Surfing back to my roots

Actress Julie Fernandez tells us how she’s using the web to brush up her Yiddish, drool over life in a Turkish cave and find a new fascination with beards

Last year I stumbled upon an absolutely brilliant website called www.stumbleupon.com.

Basically, it’s a website that helps you find other interesting sites dependent on the information you provide. You have to spend a few minutes ticking boxes to let them know of your interests and hobbies. I would at this point make a cup of tea and take a bit of time on this as it will affect what you are sent through. As soon as that’s done you can then download an add-on for your internet browser. Once the add-on is installed, you will have a new toolbar on your browser. You can then click on “Stumble” and away you go. Once you are presented with a suggested website you can then select whether you like, dislike, or are indifferent to it. The more you tell Stumble Upon what you think, the better they’ll become at sending you sites you will like.

I have had hours of fun with such a varied choice of websites. For example, at www.yiddishdictionaryonline.com you get to input any word in English and it will give the Yiddish word for it. I grew up around a lot of Jewish people who have a brilliant sense of humour; much of this is tied up in the Yiddish language which is part English, German and Hebrew. You often hear it in movies, for example Schlep, Shmock, Shmendrick. Schinshe I moved away from London and my Jewish friends I often go to the website to remember words I have forgotten.

I also found this amazing hotel built in caves in Turkey. I was so excited that I emailed them straight away to see what their access was like, knowing full well from the website it would be a non-starter, but we can live in hope! So for all of you who are not in wheelchairs like me go to www.elkepevi.com and I promise you will be enquiring about availability and booking your flight. If anyone does happen to go let me know what it’s like and email us some photos.

I found another site recently that really made me giggle: the world beard championships. Wow, I didn’t realise that beards and moustaches could be so much fun and so varied. It takes some imagination and patience to wear some of the designs pictured on the website. Would you believe it but they have international clubs and the competition has quite a few categories, so for all you budding beard-wearers keep us at Disability Now up to date with any competitions you may enter. Go to www.worldbeardchampionships.com for a good laugh.

I know you will have loads of fun and find some really great stuff. Enjoy!