My Blog Bubble

There isn't much to indicate that I am approaching my late thirties at an alarming rate: well apart from my date of birth; constant tiredness and the fact that a 25 year reunion of leaving Baring Primary School looms large.  In general people have the decency to act surprised when I tell them I am soon to be 37. Most people I say, apart from my boss, who recently asked when I had turned forty and when I said I was only 36 retorted that I looked much older. Nice! Anyhow age ain't nuthin' but a number and all that. And I wouldn't say that I am yet middle aged (unless I am planning on dying before the age of 75: I know the Government would like me to and will probably have me working until then but that is by the by).... Today I did a headstand and controlled dismount; I did a handstand; and stated a could do a cartwheel (which for the record I can but didn't fancy my chances of not knocking someone over).  I didn't quite manage a shoulder mount but I did do well (...

I recently wrote a blog post on what is meant by the saying the University of Life. How life teaches you the skills you need to get on in life. I guess I learnt these skills at the same time as studying for my first degree in Applied Biology - university taught me about life (all types of life not just the biological kind). When I chose where I was going to go to Uni and what i was going to study my decisions were pretty childish - well I was only 17, what can you expect?! I wanted to do Biology as I enjoyed studying it at a Level and my teacher was pretty cool (Mr Gary **** at Hayes School). And I wanted to go to Liverpool as I supported LFC and our Head of Sixth Form was a scouser and he used to talk about how great the place was. So that was that. It also meant my parents couldn't just drop by for a cup of tea. When I got my results I booked a B&B and got on a train to Liverpool to find me some accommodation - none of those Halls of Residence for me - I was going to d...

Today's pertinent question was: when do two odd socks make a pair? We all know the law of the wash - as Eddie Izzard once said we have to sacrifice a sock to the God of Washing. So we may put only pairs of socks into the washing machine but once they are clean and dry there will, invariably, be an odd sock. Search as you may you cannot find the other sock. So it gets put into the "odd sock drawer". A place where all odd socks lurk waiting for their long forgotten pair. They stay there, unloved and unused but nice and clean, just waiting. Patiently waiting. The drawer opens and they think "today is the day" but no more odd socks are added. Sometimes a sort out takes place and maybe a pairing is made or they are used as sock puppets - in a creative house with children maybe! Upon looking through my odd sock drawer this morning I did manage to make some pairings but I also came to wonder when two odd socks could be put together to make a pair? ...

Is a bully that leaves a mark on someone's body worse than a bully that leaves a mark on someone's conscious - on their soul? I am inclined to think yes:- maybe that is why I allow myself to be bullied by those around me. I know the world wouldn't agree. A bully is a bully: be it mental or physical. You can make excuses for their behaviour - something at which I am most practiced - but it doesn't make it right. So why can I not admit that I am being bullied? I think everyone was bullied as a kid - I just chose to befriend the bully and "get him on side" and I think I have been doing the same ever since if I am honest. Bullies are everywhere, not just at schools or in cyber space, they are at home, at work, at a local club.  There is no getting away from them and their lack of respect for others. What makes someone think they are allowed to pick fault with another person? We are all allowed opinions but you are not meant to en...