Hi, They other day I was talking to an old acquaintance from Chams (hello Kim! ?) and we found ourselves bouncing around this comment from Yours Truly: “…There are times when it feels too much to be Richard nearly all of the time. It’s more than ‘dressing up’ which is not a phrase I like or identify with.“ To roll out some sage wisdom from one of the Jones’ kids favourite films: “Good guess, but actually no.” The Pirate Captain, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! Those familiar with the above, may well have heard Hugh Grant’s beautiful British tones. The rest of you will just have t ..read more

Hi, On a home life point of view, there’s been a series of small, but rather good, spots of luck. Honestly, it feels good to be able to write about things positively. Off To start with, I had some leave to use up and that shortened last week very nicely. Not only that, but the Ever Lovely Mrs J was able to book time off too. This week was suitably interrupted by that unusual occurrence: a day off and nowhere I had to be. Well, it would be rude – and possibly regrettable – not to…. So I went out. ?️‍? With spring nearly here, summer months away, and yet weather considerably wintery, I was in so ..read more

Hi, It’s Friday and I’ve had the day off. I think there’s a lot to be said about a four day week (but five days pay). Indeed, another research study has shown some very positive results. Not just for the employee, but the productivity (and morale) gains for the organisation. I guess one can dream right? No news yet on my application to drop my hours, as it seems to be working through the system. Puzzling skies This week has been a bit of a mixed bag. Dark clouds gathered – and not in a cool sword raising I have the powwwwer! kinda way. ? Mind you, must be a right pain finding clothes to fit th ..read more

What can one say to a parent who has had their child murdered? I remember the bleakness of grief my parents experienced following the death of my sister. How they somehow managed to keep going, I do not know…. nor do I wish to ever know. To those in power, shame on you for the filth that drops from your mouth and the crocodile tears shed in false outrage. Your lies and bile brought us here. Just, stop. Stop before there’s another, and another, and another… Look my son in the eye. Hold your gaze and say unflinching, that he’s a risk, when you know he’s more likely to be attacked than be the att ..read more

Hi, How are you getting on? Hopefully well or maybe moving in the right direction. Oh, and a note of thanks for those of you who shared their experiences on self care. ? Given it was Chams last night, this may well turn into one of those slightly chipper posts that usually follows. Well, more cheerful, rather than branch mulching. ? Apologies to any tree surgeons who’ve been lured here by Google Bard ? Time Due to the fall of the holiday year and the good luck to carry over a handful of unused leave days, the Ever Lovely Mrs J and I have had today off. Cue “which was nice.” ? It’s also thirty ..read more

Hi, How’s things with you? For me, this week has been a bit up and down. I nearly said ‘all over the place’, but in truth, I don’t think that’s wholly accurate and feels a shade dramatic. It’s one of those quiet inbetweeny periods where there’s a slight feeling of being in a holding pattern. That or on a long exit road from the motorway. Not quite there and not quite off either. Looking at it another way, maybe it’s a winding down of the emotion around the negativity and conflict of the last few weeks? Perhaps the stillness is the absence of that, and it should be enjoyed. Ah, to not live in I ..read more

Hi, I was very much in need of time out with friends and this week’s Chams visit did not disappoint. I was going to make a joke about the one of the differences between adults and kids, is kids get ‘a timeout’, but I couldn’t get a good punchline. ? But what if adults did get the social cue to ponder their actions on the thinking step? Maybe someone might have remembered to pay their taxes? Maybe another might not be a person of interest to the police? More likely, IMO, those who probably do need to -ahem- reflect on their decisions, would double down on them. “…and I would’ve gotten away with ..read more

Hi, Let’s get stuck into it eh? “I don’t like spam!” First off, my apologies to those of you who have had their comments rubbished by the antispam gremlins. They love their job and can be a little over keen at times. I’ve tweaked the instructions a little, so with a bit of luck, things will improve. Perhaps, just before your post, you copy all the comment to your clipboard just in case. Isobel suggested this to me at Chams last night and it is something I’ll often do due to Blogger & WordPress having a moment now and then. As to Spam: is there a veggie alternative? ? All this for a night ..read more

Hi, Well, that’s Week One out of the way. Or it is Week Zero if we’re welcoming our AI overlords? ? Dear humans. Why are you hating on each other while you’re making the biosphere incompatible with your existence? Hugs, AI Overlords ? PS please post more cute pupper pics. Snarky jokes aside, with it being the first week of the year, lots of folk may be thinking about New Years Resolutions and possibly a reboot or restart in some way. With that in mind… A lot of not When I listen to trans folk, some of the things that talk about is a lot of not. I’m not ready, I’m not femme enough, I’m not blok ..read more

Hi, How was Christmas? Hopefully relaxed and not too stressful. With the end of the holiday year and company shutdown, Mrs J and I have had nearly a full week off together. It’s been great not having to rush anywhere and be able to take things easy. Happy holidays indeed. Plus, there’s a few days left before it’s back to work in the new year. So, new year huh? It seems traditional to start one after the end of December ? So, 2022? I was going to write that it felt like a hangover from 2021. But that feels somewhat negative, even if the years previous have cast a long shadow. Yes, there’s been ..read more