There is a saying that I've always held dear to my heart: Time is the most precious commodity of all.
I have spent time contemplating this saying (ironically?) and it's so all encompassing it belies the simple truth of it. People often worry about their lives and what they want to achieve and fret that their 'time' will run out and they've still got so much to do. Yet this hurry hurry and worry worry is exactly what holds us back the most from living our time, and instead it lets our time slip away like sand in an hourglass.
There's not even just one time.. there're many times. The world has a time, every individual living thing has a time, even inanimate things have a time and tick tock tick tock all these times live in unison, complementing each other and running in tandem.
It's wrong to measure our own individual times against others. What we have done or not done in our time so far compared to what someone else has done or not done in their time. Do we measure success and failure by it? If we do.. surely this can only be done at the end of time.
I believed myself that I'd left many things for too long and that I'm too old for them to happen, that it's too late, then I talk to someone who's done all that, but has never even done half of what I've done. They're jealous of me, I of them. And the sudden ridiculousness of the situation hit me; just because you do something different first to someone else, does not mean of course that you won't do it at all, but you'll do it at a different point in your time to them. And vice versa.
Two adventures have come upon me in my time just now, and even though I'd thought that too much time had passed, I know, now that that they've come, that I'm able to become the adventurer on these paths. I love adventure, my job should have been adventurer, I've had so many, but these two, well, one is life defining and one is my passion.
And time is on my side.
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Thursday, 5 September 2013
The Next Chapter
It has been a long and gloriously hot summer, for the first time in many, many years I have not been confined to an office. The artificial cool when the air-con is on, or the stifling, stale heat of packed bodies, the dull light as the sun is shut away, the grizzly communication and worst of all... the yearning to be out of the concrete and glass and into the bright, colourful beauty of an English summer.
I found work that I used to do many moons and lifetimes ago, hard graft marquee erection. Out in beautiful surroundings, from a scout camp in a forest to the gardens of the most amazing homes. I had the sun on my back, the honest sweat of serious graft stinging my eyes, muscles burning and the sheer beautiful fatigue at the end of the day that lets you know, yes, you're alive. I loved my summer. I loved the bbqs, the coffee and birdsong of the morning sat on the porch, friends and family enjoying laughter and conversation, the smell of cut grass once I mowed the lawn, the music we created on bass/clarinet/guitars, even the soulful bellows of improvised song. The British Lions. It was a time of release, of reconnecting with the earth, with life. It has been an extraordinary summer. A summer of love.
But even as I sit here today typing, the sun is blazing outside, it is hot. Yet the summer is starting to enter it's final flourish, the final embrace, the cuddle as one says goodbye. The evenings are now much cooler and the first hint of the changing of the seasons comes tomorrow as the weather experts predict rain and the end of the low pressure which has blessed us for the last few months.
And so it is that the next chapter begins. I have a new job, back in an office, on a regular income. I am in the search for a new abode. My housemate shortly goes to court for the residency of his children, may the gods bless them and give them the upbringing they deserve. My brother is applying to do his Phd at a university in the midlands and my friends are all on the up and up, one is due to have a child in December, another has finally become strong after being kicked out of his house for being nothing more than "too nice". I really thought he wouldn't make it, never have I seen a man so distraught. But he is now strong and motivated, I am happy he is still with us, if I hadn't been there for him, we would not know his friendship anymore. I went to my first Muslim wedding which was most beautiful. The brightly coloured saris, the glittering jewelry, lavish ceremony.. incredible. My Sis is moving back to Australia in December from Hong Kong. They are so happy. I will be saving my £'s ready for my next trip down under!!!
I look forward to this new chapter, to the challenge of a new job, the challenge of also starting my businesses, of settling into a new home, of meeting new people, and who knows, maybe the winds of this new era will blow in a chance for love. Though one should not get too carried away! Maybe I'll have the courage to revisit the doctor. Life is open ended. And the time is right for the new chapter.
Time is inexorable, tic-toc, tic-toc
A moment to breathe and smell the scent
To relax and drink it all in
An oasis in the sands of time
Before it is time to stretch and reach
Roll up the sleeves
Smile
And put your right foot forward.
I found work that I used to do many moons and lifetimes ago, hard graft marquee erection. Out in beautiful surroundings, from a scout camp in a forest to the gardens of the most amazing homes. I had the sun on my back, the honest sweat of serious graft stinging my eyes, muscles burning and the sheer beautiful fatigue at the end of the day that lets you know, yes, you're alive. I loved my summer. I loved the bbqs, the coffee and birdsong of the morning sat on the porch, friends and family enjoying laughter and conversation, the smell of cut grass once I mowed the lawn, the music we created on bass/clarinet/guitars, even the soulful bellows of improvised song. The British Lions. It was a time of release, of reconnecting with the earth, with life. It has been an extraordinary summer. A summer of love.
But even as I sit here today typing, the sun is blazing outside, it is hot. Yet the summer is starting to enter it's final flourish, the final embrace, the cuddle as one says goodbye. The evenings are now much cooler and the first hint of the changing of the seasons comes tomorrow as the weather experts predict rain and the end of the low pressure which has blessed us for the last few months.
And so it is that the next chapter begins. I have a new job, back in an office, on a regular income. I am in the search for a new abode. My housemate shortly goes to court for the residency of his children, may the gods bless them and give them the upbringing they deserve. My brother is applying to do his Phd at a university in the midlands and my friends are all on the up and up, one is due to have a child in December, another has finally become strong after being kicked out of his house for being nothing more than "too nice". I really thought he wouldn't make it, never have I seen a man so distraught. But he is now strong and motivated, I am happy he is still with us, if I hadn't been there for him, we would not know his friendship anymore. I went to my first Muslim wedding which was most beautiful. The brightly coloured saris, the glittering jewelry, lavish ceremony.. incredible. My Sis is moving back to Australia in December from Hong Kong. They are so happy. I will be saving my £'s ready for my next trip down under!!!
I look forward to this new chapter, to the challenge of a new job, the challenge of also starting my businesses, of settling into a new home, of meeting new people, and who knows, maybe the winds of this new era will blow in a chance for love. Though one should not get too carried away! Maybe I'll have the courage to revisit the doctor. Life is open ended. And the time is right for the new chapter.
Time is inexorable, tic-toc, tic-toc
A moment to breathe and smell the scent
To relax and drink it all in
An oasis in the sands of time
Before it is time to stretch and reach
Roll up the sleeves
Smile
And put your right foot forward.
Friday, 22 February 2013
The return, The beginning
I've been back from Hong Kong now for a few days. What an amazing place Hong Kong is!! I felt it was like an outer body experience spending ten days there, partly due to the never ended jet lag I had. My tattoo took just over 16 hrs to complete, so this time was spent in a half dream world, lying on my front musing my life and soaking in the experiences, sights and smells I was enjoying in the Far East, so I was unable to beat the jet lag blues. But it was unique seeing it all in a detached, dreamlike state. It gave me a perspective I wouldn't otherwise have had and for all that.. I had an amazing time. My tattoo by the way is INCREDIBLE!! A work of art a master painter would be proud of. I love it.
Life is not good for my Sister in Hong Kong. She has made friends and found her niche there, and for sure she has good times, but the circumstances of her being there is not good. She fell out of love with my Brother-in-law, and, in her own words, the more she peels away the layers the more she dislikes him. I think she borders on hate just now. They made an agreement between them that whilst my Brother-in-law works in Hong Kong then she would agree to be there so he's got his daughters (my fabulous nieces) with him, then when he is finished (looking at a year I think) and they move back to Australia they will split and divorce.
In my life I am often quiet, I like to listen and observe, watch things play out, see what happens when certain movements play out. After doing this for many years a person observes patterns, patterns of behaviour and emotions.. it gives a person a unique perspective. I know that if my Sister and Bother-in-law had split when first they realised their feelings (well my Sister as she is the one who fell out of love) then they'd have a happy relationship now and still some mutual feelings of respect. My parents were the same and are still together. I remember when my Sister and I were very young and my Dad saying to us one night after he'd had a few drinks following a verbal bashing from my Mum.. if it wasn't for us kids they would have divorced a long time ago. That was a stupid decision I learnt later. Their mutual bitterness at each other, then at us children, being blamed for the shittyness of their life was long lasting and damaged our relationship beyond repair. Yet in this world we live in now, where divorce is as common as sliced bread, I look around, and I see broken families far happier than ours ever was. Where the relationships and bonds are strong. My parents, and now my Sister, do what is expected of them, what is expected to be right. And that is never, ever the right thing to do. Ever. I do know my nieces see their bitterness and block it out, they have no voice, no say in the matter. I know they love their Father, but I also know they miss all their friends and life in Australia. My Sister and Brother-in-law have made a decision based on them, not on their children. And their life is hideous because of it.
Where did it all go wrong? That is a testament of today's society. Love, feelings, companionship and friendship no longer matter when it comes to people marrying or becoming life partners. Now it's a tick box when people choose their partners. From a male perspective (for obvious reasons) it is clear that many women (not all) look for the guy who earns a lot of money, is pliable, works out and has a 'fit' body, doesn't smoke, owns a house, dresses in a trendy (commercial/sheep) way etc. It is the media perspective of the ideal male.. a cock hanging between his knees, tanned skin, £40,000 car. It's the same the other way of course, the media perspective of the ideal woman; waifer thin, dressed in such and such a way etc. And really this is all complete horseshit. The media decides what people find attractive, it always has, throughout history. Look at it, the man's man was what was once attractive, movies are the finest example, the film stars. The old film stars were strong men who took no shit, a man's man, the women were attractive, healthy and fullsome (though often portrayed as subservient).. then look now at all the metrosexual wimpy men there are now. Blow and they fall over. The strong muscly women or waifer thin women, all strong and in charge, the man is the subservient one. This all makes me laugh so very much. I believe in balance in the world, there's never just one thing. I have a saying that's ALWAYS been right:
Nothing is more than the sum of it's parts.
No one thing is right, no one thing is the answer to anything. It's the combination of things that make up the whole, and none of these things can be discounted or be any less important than the others. There is a place for everyone and everything, people just need to realise this and be comfortable in themselves. It's about teamwork, not the individual.
So my Sister met a guy who was plain looking, placid, a tech geek who earnt really well and who'd allow her to be in charge. This was her tick box. I know this because she is my Sister and I know men, and I know my Bro-in-law. Unfortunately, because of these tick boxes my Sister has never respected him. Therefore it was doomed from the start.My Sister never saw beyond that which she decided she wanted in a man.
They often say that to meet 'the' partner you should stop looking and it will just happen. Why do they say this? Because whilst you are looking you are marking off a tick box. What is important is mutual respect, friendship, passion and understanding. You get these when you achieve the three things I stated before.. a good heart, honesty and openness. Then you will work together, love together and 'be' together. All the rest is media bullshit. Make no mistake.
Hong Kong is an incredible place. There is no perceivable middle class, people are either rich or poor. The city is a crazy metropolis, 100 mph. Craziness and oh so beautiful. But my favourite place was Ngong Ping. A place of utter tranquility on the edge city madness.
So after this eye opening trip, my rebirth in the far flung Far East, where am I? I have been back a few days, the reverse jet lag is done, and last night I had the house to myself. A curry from my friend's restaurant, a movie and peace. Now I am refreshed, reborn and ready to roll.
So now I'll observe and listen. Watch things with a detached perspective and make decisions based not on expectation or flawed media ideals but on reality. I am no longer the pliable fella who is unwilling to upset people so will meekly go about my business and do what I'm told. No, I'm a Fire Dragon. 6'4, with razor sharp wits. If people don't like it. Go jump. This man cares not. If people aren't good people, honest and open. If people don't think for themselves and mean the best by people then they're gone. Especially if people do things for the sake of them. Or for manipulation. My life clear out begins. I have two to go straight away. *click, click*
And so my life begins..
Life is not good for my Sister in Hong Kong. She has made friends and found her niche there, and for sure she has good times, but the circumstances of her being there is not good. She fell out of love with my Brother-in-law, and, in her own words, the more she peels away the layers the more she dislikes him. I think she borders on hate just now. They made an agreement between them that whilst my Brother-in-law works in Hong Kong then she would agree to be there so he's got his daughters (my fabulous nieces) with him, then when he is finished (looking at a year I think) and they move back to Australia they will split and divorce.
In my life I am often quiet, I like to listen and observe, watch things play out, see what happens when certain movements play out. After doing this for many years a person observes patterns, patterns of behaviour and emotions.. it gives a person a unique perspective. I know that if my Sister and Bother-in-law had split when first they realised their feelings (well my Sister as she is the one who fell out of love) then they'd have a happy relationship now and still some mutual feelings of respect. My parents were the same and are still together. I remember when my Sister and I were very young and my Dad saying to us one night after he'd had a few drinks following a verbal bashing from my Mum.. if it wasn't for us kids they would have divorced a long time ago. That was a stupid decision I learnt later. Their mutual bitterness at each other, then at us children, being blamed for the shittyness of their life was long lasting and damaged our relationship beyond repair. Yet in this world we live in now, where divorce is as common as sliced bread, I look around, and I see broken families far happier than ours ever was. Where the relationships and bonds are strong. My parents, and now my Sister, do what is expected of them, what is expected to be right. And that is never, ever the right thing to do. Ever. I do know my nieces see their bitterness and block it out, they have no voice, no say in the matter. I know they love their Father, but I also know they miss all their friends and life in Australia. My Sister and Brother-in-law have made a decision based on them, not on their children. And their life is hideous because of it.
Where did it all go wrong? That is a testament of today's society. Love, feelings, companionship and friendship no longer matter when it comes to people marrying or becoming life partners. Now it's a tick box when people choose their partners. From a male perspective (for obvious reasons) it is clear that many women (not all) look for the guy who earns a lot of money, is pliable, works out and has a 'fit' body, doesn't smoke, owns a house, dresses in a trendy (commercial/sheep) way etc. It is the media perspective of the ideal male.. a cock hanging between his knees, tanned skin, £40,000 car. It's the same the other way of course, the media perspective of the ideal woman; waifer thin, dressed in such and such a way etc. And really this is all complete horseshit. The media decides what people find attractive, it always has, throughout history. Look at it, the man's man was what was once attractive, movies are the finest example, the film stars. The old film stars were strong men who took no shit, a man's man, the women were attractive, healthy and fullsome (though often portrayed as subservient).. then look now at all the metrosexual wimpy men there are now. Blow and they fall over. The strong muscly women or waifer thin women, all strong and in charge, the man is the subservient one. This all makes me laugh so very much. I believe in balance in the world, there's never just one thing. I have a saying that's ALWAYS been right:
Nothing is more than the sum of it's parts.
No one thing is right, no one thing is the answer to anything. It's the combination of things that make up the whole, and none of these things can be discounted or be any less important than the others. There is a place for everyone and everything, people just need to realise this and be comfortable in themselves. It's about teamwork, not the individual.
So my Sister met a guy who was plain looking, placid, a tech geek who earnt really well and who'd allow her to be in charge. This was her tick box. I know this because she is my Sister and I know men, and I know my Bro-in-law. Unfortunately, because of these tick boxes my Sister has never respected him. Therefore it was doomed from the start.My Sister never saw beyond that which she decided she wanted in a man.
They often say that to meet 'the' partner you should stop looking and it will just happen. Why do they say this? Because whilst you are looking you are marking off a tick box. What is important is mutual respect, friendship, passion and understanding. You get these when you achieve the three things I stated before.. a good heart, honesty and openness. Then you will work together, love together and 'be' together. All the rest is media bullshit. Make no mistake.
Hong Kong is an incredible place. There is no perceivable middle class, people are either rich or poor. The city is a crazy metropolis, 100 mph. Craziness and oh so beautiful. But my favourite place was Ngong Ping. A place of utter tranquility on the edge city madness.
So after this eye opening trip, my rebirth in the far flung Far East, where am I? I have been back a few days, the reverse jet lag is done, and last night I had the house to myself. A curry from my friend's restaurant, a movie and peace. Now I am refreshed, reborn and ready to roll.
So now I'll observe and listen. Watch things with a detached perspective and make decisions based not on expectation or flawed media ideals but on reality. I am no longer the pliable fella who is unwilling to upset people so will meekly go about my business and do what I'm told. No, I'm a Fire Dragon. 6'4, with razor sharp wits. If people don't like it. Go jump. This man cares not. If people aren't good people, honest and open. If people don't think for themselves and mean the best by people then they're gone. Especially if people do things for the sake of them. Or for manipulation. My life clear out begins. I have two to go straight away. *click, click*
And so my life begins..
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Oscar Pistorious - Part 1 (Inevitably)
The latest news to sweep the airwaves is the brutal shooting of a beautiful, smart and kind woman in South Africa. Reeva Steenkamp.
But, as always when "celebrity" is involved, this gets completely and utterly forgotten. The murderer in this heinous situation is the Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorious. Due to his disability (he's a double amputee) he's become a celebrity and icon. This for me is a little far fetched. If he'd saved a person's life, dedicated his life to the benefit of others, despite the hardship of being a double amputee, then I would consider him an icon. But really all he's done is use the latest technology to give him a pair of legs that are lighter and much more efficient than a person's real legs, and he's gone for personal glory. I've no problem with that at all, but as opposed to thinking him an icon, I would say "fair play, good work, boy done well". However, in terms of marketability Oscar Pistorious is manna from heaven, an advertising executive's wet dream. He's been lauded as this and that, even as a hero!! He's become a national hero!! Oh please, what a crock of shit. Nelson Mandela is a national hero, someone who suffered incarceration for many years because of his belief for a fair and equal South Africa, for the rights of the black people of South Africa. Even when he was released from prison and he deserved to put his feet up on a beach, sup beer and soak in the tide of change that was sweeping the country he didn't, he dedicated pretty much the rest of his life to the pursuit of helping others. That's a hero.
Oscar Pistorious by any admission is an arrogant prat with a chip on his shoulder. Take the Olympics. The Olympic ideal is about fair play and true competition. The use of performance enhancing drugs and anything that gives the athlete an unfair advantage is hideously frowned upon. And rightly so. It isn't nice that Oscar Pistorious had to have his legs amputated, and yes he deserves some pity and sympathy, but to put him in the Olympics, for me, was a pathetically weak decision forced by the media and the money grabbing sponsors. There're plenty of people that work and strive really hard to compete in the Olympics and deserve the right to be there, but don't have the media circus behind them to bully the IOC into allowing them to compete. It was a disgrace. Using technology to give yourself a completely unfair advantage is against all Olympic ideals. First it has to be ratified but it also has to be available to all athletes. In fact the only reason he was allowed to run is because he's so slow there was no chance of him winning. If he had won.. what would the world have said about his prosthetic legs then! What would the silver medalist have said! Fact is Oscar Pistorious is not quick at Olympic level and the only reason he's as quick as he is is because he has the lightest, strongest and most flexible legs science can provide.
So the media have created this brand.. the Oscar Pistorious brand who is sponsored by the likes of Nike because of the sheer amount of money they can use him to generate.
And what of Reeva Steenkamp? A beautiful woman with a Law Degree, a model, a presenter, with her whole life ahead of her. Murdered by the brand Oscar Pistorious. Is there any hope this woman can get real justice? I hope so but I seriously doubt it. Even as I type this the investigating officer is getting destroyed in the bail hearing, his evidence is being torn apart. A friend told me that if a person is found not guilty of a charge in South Africa they cannot be convicted on a lesser charge like in the UK. Pre-meditated murder? Oh Jesus. That's hard enough to prove in a cut and dry case, let alone one with little evidence. Murder yes.. but pre-meditated? It's Reeva Steenkamp my heart goes out to, she who has no voice, she who has had her life cruelly taken away. Lock up Oscar Pistorious and throw away the key.
There aren't so many cut and dry facts just now concerning this case, but for me, the few there are are telling. I don't have an opinion on whether this was pre-meditated, but the fact Oscar Pistorious is saying he thought there was a robber is a fucking crime in itself. Lying bastard. Why can't he just say he got upset and shot her, even temporary insanity, but to come up with such a bullshit blag is awful and an insult to Reeva Steenkamp. We know there were domestic disputes that police were called to prior to 14.02. We know the bathroom door was locked (why the fuck would a robber break into a bathroom and lock himself in?!?! What the fuck is he robbing from a bathroom?!?!), and the coroner has indicated the bullets had a downward trajectory (Oscar Pistorious has stated he didn't have his legs on). Add a couple of possible circumstantial's.. ie Oscar Pistorious was on herbal remedies to increase testosterone (legally) but increased testosterone gives one a very bad temper, and the possibility that Reeva Steenkamp had grown close to Francois Hougaard (Springbok).
Whole thing stinks. Looks to me like they argued, Reeva Steenkamp locked herself in the bathroom scared, Oscar Pistorious had his legs on and wanted her to unlock the door, lost it and pumped some bullets through the door.
There's plenty of other stuff going on and we're yet to hear it all, but I hope justice is done and Oscar Pistorious gets banged up for 15 yrs and fades away into anonymity.
Best news for that? The Officer who got destroyed in the bail hearing had had a charge of attempted murder previously dropped.. and these have been reinstated. This means he'll get removed from the case. Which means the defense can't use him to snake their way out of the charge. I hope this was a pre-meditated move to make sure justice is done.
RIP Reeva Steenkamp.
But, as always when "celebrity" is involved, this gets completely and utterly forgotten. The murderer in this heinous situation is the Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorious. Due to his disability (he's a double amputee) he's become a celebrity and icon. This for me is a little far fetched. If he'd saved a person's life, dedicated his life to the benefit of others, despite the hardship of being a double amputee, then I would consider him an icon. But really all he's done is use the latest technology to give him a pair of legs that are lighter and much more efficient than a person's real legs, and he's gone for personal glory. I've no problem with that at all, but as opposed to thinking him an icon, I would say "fair play, good work, boy done well". However, in terms of marketability Oscar Pistorious is manna from heaven, an advertising executive's wet dream. He's been lauded as this and that, even as a hero!! He's become a national hero!! Oh please, what a crock of shit. Nelson Mandela is a national hero, someone who suffered incarceration for many years because of his belief for a fair and equal South Africa, for the rights of the black people of South Africa. Even when he was released from prison and he deserved to put his feet up on a beach, sup beer and soak in the tide of change that was sweeping the country he didn't, he dedicated pretty much the rest of his life to the pursuit of helping others. That's a hero.
Oscar Pistorious by any admission is an arrogant prat with a chip on his shoulder. Take the Olympics. The Olympic ideal is about fair play and true competition. The use of performance enhancing drugs and anything that gives the athlete an unfair advantage is hideously frowned upon. And rightly so. It isn't nice that Oscar Pistorious had to have his legs amputated, and yes he deserves some pity and sympathy, but to put him in the Olympics, for me, was a pathetically weak decision forced by the media and the money grabbing sponsors. There're plenty of people that work and strive really hard to compete in the Olympics and deserve the right to be there, but don't have the media circus behind them to bully the IOC into allowing them to compete. It was a disgrace. Using technology to give yourself a completely unfair advantage is against all Olympic ideals. First it has to be ratified but it also has to be available to all athletes. In fact the only reason he was allowed to run is because he's so slow there was no chance of him winning. If he had won.. what would the world have said about his prosthetic legs then! What would the silver medalist have said! Fact is Oscar Pistorious is not quick at Olympic level and the only reason he's as quick as he is is because he has the lightest, strongest and most flexible legs science can provide.
So the media have created this brand.. the Oscar Pistorious brand who is sponsored by the likes of Nike because of the sheer amount of money they can use him to generate.
And what of Reeva Steenkamp? A beautiful woman with a Law Degree, a model, a presenter, with her whole life ahead of her. Murdered by the brand Oscar Pistorious. Is there any hope this woman can get real justice? I hope so but I seriously doubt it. Even as I type this the investigating officer is getting destroyed in the bail hearing, his evidence is being torn apart. A friend told me that if a person is found not guilty of a charge in South Africa they cannot be convicted on a lesser charge like in the UK. Pre-meditated murder? Oh Jesus. That's hard enough to prove in a cut and dry case, let alone one with little evidence. Murder yes.. but pre-meditated? It's Reeva Steenkamp my heart goes out to, she who has no voice, she who has had her life cruelly taken away. Lock up Oscar Pistorious and throw away the key.
There aren't so many cut and dry facts just now concerning this case, but for me, the few there are are telling. I don't have an opinion on whether this was pre-meditated, but the fact Oscar Pistorious is saying he thought there was a robber is a fucking crime in itself. Lying bastard. Why can't he just say he got upset and shot her, even temporary insanity, but to come up with such a bullshit blag is awful and an insult to Reeva Steenkamp. We know there were domestic disputes that police were called to prior to 14.02. We know the bathroom door was locked (why the fuck would a robber break into a bathroom and lock himself in?!?! What the fuck is he robbing from a bathroom?!?!), and the coroner has indicated the bullets had a downward trajectory (Oscar Pistorious has stated he didn't have his legs on). Add a couple of possible circumstantial's.. ie Oscar Pistorious was on herbal remedies to increase testosterone (legally) but increased testosterone gives one a very bad temper, and the possibility that Reeva Steenkamp had grown close to Francois Hougaard (Springbok).
Whole thing stinks. Looks to me like they argued, Reeva Steenkamp locked herself in the bathroom scared, Oscar Pistorious had his legs on and wanted her to unlock the door, lost it and pumped some bullets through the door.
There's plenty of other stuff going on and we're yet to hear it all, but I hope justice is done and Oscar Pistorious gets banged up for 15 yrs and fades away into anonymity.
Best news for that? The Officer who got destroyed in the bail hearing had had a charge of attempted murder previously dropped.. and these have been reinstated. This means he'll get removed from the case. Which means the defense can't use him to snake their way out of the charge. I hope this was a pre-meditated move to make sure justice is done.
RIP Reeva Steenkamp.
Monday, 4 February 2013
Richard the Third vs Huhne
Ok so my second blog came a little sooner than I'd anticipated. This is nothing more, and certainly nothing less, than a rant.
As a man who loves history and considers himself to be a student of it, I have been particularly excited about the news concerning the bones dug up in Leicester; are they those of the former King of England, Richard the Third. I am passionate about my country, I turn into a rabid maniac during any England international rugby match, and I can go from levels of chemical ecstacy to darkest depression simply on a broken gain line and a knock on. I stand true even amongst the worst of the barracking that England so often gets from just about every other nation on the planet.
So I arose this morning and went straight to the kitchen for breakfast and the usual wake up potion, then settled myself down in front of the news, excitedly waiting for the 10:00am announcement concerning the truth behind the bones. I was watching Sky News, BBC was an option, I didn't think my other favourite news channels, Al Jazeera and RT, would be covering this jaw dropping story. I listened to Murnaghan as he trawled through the news until the moment came; we are now going live to the press conference concerning the bones found under a car park in Leicester..
Oh yes, here we go. They stood up and informed us that they'd be quantifying their research before announcing the news we were all anticipating. They discussed all the different facets that made up the research in order to find the truth of what happened to the much maligned Richard the Third. This is of course standard fare for any academic, and how all research is announced, I was not surprised. But it would seem that Sky News were, and were caught on the hop.
They were getting to the juicy bits and announced "This is a world exclusive photo of the bones.." blatantly going to be the bones in the grave.. never seen before.. a world exclusive photo of the possible bones, in a grave, of the former member of one of our Royal Families, last of the line of the Plantagenets, the former King of England, King Richard the Third..
..then cut to Murnaghan in the news room..
..we interrupt this broadcast for breaking news..
What's happened? Has North Korea invaded South Korea? Has China invaded Taiwan? Have the Iranians started a ground offensive against Israel? What is it that's so important they stopped in the middle of a world exclusive?
Huhne has pleaded guilty to speeding and perverting the course of justice.
You are shitting me?! Or should it be.. no shit Sherlock?
No one in this country, not even Huhne's own son, believed a word of the drivel that issued forth from Huhne's cake hole. Nobody. Not one single person was dumb enough to think he wasn't actually guilty. Of course it was him driving! And the fact he appealed everything for ten years just highlighted the fact that he's a squib and a complete muppet. At best the whole story is a side show, a comedy, possibly a tragic comedy, the kind of story that news programmes deliver right at the end of the show to cheer everyone up. A light hearted piece of news.
"And finally, we leave you with the surprise news that Huhne realised it was in fact him who was driving, and that the entire planet was right. Thank you Huhne for confirming this."
It beggars belief that this absolute non-news item, that has no bearing on anything whatsoever, that no one actually cares about, or was in two minds about, should interrupt possibly one of the greatest mysteries, investigations and research projects of recent years.
This was epic!! Richard the Third is one of the finest examples, nee victims, of propaganda in history. Here is a guy who by accurate accounts was generally liked by those around him and was actually a decent King. The Tudors beat him at the Battle of Bosworth and then proceeded to do a complete job on him. He became an evil, hideously deformed tyrant. Our very own Shakespeare did a complete character assassination on him that has lived with us ever since. If you ever wanted proof on how history has been distorted, about how propaganda has been used successfully since the earliest of times to influence the thoughts and minds of future generations, then this is the king of all examples (no pun intended). Everything from mocking and exaggerating his appearance; he had a curved spine he was not a hunchback with a limp, to making him appear evil by spreading rumours; that he killed the Princes in the Tower. Mocking appearance and spreading lies are methods still used today to bring scorn upon people. They threw so much mud at Richard the Third I'm surprised he wasn't found under Ben Nevis!
So the news interrupted this epic announcement just so it could mock Huhne and give him the kind of credit and coverage he doesn't deserve. He'll leave no footnote in history. But Richard the Third... now he is a legacy of the past. A legacy that we should all know about, and that we should all learn from.
Oh, the bones were announced to be, without any reasonable doubt, to be those of King Richard the Third. May he finally rest in peace.
Saturday, 2 February 2013
So from here we are born..
I have done it, finally and definitively, I have decided that I need to vocalise.
This year is The Year of the Fire Dragon, my year. My life has come full circle. On the 10.02.2013 the new cycle begins and my year has finished. I've been told that in Chinese Mythology your year is an extremely difficult year and is full of challenges that will test you and that you must overcome. This year has been such a year. But it also heralds my rebirth, I have risen from the flames, and when I head out to Hong Kong to celebrate this most momentus of occasions I shall be getting a tattoo to commemorate it. I have been in conversation with an artist of the highest calibre and finally the design is done, and when I land in the hubbub of Hong Kong I shall be risen, and ready to face the new cycle of my life.
Up until now there have been challenges in my life, I will not recant the past, and I pray I will not make the same mistakes again. I feel that I have learnt the lessons my history has taught me and now, now I must do like it says; confine history to history.
So what is my starting point? I am starting from an even keel which is all I ever asked. I am single. I quit my monotonous and back-stabbing dip-shit dull day job - I am setting up a company and going by my wits and no other's. I owe no money, and I only have enough for said new company and Hong Kong. I am now a non-smoker and as a consequence I have regained my breath, and I am striving for fit and healthy. I shall work my 6'4 frame back into strength and fitness. Perhaps I will take rugby up again and have a final fling with the battlefield. Maybe. I share a house with a flat mate. This year I shall have my own place. I am growing and I need room to flex.
So there am I. So what about around me? Where do I stand with environment? My family is spread around, I'm sure we shall all learn more about them here at my Pulpit over the coming aeons. I have some good friends, some bad friends, some 'are they friends?' if not what are they. This mostly applies to a couple of women (we shall learn more at the Pulpit), and a few dudes who were friends whilst we all smoked together.. but now.. is it because I have regained my wits I see more and like less? What scares me is that this applies to the locally based member of my family too. This shall be explored here at the Pulpit too. I have about 167 friends on Facebook. I rarely use Facebook except as a more relevant form of press. I read it as I might a newspaper. I do know all the people on my Facebook, although in recent times brief acquaintances have found their way on. Do people cull? I have never been one for collecting people, it just seems ridiculous to me. A hangover from this 'I want to be famous' shite. And to that end when I return from Hong Kong I am going to cull Facebook. Shit, I'm going to cull my mobile too. There are people I spend time on who just do not seem to reciprocate, and others that are just negative people toward me. I want positivity and happiness. Enough of the darkness. There are so many lovely, kind, smart and funny people out there I know I no longer need to waste my time with those that aren't. It prevents me from meeting the wonderful people who are. And if I've got any advice.. when you meet these good people hold them tight, and discard the others. Don't muck around. You don't have to. This I have learnt.
It shall be a process going through and trying to understand some of my, let's just refer to them as friends for now, and we shall explore them as I decide whether they should stay or whether they should go. I only ever ask for three things in anybody.. they must have a good heart, they must be honest, and they must be open (you can of course be publicly private, but still be privately open). That is all.
So I'm in a good, strong position looking forwards. And I am looking forward to the future too.
I am opinionated, I will offend when I speak my mind, I will strip things down to simplicity and call them as they are, I will rant and rave when the urge overwhelms me to do so.
I am reborn, and I am going to decide my position, no-one else. And I will not apologise. My life's cleansing begins when I return from Hong Kong.
We are going on a journey, so hold on tight.
This year is The Year of the Fire Dragon, my year. My life has come full circle. On the 10.02.2013 the new cycle begins and my year has finished. I've been told that in Chinese Mythology your year is an extremely difficult year and is full of challenges that will test you and that you must overcome. This year has been such a year. But it also heralds my rebirth, I have risen from the flames, and when I head out to Hong Kong to celebrate this most momentus of occasions I shall be getting a tattoo to commemorate it. I have been in conversation with an artist of the highest calibre and finally the design is done, and when I land in the hubbub of Hong Kong I shall be risen, and ready to face the new cycle of my life.
Up until now there have been challenges in my life, I will not recant the past, and I pray I will not make the same mistakes again. I feel that I have learnt the lessons my history has taught me and now, now I must do like it says; confine history to history.
So what is my starting point? I am starting from an even keel which is all I ever asked. I am single. I quit my monotonous and back-stabbing dip-shit dull day job - I am setting up a company and going by my wits and no other's. I owe no money, and I only have enough for said new company and Hong Kong. I am now a non-smoker and as a consequence I have regained my breath, and I am striving for fit and healthy. I shall work my 6'4 frame back into strength and fitness. Perhaps I will take rugby up again and have a final fling with the battlefield. Maybe. I share a house with a flat mate. This year I shall have my own place. I am growing and I need room to flex.
So there am I. So what about around me? Where do I stand with environment? My family is spread around, I'm sure we shall all learn more about them here at my Pulpit over the coming aeons. I have some good friends, some bad friends, some 'are they friends?' if not what are they. This mostly applies to a couple of women (we shall learn more at the Pulpit), and a few dudes who were friends whilst we all smoked together.. but now.. is it because I have regained my wits I see more and like less? What scares me is that this applies to the locally based member of my family too. This shall be explored here at the Pulpit too. I have about 167 friends on Facebook. I rarely use Facebook except as a more relevant form of press. I read it as I might a newspaper. I do know all the people on my Facebook, although in recent times brief acquaintances have found their way on. Do people cull? I have never been one for collecting people, it just seems ridiculous to me. A hangover from this 'I want to be famous' shite. And to that end when I return from Hong Kong I am going to cull Facebook. Shit, I'm going to cull my mobile too. There are people I spend time on who just do not seem to reciprocate, and others that are just negative people toward me. I want positivity and happiness. Enough of the darkness. There are so many lovely, kind, smart and funny people out there I know I no longer need to waste my time with those that aren't. It prevents me from meeting the wonderful people who are. And if I've got any advice.. when you meet these good people hold them tight, and discard the others. Don't muck around. You don't have to. This I have learnt.
It shall be a process going through and trying to understand some of my, let's just refer to them as friends for now, and we shall explore them as I decide whether they should stay or whether they should go. I only ever ask for three things in anybody.. they must have a good heart, they must be honest, and they must be open (you can of course be publicly private, but still be privately open). That is all.
So I'm in a good, strong position looking forwards. And I am looking forward to the future too.
I am opinionated, I will offend when I speak my mind, I will strip things down to simplicity and call them as they are, I will rant and rave when the urge overwhelms me to do so.
I am reborn, and I am going to decide my position, no-one else. And I will not apologise. My life's cleansing begins when I return from Hong Kong.
We are going on a journey, so hold on tight.
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