Tenerife airport disaster anniversary

On this day 36 years ago, the world's deadliest accident in aviation history occurred. Two Boeing 747 passenger aircraft collided on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, resulting in 583 fatalities.

I was totally unaware of this tragedy until a friend of mine told me about it last week. We were being particularly morbid and talking about how we would react if you were ever in a major disaster, and what we would do to try and survive. I thought I was very strange as I do often have these thoughts when I travel but the group of friends I was with admitted to similar apprehensions. Maybe it is a human instinct to prepare yourself for the worst. I have to say I am lucky in the fact that apart from a couple of unscheduled stops due to medical emergencies, I've never had to even experience an emergency landing aboard a plane, and I have taken several flights every year since I was a few months old. I remember when I was a child always being fascinated by air travel and getting excited about flying. Even though these days flying to me is pretty mundane, I still find it amazing that in a few hours you can be in a completely new destination, thousand of miles and oceans apart from where you took off. That is probably one of the reasons why I love travelling so much.

Going back to the 1977 Tenerife airport disaster, even though it was a horrific event, it highlighted problems in aviation procedures which have since been rectified so that a disaster on this scale should never happen again. If you are like me and find these incidents historically interesting then check out this mini documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1SWe_zi4-o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Mothering Sunday

Today is Mothering Sunday in the UK. This is a Christian day celebrated on the 4^th Sunday in Lent, therefore this day changes every year, along with the time of Easter.  In the USA, Canada and several other countries, however, ‘Mother’s Day’ is celebrated on the 2^nd Sunday of May due to a modernisation of the day.

This made me laugh!

Since my Mother is in the UK, I am celebrating today. Hopefully my Mum has received her card and flowers. Thankfully, due to the wonders of modern technology, it is very straight forward and easy to sort out, which is great as sometimes I can be slightly forgetful and disorganised. I do feel very bad that I cannot spend this day with my Mum. I haven’t been able to be with her for the past two Mother’s day and birthdays, therefore I would like to dedicate this blog post to my wonderful Mother as a way of hopefully making up for my absence.

Not only am I extremely grateful to have such a loving and brilliant Mother, she is also one of the most amazing and inspirational people I have ever met, and I am very lucky to have her in my life. She has always taught me to be a strong, independent woman and encouraged me to achieve anything I’ve wanted to. Anyone that knows my Mum will tell you that she is not only wise but full of funny stories, with an infectious personality to boot. How she managed to put up with myself and older brothers when we were younger, I don’t know, but I have the utmost respect for her.

Happy Mother’s Day Rona

My Mum and I at the Trevi Fountain in Rome

Taken when I was still a student!

Writing this blog has made me realise I need some nicer pictures of myself and my Mum lol, and has also got me emotional and nostalgic which doesn't happen a lot.

Have a lovely day Mum, and if I end up looking like you when I'm older, I'll be very happy lol :-)

R.I.P Hugo Chavez

Officials in Venezuela have called for peace and unity after President Hugo Chavez's death yesterday. Vice President Nicolas Maduro will assume the presidency in the interim, before elections will be held in 30 days.

The future of Venezuela is uncertain but whether or not you agree with Chavez's policies, he will have a lasting legacy in his beloved country. Chavez was President from 1999 until his death. During this time Chavez, following the political ideology of Bolivarianism and 'socialism of the 21st century', implemented sweeping constitutional reforms, nationalisation of several key industries, such as oil, and increased government funding of health care and education. 

Chavez had not only supporters and opposers within his country but also abroad. I personally advocate him for making a positive change in his country for the benefit of the majority of Venezuelan people. In a Western world anyone in left-wing politics is open to criticism. One of the most resonating quotes by Chavez is as follows:

Democracy is impossible in a capitalist system. Capitalism is the realm of injustice and a tyranny of the richest against the poorest. Rousseau said, 'Between the powerful and the weak all freedom is oppressed. Only the rule of law sets you free.' That's why the only way to save the world is through socialism, a democratic socialism... [Democracy is not just turning up to vote every five or four years], it's much more than that, it's a way of life, it's giving power to the people... it is not the government of the rich over the people, which is what's happening in almost all the so-called democratic Western capitalist countries.

As someone who is a true believer in democracy, I think it speaks volumes. My hope for the future of Venezuela is that democracy will prevail and the people get the representation they want.


I end this blog on a musical note, courtesy of the wonderful Arkells:

European politics

With all domestic votes from Italy's election counted, Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left bloc won the lower house vote but has failed to secure a majority in the Senate. Control of both houses is needed to govern. A protest movement led by comedian Beppe Grillo won 25%, but the centrist bloc led by current Prime Minister Mario Monti came a poor fourth, with about 10%.
The Senate is split between left and right, causing more anxiety in the eurozone. There may be an attempt to form a wider coalition to govern the country but it is unlikely to survive.
The election has come at a pressing time for not only the eurozone but Italy itself. They are amid a deep recession and tough austerity measures.

The rest of the EU are worried that a stable government cannot be formed from the results and that another election will be in needed within months. This could in turn lead to paralysis for the country's economy like seen in Greece. Greece itself has a wide range of elected political parties, from far-right Greek nationalists to Marxist-Leninist communists. This growing split in the electorate's ideology hasn't been seen in Europe for years. With Europe in such a weak state, many voters are turning to more extreme policies to provide solutions to their country's problems. With trying times, radical action is sometimes needed...political history can show us that.

In France, the Constitutional Council rejected a 75 per cent upper income tax rate to be introduced in 2013 in a setback to newly elected Socialist President François Hollande’s push to make the rich contribute more to cutting the public deficit. The fact that politicians are proposing such drastic measures is refreshing to see, especially when that's what their supporters want. With mass rallies and populations expecting a real change, the time for the people of Europe to have their say is upon us!

Valentine's Day

As you all know today is Valentine's Day. This is the second year running I have been single on this day but that is not the reason why I am cynical about this holiday. Even when I have been in relationships, I have ever been keen to celebrate. I feel the whole day has become materialistic and over the top. Who do I blame for this...yes, America, you. You shouldn't feel like you have to spend money to be romantic and show your love how much you care for them. After all, every day with your partner should be a special one.

Valentine's Day dates back to pagan and Roman times but some say was first romanticised by Chaucer.
The earliest surviving valentine is a 15th-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orléans to his wife, which commences.

Je suis desja d'amour tanné
Ma tres doulce Valentinée...

At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415.

Poets have been writing Valentines and love poems for centuries. One of my favourites is A Red Red Rose by Robert Burns:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.

  

Maybe your Valentine this year would appreciate a heartfelt handwritten poem over a box of chocolates or flowers. Every woman loves a true gentleman and romantic gesture.

I have to end this blog on a comical note however, as I always think of this Simpson's episode on Valentines:

 

Aw poor Ralph!

You could also send this card if your Valentine is anything like me

 

 

The Syrian Conflict

In a week that saw over a hundred dead men pulled from the Alpecco river, President Obama announcing $155 million in aid to the Syrian rebels, and possible retaliation against Israeli air strikes, the conflict in Syria was again all over the news with no real end in sight.

Syria has an interesting history with countless conquests and re-conquests, empires rising and falling, and people flourishing and vanishing. No wonder it is so hard to understand what exactly is best for the Syrian people when the people themselves are divided and the West, Russia and the Middle-East all have some stake in the country.

I came across a very good article by Malik Al-Abdeh about his understanding of the Syrian revolution. Check it out: http://syriaintransition.com/2012/03/01/how-i-understand-the-syrian-revolution/
Malik is an excellent independent journalist and his blog aims to offer as true a picture as possible of what is happening in Syria and why.

Whatever your opinion is of what is occurring in Syria, I think you have to remove yourself from your or our Western perspective. Whether military intervention will happen, I don't know, and whether or not it is the right choice doesn't matter as, the forces causing it would do it regardless. I just hope the death toll of civilians will not increase and that some sort of stability will transpire so that a peaceful outcome will result in democracy and human rights for the whole Syrian population.

Onesies!

When you hear the word 'onesie' does your mind instantly think of a garment designed to be born by infants?

Most probably, yet onesies are becoming a new fashion trend.

My cousins bought me one of Christmas

Snazzy eh?

I have to admit I have worn a onesie before! It was on rugby tour and we had to dress as babies/toddlers. Not my favourite costume theme but come the end of the night, passing out in my tent in my comfy onesie was a blessing.

People are even having onesie parties...looks fun.

You can get so many different onesies now, from American flags to zebras

Hello sexy

I'm sure there's one for you.