The choices we make ...

So today is the first day of the rest of my life. The choices I make are mine, I can choose to be happy or sad, I can choose optimism or despair, I can be morose, ill tempered or cheerful. I can choose to be resentful, unkind, even cruel or I can be fair and honest and respect my own innate sense of justice - be true to myself. Whatever I choose will impact and possibly even influence those around me. 

So is the choice difficult? No, not when you put it like that.

It has been quite a week! An emotional roller coaster ride, from the worst to the best and everything in between. I began the week with a heavy heart and ended it with new memories, memories to treasure forever, valued friendships and most importantly, optimism and an acceptance that when you wake up in the morning, you really have no clue how the day might end.

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I remember ...

As I approach mid life, I want to say to my Grandparents, I remember you! I want to capture memories before I am too old and forget them ...

Nanna, I remember the old folk's home, where we would visit you, where you were a day person, only on Saturdays.  It smelled of pee and old people, not you of course just others. You would give me a Shilling pocket money, every week, you told me it would have bought a loaf of bread many times over when you were a girl.  The equivalent of five new pence, but to me at 8 or 9 years old, 2 packets of crisps (potato chips) at the tuck shop and today a tiny coin that hardly has any value at all. You would religiously walk to our house - a kilometre or so (half a mile), leaning on your walking stick and stopping every few metres or so to catch your breath.  I think of you as old, but you weren't really, not by today's standards, only 20 years older then than I am now, so no, not old, not really.

Do you remember how my sister and I made afternoon tea in your shed? Inviting you and your friend in for your own tea and cake? The shed was all of 3 foot square but you humoured us, made us feel special.  You were born in 1903 and your friend around the same time, so I imagine she has gone too by now.

You took us for days out in school holidays, using your pensioner bus tokens to take us all over the Wirral, New Brighton, Parkgate, West Kirby, I remember.

Originally from Liverpool, home for you was a little ground floor flat, just along the road from the swimming baths at Overpool where Gladys took all the kids from our street swimming each school holidays. We had fun in those days, we didn't have much but with our pushbikes and jam butties (jelly sandwiches to the uninitiated) we would head off for the day, our Mum and Dad never worried cos we were safe, life was different back then.  I must be getting old!  Nostalgia is getting a stranglehold!

And Nanny ... you are as memorable in different ways ... I remember your orange decor - trendy in the sixties. We stayed with you once, slept in the back bedroom, we were kids, it smelled musty and old, with one of those big dark scary wardrobes people had in those days and I remember! I think it was cos Mum thought we had mumps and wanted us out of the house away from Dad.  We didn't, so maybe they just wanted us out of the house!  I'm sure that wasn't the only time you accommodated us, but its the time I remember best.

I tried to shock you by plucking my eyebrows, I was only 13 and dumbo me plucked from the top, well it hurt less, but I was devastated the plucking didn't result in the beautifully shaped brows of my imagination. I had to pencil them back on for weeks!

Dad would take us to see you every Sunday, you were only tiny, less than 5 feet tall.  I remember the stories of Dad's childhood.  How he marched up and down outside your Liverpool home in the war, pretending to be on Guard duty, protecting the street, he was all of 7 year's old at the time.  Or the time he thoughtfully decorated, painting the wall with strawberry jam, a rare commodity during time of rationing and leaving a sticky wall for you to remember it by for years!  Or what about his addiction to syrup of figs?  He only drank the whole bottle once after all! So many other stories lost in the mists of time.

And to my Grandfathers both, I remember you, one of you who limped with one leg shorter than the other, you served in the fire brigade when they wouldn't let you fight in the war, you brought us ice-cream slabs and wafers.  As a pensioner, you would walk the local neighbourhood with your lawnmower, petrol driven to cut the lawn for those less able, I imagine you would call on your lady friend too on your rounds, but I wasn't meant to know about her!  Rose I think her name was.  Tut tut!  I think there is more than a little of your influence in me!

And my other Grandad, I remember how you were a hoarder! You kept everything.  I remember coming to see you for my 11th birthday, you were in hospital, Dad had to get special permission as kids weren't allowed.  They snuck me in through a patio door!  You never came home but I remember.  I remember how they cleared out your shed and it was stashed full, you had even kept Dad's air force uniform from his National Service, 20+ years earlier!

What a lost opportunity that I didn't think to talk to you all more when I had the chance.  Things that we see now as history were things you experienced first hand.  What was it like?  To experience the 20th Century "as it happened"?  To see the increase in adoption of the motor car?  Air travel?  To live through the first world war?  The utter devastation of the flu pandemic that followed?  The early days of women's rights and the Suffragette movement?  What did you think?  The roaring 20's, did you have fun?  How did it feel in 1928 when women won the right to vote?  Did you vote for Winston Churchill?  The fashion changes, showing your ankles for the first time?  The nervous tension and political build up of the depressing 30's?  Then the 40's, and the harsh reality of unfinished business and a second world war, more new fashions and rationing? Then the sweep on the 50's, with Elvis Presley and the Rock 'n' Roll era?  The 60's must have shocked and I can't imagine what you thought when the 70's rolled in!   So much and more!  Sadly, none of you lived to see the end of the century and the advent of the digital age but somehow, I don't think you'd mind too much. You had good lives, but hard lives and I hope you feel your legacy made it all worthwhile, I remember you all so well.

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Life

Your life won't be defined by what you don't do ...

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Our imagination is at risk!!!

I have this theory ... I am not a scientist, this is just my own personal opinion.  The electronic, digital, technology age will seriously and adversely impact evolution of the human race.

Imagination is fundamental to invention and yet the imagination of children is no longer being fed.  From birth they have access to free entertainment, TV, game-boy, computers and so much more ... it is no longer necessary for a child to invent a way to entertain itself, no need for make believe, no need to pretend or make up stories, build castles in the air, no need to make play from nothing ... and without this need?

I fear imaginations won't develop and so the evolution of the human race will slow down.

Just a thought ... one that makes me sad, how 'bout you?

Wills and Kate ...

cc by Kate and William, Canada Day 2011

So I'll be honest, I am struggling to make up my mind about this couple.  They seem pleasant, she smiles a lot, she makes him happy or so it seems.

And yet his behaviour and tacit acceptance of her family suggests he craves an ordinary life, he has a very beautiful wife and a bonny baby, he has a privileged life he is the son of, possibly, the most famous woman in the world and the heir to the British throne, so what's the problem?

Well, I guess the catch is this!

 

The constant portrayal of ordinary, a close family, the emphasis on 'no nanny' for the new bub although that didn't last long, the portrayal of the Middleton clan and their homemade 'official' snapshots of Britain's new Prince. Yet surrounded by aides, pomp and ceremony which they quite clearly enjoy.

You see, the trouble is, they are not ordinary, they can never be ordinary, they are Royal, the titles are a bit of a giveaway, clearly enjoyed too and as a Royalist I say "I don't want you to be ordinary, I don't want a Royal family who are just like me, what would be the point?"

Perhaps  Prince William's upbringing has been too 'ordinary' to the point he clearly no longer wishes to be considered Royal?  Perhaps this hints that Prince William is not a Royalist and indeed plans to skip the King bit?  How very sad if that is his choice.

And Kate?

When I first read of their marriage, a few years back, it was put out that she would prefer to be known as Catherine, it seems she soon learned that the public will call you by their own preferred affectionate name, in this case, "Kate" and so it would appear this wasn't pushed by the palace (pretentious perhaps?)

IMHO Kate really needs to cut the apron strings and understand she has married into a very important family who are not and should not be viewed as ordinary.  Ordinary people don't live in Kensington Palace in grand 21 room apartments, ordinary people don't converse with our Queen on a regular basis or stay in stately homes such as Balmoral and Windsor.  The news of the new Granny flat is just one in a long line of items underscoring how the Middleton's will influence the future of our Kingdom and I for one don't feel comfortable with that.  I am sure they mean well but they are no different to you or I, they just have more money and a daughter who married a Prince.

Kate and Will, if you truly wish to be ordinary, by all means be "normal rich people" and lose the titles.  Until then, you are not "normal", you are not "ordinary" you are Royals, accept it or take a back seat and stay quietly in the background, minus your titles of course.  We prefer you don't, we want to respect you but between you and Prince Charles, you are not making it easy to remain a Royalist!  I like and respect Camilla, despite the challenges she has faced, she has remained dignified.  I loved Dianna too, but she isn't here anymore and life moves on.

Long live the Queen and Prince Philip!

GP finds love with patient's husband....

Well... this is a tricky moral dilemma isn't it?  Judging others is such dangerous ground, after all, few of us a pure of heart and mind.... but on this one, I can't help but think that perhaps there was some middle ground...

"How our sister was betrayed by the doctor who put sex before duty"

Truth is, love happens, two people fell in love over the death bed of the spouse of one of the pair.... love happens.... it is precious and should never be discarded when it has a chance to blossom... (yikes you would think I am romantic, but honestly, I don't have a romantic bone in my body!).

However.... to my way of thinking, and there are, very rare, occasions when I'm wrong so don't quote me...  this doc didn't make her mistake in the two weeks after her patient passed away.  She made her mistake in the weeks or even months leading up to the death.  As soon as she began to have romantic feelings about the husband of her patient, she should have come clean.

If uncertain about her course of action, she should have consulted with the medical council!

 

Instead, she has created a situation where questions can be asked about the sad death of this poor woman, how can anybody ever be sure that her motives, in nursing a dying woman and signing the death certificate were pure?  Likely they were, but her behaviour has created a situation where questions COULD be asked about the death.  In doing this, she has shown herself to lack professionalism, thus there is only one right outcome.  She cannot be trusted to be a doctor and put the needs of her patient first and their combined actions have resulted in unnecessary distress for the relatives of Mrs Owens at a time when they should be able to focus on their grief at her passing.

Simple!

Don't judge her because she was married, she isn't the first to leave her husband for another man.... or as quoted by the family of the deceased, "because of indecent haste", but perhaps examine her actions because she created a situation that caused questions to be asked, interfering with the grieving process for her patient and a situation that could have been avoided with some honesty up front.

The Lucky kids....

I am incredibly lucky.... No question, no debate, I was born under a lucky star and for that I am forever and truly thankful....

My childhood was the best time ever to have been a kid, past, present or future.   Those of us who grew up in the original new age 70's and matured in the 80's were lucky... we had something kids before us and kids after us never had and likely never will again.

Freedom to be kids, explore, learn and imagine!!!!!!! 

Kids before us were bound by the culture of the day, if not down the mines or in servitude, then governed by ridiculous Victorian values or sadly, grew up in war or post war eras.  Kids after us?  Fear and technology has changed it for them, in an increasingly dangerous world, kids are encouraged to turn to modern technology for entertainment.

photo credit: ocad123 cc

Born at the tail end of '64, a leap year and a time for the history books.  I rocked up 6 months after they imprisoned Nelson Mandela, just over a month before our fearless wartime leader Winston Churchill passed on to a higher plane.... A few days after Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer first aired on TV.... Cilla Black was riding high in the charts, 'I feel Fine' was Number One and Beatlemania was at screaming pitch.  Just a year after Brad Pitt came into the world, the year of the American Civil Rights Act and the same year Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  It was also the year of the last ever executions in Britain and how lucky were we to be a part of defining today's interpretation of Generation X!!

As 1970 dawned bright and clear I had just turned 5 and as we waved farewell to the 70's and welcomed that brave new world of the 1980's.... I turned 15, a magical age fraught with teenage angst, acne and iconic pop stars like Adam Ant asking us to Stand and Deliver, Madonna performing Like a Virgin at the start of an illustrious career, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders had Brass in Pocket .... and what about Bob?  

Mr Geldof certainly gave us something to remember with Live Aid even if we all knew he never had a hope of solving world hunger!  It was one hell of a concert!  1980 was also the year John Lennon was so cruelly and unjustly murdered , just three years after another influential megastar met his untimely end.... Elvis!  (Did he really die on the toilet?  Another injustice perhaps?)

photo credit: Ramiro Garcia S cc

 

Bob's BFF Mr Midge Ure and Ultravox can claim a major injustice as they celebrated Vienna, the best single that never made it to number one!!  Pipped to the post initially by John Lennon's Woman, acceptable you might agree, but to be kept from the top spot by Joe Dolce's Shaddup You Face??

Seriously?  Judge for yourself....

It is devastating to hear of childhood role models, people who set themselves up as influences on our lives being denounced in the media today, but this does not change what was the best time to grow up!

The Boss may have sung of the Summer of '69, but as any British school kid of that era will tell you, the summer of 76 will live in our minds forever - remember the ladybird invasion?  To be 12, faced with 6 weeks of summer holidays and the hottest, driest summer forever .... bliss!  We didn't worry about the worst drought of the century, standpipes, crops or forest fires, we were 12, we built our make-shift tents from blankets on the back lawn, ready for sleep-outs and agonised over major decisions.... where to go tomorrow....???

As kids of the day, we didn't have air con or XBoxes.... No smart phones, no iPads, no mobiles.... No PCs, no Macs, no apps, no video, no computer games... we breathed fresh air, we talked to each other... face to face! We learned to understand the boundaries and acceptable social behaviour, but above all we used our imaginations!!

...... We had our imagination and our bikes!

photo credit: moriza cc

We set off daily, our jam buttes (jelly sandwiches) in our bags... And off we went exploring, swimming... fishing... whatever .... Our parents didn't worry so long as we were home for tea.... They didn't need to, perception of crime was less evident... We had fun.... 

...... And this is why I was born of the lucky generation....

photo credit: PETER9914 cc

Lefty's and a safer world?

So, first of all, let's establish what is a Lefty?  In this context, I am not talking about making various kitchen implements safer or easier to use for people with a bias towards being left-handed.  No, I am talking about people who lean to the left in their political views, beyond liberalism and heading towards communism.

In this unsafe world, these are the people who campaign for making everything safe all of the time, crusading and wearing down Governments until they "do something about it".  You see, the truth is they just can't lose.  If, for example, the Government or local council refuse to put up a rail along a high cliff and somebody falls off, they can say "see... told you so!"... who would dare to refuse to put up the rail?  This is just one example of a billion I could quote but hopefully you get the gist.

Just for a minute though... humour me, think of it another way.... imagine there is no rail and god forbid, you are responsible for your own actions.  If you take a walk along that cliff, you might take some care... think about the danger, tread cautiously perhaps?  If you don't, my word, you might fall off.  BUT... thank goodness... the rail is there and you can walk along the clifftop, blissfully unaware of any danger and feel completely safe.

Oh... but one day, the rail has become damaged, what then?  Is your mind tuned to watch out for danger? No, you have trained it to believe in an utterly safe world... there is no danger... so when the rail becomes damaged... over you go... off the cliff.... OK - so a little extreme and unlikely perhaps?  You can see the rail is damaged and so take extra caution....

What about when you are traveling though?  In a country with different values?  Where they just don't put safety rails along cliffs?  How were you supposed to know it was dangerous?  Surely if it was dangerous, they would have put a rail around it?  Your mind knows this, that is what living in an overly protected environment has taught it to think.... so as you topple off that foreign cliff... give it some thought... if only you had always had to think about danger.... and the rail at home had never been there... you would still be alive today perhaps?

There are plenty of stories of travelers falling off dangerous cliffs around the world... just maybe the Lefty's are a little bit responsible for that?

You see, the truth is, all of the cliffs in all of the world can never be given rails and so you need to learn and know they are dangerous, before you find out the hard way!

Children learn that falling over hurts and so they learn not to fall over.... would it be right or even possible to stop them from ever falling over in the first place?  I think not...

I  am not proposing we remove all the guard rails from every cliff... it's about balance... too often these days we hear of people falling over curbs and suing the council or in one recent case in the UK, a police officer suing a garage owner when she tripped over a curb on a 999 call!  She is also suing her employers for the time she crashed her police car too so a trend perhaps?  Clearly a woman who truly believes the world should be made of marshmallow so she doesn't get hurt!

The truth is, the world is a nasty place... full of hidden dangers, it isn't made of marshmallow and not chocolate either....

so sadly....

......  its time to grow up and watch where you are walking!!!

Vatican Secret Archives

How fascinating would it be to delve into The Vatican Secret Archives?

Hundreds of years of history and mystery and although the Church has apparently opened its doors, there is still so much it seeks to protect.  Why?  Surely if the Church is what it claims to be, there is no longer a need for such secrecy?

These documents are so incredibly valuable and special, they should be scanned and preserved for future generations - how tragic that in another few hundred years so many of them will probably be dust with their secrets lost forever.

Social Networking Services

Has anything ever been so misnamed as social networking?  Since the advent of web sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and the like, people have just stopped talking.  Social networking is driving people further and further apart.

What happened to the days of "phone a friend" or "I will just pop round" ... "let's have a coffee" ... nowadays if you want to see what your best friend is up to, you just check them out on the web.  No need to actually talk to them!!

There are stories about teenagers who, apparently, can no longer speak to each other without interacting via an electronic device.  How sad, they are missing out on so much but worse, I can't help but feel they are inhibiting their chance for evolution.

On the other hand, perhaps we never actually liked interacting in person, after all we have taken to social networking so well.

Why Get Out of Bed in the Morning?

Question:    If you don't believe in God what is the point of getting out of bed in the morning?

Answer:      Because if we didn't get out of bed, the Universe would be pointless!!!!

Planting Seeds!

After mulling over the article about "more than a thousand Roman Catholic priests voicing opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph" I suddenly twigged!  This is not only about their fight against gay marriage..

After hundreds and even thousands of years of persecuting others, the Catholic Church has started planting seeds in the media (and no doubt other forums) indicating they are the victims of persecution.  How incredibly and amazingly clever!  I was distracted by the gay marriage debate and didn't realise the primary underlying purpose of their article, which in my opinion is to lay down the seeds for future generations to become confused about exactly who was persecuted and who was not.

The letter stated: “After centuries of persecution, Catholics have, in recent times, been able to be members of the professions and participate fully in the life of this country"

What complete and utter dross!!!

The institution of the Catholic Church is not the victim, it is the perpetrator of persecution!!! From the inquisitions of the middle ages to the alleged collaboration with Nazi Germany.  I struggle to accept that the institution of the Catholic Church can ever be classed as victimised.

I have no argument with those who follow the Catholic doctrine only an exceedingly strong distaste for an institution that manipulates and attempts to control by fear.

The Church on Gay Marriage

This post was prompted by apparent opinion of a news article about more than a thousand Roman Catholic priests voicing opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph.

Here is my theory!!    In my first hand experience there is minimal enthusiasm in Britain for the church and yet the UK sentiment against gay-marriage has a very strong religious feel to it.  The pews are empty on all but the major festivals (OK, so people like to sing Christmas carols) and so where is all this religious fanaticism come from?  Why are so many comments in favour of religion and so much negativity against anybody who even hints that the church should mind their own?  My theory is that religious institutions are paying people to work full time writing  comments and voting accordingly!   In modern society it is NOT appropriate for any religious denomination to have a say in how our countries are governed!

Royal family & Olympics as waste of money? I think NOT

Anybody who thinks the Royal family and the Olympics were a waste of taxpayer money is, quite frankly, ignorant!  The revenue generated from events throughout the year and the tax collected as a result far exceed any expenditure.  Add to that a lot of business making a packet along the way and you have a winner.  Think about it!!!!

The Jubilee celebrations were impressive and I am only sorry I didn't see them in person!!!

The Queen is wonderful and Prince Philip deserves a place in our hearts for his unwavering support of both his wife and our country.  For somebody who was not born British, he has embraced the culture and the people without reservation.  he has actively promoted GB on the world stage and provides us with some entertaining moments.  Long live our Queen and her husband!!!!

Our Olympians did us proud and they deserve every New Year's honour they received.   CONGRATULATIONS!  Ignore the critics, we were all proud to cheer you on in the name of patriotism and now it is out time to say thank you.  I am happy our country has seen fit to reward so many of you this year.

More reasons to fight?

Was there a church in Mecca? Chiselled stonework with 'Christian figure' discovered at holy site in Yemen

Oh great, another location in the Middle East for religious zealots to scrap over. Just what we need!!!

Piers Morgan

Let me first say, I am no supporter of Piers Morgan... but....

Judging by the unbalanced weight of opinion against Piers, I can only assume that the world has gone mad.  With the petition to the US Administration, we can safely assume the gun lobby are out in force, however anybody who bothers to listen to Piers or understand his sentiment on this topic will see that his argument is balanced and sound.  He is not challenging the right to bear arms only the use of modern deadly assault weapons in the name of the second amendment.  I am sure many US citizens are mature enough to recognise the mismatch and the need for a different approach, lets hope there are enough US citizens who don't wait for the NRA to tell them what/how to think.  

If anything I would suggest the NRA are imposing on the first amendment.  The abridging of the right for freedom of speech!

Another Dianne memory

I remember her Mum telling me about the time "somebody" was stealing her cigarettes.  The suspects?  Her two boys, ages 8 and 7 respectively or her 4 year old daughter Dianne!

She lined them up on the couch...the kids, not the cigs.... into each mouth went a lit cigarette and what do you know... the boys, coughed, choked and spluttered... sobbed their hearts out!!  But not Di ... Oh no - she sat back, feet not touching the floor and puffed away for all she was worth.... like a 20 a-day smoker!  Honestly, just picture her... cute as a button... FOUR years old... her Mother looked to the future and sighed only 14 year's to go.... but all I can say is: DON"T TRY IT AT HOME!

Giving up smoking

Have you ever given up smoking?  If you have, you will know it is the HARDEST think you will ever do in your life.... in fact, the only thing that stops me smoking now is the thought that I will have to give up again!

did I mention its been 4 years?

Hope for the future?

Since September 2010, when Christchurch suffered its first earthquake the news media has never eaten so well.  Their banquet has included the November 24th Pike River mine disaster and extreme weather sweeping through Europe and the US.  Never before have we seen natural disaster on such a grand scale.  With 2011 barely underway, yet another country has been in the firing line each month ... Australia in January, New Zealand took a turn in February and most recently Japan in March, the most tragic of all.  Alongside this, the Middle East.


Amidst flood, earthquake, tropical cyclones and tsunami's it is difficult to see good, but maybe it is time for our reporters to remind us of the positives and help to restore some of the balance.   The end of a long drought in Australia.  Egypt's freedom from Mubarak, with its sights firmly set on democracy.  Even traditionally greedy world financiers working together to prevent the Japanese Yen from taking a nose dive.  Britain ending exports of execution drugs to the US, a small but significant move away from hypocrisy.  And let's not forget, England winning the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years!  Much more importantly,  China putting history and hatred where it belongs and offering aid in a meaningful gesture to Japan and the Arab league working hand in hand with Western Governments to help the Libyan people. 


Good from bad....is this the start of global cooperation?  Let's hope... amidst the disaster, just maybe we are seeing the first baby steps toward a better world. 

My PCI Lamp post

Have you ever walked into a lamp post?

As I left my last job, I cheered!   I waved farewell to 5 years of PCI DSS and all that came with it... audits & bureaucracy.  I just know many of you will sympathise or feel truly envious!  Don't get me wrong, you won't find anybody to fly a bigger flag for secure systems than Moi... but I am far from a natural bureaucrat! Me? Red tape?  Really, we just DO NOT go together - now pink, maybe... pink is my colour.... 

Anyway, I digress.. where was I?  Looking backwards and waving farewell to PCI and then... yes... I turned around and walked slam bang straight into a lamp-post with PCI written all over it!

DOH!!!!!!
I love my job... I love my job.... I love my job ... but I DO!