Irene Pollock

Insufferable Mothers:

Insist on buying gender neutral birthday gifts for their son.

Insist on holding gender neutral birthday parties for their son.

Insist that their son wears crushed strawberry coloured dungarees.

Insist on rounding out their child by tutoring them at home after school whilst listening to Dante's Inferno in Italian.

Force their child to take Italian language; yoga and saxophone lessons during any spare time he/she has.

Believe that Scouts are too militaristic.

Ban their child from wearing a kilt due to being too nationalistic and arcane.

Believe that swearing in literature represents social realism.


2025 update:

Insist on getting their child an Irish passport even though they live in Scotland and not an Irish resident or citizen.

Insist on their child acquiring some sense of Irish identity via a planned identity programme and recruiting an Irish culture tutor.

*Ideas taken from the 44 Scotland Street series written by Alexander McCall Smith *

Embryo Concepts

"It's chi-chi and an unrealistic approach to self-impressions".


"If the rights of the individual are not respected by the group, the group cannot exist".


"The books on this shelf pertain to empiricism, and on this shelf, materialism, and on this,
psychopiscoparalysm".


"But this would be a violation of all my principles. It would be hypocrisy for me to lend myself to this".


"This deals with epiphenomenalism, which has to do with consciousness as a mere accessory of physiological processes whose presence or absence... makes no difference... Whatever are you doing?".


"The most sensible approach to true understanding and peace of mind".


"Empathy is to project your imagination so that you actually feel what the other person is feeling. You put yourself in the other person's place".


"I feel a hostile vibration".




Quotes were taken from the film Funny Face starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire

Lashes, lashes, lashes!

I mentioned in a previous post that my holy grail mascara is Maybelline Full n Soft Waterproof in soft black. However, as this product is not actually available for purchase in the UK, I have had to purchase these from US sellers via eBay.

Therefore, in my quest to find another holy grail mascara that is easily available in the UK, I have trawled the internet and sampled a few not so good varieties.

The reason I love Maybelline's Full n Soft is the dry waterproof formula. This allows me to achieve full yet natural looking lashes even if I pump too many layers on. I can also make this mascara work with any type of wand. It gives me volume; holds my curl and makes my lashes look fluttery.

The affordable price tag is also a bonus.

Currently on my waiting list for testing:

~ Maybelline Illegal Lengths Waterproof Mascara
~ d.j.v. Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara

~ Lily Lolo Lash Alert Natural Mascara
~ Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi Benefit Mascara
~ Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

~Clinique Feathering Mascara

~ Maybelline The Rocket Mascara
~ YSL Babydoll Mascara in Brown

~ Origins Ginzing Brightening Mascara
~ 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara in Black Tea/Chocolate 

~ Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Care mascara