I keep reading (ironic!!) and hearing on the news and in passing this seemingly never ending debate about the pros and cons of the e-Book compared to the "good old fashioned" book.
There seems to be so much debate from both the old and the young, and surprisingly, not always in the directional swing in or out of the favour that we all would naturally expect!!
I found earlier today a blog by a fellow MS sufferer ( www.imakemslookgood.weebly.com/blog.) and she is writing a book, one of the debates she is having is paper or e-book, if this was the TV series "The Big Bang Theory" it would be easy, a quick game of - Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock and the problem would be solved!!
If you need the rules either watch the show or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock
Enough rambling on, let me put a theory down.............
I grew up with books, by the age of about 4 I was reading Steinbeck and at Primary school I had read every book in their library before I left!! My grandparents had a library in their house and I would spend hours, literally hours, sat taking down book after book and flicking through it, reading it cover to cover, re-reading it, taking down more books, rearranging books, and generally just sitting there inhaling the smell and soaking in the ambiance of the books.
The feel of magic that can only be brought about from the feeling of opening a new book, hearing the pages crackle and the faint smell of new paper drifting up, will never be replaced. The feel and smell of a well worn and loved tome will also never be replaced, as the volume falls into a place of comfort into the hand and the body and soul feels complete again; that is the magic a book brings. Not the words within, not the story, the history or the knowledge it reveals, just the physical BOOK.
So here we have a physical item, a new or well loved article. When we see it memories are evoked of where we bought it and where we took it. Places we read it or cities and villages it guided us to. We took the words held within and they spun a web that made us want to delve more and more into the abyss and mystery.
From the stories and tales we read, we learned about far off places, and haunts that may have been so close and familiar to us we had passed by daily for many years, and yet never thought, or really seen, what an author had. The words had inspired us to go and see, to visit landmarks, chase dreams or look for treasure, real or imagined, but either way conjured up from the words that a piece of literature had developed.
So here is the quandary, on the one hand is the magic inspired by the actual book, or on the other is it the words that conjure up the true picture that is beyond replacement??
So, here is a new slant, one that may have been seen, but may not have been said, well, I will say it!!!
I love physical books, and I love the words held within. I accept that a physical book cannot be replaced, I love my e-reader, but, it is not a book!! But there is a reason I NEED my electronic book, and why it is so good in the global scale of things...............
I am a disabled person, I have dexterity issues, not major, just annoying, I have found that handling books is an issue. Holding them, turning the pages without dropping them, or losing my place is a complete nuisance. I also need to flip backwards and forwards a bit between pages as I sometimes get characters muddled up!!!
My e-reader lets me flip pages, I can't lose my page, and I have dropped it a few times and it is fine!! I have thousands of books saved on this PC, on my reader I have a memory card and that has some 5000 books on it, that is 13 years reading, and then only if I read a novel a day!!!!! I do not read a novel a day!!!!
I do have about 6 novels on the go at the moment, but have I got these all over the house? No they are all on 1 device and I can flick between them as I want. I have lost the "feely touch" of a book, but the words are still the same, I am still reading and re-reading books. The same words are still taking me to magical lands, far away planets or dark alleyways where murderers lurk.
More importantly than all of these things, from a male angle, my wife got all her cupboards back, and the local charity shop got a HUGE delivery of books when my e-reader took over, so I was doing good!!!!
So e-Book or normal book, it is a tight call, I can get e-Books published and ready to go for FREE, normal books are not free. But a book is a real and tangible result. You put in the hours and here is the physical result, a finely printed, lovely bound, new book.
Wear my disabled hat - E-Book of course, why would I want a book to struggle with!!
Wear my gadget man hat - E-Book of course, real books are old hat, pah!!!
Wear my traditionalist hat - How can you not have a proper book first e-Book, pah!!!
Wear my real person hat - Perhaps by having a real book published first is the difference between an actual author and a person who can throw a few words together, put them into pages, and make an e-Book!!
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Thursday 20 September 2012
I was upset,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
A strange thing happened today, for the first time EVER, in all the time I have had MS and been classed as disabled, which is some 5 years now, I was made to feel embarrassed, and was upset. I walked away and was not even going to be "eloquent" with a manager!!!
Normally, and I had made a pact not to, I was not going to use this Blog to rant about MS and stuff, but just his once..............
Let me set the scene -
Today was my Mother's 70th birthday, after I had ribbed her for being old and told her she really should now consider an OAP home(!!), I deliberately never told her I would join her and my Sister at Cliveden Hotel for afternoon tea, and everything was set for the afternoon.
I pulled up today outside the hotel, the concierge offered his help, I asked for disabled parking. He informed Cliveden had none but very grudgingly let me park next to a car half way down the car park. I drive a 3 year old Volvo S60, it is not a wreck and quite respectable. My Sister joined me a few minutes later, in her brand new BMW Z4, she just parked near the door, he never even looked, so you just need a nice car, or good figure!!!!
I never reacted to this, we were at the hotel for afternoon tea, to spoil my Mother for her 70th Birthday.
There is no disabled ramp access, I have a walker device to help my mobility, but with help from my Mother and Sister, I was able to get up the steps to the hotel. No comment was made by any staff, no help or alternative was offered. We were shown to a table, and again no "easy" route was suggested, had there been people at other tables I would have had further problems. So either the staff were embarrassed or just plain ignorant!!!
Afternoon tea was very good, and the staff were very attentive and I could not fault their service. At least there is a plus point here.
And then the major issue arose..............
I needed the toilet, I went off looking for the disabled facilities, the easy access facilities designed with the disabled in mind. The ones on the same level, with no steps to negotiate, and maybe a little wider than normal with a few handles as well.
Firstly a cleaner pointed at the "Gents" so I struggled down 4 steps, with my walker, but the toilet was down a spiral type staircase. I can't go down those with the walker. So I struggle back to the lounge, find a member of staff and ask for the disabled toilet, after a few minutes of consultation with a colleague, I am told the apparently only disabled toilet is "out of order!!"
My Mother and Sister suggested I used a "Ladies" toilet whilst they stopped others coming in. The staff thought that was a good idea!! So I struggled down another 4 steps, used the "Ladies" whilst my Mother and Sister stood guard. Maybe if they had rifles they could have marched up and down as well!!
I have MS, I was diagnosed back in 2007, through the progression of the illness I have been forced to use the walker since about 2010. In all that time today was the first time I have EVER been embarrassed through being disabled and having to use a walker.
I never thought of parking as an imposition, I never thought that I drove an embarrassment of a car, perhaps I should have used my Wife's Volvo XC90 instead. I certainly would never have felt that an establishment of the calibre that Cliveden claims to be would not have disabled facilities and a contingency plan in place if existing facilities are not in use.
Maybe they were meant to say "if I walked into the ground and cocked my leg against a tree like a dog, or maybe added to the water in the fountain lake................."
So I just wanted to spout off here a bit, because I was left a bit, or actually a lot, deflated, and surprised that in this age of disabled focus, and when the Para-Olympics have just been such a high profile, how anywhere, and especially somewhere of Cliveden's calibre and alleged excellence, can be so bad at dealing with a fairly low level disabled person!!!
Normally, and I had made a pact not to, I was not going to use this Blog to rant about MS and stuff, but just his once..............
Let me set the scene -
Today was my Mother's 70th birthday, after I had ribbed her for being old and told her she really should now consider an OAP home(!!), I deliberately never told her I would join her and my Sister at Cliveden Hotel for afternoon tea, and everything was set for the afternoon.
I pulled up today outside the hotel, the concierge offered his help, I asked for disabled parking. He informed Cliveden had none but very grudgingly let me park next to a car half way down the car park. I drive a 3 year old Volvo S60, it is not a wreck and quite respectable. My Sister joined me a few minutes later, in her brand new BMW Z4, she just parked near the door, he never even looked, so you just need a nice car, or good figure!!!!
I never reacted to this, we were at the hotel for afternoon tea, to spoil my Mother for her 70th Birthday.
There is no disabled ramp access, I have a walker device to help my mobility, but with help from my Mother and Sister, I was able to get up the steps to the hotel. No comment was made by any staff, no help or alternative was offered. We were shown to a table, and again no "easy" route was suggested, had there been people at other tables I would have had further problems. So either the staff were embarrassed or just plain ignorant!!!
Afternoon tea was very good, and the staff were very attentive and I could not fault their service. At least there is a plus point here.
And then the major issue arose..............
I needed the toilet, I went off looking for the disabled facilities, the easy access facilities designed with the disabled in mind. The ones on the same level, with no steps to negotiate, and maybe a little wider than normal with a few handles as well.
Firstly a cleaner pointed at the "Gents" so I struggled down 4 steps, with my walker, but the toilet was down a spiral type staircase. I can't go down those with the walker. So I struggle back to the lounge, find a member of staff and ask for the disabled toilet, after a few minutes of consultation with a colleague, I am told the apparently only disabled toilet is "out of order!!"
My Mother and Sister suggested I used a "Ladies" toilet whilst they stopped others coming in. The staff thought that was a good idea!! So I struggled down another 4 steps, used the "Ladies" whilst my Mother and Sister stood guard. Maybe if they had rifles they could have marched up and down as well!!
I have MS, I was diagnosed back in 2007, through the progression of the illness I have been forced to use the walker since about 2010. In all that time today was the first time I have EVER been embarrassed through being disabled and having to use a walker.
I never thought of parking as an imposition, I never thought that I drove an embarrassment of a car, perhaps I should have used my Wife's Volvo XC90 instead. I certainly would never have felt that an establishment of the calibre that Cliveden claims to be would not have disabled facilities and a contingency plan in place if existing facilities are not in use.
Maybe they were meant to say "if I walked into the ground and cocked my leg against a tree like a dog, or maybe added to the water in the fountain lake................."
So I just wanted to spout off here a bit, because I was left a bit, or actually a lot, deflated, and surprised that in this age of disabled focus, and when the Para-Olympics have just been such a high profile, how anywhere, and especially somewhere of Cliveden's calibre and alleged excellence, can be so bad at dealing with a fairly low level disabled person!!!
Tuesday 18 September 2012
Food, Food, Food..............
I was on a well known Social Media site the other day, and reading through peoples various posts. Some were funny, some sad and some were just a narrative on events of life.
And then I read a post from a friend who is the Fiancée of one of my oldest friends; a person who went through school with me, shared teenage life with me and lots of significant events in our history with me. I am proud to say that lots of things could not have happened without him being there. To be totally honest, along with another very long standing friend, also from when I was only about 7 or 8, he is similar to a brother!!!
As we left school and went to college I went the "A" level route and he went the chef route, so he learnt to cook, and he used this skill to very good effect for a good few years whilst working for some household names such as The Dorchester or Trust House Forte Group.
It was this training and success that has led his future wife to doubt herself, and try to emulate some of his work, now I want to turn the clock right back in my history, and show my culinary upbringing, and explain why this effects my friend...................
My Mother, and I am not speaking ill, or breaking a confidence, cannot cook!!! From the early days of her ill fated marriage to my Father her complete inability continued to amaze.
For a wedding gift she received a cookbook that suggested she needed a "pint of potatoes" my Father found her crying over a milk bottle trying to get potato out of it, this is a true story!!
My Mother went from bad to worse, one of my earliest memories is of a dinner party at my house, my Father, who ate no meat just fish, but was a good cook, told my mother merely to pod the peas. Surely a simple job??!! Having spent hours podding peas, all that was left was the cooking, this never happened, she dropped the peas!!! They went everywhere, Birds Eye to the rescue and the inevitable screams and shouts that took place still reverberate in my head some 35 years later when I think of this occurrence.
So having painted a picture let me sum up her cooking method, that still exists today -
And then I read a post from a friend who is the Fiancée of one of my oldest friends; a person who went through school with me, shared teenage life with me and lots of significant events in our history with me. I am proud to say that lots of things could not have happened without him being there. To be totally honest, along with another very long standing friend, also from when I was only about 7 or 8, he is similar to a brother!!!
As we left school and went to college I went the "A" level route and he went the chef route, so he learnt to cook, and he used this skill to very good effect for a good few years whilst working for some household names such as The Dorchester or Trust House Forte Group.
It was this training and success that has led his future wife to doubt herself, and try to emulate some of his work, now I want to turn the clock right back in my history, and show my culinary upbringing, and explain why this effects my friend...................
My Mother, and I am not speaking ill, or breaking a confidence, cannot cook!!! From the early days of her ill fated marriage to my Father her complete inability continued to amaze.
For a wedding gift she received a cookbook that suggested she needed a "pint of potatoes" my Father found her crying over a milk bottle trying to get potato out of it, this is a true story!!
My Mother went from bad to worse, one of my earliest memories is of a dinner party at my house, my Father, who ate no meat just fish, but was a good cook, told my mother merely to pod the peas. Surely a simple job??!! Having spent hours podding peas, all that was left was the cooking, this never happened, she dropped the peas!!! They went everywhere, Birds Eye to the rescue and the inevitable screams and shouts that took place still reverberate in my head some 35 years later when I think of this occurrence.
So having painted a picture let me sum up her cooking method, that still exists today -
- Cook side 1 until it catches fire, then blow out flames.
- Cook side 2 until it catches fire, then blow out flames.
- Serve!!!
I need to just elaborate on my upbringing slightly here, in 1988 I met my Wife, I soon was invited to a Sunday Lunch at her house. I was just, literally just by a few weeks, 19 and until then had NEVER had a Sunday Lunch or roast dinner. When I was told that the Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Grandparents, and Cousins were all going to be there I asked if it was a birthday or similar, and was most stunned to be told this was normal!! In weeks that followed I had Sunday Lunch at "Nannie and Grandads" and "Aunt and Uncles" as a result I am very close with all the family!!! But Sunday together and eating is normal and "the done thing. I never knew this.
And let me now explain how this picture also effects how my friend and I grew up and why he may not have told his wife a few details.................
I was the original latch key kid, that is not a complaint, we had a big house and garden, the river and a big pond. I knew three bounces of the Space Hopper and then "Whack!!" and my sister flew to the middle of the pond, and our village was small enough to be safe and back in the late 70's early 80's every adult was a parent and we all knew everyone else.
As a latch key kid we fended a lot for ourselves, after my parents divorced this was even easier as I was now living in a nice top floor flat, in an even safer road, with its own balcony, entry and garden. But remember my Mother still could not cook, so before going to work she would leave a sandwich or money to spend at the bakers and she then had to go.
Enter my friend..............
My Mother had instant Smash, a strange soya ready meal thing called Bean Feast, bread, salt and pepper.
We would have Smash sandwiches, Bean Feast sandwiches. I have known my friend eat a salt and pepper sandwich!! We didn't trust normal food, because who knew when it was bought, my Sister only ate Coco Pops or spaghetti and my Mother ate Cottage Cheese and boiled eggs because a weird diet said she should!!!
So we ate Smash and Bean Feast, bolognase or some sort of day-glow yellow curry flavour. So my friends fiancée may be worrying, but I say STOP!! Just show this to the big guy, and when he stops laughing, he will be humble and be quiet, and of course if this doesn't work give him a Smash Sandwich!!!!
Thursday 13 September 2012
My mother is my brothers son, maybe............
I was sat here the other day watching a certain, and very popular, morning daytime television program. This was not a program from which I could enter a competition from which I could win huge amounts of money and other prizes, if I answered a seemingly silly question, such as -
What colour is an orange?
a) Blue
b) Orange
c) Green
I am almost tempted to answer "a)" just for the sheer stupidity!!!
So, having established it is a show on ITV, and not the one with Holly and Phil............
I want to explain why we all should view the earlier show, learn from what we see, and also take comfort from the issues and situations we have been privy to!!
Let us start with what seems to be a normal situation -
A young (trailer trash type) girl appears on screen, she is over 16, for legal reasons, she has a few children, and one of them, probably called something like Britney or worse, has an equally young Father, who is the Father of 2 or 3 other children as well, because he doesn't like condoms, and even if he does he cannot speak enough to actually go into a shop and buy them!! But alas for poor Britney, he denies she is his as he only slept with her Mother a dozen times, and as she is known as the local bike, Britney could be someone else's, besides Chardonnay, the trailer trash, has said he's not the dad so he can't be!!!
Then her friend starts shouting abuse from the audience, our poor host is getting lost here, in desperation he gets the mother and potential fathers mother out. They hate each other, they have never met, they have never spoken, and yet before anyone has chance to move they are hurling abuse at each other!!
Why, why are these two so angry? because it turns out that unbeknown to the children the two mothers are also estranged sisters!! So now Chardonnay has a child by her cousin, that she never knew she had, and she hates him as well, and now there is a grey area as the law may have been broken!!!
Chardonnay wants a DNA test done to shut up Darren, the father, once and for all, that was all she wanted, suddenly she has a huge can of worms...........
"The DNA results show....... well, well, well, Darren, this needed doing when Britney was younger than the 4 she is now, but, this little girl, is.............NOT your daughter, I am really sorry!!"
At this point Darren starts crying, suddenly he wanted to be Dad, the mother goes mad and Chardonnay storms off, The Host follows,
"What now, do you know who is the father??"
Chardonnay reveals then and only then, that she thinks there may be 6 people in the frame for father, but if it is not one of those it is definitely one of the other 8 she knows of!!!
And so the show rolls on................
This is why we should watch this show, sometimes we watch this with our mouths open and we see the
mother as her brothers son, literally!!
But the show serves a real purpose; in life everyone has ups and downs, we all suffer from periods when things are not looking good or going as planned. Sometimes we call it depression, or bad luck or just being plain fed up. This is where the show cuts in -
No matter how bad things seem, no matter how many blind alleys we find ourselves in, when we watch this show and then we see all these, and I apologise, but, "numptys" who seem to be without any idea, we suddenly realise that our lives, and issues are actually fairly insignificant and nothing to worry about.
So, I implore everyone to watch the Jeremy Kyle Show, and when the amazement in you drops away, smile and realise how easy things really are!!!!
What colour is an orange?
a) Blue
b) Orange
c) Green
I am almost tempted to answer "a)" just for the sheer stupidity!!!
So, having established it is a show on ITV, and not the one with Holly and Phil............
I want to explain why we all should view the earlier show, learn from what we see, and also take comfort from the issues and situations we have been privy to!!
Let us start with what seems to be a normal situation -
A young (trailer trash type) girl appears on screen, she is over 16, for legal reasons, she has a few children, and one of them, probably called something like Britney or worse, has an equally young Father, who is the Father of 2 or 3 other children as well, because he doesn't like condoms, and even if he does he cannot speak enough to actually go into a shop and buy them!! But alas for poor Britney, he denies she is his as he only slept with her Mother a dozen times, and as she is known as the local bike, Britney could be someone else's, besides Chardonnay, the trailer trash, has said he's not the dad so he can't be!!!
Then her friend starts shouting abuse from the audience, our poor host is getting lost here, in desperation he gets the mother and potential fathers mother out. They hate each other, they have never met, they have never spoken, and yet before anyone has chance to move they are hurling abuse at each other!!
Why, why are these two so angry? because it turns out that unbeknown to the children the two mothers are also estranged sisters!! So now Chardonnay has a child by her cousin, that she never knew she had, and she hates him as well, and now there is a grey area as the law may have been broken!!!
Chardonnay wants a DNA test done to shut up Darren, the father, once and for all, that was all she wanted, suddenly she has a huge can of worms...........
"The DNA results show....... well, well, well, Darren, this needed doing when Britney was younger than the 4 she is now, but, this little girl, is.............NOT your daughter, I am really sorry!!"
At this point Darren starts crying, suddenly he wanted to be Dad, the mother goes mad and Chardonnay storms off, The Host follows,
"What now, do you know who is the father??"
Chardonnay reveals then and only then, that she thinks there may be 6 people in the frame for father, but if it is not one of those it is definitely one of the other 8 she knows of!!!
And so the show rolls on................
This is why we should watch this show, sometimes we watch this with our mouths open and we see the
mother as her brothers son, literally!!
But the show serves a real purpose; in life everyone has ups and downs, we all suffer from periods when things are not looking good or going as planned. Sometimes we call it depression, or bad luck or just being plain fed up. This is where the show cuts in -
No matter how bad things seem, no matter how many blind alleys we find ourselves in, when we watch this show and then we see all these, and I apologise, but, "numptys" who seem to be without any idea, we suddenly realise that our lives, and issues are actually fairly insignificant and nothing to worry about.
So, I implore everyone to watch the Jeremy Kyle Show, and when the amazement in you drops away, smile and realise how easy things really are!!!!
Sunday 9 September 2012
The end of the Summer
I need to start by stating that this is not a rant about the end of the season, and Christmas coming and everything that can be tied into that. A melancholy tirade about the end of another year that is approaching.
If we turn around the negativity associated with the end of anything, we could say that this is this START of quarter 4 of the year. So actually this is a start!!!
I see events during the year as significant and show the start or end of periods. Easter is also the start of Summer, Later Summer Bank Holiday is the last one before Christmas, Valentines Day means Easter is coming, I could carry on.
However, the most significant event has just taken place, it took place yesterday (the 8th September), it always occurs on this weekend in September, the actual date maybe the 8th or 9th, it may even be the 11th or 12th, but it still a very important date.
From when I used to watch this event as a small child, right through to yesterday, the format has never changed. A first half of various classical tunes, and a second programme of traditional music, responses, dances and occurrences. Always finished with Jerusalem, the National Anthem and then Auld Lang Syne led by the Promenaders themselves in readiness for next year.
So why is this event so important, so significant that it sets the scene for a whole sequence that unfolds for the future. The Last Night of the Proms is the event that symbolises, more than any other occurrence, the end of Summer. It matters not how hot the weather is, it matters not if there is not a cloud in the sky and it has not rained for weeks. The Proms is the end of summer, regardless!!
As I sit here, I have watched signs to prove my statement over and over again. Yesterday it was still fairly light at about 8pm. Tonight, ,one day after the Proms, it was lights on at home by 7.30pm!!! One day on and summer has ended and the nights are drawing in already. I predict that within 2 weeks the heating is being put on, and on a regular basis, as the temperature starts to fall as the balmy days (poetic licence!!) of late summer draw to a close.
But, I just want to stress a point, I want to reiterate my earlier statement, this is not a doom and gloom rant, this is a post to point out that the End of Summer has been highlighted to us, so now we have a few days, maybe a week or so, to enjoy what was, look back at Summer and smile!!
And now look forward to a new season, the start of Quarter 4, and the beginning of the traditions, customs and family quirks that the seasons of Autumn and Winter bring.
What unique events signify the end of these seasons..................
If we turn around the negativity associated with the end of anything, we could say that this is this START of quarter 4 of the year. So actually this is a start!!!
I see events during the year as significant and show the start or end of periods. Easter is also the start of Summer, Later Summer Bank Holiday is the last one before Christmas, Valentines Day means Easter is coming, I could carry on.
However, the most significant event has just taken place, it took place yesterday (the 8th September), it always occurs on this weekend in September, the actual date maybe the 8th or 9th, it may even be the 11th or 12th, but it still a very important date.
From when I used to watch this event as a small child, right through to yesterday, the format has never changed. A first half of various classical tunes, and a second programme of traditional music, responses, dances and occurrences. Always finished with Jerusalem, the National Anthem and then Auld Lang Syne led by the Promenaders themselves in readiness for next year.
So why is this event so important, so significant that it sets the scene for a whole sequence that unfolds for the future. The Last Night of the Proms is the event that symbolises, more than any other occurrence, the end of Summer. It matters not how hot the weather is, it matters not if there is not a cloud in the sky and it has not rained for weeks. The Proms is the end of summer, regardless!!
As I sit here, I have watched signs to prove my statement over and over again. Yesterday it was still fairly light at about 8pm. Tonight, ,one day after the Proms, it was lights on at home by 7.30pm!!! One day on and summer has ended and the nights are drawing in already. I predict that within 2 weeks the heating is being put on, and on a regular basis, as the temperature starts to fall as the balmy days (poetic licence!!) of late summer draw to a close.
But, I just want to stress a point, I want to reiterate my earlier statement, this is not a doom and gloom rant, this is a post to point out that the End of Summer has been highlighted to us, so now we have a few days, maybe a week or so, to enjoy what was, look back at Summer and smile!!
And now look forward to a new season, the start of Quarter 4, and the beginning of the traditions, customs and family quirks that the seasons of Autumn and Winter bring.
What unique events signify the end of these seasons..................
Friday 7 September 2012
Inspirational Quotes
“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” - Bill Copeland
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them. Inspiring Quotes-Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person. - Mignon McLaughlin
Behind us are memories, beside us are loved ones, ahead of us are dreams.
Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realise that were the big things.
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them. Inspiring Quotes-Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person. - Mignon McLaughlin
Behind us are memories, beside us are loved ones, ahead of us are dreams.
Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realise that were the big things.
And I could fill pages and pages, with quote after quote, designed to offer inspirational thoughts to us from people in all walks of life and from all periods throughout history.
The question is, however, are we inspired or do we merely see these quotes as the opposite, purely here to show what can be done and achieved whilst we struggle to even manage the simplest of tasks!!
I am well aware that to make things happen I really should put in place a goal to aim at, or else I will just run up and down achieving nothing. Do I need Bill Copeland to point this out to me? Did I need his genius to tell me that I am meandering around doing very little!!
Am I inspired or just plain fed up because another smart-arse is pointing out the obvious, that will be the smart-arse who is probably not thinking how to pay the mortgage, credit card bills or anything else, because making statements like this are quite happily making him a wage.
Sometimes these quotes mean nothing, and yet we still say "wow, what a great quote!!"
I am sorry, what total rubbish!! what does the Henry David Thoreau quote really mean? A castle in the sky, that would be a personal dream of mine, and it would not be a reality, ever, so how can I put a foundation under it!!!
There are people who are masters of the rubbish quote, that they thought was inspirational -
Ronald Reagan: Nations do not mistrust each other because they are armed; they are armed because they mistrust each other.
Ronald Reagan: "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency -- even if I'm in a Cabinet meeting."
Ronald Reagan: "Well, I learned a lot....I went down to (Latin America) to find out from them and (learn) their views. You'd be surprised. They're all individual countries"
Bill Clinton: As we have throughout this century, we will lead with the power of our example, but be prepared, when necessary, to make an example of our power.
An empty head is not really empty; it is stuffed with rubbish. Hence the difficulty of forcing anything into an empty head. - Eric Hoffer
Worryingly Reagan seems to have a staring role here!! But we just need to look at the quotes, digest, and then realize they are total rubbish. However I look at things I cannot glean inspiration from knowing my head is full of rubbish!!
So how can a quote inspire me? Some thing's I read must, when I read of a Para-Olympians triumph over adversity to then win a gold medal, I might be inspired. Not inspired to be an athlete, but inspired that in their world they needed to prove their athletic prowess existed and that disability would not hinder them. In my world acceptance of what is past and what is present is an issue, so an inspiration to me has to ignite a flame to overcome this challenge.
The inspirational quote to the athlete may have been something totally non related to their circumstances, it may have had nothing to do with sport. They may have felt that when Richard Bach said “The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.” was so inspirational they just took that as their mantra and took on the world!!
Thus in reality any quote, from a one liner from a Christmas cracker, through to a Shakespeare monologue can be viewed as an inspirational quote. The words take on a meaning that in theory is unique to every reader.
A joke - A man walks into a bar, Ouch!!
Somebody seeing this may draw inspiration..........
An example if I had a drink problem I might see this as my inspiration and mantra in that I would say it every time I walked past a bar and wanted / needed a drink.
I walk into that bar - OUCH!!!
I am reminded of consequences, my choice is then to face the demons or take the consequences; inspiration from a silly one line joke!!
Therefore, I can say I feel some quotes are rubbish, I would say some statements out of certain peoples mouths are just dangerous in their stupidity, but, I have to accept that my opinions are just that, opinions!!
I cannot make people accept my point of view as correct, unreservedly, any more than I can be made to accept theirs. An inspirational quote is just that, and remains, as inspirational as it is needed to be.
Wednesday 5 September 2012
Desert Island Discs Re-Visited
A while ago, actually a long while ago, I offered a suggestion of what I might take if I was lucky enough to be put on an Island with a few discs and a few luxuries.
Now in 2012 I want to the the liberty of revisiting this, picking 10 songs, a book and a luxury. Have things changed that much since 2008..............
1) Someone Like You - Adele: This song paints a picture of what might happen if you don't seize the moment. I know I am bad at this, I am the original example of "do as I say not as I do" but this song shows the extreme. If you do not tell your partner how you feel do not be surprised if they marry someone else!!
2) Believe - Trans Siberian Orchestra: Everything about this song explains why some sort of belief is necessary in life. I am not saying everyone needs to suddenly find religion, or rush to Church, Mosque or Temple, but this song shows, and clearly says, that regardless someone is always there for everyone, we just have to believe this and ask. A little like "Your wish is my command" but this is not materialistic, this is for help and support, and this makes the song special, sometimes we all need reminding.
3) This is Your Song - Ronan Keating: A song for everyone's Mother, and mine, and every time I here it it reminds me that although we may sometimes have different views, or strange words, it is still my Mother and this song is special for that reason alone.
4) Hallelujah - Bon Jovi: There are lots of versions of this song, everyone has tried it, Jeff Buckley did it first and everyone else followed. The version in Shrek is great, but, the Bon Jovi version is just a reminder that after all is said and done Jon Bon Jovi still does justice to great songs like this!! He did Dead or Alive all those years ago, and this is not that removed. The song has great lyrics and is just a great version of a classic Leonard Cohen song.
5) For Cryin Out Loud - Meatloaf: We have all been there, whether we were 14 or 40, we poured out our hearts to a prospective partner, but "for cryin out loud" it just wasn't quite sinking in, they were always there, always helping and listening and then "bang!!!" you realize and they haven't yet, and the song lets you pour your heart out!!
6) Goodbye my Lover - James Blunt: When things go wrong, and an end appears on the horizon there is nothing other than heartbreak, the end may not be caused by anything deceitful or offensive, it may just be a natural progression, it may be, God forbid, a real end, whatever it is emotions will be blown all over the park. This song tries to show these emotions from one slant, and bring them back, it doesn't look for an excuse, or forgiveness, it just highlights the past and how the future will be felt. A moving tribute to a possible occurrence.
7) Fairytale of New York - The Pogues: The definitive song for Christmas, but also just a song for always. When Kirsty Mcoll died tragically the music industry lost a huge talent. The song just epitomises everything about Christmas, relationships, New York life in general and also still has a good feeling about it, so for that reason alone off to the Island it goes.
8) Say a Little Prayer - Bomb the Bass: In 1988 my Wife and I became a couple, this song became "our song" way back then, lots of people have released versions of it, but this version is just slow and somehow part of the whole 80's thing. The song remains, as does me and my Wife, we have never been apart since and this song will always stay with me.
9) Yellow - G4: I just love this version of yellow!! I know it is not the original, but it is just better to my ears, I am maybe older and prefer the more classical song, but it is great and coming with!!
The 10th, and last song, possibly the hardest to choose, I have spent a while, but here it is.........
10) The Prince of Peace - Trans Siberian Orchestra: This song is from the first TSO album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, in the Christmas Trilogy. I first found the TSO back in about 2004 when looking for a certain song, I fell in love with their music right there and then. I quickly had parts 1 and 2 of the trilogy and Beethoven's Last Night, and eagerly awaited part 3 of the trilogy at the back end of 2004.
In the middle of 2004 my Father's cancer got worse, and his return to Cyprus was not possible, I often had the TSO albums on in my car as I journeyed to see him in London.
In November 2004 I got that fateful call telling me to get to London, and I was in Birmingham with my terminally ill Grandmother (another tale), just over an hour later I was in London!! On my car radio this song was playing, the TSO were on in my car when I left the hospital 3 days later. When I now hear these albums, especially this song, it reminds me of my Dad. Not the bad end, but the nice times, the fun and the good times. This song, and the others, are just the catalyst to awaken those memories.
I am not living in the past, playing this over and over, but when I hear it I smile, so I'll bring it to the Island and smile when I need to!!
The book -
Right, I get a Bible, and Shakespeare, can't wait to think how to use that(!!), but I need a book, I am a massive advocate of eBook readers, they are the best thing for those of limited dexterity. You will never replace a books feel and smell. The joy of turning crisp new pages cannot be replicated, but, with my eBook I don't loose my page, drop it or struggle with the weight, so I want one of those not real books please, I think I can argue that on medical grounds!!
For a book that is hard, I still love The Dark Materials Trilogy, but I have read so much!! I know every Wilbur Smith intimately, I have enjoyed all Dan Brown books, I keep hearing of 50 Shades of Grey, The Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy..............
It has to be The Dark Materials Trilogy.
The Luxury Item -
That is easy, I am very fussy, I just want a never ending supply of Shea Butter Toilet Roll, as I am used to!!!
The correct wiping of my bottom is very important to me, and I do not hold with leaves and stuff. When I go away I take rolls with me!!!
Now in 2012 I want to the the liberty of revisiting this, picking 10 songs, a book and a luxury. Have things changed that much since 2008..............
1) Someone Like You - Adele: This song paints a picture of what might happen if you don't seize the moment. I know I am bad at this, I am the original example of "do as I say not as I do" but this song shows the extreme. If you do not tell your partner how you feel do not be surprised if they marry someone else!!
2) Believe - Trans Siberian Orchestra: Everything about this song explains why some sort of belief is necessary in life. I am not saying everyone needs to suddenly find religion, or rush to Church, Mosque or Temple, but this song shows, and clearly says, that regardless someone is always there for everyone, we just have to believe this and ask. A little like "Your wish is my command" but this is not materialistic, this is for help and support, and this makes the song special, sometimes we all need reminding.
3) This is Your Song - Ronan Keating: A song for everyone's Mother, and mine, and every time I here it it reminds me that although we may sometimes have different views, or strange words, it is still my Mother and this song is special for that reason alone.
4) Hallelujah - Bon Jovi: There are lots of versions of this song, everyone has tried it, Jeff Buckley did it first and everyone else followed. The version in Shrek is great, but, the Bon Jovi version is just a reminder that after all is said and done Jon Bon Jovi still does justice to great songs like this!! He did Dead or Alive all those years ago, and this is not that removed. The song has great lyrics and is just a great version of a classic Leonard Cohen song.
5) For Cryin Out Loud - Meatloaf: We have all been there, whether we were 14 or 40, we poured out our hearts to a prospective partner, but "for cryin out loud" it just wasn't quite sinking in, they were always there, always helping and listening and then "bang!!!" you realize and they haven't yet, and the song lets you pour your heart out!!
6) Goodbye my Lover - James Blunt: When things go wrong, and an end appears on the horizon there is nothing other than heartbreak, the end may not be caused by anything deceitful or offensive, it may just be a natural progression, it may be, God forbid, a real end, whatever it is emotions will be blown all over the park. This song tries to show these emotions from one slant, and bring them back, it doesn't look for an excuse, or forgiveness, it just highlights the past and how the future will be felt. A moving tribute to a possible occurrence.
7) Fairytale of New York - The Pogues: The definitive song for Christmas, but also just a song for always. When Kirsty Mcoll died tragically the music industry lost a huge talent. The song just epitomises everything about Christmas, relationships, New York life in general and also still has a good feeling about it, so for that reason alone off to the Island it goes.
8) Say a Little Prayer - Bomb the Bass: In 1988 my Wife and I became a couple, this song became "our song" way back then, lots of people have released versions of it, but this version is just slow and somehow part of the whole 80's thing. The song remains, as does me and my Wife, we have never been apart since and this song will always stay with me.
9) Yellow - G4: I just love this version of yellow!! I know it is not the original, but it is just better to my ears, I am maybe older and prefer the more classical song, but it is great and coming with!!
The 10th, and last song, possibly the hardest to choose, I have spent a while, but here it is.........
10) The Prince of Peace - Trans Siberian Orchestra: This song is from the first TSO album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, in the Christmas Trilogy. I first found the TSO back in about 2004 when looking for a certain song, I fell in love with their music right there and then. I quickly had parts 1 and 2 of the trilogy and Beethoven's Last Night, and eagerly awaited part 3 of the trilogy at the back end of 2004.
In the middle of 2004 my Father's cancer got worse, and his return to Cyprus was not possible, I often had the TSO albums on in my car as I journeyed to see him in London.
In November 2004 I got that fateful call telling me to get to London, and I was in Birmingham with my terminally ill Grandmother (another tale), just over an hour later I was in London!! On my car radio this song was playing, the TSO were on in my car when I left the hospital 3 days later. When I now hear these albums, especially this song, it reminds me of my Dad. Not the bad end, but the nice times, the fun and the good times. This song, and the others, are just the catalyst to awaken those memories.
I am not living in the past, playing this over and over, but when I hear it I smile, so I'll bring it to the Island and smile when I need to!!
The book -
Right, I get a Bible, and Shakespeare, can't wait to think how to use that(!!), but I need a book, I am a massive advocate of eBook readers, they are the best thing for those of limited dexterity. You will never replace a books feel and smell. The joy of turning crisp new pages cannot be replicated, but, with my eBook I don't loose my page, drop it or struggle with the weight, so I want one of those not real books please, I think I can argue that on medical grounds!!
For a book that is hard, I still love The Dark Materials Trilogy, but I have read so much!! I know every Wilbur Smith intimately, I have enjoyed all Dan Brown books, I keep hearing of 50 Shades of Grey, The Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy..............
It has to be The Dark Materials Trilogy.
The Luxury Item -
That is easy, I am very fussy, I just want a never ending supply of Shea Butter Toilet Roll, as I am used to!!!
The correct wiping of my bottom is very important to me, and I do not hold with leaves and stuff. When I go away I take rolls with me!!!
Sunday 2 September 2012
The end of school holidays
We're bored, we want to do something, we want to go somewhere?
Where can we go and spend money, where can we go and spend your money??
How many parents have had conversations revolving around these statements over the last 7 weeks or so? How many parents have lived in fear of what would come next if the holidays carried on much longer!!
As we sit here, most of us have spent the last week doing the "uniform thing". Buying sports clothes and new shoes and making sure that everything is named so it can be easily identified, when, in the first week it is lost!!!
But why do schools still play the game of trying to be unique and making their pupils have uniform that can only be bought from certain shops and not from the usual budget haunts that are used, not purely because we are "cheapskates" but because our children will -
- grow out
- ruin
- lose
- refuse to wear
- never have to wear
- swap
A large proportion of this so called bespoke uniform, so I do not feel it unreasonable of me to be happier if this is happening to a £3.00 shirt rather than the £20.00 shirt that the school insists upon!!
So I have a theory here, a theory based upon a certain amount of experience, learned from many years of business. One made without prejudice, so don't come after me with a big stick, but I sort of smell a rat here.........
Why would a school insist I buy uniform at an over-inflated price from a specific shop?
- The aforementioned uniform is not of such a stunning quality it is unique.
- The clothes are not of a material that grows with my children.
- The clothes do not have a homing device fitted so they cannot be lost.
- If they are "borrowed" by another, they don't cover a new owner with a permanent ink.
- They are not coated with some sort of coating so they can't be ruined.
- They don't have an auto-wear facility so they must be worn.
- They always stay in fashion, so they are never threatened with not being worn.
All of these make you ask why I can't purchase shirts from Tesco or Blazers from Matalan??
Well here is a possibility, it is not proven and only a thought, but it is a possible one and does make sense -
If we have to use the shop that the school says, and we have to pay the stupid prices as told by the shop, is it not a reasonable assumption to make, that the school is therefore receiving a healthy back hander from the shop, or if not the actual school, maybe the head, secretary or selected other people who are telling us to go to the shop!!!
So if my theory is correct, and because I have a thing about under handed methods, I would rather pay the school fund £20.00 up front and then shop where I want. I appreciate this is controversial, but that is my view!!
Any others?????
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