“I pledge to help end mental health prejudice.  I will talk about my own experiences with bipolar disorder and anxiety to help break down stigma.”

The project is not only for people with a mental health condition – it’s for friends, family, professionals, and anyone interested in the issues, really.  So check it out!

Just to give you a bit more info, it’s a “blogswarm” event, where many bloggers post on the theme of disabilities and the UK disability-related benefits system between 14th and 16th January ’11.  Those dates have been chosen because the current consultation on DLA reform ends on 14th February this year, and frankly, it’s not looking cheerful.

As yet, I haven’t looked in detail into how any reforms might impact on me, and I’m trying not to be too pessimistic about it before I know for certain.  It’s not easy though, and I’m definitely nervous.  Deep breaths!

Man builds cat-sized village for homeless cats.  There’s a bloke who went from not really being a cat person, to clearly understanding who’s really in charge.  Like him, I welcome our inevitable feline overlords.

and

Knit-bombed Boris Bikes.  As the original poster comments, maybe not much protection against saddle soreness, but with autumn approaching, a saddle cosy might be just the thing to ward off the misery of a chilly posterior early in the morning!

Can I just say that I rather love the Boris Bikes.  At the moment you still have to apply online for a key card thingy, but even though I hardly ever go up to London I’m quite tempted to do so.  However, by the time I’m up next they might have rolled out the ‘casual use’ scheme, which I think will mean you can do it all directly at the bike stations.  Loads of people seemed to be using them when I was up to see the Proms.  Marvellous!

The summer spring-cleaning is continuing on here in my flat.  I’m on a roll!  I’m also going to be doing some tidying of the computer.  I haven’t done that for waaay too long.  There’s a whole load of pointless old files that need deleting.  Plus, I’m going to change my broadband provider to a better tariff.

I’m also ridiculously excited because I just found out that Question Time is going to be on in Bexhill in a couple of weeks.  I’m so applying for the audience.  I must find out if anyone else wants to go too, though.  I’m not sure if anyone I know locally would be up for it, but I’ll check.

Of course, I’ve got to find something appropriate to wear.  I understand there are certain dress code rules that you have to follow to be considered one of the official pirate crew, though I don’t know what that is yet.  I must have some basics that I can wear, though.  I’ll have to have a rummage through my things.  I need to have a clothes sort-out anyway, and send some stuff off to the charity shop.  I should call my Mum and find out if she’ll be free to come and give me a lift over there so I can take all my donations at once.

(And now I’ll go back to working on a bipolar topic post!)

• darlas_mom at tales from a twentysomething artist
• Renee Rigdon at Renee Rigdon is Genre Impaired
• Cia at crazed and infused
• And my ‘thon monitor, Noelle aka webgurl at Life’s everyday adventures!

In other Etsy news, my friend Rae has opened her Etsy shop, Angel Rae Arts. She’s selling some very cool (and cute) fridge magnets. I love the buried treasure one (which is from a photo taken when she was visiting me a few years ago!), and also the caffeinated cat one (painted) which really reminds me of the Xandermog. *g* The original one’s been sold already, but she’s done some more that aren’t identical, but very similar. Yay!

Well, pink and pinky-purple. And blue. I didn’t have time to do a full redesign. Maybe next month – I’ve been meaning to change this one anyway.