Saturday, February 28, 2009

Soulful mix tape.

Have you ever seen Spotify? It's completely free and absolutely superb. I *think* it might be only UK accessible at the moment, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, try this link - it will definitely work in the UK. You will need to download 'spotify' but it's completely free. The link for my soulful selection including Tower of Power, Mary J Blige, Jamiroquai, Dusty Springfield and loads of others is at this link here

If you can access it, have a listen and let me know what you think!

Happy listening!

Count your blessings.

I think I've mentioned this before. When I take stock and sit and think things through, I feel privileged and, although it's an old fashioned word with religious overtones, 'blessed'.

My family is becoming more important to me as I tread the path towards the finish line. If I'm lucky, I'm about half way round the course now, or, perhaps, more realistically, four sevenths complete should the 'three score years and ten' be an accurate prediction. Even if I were to be taken from the track before the average finishing time, I can honestly say that I am still very happy.

As much as I can complain about the level of increasing crime, look at the high levels of family breakdown and see the impact of the global credit crisis, I could do far worse than live in the western world in comparative comfort to many others around the world.

Newspapers and TV headlines are full of doom and gloom, but I live in a place where I can say pretty much what I want without fear of harm, hold the religious beliefs I do with a level of (albeit eroding) protection and still have opportunities available to me if I work hard enough, despite the class system that is still in operation here today.

Often I do feel I should stand up and shout about something I feel passionate enough to believe in, but, when I sit still and the shouting is over, I am at a place where I should really count my blessings, and I'm pleased I am.

When you lose something you once had, it's very easy to only then realise how much you took things for granted. I'm glad to think that today, I was about to sit still enough to consider the things I have, and realise how fortunate I really am.

Before now, I've had a few people snigger cynically at the stuff I've posted on here - we both know who you are, and I can't be bothered to post things cryptically so as not to feel I can't say things without being spied on. Quite frankly, I couldn't care less, snigger away, I'll just smile, roll my eyes and disregard you. If you don't experience the (possibly temporary) warmth I feel at the moment, I pity you. I also wonder why you keep revisiting my site? If you're posting a link or emailing snide comments around (and if you are, be careful I'm not including on the email link - check carefully), think why you're doing that. If you don't value or understand the experiences I've blogged, I feel desperately sorry that you have such a shallow life. I hope I'm wrong.

Life is for living. I don't want to miss experiences under my nose now, only to have memories of 'if only' when it's too late. There's real merit in the phrase 'sieze the day'.

Monday, February 23, 2009

An Epiphany

I just had an epiphany. At least, I think I did.

I'm forever beating myself up about 'wasting' time when I get back from work. As I type this, Sue is watching 'Lark Rise to Candleford' and I'm mucking about, just catching up with things on the web and checking the BBC web site. Wasting time - something I always feel guilty about.

I was in the office before 7.30 this morning, and didn't leave until 6.30 this evening. As much as I love work, I don't want to think about it when I get home, and it's great to do something else, and, quite honestly just unwind and 'waste time'. I've fixed the dishwasher, helped Chris try and configure his PS3 and a new gadget and just chatted to an old school mate. Heaven.

I think that sometimes it's great to waste time, in fact, sometimes it's crucial. It's dead easy to cram every available item into every conceivable amount of spare time, but it just isn't healthy.

I think I may just waste some more time, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Warwick Castle footage

m4v footage here

I took some footage at Warwick Castle - see it by clicking the above link.