Philippines

The birth announcement will probably be printed Tuesday, possibly this weekend.

Just as a matter of explaining the method on this one: I get faxes from local hospitals that are basically release forms with all the necessary information about the baby. There's a space for each parent's name and then a separate signature spot at the bottom. If the parents are married with the same last name, we only need one signature. If they don't have the same last name and dad didn't sign, I either have to check with the hospital to see if they're married or we just don't include his name (it's a liability issue). In this case, the parents don't have the same last name, but they both signed so we'll print them both.

Today we have an engagement announcement for another lesbian couple and no one's even mentioned it.

Wedding announcements work like this: After a couple gets married, they download a form from our website, fill it out and send it back to us by mail or email. Libby enters the information and makes calls to clear up any questions. We need written permission from the photographer to use their photos, so sometimes Libby tracks that down, too. We don't publish announcements if neither person getting married has lived in Spokane. Once finished, they get put into the system and used whenever the designers have space available.

Following the court ruling in California that made same-sex marriages legal there, it was obviously only a matter of time until it came up. Libby and I have known for a while that this one would be published, and I think it's really encouraging it wasn't a big deal at any of the steps toward publishing. It was pretty much the assumption we'd treat them like any other newlyweds, as we should. Except for the opinion sections, newspapers just concern themselves with reporting what happened, not making moral or political judgments.

Now I'm curious to see what happens next. It takes a certain amount of courage to publicly celebrate love in general, let alone love that many people in this county still see as fundamentally wrong. Maybe we'll see an influx of other same-sex marriage announcements, or maybe we'll have to turn people away because their "marriage" isn't the official kind now offered in California. Maybe people who didn't care too much about one announcement will get upset when it's a regular occurrence.

More likely, we'll start seeing same-sex couples in birth announcements and divorce listings, too.

I am a new employee at Noodles and Company on College and Laurel.  I've blogged about it a bit I think, but I'm about to go into greater detail.  I work with a crazy group of kids about my age making, serving, and partaking of various noodle shapes and forms.  It's real easy, they really like me, and I can walk to work from my house in about two and a half minutes, meaning no drive to work and therefore no gas expense.  I eat for free every shift for the first two months, or until I've tried every dish, of which there are very many.  I'm pretty happy so far, and God's already been so good as to give me a LOT of favor with my bosses and coworkers.  How is he so good to me? Really?

Original Title: These kids in the island has to walk the distance in order to get fresh dringking water. Can we afford to fail them.
Thanks to: eg_danny_e

Tawi-tawi, Mindanao, Philippines

Truthfully, though, the issue of working outside of the home or not is a big issue in the lives of most moms, and those of us with multiples are no exception.

Sometimes, to work or not is a choice that's made for you by virtue of financial or logistical realities.  Maybe you're the sole breadwinner in your house, maybe you need the health insurance, maybe the mortgage payment depends on two salaries.  Or, on the flipside, maybe you find the cost of double daycare is actually more than you bring home!

Whether it's an active choice or not, though, we all have to find the balance that meets as many of our needs as possible.  And sometimes there's just nothing to be done about the mommy guilt. You might decide to go back to work, and then feel guilty about not being with your kids all day.  Or, you might feel really good about being back to work, but feel guilty about not feeling guilty!  Or, you might be home all day with them, and wish you could contribute to the family finances.  The list goes on.

The HDYDI moms, as ever, are no exception.  We run the gamut, from working full-time, working part-time, freelancing, working from home, and 100% SAHM.  Someone asked through our Features page to talk about the work/not-work/babies dynamic.  So, we present to you, some of our pros and cons to staying at home or going back to work.

Working Outside of the Home, full- or part-time

Pros:

• The external reward of being paid for what you do!
• Enjoying the work you do
• Professional advancement/career trajectory
• Getting a "break" from the kids can help you to be more patient or enjoy them more when you're home
• Adult conversation
• Mini-breaks during the day to do things like online bill pay or phone calls on the to-do list
• Good childcare can teach your kids neat things that you might not have the time or ability or inclination, like Spanish or new songs and games

Cons:

• Even if you get home at the very reasonable hour of, say, 5:30pm, it can be really hard to cram everything in before the kids go to bed.  Play time, dinner, baths, bedtime... it can be a mad rush from walking in the door to bedtime.
• Having to use up limited vacation or sick days when one or both of your kids are sick or childcare falls through
• Potential for missing certain "firsts"
• With all time split between work and parenting, hard to keep up with other things (i.e. keeping your house from turning into a pit!)

Stay-at-home Mom

Pros

• Being able to make all the decisions regarding your kids' care (or, doing it all "your own way")
• Time flexibility, at least as naps will allow... it's nice to not have to insist on only the early morning or late afternoon doctor's appointments!
• Lowered stress/expectations of daily appearance (though, beware, this can also be a one-way ticket to "What Not to Wear"), stay in your PJs if you want!
• Ability to participate in school-day activities
• Being there for practically every moment of their development
• Not having to call out from work if someone is sick

Cons

• There is no break. No vacation days, no calling in sick or taking a mental health day. You're always "at work," 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Isolation from the "adult" world, and the potential for conversations that revolve around poop.
• Minimal external validation for all of the work you do
• If you want to re-enter the work force, depending on your career, the time "off" could have a negative impact on your career trajectory

There's clearly no single right or wrong answer, and every family has different circumstances. Maybe you don't have to worry about childcare costs because you have family nearby to take care of the kids.  Maybe you have the kind of career that lets you pick up little projects that you can do from home to stay current. Lots of people who consider themselves stay-at-home-moms, including some of us here at HDYDI, actually have one or two part-time things going on.  Teach a class in the evening, volunteer in your field, write articles for a magazine.

And while you may not have much of a choice when it comes to working or staying home, you can always find ways to mitigate the negatives.  Combat the SAHM isolation by taking classes or having playgroups with other moms. Reduce the evening rush of the working mom by prepping food for the week on Sunday, cutting down the frequency of baths, or ignore the housework and hire a cleaning lady.

And remember that there are positives, and almost everyone has days when they feel like the grass would be a whole lot greener on the other side.  Yeah, sitting in traffic is really frustrating, but there's probably a SAHM that would kill to be in a car by herself with a coffee and NPR on the radio.  And vice versa.

What about you, readers?  Have you found hidden benefits (or pitfalls) of your current work situation? Advice for handling the guilt or envy of the other side?

[Forgive the late post, I just didn't have it in me yesterday!]

This year I'm not having a summer holiday. My current internship ends on Thursday, 31st July, the next one, should I choose to take it will begin on Monday, 4th August. (I have inofficially accepted, but as yet nothing has been signed). My only trip away will be a day and a half in Hamburg the weekend after next. I guess that means I'm now officially part of the employees club. Better get used to it, eh?

Ah yes, the first news of the bunch. I don't know if you caught the little reference above, but I am working. Every day I get up, eat breakfast (because I have to) and toddle off on the walk to work. Then, similarly, at the end of the day I pack my bag and head off home. It's great. For the first time in a long time I get relaxing time yet I'm also kept busy, I'm doing a nice variety of stuff and time is whizzing past like a boy racer on speed. In case you missed my excited post a few weeks ago, I'm actually a Marketing assistant now - my foot is one rung higher on the ladder to success. However, it does seem to be one rung higher on the ladder to cheesiness as well!

Secondly, on Monday I made the odd transition from Graduand to Graduate - and now I officially own a degree! It's nice and reassuring to know this. Graduation day was an odd time - it was lovely to see everyone, but I am not a fan of the actually ceremony of graduation itself. I was much more interested in seeing the physical certification that I had really done the past three years and hadn't simply dreamt them. I feel that the graduation ceremony is archaic, which alone is harmless. However, I feel that the outdated division between the genders (girls wear their hats indoors, guys don't, etc.) is actually one of the most dangerous cases of sexism - mainly because it is still in today's enlightened society regarded as "what has always been done". If this is "what has always been done", then why does society change and move on - why are some things unacceptable, but more hamrless forms of sexual discrimination allowed and enforced. Mixed messages, I feel, are never the best route towards equality. I also refused to stand to song the antional anthem - it is after all my perrogative and choice as to whether I support the monarchy or nor. There may be an element of childish rebellion in my actions, but I'd rather stand up to my morals and be seen as silly than let them lapse in select situations. Plus, havbing never met the queen I don't really care whether she lives for a long time or not - I have no vested interest, callous as it may sound to say it.

So, rant aside, I have passed two milesones in my period in absentia from Wordpress. I am now a working woman, nay, a working graduate.

Long may this continue.

p.s I shall write a post on Irregular choice shoes tomorrrow, and post some graduation photos whenever I get the oppurtunity!

Hello penguins!

I am very excited to be the first to let you know about a very special project we've been working on!

Ever since Club Penguin was launched, many of you have been asking and talking about a DS game and we've been listening. Here's a bit of what you can look forward to:

Apparently it will come out in december. There will probably be a mad rush to get it and it will be like wii fit all over again! Let ne know what you think, I hope it has items that are only avaleable through that!

~hasta la vista, baby!

It was a pretty awful floor, I'll give him that. And it looks beautiful now. (it was so awful, I didn't really get a great overview picture of the before - oops)

(SEE?! I told you I'd figure more of this out - and this is only my second post!)

There are more pictures of the bathroom to come - I think I'll make each room/project a category of it's own so they'll be easy to watch progress.

We need to hang my awesome mirror that I bought in New Orleans, umm, 8 years ago and have NEVER hung. Yep, I'm a leaner.

and Thomas has already installed the new light he found on super clearance at our new second (third?) home, Home Depot. It looks very nice, though we will eventually need to scoot it over so it's actually centered. piffle.

If we want to success, try . . . try . . . and try again. Again, again, and again.

Look at a one year old child learning to walk. With enthusiasm he or she will try to walk, try again, and try again, hundred of times.

Thomas Alfa Edison, a famous inventor, made a 10.000 trial and error to find a bulb.

So, try and try again.

I sort of go with the whole theory of let her do what she likes as long as it is safe and it means I get 15 minutes to do something. The house can look like a disaster zone as I let her and sometimes encourage her to get into everything to get just 5 mintues to do something.

I work in dribs and drabs throughout the day when she is awake but most of the sewing gets done during her afternoon nap and at night time.

Most mornings start with me checking emails and packing up any orders in amongst making toast, bathing Sabre, drinking copious amounts of tea and having breakfast. Sabre is then allowed to watch Playschool which gives me a good half an hour as she is glued to that show. Once we have that days orders ready for posting we head off to the post office. For the remainder of her wake time if there is no playgorup, story time or morning teas on and I have work that needs doing I set her up with an activity, usually drawing, playdoh or watering plants with the watering can.

If all else fails and she is in a clingy mood she HELPS me sew by sitting on my lap and as I go I remove pins and it is her job to put them in the pin cushion. This is her most favourtie job! She knows they are sharp and to be careful but she tediously picks up each one and pops it in the cushion saying "there...did it" as she goes. Other times she will sit on my lap and watch the machine go sucking her thumb and having a cuddle.

Some days however I have to give up completely on getting much work done at all but I don't mind as I have to have my days off too so we use those days to take advantage of a nice walk down town or spend the day looking for "boflies" (butterflies).

Kobie

Dear Friends,

Yesterday a group of students of an American University who has been studying in Florence for three months had a very interesting meeting at the Gabinetto Vieusseux (www.vieusseux.fi.it) in Palazzo Strozzi.

The meeting was entitled Firenze Immaginata, Firenze Vissuta and they had to talk about the difference between how they had imagined Florence before coming here and how it is in reality after a three months’ stay?

The guys have kept talking for almost two hours and their comments and opinions were very impressive!

Here are some of their considerations about the argument:

“…Which is the element that makes you feel part of Florence? Is it visiting the museums or eating the Bistecca alla Fiorentina in a very expensive restaurant? I don’t think so. I think that when you start living in a place, and you also start working, you start taking part to the daily routine of that place, so you are not a tourist anymore and you don’t behave as you still were it. So, life in Florence is not only going to the museums or doing something special, but it’s also study, work and routine…”

“…Since I live in Florence, I noticed that life is very expensive! One of the main means of livelihood for Florence is tourism, and of course also fashion and luxury, but this is often an outward way of living, because actually many families have financial difficulties and living here is quite hard…”

“…I noticed that there is a strong sense of solidarity between the families of the block of flats where I live. I think that Italian people in general have a great sense of community and neighborhood, and this is different from America, where people live on their own without having any contact with their neighbor…!”

“What I expected to find and what I actually found:

• The social aspect of Italians: they are very open and dramatic people above all when they discuss something

• The food culture: for Italian people living is eating, but in the sense that to them the eating time is a time to spend together, a time to share opinions, feelings, etc.

• The sense of belonging to a place

I also learnt one thing from this experience: imagination is something that you can’t have if you don’t have real life.”

“…Before coming to Florence I had the common stereotypes that everyone has about Italians: pizza, football, mandolino. This is what I imagined, actually I learnt that reality is often very different from imagination. Florence is in fact a very cosmopolitan place where different people from different cultures leave together every day with all the difficulties that come from a similar situation…”

“…How the Florentine people do behave with foreign people? Do they accept the fact that their city is full of foreign people? What do they think about the foreign tourists?...Sometimes it seems to me that they have an attitude to separation from other people…”

“…I am from Angola and I have been living in Florence for 8 years. My idea of Florence has changed a lot during these years. Before coming here I thought that all Italian people were Catholic, but then I suddenly realized that it was an old idea. In fact, I usually go to Mass while my Italian friends meet me later outside the church…”

“…Living in Florence gave me the sensation of being independent and self-governing. When I arrived here I suddenly felt that I could walk around the city without losing myself and in an autonomous way. Florence transmits a sense of safety and independence…”

“…Every place in the World is different from all the others and it’s unique, and every place communicates something different and peculiar…”

“…To deepen your own knowledge of a place you need to feel the spirit of that place and immerse yourself in the local customs and culture…”

“..To get in contact with a place you need time and patience, you need to be curious and investigating, you need to listen to that place…”

“…To understand a city you can observe people in their daily actions, such as waiting for a bus, going to work, etc…”.

These are just some of the ideas that came out yesterday during this meeting and we would be very happy if these guys wrote other comments on our blog!!!

The IMAGINATION/REALITY theme is very important to understand many things on people and places and to realize how easy it is to generate stereotypes in general.

How can we avoid to be superficial in our judgements?...

Think about it!

Lbt

The book will not be on sale until October 6, 2008, but now that is finished, edited, and officially on Arcadia’s website, I am ready to tell the world.  Click below for the link to Arcadia Publishing.  (You can also google our names and Overhills.)

Overhills on Arcadia Publishing

Here is the back cover text:

Book Description: In the early 1900s, Overhills emerged as an exclusive hunt club hidden among the longleaf pine and wiregrass forest, sandy roads, and rural solitude of the North Carolina Sandhills. Soon becoming the Overhills Country Club, this rustic retreat featured a clubhouse, horse stables, dog kennels, train station, post office, and a golf course designed by the legendary Donald Ross. At its height, Overhills boasted fox hunting, bird hunting, polo, and golf with personal cottages on the property commissioned by William Averell Harriman and Percy Avery Rockefeller. By the era of the Great Depression, Overhills evolved from a country club to a country estate for the family of Percy and Isabel Rockefeller, lasting well into the latter decades of the 20th century. Throughout its history, the resident employees and tenant farmers of Overhills contributed to a unique community in this private southern arcadia.

Author Bio: Archaeologist Jeffrey D. Irwin and historic preservationist Kaitlin O’Shea have studied Overhills through the Overhills Oral History Project, conducted on behalf of the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg. The photographs featured in this collection date primarily to the 1920s and 1930s; many of these rare images have been provided by former residents and employees of Overhills.

Email me with any questions about the book and if you live near us, stay tuned for book signings once it is released!

If you would like to see a larger version of the cover, click here for pdf version: Overhills by Jeffrey D. Irwin and Kaitlin O'Shea

Two questions come to mind: First, most of us work pretty hard. Does what we're doing matter? Second, if you were to die from overwork, would you have died doing what you loved?

First, be aware of the where the market is regarding jobs. It is so obvious NOT to look for a job in the auto manufacturing or auto sales industry since there is a severe dip in car sales and the overwhelming effects from the price of our gasoline. Forget the banks or other financial institutions since our news media has put the fear of "doom" in our perception of that industry. To tell you the truth, there is not a bank failure problem, it is the fault of the people who have the unfounded fear to pull all their money out by making a run on the banks, consequently, you have a real potential of bank meltdown.

Anyway, the way I would approach getting a job now is to read all you can on the industries that have most growth right this minute. Health care, hospitality, health and wellness, communications services and general service companies are doing well. So, I would logically look in those industries and mentally prepare myself to post for entry level positions. As you know, most likely, you are not coming from past experience in those jobs or industries. The key here is to learn to adapt to new job experiences and what better way to apply as an entry level employee. Now mind you, have a plan to advance yourself quickly from that position, possibly to supervisory or managerial levels. That way, you can "catapult" yourself into higher paying positions within a year or two. Remember, that it does not take long to advance if you have the ambition and patience to move your career to a higher level.

Peace and Love,

Bruce

For a quick look on Studs Terkel's working bio, see "Studs Terkel Wikipedia"

As a java commuter, you are armed with your laptop which lets you roam, but what if you have to print something out while you are roaming?

There are wireless printers and servers out there so you don't have to fiddle with finding a console which is hooked to a printer then insert your thumb drive, ...blah, blah, blah. Personally, I haven't tried a wireless printer but there are times when it would be great to have one available. I understand from more techie-types that you need to configure your laptop for printer sharing, or network sharing.

From some online tech conversations about wireless printing I 've read, trying to configure your laptop to use wireless printing can range anywhere from dead easy to tearing-your-hair-out difficult. But then that's generally been my experience with computers.

Ideally, your local coffee shop office would have a wireless printer for you to use. It would be fab to be able to print out that proposal for your client rather than shoving your laptop across the table for him/her to read it off your screen, especially if you're a wee bit too close to the appointment time to run to a print shop with your thumb drive. Of course, being a well-organized independent consultant you'd never run into a situation like this, would you? Oh no. Never.

For the coffee shop owner, it might be a dandy little second income stream. Charge, say, $0.25 cents a page. Refill the paper tray when the coffee condiments table needs refilling.

The second option is for you to lug around your own wireless printer. This might mean that you have to get an extra large wheelie to bring it with you or leave your printer in your car. But for the intrepid and resourceful java commuter no obstacle is too great.

Actually, it might be a great little source of income for an intrepid and resourceful java commuter to let people use your wireless printer for a price. Charge what you like, you'd have 'em by the gigabytes.

Q: Would you frequent a coffee shop more often if it had a printer available for you to use?

Thanks for stopping by and I'll save your seat until next time.

• All problems of the world grow out of the negative thoughts and feelings of the mankind.
• "Dependence" is always a personal choice, even it's sometimes involuntary. The wold gives answer to all your demands. But you don't know what you want, because you gave up dreaming for a long time.
• You're the only one, who stops yourself from achieving your dreams! Dream... Dream... Always dream...
• Same events are experienced in your lives again and again, because you don't want to change. You are always complaining, blaming the world, believing people are trying to hurt you. So a person who is trapped in this loop can't have a real future, he/she can only have a repeating past. 
• Our egos catch our lives. Everything is created in your mind, because of your understanding... Including illness, unhappiness and poorness. You prayed this to happen for years. You denied this although you wanted it badly

Good Morning!!!

Happy HUMP DAY again!!!

Raise your hand if you stayed up until 1:37AM watching the All Star Game.

Well, I did.  

At first I just had it on in the background while I work in the studio painting, printing, thinking.  I always put on something that I don't have to focus on while I work.   It like a low hummmm..... that keeps me grounded to the world.  

 I don't want to acknowledge it as important, I just want it there to keep me company.  

That how it started and than I started painting and it didn't go well and I may have to start the painting again and then comes the moment when my mind goes to mush...  & I want to work and I can't anymore and I just stare at the painting begging it to talk to me.....

& than my companion the Game started calling me, pulling me away from working and into the Game.

It's almost midnight!!! 

Is the game still on???  OK, let's see what happening...  10 inning, 11 inning, 12, 13, 14

Come on now!  It actually got interesting in the extra innings, errors, great plays, diminishing player roster, only one pitcher left.    What's going to happen!!!

 There comes a point you've invested too much to quit watching. 

What if there is a great play!!!

OK!

 WiN!! WiN!! WiN!! National League it's been 11 years.

I'm a Ravid METS fan that lives in the Bronx.  So I have issues. ha ha :O)

Anyway I started getting delirious and I turned off the TV and continued listening to the radio as I slowly fell asleep..... 

The 15 inning

  But at 1:37AM it finally came to an end.

Well there always next year and .........

Sleep Sweet Prince

The METS are hot now.....  maybe that's enough ...............

for now.

REMEMBER IT'S FREE DAY

@

The New York Botantical Garden

&

The Bronx Zoo!!!

YaY!!!

SHOUT OUT TO WISDOM!!!

"Patience is better than strength.  Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city."

Proverbs 16:32

Thank you for spending some of your precious day with me!!!

Love

Chiz :OP

For oiling hardwood floors you will need the items listed below. Our quantity recommendations are based on experience of the average floor – if your wood flooring is very old and porous then increase the quantities and vice versa for dense wood types.

Product Name <10m2 <25m2 <50m2 >50m2 Stage 1 – Preparation with wood lye Flat mop 1 1 1 1 Woca Wood Lye 2 ltr 4 ltr 7.5 ltr 1 ltr per 7sqm Blue Nylon Pad 1 1 1 1 Stage 2 – Main Oiling Flat Mop from stage 1 Your Choice of Oil 1 ltr 2.5 ltr 5 ltr 1 ltr per 10m2 Your choice of oil will usually be the White master oil which will keep the floor looking light and slightly whitened. If you require a very light finish the Extra white oil should be used. Coarse, green Patina Disks 1 2 3 1 per 15m2 Absorbent Cloths 2 5 10 5 per 25m2 Stage 3: maintenance oiling Blue Nylon pad 2 2 2 2 Intensive Wood Cleaner 1 ltr 1 ltr 1 ltr 1 ltr up to 400m2 Flat mop from stage 1 Maintenance Oil Natural 1 ltr 1 ltr 2 ltr 1 ltr per 40m2 Medium, green patina disks 1 2 3 1 per 15m2 Absorbent Cloths 2 5 10 5 per 25m2 Stage 4: subsequent cleaning Natural Soap White 2.5 ltr 2.5 ltr 2.5 ltr 2.5 ltr Flat mop from stage 1 & 2 Additional Mop Head 0 0 1 1 extra per 25m2

Stage 1 - treat the floor with the wood lye. This will soak into the wood and is left to dry overnight.

Stage 2 – Buff the woca wood floor oil (master oil, colour oil) into the floor. The floor surface should then be rubbed down with coarse patina disks to smooth the wood grain. Any excess oil needs to be removed with a cloth so that the surface is damp rather than wet with the oil. If using the white master oil you will notice that some of the white residue is removed when wiping off the excess.

Stage 3 – Wash the floor using the wood cleaner. Re-oil with maintenance oil and rub down with the medium patina disk

Stage 4 – General maintenance of your floor. The white pigments in the soap will keep the floor light. The white soap should be used regardless of which oil was originally applied.

Preparation with Wood Lye: Stage 1

Ensure your wood floor has been correctly sanded ready for the oiling process.

The Wood Lye is a solution which contains a white pigment that ensures the floor will remain light after it is finished and continues to lighten when exposed to sunlight. You can use Wood Lye on any wood type, both softwood and hardwood. There are 2 types of wood lye which will complement your floor – for softwoods such as Pine and Larch, you need to use the softwood lye. For hardwoods such as oak and exotic species the Wood lye should be used.

Empty the Lye into a bucket or container and stir thoroughly to ensure all the pigments have been fully mixed together (these often settle at the bottom of the bottle). When applying the wood lye use a blue nylon pad with the flat mop to get into tight corners. The instructions on the Woca Wood Lye state that the floor needs to be washed with Intensive Wood Cleaner before applying the Wood Lye, however this is not always required and the floor can be prepared by removing any dust with a vacuum.

1. Spread the wood lye in to the floor using blue flat mop. Apply a generous coat of aprox 7sqm per litre to the floor. Ensure the wood is evenly saturated by brushing along the grain of the wood. Leave to dry for 8 hours.
2. A further wash with intensive wood cleaner is recommended by Woca to remove any excess lye but this step is not always required as this process is also done when the floor is treated with the master oil.

The oiling process: Stage 2

Ensure all the Wood Lye has completely dried out before applying the oil.

It is advisable to wear old clothes during oiling as this process involves using plenty of oil cloths and the oil can damage your clothing. The process takes aprox 1 hour per 20sqm. Take care when using the oil as it can cause skin irritation – the use of oil resistant rubber gloves is recommended. When the cloths have been used they need to be placed in a bucket of water as the fumes can cause self-combustion.

Empty the contents of the oil into a container and stir well to ensure the white pigments are not settled at the bottom of the container.

Apply the oil using the flat mop, brush, roller or cloth. Take care around the edges of the room and apply with a small brush and cloth to ensure no oil is splashed onto skirting or adjoining floors.

Leave the oil for 20 minutes to soak into the wood. If the oil absorbs through before this time apply more oil. Buff the floor using a flat mop to ensure the oil is fully absorbed. Working along the grain of the wood, buff the surface using the green patina disk to smooth the surface. Working from the edge of the room furthest from the exit, wipe off all excess oil using clean cloths and ensure there are no patches of oil left on the floor as this will start to shine when dry. A polishing machine can be used during this process for larger areas. These can be hired from most hire shops. Leave to dry for at least 12 hours and do not walk on the floor in this time. Dispose of all the cloths by placing in a container filled with water as they can self combust / ignite.

Maintenance process: Stage 3

A final maintenance coat should be applied to ensure that the floor is completely protected – if building work is being done protect the floor with Everbuild Roll and Stroll until all work is complete – then apply the maintenance coat.

1st Maintenance Coat
The 1st maintenance coat is applied to ensure that the floor stays durable and wear resisistant. This maintenance coat should be done after all building / decorating work has been completed as it can remove any dirt / wear from work done.

Step 1 – Wet Clean and scrub
This step involves cleaning the floor with Intensive Wood Cleaner. This should be made up of 1 part cleaner and 40 parts water. Scrub the floor using the flat mop to get any dirt off the floor.

Using a dry mop head or dry cloth, wipe off all the excess water from the floor. When the cloth / mop head get saturated rinse and wring out before continuing. Check the floor for marks whilst it is still wet – any marks on the floor can be removed with the edge of a knife.

Leave the floor to dry for 1-2 hours. Some floors including oak floors may look dull now – however the sheen and colour will return when re-oiled.

Step 2 – Oil

Apply a thin coat of maintenance to the floor using a cloth and rub in well. The maintenance oil should be used sparingly. Whilst the floor is still damp, the floor should be buffed by using 2 green patina disks with the flat mop. This will smooth the surface of the wood to give a beautiful protected finish.

Wipe any excess oil from the floor after buffing. Leave the floor to dry for at least 4 hours before walking on it. If you are using a buffing machine and you want a higher sheen on the floor you can apply a second coat of maintenance oil and leave to dry for 1 – 2 hours. When the floor is tacky the excess can be buffed off.

Periodical cleaning: Stage 4

The White soap needs to be used when cleaning and maintaining your floor to keep the floor light. When the floor requires a maintenance clean complete step 3 to bring the floor back to its fully protected condition.

Ruth Shann, Real Oak Floors Ltd. July 2008

XML Sitemap

The SNP have trebled their FPTP seats in 2007 compared to 1999. They have continued to gain the confidence of the Scottish people thought their hard work and through their dedication to serving the interests of the Scottish people, rather than being subservient to the interests of Whitehall.

The SNP has listened to and fought for the people of Scotland, from University students who faced paying a graduate endowement fee to pensionsers struggling to pay prescription charges.

A Labour stronghold for the last 50 years, the East End of Glasgow continues to suffer from one of the highest levels of poverty in Europe. Over recent years, while the living standards of some have increased, many others have found thier poverty has deepened, with the Gap between rich and poor widening under Labour. The people of the East End of Glasgow are despondant of Labours constant claims that 'their hands are tied' and their unwillingness to challenge their Leadership in London- no matter how much hardship it brings to their constituents.

It's time they had an MP who was not afraid to stand up for them, to make sure they are heard and their issues raised. The people of the East End deserve better, they deserve a real voice and they need change.

Its time the SNP got the chance to fight for the people of the East End of Glasgow in London. Glasgow East must vote John Mason, SNP.

Written by Alanna Fiona O'Donnell

Scotland has kept many Labour governments in power. Today, Scots feel greatly let down by the rightwing shenanigans of their ain folk (Brown and Darling) in London. Combine this with the SNP's genuine leadership in Scotland and once-clear Labour voters are now being posed a tricky question. Glasgow East will be a tale of two governments: the minority SNP government at Holyrood, which has won hearts and minds in the nation; and the Labour government in Westminster, which is sleepwalking towards political oblivion. Labour are in a lose-lose situation. They will return a dramatically slashed majority at best, probably exacerbated by a painfully low turnout. And while that core of working class Glaswegian voters means chances of an SNP victory are slim, anything can happen. Anything. After all, 20 years ago I would never have conceived of a devolved Scotland led by an SNP government in Holyrood."

Hardeep Singh Kohli, Monday July 14th. Guardian Newspaper.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/14/glasgoweast.byelections