Month: August 2023

Y’know ?


What is a word you feel that too many people use?

I feel, y’know, the word y’know, is the word that is, y’know, used too often.

My feeling is, y’know, that many people have a low grasp of, y’know, the English language. Or perhaps, they are, y’know, just too lazy to compose proper sentences

Admiration Unlimited


What profession do you admire most and why?

My admiration is for all members of the emergency services whoever they may be and regardless of which branch they belong to.

So here below, in no particular order, are the folks that I admire the most.

  • RNLI – Predominantly volunteers. They go out to sea in all weathers, putting their lives at risk to rescue seafarers in danger.
  • Police – Out there, dealing with the low lives and scum, dealing with drink/drug drivers, dealing with the drunks that pour out of the pubs and clubs every night. So often, they are unfairly criticised for doing their jobs.
  • Ambulance / Paramedics – Tending to us in our hours of need. Attending many harrowing scenes on our roads and highways, often the carnage resulting from the misuse of drugs and alcohol. The trauma of what they witness must stay with them for a long long time.
  • Fire Service – Another of our services where they put their lives at risk to rescue us. Whether it be from fire or as is so often the carnage of a road accident. Again they have to deal with the things that we would not want to witness.
  • Nurses / Doctors – And once the police, the paramedics and the fire service have done their bit it’s the turn of the folks in A and E. They work so hard to maintain the lives of those brought before them

All of these folks are not paid enough to put up with the abuse and physical violence that they encounter whilst just doing their jobs.

Whether it be vocal or physical abuse in A&E. Bricks and bottles thrown at fire and ambulance crews or spitting and fisticuffs suffered by the police.

They all do an amazing job for very little in the way of gratitude or respect.

Ladies and gentlemen, I salute you.

One Small Change


What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

If my blog stopped one person and made them smile, that’s job done.

If my blog made one person laugh out loud, that’s job done.

If my blog made one person angry enough to right an injustice however trivial, that’s job done.

If my blog provides something that is of value to my readers, that’s job done.

Curiosity Killed The Cat ?


What are you curious about?

Or maybe not, ask Schrodinger.

But what am I curious about ? As it happens, many things peek my curiosity.

  • Who was my grandfather, my dad’s dad ? The answer is a bit of a genealogical cul-de-sac. Nobody knows. I’m sad that I never spoke to him about it when he was still alive.
  • When watching TV series, especially historically based dramas like Vikings, I often have to check things via Google. For example, did the Vikings truly go to Egypt?
  • I have a wide interest in technology related subjects. My background is mechanical engineering, but the bulk of my working life was spent around computers. I lived through / experienced the birth of the PC and the subsequent physical shrinkage leading us to the pocket devices we carry and take for granted. Although I have been retired for a few years, I still find the technological world fascinating.
  • Travel ! Lots there to be curious about. Whether it be the varying geographies of each country visited, or the people and their culture, or to a large extent the cuisines of those people.
  • Words ! I am an avid reader of crime dramas/thrillers, SciFi, Sword and Sorcery. Fairly often, an author will use a word that I have not come across. Down will go the book while I pick up a dictionary to search out a definition. Kindles are great in this regard as you can just click on the word and look it up on line.

There are many more subjects that cross my curiosity horizon, but I think I’ll leave it there.

When Doves Cry


Take a listen to Patti Smiths’ cover of “When Doves Cry”, just follow the link below.

When Doves Cry https://g.co/kgs/CU1zh3

I had only ever heard the original by Prince until today when Radio Paradise played the Patti Smith cover.

I really like the original Prince release, but to my ears, Patti Smiths is the superior interpretation.

What do you think ?