Find Madeleine

As time moves on I despair for poor little Maddy and her family.

Please visit http://www.findmadeleine.com/

Life nearly begins...

This year is steaming ahead at a rate of knots that seems unprecented. I cannot believe that we're almost at the start of May and almost half way through 2007.




I'm 40 at the end of this year, and that seems to be quite a significant milestone. I've mentioned many times previously that as each year takes its toll, I feel just a little wiser.



It's an odd confession to make, but I actually enjoy getting older, I see youth for what it is, a bundle of energy, hormones and confused priorities. Life just seems to make that bit more sense each year, like the placing of a jigsaw piece on an ever emerging picture.



Thank goodness that as life seems to make that bit more sense you actually start to appreciate certain folks, particularly your children and those close to you.



I've also picked up the following key lessons:



1. Life is meant for living, not working. Working is a necessary evil that takes us away from our families.

2. We're all selfish at the end of the day and need to take time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves.

3. No-one is better than anyone else. Status is a daft man-made thing. We all matter.

4. Children grow up so fast, it's frightening. You need to spend as much time with them as possible.

5. Don't lose your head in a situation, it's always better to stop, pause for breath and think things through.

6. You never have enough money, it really is pointless chasing it. The more money you get, the bigger the holes in your pockets.

7. Don't plan to make a will, make it immediately.

8. For every bad person in the world, there are a dozen really good ones.

9. Spend as much time with those who matter, particularly if they're elderly as they're gone in an instant.

10. Let your yes be yes and your no be no... and don't be afraid to say no.


I'm looking forward to life 'beginning'. Its been mostly a blast so far.

podcast157

Download the MP3 link here



It's finally here! podcast 157 from Paul Nicholls, www.podcastpaul.com



Great music, chat & comedy.



Tracks by:



Thomas Dolby

Dynamo's Rhythm Aces

Virtual Jazz Band

I feel a podcast coming on.....

How long has it been since my last podcast?!!!

I feel one coming on later tonight.... watch out!

mug shot,

My mug shot is on my office website - I'm the one on the right by the way, the other is one of our Lancashire family lawyers.

They say the camera never lies. I wish it did. I'm on a serious diet.

Why I love England.

There's loads I could moan about in England, particularly the cost of living. Petrol, or gas to my non-British friends, at £4 / $8 a gallon and the average house costing £1/4 million / $ 1/2 million doesn't bode well. Don't even let me get started about the cost of housing in London.

The old Big Mac test is a shocker too (about £2 / $4 for a single Big mac) and a pair of Levi 501's at £45 / $90.

40% tax and masses of hidden stealth charges reduce every income on this tiny island populated by a staggering number of immigrants clammering to get in, and many natives desperate to get out.

All the woes seem, well, woeful, yet you don't have to look far for beauty. I walked just a few moments by the stream that runs near to my office in Kenilworth and into St Nicholas Church, a beautiful ancient church near Abbey fields, Kenilworth.

I kicked myself at not having my camera handy so took a few shots with my camera - the shots aren't great at all, by any measure, but it was such a beautiful day and the sanctuary so beautiful and calm.

You can take things of beauty so easily for granted, yet there aren't many buildings nearly a thousand years old around.

The remains of the priory from the 12th century are in the grounds of St Nicks. It was also fascinating to read a list of the vicars from 1300. From "Henry of Ladbrooke" through to "Roger of Birmingham" and beyond, I began to imagine those very people stood at the spot where I stood, just inside the beautiful entrance.

There's lots of things happening in my country I'm concerned about, yet lots remain I am so proud of. I really do love England and I'm fiercly proud of my wonderful heritage. I wish more folks felt that way. I'm finding that I'm forever taking time to stop and look at things around me more often now.

Maybe I'm just maturing, maybe it's just my age.......

music from your childhood

There's an amazing thread going on at T & P about music from your childhood. I have had a serious stroll down memory lane looking at this.

Check it out at this link and feel free to add to it!