Responsibilities

Working in retail means that Christmas is an incredibly busy time. After making it through all the over time and stressed shoppers fighting for the last remote controlled helicopters, I thought I had survived. The first few weeks of the new year were even more chaotic. Return after return ran thought the tills with toys and gadgets that didn't work or weren't quite what was wanted.

Also over this festive period I had experienced the terrible reliability or a "Really Annoying Car" break down service when my motorbike broke down. When a friend's car also broke down I couldn't help but wonder if the attitudes to the world have shifted out of line somewhat.

I cant speak for anyone else but when I buy things or pay for a specific service, I expect the items to work and the service to live up to promises. Is it wrong to presume these things in today's world. Maybe I'm just over demanding and expect too much from people.

I, like most people, remember days past where things were built to last and people could do the jobs they were employed to do. I understand how old that last sentence makes me sound but trust me, it wasn't that long ago.

Is it simply nostalgia that makes personal history full of wonder? I suppose that's where the difference is between nostalgia and simple memories. I remember at the age of five, being given a Scalextric set as a present. The cars didn't work properly but after a bit of tinkering with them they were fine. The point I'm making is that even back then things never worked properly but I still have positive memories of it.

Maybe things are no less reliable than they ever have been. Maybe we have just become better at complaining about it and less able to repair and make do. How many people out there cant even wire a plug without having to google it first?

In conclusion I think it would be wrong to lower expectations as this would simultaneously lower standards. If something wasn't expected, then I'm sure it would pass without ever being offered.

Instead we should all understand our own responsibilities for the roles we play throughout our lives, be that at work or within family lives, and strive to live up to them.

2011 - Great Expectations

So another year has past and the world celebrates the arrival of the next with spectacular fanfares and fireworks. I, like most people, should have been out participating in the revelry, singing traditional songs with the lyrics long since forgotten, and sharing a midnight kiss with the love of my life. But no. That wasn't to be this year.

This year I was simply a spectator. Not wishing to celebrate the arrival of a new year and to usher in fantastic ambitions due to expire in under a month. After all, what difference should it make whether we welcome a new year, a new month, a new week or simply a new day.

It is fair to say that the new year brings with it a considerate amount of motivation. Motivation to take up new pursuits or to get around to completing that list of jobs you created last April. Myself included. But why? Are we all simply too lazy to have this motivation the rest of the year? Do we suddenly free ourselves from the guilt niggling in the back of our minds when we know we aren't quite the people we wish we were. As great as new found determination can be, once a year resolutions rarely last.

In 1939, during the beginning of World War 2, the Ministry of Information published a poster with the slogan "Keep Calm And Carry On." Designed (but never used) to raise productivity and reduce panic, this poster has seen a recent rise to fashion. I however, oppose this statement, as to me it feels like I'm being told to be a docile member of a cattle herd. I have a much better proposal.

Perhaps we should celebrate the arrival of each new month with similar enthusiam. Maybe we could achieve much more throughout the year when we make 12 promises to ourselves instead of just the 1. Monthly challenges may well keep us on our toes. Provide doses of satisfaction throughout the year. Keep us on track right up until December...

Or, if perservence is lacking and you break your new resolution mid way through January, there's always next month to try again.

Snowman

Each morning for the past week my eyes have been assaulted as I have drawn open the curtains to reveal a very bright, white landscape of snowy cold beauty. The obvious beauty of a snow covered world does induce a sense of joy in every body's inner child.

This recaptured youth doesn't hang around though. Soon people are complaining for any number of reasons. The UK simply can't handle snow and the whole road network grinds to a halt, preventing people from reaching places of work as well as friends and families. Central heating systems pack up and the unprepared run out of food stocks.

This isn't the attitude to have in a country that usually only ever gets to see shades of grey day in, day out.

Rather than joining the complaining masses I was determined to enjoy the snow somehow. It had been years since I had taken time out in the snow to make a decent snowman. (Or a crappy snowman either for that matter.) So whilst visiting one of my good friends we decided to make ourselves busy by building a snowman, and another lady snowman.

My friend made a rather chavy looking lady snowman complete with pony tail from the very top of her head. (Not a snow lady at all.)

I spent a lot longer shaping a pile which would at some point become my much larger snowman. I did have some help from my friend before she gave up and left me to finish. I'm not sure for how long I was out there on my own but certainly lost myself in childish amusement whilst building.

Using a hat, a scarf and a Smirnoff bottle top as a nose, my snowman was finished and was looking rather good.

As is the case with snow, its now slowly disappearing. And so is my snowman.

Good things never last forever but its more about enjoying the moment whilst its there. Be it small cherished moments such as a beautiful sunset or enjoying an ice cold drink on holiday on a white sandy beach or larger parts of your life including those friends or relationships that come and go. I hope you can appreciate all you have and simply enjoy the good times whilst they happen to you and don't waste those special moments by complaining about the other parts which are not as perfect for you never know when the good will be gone...

Luton Dunstable Railway

For many people, seeing in a new year is a night to celebrate with friends and to enjoy a fair few drinks. I am no exception and this usually means that the 1st of January is a day spent avoiding sunlight and sudden movement whilst I recover from
the night before.

This year was to be different. Venturing out into the cold with my oldest friend we went on a hunt. A hunt to find an abandoned railway line.
We had seen on google earth the remnants of rail tracks along with some carriages and the prospect of exploring these forgotten treasures was enough to drag us from our beds.

We parked up in a fairly modern housing estate and marched across the local playing field, straight for the tracks. Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. The high fencing complete with anti climb paint made it clear that someone didn't want random explorers getting lost along the "complex" route of a railway line. By complex I, of course, refer to the natural straightness all railways possess.

We drove to an alternative starting location and found the track crossing the road. Fenced off in either direction but the lines still embedded in the road surface.
It was obvious we were not the first ones to have explored the tracks as we casually walked through a torn down fence and along a local fly tipping spot.
Burnt trailers, old fire extinguishers, torn clothing and dumped refrigerators littered the route. The old carriages seen on google earth had long been removed, probably to stop squatters taking up residence. It was a disappointment not to see the old carriages and to be left with a rather uninteresting route where the tracks had once laid. Reaching a small section of rail which passed over a bridge, modern fencing blocked us from going much further and there was only one thing left to do. Explore the other direction.

There was a lot less security on the alternative side of the road. There was a foot path along side most of the route and it didn't take much to scramble down a small embankment onto the old rails. It was good to see they hadn't removed all the track.
As we hacked our way though the over grown hedges and picked our way past dead shopping trolleys we found a small bridge and a split in the lines. We probably got over excited about seeing the track split into another direction but it was amusing to share such small interest between 2 friends who wouldn't judge one another.

It'd be fun to return to this line and explore a little further than we did and I'm sure there will be more photos to come from exploring many abandoned railways.

Perseid Comet

Well last night was a bit of a let down. I went all rather expecting to see many shooting stars as planet Earth passed through the tail of the Perseid comet which passed by 11 years ago. I saw a few good shooting stars but none made for great photos. As I was getting ready to leave I saw the moon reflectin in a puddle which looked really nice. So I captured this image.

Urbanation

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