Gordon

The AMAZING Apple Watch

There is no doubt the Apple Watch™ is a lifestyle changing piece of technology.

It is a quintessentially Apple product that soon makes you forget it’s pulsing with electrons, a tiny technological marvel strapped to your wrist, and almost immediately it becomes an integral part of your life, intrinsic and woven into your everyday. Without it you are less, with it everything is more.

Why didn’t they say all this in the adverts!

When I ordered my Apple Watch™ I hadn’t fully appreciated the impact it might make but, as I’d held back from ordering one as soon as it was launched, I’ve had the time to read a lot of reviews driven by actual day to day usage. Reading those I knew that it would enrich my life in oh so many more ways than even Apple seem to have realised.

At first it was subtle.

I was more active (how quickly you get used to just standing up regardless of where you are or what you are doing, I was talking to more people, and widening my social circle, even including some people I didn’t even know – it’s a revelation, an enlightenment, to talk to perfect strangers and feel a connection with them, something all too lacking in our modern lives, glued to our phone screens as we are, as I was, but no longer.

Now I stride confidently with my head held high, part of this beautiful world that we inhabit. I feel calmer, more connected to the world. As I walk people look, some stare, some ask some questions.

It’s nice to feel popular, I’m wary it’s a temporary thing but no, it can’t be, not whilst I have my Apple Watch™ strapped to my wrist! It will never wane or fade, this is my new life, it’s all so exciting! Each day I wonder who will notice it, who I’ll talk to, who I’ll connect with on that deeper emotional level that eschews the technology itself.

Sometimes, of course, those connections are fleeting, a whispered nudge to a friend as they point at my wrist, or even just “Apple Watch™ wanker” murmured in passing. I can’t believe it, I am being noticed!! THIS is the attention I crave and deep down I’ll admit it’s one of the real reasons I wanted to get an Apple Watch™.

And for me this is the crux, this is the reason Apple will continue to rise and rise. It’s not just a company that makes products, it creates life-affirming objects that enhance everything around you, raising those who partake, and fully buy-in to living life the way Apple know it should be lived, to new heights of being, new realms of spirituality.

I still have riches to come as well, as yet I haven’t actually managed to find someone else with an Apple Watch™ but when I do, I’ll be drawing crude squiggles (haha! a penis, that will be funny!), or simply sharing my heartbeat which isn’t creepy because we’d both agree that it had no intent it was purely because the technology would allow us.

It may notify me of when I receive one of my 4 emails a day, or the occasional text from those lovely PPI people (I’ve text them back a few times, but they never respond. I’ll keep trying), and I think it also tells the time, but the biggest achievement Apple Watch™ has had is in transforming my life.

I might save up and get a new strap next as, whilst I love the sleek black that I bought, I don’t seem to be making as many connections with new friends as I have been recently, a bright green strap should help.

I wonder if I can get one with LEDs in it, maybe flashing ones in the shape of arrows pointing to this wonderful new part of me.

Yes, that’s right, it’s part of me. It’s not just a watch (sorry, not just an Apple Watch™).

I have to admit I’m glad it’s the summer, I hate to think what’ll happen when I have to start wearing jackets and jumpers again come Autumn. Maybe I’ll wear the Apple Watch™ over my clothes! Yes, I could start a new trend because everyone would notice it then!!

I love my Apple Watch™.

I should’ve written this post before now, I know, but life with my Apple Watch™ is a far more fulfilled and meaningful existence than I’d imagined.

Gosh, I wonder how this post will look on my Apple Watch™?!

July 20, 2015

Paddling downstream

This is infuriating.

I’m trying to write a post about how, recently, I’ve been reflecting on my approach to my life and how it’s been slowly changing over the past few years.

But I can’t seem to find a way to start it so I’ll just batter on…

Life is a journey.

(that was gonna be the opening line, what a middle-aged cliche!)

Thing is, that’s what I’m starting to realise more and more, that I have been on a journey without really realising it, I’ve been floating along, carried by the current but whilst I’ve gathered a little speed here and there, it’s only been the last couple of years I’ve started paddling.

Jesus. Listen to me.

I’ll cut to the chase, somewhere in my brain I have started to realise that I am less and less interested in STUFF AND THINGS and more and more focused on EXPERIENCES and PEOPLE.

I don’t buy as much STUFF as I used to.

I am loving being part of Yelp and going out to events, being around PEOPLE and having fun new EXPERIENCES.

I look around my flat and wonder what else I can remove, how did I end up with so much STUFF?

I still need to read this book.

I think I’m approaching the point where I’m ready to play this game.

It means getting things like my debt under control (so I can afford to EXPERIENCE more) and stripping back the THINGS in my life to only those that I need.

It feels a little bit like a cult or religion, and at that point my brain kicks in with the excuses born of years of commercialisation and ‘buying stuff is good’ advertising.

Perhaps my poly lifestyle is helping? Being poly challenges societal and cultural norms, it still catches me out sometimes (still feel a little bit of guilt when I ponder, maybe, if a casual partner is possible) but it has definitely opened my eyes to challenge other things about myself.

I’ve mentioned all of this before, removing negativity and noise, decluttering and simplifying where I can.

It’s just that now I’m starting to fully appreciate the fact that I’m on a journey and I think I know where it might be heading.

Hang on, there is a fork in the river coming up… hmmmm, left or right?

July 16, 2015

Hierarchies

Poly Means Many: There are many aspects of polyamory. Each month, the PMM bloggers will write about their views on one of them. Links to all posts can be found at www.polymeansmany.com.

Every month the Poly Means Many bloggers choose a topic to write about. Some months I find it easy, some months I find it more difficult. Whilst I’ve now identified as non-monogamous/poly for a couple of years now, I’m lucky that my relationships haven’t massively changed in that time.

When we started out exploring this lifestyle we eschewed the idea of hierarchies largely because they just felt wrong to us, it didn’t feel right to start out with a set of rules that could limit how things progressed in the future. From day one we’ve understood that this lifestyle allows our relationships to grow and morph into new things, and that means accepting they may also shrink or come to a natural end.

So, other than the element of time, we don’t have any agreed hierarchies in place in our set of relationships.

In practice, however, it’s not that easy. I think it’s human nature to look for structures and a way to understand something new and there is still one element which will, whether we realise it or not, give some guidance that forms the early parts of a multi-relationship dynamic; time.

It’s not something we can control; the facts are that Kirsty and I have been seeing each other for several years, whereas Clare and I, and Kirsty and Mark, have only recently passed the two year stage. For Clare and Mark, both entering new relationships that is something they’ve had to contend with and it’s natural to presume that the longer standing relationship holds more sway, weight and power.

Counteracting that requires a lot of clear communication that there isn’t a hierarchy at play and reassurance that each relationship holds the same weight as the other.

I know that some polyamorous and open relationships work within an agreed hierarchy, from what I’ve read it helps the people involved understand where they fit and allows for some relationship decisions to be made without involving each person (with clear communication around the decision of course).

For some people, the need for structures and clear rules around their relationships helps set and manage expectations, it can be helpful if there is a differing need within each set of relationships, and equally I have read that the primary/secondary style hierarchy offers the primary relationship some protection.

Equally I’ve read that the lifestyle I’ve chosen to be a part of being described as relationship anarchy but at that point we are veering into the deeper waters of the poly community to a place where each style, construct and format of relationship must have a label.

I’ve never been a big fan of labels, I’ve also never been a big fan of rules, even though I fully bought into the most accepted rule based relationship we know; monogamy and marriage.

Maybe I was lucky that during early chats about how we might approach being non-monogamous both my partner and I quickly dismissed the idea of a hierarchy. For me that allowed us the space for our other relationships to grow into whatever they needed to be, after all, how can you rule out falling in love with someone else?

Hierarchies may be right for you, and I know a lot of poly literature suggests it is something to look at but hopefully if you are open-minded enough to be looking at moving to a non-monogamous set of relationships, you’ll be open-minded enough to treat hierarchies as what they are, only one suggestion of how you could live your life.

July 6, 2015

Back from Somerset

It’s always a bit odd, returning home after spending 5 days trudging round fields, drinking cider and enjoying various forms of entertainment, the post festival blues are real.

My third time at Glastonbury and it continues to delight, amaze, annoy and bewilder all at the same time. I come away with real thoughts of changing my life, examining what I currently deem makes me happy – all these THINGS and OBJECTS, what do they give me? – and challenge myself to try and change, even a little. This, nicely, fits with the ongoing desire to simplify and minimise my life.

Entertainment wise, it was mostly music based this year, and a lot of walking and exploring, still didn’t find the hidden piano bar but did cover almost every single part of the site. Favourite performances were probably Nadine Shah, Mary J. Blige, and The Chemical Brothers. But a lot of other notable mentions – Furs, Gaz Coombes, Florence and the Machine, Pharrell…

Next time I’m determined to avoid the Pyramid and Other Stage as much as I can, but then I’d have missed Lionel Ritchie (biggest crowd of the weekend!), I still think it’s a good aim, there is so much to see and do.

And now back to reality which is devoid of cider, hills, and random conversations with strangers – this year we met Martin who was, it’s safe to say, completely off his face. Lovely bloke though.

A final highlight was a brief chat with one of the policemen who said he’d been working at the Festival for the past 20 years and it’s gone from being a nightmare to a pleasant, enjoyable experience.

Well done Glastonbury, maybe see you next year?

July 2, 2015

Spoilers

This post contains no spoilers

I am guilty of posting spoilers. TV show plot twists, sporting results, movie endings, I’ve done them all. But I’ve learned, by being on the receiving end one too many times, to think before I post.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” says some book or other – note to self: write-up your thoughts on the Bible some day, you know, cos there aren’t enough religious nuts in your life – and truth be told it’s not a bad way to live your life. Presuming you are a decent human being and not a complete and utter dickhead to being with, but I digress, back to spoilers.

It took me a while to stop posting them and even today there is that split second moment of wanting to share something with others, a feeling that seems born of social media even though it predates it; I think social media just makes it more immediate and increases the chemicals that are generated by your brain so it feels even more fun.

I understand that it feels good to share these things and I guess our use of social media is still so new that we haven’t had time to evolve much in that area, or have much in the way of emotional engagement or maturity. Social media in all of it’s various forms is still a very basic and crude device. I get it though, that I can now stand on the top of a mountain and shout really loudly and I know people round the world will both hear and respond to me, well that’s a powerful thing.

With great power comes a simple reasoning; just because we CAN do something, doesn’t mean we SHOULD do something (says the over sharing blogger). I know, I know. Cliché-tastic, right?

Posting spoilers seems to be driven by a desire to be seen, to have an acknowledged moment of visibility, the very same thing that, to this day, has people exclaiming ‘First’ in the comments sections of websites. Yes, that still happens.

Maybe it is our use of social media, our lack of sophistication (I’m generalising MASSIVELY here) that leads to these moments of angst and anger. It can’t be a coincidence that most of the people I know online who, like myself, get more than a little bit irked when people post spoilers, are people who have been online for a long time; where ‘long time’ is relative but is usually at least 8 years or more.

If that is the case, then I guess it’s down to those of us who have been here for a while to help others who are still in their toddler years understand and learn, help them mature their usage (god, what a horrible phrase).

Trouble is, I’m not sure how we’d even start and the bottom line is that if it’s a matter of evolution then I have to face up to the fact that neither you nor I can make it happen any faster.

Part of me gets annoyed with myself too. I mean a lot of what I’m talking about are transitory things. TV shows I’ll vaguely remember in 10 years time, sporting events that will merge into another set of memories, movies that I might re-watch regardless of whether the ending was spoiled for me or not.

These are not things to waste my energy on. These are not things that matter. I know this.

But I really fucking wish people would stop doing it.

June 18, 2015

Return of the bike

A couple of months ago my bike was stolen.

My bike was one of many stored down there. In fact, despite the note I put round every single one of my neighbours, there are still several bikes locked up the same way mine was, attached to a bracket that was bolted to the wall.

The brackets are there to protect the down pipes from getting hit by any of the cars, solid structures, each with four bolts to keep it in place. Perfect for attaching a bike to using a nice heavy Kryptonite D-Lock (with additional chain).

For a while I kept my bike in my flat, right next to the front door but it always seemed in the way so, having spotted so many other bikes down there, and knowing that it is a secured space it seemed to make sense to do the same.

You’ll imagine my surprise when, as I took the bins down one day, the lift door opened and there in front of me my bike wasn’t.

The metal bracket that was bolted to the wall, or more accurately, was screwed to the wall, was lying to one side, discarded. My bike, and the lock that I’d used to attach it to the bracket, was gone. All gone.

What an odd experience. I looked around thinking the bike might have been moved somehow, I could see all the other bikes were still there and with the metal bracket still there then, perhaps a maintenance person had removed it and a kindly neighbour had taken my bike in?

I rushed round the basement area to double check it wasn’t anywhere else, checked my post box – no notes, ransom or otherwise – and then climbed the stairs back to my flat, trying to figure out what had happened.

I phoned the police, gave them the details. I phoned the insurance company and gave them the details.

I started thinking about buying a new bike (I ended up ordering, then cancelling, a new bike through the Cyclescheme system, the same one I used to get my bike in the first place). I was certain I’d never see my bike again, I mean what are the odds?

Apparently they aren’t as high as I thought.

A phone call on Friday evening for a mysterious Glasgow number that you can’t call back turned out to be from Police Scotland where a friendly sounding man told me he thought he had my bike in the back of his van.

Apparently they’d stopped someone riding a bike and quickly ascertained that the man ON the bike certainly couldn’t have AFFORDED the bike. They asked the man to get off the bike then asked why the serial number sticker had been removed (a common occurence on a stolen bike) and without a reasonable explanation, took the bike from him to run some checks. One of those checks, thank the lord I had fitted non-standard SPD pedals, suggested it was my bike.

The guys turned up later that evening at my flat, I met them, identified my bike from the pedals, tyres (also non-standard) and a few other distinguishing features, gave them a written statement and lo and behold, I have my bike back!!

I received a further phone call yesterday to double check a couple of details because apparently they caught the man who stole my bike, who sold it to the man who was riding it, and he will be getting charged! Again, what are the odds?!

So, I have my bike back. I’m storing it in my flat and looking into ways to make it more theft-proof in the future. I’ve already replaced my stolen D-lock with something better, thanks to this amazing article on The Sweethome. Next up is something like Bike Register, and then further ways to personalise/customise and generally make my bike look cheaper – I’m even considering getting it completely repainted in matt black, chuck some stickers on and be done with it.

Regardless, I’m still amazed that I got my bike back. The Police get a lot of flak so it’s nice to be able to give them some credit and thanks.

June 15, 2015