Freely given???

Whilst walking down chelmsford high street with my friend Fran we past a group of people that were working for a charity,they were stopping people as they walked past. Now we both spotted them, avoided eye contact and quickened up the pace however we were targetted. After being cornered we had no hope of passing and stopped. Now this was a charity to help raise funds to buy a wheel. The man asked us what we were doing and where we were going. We said we were heading for starbucks and then later to the cinema. We were then asked if we would like to buy a leaflet which cost 3 pounds and the money went towards the buying of a wheelchair. Now to be honest neither of us wanted to give them the money so we said we wouldn't like to buy it. Now the man reminded us what we were about to do, told us that we should get are priorities in order and in a very subtle way told us to stop being selfish. So we did, we brought the leaflet and walked away. However both my friend and I walked away feeling slightly annoyed and bitter.
This reminded me of a time when i was sitting in my flat when five boys walked into my room, shut the door and said they were raising money for a charity. i do not no if they had Id or what the chariety was, i just gave them some money so they would get out of my room.
So my point is do charities persuade, bribe or guilt people to give them money and is this right? Should it be the charities job to think about the giver as well as the cause and is the reason we walk past people raising money on the street is because we do not like being put under pressure or being made to feel gulity?

BEN FOLDS = AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Skateboard update!!

My regular readers(simon and john Farrar) will know that i got a skateboard for my birthday, so i started slow but im starting to take to it quite well now. Ive mastered standing on the board,starting and stopping, and generally going. I havent got any tricks yet accept falling, but i always seem to land on my butt everytime!!(good padding) we've also learnt the lingo here are some examples.........................

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH my BUTT - The rider of the skateboard appears to have lost control of the vehicle

CAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR- There appears to be a motor vehicle approaching

SIMMMMMMYYYY HELLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP!- simon dear could you please help me refrain from hurting myself

I REACHED THE LINE!!!!- the rider of the skaterboard appears to have travel 3 metres without falling off.

So thats the lingo sorted, ive got my baggy jeans and hoodies, all i need to do now is learn how to skate and ill be sorted.

So thats my latest skateboarding update. I've also got a surprise for my next blog, ive bought someone very close to me a new skateboarding outfit, i'll give you a clue it isn't Simon and it is my Monkey

He was a skater boy, la la la

So it 2007 and i feel its time to write a new blog however currently i am still on my winters break, not back till February and only have one date in my diary which is an exam, so Yes its not the most fun packed time ever and there is not much to report on!
H0wever i did have a great Christmas and New Year.
Christmas was spent at home seeing lots of family then New year was in Ireland with Simon and his family, which was a new experience for me as i am very much a family girl so i have always spent New Years at home but i had a really good time. I made lots of New Years resolutions and yes by the 2nd i had broken everyone of them. However i have still kept one resolution which is going well.
Shortly after New Year it was my birthday where i got lots of lovely things and except from an exam 9 o clock that morning had a good day. One present i got from my Nanna was a skateboard, now you may think this is a bit of a strange present to bye a 19 year old girl but it was something i had asked for. A little boy from chelmsford had got a skateboard for Christmas and brought it to show on christmas morning and from that moment i knew i wanted one! however as i have found it is not as easy as it looks, i'm scared when it goes too fast and not yet mastered how to turn which again is not good when i live on a bendy street. the reason i wanted a skateboard is 2 fold i wanted it so i can skate to my lectures and be know as 'the girl who skates everywhere' and also because its like a guitar you recieve instant 'coolness'.
Anyway simon is coming on Friday and he mentioned he used to skate back in his prime so is going to give me some lessons. Anyway must go, how time flys............