Tag: Thoughts

I was there

As you progress through life you start to collect favourites. Favourite sports teams, favourite foods and favourite bands to name just a few.

This post regards my favourite band, a band from Athens in Georgia who go by the name R.E.M

I was there…

I was casually browsing a shopping website when the above metal reproduction of a tour poster caught my eye and the memory banks opened and flooded my brain with fantastic memories of this very day. Yes I was there and what a day it was. And today I purchased that poster to go in my workshop, beautiful memories.

Milton Keynes Bowl

Milton Keynes Bowl (or the National bowl as it was officially known) was just that, like a massive crater in the ground that during this period of time in the 90s attracted a number of big groups to this part of the Buckinghamshire countryside.

The National Bowl (originally the Milton Keynes Bowl) is an entertainment venue located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The site was a former clay pit (for brick-making), filled in and raised to form an amphitheatre using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area. It has a maximum capacity of 65,000. The arena is open-air grassland, without seats.

Wikipedia

I was living in Watford at the time and a friend and i had to make the journey north by train. Not a particularly long journey it’s only about 30 minutes each way.

This was part of the R.E.M Monster tour.

The support was superb with three acts who all became well known in their own rights, Sleeper, Radiohead and the Cranberries, mix that with plenty of sun and beer and it made for a fantastic day.

When my favourite band came on, Wow, they were superb.

Here’s the set list for their show that day:

Set list

I can’t believe it’s almost 30 years ago, the band split in 2011, and by then I’d seen them about 5 times. I’ve always said if they were ever to reform for just one concert anywhere in the world then I’d be there.

It’s just amazing that one picture, can bring such good memories flooding on back.

Happy days.

Time

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

Now don’t get me all wrong, I’m not demanding that my life be extended, all I am saying is the best gift you could give me is your time.

A simple, “How are you?” A “Good morning” or even a smile, it sets a scene, we don’t have to rush, let’s talk a while but it rarely occurs. Probably the only person you speak to in the morning is the barista, when you give them your name to put on your coffee cup on the way to work.

Society has changed to the extent that we hold everyone in suspicion, we don’t trust anyone, not for any particular reason apart from society dictating that we should all be suspicious of one another. It’s just ingrained into society right now.

What Gift? Speak to anyone who knows me and you will see that I’m a person that likes gifts that have had thought go into them. I do not need items of materialistic value, you could just as well pass me an old battered book or a pair of socks, of no particular monetary value, if they mean something to me I will cherish them.

And that is where time is important. We all have an undefined amount available to us, it costs nothing to give it, and it has a value that is priceless.

Give your time, and you will be rewarded equally, it’s so simplistic that it’s crazy. If only society would sit up and pay attention.

Stay safe.

How rude

What colleges have you attended?

Well I’m not going to spill the beans on my actual places of learning, that’s just plain rude WP. Does anyone else notice a daily prompt structure on this platform that possibly assists scammers and questionable persons regarding an easy way to obtain details about you? No? I must be alone on that thought process then.

Anyway.

Boring answer is I’m a fully paid up member of the college of life. There’s no time off, no years out, it’s a constant stream of learning, experiencing, and getting things done.

The only college that, emotionally drains you, exhilarates you and makes you judge and value your existence and why the hell you are even here. It’s brutal.

That’s life.

Keep learning, for instance, don’t tell WP everything.

Stay safe

Do I play? Sort of..

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

Playtime. Without venturing back to my childhood days, that have disappeared into the ether of long forgotten days of fun and frivolities, playtime for me takes on a different meaning from what it did back then.

Yes I have a fascination for old retro toys of childhood that I buy, fix and then restore, however the play element has long disappeared to be replaced by fascination of how things have progressed in that relatively short period of time. The play things of my childhood are now being referred to as antiquities and I guess that also means i to, am starting to fall into that category.

The great majority of my life is consumed by work. So for me “Playtime” as such is anything that falls outside of the work category. As I have aged “Playtime” is not the singular activity it was in childhood, it now is an all encompassing activity that involves everything from rest, hobbies, family life, personal time, education and enjoyment.

I don’t “Play” as much as I’d like due to the way my workload pretty much consumes my whole existence, hence I’m looking forward to the time when that “Play” element consumes the workload – retirement. And I’m probably looking towards that occurring in the next 3-5 years, maybe sooner if a small lottery win arises.

Here’s hoping for six little numbers 🤞

Stay safe and happy.

Old Photos

What makes you feel nostalgic?

Probably the one thing that makes me most nostalgic is viewing old photographs. Not the many thousand you have on your phones (Though many are relevant), I mean the many thousands you have stashed away in boxes, in loft spaces and under beds. Those pictures that go back generations sometimes.

Old memories

Black and white, Polaroid many different formats, all forming a pleasant picture of how it used to be. Times were simpler, I know we had a lot more Illnesses and afflictions back then, but we were amongst the last generations that actually went out and had proper “play time” and were able to venture every where, oh how times have changed.

When I look at the old photos the first thing I do is turn the picture over and see what paper it’s printed on, having worked in the paper and film production process at Kodak for many years, I often have a wry smile to myself recognising where the paper was probably made. And in those old days you very often had date stamps on the back that would allow you to instantly age a photograph.

The photographs usually come out when someone stumbles on them, that rare occasion, or when you stumble across them when spring cleaning.

It’s one of those little treasures you know are there, but your mind forgets them until it decides to surprise you yet again sometime in the near future.

Have a great day.

Was three, now two

What relationships have a positive impact on you?

This kind of makes me laugh. I was talking to my nephew yesterday and we were talking about Antisocial media. He was quite proud to tell me he had 875 friends on Fakebook and was quite putout when I told him he was having a laugh. I asked him to name as many of these friends as he could in 30 seconds, and he could probably reel out about 10 or 12 max. And there is my point, people on social media are not friends and a positive impact on you, nine times out of ten they are there to have a nosey around your life or to try and big up their own lives by stating “Oh look at the friends I’ve got. They’re not friends get over it. They’re doing it for likes.

That’s me off his Christmas list now.

Myself I can count my true friends on my hands. In fact I only need the one hand, in fact I only need two fingers, it was three before August but a death put paid to that relationship.

Now it is two. My wife who I trust implicitly, what she has done for me is just unbelievable, without her I would have been long gone many years ago, she has saved my life. Literally.

Second is my buddy Dave, i probably hear from him twice a year but we are there for each other we would truly go into battle for each other, this bond is strong and its roots go back to our childhood.

Trust is the foundation of a good strong relationship, it is a back bone, break it and there is no more stability.

875 friends eh? They’d all run a mile if you ever needed them.

Peace to your day.

Barney the dogs Birthday

I wrote a couple of weeks back about getting a strange invite to a six year olds birthday party. That six year old is a Cockapoo dog called Barney, the original post can be found here: Happy Woofday

Well todays the day, I’m working nights, but before I move off to work I’ve promised I’d pop around with the wife to have a bit of lunch and to give him a pat or two on the head, and tell him he’s a good boy.

Birthday boy, unimpressed by cake and all the fuss

Well, I must admit there was a good spread but after the overindulgences of the last week it was one party too much for me. Even Barney who’s been at most of our homes over the last week just looked as if he’d had enough of us all and just wanted some peace and quiet. I’m lucky as Im working nights, I’ve had the perfect excuse to slink off and find my our serenity in the offices at work.

We humans are a little crazy at times and I think even our animals sense this. That said, it doesn’t hurt to be a bit crazy, it makes the day go past a tad quicker, and to be honest anything that spreads a little happiness and produces smiles and laughter is not a bad thing.

Stay crazy people 👍

Idyllic

You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like?

Illustration by Maurice Sendak in Open House for Butterflies by Ruth Krauss.

One of those questions that you give little thought to. However for me peace and quiet and tranquility reigns supreme.

Not just for reading a writing but for all my hobbies, all I ask for is some peace to be with my own thoughts and no rushing, peaceful all the way. I may also like to have a radio on, turned down low in the background just to hum along to,

Melton brook – Melton Mowbray

A little cottage with a separate annex by a slow babbling brook would be ideal. However I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon, but one can dream can’t they? So in the ideal world it’s down to the river every time to seek inspiration and mental stability for me.

Have a glorious day everyone and stay safe.

Boys toys

What is your all time favorite automobile?

First of all I hope you all had a good Christmas Day, our family day went really well with no issues, and today is round two at someone else’s house so at least the washing up won’t be left for me today.

All time favourite automobile? Now I’m not really a petrol head and to me an automobile is purely a way to get from A-B. I’ve owned some right old bangers that I’ve really loved, but to be honest as I’m having to choose favourites, one is a toy and one is real.

The toy:

1970s I was brought a Tonka crane that was my absolute pride and joy. I was probably about 8 years old when I was brought this but to this day it’s still there in my memory banks as just something special. Knowing my love for anything retro I will probably one day look at obtaining one, much to the wife’s dislike.

A 70s Tonka Crane

The real thing:

When I was diagnosed with Kidney cancer a few years back I went out and treated myself to Landrover discovery 3. God I loved that car, it was like sitting in your favourite arm chair and a beautiful car to drive. It cost an absolute fortune to maintain but was worth every penny. Just like everything in this country though, we pay too much tax and because big diesel drinking vehicles fell out of fashion the grabbing government decided to tax these out of every day affordability. I loved that car and must admit I shed a tear the day it drove off our drive for the last time. I’d buy another one in a heartbeat, I loved it.

Doris – my old trusty Landy

We currently have a new car that serves a purpose but is as basic as you can get. That said, I’d rather walk anywhere within a reasonable distance than take the car.

Have a peaceful pleasant day.

Just have a calm and peaceful day

Ok, I’m not going to be around on the 25th as I have a number of hungry mouths and inquiring minds to keep occupied, as we have the wife’s side of the family here for dinner.

It’s been a tough year but for one day I think we can put all bad to rest and hopefully look forward to whatever new challenges the new year can bring. Today we can let bygones be bygones and celebrate being together, our health and wellbeing.

I know everyone does not celebrate Christmas and I fully accept that, so hopefully I can attempt to wish you all the most peaceful of days , I apologise in advance for any words lost in translation, no offence intended.

Have a wonderful peaceful and happy day.


  • आपका दिन अद्भुत, शांतिपूर्ण और मंगलमय हो

  • તમારો દિવસ અદ્ભુત શાંતિપૂર્ણ અને આનંદમય રહે
  • Magkaroon ng isang magandang mapayapa at masayang araw

  • أتمنى لك يومًا هادئًا وسعيدًا رائعًا

  • একটি চমৎকার শান্তিপূর্ণ এবং সুখী দিন

  • 祝你有個美好嘅和平同快樂嘅日子

  • Que tingueu un meravellós dia tranquil i feliç

  • Passez une merveilleuse journée paisible et heureuse

  • Να έχετε μια υπέροχη ήρεμη και χαρούμενη μέρα
  • Semoga harimu indah, damai, dan bahagia
  • Selamat menjalani hari yang damai dan bahagia

  • Ich wünsche Ihnen einen wunderschönen, friedlichen und glücklichen Tag

I know there are probably about another 140 languages I have failed to address. But to you all my message remains the same.

Peace, love & happiness.