Imagine my delight at being contacted on Twitter by the lovely owner of Love Is Boutique to ask if I would be interested in attending their Press and Bloggers night on the 29^th November?! Of course I said yes immediately and eagerly anticipated the delights in store – I do rather like something shiny and sparkly – whilst hiding my credit card (just in case, of course).

Having never been to the boutique before I was completely unsure what to expect so decided to take a friend along with me for moral support (and restraint). Having battled the usual Tunbridge Wells “rush hour” (a.k.a every hour) traffic we parked at the Trinity Theatre which is just 500 yards down the road from the boutique. We walked past the shop at first and then doubled back, having caught a glimpse of their fairytale front window display. Pushing open the entrance door our entrance was not marked by the sound of a bell but by a cheery hello and welcome. We were handed a glass of bubbly each (win), our coats were politely stored by the hostesses and we were invited to explore the four different rooms and try on whatever we fancied. I was interested to understand the reasons for the press night and the ladies explained that they were relaunching the store to head more in the direction of pre loved designer rather than simply vintage finds.

We took the invite to explore and play as literally as it was intended and delved right into the Aladdin’s Cave of treasures. Whilst I may not be able to differentiate between the stylings of Blahnik and Vuitton I could definitely find some gorgeous pieces: and not all of them would require me to disgrace myself financially, in fact, I would say that there was something to fit most fashionista budgets. Honestly I can say that once I realised one of our hostesses had worked for a big name in the fashion industry and I was the least fashion savvy person in attendance I expected a little bit of disdain towards my lack of label awareness: I couldn’t have been more wrong. We were made to feel very welcome and our hostesses emphasised their policy of not allowing a lady to leave their shop wearing something that didn’t look a million dollars on them (irrespective of the price tag).

I also found my stance on real fur vs. faux fur somewhat challenged by the concept of a vintage fur as opposed to a current fur trade. That’s not to say I intend to go out and get myself one but I am intrigued by the fact that the demand for real fur has raised considerably recently and I have been left wondering why. I won’t be getting stuck into this controversial issue today but I will be doing some research into this that I can share with you all at a later date.

We left the press night with a lovely goody bag each (ANOTHER win), a feeling of having had a serious (ly fun) girls night out with friends and an invite to return at any time to inspire my foray into fashion blogging. The BF was proud to discover that I hadn’t bankrupted myself that evening. Well, not yet, anyway....

You live in a world where unfortunately social networking has taken over! As much as I say 'unfortunately' I still find myself glued to Facebook and Twitter all the time (If your on twitter get following!) One week ago I finally reflected on my social network usage time and realised I probably spend at least two hours a day pondering round home pages and news feeds, which is utterly ridiculous! Purely for the fact you put so much effort into that 'funny' tweet or 'look at me' status and get absolutely nothing in return- Maybe a 'RT' if your lucky. At this point I thought I had grown up and established that I need to start making my time on these networks worthwhile, so instead of reading about someone having a new hair cut or losing some weight I have started following more interesting and real people who I can learn something from! 

I have always followed someone called Maverick Sabre, some of you may not have a clue who he is but personally his soulful voice sends shivers down my spine! I follow him on twitter and I am very proud to admit he has tweeted me back before agggggh, a few weeks ago he tweeted a competition through Motorola to win tickets to see him perform at a secret intimate venue. All I had to do was enter my name and email address and thought wasting a few minutes that day wouldn't do any harm! Saturday just gone I opened my emails to discover I had won two tickets, I screamed and jumped up and down- I have never won anything in my life never mind going to see him!

The event was last night and it was held at Netil House in London, the venue is an old warehouse and our party was on the roof! Walking up the many flights of stairs was well worth the effort because I walked out into the London skyline, lights glimmering, music playing and a very relaxed feel; it was beautiful. When Maverick Sabre entered myself along with the forty nine other guests all went crazy, he was not even a meter away from me singing acoustically it really was a special moment! Then too add to the excitement when he finished Radio 1s MistaJam took over the crowd, he played a brilliant set that changed the quiet intimate crowd into lively party animals; every person was jumping around to the sound of the beat.

Upon leaving I realised I had just experienced something very special and as much as I complain about spending so much time on various networks without doing so I would have never won the tickets. I shall carry on with my 'addiction' to the internet and the channels you can be a part of, I now see the networks as ponds of opportunity and after all every fish has to start somewhere! 

Well this entry is a special one as I have a business man who is affiliated with Maidstone United F.C!  Come on you Stones!!!

His name, Terry Casey, 61 years of age from Maidstone.

Terry is currently a company director but most of his time is consumed with his extensive work for a charity he operates in Ethiopia.  So good to hear of a Kent resident giving something good to the world. When not involved in his charity work, Terry is heavily involved in with the current construction of the new Maidstone United stadium in Maidstone.  Finally the Stones' are coming home and their is a lot of buzz from the people of Kent to see their local team return where they belong after spells in Ashford and Sittingbourne.

Terry does not have much spare time aside from that so understandably he could not comment further on my 'what do you do in your spare time' question.

An interesting fact that I have found out about Kent is that Leeds Castle is sometimes referred to as Ladies’ Castle. The reason being because many Queens of England have lived there Eleanor of Castile Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife and even his daughter Elizabeth all have lived in the castle.  Did you know that?  Well you do now!

Terry does not eat out in Kent very much but instead prefers to eat out in London.  If you want a good place to eat in the capital, I personally recommend you try the Texas Embassy Cantina near Trafalgar Square.  This place does awesome Mexican food and superb strawberry margaritas.

When asked to supply me with a story that summed him up, Terry responded "My character should be summed up by others, not by me."  This is one of the most intriguing answers I have ever received and Terry is right.  Others should decide on our characters, it is not for us to decide what we think we are.

Terry is closely associated with his Irish roots as opposed to his Kentish background and I respect that he could be honest and say that to me.  It all to easy for people to just make up a sentence for me to publish about Kent but if they are truly more associated with other places than its better to be honest about it.

And now for my random question, If you could take on the life of any person, past or present, who would it be and why?  Terry again gave me another interesting answer.

"I am very happy with myself"

A very good answer, if you are not happy with yourself than you wouldn't be happy being anyone else.

A big thank you to Terry and my very best luck to him and the Maidstone United team for the final stages of the stadium development.  I can't wait to see them in action at home!

Keeps those eyes peeled for more interviews, you never know it could be you next!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Following on from my last post...more thoughts on talking and why we should do more of it.

I was talking to a therapist friend of mine (Pauline, she does birthday charts) - we were just catching up with each other...nothing specific just general chit chat about our lives and how we learn and grow. And I said, in passing that sometimes I feel a little 'stuck'....I suppose a good example is that I stopped posting blogs here for a while because I got bogged down in a hundred other things all of which seemed to take priority at the time and and before I knew it so much time has passed.

Let me say here that we are both therapists and we both help clients with 'getting stuck' problems regularly and further to that we both have a different way of dealing with 'getting stuck'...I will use a blend of NLP and Hypnosis  and Pauline would use her Astrology understanding to work with clients. But at this point in the conversation we were only chatting and not seriously addressing anything in particular. It was just one of those nice round and round, not going anywhere in particular, conversations you can have with your close friends whilst drinking coffee, leaning back in the chair, enjoying the warm respite from the freezing cold wind outside.

Pauline surprised at my 'getting stuck' problem started to explore what 'getting stuck' was like for me because it was her observation that I seemed to have boundless energy and that I am always busy. And that is true, I am always busy .. the old adage about 'if you want something done ask a busy person' has meant that I have half a dozen projects on the go at any one time.

So - to further explain what 'getting stuck' meant I resorted to using imagery and said "I feel as if I am like lightening, always 'alive', always moving around, sometimes unpredictable but striking here and there in a difused and random way". And then I had one of those 'Ah Ha!' moments.

The 'Ah Ha'  was the reminder that for me metaphor and imagery is a great way to work at a conscious and unconscious level to deal with issues like 'getting stuck'...metaphor is so good at bypassing the literal and conscious thinking that most of us apply to our own problems. And there was also the realisation that although it had not been our intention to talk about problems and issues affecting us that just talking conversationally had allowed this particular issue to surface on its own. And that by just gently probing it, without even trying to resolve it I had reminded myself of a good method for exploring and working on my own issues.

There was another realisation, which goes back to my earlier post, about how good it is to talk to like minded friends because they can often bring a totally new perspecive and if you can look at something in a new light and perhaps change what you are doing you can avoid another well known cliche..'if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got'.

Taking this further I thought it would also be useful for practitioners and therapists, who often work alone, who might find some benefit in sitting down with a bunch of like minded colleagues and friends to explore problems and issues we have in common...problems like lack of confidence, or sadness, or isolation...and so many other problems that we experience sooner or later. And with that thought in mind I have started a monthly informal discussion group for practitioners and therapists (and a friend). If you want to join this group please do check out here to find if it meets your needs too.

I think that means my list of 'things to do' has increased by 1 :)

I'm back again for another fantastic interview.  Where do these people hide in Kent?

This week's special guest on my blog is the wonderfully truthful and exceptionally brave Sian Murphy, 48 from Hoo near Rochester, Medway.

Although the picture is quite clear, Sian would like to reiterate that she is a woman as her name is sometimes confused with Sean.  Don't worry Sian, they will never make that mistake.

Currently, Sian runs her own business, Stormchasers, with her husband Mark.  In conjunction with her work at Stormchasers, Sian works with 2 other professional to make up The Ruby Marketers.

If you are wondering exactly what the company is, I will tell you!  The company specialises in helping local business owners who are computer illiterate or did not have the priviledge of using a laptop when they were younger to market their business online.  The range of services they offer is so vast which can start from setting up a Business Blog for a business to setting up social media profiles and as Sian puts it 'Give them the confidence and know-how to start using it.'

If that wasn't already enough, Stormchaser is branching out in another field of their business.

'Another part of my business is run by my husband Mark and he builds starter websites for businesses as part of Stormchasers at AskStormchasers.'

I was intrigued to find out more and did a bit of 'Googling' and came across an interesting article on the following website:

http://leavingthearmedforces.com/stormchasers/

I found a great quote on this website which described Stormchasers as a business that  'Is about leaping forwards into the storm, and coming back out the other side into a brighter and calmer world.'

I think this is a great acknowledgement of Sian and Mark's hard work.

And for any potential new and bright minds that want to begin their own business, take this advice from Sian.  'My tip for setting up in business is to give it time.  Work out how long it will take you to get it all up and running and get work finished - and then double it!'

'Set goals and then plan how you are going to achieve them and don't give up too soon, but be prepared to bend and sway as things change.  Smile, laugh, share and have 1 full day off each week.'

Wise words and I think, sensible advice for new business minds in the making.  Thanks Sian!

Moving on to Kentish matters, Sian likes the diversity of the landscape in Kent.  'We have rolling countryside, inland waterways, estuary shorelines and seaside all within a 70 mile radius.  To top it all off we also have some fascinating industrial areas with some really unexpected hidden treasures.'

Sian particularly like Hoo Church Cemetery.  Before you feel a shiver go down your spine, listen to the reason.  'A bit odd I know but unlike so many graveyards, Hoo is full of life.  Despite the age of many of the gravestones, there are flowers and shiny windmills, some truly wonderful trees to sit under when it's raining and some well placed benches for when the sun is out.  There are often children playing or just hanging out in their hoodies chatting to each other, whilst other villagers walk their dogs.  It's the happiest graveyard I've ever been to!'

Maybe I could have saved this for Halloween but I think it is great to hear something out the ordinary in an ordinary day in our lives.  Plus, I have never heard someone describe a graveyard in detail without using the words 'depressing' and 'upsetting' before.

As you know, my avid readers, as of 2011 I introduced a new question to my blog in which my interviewees tell me a specific fact or snippet of information about our beloved county.  Sian had a really interesting and historical one this week!

'One day I'm going to walk the Saxon Shore Way.' Sian begins. ' The Shore Way follows the line of historic fortifications that defended the Kent coast at the end of the Roman era.  The Shore Way is 160 miles long and starts from Gravesend and goes right the way around to Hasting, East Sussex.'

'There's lots to see along the way from ports, coastline and stunning countryside and of course that sense of history that walking along an ancient footpath - following along in the footstep of goodness know who always amuses me.'

Further to Sian's comments about the Saxon Shore Way, there are also four Roman fort remains, dating from the 4th Century that line the trail.  The only one I am familiar with is the one in Dover.  Kent is very rich in history but it is always great to learn about new things that different Kent residents know from their own experiences.

One of my favourite parts of the blog is eating spots! 

Sian enjoys eating at two pubs in Kent, namely The Ringlestone Inn and The Pier at Upnor, Rochester.  'I like them because the food is good and so is the atmosphere.  We also like to take a little picnic along the shoreline at Hoo every now and then.' 

You can't beat a Ham and Colman's Mustard sandwich, a bag of kettle crisps and a healthy slice of Chocolate Fudge cake! Delicious.

When not working, Sian enjoys cooking and eating meal with the family with a good bottle of wine, which she finds is her 'favourite pastime.'

This is followed by watching a movie whilst nodding off on the sofa.  A pastime of many in Kent I assume.

But there is more!  'When Mark and I are on our own, we enjoy walking and can often be spotted meandering mindlessly around the haunts of Hoo with nowhere in particular to go.'

'I also make rag rugs from old clothes and cloth, mainly for decorative purposes.'

My blog now enters a more serious tone that I believe needs delicate and careful attention as I am writing it.  Normally, I take great delight in listening to my interviewees explaining a humourous story to me about themselves, whether it be of them waking up semi nude on a beach after an initiation ceremony at University or walking into walls for no apparent reason.

Sian tells me a story that she is currently closing in her life at the moment.  One that has me wanting to stand up and applaud her bravery and courage to be able to tell a volunteer bloggist she has never met a very close and personal chapter of her life which I greatly appreciate and hope you find I have describe in a way that is befitting to you.

'2 years ago Mark and I used to have jobs.  I worked in local Government and Mark was a Project Manager.  We were both unhappy with our jobs and spent years talking about leaving and starting our own business.  I'd already trained as an NLP (forgive me if I'm wrong - Neurolinguistic Programming) practitioner and copywriter but unfortunately we didn't plan properly and then in

2009 found ourselves so stressed and miserable that we just decided to hand in our notice and quit.'

So, on 1st August 2009 there we were with no salaries, but some rather grand business plans.  On 17th August, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  That stopped us in our tracks for a while.'

'It's now 2 years later and whilst I'm still on medication, our business is finally taking off after lots of false starts.  I could write a whole book on false starts but we have learned so much.'

'It sounds odd but whilst it might seem like the worst possible time to get cancer, in fact it was the best and it might even have been a lifesaver.  Had I been diagnosed whilst I was still at work I think I never would have left because of the security around the sick pay.  If I wasn't diagnosed just 2 weeks after we both left our jobs we would have just transferred our hectic lifestyles from jobs to businesses.  It would have been the same except now we wouldn't have been receiving monthly pay cheques!'

'Today we've both learned the lesson that money isn't that important, although of course that is also now our challenge because when you are in business you have to value money to some extent or you don't earn any of the damn stuff!'

'We also say thank you got what we do have instead of moaning about what we don't and we really do have so much.  Today we are working with some fabulous people the universe has sent us the perfect business partners and associates.  Our offices are up at the Innovation Centre and we have the most amazing fun.  It's all the good stuff about being at work in an office such as being around friends and having someone to share your triumphs and challenges, but without all of the grim stuff of having to dance to someone else's tune.'

As upbeat as ever, Sian claims ' We're having a ball!'

Now one of my favourite parts of the blog where my interviewees put the world to rights with their opinions on how to make Kent a better place.

"I would get planners in Medway to either change or introduce a required ratio of concrete to plants and greenery in the large housing development that are springing up around Hoo.  Many of the houses open directly onto the street, there are no gardens to speak of and the roads are so narrow they are like little brick tunnels.'

Sian likes to see 'a bit of green' when she looks out the window and whilst she doesn't live a development house, it still forms part of the landscape.

'Given that these estates have replaced fields, it would seem ecologically important at least to give a cursory nod to keeping some greenery around!'

I totally agree with that point and think that planners and developers should look closely at where they are building and how it will affect the local surrounding for both the locals and the wildlife.

So we come to my random question of the week and this one is a really good one!

If you could become any person in the world for one day, who would you become and why?

'I tried so hard to think of someone who wasn't too obvious but I couldn't, so I plumped for Oprah Winfrey, a bit of a cliche I know.'

'I chose Oprah because I want to know how it feels to be her.  She had a difficult childhood, dealt with racism and has overcome so much to get where she is.  She has such a clear vision about her life, that I want to know how that feels so I can recreate it for myself.

Well, this has been one of my most intense blogs yet, with highs and lows, cheerful quips and serious tones but overall I have enjoyed writing this one very much.  I hope Sian receives the recognition she deserves, not just through this blog but through the business world too.

Sian - my very best wishes for your future and a speedy recovery and I hope your business will continue to bloom!

So that's it for another week folks! (No Looney Tunes pun intended) but check in again soon for my newest interviewee.  Who knows, it could even be you!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Well, 2011 has been a busy one and my blog has suffered. I apologise for not keeping up with it but now I am back and so is my next interviewee.

This is Gabriela Margarita Houlgraves or 'Gabby', 34 from Sittingbourne.  Gabby works as a Customer Support Assistant at Maidstone Library.

Our beloved county is the reason I write this blog.  It is the best!

Gabby loves our county to because it is 'so green!'

"This surprises a lot of the people here when I say it.  You all [Kent residents] think it's very, very urbanised, but I just look at the vast fields and meadows.  Always so close and forests everywhere, and think 'Dude, this is the Shire!"

As you can tell from the last part of that quote, Gabby is a Lord of the Rings fan. Everyone needs to have a hobbit!

As part of my 2011 revamp, I have added a question to all my new interviewees which has been instated to find out if the people of Kent have interesting facts or information to share with me.  I always like to learn new things about Kent!

Gabby has selected to inform us about the history of Dover Castle, commissioned to be built by Henry II in the 12th century.

"The tunnels were first dug for the Napoleonic Wars, and then used as a command centre for Operation Dynamo which was the operation set up for rescuing soldiers from Dunkirk.  This is all well known."

This can be found on the English National Heritage website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk

What was more intriguing was what Gabby relayed next.

"There was also a lower level call 'Dumpy' which was the command centre during the Cold War and it was going to be opened to the public after the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act made it legal to do so.  But English Heritage went under there and found a lot of subsidence and were not as sturdy as the Napoleonic ones and also left in a hurry when the level got decommissioned, so they're not structurally sound. Lovely chalk!"

"And that is why the public won't be allowed down there!"

Gabby feels it is a shame as she would love to go down there and see them.  I would love to see it as well, it sounds fascinating.

We moved on to one of my favourite subjects: FOOD!

Gabby likes to dine at Maggie's cafe on Week Street.  I agree Maggie, whoever she is, does a blinding fried breakfast!

"The wholemeal baguettes and fillings are wonderful, not to mention the salads, the chilli, the cakes and pastries (all home-made) and the staff are the friendliest in town."

Also, Gab enjoys eating at Kitsu, a Tunbridge Wells based place that has, in her words 'The best sushi and teriyaki beef I've ever had."

Equally, Gabby likes an Indian at the Royal Tandoori in Chatham, traditional chips from a chippy in Lenham and her favourite pub is the Ringlestone nr Harrietsham.

We definitely have something in common here!

I always like to be a little bit nosey and find out what my interviewees get up to in their free time.  It feels like I can relate to them if they have something in common with me (in addition to food of course).

"Reading, reading, reading. I can't get enough of books!" Gabby says. "Guess it's lucky I work in a library!"

"I also love visiting English Heritage sites, you see something new every time.  And spending time with family and friends.  Nothing beats a house full of the people you love, all having fun and laughing, sharing life and food & drink."

I think Gabby is a great person, who lives life to the full.  That's the kind of people we need more of in this county to keep up its awesomeness.

This is always my favourite part of the interview: hearing a short story that sums the interviewee up.  I have heard some whoppers since I have been writing this blog - waking up half naked on a beach, buying items such as a bouncy castle on impulse, walking into walls or buying 'Chillis' when you are supposed to buy 'Jelly'.

"I was born in Puerto Rico (in the Caribbean), and I moved to New Orleans to my master's degree.  I still miss New Orleans, every day I'm not there, though I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world but here, in Kent."

That's what I like to hear!

"My first apartment burnt down, soon thereafter, I met Mark (now my husband- he's English, of course), and moved into a lovely shotgun house in New Orleans (For all who are not familiar, it is a narrow, rectangular building)."

"Mark and I got engaged, and i started getting my paperwork for the visa to come here to live and get married. There was a rumour that someone burned down their house near my house to collect the insurance money. The whole block of houses, including mine, burnt down.  I barely had time to grab my cat and laptop and run out of the house.  When I came back to see what was left, almost everything was burnt, except my visa papers and my winter clothes, and a crocheted Afghan my gran had sent me from Puerto Rico."

I want it noted now that Gabby has done fantastically to bounce back from this ordeal where others probably would have rolled over and given up.

"I took that as a sign from God and the Universe that I needed to go with my heart, to Mark and England.  And I didn't look back."

"Do I miss my family and friends from the other side of the Atlantic?  Oh yes!"

"Would I change anything? Not really. I only wish I'd met Mark before so we could have stated our life together sooner and that I had the power to teleport so I could visit my gran and my friends as often as I liked."

What a great story with both highs and lows but an overall outcome that is justly deserved.

It is always important to evolve and progress over time. That is true in both people, nature and our much loved county.  Gabby has some interesting suggestions on how to achieve this.

"I think we should have a better public transport network and it should be more realistically priced, so that people are seen to be quite foolish to take their cars out.  

I agree as I walk every where and think they should pump more money into transportation.

"If the buses and trains took us to where we wanted to go, frequently and cheaply enough, I swear people would give up cars quicker than you can say 'petrol'.  This is particularly true for people in rural locations, who are often quite isolated if they don't have a car.  But even between town centres, the service provision seems almost random!"

I think Gabby talks absolute sense and is valid in that our services are at times extortionate and something needs to be done to preserve the environment for the future generations.

And now to the finale.  My random question of the week.

You hear the four minute warning, you know it will only take you 10 seconds to get into a safe place, what would you do with the other 3 minutes and 50 seconds?

"That's a hash one!  Wow. I wasn't expecting that."

I like this reaction as it is meant to be surprising and awkward to answer.  It is my unique thing!

"I am close to Mark and Sebastian (my son) so I can make sure they're safe with me but even if not, the same applies.  Get as many people as I can into the safe place, hold them close and send a prayer up for the rest of my loved ones and the world!"

Sounds depressing but a nice answer and a good way to round off this sensational lady's interview.

Thank you Gabby for your time and I wish you all the best for the future. This interview has been a pleasure!

Well that's all folks for this week, check in again soon to see who will be my next victi... interviewee!

It is cool to be British again.

Hollywood has hailed the stiff up lip by bestowing four Oscars on The King's Speech at last night's Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood.

Even though the nods for Best Director for Tom Hooper, Best Picture, Best Actor for Colin Firth and Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler were all entirely deserved, there were fears the academy might not want to reward a Brit flick too much.

This fear was made all the more strong by the fact The King's Speech had such huge competition from an equally deserving film: The Social Network.

In many less fruitful years for quality movies, The Social Network would have cleaned up. The story of how Mark Zuckerberg developed social networking site Facebook and the lawsuits which followed amounted to an instant classic in my book.

It was the story of a phenomenon which has grown to affect so many people's lives. If you do not have a Facebook account yourself I bet you know at least five people who have one.

Also, I felt a particular fascination with the film as it begins at exactly the time I went to university myself. The online revolution which spread through the halls of Harvard University spread through the student digs of myself and my peers. When I joined Facebook you HAD to be a university student. Only after a few years (and the realisation from the board they could make a heck of a lot of money) was membership opened to the whole world.

In short, the story was captivating because of the relationship I had with the film. Yet equally many stammerers would have had the same relationship with The King's Speech.

Ultimately the lead character appeals more in the latter. The audience were willing Colin Firth's King George VI through every word of his address to the nation whereas the dubious motivations of Jesse Eisenberg's Mark Zuckerberg make him a difficult character to relate to. The audience feel more of a fascination than an affinity with him.

These factors all add up to make The King's Speech the marginally better film and thus deserving of the awards. Yet it must have been tempting for the academy to reward a film which recognises an American institution, rather than a British one.

With the royal wedding around the corner, the fact the royal family are very 'in' at the moment may have been a factor.

But in this instance perhaps we just have to give the royal seal of approval to the academy. They gave the awards to the tale of the stammering king's triumph over adversity, without hesitation.

We may still not be sure what the Big Society means to us in our everyday lives - but some of our local businesses didn't sit wondering about this and together they made a real difference to homeless people in Folkestone throughout what has been an usually severe winter.

Way back in early December - at the start of the bad weather - it didn't take Di and Louie Burns long to start planning a series of events to raise the focus of the plight of the homeless so that people could donate items of warm clothing (gloves, coats, etc) and raise funds which would go directly to some of the homeless shelters in Folkestone.

If you don't know Di and Louie - you may know the local phenomenon known as Bluesky Pie [ http://www.blueskypie.co.uk ] whose tagline 'Regeneration and empowerment in communities through music' says it all.

On 10^th December Bluesky Pie staged two gigs, one at Googies Art Cafe and the other at Homeground – featuring comedy, musicians, rappers...all coming to play and give their time for free!! Raffles were run at both venues with goods donated from as far afield as Liverpool. With Googies and Homeground donating 10% of their bar takings and TESS donating his fee for playing at Homeground – together they raised a grand total of £575 for the Winter Shelter run by the 7 churches of Folkestone.

Louie Burns also created a film to raise awareness for the Folkestone homeless cause and to make people more sympathetic to those that find themselves on the streets, often through no fault of their own.

Colin the manager of the shelter had said that funding would run out mid February so to keep the shelter open Di and Louie decided to do more fundraising events. One in Stones featuring rock bands and local hip hop artists followed by 4 DJ’s who all played and performed for free. There was also an acoustic chilled out night in Googies featuring some wonderful performers and musicians who again performed for free. Googies has continued to fundraise between the last gig and now with Keith Holland handing over more monies that customers of Googies have donated since December 10^th.  Alongside this there was an appeal for toothpaste, flannels, food items, scarves  etc.  – all for the Rainbow Centre for the homeless and those in need. All of these events, activities and fundraising brilliantly co-ordinated by Bluesky Pie.

Di Burns said:

“To borrow a phrase from Tesco, 'Every little helps' and we feel privileged to know such lovely talented people who will play for free for such a worthwhile cause, in fact we were inundated with performers all willing to give of their time and felt that the homeless were a very worthy cause to raise funds for which shows the tremendous community spirit here in Folkestone, we feel we're just facilitators.”

I have said before that there is something magic about this part of Folkestone .. because there is definitely something very good going on down there - and with Bluesky Pies help the magic may just spread much further. 

Di Burns tells us a little more about Bluesky Pie:

The ethos behind Bluesky Pie is that little acts of random kindness can change the world. We reached a mid life crisis nearly two years ago where we realized we were giving nothing back into the community. We resolved to change this and started to do things for others, first staging a gig for Amnesty International and Greenpeace, we found a plethora of highly skilled musicians and bands who had nowhere to play. We started to put gigs on, maintaining a spirit of love. We started What's on Folkestone as we were sick of missing high quality gigs and events that no one knew were on, and were brilliant. Our idea behind that was to actively promote and share everyones events so that no one felt excluded.

We have tried to show people how incredible and amazing they are by offering them mentoring gigs, putting them on at small intimate venues and building confidence then by making the venues larger. We also have volunteers working in film, stage management, photography who work for free to get valuable experience in the industry. Many of the people that we have helped have then gone on to make a career,  got more confidence and started to put their own gigs on.

It has had an incredible impact on the local community with people joining together and making alliances when they didn't know each other before. Networking is a big key to this, this results in a more cohesive community that actively support each others events.

As a non for profit company we don't make any money from what we do, but we get enormous satisfaction from knowing that a random act of kindness we may have shown has then spread like a ripple effect on a pond to reach so many others.

It also acts in the law of attraction, through what we have done has brought like minded people to us like the charity 'Last night a DJ saved my life' who are of the same ethos as us but work in the global community, things just seem to be getting bigger and better bit like a snowball effect through a little effort of our own. It is a really happy place to be. =)

Bluesky Pie  | Googies Art Cafe | Homeground | Whats On Folkestone (FB)

Well, now the Christmas period is over and the ice and snow are finally melting, I can get back to interviewing you fine people of Kent.

This is Mark Wickens, 25 from Maidstone.

Mark is an Airline Pilot and has spent time abroad training.

In his free time he enjoys visiting the gym and most recently Horse Racing.

"This is largely down to my brother who is an avid fan."

Unfortunately he is also a big Arsenal fan so rightly he receives a ribbing from his mates about their weekly performance.  What must be more sickening is that their London rivals Tottenham have notched up a victory against them, meaning one of Mark's Spurs supporting mates has bragging rights.

Kent, in Mark's opinion, is in a good location and is far away enough from major cities for it to be a calm place.

"Kent is relatively quiet and tranquil but equally there is lots to see and do in the vicinity should you want to make the short trip from home."

Again, like Katie a few weeks ago, Mark has selected a Bearsted eating spot as his first choice when eating out.

"I am a fan of The Oak on the Green.  The food is all freshly cooked and very tasty."

In his free time he claims not to be a film buff but after reading his quote, I would question it.

"I am slightly ashamed to admit that I have not been to the cinema for about 4 years. However, I really liked the original Matrix and Closer. I also enjoy a bit of James Bond (don't we all).  I've also seen Top Gun more times than I can remember.

Mark has great determination to succeed and the story he has told me about himself only proves that.

"About 4 or 5 years ago, I was working as a Store Designer for a large retail company which I very much enjoyed but I decided that I wanted to do something really rewarding with my life and move in a completely different direction."

"I decided that I wanted to follow my aspirations of becoming an Airline Pilot. It was a big decision and a massive commitment from both a training point of view and a financial aspect.  But some three years down the road and I have been very fortunate to have recently landed a job with one of Europe's largest airlines."

I am with Mark on this one as this blog is one of my steps towards being a writer. Mark has some good advice for anyone chasing a dream.

"I am a big fan of making your own luck in life and like to encourage others to follow their dreams and do whatever it is that they want to do.  As long as you are prepared to give up pretty much everything else, and maybe a bit more, as well as the resolve to keep going whatever the circumstances then you will make it!"

As always, I like to find out what the people of Kent think about improvement to our county and more importantly, ways to implement them.

"I personally think that Kent and Maidstone's public transport leaves a lot to be desired. Being a car person, naturally I am reluctant to get out and onto public transport. Why does it still take over an hour to get to London Victoria."

"It's also not particularly flexible or practical for lots of journeys."

Mark's suggestion is a good one and I also believe that our public transport should be refreshed and updated.

"I would like to see a vast improvement in this area as I would like to do my bit for the environment but I don't want to be out of pocket as a result of choosing to use public transport."

As always at this stage of the interview, I like to round it off with a random question of the week and this one is in-keeping with the festive season.

If you could have any Christmas present, exempt expense, what would be and why?

"Well, my weakness is cars and my favourite car ever is the Ferrari F50. I absolutely love it! I have wanted one as long as I can remember and I was fortunate enough to sit in one many years ago, however I never could afford one so I would definitely ask Santa for one of those."

I would like to thank Mark for his time in talking to me and I would like to wish my fellow Kentish men (and women) a very Happy New Year!  

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Now the winter snow has melted, service is resumed in shops, on motorways and in most people's lives.

This is Richard Roger Gaskin, also known to his friends as 'Dickie'.

Dickie lives in Maidstone and has done so the most part of his life.  Before moving to Maidstone at the age of 5, Dickie grew up in the village of Horsemenden near Tonbridge.

In the present day, Dickie gets his pay cheque from hard graft and long hours as a Butcher in The Mall's J.C. Rook and Sons, Maidstone.  Now in his fourth year of employment with the company, he has no intentions of leaving because what he does keeps him happy.

"I didn't think I would love a job like this when I left school but as it stands, I really enjoy it."

Despite starting early in the morning and finishing late in the afternoon, Dickie enjoys getting involved in sports.

"I am a really big football fan so I enjoy playing the game too.  Recently I have started to play Snooker which takes a lot more technical ability and thinking power then I first thought."

Dickie also has become a fan of reading (This blog would be a great piece to read), which he claims he never thought he would be, and socialising with friends and family.

"Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today."

I like when my interviewees praise our County because Kent is a great place to live. Dickie is no different.

"I like the fact that Kent is only a small drive away from the coastal towns or to the big city itself: London."

As Dickie rightly points out though, Kent has an excellent reputation both regionally and nationally.

"I think Kent has a certain quietness and dignity.  I can not really recall being mentioned on the news or in the national newspapers for bad press.  I mean I am sure we have our moments and problems but none such though to be broadcast to the nation in a bad light."

When he has time aside from his busy work schedule and taking part in his hobbies, Dickie can just about manage to have a night where he can eat out.

"I like to eat on Earl Street's restaurant Prezzos.  It's a little Italian place with a calming atmosphere, very polite staff and the food is delicious.  With very compromising prices too, I always recommend it to anyone that asks."

So we already know Dickie has time constraints so I was interested to find out what TV shows or movies he managed to watch.

"I can't say I've got any favourite shows or movies at the moment but my all time favourite TV shows are Thundercats and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from my younger days.  What boy doesn't like action as a kid.  As I've grown older, it has become shows like South Park and The Simpsons because they are easy viewing."

"Moviewise it has got to be The Dark Knight.  I can watch it over and over again and any film that makes me laugh.  It takes less muscles to smile then frown!"

Good point!

Dickie can be stubborn and the story of when he was 10 years old proves my point.

"I was on a holiday abroad in Spain with my family and another family.  The weather was boiling hot in the first couple of days and my mum told me to put on my t-shirt because I am fair skinned.  Let's face it, mums always know best much to their child's annoyance."

Yep they do!

"But as all children that age, I thought I knew best and decided to ignore the advice.  As I got out the pool, I must have wiped off the sun lotion because when I woke up the next day, I had blisters the size of tea mugs.  We went straight to the pharmacy and was given cream and gauzes with strong tape to hold them down."

"The following day, I was taken to the doctors who informed us that the gauzes were on wrong and that they would need to be removed.  The doctor slowly removed the gauzes with the tape and my first few layers of skin.  Those five minutes seemed like an eternity."

"I chose this story because as much as we think we are always right, the truth is the parents always know what is best no matter what.  I always wear sun lotion at all times in hot weather."

I don't blame you Dickie.

I felt we needed to move on swiftly because I didn't want my readers to feel ill and I didn't want Dickie to dwell on his mistake.

After his earlier praises of Kent, I was curious to find out how Dickie would make Kent a better place.

"I think to make Kent better we should try and bring in some income to restore part of the outgoing funds from the county.  We could use a big venue like the O2 arena that is capable of dealing with different events, from stand up comedy to conventions and concerts.  Or we could have a sporting venue for football and rugby because we don't have a really big team that represents this beautiful county.  Let's face it, we deserve it."

I think Dickie was worn out with his intense questioning so I wrapped up the interview with my random question of the week:  What is your ambition in life?

"I wouldn't say I have a lifes ambition.  I do want to bring happiness to my friends and family and to always be there when and where I can."

"I would also like to start up my own business, whether that be a butchery company or another type, I don't know.  It might fail but at least I can say I've tried and done it."

"I think another if it counts is to take a holiday to Australia.  It is one place I've always wanted to visit.  I just want to live a happy life and create a loving family."

I'd like to thank Dickie for his openess and in depth answers, best of luck to him in the future.

So another week, another interviewee interviewed.

Who is next week, who knows?

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!