Need Hugs

Don't come too close today - I've got the lurgy. :o(

Started out as an annoying tickly cough last week and now it feels like I have the flu. Except it must only be a bad cold as I am out of bed and capable of typing.

The real bummer is I'm told that most of those nice combination "max-strength" liquids and effective chesty cough mixtures can't be taken my asthmatics. So if there are any pharmacists out there that have any recommendations, please let me know and if there are any pharmaceutical companies listening, please develop something for asthmatics! :o

Normal service will be resumed shortly ...

Wise Words

Thank you for Blogliners for today's inspiration:
"Each day we post of one of our favourite quotes for your enjoyment, but it occurs to us we could use some new material."

So here's goes:

Humorous

"This isn't life in the fast lane, it's life in the oncoming traffic" Terry Pratchett

"The shortest unit of time in the multiverse is the New York Second, defined as the period of time between the traffic lights turning green and the cab behind you honking." Terry Pratchett (Lords and Ladies)

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams

"Another day done. All targets met. All systems fully operational. All customers satisfied. All staff keen and well motivated. All pigs fed and ready to fly." Unknown

Peaceful

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive." Eleonora Duse

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness is never decreased by being shared." Buddha

Thought Provoking

"Everything starts somewhere, though many physicists disagree. But people have always been dimly aware of the problem with the start of things. They wonder how the snowplough driver gets to work, or how the makers of dictionaries look up the spelling of words." Terry Pratchett (Hogfather)

"Things are only impossible until they're not." Star Trek (spoken by Jean-Luc Picard)

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." Navajo Proverb

Extracts from a piece entitled "To be 6 again" or "Resignation" which can be found in full on many websites. I've not been able to find out who wrote it:

"I hereby officially tender my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a six year old again. ...I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors [sic], addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset. ...I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find. I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike. I didn't worry about time, bills or where I was going to find the money to fix my car. ...I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow."

Well, I hope you enjoyed them.

Happy Journeys

A Year in Haiku

Keep seeing this Haiku stuff all over the place so I thought I'd give it a go (just hope I can count).

So here is my Year in Haiku

Haiku inspires me
When the world outside is cold;
Still waiting for snow.

Fast forward in time,
Resplendent trees in blossom;
Nature has new clothes.

Pale people rejoice,
Sunlight bathes calming meadows;
The bees are in flight.

A golden palette
Chosen as the old year wanes;
The light is fading.

The Solstice is here
For feasting and gift giving;
Holly and Ivy.

So, marks out of ten please? :o)

Whilst I can rarely prevent a food triggered outburst of IBS, I've learnt that I can prevent or minimise emotion-triggered ones. I've been working hard with various techniques on keeping my mood happy and my anxiety levels low. And I was doing well. I'd have the odd moment of discomfort but those I can deal with. However, last night my body decided to re-assert control and remind me I'm at it's mercy.

You will notice that I refer to my body as a separate entity - even the enemy, at times. I don't think I'm alone in doing that amongst those with IBS. There is a lot of stuff about the mind-gut relationship and the gut as the second brain. This is not as daft as it sounds - I'm sure you've experienced butterflies in your stomach when an emotional state is being reflected by your stomach. In IBS that mirror can be reversed - the state of your stomach is projected onto your mind. If that makes sense? Probably not.

About five minutes after the pain, indigestion and mild nausea had started, my mood tumbled really low and I started feeling anxious. I understand (as far as medical science does) what is happening in my body, I know why my mood is affected and yet I really have to work at pulling myself back out of it. Between that and the after-effects of the symptoms, it can be emotionally and physically tiring which means today could have been a day for wallowing in self pity. Thankfully, I managed to stay clear of that. It is very difficult for anyone who hasn't experienced anything similar to understand the emotional/mental aspect of it.

I'm not sure what the purpose of today's post is, but perhaps I just needed to get these things off my chest.

Happy Journeys.

Annoying/Silly Adverts part one

Options Hot Chocolate Drink

Which would you rather come home to - your ultimate fantasy or a cup of 40 calorie hot chocolate drink?

Hmmmmm ....

.... nope, still thinking ....

.... well, dur - my ultimate fantasy of course! That's why it's my ultimate fantasy because that is the thing that I would choose to happen.

And my ultimate fantasy to come home to? An endless supply of clean crockery, cutlery, cookware, towels, clothes, and bed linen; self-dusting surfaces; self-hoovering carpets; self-filling cupboards and fridge; and a cheque for £100,000.

I'm not greedy - i just want to pay off my debts, put a nice deposit on a house and be able to forget about housework. :o)

Prince Charming

Maybe I'm a royalist, or perhaps I'm just a realist ... but can everyone just shut-up already about Prince Harry.

I've just watched an advert for a programme purporting to uncover the booze, the girls and the trouble surrounding Harry.

And ... ?!

I'm not going into details, (no, not even if you ask nicely) but

a. I've been known to have a few drinks;

b. I've gone out with one or two males of the species;

c. whilst I've never worn a Nazi uniform (which, in his position, was a bit of a stupid choice but he's said sorry, so enough) I have worn some interesting outfits in public (a lace basque, hot pants, fishnet tights and Doc Marten boots to go and see Rocky Horror Picture Show); and, more importantly ...

d. I've made (and still make?) some dubious decisions.

It's called growing up, having a life and learning from your mistakes.

I've had the fortunate advantage of no-one (except perhaps my bemused parents) really giving a damn about what I do, say or believe. Unfortunately, Prince Harry isn't in that position. He's not some wanna-be celeb, he's been in the flash bulb's glare since he was a few days old. For those who say, "well he should be used to it then" - can anyone reading this say, hand on heart, that you could cope and fully adjust to seeing photographers in the street outside your house night and day, following your every move in public, even watching your most private and personal moments as your bury a loved one?

It was interesting to see in contrast how much coverage Princes William and Harry got when they spent time as volunteers at a Red Cross warehouse after having made donations from their private funds to the Tsunami disaster relief fund.

A dodgy fancy dress outfit is obviously far more important.

For the Royal family to survive in the twenty first century and beyond, they need to adapt. The world has changed and so must they - be more dynamic, in-touch and hands-on. Given time and with the support of this nation, I believe Prince William and Prince Harry can be an asset to the United Kingdom.

I wish them ...

Happy Journeys.

Geeky and proud

The following post comes with a warning for "Big Brother" lovers.

Thanks to Hubby for inspiration for tonight's post - we've been having some great debates recently. :o)

As gamers we often get negative vibes and comments from people when we tell them what we do with our spare time. Gaming is often seen as childish, a waste of time, a no-brainer at best; or worse - as leading to violence and crime.

I feel the need to challenge this opinion.

When we play online we are interacting with real and fascinating people all around the world, we have to use our mental dexterity for strategic planning, comprehension of complex tasks, completion of logic puzzles, etc. Our physical dexterity gets a bit of a work out too (anyone who has stumbled across an enraged rancor lair or a group of nightsisters whilst unbuffed will vouch for that!). And we're having a good dose of escapist fun.

** Stereotype Alert **
The people that tend to disparage our interests in gaming and sci-fi are the kinds of people that spend their free time watching wall-to-wall soaps and reality-tv.

How does that broaden ones mind? How does that introduce you to new people and forge new friendships? How does that provide mental challenges and stimulation?

I think it is very sad that many people stop wanting to expand their minds and grow out of that childhood fascination of wanting to know "but why?" and "how?".

I hope I never will stop asking why. It is a most fascinating question. It always saddens me when people take everything for granted and don't question what is happening around them. I don't just mean in the political and ethical sense but also in the scientific sense.

Many people's understanding of the world, galaxy and universe around them is woefully inadequate. I forget what programme it was now but random Joe and Josephine Bloggs were stopped in the street and asked some basic science questions (with multiple choice answers) like how long does it take the earth to orbit the sun. The answers were appalling. I do not claim to be a quantum physicist but I try to watch programmes and read popular science books and journals that, with a little application of grey-matter, widen my understanding.

If I'm not watching or reading science I'm doing the same with Sci-fi, which is disparaged as much as gaming. It's seen as geeky, incomprehensible or unengaging. Aside from the obligatory techno-babble, sci-fi is simply good drama set in another time and location. Good sci-fi takes a dilemma from the human condition, allows us to distance ourselves from it and thereby examine it objectively by putting it in an off-world setting. A lot of quality sci-fi, and indeed fantasy, deals with challenging and thought-provoking subject matter. And, apart from that, it is incredibly entertaining.

And, to return to my warning - what on earth is this inane Big Brother thing all about?? It was bad enough when it was real people in a house doing the boring every day things that we all do every day and therefore have no need to watch someone else do (breathe!) but it's even worse now they've had to "liven it up" with tasks. I have watched it twice for about five minutes each just to see what all the fuss was about and I still have no idea.

I find it very interesting, however, to see how the argument rages between different pyscologists - whether the contestants are being harmed; why the audience enjoys watching the contestants go through these ordeals; etc? I only have one question - what on earth was Germaine Greer thinking by agreeing to go into the house this time?

Disclaimer - tonight's post was a bit of a rant. I'm not trying to say that our interests are superior or preferrable to anyone elses.
However, if you don't "get" sci-fi ... there's just no hope for you.

Live Long and Prosper

To choose or not to choose?

Hubby, as a programmer, sees life as black and white, yes and no, zeros and ones. Absolutes. I'm more of a greyscale person myself. Whilst I respect Hubby's opinion, I completely disagree with it. :o) (Which is one of the things that I love about our relationship - there are things on which we have strong opposing views. We have been known to have debates lasting several hours and more. When we've lost our voices and run out of supporting evidence, we agree to disagree and move on ... but I digress.)

Life is not black and white. To say that it is, for me, is akin to believing in Good and Evil. Of course, I understand good-with-a-small-g and evil-with-a-small-e, right and wrong as it were (although in many circumstances, even those concepts can be very subjective - one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter ... but I digress, again).

But the abstract ideas of Good and Evil are interesting. I would recommend, to anyone who hasn't already done so, to read "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - a cracking good read and quite thought provoking behind the gags.

Without giving too much away, there is an angel and a demon who have been on earth for centuries, gone native as it were, and have become friends. The point is made that humans can dream up such awful things, worse than Hell could ever devise, and yet display such selfess compassion. Within each one of us we have the whole scale. I'm not suggesting we're all capable of demonstrating such evil horrors as we see all too often on the news but I believe that we all possess the potential (you don't agree? - take a look at this).

We all share the same genetic make-up as Ghandi, Hitler, Martin Luther King, Torquemada, Mother Teresa, Jack the Ripper, Florence Nightingale. It is the choices we make that ultimately make us who we are.

I don't believe in demons and angels but I do believe in potential and the power of choice.

Happy Journeys

Garden Hose Syndrome

Well, that's it. Christmas has officially finished for another year. I've finally packed all the decorations away. All that's left is to straighten a few pictures and a quick hoover to pick up the last few bits of tinsel and glitter.

I don't like taking the decorations down, not for the hassle but for the dull and empty feeling that pervades the flat. The twinkle of fairy lights and the warm reds and golds make the place look so inviting and cosy. So to console myself I went out and bought some new glass nuggets and candles - well, they're almost like fairy lights!!

Speaking of fairy lights, I'm conducting an experiment with the decorations this year. Even though the Christmas box is not touched by human hand from one January to the next December, the neat coil of fairy lights is affected by the universally known Garden Hose Syndrome. So this year, I've not bothered to neatly package them - I just dumped them in the box with the hope that the syndrome works in reverse and next Christmas I might find a neat coil of lights when I open the box!

My faith in humanity has been somewhat restored by the level of donation made by the british public to the Tsunami Disaster Fund. It was also good to see the UK government making a substantial donation.

Not to detract from that but it concerns me that many governments will spend much more than that on military hardware designed to kill not save.
I read that Japan has a tsunami warning system for it's coastal regions. I hope that, once the necessary emergency assistance has been given, we will continue to assist these coutries by helping them to put in place the same warning systems.