Typecast

Everyone is talking about Brooklyn Beckham’s statement, and I’ve had thoughts about children in the public eye for a long time - though mine are rooted more in the blogging and vlogging world than celebrity culture. It was this quote that stood out most to me in Brooklyn’s exposé: “For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives [..] about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.” You can scroll back through this blog and see that it started around 2009. Before that, I used various precursors to blogging platforms to document my thoughts and memories. Before social media (fuck, that makes me sound so old), blogging was a way to talk to people about… well, literally anything and everything. I shared family pictures, started discussions, and built a small but respectful community. As the internet developed and my readership grew, I was approached by some forward-thinking b...

Back in 2012 I wrote about the effect that your digital footprint will have on your future social standing and five years later we are still hearing about how 'celebrities' are being hauled over the coals for their digital past. I've noticed a trend for this activity when they appear on a mainstream reality tv show and viewers and/or journalists take it upon themselves to trawl through their tweets from years gone by to expose any racist, political, misogynistic or otherwise non-PC language used in their online history.  I suppose you could categorise this as 'trolling'... but do we have a right to know how these role models have shaped themselves or should the past be left in the past? This type of exposure is not exclusive to, but is more prevalent with, new media stars; the likes of YouTube celebrities with their millions of tween and teen followers.  The ones that have grown up with social media literally at their finger tips.  Many of them not even kn...

I have NO IDEA how I get into these situations but * deep sigh * my friend, Rowena, is very much like the human version of the over-excited puppy part of my brain that thinks some ideas are good ideas but never gets chance to put them into action , thank goodness .  It's a dangerous friendship... When I was 10 years old a whole school term was taken up on a project with the theme of 'sport'. I wrote off to Grandstand and World of Sport to request signed photographs of presenters to glue into the pages of my folder. To my amazement, Des Lynam, Jimmy Hill, Dickie Davies and Frank Bough wrote back! It was definitely those signed pictures that won me first prize for my project but this was when your Radio 1 Roadshow and supermarket openings were pretty much the only way to catch a glimpse of any famous person, never mind actually get them to sign your autograph book or a publicity photo of themselves. Since pretty much all of our modern day celebrities are now using so...

Many times I have wondered how people can find themselves so emotionally involved with a 'celebrity' that they participate in public grieving on social media channels.  I often think it is so that they can 'be seen to care' or to join in with a trend.  I usually comment on the passing, sometimes share a relevant news article and then wait until the next Deadpool newsletter . Hearing about the sudden and shocking passing of Victoria Wood was different.  I immediately understood why people feel the need to communicate their grief. And why they feel so completely and utterly bereft. Victoria Wood is someone who's comedic genius I have grown up with. Even before I was old enough to understand her observational humour, I remember her appearing on our family television. Then slowly, and surely, some of the jokes felt as though they made sense - the Northern intention, the strong women used in her sketches... but just the way in which she managed to cover almos...

There's a little tool on the interwebs that should be used with caution. It can cause an eyebrow to be raised and even a little upset if you are of a delicate nature. However, if you are genuinely interested in finding out if one person follows another on Twitter then have a look at " Does Follow ". Anyway... you have to wonder why Barack Obama doesn't follow Stephen Fry  especially as Stephen Fry follows Barack Obama? I mean, Mr O even follows ME (I am one of the chosen few 642,900 he is following and we all know he's getting value for money here).  Awkward!!  (H/T to  @ThatConnArtist )

I'm not the most photogenic person in the world and will take extreme measures to avoid my picture being taken. However, I fondly remember (many many many moons ago) my sister-in-law saying that I looked like Demi Moore in her 'Ghost' era.  I have clung to that comparison for dear life. Then I read Toni's post about famous people who look like her and I remembered this website where you could upload your picture and it would tell you which famous person you resembled.  It was Saturday night and I'd had the best part of a bottle of wine... you can guess what's coming, can't you? Attempt 1 I upload this photo and get these results Yes... thats  Justin Timberlake Orlando Bloom Matt "Joey From Friends" le Blanc John Travolta (channeling 'Enda Turnblad' from Hairspray, maybe?) So I presume there's something wrong with the algorithm (good excuse, huh), check the settings and I try again...

I saw the results of a survey from a professional hair product retailer this week (oh yes, this is the sort of exciting email I receive on a daily basis...).  The survey was based around which celebrity hair style women would most like to have * huge eye roll * The top ten favourites were Kate Middleton (I'm sure she's known as something different these days), Jerry Hall (it's amazing what three weeks on Strictly Come Dancing  does for your profile), Cheryl Cole (it must have been her   X-Factor USA BIG hair period and not anything to do with the L'Oreal advert at all ), Kelly Brooke, Victoria Beckham, Adele, Holly Willo'booby, Nicole Shirtslinger, Michelle Obama (* ponders that one for a moment *) and someone from Geordie Shore who I've never heard of (Charlotte, if you're that way inclined). Hang on a minute... don't all these women have long flowing extensions locks?  What's up with short hair?* indignant look * I think I might ha...

Watch this exclusive video to find out who the new face of Regis Salons UK is and then keep reading for all the details of an amazing competition run by Regis Salons where you can win a year's worth of hair services and a Canon 550D digital camera. Aaaahhhhh I have SERIOUS hair envy when it comes to Emma Willis.  She always looks gorgeous, doesn't she?  I am so excited to be working with Regis Salons over the next couple of months. I'm going to check out their Preston salon and I will also be having a delve into one of their Regis Designline gift baskets before Christmas so keep an eye out for those reviews. Emma is also going to be writing a monthly update on the  Regis blog .  Also on the blog, you can also find out how you can get £10 off your next visit to your local Regis salon. Featured Post For more information please see my  disclosure policy

You see a blog post entitled "I still would" and you know automatically what it is going to be about, don't you?  So when I saw Heather publish her " I still would " list I nipped over for a quick perv.  Each to their own and all that, but as I gallop towards my 40th year on this planet there is no way that I am going to admit to fancying anyone old enough to be my father even if she has picked a couple of stonking pictures. Forewarned is forearmed.  You've all seen my " Schwing " post which is as far as it goes for older men for me but I think that one of those can make a return appearance in this list.  Here is a list of manboys that I'd spit on a tissue for do it for me.

First of all this is NOT a meme but feel free to pick it up and run with it if you need to release some pent-up anger.  I have cried laughing reading similar posts from  Bloggertropolis ,   London City Mum  and  Very Bored In Catalunya   and  and being the calm person that I am I have obviously found it very difficult to find five celebrities that I feel violent towards  had real trouble just slimming this down to just five people.  So, in no particular order...

When I'm scouring the gossip pages online magazines or newspapers for my latest fix I am treated to many a shot of attention seekers  the celebrity-of-the-moment looking like something from Death Becomes Her . Holly, Janet, Rihanna Where did this trend for the chin-on-shoulder look come from?  Is it supposed to look as though the zleb in question has been caught unawares?  Fair enough - but that doesn't exactly work if they are facing the sponsor board in the press area, pre-event, does it?  Yes, Paris... walk on my love... *bump* oops, never mind, chuck.

We're having a meme-tastic time on the blog at the moment but this is one that I knew I was going to enjoy  It gives me an opportunity to talk about my favourite subjects: Me and Twitter.  This is a fairly new meme, started by Kate at The Five F's  and, as usual, there are a few questions to answer but I think I've probably gone off at a bit of a tangent...

So the final series of Big Brother has finished and the winner was, unsurprisingly, Josie.  For me, she deserved it the most (despite staying in bed far too much) because she was the most genuine of the housemates this year.  One refreshing aspect this year was that none of the housemates were your stereotypical wannabe's that have dominated the last six series' (and the tabloids) so I genuinely warmed to most of them and didn't really "hate" the others as passionately as I normally do.  It's been interesting viewing.

This is my naughty step and it is not a metaphorical one... this is really the bottom step of my staircase.  There haven't been many 'time-out' moments on these stairs in recent years but I'm sure that the grandchildren will rectify that in the very near future.  I'll let you admire the new carpet for a few moments and then I'll crack on.  OK? Let's get down to business.    Now, I have a "Room 101" list as long as my arm but topping it recently is AIRBRUSHING.   For years now pictures in the media have been "touched up" to ensure perfection in the glossy pages of magazines and flawless images in advertising campaigns.  At first, the public were probably unaware how much alteration was taking place until computer programmes such as Photoshop or Picasa were easily accessible and we could touch up our own pictures.  Similarly, as more and more celebrities were used for advertising purposes, it was easier to see that the person we ...

SWITCH THAT BLOODY LIGHT OUT... I'LL DO IT... I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!! LondonCityMum  seems to want to know more about me and has  asked me to  demanded that I share the answers to her ten questions here on my blog.   1. Name of your first pet? I had an Abyssinian guinea pig called Cuddles (and my sister had a rabbit called Flopsy - they lived in a hutch together).  If this is a thinly veiled attempt to find out my porn star name then the street I lived on was Curzon Road. First Pet Name + Childhood Street Name = Porn Star Name "Cuddles Curzon" I quite like that actually... hhmmm * ponders career change * 2. Your most delectable piece of lingerie? Erm... lingerie is not my strong point.   It it's not grey then it's an achievement.  If it matches then it's a miracle.  If I'm wearing it in bed then it gets in the way.  I'm a lost cause, aren't I?  Maybe I should hint at some lingerie companies to kit me out? 3. Be...

Pipe down fellas, I didn't mean Elle McPherson but you may want to stick around to read the rest of this post. A link flashed up in my Facebook feed earlier and I gawped in horror... THE BODY is back and this time it's being used as OUTERWEAR and not underwear!!  Picture Credit: Dorothy Perkins Now, I'm no fashonista but the last time I wore one of these was in the early 1990's and it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences that I have ever had. They are never long enough for my body The "smooth lines" they create just emphasise all the flaws; the lumps and bumps Fastening them up requires me to become a contortionist and fold myself in half somehow.  And if, god forbid, I'm wearing my glasses, as soon as I bend over and look between my legs then the glasses slide down my nose and swing from my ears rendering me almost blind Going to the toilet is impossible as I have to re-create Point #3  They unfasten at the most inopportune times I'...

I have a daughter.  She is now almost 19 years old and now has her own ever-growing family (one child, and one on the way at the last count).  She has been fascinated by make-up and hairstyles since she was little.  She used to steal the dregs of my eye shadow and lipstick and attempt to copy me when I put on my make-up - mimicking the funny faces I pulled when putting on my mascara.  She was took such care when applying 'her make-up' but always looked like a clown.  I'm sure she'll experience the same when her daughters get to a certain age. Dressing-up like mummy and copying mummy putting make-up on is all part of the process of a little girl growing up.  The recent report and subsequent picture of Princess Tiaamii Andre show her caked in make-up and adorned with false eyelashes.  Peter Andre, her father, is "absolutely disgusted" and the world is outraged!!  In my opinion, the only mistake here is that Princess' aunt uploaded the photograph...

I had some *fantastic ideas last night and mused about them on the way to bed. The first was that I should conduct a Plog - a Picture Blog (see what I did there?  It's like doing something connected to Twitter where you just replace the first two letters of any word with "Tw").  Anyway, as I took pictures of my toothbrush ( which needs replacing as it's knackered. And orange ), my make-up bag ( who really wants to see all the slap I put on to look half decent? ) and my son's lunch box ( no, ma'am, there is no cake in there at all.  It's just a figment of your imagination ) I decided that my life is so much like other people's that it's not going to make an interesting Plog. So my next bright idea was to try and contact Jedward 's marketing people (and what a fantastic job they're doing at the moment) to suggest that their next cover should be in collaboration with MC Hammer and it should be U Can't Touch This . Finally, I decid...