Last day of the holidays, last day of blogging for 100 words a day for 7 days. Last chance to over run, inform, amuse, capture your interest with a merry dance, bore, annoy or pass you by.
An audience, the difference between talking to yourself and saying something? The pressure building until the post is published, what will it be today? What will make sense in only 100 words, give or take, so little for so much? What will my voice sound like when it's written down?
Oh audience - whose visits to my page enthrall me, to the UK, USA, Australia, Germany and France no less. I've tracked your clicks and visits, held in thrall as my graph rises and falls with each new visitor. Apple, Facebook, Android, Internet Explorer, Chrome and more - all charted in a pie for me to gaze at and wonder.
I'll sign off with a request - if you visit one last time please leave a comment - 10 words each should do the trick and then I'll have 100 words more, at least, to play with. 10 words to leave your mark upon this page. 10 words to share with this exclusive audience of ours. 10 words to say goodbye.
Friday, 28 October 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Philosophy
I was asked the other day what it was like to live in my world! I've been thinking.
As a child I read and re-read The Hitchhikers Guide 'trilogy' and followed these with Dirk Gently. Indeed it is hard for me to imagine my view of the world without a quote or aside from Douglas Adams creeping in as a point of reference. Those aware of Douglas Adams may also be aware of the "Total Perspective Vortex" into which Zaphod Beeblebrox was put in order to show him how insignificant he was in the Grand Scheme of Things. While he waits the tortuous screams of previous 'visitors' are played out, reliving the moment when they are confronted with the total enormity of the universe and the opposite miniscularity of their importance within it.
It doesn't work for Zaphod, of course, because the universe he's in has been created for his existence, so all it does is stroke his already inflated sense of self worth.
In my world I am aware of how insignificantly small my part is in the Grand Scheme of Things, a kind of permanent Total Perspective Vortex overview to life - but at the same time I am also aware that I am the most important person in my own universe. Without me in it my actions are not actioned, my thoughts are not thought and my life is unlived. A paradox of importance and insignificance, perfect.
But not as snappy as - No Worries :)
As a child I read and re-read The Hitchhikers Guide 'trilogy' and followed these with Dirk Gently. Indeed it is hard for me to imagine my view of the world without a quote or aside from Douglas Adams creeping in as a point of reference. Those aware of Douglas Adams may also be aware of the "Total Perspective Vortex" into which Zaphod Beeblebrox was put in order to show him how insignificant he was in the Grand Scheme of Things. While he waits the tortuous screams of previous 'visitors' are played out, reliving the moment when they are confronted with the total enormity of the universe and the opposite miniscularity of their importance within it.
It doesn't work for Zaphod, of course, because the universe he's in has been created for his existence, so all it does is stroke his already inflated sense of self worth.
In my world I am aware of how insignificantly small my part is in the Grand Scheme of Things, a kind of permanent Total Perspective Vortex overview to life - but at the same time I am also aware that I am the most important person in my own universe. Without me in it my actions are not actioned, my thoughts are not thought and my life is unlived. A paradox of importance and insignificance, perfect.
But not as snappy as - No Worries :)
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Fear
Daddy scared, Daddy scared, Daddy pick me up,
The creature slowly turned around and fixed us with a look,
It's eyes burned brightly in the gloom, it's claws were long and sharp,
It's movements fast and blurred and silent in the quickening dark,
The chase is over, before the kill, a howl to freeze the blood,
A boy, a man and creatures all, were rooted where they stood,
Daddy scared, Daddy scared, Daddy pick me up,
No time to move or get away, I cannot bear to look,
Slowly creeping forwards now and sliding down the hill,
Moving ever closer scaring animals at will,
Now close enough to touch and see it's breathing in the air,
The boy pulls off his mask and smiles, a boy without a care,
A laugh, a smile, a friendly howl, the boy no more than ten,
Daddy scared, Daddy scared, Again! Again! Again!
The creature slowly turned around and fixed us with a look,
It's eyes burned brightly in the gloom, it's claws were long and sharp,
It's movements fast and blurred and silent in the quickening dark,
The chase is over, before the kill, a howl to freeze the blood,
A boy, a man and creatures all, were rooted where they stood,
Daddy scared, Daddy scared, Daddy pick me up,
No time to move or get away, I cannot bear to look,
Slowly creeping forwards now and sliding down the hill,
Moving ever closer scaring animals at will,
Now close enough to touch and see it's breathing in the air,
The boy pulls off his mask and smiles, a boy without a care,
A laugh, a smile, a friendly howl, the boy no more than ten,
Daddy scared, Daddy scared, Again! Again! Again!
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
On Gruffalos and Birth
I was going to write about our birth experience but have been beaten to it by Julia Donaldson. The Gruffalo's Child is a near perfect metaphor for how we experienced birth, let me explain...
As the child gruffalo (us) in the story hears the tale of the Big Bad Mouse (birth) she decides to go and investigate. At every encounter she thinks she has found what she needs but each new animal (professional) is not what they first appear and gives further weight to the scariness of the mouse (birth). She finally finds the mouse (birth) and can see it is not so scary after all, until the mouse uses the moonlight (womens reported experiences, one born every minute etc) against the Gruffalo (us). At this moment the Gruffalo's child runs back to the safety of the cave. The mouse (birth) waits outside, safely misrepresented until the meme is broken.
Just a thought :)
As the child gruffalo (us) in the story hears the tale of the Big Bad Mouse (birth) she decides to go and investigate. At every encounter she thinks she has found what she needs but each new animal (professional) is not what they first appear and gives further weight to the scariness of the mouse (birth). She finally finds the mouse (birth) and can see it is not so scary after all, until the mouse uses the moonlight (womens reported experiences, one born every minute etc) against the Gruffalo (us). At this moment the Gruffalo's child runs back to the safety of the cave. The mouse (birth) waits outside, safely misrepresented until the meme is broken.
Just a thought :)
Monday, 24 October 2011
Rest
Rest.
Eyelids heavy, retune your senses, what is this time?
Rest.
Legs winding up, coiled ready to spring at will?
Rest.
Mind marching, why aren't we moving?
Rest
A new focus or old battles?
Rest.
A break from work?
Rest.
Time to dream?
Rest.
One of many.
Rest.
Know it well, or not at all.
Rest.
Find peace and readjust accordingly.
Rest.
Time to make yourself again in a new image.
Rest.
Soar above the highest peaks and dare to dream aloud.
Rest
Eyelids heavy, senses retuned, reanimated, refreshed , until the next time.
Rest.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
I didn't...
I didn't get a lie in today...
I didn't mind making pancakes with Louis.
I didn't want France to win when the game kicked off...
I didn't want them to lose by the end.
I didn't think I had that many jobs to do...
I didn't do even half of them.
I didn't predict how the football would finish...
I didn't realise how much I would enjoy it.
I didn't want the film to ruin the book...
I didn't want the film to end.
I didn't know if I could cook from frozen...
I didn't ride Alpe D'Huez because I was full.
I didn't mind making pancakes with Louis.
I didn't want France to win when the game kicked off...
I didn't want them to lose by the end.
I didn't think I had that many jobs to do...
I didn't do even half of them.
I didn't predict how the football would finish...
I didn't realise how much I would enjoy it.
I didn't want the film to ruin the book...
I didn't want the film to end.
I didn't know if I could cook from frozen...
I didn't ride Alpe D'Huez because I was full.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Running and happiness
Weekly running. Morning views.
The best time of the day. Quiet. Still. Peaceful.
Did I always know and forget about this slice of time?
Does everybody know? Because they should.
It has to be cherished and visited often to make sense.
The odd encounter not as rewarding as the frequent visit.
Little and often, so true of many things.
I don't smile because I'm happy, I smile and happiness follows.
I don't run because I feel full of life, I run and life follows.
From sedentary pedestrian to ironman and adventurer.
Mountains. Hills. Lakes. Pavements.
Weekly running. Morning views.
The best time of the day. Quiet. Still. Peaceful.
Did I always know and forget about this slice of time?
Does everybody know? Because they should.
It has to be cherished and visited often to make sense.
The odd encounter not as rewarding as the frequent visit.
Little and often, so true of many things.
I don't smile because I'm happy, I smile and happiness follows.
I don't run because I feel full of life, I run and life follows.
From sedentary pedestrian to ironman and adventurer.
Mountains. Hills. Lakes. Pavements.
Weekly running. Morning views.
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