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.
SIR GUESTLING THORN: - The thoughts of my alto ego I have opinions on everthing and am not afraid to express them I hope for more kindness and joy in the world!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
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.......................
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.......................
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
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!
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!
Monday, November 12, 2012
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.
I will see how it pans out, seems a reasonable company.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
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.
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.
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