Paying it Forward

Apparently tomorrow is pay it forward day.  This pleases me.  I have been invited to take part in this day by the power of Facebook.  This also pleases me.  Imagine what could happen if everyone on Facebook paid it forward?

There is far too much rudeness in the world today, far too much isolation, too much self importance, disregard and lack of respect for our fellow man.  The world is a very cold and unfeeling place and I'm not just talking about the snow we have at the moment.  We, as a species, are losing our humanity.  Chavs are losing their intelligence.  We are devolving into an uncaring mass of individuals - I always thought we would ascend to a higher being of compassion and understanding - who knew?

So pay it forward day - here is what you can do - smile at someone, help them with their shopping, pay for someones coffee, buy an extra sandwich to give to the homeless guy on the street, call your Gran and listen to her bend your ear - in short.. make someones day.  And then watch as a ripple of happiness spreads out from you.  Now tell your friends and family to do the same.  Could Wednesday 1st of December be a great day?  It is literally up to you.

I love Sci Fi

I have been a closet sci fi/fantasy fan for years and years and years and eons.  Finally I feel comfortable enough in my own skin to release the inner sci fi fanatic and say to the world - yes!  I heart sci fi!  Yes!  I am a geek!  Yes I am beyond excited that I won tickets to the SFX Weekender woooooooooooohoooooooooooo.

And yes I know it has become more mainstream and is no longer quite as taboo as it was but the fact remains that if you announce your happy geekdom in sci-fi & fantasy people do take half a step back and look at you from the side of their eyes (try it, you'll see what I mean).  They will automatically assume you are a Trekkie and have rubber ears and know how to speak Klingon and yes just because I could potential do all those things doesn't mean I am socially inept in any way.  I'm pretty much socially inept in my usual capacity so at least feeling comfortable enough to admit to the sci fi love is a step forward.

The SFX Weekender has a masked ball of sorts - a sort of sci-fi come as you wish.  My brain may go into meltdown as I consider my myriad of options - sadly most of it either includes full body colour change (think green, blue, white/grey), spandex or not a whole lot of anything.  But even that doesn't put me off!  Bring on the latex and the false ears and hey this is real dressing up and it's not even Halloween!!  I could be zinging. 

I think the appeal of sci fi/fantasy is the knowledge that it probably would never happen but if you could imagine that it would then wow -what sights we would see.  The only limits are our imaginations and I don't know about you, but my imagination is endless.  These are good times my friend, good times.

Christmas Challenge

I know some may think tis not the season but I refuse, point blank, to be dragged into guilt Christmas present buying.

Last year I witnessed a rather well grown teenager rush through opening and discarding a literal mound of presents looking for the one expensive item they 'had to have'.  And when it didn't materialise?  Burst into tears.  Unacceptable.  I don't like being dragged into competitive materialistic present shopping.  It takes away the spirit of Christmas.

Now Christmas is a 'Christian' holiday as such but lets face it.. the great unwashed sees it as time off work, a big meal and presents.  I don't like to buy into that mentality and this year I'm taking a stand.  Christmas to me means festive decorations to brighten up the dark of winter, thinking back on the good times this year has brought and the great times that are still to come.  Christmas to me means being surrounding by loved ones, family, friends and filling the air with laughter.  Sitting down, taking the time to just relax and reconnect over good food with good people and sharing your love for each other.

So, to the challenge - I am going to buy Christmas presents for everyone with a £5 per person limit and I cannot buy sweets/chocolate, smellies or vouchers.  I live in London for goodness sake - if I can't go and be creative in the big smoke then where can I??  This is important to me - I want to show that Christmas is not about the large, waste of money, plastic gift.  Instead it is about the act of giving a piece of yourself to your loved ones and showing them that you care.

Now I realise this means that you know how much your Christmas present cost but I hope you will be able to join into the spirit of things and not measure the value of a gift on how much it cost to buy.  Tis the season after all.

Thankful

A rather personal thank you  - skip to the next entry if you prefer  :)

Dear blogettes (not sure what you are actually.... those that read these ramblings....blogists... or just dear dear friends)

I have been absent from myself but now I finally begin to feel like I am back in the room and for that I am very thankful.  And I have to say my friends have been amazing - even those that are brand shiny new.  Friends are something that you do take for granted and you don't know how much you lean on them until you really need them.  I am thankful that the raving calorie chomping monster didn't escape during these few weeks of topsy turvey and even though the gym has fallen by the wayside I don't think (hope) it is completely lost.  I am thankful that I have been brought up to keep calm and carry on - very much a British institution of stiff upper lip but one that can actually be quite comforting at times.  And of course gives us a reason to tut under our breath at those overly emotional and expressive Europeans - there is a time and place after all..

I think we can safely say that business will be back to usual until once more the world implodes but hey at least that give us a topic of blogversation.

Yours in blog
Grasshopper

I don't know

I don't know what to blog.  I don't know what to say.  I don't know how to fix it and I don't know how to make it go away.

Not knowing is one of the most helpless feelings in the world.  Surrounding ourselves with certainty is one way we can make ourselves feel better.  But one man's certainty is anothers uncertainty.  Some find solace in religion, the big stone churches of Christianity appear to be able to withstand anything and the priests at the helm speak with a confidence that encourages their flock to not question the blind devotion expected of them.  I can't comment on the religion of other faiths but it has always occurred to me that religion is a separate issue to faith and it is religion that seeks to control us yet faith which can support us through difficult times.

Not knowing what another person is thinking during a tense or difficult time can also make you feel helpless so we find ways to read people.  Tells that show how a person is feeling give them away.  Certain words can be seen to be more emphasised then others.  A single look can portray more emotion then you were prepared to give.  And the infernal words 'Are you alright?' should be stricken from the English language.  I am not alright, I don't think I will be alright and don't know how to make it alright.  I am helpless and I do not know what do to about it and that makes me feel even more helpless. 

It is times like this that we lean among our friends and our family.  Those who know me well enough know not to say the words that should be stricken from the English language to me - instead they know to hug me and speak of things that I do know about so that feeling of helplessness can at least be smothered for a short while.  Distract me, take me away from this place but whatever you do.... do not ask me if I am alright.

My Virtual Self

I have come to the somewhat unique conclusion that my virtual self is way better then the real thing.  I can sparkle online because I have words - I can make you laugh, challenge your expectations, make you think, have you wishing you were with me as I brighten your day.  But it appears that the shininess of the virtual cannot translate into the physical.  Words cease to be actual beings that I can mould to my every whim, they become choked in my throat and never make it out or they run screaming for air and no-one knows what the hell I am blathering on about this time.

Maybe living virtually would not be so bad.  Gone would be the dirty, smelly commute to work.  Gone would be the constant annoying drone of other people talking about nothing day in, day out.  Gone would be the plastic smile to show the world that everything is alright.  I think I could really make it work.  As long as I never have to meet anyone, I would be the most awesomest person in the world. 

Take a moment to just allow that image to sink into your brain.  And now consider that some people today are opting for that virtual life.  They cannot leave the house, they can only communicate online and they shut themselves away from the pain of reality because they think this is better.  Right now I must admit that I am on the fence.

But I think the one thing that I would really miss is the hug.  If someone could invent a realistic hug then I think more and more people would turn virtual.  A hug is something that you can't really screw up, it really really isn't rocket science, just stretch those arms out and you are good to go.  When you feel down, a hug can cheer you up.  When you feel lonely, a hug makes you feel connected again.  When you are happy, a hug can transfer that happiness to another person.  The day my laptop hugs me back will be a great stride forward in the establishment of my virtual self. 

Bounce

When life gives you lemons - yada yada yada.  It is a testament to the strength of human nature that we bounce back - nearly always every single time.  Some say that life doles out the good with the bad to test us, to see what we do, to prepare us for the next life.  I'm not sure about that.  That's deep - possibly too deep for late on a Sunday night (after all Monday doth approach).

Have you ever noticed that when something bad does happen, your whole world dissolves and nothing is more important or more pressing than that particular moment in time.  And it will never, ever, ever get any better.  And then someone makes you laugh.  You feel guilty at first, after all your world just ended and it will never, ever, ever get any better.  But that hug just lifted your spirits and that joke is so funny you just have to forward it onto everyone else and suddenly the great wheel of life has just ground you onwards to new things.

Yes there are people who say, stop - I want to get off.  Suicide is a tragic waste of life and many cultures see it as cowardice, as giving up the fight and just stopping.  In those moment when  it will never, ever, ever get any better, sometimes you do just want to give up.  After all why live when life is so hard.  But after the hard comes the soft, the good, the light, the laughter and your footsteps are back on the right path again.  Sure, you can think back to that moment when things will never, ever, ever get any better and maybe feel a pang from time to time.  But you got back up and you carried on and no-one can ever take that away from you. 

To exist is easy, to survive with a smile is the real challenge and if you can do that surrounded by the people you love, who make you laugh then bring on the lemonade.

Leaf Litter

This morning I was stunned to see our street wardens bagging up leaves.  What a ridiculous waste of time and resources.  And.... how are leaves litter??  I mean I know it is called a leaf litter but for goodness sake!!  Is this another mad 'elf and safety scheme - watch out, leaves are dangerous, they drop to the floor and everything.

The thing is, it is so pointless to try and scoop the leaves up - they fall - it is the grand design of autumn.  Who is Lewisham council to try and dictate that leaves should not be cluttering up the street.  And also - why can't they clutter up the street??  Leaves look pretty and kids can have fun kicking them across the street as they go to school.  I mean, are we getting to the point where trees are going to be fined for littering and children will be yelling 'litter bug' to them as they walk by?  Honestly - isn't it just the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard?  They are leaves!!  They decompose!!  Go do something useful like clear up all the dog waste that is liberally sprinkled all over the path on my 5 mile walk to work.  It's like something out of the bloody krypton factor!

I reckon the next time you are out and about, go find your nearest autumnal tree and give it a good shake - free the leaf!!  Viva la leaf!!  I mean honestly...