angst to worlds of mystery, darkness and wild emotions. It was wonderfully enriching and one of my best memories of school.
© Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on August 20, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/poetry-at-the-heart-of-it/
The last few weeks, months, OK ~ the last year has been emotionally taxing. I have been stretched to the ends of my capacity for giving as a human being; and then some. There is a saying that God only gives you what you can handle, so the man upstairs must think I have very big celebrity-sized suitcases indeed!
As an only child, there isn’t the natural support network of siblings to off load on when the going gets tough, and I’m cautious about confiding too much in close friends, as they generally have their own family stuff going down. Who doesn’t?
But there is one particular friend who has blinded me with her compassion and generosity, the fact that I have known her for more than twenty years, has only intensified my respect and admiration for her as a person. Naturally, I’ve witnessed at close quarters her own family and personal trials and have listened as tales of betrayal, illness, death, teenage pregnancy and divorce unfold.
I’ve learned that real friends don’t always need advice ~ generally we all know what to do in a given situation (whether we do it or not is another matter) ~ what we do need is a pair of non-judgmental ears. The listening is the magic ingredient in these friendships. For example not commenting can be the best thing, especially if they change their mind about something in the future, something you advised against. So opinion: bad. Open-mindedness: good.
Anyway, some of you reading this may have friends you’ve known for a decade or two, or even more. Some of you may be at the start of that long and fascinating friendship journey. Wherever you are, cherish your ‘long-time’ friend like the jewel that she* truly is. I know I do.
*These sort of enduring friendships are usually same sex.
Suzy Rigg
Posted by Radiantlady on August 9, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/conversation-between-friends-forever-friends/
Conversation Between Friends likes the Gothic mood of this typeface.
Your greatest need is to talk. If your date is not a good listener, you have trouble relating. A person must be intellectually stimulating or you are not interested sexually. You need a friend for a lover and a companion for a bed-mate. You hate disharmony and disruption, but you do enjoy a good argument once in a while, it seems to stir things up.
You flirt a lot, for the challenge is more important than the sexual act for you, but once you give your heart away, you are uncompromisingly loyal. When you don’t have a good lover to fall asleep with, you will fall asleep with a good book.
(Sometimes, in fact, you prefer a good book.)
If you want to read more in this entertaining series, please look in the ‘Entertainment’ category for similar posts.
Posted by Radiantlady on August 7, 2012
http://radiantlady.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/what-do-your-initials-mean-e/
Conversation Between Friends is Suzy Rigg's blog. I'm a copywriter and lover of the written and spoken word.
My aim is to create a safe and dynamic forum to discuss the issues that interest and inspire me. You will find articles about social media, PR, communications, education, politics, parenting, entrepreneurship, worklife balance, social enterprise and literature. I'm also a poet.
If you like my work and need a feature writer an expert for media comment on any of the blog topics, please contact me at suzyrigg@gmail.com
If you are not here for business that's fine too; just browse, enjoy and feel free to post a comment.
