Festive

And so the "festive" season is almost upon us. A more depressing time of year I can't imagine. Full of false cheer, stupid sentiment, bugger all on the TV, relatives you don't really want to see, food you would normally avoid, cheap tacky decorations, messages of hope, bloody goodwill and numerous other "traditions" that are only foist upon us at Christmas! Do I sound like I am living up to the description of my blog, damn right I do! I don't hate this time of year but I am just tired of the whole loony mess that it has become. I like presents, who doesn't but I want to give them because I want too, not because I feel obliged to! And as for cards and decorations what a complete waste of time they are. Christmas lights on the outside of your house that could provide enough brightness to land planes by, why? What is this compunction to advertise to the country that you are a complete twat?
There was a bloke who celebrated Christmas everyday, I don't know if he still does but if so, he should be run out of the country or if he refuses to go, shoot him!
Am I a humbug, yes, I don't want to spoil peoples enjoyment I just want to keep it in proportion. Every year I am determined not to get drawn in to the whole bizarre ritual but it is unavoidable unless one locks oneself away or perhaps travel to some part of the world where it is not celebrated, if such a place exists? 
Every revolting specialist Christmas figure, decoration, seasonal stuffed toy animal, Christmas scene etc becomes inevitably more expensive each passing year and that is not just down to rising prices but the perpetrators of these ghastly objects squeezing every last penny they can out of this specialised market.
This year for the first time in a long while I actually have quite a lot of time off , I am grateful for the break and I have almost avoided the insidious non-stop parade of awful Christmas songs that are constantly repeated in almost every damn shop you enter. I could not give a flying fuck who has the Christmas number 1.its bound to be some cloying sickly record produced by some X Factor hopeful or some poor sod who has been convinced by a greedy record company that the good cause they subscribe to, can milk the public's pocket because they will garner more sympathy at this time of year, bollocks!
Santa, now there is a figure who started out as a jolly fantasy with whom children could interact and have some fun with, thanks to Hollywood and the incessant stream of Christmas movies, he has been shoved down our throats as everything from a grumpy old bastard himself to a tyrant who works his staff to meet the Christmas deadline, just like any other CEO! Either that or some poor idiot has to take over the family business because otherwise the would be no Christmas and all the children in the world would feel let down!
This assumes that in today's technology overloaded world there is a single child on the planet, that could suspend disbelief for long enough to actually think there could be a Santa Claus! 
Do I sound bitter and somewhat pessimistic on this subject? Well let me end on an uplifting note. If Christmas could be a  real catalyst (not in any religious sense, that would be just as hateful!) for some understanding and inclusiveness, of peace if you will, then we should celebrate it for that and that alone, I fear however it will just be another pathetic over indulgence wrapped in tinsel and garish paper and afterwards we will wonder why we did it and we managed to spend so much..........................!!!!

Merry Christmas everybody and a Happy New Year..............................I suppose!

It's now or never you stupid Americans, wake up!

I have tried to refrain from writing about the senseless killings in the good ole US of A but find it difficult to restrain my fingers from typing. Whilst I cannot but agree with those commentators who say that the horse has bolted and that there is little you can do to prevent the possession of firearms, surely it is time that some action was taken in limiting the use, sale and ownership of them. Whilst a great percentage of Americans believe it is their inalienable right, as enshrined in the bill of rights, to be able to own a gun is it not proof  that inevitably innocent people are going to die!
 I have listened to the debate , a debate which seems to have taken place for many years in the face of these regular tragedies, and it appears that even fairly liberal minded Americans do not support legislation to curb the use of weapons. They trot out the old excuse people kill people not guns. Does it not occur to them if the guns were limited in there supply it would be more difficult for anyone to kill anyone. 
I am well aware that there will always be an availability of guns , whatever laws are brought in, if you really want to get hold of one, you will and that is the same in any country.  Alongside limiting the use of guns a plan of education must be implemented to change the prevailing and deeply rooted culture so as the future generations have a different attitude towards them. 
If Mr Obama, who has no re-election to worry about, does not grasp the nettle and do something about firearms then it will again be be forgotten until the next time some raving nutter does it again...........................................!!!!!!!!!
Whilst I would agree with those commentators

Jazz

I have a passion for music, all sorts of music, a wide eclectic mix of everything and anything (well almost) but I have found myself recently leaning more and more towards jazz. Not to the exclusion of other genre but when choosing music to listen to, especially as a ambient sound in the background, I find myself gravitating towards a jazz orientated selection. 
This is not a sudden discovery of the form I have always liked jazz and have listened to it for many years. Whether it is the class of Dave Brubeck (RIP), Duke Ellington, Miles Davies or the many others players who have graced the format. 
I listen to the Jamie Cullum radio program on BBC Radio 2, as I used to listen to Humphrey Lyttleton's show on the same channel, that ran for so many years and enjoy discovering both new and older jazz that I have not heard before.
Jazz has a mellow and relaxing feel to it. Not all jazz of course some of the more avant-garde style, can often be impenetrable and strident, although interesting and often brilliant. Then there is swing, which is often wonderful to dance to. 
I appreciate more  and more the improvisation and how it appears to be unstructured and yet has a pattern. I really enjoy the classic format of  piano, drums ,bass and saxophone or guitar, violin or another brass instrument and many other styles, which I am not going to list.
There is a very healthy crop of current jazz musicians producing great music and blending different styles and types of music together. Music, any type of music, is always being fused and interwoven and is this that keeps it changing, evolving and fresh (although, showing my age, I am not convinced by a lot of the current so called popular music, with the odd exception!). 
Traditional forms, should be cherished and it is great that they are kept alive so as we can celebrate that style and trace how the music developed.
If you have not listened to Jazz before try it. If you have Google Chrome go into the apps and install Earbits radio and then try the jazz selection.

The World

I have been reading a book which espouses the premise that the human race is living within the earth as part of it as opposed to living on it. We are an intrinsic part of the world, no more or less important or unimportant as any other piece, every part of the earth and universe is us and we are it, nothing more than energy. Somehow the human ego gets in the way and we believe we are somehow special and superior to all of natures creation. How arrogant to think that we are the pinnacle of evolution. 

Facebook

I admit I have a Facebook page and I use it to keep in touch with family and some friends that I otherwise would not ever see. I even comment occasionally and post the odd photo. However with that said I am constantly amazed at trivial rubbish that appears. Aah, I hear you say, Facebook is not meant to be anything but trivial and can be used to promote many good causes but why has it become the medium for the outpourings of peoples superficial thoughts and cute photo's (usually of puppies, kittens or children). Now don't get me wrong, there are many forums where people can discuss serious subjects and make observations of great depth and insight and I am not advocating that the medium should become another. I do however, wish that Facebook had not developed into the crass instrument it has become, what started out as an idea for people to stay in touch, using the power of the internet, has become a medium for every commercial outlet and an advertising nightmare! All mediums develop and nowhere faster than the web, indeed you would say that that is the very definition of an unrestricted electronic tool, like the internet. 
All human life is there and some good, some bad and some completely disgusting. 
I suppose I will have to live with the so called progress the is happening on Facebook but I do long for that simpler time.  
And thee you have it tonight's grumpy moan from your friendly grump!

Absent

I have been absent for a little while due to a change in my daily activity. 
I have started working full time once more at a local company and now spend Monday to Friday, telephoning other companies to try and make appointments for two guys I have never met and probably never will. It has its moments and is interesting trying to get people to open up and respond to the prospect of taking a meeting. Most of the day is spent finding the person with whom you wish to speak unavailable or getting their voice mail or simply being stopped by the "gatekeeper" (receptionist) from ever getting near them!
Of course I have experienced receiving the unsolicited call  and am well aware that most people do not like the day being interrupted by people they have not spoken to before. I have not come across any outright rudeness yet but there has been the odd person who has been, pretty sharp in their tone. I do not take any offense, as the saying goes "it's not personnel it's just business" . to be fair most people are relatively pleasant.
I will report further no doubt in subsequent writings. 

Xmas

It appears that Christmas is coming round again. I have nothing against Xmas as a celebration (apart from the religious connotations) a holiday at any time of year is always welcome and why not have one where gifts are exchanged and families gather together. 
Well here I go, for those of you who have read my blogs, this will come as no surprise, I despise all the crap that surrounds it. The commercialism, the reliance on Christmas shopping and the blatant emphasis on buying far more than most will ever use or need is materialism gone mad. We have all fallen into the Christmas trap of feeling guilty if we don't provide all the trimmings and we are encouraged to buy more and more. Bombarded with glossy adverts with production values that would grace the new Bond film, many go out and spend a fortune.
I have spent a great part of my working life in sales and the retail industry, so I have made my living from persuading people to purchase products. Am I a hypocrite? Probably but it also means I have witnessed the rampant high street and now internet promotions, to get us to spend. It is a free society we live in and we are lucky that many can spend whatever we wish or can afford,  (not all of us , I know) it is our choice and our debt and we must live with the consequences.
I have seen 59 Christmases and over time, one tends to view things in a more philosophical bent, realising that a more personnel and low key Xmas is much more enjoyable and affordable. 
It is about family and friends and whether presents are exchanged or not, sharing together is enjoyable for it's own sake. I like receiving gifts as much as anyone but as I get just as much pleasure from seeing family and friends receiving theirs.
So this year try and view Xmas as an opportunity to gather together without a blatant display of spending, I know many already do, we do not have to rush headlong into the overloaded supermarket trolley, filled with so much food and drink that it appears we are stocking up for a prolonged shortage! Remember the January sales are just around the corner.......................

Body

I have just been reading a piece on the BBC website regarding body image http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20252921 which discusses 6 photos that changed the perception of body image.
I am as conscious of my appearance as the next person, indeed I may be more vain than most but we have in my lifetime developed an obsession with how people look and what is the ideal appearance etc.
We have increased this obsession exponentially as the cult of celebrity, photography, films, the internet and frivolous publications have increased!
I would be the first to encourage people to lose weight and be as fit as they can, otherwise I would be contradicting many of my beliefs and pieces I have previously written.
There is a delightful variation in the human race and it is one we should celebrate. We cannot all be the ideal shape or aesthetic appearance, indeed how dull the world would be if that was the case. As is often stated "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and this is more true today than ever. Individuality should be encouraged and cherished. Have not all of us met a person that is not not the conventional idea of beauty and yet they are inescapably attractive (and not always because of their looks).
Personally I am not fond of the current predilection in women (actresses etc.) for a thinness that, to me, makes them look ill. I prefer a woman with more curves. What concerns me is that this "ideal" will encourage even further, young women to believe they should aspire to look the same and many will take radical action to achieve this. Of course this has and probably always be the case but with our massive access to all things media related it is more prolific than ever.
Let us accept variation, the differences, the idea of what attraction is, the myriad forms of the human animal and not encourage, people to match an ideal concept of what they should look like!
Let us promote a positive attitude, to the way that each of us looks and improve the self-confidence of those who are seduced by the images that they are bombarded with being duped into believing they will not be accepted unless they conform. We have seen far too often the ruination of many lives.
Body image is what you want it to be for yourself, within the your physical shape and fitness, celebrate yours!

Work

It seems after a break of 4 months, I am back in gainful employment. A 9 to 5 job, Monday to Friday no less. It is ages since I had a normal working week and weekends off. 
I will see how it pans out, seems a reasonable company.

Dawkins

Just watched the last in three programmes, presented by Richard Dawkins, Sex, Death and The Meaning of Life. Well presented in a gentle English professorial way they explore the ways in which science can replace, religious belief and give people a different reason for living. 
I have written many times on the fact that I am an Atheist and have no belief in God or any religion. 
Many people believe, ok fine, if that is what comforts and sustains them, I cannot and will never understand that view point. Science for me widens our view and expands our understanding and our amazement of the world and all the things in it. Far from destroying or spoiling our view, it enhances and magnify's our wonderment of it.
It matters not that things can be explained scientifically, quite the reverse without it we would not have the progress that we enjoy and the medical advancements we have made.
Thanks to all those from the past and in the present, who's curiosity and dedication to the many branches of science , continue to discover more about the Earth and the Universe. If it proves to more and more people that the exsistance of God, is impossible, so much the better

Crete

Returned from Crete yesterday, very sad to have left. We have so many friends in Ayios Nikalaus where we stay. They are the most generous of people, in spite of the circumstances that Greece finds itself into. If a Greek takes you out or offers you a gift you must not refuse their generosity for they will take offense and if they like you their generosity is legendary and boy can they drink! 
I have written about  the situation in Greece before and I am not going into to it now, except to say that the people are being squeezed from every angle and when you know them as well as we do their plight is tangible and painful. In spite of this economic hardship, they are humbling in their spirit and hospitality.
We had a fantastic 9 days, great weather, good food, uplifting raki! We laughed and put the country and the world to rights. 
We met some new friends and cemented even deeper friendships with the many people we already know. 
Our best friends Costos and Thalia and their son and daughter Emmanuel and Marina are like family and welcome us like we are theirs. I cannot thank them enough for the warmth they show us. 
I did not mean to sound so effusive and warm and fuzzy, especially as my title statement specifically states that it is not my style but I cannot help myself, they are wonderful.

Crete

We are about to embark on another journey to our favourite place Crete. To be precise Ayios Nikolaos, a beautiful town situated on the north east side of the island. We have been there many times and a have lot of good friends there. We are particularly looking forward to seeing Costos and Thalia and their wonderful family. We have known them for good few years and even though we only see them twice a year we are as close to them as anyone we know in the UK.
As we all know, Greece is struggling at the moment (understatement) and there seems little prospect of the economic pain being short lived. Basically they are brassik, skint, bust and without support, cannot as a country function. there are many theories as to what the solution is, whether it be political, economic or social or all three but the reality is that they are in the shit!
I would like to dispel a few stereotypes, that maybe the rest of Europe, has about the Greeks. The typical impression of Greeks is they are lazy ,tax avoiding and generally corrupt, among other traits. I have spent a lot of time with Greek people and yes, there are, as in any country, an element of the population who are like that. There is evidence of an endemic culture of corruption but the vast majority of Greeks that I have encountered are hard working, law abiding, honest, loving, friendly people who look after each other. The are very family oriented and this is particularly true of the Cretan's. They hours that they work would not be tolerated by British citizens and in the retail and tourist industry that can also be 7 days a week. 
Yes there is a certain casual attitude to many of the rules and regulations that we in the UK slavishly follow because the  European Commission has imposed it's will upon us, however in my humble opinion this a good thing, for it stops the inevitable bureaucracy from hindering there lives unnecessarily  This is not to say that they do not have to navigate the red tape of officialdom, indeed there is juxtaposition between an apparent laxness in rules enforcement and a firm intention by local government to impose them.  Add to this, that many of their civil servants pay scant regard to the rules they should be implementing. Here is are two examples. 
We have been visiting the island before and after the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places, it has made no difference to the Greeks, smoking continues unabated more or less as it did before! 
Crash helmets were made compulsory for motorbikes and scooters ( and there are thousands more than we ever see on a UK road) . You do see most riders wearing them these days (not all) but you often see pillion passengers not wearing anything including children. When I inquired as to why both of these rules were either not followed or partially followed, the wonderful enigmatic answer I got was "we are Greek!". Now some may interpret that as being somewhat typical of the Greek attitude and they would be correct but for me that fatalistic shrug of the shoulders is one of the things that I love about the them! It is a wonderfully insightful understanding of their  nature!
But don't be fooled, the majority of Greeks care deeply about their country and as you may expect the current economic situation is high on their agenda. They also care deeply what the rest of Europe thing of them, though there is no love lost with the Germans.They are happy to accept them as tourists and are too polite to ever offend them but the scars from the 2nd world war and the Germans occupation of the country and the island of Crete in particular, runs deep and is hard to forgive (are not many other countries in Europe, not a little like this as well?).
They have their criminals and feuds do still erupt and you certainly would not want to be on the wrong side of a Cretan if he took a real dislike to you and yours! The vast majority I have always found to be a friendly, warm, well behaved and polite and there younger population could show the English how to behave! There is no yob culture in Crete.
So we look forward to our 9 day break and the warmer climes of beautiful Crete. 

The Lake in Ayios

Birthday

You did not expect a man of my verbosity to not write a few words on my actual birthday, did you?
Today I have lived 6 decades, not such an achievement as it once was when life spans were not so long but hey it is my lifespan so far, so i am damn well going to celebrate!
When I was born it was only 7 years after the second world war, rationing was still in place, there was hardly a TV in existence and not every home had a telephone, we still had smog and fog, coal was the main fuel and rock and roll was embryonic beginnings at best. I am eldest child of three (a brother Julian 5 years younger and a sister Alison 14 years my junior) and my first home was shared with my maternal grandparents, we had the upstairs they had the down. Like all children, of my generation, I went to primary school and then on to Secondary Modern (failed the eleven plus no grammar school for me), by which time we had our own house, which was in a culdisack and had a big green in the middle, which was ideal for football, cricket and many more games, whilst the outer circuit was ideal for bike racing!
I was uninspired at school, not really good at education, always "could do better", was the constant theme of my report card and I was apparently badly behaved or at least a a cheeky git who could not help making comments (I haven't changed!). Like many children, I experienced bullying and some prejudice but it was just the way it was in those days, it did not have the prominence it rightly gets today! I don't believe it really had any lasting effect and I did deal eventually, deal with one persistent tormentor, in a satisfying and somewhat violent manner!
 I left school at 16 with no real qualifications, I think I passed some exams but have never looked at the results. I remember I had fractured my hand at the time and writing was literally a pain!
I stumbled into adulthood and through a number of uninspiring jobs, I partook of most things that adolescents do, smoked (didn't drink till much later), had fumbled sex, played football, learnt to drive and attempted to tinker with cars (poorly), went out with girls and was a dumper and a dumpee, took drugs (it was the late sixties!), drove my parents mad and generally tried to sample as much as one could,went to watch many of the bands and performers of the day as possible, I had some good friends and a circle of acquaintances, as everyone does, none of whom I have seen or heard of for more than 30 years. 
Music has sustained me throughout my life and whilst I cannot play a note on any instrument ( I have tried but do not have the perseverance or talent).  I love all sorts of music and have listened to as much as possible, since my early years of trawling through my parents record collection (not inspiring but  a few gems) and like many thousands of teenagers being thrilled by The Beatles and the whole sixties music scene. my love has increased over the years and my taste expanded, especially with the advent of the internet.
I met my future wife Wendy, when I was 20 and she was 14, it was a brief but memorable meeting, though it would be a few years before we got together. She had dalliances with two of my friends first before she finally realised that I was the best choice( I had a brief dalliance with her best mate)! We were by that time friends and I had always fancied her, when we eventually went out together, I just knew she was the one for me (you'll have to ask her if she felt the same). Oh and by the way for the record she initiated it. 
Time past and at 27 for me and 22 for her, we got married in Harrow registry office and moved out of London (too expensive) and into our first terrace house in Northampton (April 29th 1980).
I believe it cost £5500 and the mortgage was £52 per month, oh happy days. 
I had a job which caused me to have travel back to London most days and Wendy, cause she is clever and has a gazillion qualifications, worked as a Lab technician in the local general hospital. We got a couple of cats, eventually burgeoning to five (we have had over 20 cats in our married life and whole piece could be written just on those characters alone! We also had a wonderful Red Setter for almost 13 years, as well as other assorted pets as family life went on!)   and life went on. We move to a bigger house, after three yeas and Adam our first son was born. We were happy and unremarkable. I now worked in Milton Keynes in computer company and would do for the next 12 years, the longest I have ever worked for any single employer. Along the way we met our best friends Peter and Carol and we have remained close families eve since, they have enriched our lives and I hope we have enriched theirs.Peter is my closest friend and a remarkable man, we have a closeness that I would be devastated if it ever was lost and I know he feels the same way. 
We moved once more to a typical three bed-roomed semi-detached ( where we have lived for the last 26 years) and our second son Andrew came along, 2 years after his brother. They are now 28 and 26 respectively and I have said previously, we must have done something right in bring them up because they are both well adjusted adults ( yes they have their quirks but hey who doesn't, I've got so many that I have given up trying to smooth them out!)

                                              The 3 Primhak "boys" at my sixtieth party 

Well I have just read this missive and it is humorless and about as exciting as watching paint dry and I assure you that I can be very funny and it is humour that has sustained me throughout my life., Humour in my opinion is the best medicine and alongside positive thinking and an optimistic nature, have always sustained me. 
Wendy and I have now been married for 32 years are we happy together, yes, do we have to work at maintaining our relationship, yes, do we get down and angry with each other, yes, are there things (many) that irritate us about each other, yes, do we love each other, yes more than ever! That is what marriage is all about and the younger generation would do well to realise that, it is not about spending a vast fortune because it is fashionable to have a big ceremony! 
Have we faced trauma in our life yes of course,  Wendy accumulated a number of wear and tear injuries as she has been a Fitness Consultant for many years and it does take it's toll (currently waiting for a knee cleaning opp). Me well I have had a fairly trouble free exsistance but in true style when in 1999 I managed to contract leukemia ( try an avoid it, if you can) had 15 chemo therapies and at one point had a 50/50 chance of survival but survive I did and am still here to talk about it over 10 years later.  
I am a very lucky man with a wonderful family and good friends some of whom I have only met in  recent years. Boring really, grumpy, eccentric (according to my sons), kind (occasionally), sarcastic (a lot), generous (when required), unemployed (temporarily), a son (dads still with us, mum died years ago), a son-in-law (mother-in-law is delightful if not a little scatty, like mother like daughter!), a father and a friend. 
So that's me now sixty and still going strong (I hope!) with many more years ahead. I will I am sure continue to report on them!

                               My lovely wife with her "baby" (she hates having her photo taken) 

60th

On Monday it is my 60th birthday. Like everyone, the older one gets, the more you wonder where the time disappeared, how did it go so quickly? It seems only yesterday that I was  embarking on an "adult" life and looking forward to all the things that it would bring. I am still relatively young by today's standards, (and only 18 in my head, aren't we all!) when I was young, in my teens, we thought that 30 was old and 40 to 50 was ancient, any age over that was positively aged in the extreme. Our perception of ages has changed dramatically and as the majority of us live longer, 60 no longer seems quite so old and is course the "new" 50......!
Becoming 60, naturally, gives pause to look back over your life and review all the choices and decisions you've made. I for one am not particularly good at this, as I do not tend to dwell in the past and have always tried to take each day as it comes. My memory of my childhood is poor and I would make a lousy autobiographer. There are many events I remember vividly, meeting my wife Wendy, getting married, having my two sons, Adam and Andrew, amongst the many highlights. 
I have been married to Wendy 32 years (though we have been together much longer) and like all married couples we have had good times and bad times, up and downs. As Wendy says it would have been boring to be on the roundabout and she would rather be on the roller-coaster with me, even if it is less predictable it is a more exciting ride!
She is my best friend, my only love and how she has put up with me for all this time is beyond my understanding (although it cuts both ways!). She obviously knows me better than anybody and still she stays! I am fortunate to have two sons who are well rounded adults and I could not be more proud or love either of them more.
So that's the sentiment out of the way, as my title description says, I come over sentimental occasionally, please forgive me!
They say as you age one gains experience and wisdom? I have certainly gained experience, as to wisdom, at the risk of sounding pretentious, I am wise enough to know that I have little of that commodity, I am still trying to acquire some. I have some life skills I've picked up along the way, I can cook, clean, iron and do many other household chores. I am quite good at decorating (lazy at getting started). I can drive a car and my favourite thing pedal a bike. There are many other skills in my armory but as those who know me will testify, I am far to humble and modest to blow my own trumpet and way too shy to share any of my them with the world!
I am also blessed, to have gained a very few really close friends and alongside my family, it is these close friends with whom I share my life who have become the most important part of my exsistance  If there is one thing I have learned, it is these relationships are the most precious and should be cherished. Sorry sentimentality creeping in again!
You gain other gifts as you age, that nobody tells you about when your younger, an assortment of aches and pains! The knee that gives way now and then, the ankle that keels over, the neck that aches if sat in one position for too long etc, we also develop a fine range of moans that disguise our difficulty of rising form an armchair or sofa. One also gets the opportunity to visit the bathroom more often and take longer once in there, especially at night when your sleep is interrupted regularly by the need to pee.I should not complain I am healthy and pretty fit and far better off than many others I know. We must accept that the wear and tear of our physical bodies is inevitable and there is a faint amusement, when you both rise with aaah escaping from your lips! 
It is odd that when I was in a better, younger, condition to take part in all the sporting activities that I would liked to have tried, I failed miserably to do so, I played football and did the usual things, young men do, with an interest in sport and the many more that young men attempt that were not so sporting! Now I am a older with the inclination to try them, there are many, which frankly I am not capable of! Yes I know you are never to old and if you read my previous writings,  you will read that I still have sporting intentions and ambitions!
Wendy says, I am getting grumpier and as my blog states, I can do nothing but agree with her. I fell it is the prerogative of all men to complain more as we get older, after all there is so much to complain about and so much that needs complaint......!!!
So in conclusion, thank you to everyone who has shared my journey thus far, there are many whom I would rather have not met or at best avoided but there are the few without whom my life would not have been as enriched as it has. There is plenty more to come and I will no doubt share some of it with the readers of this page. 

Happy birthday to me!!!!!

Thursday

Many is the time that I have looked at this blog and had nothing to really say! This is one of those times........... no hold on a thought is emerging wait.........................no sorry nothing ah well!!!!!

Cycling Buddies

In my previous scribbling, I wrote about a cycle ride that I took part in on Sunday. With the exception of my mate Peter with whom I went, I had not made the acquaintance of any of the other riders. It seems I have been drawn into a number of other rides with them and that we are already comrades in arms, on the road. How quickly one becomes a willing participant in a cycling fraternity and quick to join in other organised rides. I have already registered for a "Mad March" sportive and feel sure that other similar adventures  will manifest as time passes and especially as the climate improves past March 2013. 
I have decided that any previous reluctance to do more than just ride locally, as I have done for the last few years, will not do, it is time to stop reading about these different events and take part in them. I am 60 years young in 7 days, so could there be a better juncture to embark on such adventures. I may fall flat on my face and find I am unable to always complete some events but I am bloody well going to give it a go!

Weekend Ride

My good and dearest friend Peter and myself decided to register with Skyride https://www.goskyride.com. it has been setup to introduce local riders to each other, for rides to be organised and riders then register to take part.
The site promotes all aspects of cycling with particular emphasis on the everyday rider, whatever their level might be. Go to the site if you are interested and there is something for all cyclists however keen you are..

This Sunday we took part in our first event, organised by a fellow cyclist Phil Holliday. It started from Salcey Forest (it is a dense wood, slightly misnamed) in Northamptonshire and took us around North Buckinghamshire, through the country lanes via Stony Stratford through Milton Keynes, stopping at Newport Pagnell and then onto Olney, returning to the car park at Salcey (just as well as the car was there!) In all it covered about 58 miles and it took us approximately 6 hours, longer than anticipated but there were a number of stops for riders who had "dropped" off the "peleton" and a couple of longer ones for so as we could feed and water. 
Eleven participants started all except one on road bikes and all of us wrapped up, as, though a sunny morning with a beautiful blue sky, it is October and an Autumn chill was in the air. 
I was a little apprehensive, as this would be my first group ride for 30 odd years and I was not sure how well I would keep up (I am slow going UP hills). Everyone seemed friendly, although it surprising how difficult it is to tell someones age, when they are donned in a cycle helmet!
I have done a couple of charity rides in recent years but in those I was on my own or with Peter and everyone goes at their own pace with no obligation to keep up or wait for any rider. A group ride by definition is exactly that and whilst it would separate from time to time the purpose is to start and finish together.
Without describing the route (mostly flat with the odd incline or steepish hill, nothing that would concern the average rider or tire them to much) in great detail and thus becoming a boring description of this road and that incline, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I kept up pretty well, indeed we both did. Don't make any mistake, we were not riding at tour pace or anything close (nor could we) but there were times when we were spinning along at a fair rate of knots. I am sure, as it appeared in the latter stages, that three or four, were able to ride quicker than I can but I did find myself, surprisingly, at the front quite often. I write this not to "big" myself up, I was genuinely, stunned! I will admit that on this particular day I felt great and that I could easily ride  the distance required. All cyclists will  understand that some days you just feel full of riding and this was one of those days. It all balances out, as there will be future days when the opposite will be true and a ride will become a real grind! You have to enjoy the days when the the legs are able to speed you along at a good cadence and of course the conditions helped, the morning was about as perfect as it gets in October, crisp and sunny, fantastic!I
On the way back from Olney,  four or five of us went ahead at a faster pace and I really enjoyed the comfort of being drafted along as the riders in front shelter you and punch a hole in the air. It had been a long time since I had experienced the phenomenon and it is amazing how it drags you along. I did not manage to hang on to the wheel in front the whole of the of that leg of the ride but it was great. Of course during the ride, there were times when I got dropped (up hills) and I hung back at one point to accompany Sharon, who was struggling and brought her into Olney where she phoned a friend to come and pick her up. She was the only female on the ride and self admittedly said she had not ridden enough miles recently to prepare.
We lost one more rider on the way home to Salcey but he had already ridden double the distance, than he had ever attempted before, so no shame there.
I had left Peter behind on this last leg and when we stopped in Hanslope and he caught up he professed that he was "knackered". We only had 5k to go and it was almost completely flat, so he tucked in behind me and we rode in tandem to the finish.
Everyone who did finish seemed very pleased with the days ride and we said our goodbyes albeit it a little later than originally intended ( I hope those words do not come back to haunt me).
I arrived home and my darling wife Wendy had, as promised, had conjured up some of her superb Lentil soup, which was very welcome and slipped down to warm me after the inevitable shower.
I felt tired but also a tremendous sense of well being, as only one can after a enjoyable physical effort. 
I would like to extend my thanks to all the riders, you were great company and I hope to ride with as many of you as possible again soon. special thanks to Phil for organising and to my best mate Peter for driving there and back. 

Dog depression

I am a sad and lonely man bereft of my temporary canine companion Sugar. We only dog sat for a week and now the house feels empty, no Labrador, staring at you when you eat or get under your feet when in the kitchen in case some food might come her way. It is amazing how quickly you can become attached to a creature and then when they return to their owner how much you miss them. Well I have never pretended to not be a big softy!

Creationism

I am stepping on to one of my well ridden hobby horses. Blogging is the modern equivalent of a soap box and I like standing on mine and holding forth on whichever subjects I choose. 
This time it is Creationism. I watched a programme on BBC 3, where 5 UK and Ireland young people were taken to the States, specifically California, in order to try to open their minds to the possibilities that  God did not create the world as depicted in the Bible or Koran (there was a token Muslim). The USA was naturally chosen as it is the home of the Creationist movement and a large proportion of it's population believe in the Bible as it is written. I am not going to write a critique of the documentary  if you want to see I am sure it is on BBC Iplayer, Conspiracy Road Trip, Creationism.

The presenter who believed in God (I think?) but not in the Bible as a literal document was trying to open the minds of the 5 by getting them to talk to scientists, not all of whom were Atheists and at lest accept the possibility, that the scientific evidence cannot and does not support this view.

In the case of four of them he failed to even make a dent, one lady whilst not shaken in her a faith did at least except that more research was needed. There was an Irish guy about thirtyish, who was so intransigent in his belief it was scary. I felt it stemmed from an insecurity in his own stance but that was just an impression that I got.
I am, as stated before on this site, an Atheist. I have always been one since an early age, though I was unable to articulate it until I got older. I have always instinctively felt there is something intrinsically wrong with a religious belief. I appreciate that it is a faith and therefore by definition, one could argue does not need to be proven but it is this very inability to prove there is a supreme being who lives, I do not know where and is omnipresent and all knowing, that makes me certain, any such being cannot exist. 

I understand the desperate need that humans ( I was going to say human intelligence but I wonder!) have, that there is some purpose for our existence but for me logic dictates that we are just another creature on the earth among the plethora of species and life forms, we are born, we live a time span and then we die, simple as that.  Why do we believe that we are so special? So unique that a all seeing creator is responsible for us being on Earth? I am sure if the Earth had a voice it would postulate the opinion that the human race is a pest which is slowly killing the hand that feeds it! Indeed in my humble view that is exactly what we are here for. We are the biggest most aggressive pest the world has ever had and I suspect in order to safeguard its future nature needs to eradicate us!  We are pretty good at attempting to do this to ourselves and we probably would self-destruct, if we did not proliferate at such an alarming rate.

Why are humans so arrogant, why is it, that we assume we are the crowning achievement of evolution? After all evolution is by definition, on going, who knows what the future holds?
I am an evolutionist ( if you had not gathered by now) and cannot fathom why when there is irrefutable scientific evidence, this science is not accepted by everyone. And yet a vast majority of the world have a belief in one form or another in a story written by men whose wrote stories centuries before we were born, it is every bit as fictional as any work made up by today's authors. We don't believe some of the more reasonable stories that are written today, to entertain or provoke debate and yet millions believe various religious writings that are far more far fetched and in many ways, downright impossible.

As in the programme, the answer always comes down to well its God and therefore he or she can do whatever they like! I am tempted to say that is one of the most stupid answer to any criticism I have heard, it certainly does not lend it itself to any form of open debate.
I finish with this question, why is so much of humanity indoctrinated with the idea that there must be something after life and why are we so scared it might be nothing?

Dog

I have been looking after a dog, to be specific, a chocolate Labrador called Sugar, she is a friend of ours mutt and we are taking care of her while they are in Spain.
I used to have a Red Setter called Jasper but he died in old age some years ago. We have often discussed acquiring another hound and always concluded, that lovely though it would be, a dog is a big commitment and can restrict your activities. 
I was thinking of starting a business homing pets when their owners are away or unable to take care of them for a while, so Sugar has been the "guinea pig". She is a lovely dog, good natured with that soppy expression that seems to be permanently etched on her face.that says love me. She is a retriever and likes nothing better than chasing a ball.
Naturally as with all dogs if there is food around she is in front of you patiently waiting in the hope that a tidbit may come her way. I occasionally indulge her but I know not to spoil dogs it is not good for their waistlines any more than for us humans and as a weight coach it would be remiss of me. 
I am told that her owner does not take her for more than one walk a day, so she has had plenty of exercise. We have two cats Buzz and Woody, who happen to be brothers, they were naturally cautious at first, even though Sugar has taken absolutely no notice of them at all but they settled down and although still wary have gone back to sleeping in their usual spots.
So would we have another dog, yes probably but not at present. Sugar has been a delightful guest and we will miss her when she leaves but at present our circumstances are not conducive to ownership. Besides if my plans go forward we may have a menagerie of animals staying from time to time!  

Job Interview

This morning I am attending a job interview. I have worked in one industry for the last 10 years so when I have changed my employment from time to time it was from one dealer to another doing the same thing.
So this should be interesting as it is unrelated to previous roles. It does have some similarities and the aim is the same, selling. I have been told that the interview consists of two written assessments and the second part will be an interview using competency based questions, whatever they are? I am old school and sometimes have difficulty understanding modern interview methods but I understand that there is a necessity for processed interviews as some conformity is required for comparative standards. I of course believe that a simple conversation with a potential candidate is sufficient to assess whether a potential employee is suitable.
Perhaps this stems from the premise that I am almost 60 and therefore have been there seen and done it. I have experience and a perspective that obviously only someone of my age would have. If your a much younger candidate going in to this process perhaps a standard is required in order to provide a level playing field.
I will soon find out but I confess I have some trepidation about the process and whilst I am not nervous, it maybe that this form of interview may not suit me? We shall see!

Political Correctness

We live in a world which has changed so much in my brief time and so fast it is mind blowing. Not just in the technology but in social and human interaction and attitudes. The moral outrage of my youth would now be considered a quaint prudishness by comparison, our values are ever shifting and public awareness of these shifts, far more quickly absorbed into the public's conscious.   
Much of the change in public acceptance has been and is positive, more equality for women (nowhere enough yet), gay men and women, less racial prejudice (still more to be done) to name but a few. 
One of the things, that has in my opinion that has perhaps been pushed to far, political correctness. Don't get me wrong, there are many words and phrases the most right thinking people and the public in the majority, no longer use and have become taboo and rightly so. When I think back to my schooldays and recall the names some pupils called each other, often not understanding what the meaning was, I shudder at the prejudice that was displayed and am thankful, that in most of society it is no longer tolerated.
Like all moral compasses, which evolve and change,when they have swung to far one way, it will always swing to far in the opposite direction and this is what has happened with Political Correctness. It may eventually balance it itself but at present it has become a stick with which we can all become so easily beaten. Magnified by social networking and the instantaneous publishing of our every day thoughts and comments, a reputation can be ruined by a single tweet! This correctness does not just apply to our speech, it manifests itself in our actions as well. 
When I was younger (much) the idea that you pick up a child and play with them, in an innocent  and perfectly natural way, was perfectly acceptable. Now you fear to do such a thing in case even the slightest suspicion was raised the you maybe a pedophile, indeed I suspect even the previous sentence is enough these days to suggest that some people so eager are they, to look for the sinister in every nuance? It is right that we should be more aware of the evil hidden within society and they should be routed out and kept separate from the object of their sickness, no question. We are almost daily bombarded with tales of this kind of behavior and it is more shocking when it is perpetrated by trusted members of the community such as priests etc.
We seem as always to er to far on the wrong side of propriety, thus making everyone cautious about their behavior and especially men.Some will argue that it is better to be too vigilant than not vigilant enough and there is some truth to this but we are in danger of allowing human contact particularly the interaction between kids and adults  become almost obsolete in the full glare of public opinion. 
I am not naive and I know that today's child is more sophisticated and grows up faster, as each subsequent generation pass (pity in my opinion). They have access to unrivaled communication available 24 hours a day, when was the last time you knew of a child in the west (or almost anywhere these days) who does not have a mobile phone? I understand that today's generations, grow from day one, with technology just part of the fabric of their lives. They have seen and possibly done, things which in my youth we did not even know about never mind participate in! This is a subject I may return too!
I digress, Political Correctness has stopped many from being critical of what have become sacred cows and  you are not allowed to be critical or detrimental of and to them.
Among these, the most sacred of sacred cows is religion. We have lost all perspective when it comes to being a critic of any religious beliefs and one belief in particular (no names, you see I am coward!).
Political Correctness has become a barrier against free speech! There are many offensive words and phrases that have been correctly stopped from everyday use and rightly so. We have also eradicated many actions that are no longer acceptable. 
I ask, in society, have we have become so cautious, we have lost the freedom, to comment and  point out hypocrisy and injustice because we are afraid we may offend and are we no longer allowed to oppose that with which we do not agree?
I am not advocating a return to the days when offensive terms were the norm and insults so utterly vile that we had to bring in laws to regulate what can and can't be said but I do beleive our right to free speech has been irreparably damaged. 
To para phrase "sometimes you have stand up for the person who shouts, that to which you are totally opposed, in order for you to shout about that with which they are totally opposed" 

Cynthia Spencer Charity

Yesterday I took part in a 50 mile charity bike ride in aid of the Cynthia Spencer Trust. The route was around Northamptonshire. To say there were a lot of people taking part would be an understatement, there were hundreds. First let me congratulate everyone who rode, whether it was the 5, 25 or 50 mile route, as you will all know the first two thirds were dry and relativity benign conditions but the final third when the clouds deposited their wetness upon us was some of the worst conditions I have ever ridden in and to quote a fellow rider " I was as wet as a otters pocket". At times the rain was running into my eyes so much that it is was difficult to see.
There is a always a satisfaction in completing an event ride and a masochistic pride in riding in adverse conditions. The camaraderie in the company of fellow cyclists is charming, of course we were all trying to achieve the same distance and understood each others endeavours but cyclists look after each other and most importantly encourage others to keep going. In the company of many bike riders one finds all ages and all abilities, you may be passed by riders and you may pass others but no one minds, everybody understands that is the way of the road. 
You have periods where your legs seem to struggle to turn the pedals often followed by burst of speed. The sensation of speeding along in a high gear with a steady rhythmic cadence is a wonderful feeling, terrain allowing. I have often said that when that happens and you flow along,  you feel as though you could tap out that rhythm forever!  I did find that consuming a protein bar, when I was finding it tough, did give me a burst of energy and drove me onward.  
I completed the ride in  just under four and a half hours, which considering the final conditions and a lengthy stop to repair a cleat on on of my shoes, was not too bad.
I enjoyed it and in spite of every piece of my clothing being soaked, would do it again next year.

Music

I love music, almost any kind of music and I listen too as much as I am able to. From ABBA to Zappa, whether it's Blues,Country, Classical, Folk, Jazz,Soul, R & B, Funk,Rock, Pop, Opera, World, Latin, Reggae, Indian, and the subsections of those and on etc. you get my point? My favourite is Blues and Rock and to nail my colours firmly to the mast, the greatest band ever, no surprise, The Beatles.
 I use BBC Iplayer a lot and have regular programmes, that I listen to every week. As I write this I am listening to Brian Johnson's Rockers & Rollers broadcast on a Thursday night at 10pm. It is a recent series, in which he plays mostly rock and roll as the title would suggest, I enjoy the bands he features and Brian's naive, honest and humorous, delivery is refreshing.
I have been trawling the Rolling Stone Magazine, website http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/marvin-gaye-lets-get-it-on-19691231 and discovered their lists of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Of course, all list are subjective and not everyone will agree, with all the picks, wondering why some albums are not in there but that said it is a pretty definitive list (although I am only up to 165 working down to 1) It has enabled me to find some artists I did not know and remind of many that I did but had not listened to for a long time or ever.
There is a lot of music out there in the world, that it would be impossible to even scrape the surface in one lifetime. I love discovering new music and new genres, music from different parts of the world. The power of the internet has increased many peoples access to a multitude of  musical choice and opened up to a wider public, many artists who otherwise we may not have heard.
Another discovery, I made in the last two days, is an app. on Google Chrome http://www.earbits.com/play#station This give you a selection of different types of musical choice and plays music from new artists within that genre. I spent a pleasant  couple of hours listening to the Blues, from artists I have never heard of, some where good, some were very good and some were excellent. The site, in the main, provides a bio of the artist and gives details of the album that the track comes from and gives you the option to purchase if you want to.
I have one other web based music source I would like to recommend, Spotify https://www.spotify.com/uk/signup/open/?ref=Google_adwords&gclid=CPqWjJ-mxrICFYKMfAodNUIA0A
Once downloaded and installed, it provides a fantastic music player. allowing you to look up almost any music, build playlists (you can even transfer in, your ITunes tracks). It is free but the free version will interject advertisements every few tracks. There are two monthly upgrade subscriptions, which will eliminate the commercials and add more features. The music is held on their website and of course it can be purchased if you want it downloaded, so it is completely legal.
As I have paged through the Rolling Stone Magazine site and found an album of interest, I just click on to Spotify  and in almost all cases can find the music by that artist. Highlight, drag and drop, the tracks, into whichever playlist you want to put them.
My playlists are also available to others who are on Spotify, although that makes no difference to me.
I understand that not everyone maybe as keen on music as I am but if you are even an occasional listener, I heartily recommend looking at these sources. Whatever your musical "bag", you just never know what you may discover!!!!!

USA

Many of us, have a fascination with America? They seem to have an undue influence on the world. Every period of history has a power that is the dominant force on the globe and in my lifetime, so far, it is the good old US of A.

We have had much greatness emerge but equally just as many awful influences. I am not going to dwell on either, as this will put me in danger of getting into "list" mode and going off on a rambling tangent which is not my intention. I'll probably do so anyway, as is my want!

At present America is in the run up to the election of the next President. I find it unbelievable, that the Republican Party have endorsed Mitt Romney as their candidate! Have they turned into the American version, of the  long time British "joke" party, The Raving Loony Monster Party. A party, who offered alternate candidates, knowing they had no chance of winning but engaging the voters, to highlight the often nonsense, that surrounds politics.  
Surely this Mormon based buffoon has no chance against the present incumbent, Barrack Obama? Although this is America and stranger things have happened! 
Now I confess, that while I don't claim to be very knowledgeable about the in and outs and nuances of American politics and it is not always easy to implement your agenda, when dealing with the USA's governmental system, after having high hopes, Mr Obama has been sadly underwhelming. I think we were taken in by his oratory and apparent gravitas, underneath which, there is not as much substance as we may have thought. Granted his presidency has coincided with a economic downturn, the like of which we had not seen but on the world stage and domestically he seems to have been hamstrung by the weight of what it is to be the "leader of the  free world".
Having said all that I do not believe that Mr Romney, has "a cat in hell chance" of defeating him. Perhaps knowing that it would be difficult to topple Obama, the Republicans, are keeping their powder dry until the next election, when they may have a more credible opponent to run against the Democrats, whom themselves may struggle to find a credible replacement for the current President?
Does it matter? Well yes it does. With that much influence in the world, the leader is very important. You only have to remember the Bush and Blair years (a man who could slip under a snake wearing a top hat!) to see the damage these two war criminals did to the planet, a damage which continues to cause suffering . That however is a whole other discussion.

There is another subject, which I personally find alarming about Americans, it is religion, or to be more specific the unhealthy wave of the population and official bodies including some of the government, that believe in Creationism or Intelligent Design as they have tried to re-brand it. More alarming is that, in many States this is at the expense of teaching any alternative such as natural selection (Darwinism) or replacing such teachings, as being against god! The bible belt of the country seems to have a disproportionate hold on the political system, which has written in it's constitution that God and State should be separate. It appears that far from being separate, they are married in unholy wedlock and in my opinion that is extremely dangerous. There is no candidate in America, for any political post who would be foolish enough to engage in a religious debate and expect to get elected! It is a no go subject and political suicide!
I declare that I write, as one who is an atheist and do not believe in any god, so naturally I see things from a particular bias. 
It is utterly beyond my comprehension, that anyone has faith or believes in a supreme being who created the earth and man, when there is not a shred of evidence to support such a premise and a mass of scientific evidence, which overwhelmingly refutes any such notion. However, that is another subject which, though I no doubt will return to it, is not the main thrust of today's blog. 

What capitalism and is the most evident in the USA, boils down to is wealth and power. It is a corporate world we live in where profit  and wealth is the aim for those who run these massive conglomeration's, this has become the mainstay of all business and political will and the no government of any stripe can afford to upset the very hand that feeds them.  It is catch 22! A simplified view, yes but not any less true for being simple. 
Fortunately there always seems to be at least a minority of those who will speak out against such greed, corruption, undue influence, lobbying etc and yes, even those billionaires, who still practice some altruist-ism, thus displaying some hope, about what happens to our planet and the people on it. 
Nature will eventually destroy mankind (unless we destroy it and us first!) because we are the biggest pest the planet has ever seen and I am sure we will end up being eradicated, as so many species have, most of them because of us!

So America, good or bad, a nation that has left an indelible mark on history and events, whilst seemingly cherishing and promoting, many of the ideas that others outside of its borders (and many inside) find abhorrent. I believe, fundamentally it  is a country that  wants the rest of the world to like and respect it but that is juxsupposed, with the desire to be the recognised as the policeman and conscience of the world, whether right or wrong! 
The danger with so much power and accepting, those who wish to cultivate alliances with such a powerful country, is that you really never know exactly who your friends are. 
Clearly America believe they know who the enemy is. Who?  Clearly they are prepared to fight that enemy. Who? When you have so much wealth and power, it is oh to simple to abuse it. These abuses have far reaching effects that do irreparable harm to many other nations and cultures, that only historians of the future may be able to chart. 
Independence is a precious commodity and should always be guarded jealously, however we must never forget we cannot always impose our values on others simply because it suits us or because we believe that our way is best. We all know and have seen, to many examples of where that leads.
America love her or hate her, it is a fascinating mix  and one that will no doubt keep me interested for the rest of my life. 
But Mitt Romney.........................please you cannot be serious!!!!!!!! 

P.S I do wish to point out before anyone gets too angry, that I do not hold the USA solely responsible for all the worlds ills. There are many other regimes  that are far worse and many other cultures and religions that promote unhealthy doctrines and hate, cause wars, carry out genocide, human rights atrocities and many other evils. There are also a number of powerful nations that are as responsible for and more so, in some cases, the worlds problems, than the United States of America. 
Americans have done their major share of championing, the defense of freedom and justice, throughout history, for which their nation, has paid the price with many lives!

Complaints

When you blog it is often to rant against the world or usually a more parochial bent based on your own small province. Humans have an intelligence, brought about by natural selection and like any other part of our physicality, it needs to be exercised. A good rant or complaint has a cathartic effect and clears your mind. We seem to have a predilection to moan about anything and everything and we are very good at it. We are not necessarily constructive or erudite in our gripe, most of us just want to get things "off our chest". 
I claim no high ground , my protests, are often banal  and pointless, achieving little in the way of furthering any intelligent discussion on the subject in hand. A good moan allows us to feel superior in that, we must be in the right otherwise we would have no basis for the complaint. Of course, often the audience we grumble to, will point out, that we are ourselves being unreasonable and that our complaint is without foundation or unjustified.
Little attention is ever paid to the circumstances, with which the victims of the complaint may have found themselves and  provoked your poor comprehension. Many complaints are completely legitimate and justified. High on the list is poor service. Insulting behavior must be another. If people are unreasonable, should we not complain? 
There are people who will not or cannot complain, as you may have gathered, I am not one of those. I believe in justifiable complaints, where ever you find poor service or bad practice. It must be done in a constructive manner, one must not complain for complaining sake. Point out what you expected and how the situation failed to reach those expectations. Of course your expectation must not be so high that that expectation is unreasonable. It is easy to complain for complaining sake and we all know people who will do this. My view starts from the premise that if you don't complain then how can improvements be implemented or an organisation find out that certain practices need review. Employ humour (if appropriate), just ranting will not always capture the attention and you should not always expect any reply, particularly from the written format. 
When dealing with a complaining customer my method was to listen, without interruption, until they finished. If the grievance has some foundation, apologise and ask what they would like you to do about it? Often someone who is dissatisfied has not thought about what they want you to do in order to rectify the issue. 
Ironically when discussing a complaint one often falls into complaining about the complainant!
We will never stop objecting to those incidents that irritate us and it would be foolish for us to do so, it is an intrinsic part of human nature and should be cherished. I would encourage remonstrance in all it's formats, as long as we are prepared to except the consequences of our actions.

EMAIL

Have you noticed how many emails you receive? Its a lot. On a daily basis I must receive upwards of 30 plus. What do you do? You delete them, many without even looking at the content! So why do we eagerly open our inbox each day. You just might have a message that is worth getting, that informs you about a subject, you either knew nothing about or is of interest and thus introduces a fresh place you have never seen. 

I received such an email last year in March, the email in its self, was not of any great interest but something in it's presentation peaked my curiosity, so I clicked a link and was directed to it's website, I looked around with mounting disinterest and was about to close it when in the bottom corner, I spied a familiar surname. Upon further investigation I discovered a friend with whom I had not spoken for over 30 years and lost contact with. The friendship is now re-kindled and whole branch of my life brought back and expanded on. Who new!

If, like me you do a lot of research and "surfing" on the inter-web,  your details are registered on websites like splattering paint on a canvas at random. A box unnoticed or miss ticking can unleash a storm of emails from companies you had know idea you'd contacted! Every now and then I go into my deleted email, it never ceases to amaze how many messages from the same sender there are that I've not read.

Recently on a competition site I decided to tick the yes box on a number of offers, where the company concerned, would phone you, I gave my home phone number and waited. My phone rang the next day and continued to ring for some days after. Talk Talk, were the most persistent, having rung at least 6 to 7 times over 4 days, the calls were from different call centre operatives and at different times during the day and evening. I have a particular method of answering the phone from someone I don't know. When they ask to speak to me, I immediately reply by asking who is calling, if they persist in asking for me, I persist in replying with the same question. It appears that throws many of the callers, as it must be "off script" for them. After all they are calling me, it is common courtesy, to say where you are calling from!  If they do say who they represent and I do not wish talk to them, I apologise and say that I am not at home and don't know when I will be back! On the odd occasion I will continue the call, the bland uninteresting spurious nonsense they spout is quite incredible. Enough of the boring minutiae of my screening calls.

It was not until I was about 10 years old that we had installed this large baker-lite handset on a table, which appeared in our hallway. It had a dial and when you turned it with a set of letters and numbers, you could hear a ringing noise and then magically a voice spoke to you  from out of the earpiece and the effect for a small boy was beyond imagination. Some 50 years later I sit at the most incredible piece of technology than can literally connect me to almost anywhere in the world at the press of button and click of a mouse. We take it for granted but in such a short space of time (relatively) it is incredible!

So what do you do with you emails? Why not share any stories you have of how an email took you somewhere you never expected?

Job Agencies

I have just had one of the most depressing mornings trying my luck with the job agencies in Northampton. A more unhelpful and apathetic bunch I have not come across for many a long time. Pointless talking face to face as they direct you to their websites. Their underwhelming enthusiasm was either designed to put you off or they simply can't be bothered. Perhaps they are depressed about what they have to do and the lack of opportunities to offer, that they cannot even disguise their apathy.