Laura NOT in the Londonz

September

Friday 5th - Leave for LA at Midday.. arrive at 2pm after a 11hour flight <-- traveling back in time

Saturday 6th - Cruise around LA after having a good night sleep in our large room at the hotel on Sunset Blvd where the Celeb's stay.. apparently

Sunday 7th - more crusin' then get ready for the MTV awards!!!

Monday 8th - recover

Tuesday 9th - fly home to the Londonz

Sunday 14th - Daddyo and Alice arrive in the Londonz

Monday 15th - Show Daddyo and Alice around London and then Spam-A-Lot

Wednesday 17th - Windsor Castle and Bath

Friday 19th - Brighton

Monday 22nd - Eurostar to Paris (say hi to Tvan and James on the platform for half an hour)

Thursday 25th - Overnight sleeper train to Venice

Friday 26th - Venice

Sunday 28th - Florence

Tuesday 30th - Rome

Friday 3rd - Daddyo and Alice fly away and Aimee and Laura back to the Londonz

Lub and Rainbows, Laura

I can't handle the truth…

I'm going to LA. Well I hope so. I entered a competition, I got a phone call saying I had won the competition; I then get another email confirming what I had heard on the phone call. I now even have an email saying that the flights are booked and I have accommodation on Sunset Blvd.

So why do I still feel like it's not real and that at any moment now I'm going to be told that its not true and I'm going to look like a complete twat to my friends and family.

I think it's easier for me to believe that it's a scam given that I have now given my Passport number to a complete stranger; than actually believe that I get to go to the MTV Music Awards.

How do I convince myself its real?

Lub and Luck, Laura

PS. for those who don't know, I have won a trip to LA for two people, inclusive of flights and four nights accommodation and £500 spending money - oh and will be attending the MTV Music Awards, crazy huh?

.. A quick response from M&S

Dear Ms Morrissey,

Thank you for your email.

I'm sorry to hear about the confusion that has been caused by our
carrier bag policy. I hope I will be able to explain the situation to
you.

As part of our current carrier bag policy, our standard food plastic
bags have been given a price of 5p. This has been the case since the
policy was introduced on May 6th earlier this year. We also offer bags
for life, which can be replaced for another bag for life free of charge
once they deteriorate, and have a price of 10p.

In the month of April, leading up to the introduction of the carrier bag
charge on May 6th, we ran a promotion that allowed customers to claim a
free bag for life with every food transaction. The purpose of this was
to ensure customers had plenty of bags to re-use when the charge for
bags was introduced in the following month. It would be this free bag
for life that was offered with each transaction at the time.

Yesterday we re-introduced this promotion, and will continue to offer a
free bag for life with each transaction until the offer ends this
Sunday. This is intended as a thank you for our customers' support for
the carrier bag charge, and a celebration that we've managed to cut
carrier bag usage by an average of 78% since May.

This offer will not be continuing indefinitely - we remain committed to
the cause of reducing carrier bag usage - but we do feel it is
appropriate for our customers to be rewarded for their support of this
change. I hope this information has been useful.

Thanks again for getting in touch.

Kindest Regards,

Retail Customer Services
Chester Business Park

I responded and thanked them for a quick response and will be looking forward to the changes over the next few weeks, from what I have seen most people take bags and don't see too many bringing back their 'bags for life'... we'll see!

Helping the environment the M&S way... by shifting statics

After going to M&S today and coming back more frustrated at this country more than ever I decided to get on my soapbox and write them a letter that they will probably never read... this is what I wrote;

"Hi, I am wondering if I could get some feedback or clarification about the plastic bag situation that M&S has launched in the last couple of months, which ideally is meant to reduce the number of bags that customers are using.

I work in the city and occasionally go to M&S for lunch. Since starting working the city over a year ago I have seen a minor change in the attitude about the use of plastic bags, we have to start somewhere. When the charge for the normal plastic bag came in a few months ago I was more than impressed with M&S's efforts to reduce plastic bag landfill, or so I thought.

Every single time I have been to the store, I have been offered a 'FREE' bag. A FREE bag that is twice as big as the normal one and usually completely pointless as a sandwich and drink will fit nicely into my two hands.

Today was the last straw for me and was utterly bewildered when I went to M&S and bought 4 items for lunch, clearly needing a bag. I was offered this 'FREE' bag. I refused politely, and was asked if I would like the smaller 5p bag, which I also refused politely and told the cashier that I had brought my own bag (a M&S bag that I carry around with me - which helps me do my bit for the environment). The cashier then responded with 'why not take one anyway, they are FREE'.

What I need to understand...

1. Why do staff offer bags - people can ask if they really need one

2. Why do you have an option of the free bags - what's the point of having the 5p charge at all... just give out the normal bags for free?

3. is your aim with you 'PLAN A' to actually reduce the amount of bags that are going out only to end up as landfill or are you simply trying to do a cover up way of looking like you are 'helping'.

If there is something I am missing or something I don't understand, I am more than happy to listen.

Thanking you for you time and look forward to your comments.

Laura."

To add to my frustration, as I was reading thelondonpaper on my way home, in the Green section they had the following article;

Store hands out 70m fewer carriers
M&S bags cut 80%

A ban on free plastic bags by Marks & Spencer has lead to an 80 per cent cut in the number handed out.

The store began charging 5p for bags 10weeks ago, and 70million fewer have been used since then.

M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose said: 'The overwhelming majority of our customers support charging and are already helping us to make a hug difference by bringing their own bags."

Shops in Britain give away 13billion bags a year. The Government has given other big retailers until April to adopt the payment scheme and slash bag use.

If they fail to do so, they will be forced to under the Climate Change Bill.

Aldi, Lidl and Netto already charge for the bags.

What is it that I'm missing, does no one see that the are cutting back on the typical M&S bags, which is where they are getting their 80% reduction from, and just hanging out other bags instead.

Someone PLEASE enlighten me, am I missing something?

Lub (except to M&S who am giving the evil eye) and rainbows, Laura

I'm back... for now!!

I'm very sorry that I've been neglecting the blog and Tim I had started to write this about a week ago - so keep at me. I like to write when I feel inspired too, and didn't want to lose interest in the blog by making it a chore, but still no excuse!!!

News around the big town. We I recently turned 23, I'm over halfway to being mid twenties. Not Cool! I did thoroughly enjoy my birthday though. We spend the Sunday before my birthday having High Tea at the Ritz. I've have never had high tea before and I thought the best place to start was the Ritz. My sister also arrived in a few days before hand is currently living on my floor, but was nice to have her there to celebrate with.

News from the weekend. We went to the O2 Wireless festival at Hyde Park and I was lucky enough to get my hands on 6 free VIP tickets for the Saturday line up and also had access to the Guest areas. Thought I would see some of the bands in there, well we saw the guys from the Whip, but according to the London Paper today it appears Peaches Geldolf, Russell Brand and others were there... think the paper was lying. I was excited to see Cut Copy and Does it Offend You, Yeah? and though Fatboy Slim would be worth it as well. We arrived just after midday, since the forecast for the day was heavy showers and waking up to heavy rain we decided that we should pop down to Oxford Street Primark for some cheap raincoats. If you don't know what Primark is or haven't had the 'pleasure' of the experience of Primark then its a bit hard to understand the chaos that this store is. Its basically really cheap clothing, bedding and bits and pieces for the house, which I must admit most of our house is decked out with. The Oxford Street store opened last year and for awhile they actually had bouncers outside letting people in as other come out like a night club. All ready for the rain with our £4 raincoats we headed to Hyde Park which as it happened for the rest of the entire day was pretty much cloud free... go figure.

First band started at 3pm, which gave us time to chill out in the Cider Garden, with full table service and drink jugs of Pimms in the sun. I did forget my sunscreen (because it was meant to rain) and despite the sun not being to harsh, I got burnt.

We headed to the xxxxx tent for The Whip. I had only head a few songs since Monica told me someone recommended that she see them. If you get the chance, check em out.. have posted one of my favourite tracks. The rest of the day was pretty much a loop of the above, Pimms, Cut Copy, VIP bathrooms, Pimms, Does it Offend You, Yeah? VIP bathrooms, donuts, Fatboy Slim. Apparently there were meant to be fireworks, but there wasn't, but that's okay because all the fireworks I have seen in the UK have been a bit shite.

That was just a warm up though, Tuesday week we are heading to Spain for the Fiberfib festival in Benicassim. I've done it before and I'm doing it again! This weekend I think will consist of packing. This is my list...

1 x new grey backpack
1 x teepee tent (with separate ground sheet) <--- hoping it doesn't rain 1 x battery operated bubble blower 1 x togs 1 x towel

What else do you need in Spain??

Lub and Rainbows, Laura

I've not stopped Blogging.. just resting

Just having an 'I'm not in the mood moment'. So don't stress if you are really hanging out for my long banters about nothing in particular. I'm here and happy, which is why I think I haven't felt like blogging. I was thinking I would do a blog on Paris. You saw the photos on my facebook; you get the general idea of what we got up too. I did just enjoy another long weekend, the 3rd one this month. That was interesting; I'll sum that up for you.

Friday night involved
- a stupid front counter bitch at Toni and Guy
- getting a haircut from somewhere else just to prove a point
- catching up with a friend who has been gallivanting around the world for 2 years
- going to Koko's to see the Midnight Juggernaughts
- making a mental note to not ever go to Koko's unless its mid-week and not Club NME night

Saturday Involved
- trying to get some sun and failing
- eating 99p Camembert
- a long bus ride to Hackney
- being given a red rose by a Indian dude
- being introduced at 'Tim's Sister' for the first time in 13 months
- a long bumpy bus ride back to Finsbury Park

Sunday Involved
- Being woken up thankful as was dreaming about T-Rex chasing me
- buying a throw rug in Camden markets
- Watching a friend play at 93 Feet East in Brick Lane
- Tagging along to a 60's Club night called Mousetrap at a club near Finsbury Park

Monday Involved
- actually getting home at 9.30am, soaking wet from the torrential rain
- sleeping for a bit
- being awake...sort of
- going to bed early

okay so that was my weekend, this post is bigger than i wanted it to be and once again I have babbled on.

Lub and Rainbow, Laura

Learnalilgivinanlovin

Today I feel a little guilty; I got to work from home. And even though I did work, it still felt like I had skipped out on class. I'll get over it. Anyway, what’s happened this week? Well considering its only Wednesday, not a lot I suppose. On Monday Goyte was playing at Blow Up the Metro on Oxford Street and assuming - stupidly - that we could get ticket on the door all five of us rocked up and one ticket between us. We stood around the door for about an hour looking like sad puppies hoping they would let us in. They didn't.

We decided to head up to nearest coffee shop and sulk. At about 9pm Monica and I headed back down towards the Metro with Paul (the only one smart enough to have a ticket) and left James and Peter to catch a bus in the other direction. We decided to give it one more shot, and as Paul ran in downstairs to suss it out, the security guard must have like the look of us and just said to come in anyway - paying of course.

It was an awesome gig with awesome visuals and was interesting to watch Wally jump between drums, keyboard, syn and some bongos. His visuals I think he said he does all him self, and so I felt compelled to purchase a t-shirt!

Left you with some of my favourites...

Learnalilgivinanlovin


Thanks for your time


Lub and Rainbows, Laura