Made in Dagenham

Yesterday my hubby and I went to see this film.

Made in Dagenham is a British film directed by Nigel Cole. The film stars Sally Hawkins (as Rita), Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike and Jaime Winstone. The film's theme song, with lyrics by Billy Bragg, is performed by Sandie Shaw, herself a former Dagenham Ford worker.

The film is a dramatisation of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike at the Ford Dagenham assembly plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination and the desire for equal pay. The walkout was instrumental in the Equal Pay Act 1970. The women did not actually work at the Dagenham assembly plant but a mile or so away on the other side of the rail tracks at the River Plant (a collection of sheds) on Sammy Williams land near Dagenham Dock Station. The Halewood-based women also joined the strike.

It tells the real life story of the 1968 strike by women workers demanding equal pay at the Ford car plant in Dagenham, a working class town east of London in the United Kingdom. Factory worker Rita O’Grady (Sally Hawkins) emerges as a leader for the female plant workers in a campaign to win them equal pay with their male counterparts.
That may not sound like the most entertaining premise for a film, but Made in Dagenham is full of warmth, humanity, humour and genuine drama. 

One part in the film which was really a key phrase to it all was when Rita and her husband were talking when the strike was at its peak. She was on her way to a big unionists meeting.
He said that she was lucky in that he didn't drink a lot or gamble; he didn't hit her or the kids etc etc
She said "That's just it "
"It shouldn't be a privileged, It should be a right"
And that was the whole reason as to why she was doing what she was doing.


It was a good film although not really entertaining.

Buttons

Today has been a funny sort of day.
It was very quiet at work and I am feeling a little lazy. Actually more just slowing down a bit and pottering.

A bit of weeding here, some filing there, that sort of thing.

On Monday I got a box of clothes given to me (well I was able to choose them myself) from a freinds' mum's wardrobe as they were cleaning it out after her passing, a few weeks ago.
Of course I am one for always putting things out if you get new things in. Now these are not new clothes just new to me.
I sorted some clothes that needed to go as they are stained or wearing thin. They are not really any use to anyone else so they will go in the clothing bin, but before they go I snip off all the buttons.

It's always handy to have some for when I have knitted something or a button needs sewing on somewhere.
As a child I use to play with the buttons in my granny's and mothers button tins and it was great fun sorting them into piles of the same sort of colours sizes etc. I have sorted my buttons into little plastic bags so my grandchildren wouldn't have as much fun with mine but the idea of keeping them has certainly come from my grandmother.
Maybe I need to not be so organized so they can experience that fun too.

Get the most from your make up

I have been an Avon lady off and on over the years and during that time I have picked up a lot of hints.

One that I thought everyone knew was a way to make sure you get everything out of a tube of cream etc.
Always stand it on its lid if you can.
Once you think you have squeezed out all its 'stuff' cut the end off about two inches or 5 cms down.

pic 1

pic 2

Always use the product from the cut off piece first then slide this over the rest of the tube and use it as the lid. (pic 1)
As you use the product on the insides of the tube and can no long reach it, cut off a strip and put the "lid" back on. (pic 2)
You will be amazed at how much more you can get from you tube. It sill dry out quicker so use it quickly.

How many times have you come to the end of your lips stick and thrown it away.
Do you know how much further into the tube the lipstick goes?
Always use a lip bush and you will have weeks more of lippy.

Keep you make up in a dark place not out on the dressing table.

Use brushes rather than sponge applicators and wash them regularly and they will last you for years.

Nail polish will not go as lumpy if you keep it in the fridge.

One product you must not keep for ages is mascara. Thank about how close to your eye that gets and never share it with anyone.

Sunblock has a expiry date but you can still use it as an after sun body moisturiser so don't just biff it.

If some one has a shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath or cleaners they don't like pop a squeeze of it in the toilet brush holder (if its a bowl type holder) and you will always have a clean smell when you clean the toilet!!

If you have perfumes in bottles that are no spray ones that people don't like, eg aftershaves or free samples, pop them in air fresheners that are plug ins or for the car.

If I remember any more I'll add them

My Playlist - Heartstrings

My Mixpod which is a selection of songs I have added to an Ipod on here can be managed by turning on, off or the volume up or down. Check here for more details

The Mercy Project

The eighth song is another from the CD The Mercy Project which is a fund raiser as mentioned here

Heartstrings is a song about a girl putting her child up for adoption and it has meant a lot to me in that very close friends, and now connected to our family, have adopted two children before they were able to have one of their own.

There have been struggles for them as with a lot of adoptions and so my heart goes out to them with the words of this song as they learn to let go.

The song is sung by two Christian singers, Lisa Bevill and Erin O'Donnell, as is with most of the artists on this CD.

Heartstrings

Lisa Bevill

My child inside I love you
I’m asking through the tears
That God will grant me wisdom
Way beyond my years
Because your life is precious
And the best for you’s in store
I pulled upon my heartstrings
Until they finally tore

Chorus:
And I prayed and I cried
And because I love you so I’m letting go
To trust the One I know for sure
I’ll place you in the Father’s hands
The only one who’ll ever love you more

You were the Miracle we prayed for

Erin O'Donnell

That we could not have had ourselves
You brought us joy and happiness
And a love we’d never felt
How we cherished every moment
Then we looked up and you were grown
Never knew this day would come so soon
Oh how the years have flown

Chorus:
And we laughed and we cried
And how it hurts us so to let you go
So much life for you in store

A photo in the video

We’ll place you in the Father’s hands
The only One who’ll ever love you more

Bridge:
And the hardest part of living
Is giving back what we’ve been given
Each gift from God is only yours and mine
For a time

Chorus:
So we laugh and we cry
And the hardest part of life is letting go
To trust the One we know for sure
He’ll hold us safely in His hands
Cause no one else will ever love us more.
He’ll hold us safely in His hands
Cause no one else will ever love us more.

Roses

Its a lovely day today and so I did some hand washing of woollens using my home-made wash.
When I have finished this I use the washing water to kill the aphids on my rose bushes.
Even if there are no signs of the aphids I still toss the water over the branches to help stop the bugs coming in the first place.

Wool was water

Protecting the rose bushes

As I did this, I noticed what I thought was my first rose for the season.

But then as I checked my other bushes I realised there were more

With the weather finally warming up I was able to take a good walk around the garden and see the colour.

God's world is beautiful.

Tirau Community Board

I can now officially say that I am a member of the Tirau Community Board.
Back in August I was asked if I would stand for one of the four positions as most of the last board were leaving. After some consideration and talk with hubby I decided to stand. Little did I know that only four people stood for the four seats so we were all duly appointed.

Tirau Community Board (four positions) ALL ELECTED - no voting was required
MARTELLETTI Nora
POOLE Geoffrey
SPINLEY Heather
VAN LENT Fiona

The Tirau Community Board is part of the South Waikato District Council and elections for local body councils were this October in New Zealand for the next three year term.
Last night we attended the inaugural Council meeting where, along with the Mayor and council members, we were sworn in to the new positions for the next three years.

Opening address and prayer by Peter Hall

The meeting started at:

7pm                       Kaumatua Jack Simmonds said a mihi/welcome

                              The Waiata Group – one song

      Kaumatua Jack Simmonds will say a karakia/blessing

      Waiata Group – one song

                              Mayor Neil Sinclair - 

                                           Reply to group from Raukawa inc Kaumatua

                              Waiata Group – one song

                              David Hall                            Swearing in Mayor

                              Mayor                                  Swearing in Councillors

                              Mayor                                  Swearing in TCB

Reading the Tirau Community Board Declaration

Signing the Declaration

There were two brief meetings to elect the deputy mayor and a vice Chairperson for the board (Me!!) and the meetings closed with a karakia/blessing and a light supper so as to chat with each other.

Closing blessing by the Raukawa Group

All in all a good night, with the start of something new and exciting in my life.

Family Caregiver Support Group

Once a month I go to a family caregiver support group in our area that gives support to those who have a family member who suffers from a mental illness.

The meetings are in the early afternoon and we have a light lunch that is provided. We share the goings on in our families over the last month (or more if we haven't been for awhile) and support and encourage each other. It is strictly confidential what we share and there are rules as to how we should respond to each other.
There is a care worker there that can offer much more from being a mediator, support person, offering help in many areas like finance, information etc and there are books and DVDs to borrow. There are also camps and other outings provided if we wish to join in.

Last month we were given a new booklet put out by the Mental Health Commission.

'When someone you care about has mental health or addiction problems - A guide for family, whanau * and freinds.'

You can actually down load it from here or to order a hard copy email info@mhc.govt.nz or call (04) 474 8900. (New Zealand)
One of the sites they mention is Kites a website with lots of support and downloads for those with a mental illness and/or family members.

On page 16 of the booklet above there are some very good points titled.

Caring for your own well-being

• Be proactive about self care.
• Wherever possible, maintain familiar daily routines.
• Decide what refreshes you - and do it regularly.
• Celebrate the good stuff.
• Ask yourselves how you are managing as a family, whanau *.
• Give yourselves permission to seek support where needed.

It was encouraging to read the booklet and to be reminded the importance of theses points not just for me to remember, but for the family so that I can be all I want to be for them.

* whānau (noun) extended family, family group, a familiar term of address to a number of people - in the modern context the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members.
http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/