Month: June 2006

Inconsequential

Reading time: < 1 min

Around midnight last night, as I was heading to bed, I noticed the sky was still light. Not all of it, just the small portion chasing the sun. The sky was clear, and I stood there in our back bedroom admiring nature with a silent awe. I slowly shifted my gaze upwards from the daylight blue, through turquoise, towards the inky blue black and the stars.

If I was filming this as a scene from a movie, the camera would start behind me, following me into the room and over to the window. It would hover behind me, showing my reflection in the glass, before slowing starting to move in and impercetibly it would shift to become my ‘vision’. It would follow my line of sight as it moved up from the garden to the sky, pausing at the horizon to marvel at the stillness of the light, before slowly tracing upwards to the heavens.

Then, just as the screen is filled with black and as the first pinpoints of light reach us from the depths of space, a distinct bright light will zip across the view, burning a flickering trail, the briefest of moments.

A quiet monologue will begin, sombre and with little emotion.

As the camera pans around the night sky it will discuss the fragility of life, the glimpse we get of it, and how we too will soon burn out and disappear.

“For we are a speck, our energy burns bright then dims quickly almost as soon as it is viewed.”

How inconsequential we are, these odd skeletons of being. Such grandeur and importance we place on ourselves, and for little reason.

Value for money

Reading time: < 1 min

I wonder if Dire Straits would have been as famous if they had called their song that… Value for money, and the chicks are free… and entirely different proposition.

Thanks to all for some wonderful suggestions on how to spend &10. Ohh and I see some people have posted similar on their website, have I FINALLY started a meme? Is that all it takes?! Yay. Feel free to pilfer, it’s all free anyway (but be nice and link back!).

[cue man in shed from The Fast Show]

This week I will mostly be posting silly things as there ain’t much going on with me at the moment*.

Now, this has never really stemmed the flow of my bloggings (although I hear you can get a cream that will clear up the associated rash) and so whilst I would love to be able to predict what I’ll be rambling on about all I can say is, as ever, turn up and see. Nowt new there, eh?!

Ohh how rude of me, did you all have a good weekend. Bit damp in Scotland yesterday but we still managed a BBQ on Saturday. A good traditional Scottish BBQ. Cook outside, eat inside. Ohh and of course you have to cook the last few pieces of butchered cow whilst juggling your beer in one hand and an umbrella in the other. It’s tradition!

How was YOUR weekend?

* not strictly true of course, but it’s mainly work stuff. Ohh and the small matter of my wife’s birthday on Thursday.

Life moving on

Reading time: 2 mins

To say that nothing of note has happened recently would be a lie, to be more accurate nothing of note THAT I CAN MENTION HERE has happened, entirely different things.

So, what CAN I talk about? And more to the point what have I mentioned in passing that I’ve forgotten about .. honestly, my memory.. sheesh.

Well, have I mentioned that Louise and I have decided not to have kids? We’ve discussed having them for quite a while but have, separately, come to the realisation that not having them isn’t going to bother us… we just needed to realise that we both felt the same way, which we finally have.

That sounds bad. It’s not like we don’t talk to each other, quite the opposite, but people in a relationship will know what I mean when I say that some topics just ‘sit there’ and only come around as viable every now and then. So, when the topic of children came up a few weeks back we talked about, thought about it, talked about it some more and made our decision. We, of course, reserve the right to change our minds (accidents will happen and all that) but for our own sanity and general ‘life direction’ we thought it’d be better for us to make a decision and stick it out.

The reason I didn’t mention it here is that we wanted, obviously, to tell friends and family this news first. We finally got around to telling the last of our friends on Saturday there so now it’s common enough knowledge that I can tell you lot (don’t feel bad, I do love you all just not THAT much.. ok?).

What else?

Oh yes. I need to get back on the diet/exercise kick again. I’m figuring that having your BELT break on you isn’t a good sign…

Time Traveler's Wife

Reading time: < 1 min

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Excellent. A simple enough story, about a husband who randomly time travels and his wife, which takes you through their relationship and various events in their life and not once stoops to patronise or indulge itself. Once you get used to the format — every chapter starts with the date and age in which the two main characters appear — the story flows well and is suprisingly gripping and moving.

I’m pretty sure this was a recommendation, and it was only after I was halfway through it that I realised that it was, deservedly, on bestseller lists. At times the book leaps along, dragging you through time and dumping you slap bang in the middle of a situation, and other times it takes a soft approach and almost moves you to tears.

In turn I’ll recommend this, hugely original and well written, book. If you want something a little different for taking on your holidays, something that remains easy to read yet FEELS a lot smarter than it looks (if that makes any sense) then get yourself a copy.

Importance of being happy

Reading time: 2 mins

Like most people over the years the things that I value, the things that make me happy, have changed. Despite appearances to the contrary here — specifically my gadget lust — I’m not particularly materialistic these days. I used to be much MUCH worse.

Whilst I was never particularly fussy about labels, I was certainly fussy if things weren’t of a certain standard. The phrase “you get what you pay for” is fairly key to this, and whilst I still hold it true, I’m not half as fussy as I was even a few years ago. Or am I? Thinking about it, it might be that I’ve lowered my expectations, decided that I can “put up with” things of lower quality as they are cheaper and easier to replace?

Is it false economy to live this way? To evaluate things, and issues, and assign them a minimum value below which I won’t stoop, but above which I find myself uncomfortable? The expectation when you pay top dollar for something is that you receive top dollar quality. As this hasn’t always been true in the past I no longer stick rigidly to this maxim… but I digress. Quite badly as it turns out.

Because I don’t want to talk about things. I want to talk about feelings, emotions, connections, and other wispy, ethereal items that are hard to tie down, hard to define, but which are becoming more and more important to me.

Thing is, by their very nature, they are hard to discuss. An example in the form of a question then: How much of the value you place on your workplace comes from the NON-work side of things? The social interaction, location, etc etc..

If you asked me that a few years ago I’d probably have said that it wasn’t hugely important. These days, particularly looking back over the past couple of years, I have to admit it’s a lot more important to me now.

Another example, if you’ll indulge me, which would you prefer – £1,000 to spend in (and only in) your favourite shop, or day out with all of your closest friends?

Such are the quandaries of life, and I reckon most of you will choose the latter. But THAT means you are putting a value on you friendships? No?

Hmmm I’m losing my train of thought on this one… over to you lot… if you’re not too busy “pondering” and “daydreaming” that is…

Tuesday

Reading time: < 1 min

It’s a difficult time of year to remain focussed. As I walk to work I look up at the blue sky, enjoying the morning sun on my face, and ponder the greater things of life.

Why am I here? What is it like to be a seagull? Like that one flying overhead right now… what’s that falling from the sk… awww shit.

And then, when you get to work, you try not to spend hours daydreaming, staring out of the window. You get your work done, try and leave sharp so you can get back outside into the air.

The next problem arrives when you get home. Sit outside and have a nice cold beer, or troop into the darkened living room and watch football.

Honestly, it’s a wonder I get out of bed at all some days. Especially at this time of year.