It's often been said that football is a funny old game. Today my team Newcastle United takes on their greatest rivals Sunderland. This is a fixture which has been played well over one hundred times and every time the next game comes round I and many others have the same feelings of nervous tension until it is all over. There's really no need, it after all only a game but try telling that to the thousands of people at the game and watching on tv.
This game matters to the followers of both teams a huge amount and sets the tone in each city for months to come. After the debacle last season where Sunderland ran out easy winners at Newcastle's home ground many have been waiting for this game with eager anticipation. Especially Newcastle supporters who would dearly like to gain revenge at the home of their old enemy.
Speaking of enmity, it seems that over the last few years there has built up a degree of hatred between the fans of each side which I never knew as a youngster. I knew people who had season tickets for both clubs and attended the games of whichever team was playing at home. Nowadays that would be seen as treachery.
Sad really that things have come to this as it does take away some of the enjoyment of the game and the discussions afterwards when people seem to lose any sense of perspective they may have and revert to tribalism.
Anyway, I hope that today's game is a sporting occasion with both sides giving their utmost, the fans supporting their respective teams with gusto and no silliness from the numpty brigade who like to cause bother.
Here's to a good game and a win for the Mighty Magpies. ttfn.
Sunday 27 October 2013
Friday 25 October 2013
You may recall...
...that I have been writing The Story now for quite some time. The last time I looked in on Bob it was 30 July, he had just married the lovely Helen and embarked on a new life on a smallholding not far from Cleveland OH.
I think the time has come over this next week in the evenings whilst I'm in Leeds and perhaps also when I'm not gambling drinking or fornicating in Vegas to get a good run at it and move Bob and his beautiful bride forward. They must be sick of sitting in that cabin waiting for me to give them an idea of where they are going in life.
ttfn
I think the time has come over this next week in the evenings whilst I'm in Leeds and perhaps also when I'm not gambling drinking or fornicating in Vegas to get a good run at it and move Bob and his beautiful bride forward. They must be sick of sitting in that cabin waiting for me to give them an idea of where they are going in life.
ttfn
Thursday 24 October 2013
Just a thought.
When a relationship ends what is it that is missed? Is it the person or the relationship? Maybe its a combination of both, who knows? I certainly don't.
As I say, just a thought. ttfn
As I say, just a thought. ttfn
Endings.
Why is it that things have to come to an end? I asked myself this question when a friend said on her Facebook page that she was dreading her Grandma's funeral today. I'm sure we can all empathise with that feeling as most of us will have lost a loved one at one time or another and had to face the prospect of laying them to rest.
Why does this have to be? All things end at some time, childhood, relationships and eventually life. We are of course finite beings with a lifespan which comes to an end when our bodies wear out, even the fittest and healthiest of us come to that inevitable conclusion.
Perhaps the best solution to dealing with these endings is to make sure that even though we are gone, and I'm not just talking about once we are dead, I'm also thinking of when relationships end, that we leave behind us a legacy of kindness and compassion so that when we are no longer around people will remember us with a smile and maybe miss us a little bit.
It may be that if a relationship has ended badly because of the behaviour of one partner or another or someone who was a complete swine during their life has died it will be difficult to remember that person fondly. That said, perhaps we should use the bad behaviour of these people as a lesson for us and treat people with kindness and compassion so that when we are gone people can say, 'do you recall old so-and-so? What a lovely person, I do miss them' and maybe they will live their lives in a more kindly fashion and make the world a better place.
I know of course that there will always be haters, the prejudiced who make others lives a misery, I'm not so silly as to think that everyone will be kind, there are too many selfish people around these days for that to happen. What I do suggest is that if each of us who is willing tries to live life in a caring and compassionate way maybe we can influence the odd hater to change their approach. One is better than none, and on that note I'll say, ttfn.
Why does this have to be? All things end at some time, childhood, relationships and eventually life. We are of course finite beings with a lifespan which comes to an end when our bodies wear out, even the fittest and healthiest of us come to that inevitable conclusion.
Perhaps the best solution to dealing with these endings is to make sure that even though we are gone, and I'm not just talking about once we are dead, I'm also thinking of when relationships end, that we leave behind us a legacy of kindness and compassion so that when we are no longer around people will remember us with a smile and maybe miss us a little bit.
It may be that if a relationship has ended badly because of the behaviour of one partner or another or someone who was a complete swine during their life has died it will be difficult to remember that person fondly. That said, perhaps we should use the bad behaviour of these people as a lesson for us and treat people with kindness and compassion so that when we are gone people can say, 'do you recall old so-and-so? What a lovely person, I do miss them' and maybe they will live their lives in a more kindly fashion and make the world a better place.
I know of course that there will always be haters, the prejudiced who make others lives a misery, I'm not so silly as to think that everyone will be kind, there are too many selfish people around these days for that to happen. What I do suggest is that if each of us who is willing tries to live life in a caring and compassionate way maybe we can influence the odd hater to change their approach. One is better than none, and on that note I'll say, ttfn.
Wednesday 23 October 2013
Times Change.
It's interesting how things change over time. When I was a youngster in the 1960's I could buy sweet cigarettes, bubblegum cigars, liquorice pipes and coconut tobacco. Is it any wonder I used to dream of being able to start smoking as soon as I was able? In fact I remember having actual dreams about being able to buy and smoke fruit flavoured cigarettes and tobacco. In time I did smoke fruit flavoured tobacco in my pipe so I suppose my dreams came true!
I smoked for over 30 years and there was a time when virtually everyone I worked or socialised with smoked. I had an ashtray on my desk for much of my career, in fact there was a Civil Service standard issue ashtray which you could order through the stores department. The pub was shrouded in a haze of tobacco smoke, not any more.
Pubs now smell of stale beer as smokers are consigned to the outside huddled together in shelters. where once it was a social activity it is now thoroughly anti-social.
Smoking bans can ease the way to giving up; one of the reasons I packed in three years or so ago was the ban on smoking in places such as pubs. I didn't like leaving my beer in a nice warm boozer to stand in the freezing cold sucking on a burning tube of tobacco. I love beer more than tobacco.
I'm glad I stopped, I feel much better in myself and don't wheeze any more. I do occasionally yearn for a roll-up but I remember how bad I used to feel sometimes and put the thought behind me.
So all-in-all in my opinion giving up smoking is a good idea, something I would not have said ten years ago, but as I say, times change.
ttfn
I smoked for over 30 years and there was a time when virtually everyone I worked or socialised with smoked. I had an ashtray on my desk for much of my career, in fact there was a Civil Service standard issue ashtray which you could order through the stores department. The pub was shrouded in a haze of tobacco smoke, not any more.
Pubs now smell of stale beer as smokers are consigned to the outside huddled together in shelters. where once it was a social activity it is now thoroughly anti-social.
Smoking bans can ease the way to giving up; one of the reasons I packed in three years or so ago was the ban on smoking in places such as pubs. I didn't like leaving my beer in a nice warm boozer to stand in the freezing cold sucking on a burning tube of tobacco. I love beer more than tobacco.
I'm glad I stopped, I feel much better in myself and don't wheeze any more. I do occasionally yearn for a roll-up but I remember how bad I used to feel sometimes and put the thought behind me.
So all-in-all in my opinion giving up smoking is a good idea, something I would not have said ten years ago, but as I say, times change.
ttfn
Monday 21 October 2013
Another day, another town.
I wrote this in my notebook whilst travelling on the train to visit a colleague in Peterborough on October 17 then promptly forgot all about it.
"I love travel of any kind and I especially love train travel, I don't know why. It may be because it generally more relaxing than driving even taking into account delays and hanging around in stations.
It must be said that although my mood has improved lately I still hanker for a partner in life. I still am grateful though, I have plenty of travel in the pipeline including my trip to Vegas so I really shouldn't complain too much"
So there you have it, a snapshot of my thoughts last Thursday. I'm such an interesting guy!
ttfn
"I love travel of any kind and I especially love train travel, I don't know why. It may be because it generally more relaxing than driving even taking into account delays and hanging around in stations.
It must be said that although my mood has improved lately I still hanker for a partner in life. I still am grateful though, I have plenty of travel in the pipeline including my trip to Vegas so I really shouldn't complain too much"
So there you have it, a snapshot of my thoughts last Thursday. I'm such an interesting guy!
ttfn
Sunday 20 October 2013
I wondered today.
As I was pondering my current situation I wondered today whether wealth beyond the dreams of avarice would make me happy, ease the sadness I sometimes feel or just make me rich and sad rather than just sad.
It is an imponderable that I haven't considered before even in times of previous sadness long before the current cause arrived on the scene.
I have my doubts that untold wealth would make me any less prone to these 'down' periods I have, it may mean that I can be sad in more luxurious surroundings or in some beautiful house overlooking the sea but I don't think it would alter my mental make-up which seems to be of the Eeyore rather than the Winnie the Pooh school of thought.
It's a strange one, maybe a little bit more money would ease the down times by allowing me to travel to uplifting places, especially in the Winter once the clocks have retreated from the sunny days of Summer but it is unlikely to happen with the lottery odds at 12 billion to 1 or whatever it is and my best selling book of short stories still in dry dock.
The answer of course is to get the stories written and published, no easy task I might say, and let my adoring public buy them in their millions thereby providing me with extra 'de-downing' money. Well get on with it instead of maundering away on here, I hear you say. I wish, is my response, the muse has left me and I no more know where my hero 'Bob' is heading than I know how to make gold from base metal.
Still, there's no show without Punch so perhaps I should just dive in and write any old drivel and pick the gems from the sludge once I've finished the first draft.
Good idea. That's what I'll do.
ttfn
It is an imponderable that I haven't considered before even in times of previous sadness long before the current cause arrived on the scene.
I have my doubts that untold wealth would make me any less prone to these 'down' periods I have, it may mean that I can be sad in more luxurious surroundings or in some beautiful house overlooking the sea but I don't think it would alter my mental make-up which seems to be of the Eeyore rather than the Winnie the Pooh school of thought.
It's a strange one, maybe a little bit more money would ease the down times by allowing me to travel to uplifting places, especially in the Winter once the clocks have retreated from the sunny days of Summer but it is unlikely to happen with the lottery odds at 12 billion to 1 or whatever it is and my best selling book of short stories still in dry dock.
The answer of course is to get the stories written and published, no easy task I might say, and let my adoring public buy them in their millions thereby providing me with extra 'de-downing' money. Well get on with it instead of maundering away on here, I hear you say. I wish, is my response, the muse has left me and I no more know where my hero 'Bob' is heading than I know how to make gold from base metal.
Still, there's no show without Punch so perhaps I should just dive in and write any old drivel and pick the gems from the sludge once I've finished the first draft.
Good idea. That's what I'll do.
ttfn
Wednesday 16 October 2013
A short poem (slightly rude)
There was a young man from Peru
Who had not only one ball but two
When he swung them with force
He could knock down a horse
Take care or he'll do it to you.
Another Birthday...
...has been and gone. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of good wishes from friends, it brought home to me that there are still people out there who care about me, they are all just a bit far away sometimes. I received my sole birthday card along with a lovely bottle of rum from The Brother which I will be savouring in moderation.
It's interesting that the vast majority of my birthday wishes came via Facebook, which in my mind doesn't devalue them in any way, it is just an indication of how our lives have moved on over the last few years. It cheered me up no end to think that there are so many people who still like me enough to wish me well.
I am feeling a little down today but that will pass I'm sure. I had such a lovely day yesterday that it was inevitable that today would be an anticlimax if that is what it is since the day was good but not that good.
Still all in all a day to savour. A bit like last Saturday when I met up with my pal in Edinburgh for a day out. We went to the Scottish National Museum which was not only free to get in but was exceptionally good. The exhibits were marvellous and the place is so big we had to make the decision to have a return trip to finish off looking around. I must be getting old though because there were things in there which I still use or have only recently gotten rid of, including a flat iron which I use to keep the middle door open in the house.
In general though I don't feel too bad just now. I still hanker after a partner in life but I'm making the best of my current situation and am living in hope.
Oh, and I won £3.20 on the Euromillions lottery last night. I won't let it go to my head.
TTFN
It's interesting that the vast majority of my birthday wishes came via Facebook, which in my mind doesn't devalue them in any way, it is just an indication of how our lives have moved on over the last few years. It cheered me up no end to think that there are so many people who still like me enough to wish me well.
I am feeling a little down today but that will pass I'm sure. I had such a lovely day yesterday that it was inevitable that today would be an anticlimax if that is what it is since the day was good but not that good.
Still all in all a day to savour. A bit like last Saturday when I met up with my pal in Edinburgh for a day out. We went to the Scottish National Museum which was not only free to get in but was exceptionally good. The exhibits were marvellous and the place is so big we had to make the decision to have a return trip to finish off looking around. I must be getting old though because there were things in there which I still use or have only recently gotten rid of, including a flat iron which I use to keep the middle door open in the house.
In general though I don't feel too bad just now. I still hanker after a partner in life but I'm making the best of my current situation and am living in hope.
Oh, and I won £3.20 on the Euromillions lottery last night. I won't let it go to my head.
TTFN
Thursday 10 October 2013
October
Well, I finally bit the bullet and turned the heating on. It's blowing a hoolie and raining outside so I think Autumn is finally upon us. Tonight I plan to have a chicken stew then stay in and read a good book. In fact it is a very good book called 'The Final Whistle, the Great War in Fifteen Players' by Stephen Cooper. The book looks at 15 men who played rugby for Rosslyn Park and who died in the First World War. It is very well written and I'm enjoying it very much.
I spent today working at home to produce a PowerPoint presentation for a course I deliver, it has been a while since I made a PowerPoint so I pretty much had to start from scratch since the whole thing has changed since the last time. Anyway, it's all done now, at least the first two drafts are. I'm sure it'll require some tweaking before it's ready to add to the event but I'm hoping not too many changes will be needed.
On a different note, Saturday I'll be meeting up with a pal in Edinburgh for a day of culture and entertainment involving the Scottish National Gallery, Waterstones and some pubs. I'm really looking forward to the trip, it should be a good day and it will be pleasant to see my pal who I haven't seen for a while. I'll have to take extra cash if I'm going to Waterstones though as I don't seem to be able to go into that place without buying books. I have enough already without buying more but as a bookaholic I can't resist. I'll let you know if I managed to hold out.
Off now to stir my stew (not a euphemism) and start reading.
ttfn.
I spent today working at home to produce a PowerPoint presentation for a course I deliver, it has been a while since I made a PowerPoint so I pretty much had to start from scratch since the whole thing has changed since the last time. Anyway, it's all done now, at least the first two drafts are. I'm sure it'll require some tweaking before it's ready to add to the event but I'm hoping not too many changes will be needed.
On a different note, Saturday I'll be meeting up with a pal in Edinburgh for a day of culture and entertainment involving the Scottish National Gallery, Waterstones and some pubs. I'm really looking forward to the trip, it should be a good day and it will be pleasant to see my pal who I haven't seen for a while. I'll have to take extra cash if I'm going to Waterstones though as I don't seem to be able to go into that place without buying books. I have enough already without buying more but as a bookaholic I can't resist. I'll let you know if I managed to hold out.
Off now to stir my stew (not a euphemism) and start reading.
ttfn.
Monday 7 October 2013
I'm really....
...looking forward to my upcoming trip to Las Vegas. I haven't had a holiday in a long time and although I have been travelling a lot for work lately, it's been a while since had any leisure travel.
I am much more relaxed than I was 12 months ago and I hope a holiday will really help to maintain that mood.
I started this post on October 3 and you can see the difference from the September 29 one. I really need this holiday and to get away from it all for a few days. As I said, it will give me a chance to recharge my batteries and maybe gain a new perspective on my life ahead and my attitude towards relationships both past and future.
ttfn.
I am much more relaxed than I was 12 months ago and I hope a holiday will really help to maintain that mood.
I started this post on October 3 and you can see the difference from the September 29 one. I really need this holiday and to get away from it all for a few days. As I said, it will give me a chance to recharge my batteries and maybe gain a new perspective on my life ahead and my attitude towards relationships both past and future.
ttfn.
Do you know...
..that feeling when you think you are getting over a break-up and realise that you aren't? That's where I am just now, or maybe not. I don't know really, it all feels very odd. I am conflicted.
Not much of a subject for a post. Whatever I write will seem a bit pathetic somehow. I'm not a kid any more, I'll be 55 in two weeks and should really be adult enough to able to cope with the situation. It has been 12 months now since Madame left for the USA and the longer she is away the less likely she is to come back.
I started writing this on September 29 and couldn't finish it because I didn't know where I was going with it. I have such ambivalent feelings just now that I can't come up with a cogent explanation of my current emotional state.
Maybe I'll have a better idea once I've had a holiday and been able to relax and take stock.
ttfn
Not much of a subject for a post. Whatever I write will seem a bit pathetic somehow. I'm not a kid any more, I'll be 55 in two weeks and should really be adult enough to able to cope with the situation. It has been 12 months now since Madame left for the USA and the longer she is away the less likely she is to come back.
I started writing this on September 29 and couldn't finish it because I didn't know where I was going with it. I have such ambivalent feelings just now that I can't come up with a cogent explanation of my current emotional state.
Maybe I'll have a better idea once I've had a holiday and been able to relax and take stock.
ttfn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)