What does your choice of ice cream say about you?

Yes, I know I should stop reading the daily mail and start reading a newspaper which actually has some news in it- rather than a load of made up rubbish.

According to this I am am ambitious, competitive visionary.

Something tells me ice cream should probably not be used to make too many snap judgements about people...

Dr. Alan Hirsh, founder of Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, has been identifying exactly what some ice cream flavors may suggest about individuals personalities.

Results: I scream, you scream, but we all scream for different types of ice cream

Plain and simple: If your favorite flavor is Vanilla, you're more likely to be impulsive, easily suggestible and an idealist

'We uncovered quite a few surprising finds,' Dr Hirsch said.

'For instance, we found that people who prefer Rainbow Sherbet are more pessimistic than you would think, in spite of the flavor’s bright taste profile, and that those who prefer Rocky Road are actually very good listeners.'

 

If your favorite flavor is Vanilla, you’re more likely to be impulsive and an idealist.

Chocoholics are dramatic and flirtatious, while Rocky Road lovers are good listeners

Praline ‘n Cream fans are loving and supportive.

Don’t say anything bad about Mint Chocolate Chip to those fans, because they tend to be argumentative.

'National Ice Cream Month is the perfect time to enjoy your favorite ice cream flavor, and this year we wanted our guests to have fun by learning what their favorite flavor says about them,' said Dan Wheeler, from the ice cream chain.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. 

He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90 percent of the nation's population. 

In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with 'appropriate ceremonies and activities.'

National Ice Cream Day this year is on Sunday, July 21.

Research: The study was conducted by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation to identify what some ice cream flavors may suggest about personality traits

WHAT DOES YOUR ICE CREAM CHOICE SAY ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY? 

• Chocolate: dramatic, lively, charming, flirtatious, seductive and gullible
  
• Vanilla: impulsive, easily suggestible and an idealist
• Very Berry Strawberry: a tolerant, devoted and an introvert
  
• Mint Chocolate Chip: argumentative, frugal and cautious
• Rocky Road:   aggressive, engaging and a good listener
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: ambitious, competitive and a visionary
  
• Pralines 'n Cream: loving, supportive and prefer to avoid the spotlight.
  
• Jamoca: scrupulous, conscientious and a moral perfectionist
  
• Chocolate Chip:  generous, competent and a go getter
  
• Rainbow Sherbet:   analytic, decisive and a pessimistic 
  
  

Pictures courtesy of Baskin Robins

Rorschach ink blots.. what do you see? my diagnosis is that I need a holiday. to france, and a trip to a garden centre and a zoo

I was reading a craft project page for jazzing up textiles- and there were the normal suggestions for potato stamping and glitter, and tie-dye and sequins.

And the a suggestion about Rorschach Ink Blots. I think that is a pretty cool decorative technique!- its basicly the butterfly paintings you made in reception by folding wet painted paper over- except you can do it with watered down fabric paint.

This then got me on to wondering what the real ink blots are supposed to show- or even look like- yeah, we all know the first one- we've seen it on the virgin suicides- and about every other american teen movie going- I was surprised by the coloured ones- and by the interpretations too!

I'm clearly not normal as none of those were my 1st reactions!

I think that the cards show the following images- 
I a mask
II Gnomes
III velocouraptors
IV a human figure lying down, viewed from the soles of the feet up
V a moth or winged insect
VI A signpost or maybe a church spire?
VII hares
VIII Iguanas
VIIII Trees
X The Eiffel tower

I also cannot remember is X represents 10 or 100. ah well, Based on my unusual responses, I doubt anyone was analysisng my roman numerals and more interested in my processing powers.

Although, in fairness, I guess sitting at home in a good mood planning a craft activity is not the normal situation for viewing the ink blots.
I'd be interested to know what other people make of them- although I guess with my rundown, and the commentary next to these images, it's probably going to influence peoples ideas!

I stole these from wikipedia...

Card	Popular responses[64][65][66]	Comments[67][68]
	Beck: bat, butterfly, moth Piotrowski: bat (53%), butterfly (29%) Dana (France): butterfly (39%)	When seeing card I, subjects often inquire on how they should proceed, and questions on what they are allowed to do with the card (e.g. turning it) are not very significant. Being the first card, it can provide clues about how subjects tackle a new and stressful task. It is not, however, a card that is usually difficult for the subject to handle, having readily available popular responses.
	Beck: two humans Piotrowski: four-legged animal (34%, gray parts) Dana (France): animal: dog, elephant, bear (50%, gray)	The red details of card II are often seen as blood, and are the most distinctive features. Responses to them can provide indications about how a subject is likely to manage feelings of anger or physical harm. This card can induce a variety of sexual responses.
	Beck: two humans (gray) Piotrowski: human figures (72%, gray) Dana (France): human (76%, gray)	Card III is typically perceived to contain two humans involved in some interaction, and may provide information about how the subject relates with other people (specifically, response latency may reveal struggling social interactions).
	Beck: animal hide, skin, rug Piotrowski: animal skin, skin rug (41%) Dana (France): animal skin (46%)	Card IV is notable for its dark color and its shading (posing difficulties for depressed subjects), and is generally perceived as a big and sometimes threatening figure; compounded with the common impression of the subject being in an inferior position ("looking up") to it, this serves to elicit a sense of authority. The human or animal content seen in the card is almost invariably classified as male rather than female, and the qualities expressed by the subject may indicate attitudes toward men and authority. Because of this Card IV is often called "The Father Card".[69]
	Beck: bat, butterfly, moth Piotrowski: butterfly (48%), bat (40%) Dana (France): butterfly (48%), bat (46%)	Card V is an easily elaborated card that is not usually perceived as threatening, and typically instigates a "change of pace" in the test, after the previous more challenging cards. Containing few features that generate concerns or complicate the elaboration, it is the easiest blot to generate a good quality response about.
	Beck: animal hide, skin, rug Piotrowski: animal skin, skin rug (41%) Dana (France): animal skin (46%)	Texture is the dominant characteristic of card VI, which often elicits association related to interpersonal closeness; it is specifically a "sex card", its likely sexual percepts being reported more frequently than in any other card, even though other cards have a greater variety of commonly seen sexual contents.
	Beck: human heads or faces (top) Piotrowski: heads of women or children (27%, top) Dana (France): human head (46%, top)	Card VII can be associated with femininity (the human figures commonly seen in it being described as women or children), and function as a "mother card", where difficulties in responding may be related to concerns with the female figures in the subject's life. The center detail is relatively often (though not popularly) identified as a vagina, which makes this card also relate to feminine sexuality in particular.
	Beck: animal: not cat or dog (pink) Piotrowski: four-legged animal (94%, pink) Dana (France): four-legged animal (93%, pink)	People often express relief about card VIII, which lets them relax and respond effectively. Similar to card V, it represents a "change of pace"; however, the card introduces new elaboration difficulties, being complex and the first multi-colored card in the set. Therefore, people who find processing complex situations or emotional stimuli distressing or difficult may be uncomfortable with this card.
	Beck: human (orange) Piotrowski: none Dana (France): none	Characteristic of card IX is indistinct form and diffuse, muted chromatic features, creating a general vagueness. There is only one popular response, and it is the least frequent of all cards. Having difficulty with processing this card may indicate trouble dealing with unstructured data, but aside from this there are few particular "pulls" typical of this card.
	Beck: crab, lobster, spider (blue) Piotrowski: crab, spider (37%, blue), rabbit head (31%, light green), caterpillars, worms, snakes (28%, deep green) Dana (France): none	Card X is structurally similar to card VIII, but its uncertainty and complexity are reminiscent of card IX: people who find it difficult to deal with many concurrent stimuli may not particularly like this otherwise pleasant card. Being the last card, it may provide an opportunity for the subject to "sign out" by indicating what they feel their situation is like, or what they desire to know.

The flood, Floating copper and the balloon landing.

Thank god it's friday! this week has been rather mental! Mental in a fairly good way, but so much to do before my holidays.

We've also had a dramatic week in the home department- the washing machine broke and wouldn't drain, and then flooded the kitchen floor. then the door fell off. and then we had to bail the remaining water out with a mug ( Traff's choice of a Didcot power station mug of 1991 vintage was distressing!)

I suggested that we build an arc or just let Swimmy enjoy the kitchen.

So, Today the man came and fitted the fancy new washing machine, and then the sink wouldn't drain.
:(
So Traff had to be a man and finger the U-bend.

He'd just finished and was running the taps to prove that the U-bend was secured to the other plumbing and not going to come flying off and make a new flood- and he looked up and was like "look at that!".

So I didn't look because I assumed he was winding me up.

Next thing I know he's sprinted out of the house without shoes so I thought I'd better follow him- and there was a hot air balloon really low over the road- coming to land in the park!

So we went to watch- I took some photos too- I'll post them tomorrow- I've never seen a hot air balloon up close before it was massive!
and all very much more exciting than sorting the kitchen out.

There was quite a big crowd of people- and a rather tipsy woman came to have a chat with us and her husband was stood there with a mug of coffee- so I guess they'd done the same thing as us and just run out to see what was happening.
Traff was laughing at the man with the mug- which is silly as he didn't have shoes or a T-shirt.
Hobo.

Anyway, I am pleased to report that the washing machine is working, the kitchen is clean and tidy- possibly the cleanest it's ever been and the floor is sparking- being as it was washed with laundry powder only 3 days ago and has finally dried.

Other news.. my students made floating copper.
Technically it was an electroplating lesson- but before we'd even turned the powerpacks on the Zinc was coated in copper- I do have photos and I put the best examples in a jar for my room!

The copper formed so quickly it's full of air bubbles- and therefore is quite floaty.
It looks like coral.

Or, as my delightful colleague said, it looked like a dump in a beaker.

The event envy- 200 years since Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was celebrated at Chatsworth house!

I'm so disgustingly jealous!
I'd have loved to go to this- it has all my very favourite things!- Pride and prejudice, dressing up (NOT like that), The national trust and dancing!

I think this is how my father envisions my sister and I will get married- See my post-before-last from home if you need that one explaining (no, we're not getting married and we probably never will..)

Pride and Prejudice is my favourite Austen book- I know it's so predictable- I most probably love it because I'd read it pre GCSE- and it's a book we didn't study (somehow that diminished my enjoyment of books.. I cannot imagine why enforced, time constrained reading and the deconstructing of books would disillusion people.. )
I also adore the BBC series made from the books- the one with the slightly wobbly set and Colin Firth (yeah, the new film is OK, but it's shorter and not as true to the book).
It reminds me of winter, and sitting in the front room with my mum drinking tea from the red teapot and watching the series back-to back taped off the TV on about 4 Video cassettes (I was heartbroken when she leant them to aunty Nu- but that did mean we bought the box-set, rather than watching them taped off the TV).
I think perhaps, I love that the film reminds me of being a kid, and I enjoyed the fancy dresses and over-the-top characters.
As an adult I suppose I enjoy her work as it is refreshing, its social,its satirical and it's actually very modern.
it has just enough romance to be bearable and enough self-made drama from ill advised actions to remind me how "human" these characters are.
Ah, enough- here's the article and the beautiful photographs from this event- If anyone sees anything like this advertised ever please tell me!

Revellers in Georgian attire celebrate 200 years since Jane Austen's novel at Chatsworth House Pride and Prejudice soiree

• Up to 100 Austen fans paid £65 for tickets to attend the dinner and dance yesterday
• Chatsworth House is believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's residence
• The stately home also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden

By DENI KIRKOVA

Regency costumed guests arrived in their dozens at the carriage house for dinner during the Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire yesterday. 

Celebrating the 200 years since the publication of Jane Austen's famed novel of the same name, the Pride and Prejudice ball at the stately home, believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr Darcy's residence, staged a costume evening to remember.

With capacity for 100 or more, the vast majority of Austen fans turned out in full Georgian costume - a key point of the ball, though the fancy dress wasn't compulsory. Tickets were £65 per head.

A champagne reception in the Painted Hall was followed by a a tour of the North Wing, a grand five course dinner.

Regency costumed guests arrive for the Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House yesterday

Afterwards guests were invited to take part in period dancing following a demonstration by professional Jane Austen Dancers.

Attendees yesterday surely enjoyed themselves more than Elizabeth Bennet, who meets Mr Darcy for the first time at a similar event and takes an early dislike to him. 

 

More...

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• Haven't we seen that before? Pippa Middleton steps out for society wedding in the same monochrome dress Kelly Brook wore last month
• From crying to appreciating our bodies and talking about their mums: Emily Hartridge's top reasons why women love men

Chatsworth House is believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, the residence of the novel's romantic hero Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as Austen is known to have visited the home in 1811 while staying at the Rutland Arms in Bakewell while penning the masterpiece.

She wrote the novel: 'The eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of the valley into which the road into some abruptness wound.

'It was a large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned.'

A costumed couple walk hand in hand in the grounds where the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film was created

Regency costumed guests participate in the Pride and Prejudice ball enjoying a glass of champagne at the welcome reception

A regal looking woman with porcelain skin is captured in a moment of thought (l) as ladies walk peacefully together through the grounds (r)

The beauty look mas mastered to a tee, with ladies sporting choker necklaces and pretty up-dos that were popular in the Georgian era

Siting down for the grand five-course dinner, the couple gaze into each other's eyes in the impossibly romantic setting

The menu

Canapés
Smoked salmon and caviar on buckwheat blinis
Soft boiled quails eggs on toasted brioche       
Goat's cheese and pickled beetroot on sour dough toast
Free range ham hock tartlet grape chutney

Starter
Chicken ballotine, mini pigeon and leek pie, chicken consommé

Fish course
Trout fillet beurre blanc en brioche croute

Main course
Chatsworth estate lamb noisette, fried sweet breads, broad beans and peas, potato and lambs tongue tian

Dessert
Lemon and raspberry assiette (little lemon tart, honey comb, chilled lemon & raspberry soufflé, lemon and raspberry posset)

Homemade petit fours
Chocolate bonbons, orange and rose water Turkish delight, pistachio macaroons

From across a candlelit table, the couple are captured in a romantic cinch. The lady's hairstyle is notably beautifully braided

The stately homes has been the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire since 1549 and is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice as one of the stately homes that Elizabeth Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley.

Chatsworth also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley.

Chatsworth, one of England’s greatest country estates, provided the perfect setting to launch the Peak District estate's Georgian Summer of events (27 July - 29 August), all of which are free to visitors with a house and garden ticket, celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Austen's novel.

An exhibition in the New Gallery looks at Chatsworth in the time of Pride and Prejudice and compares it to Pemberley, featuring a display of Georgian era items as well as those of Mr Darcy from the 2005 film.

Georgian themed events in the garden will take place every Saturday including Sing Live, where singers perform in the garden dressed in Pride and Prejudice costumes. 

Guests watch a display of regency dancing during the Pride and Prejudice Ball in the painted hall (l) and a costumed guest arrives (r)

The regency dancing provided some much-needed guidance for some guests unfamiliar with the moves of the 1800s

Like a scene from the film itself, the party have all clearly made an effort to look the part and fit in with the theme of the evening yesterday

Ladies clad in immaculately suited attire attempt to master the dance style of the Jane Austen era

An older lady drapes pearls around her exquisite hair style to match with her earrings and necklace