I was very fortunate to see the launch of a space shuttle.
STS-79 mission patch
The date was 16th September 1996 and the launch was the 17th launch of the space shuttle Atlantis as STS-79. Its mission was to dock with the Russian space station Mir, and to deliver equipment and supplies and relief personnel.
I was fortunate that we were holidaying in Florida at the time, so it all blended in just lovely.
Launch pad 39aKSC Shuttle display
We had travelled to KSC a few days prior to launch and did the full touristy thing, we went back a few days later in the very early hours of the morning to watch the launch and were not disappointed. It truly is a moment that will stay in my mind forever.
It’s just after 5 in the morning and the only notable thing that has occurred so far today is that I have woken up.
And to be honest for everyone that’s no mean feat. The fact we have awoken from our slumber is something to be grateful for. You have another day on this planet, another go at trying to have a good day, another day to mend relationships and to forgive those little misdemeanours and mistakes.
Another chance to be a better person.
I’ve had my first cup of tea of the day and my next big decision is whether to make another.
Tea – typically British
Start the day with a blank canvas, and go paint a masterpiece.
Hopefully you’ll get another go at it tomorrow. You just never know.
I only ask, as being passionate in anything sometimes makes people question if you are just being obsessive in your actions.
There’s obsession in relationships that can more often than not be one sided, and lead to a number of unwanted and uncomfortable situations and poor behavioural traits such as stalking.
There is passion in your work, that can also lead to you being seen as a person who doesn’t see black and white, there’s no other option it’s your way or no way!
Passion seems to partner obsession in my opinion, maybe I’m looking to deep and need to step off the gas a little.
What am I passionate (obsessed) with then?
I’m passionate about time keeping, and competence. I simply hate incompetence in anything and it is one of my pet peeves.
I guess I’ve woken up in probably not one of the best frames of mind to answer this question. I’m passionate about a good nights sleep though, but that’s about as rare as rocking horse s**t these days.
And I’m not talking Frankie Valli and his pals, neither am I about to burst into song, you don’t deserve that.
Every season has its good and bad points for me, but I have to say Spring is probably my favourite.
My reasoning for each season is listed below:
Spring: crisp mornings but now is the added bonus of the sun poking its head out, the plants are starting to awaken and the birds seem to be singing a different song. It’s all about awakening and looking forward. This is my favourite season, as it’s all about progression, it seems positive to me.
Summer: Sun, heat all the things we haven’t had and have missed for the last five months should now be here in abundance, however here in the Uk in the middle of what should be flaming June, we have single figure temperatures and even more rain than usual. Mother natures clock seems to be out of sync.
Autumn: Nature is about to go into hibernation, the trees put on awesome displays of colour and the last sprinkling of warm sunshine takes a bow. Cold days reappear and Jack Frost starts to make his presence felt.
Winter: warm coats come out of storage, the common cold hits with a vengeance and crisp mornings and more rain appears. And then the slight dusty sprinkling of snow appears that makes the country grind to a halt, and makes us the laughing stock of the world.
A bit of overthinking and triteness here but I can happily live without luxuries of the consumer kind.
Breathing you will say is not a luxury, it’s as natural as night follows day. But when the ability to do it properly is removed, it becomes a luxury.
Asthma inhalers (Internet)
As a kid I struggled with endless breathing issues and chest infections. Bronchitis has featured heavily in my life along with Asthma and they still haunt me to this very day. In fact over recent months I’ve noticed a quite dramatic decline in my ability to control the condition, as well as other unknown symptoms creeping in. But I’ll hopefully get that looked at when I have my yearly asthma review on Tuesday.
There is nothing quite like being able to get your lungs full of fresh air and not be constantly fighting to catch your breath. But that hasn’t happened for a long time and I miss that.
I’ve never smoked but my parents were chain smokers so I guess I was a passive smoker from an early age. I personally hold them both to blame for what I have suffered over the years, and that is why i hate smoking with a passion. I had to watch my brother die from Lung cancer and that wasn’t pretty, it was horrendous. He was a smoker.
So for me breathing is a luxury that I can’t live without, yes I know you are saying that’s the same for us all – you fool! And you’d be right of course. But for me it is the quality of good unhindered breathing I miss, and that’s a luxury I’m probably never going to experience again.
Don’t poison yourself people, your body doesn’t require it, and you will definitely regret it in later life.
Enjoy that deep satisfying breath of fresh air. It really is an indication that life is good for you if you can.
What are the most important things needed to live a good life?
In my honest opinion this is truly an individual choice. However I can only speak for myself when I answer this question.
Enjoy the journey (internet)
What is the good life? Do we refer back to the old tv sitcom of the 70s with Richard Briers and Penelope Keith, when the good life was living off the land and being totally self dependent? Or is it something else?
In modern society I suspect it is something else, even though many would long to have a similar simple existence as the “Goodes” did back then.
Realistically, that life is not attainable by all so we have to resort to what we individually class as the good life. To have a good life and what I personally would class as the good life, there are a few aspects of our own demeanours that we have to make changes to.
Now I don’t have what I’d call the good life, I have a pretty good life and I’m happy with that. I’d imagine the Good life in truth contains a number, if not all of the following, that we strive to achieve on a daily basis but may not be fully versed in just yet:
Financial security
Job security
A steady relationship
A loving family
The freedom to travel
A good attitude
Humility
Kindness
Compassion
Understanding
We are all probably able to say we are fully conversant in a number of these aspects, however we are more than likely striving to attain these goals rather than exercising them on a daily basis. Just looking at these myself I can see where I fall down, and what I need to do to attain a fully “Good life” but a number of factors will probably step in and stop me ever achieving that.
So I guess I’ll just have to be content with achieving my “Best life” and be satisfied with that. And you know what? I’m content with that choice, as I’m sure many others will similarly be.
I spend most of the time with my work colleagues to be honest. Well. Truthfully it’s probably even Steven’s between them and my wife and dog, though it does sometimes feel that I’m more at work than home.
As I can’t show any work pictures on here, please enjoy this delectable little YouTube short of my dog wishing you a happy day.
From Series 9 Episode 26 broadcast on 29/07/15 The Barrister is on fine form but will Hayley and Dave be able to walk away with £7,000?
The Chase
I was just looking around what’s on my YouTube channel and to be honest there’s not a great deal. However I saw this little nugget of Tv gold and thought I’d share it with you.
Me – on the Chase
Yep that’s me almost 9 years ago when I had most of my faculties about me, what went wrong?
I had my hour of fame to be honest and in the end myself and Hayley came away with a win. My share went towards a kitchen we were installing at the time and I believe Hayley, who was a student nurse at the time was going to put it towards her first car.
Me with Sean Wallace – The Chase
Sean Wallace the chaser was a lovely guy. Nothing like his tv persona, he came and met up with us after filming and was a right charmer. I have met him since travelling on the Bakerloo underground line as I believe he used to live in and around the Willesden area in London.
Perhaps I need to get one of those “I beat the chaser” tee shirts.
It was a fun day and created a lot of good memories.
Foxes Den 
You must be logged in to post a comment.