Journal Entries
The power of a good walk
Posted Dec 18, 2011
I'm currently coming down off a bit of an endorphin high and it feels so good. A mate called me pretty early this morning and basically ordered me to go out for a walk as the conditions were perfect. For once in my life I decided to do as I was told because this guy doesn't normally get this excited and he knows I normally ignore instructions so for him to call it must be pretty good. So I get ready, load up my mp3 player and go.
My word, he wasn't wrong. It was glorious. Beautifully cold, crisp, ice crunching under my boots and ducks going mental because the canal was starting to freeze. Put on some Florence + the Machine as loud as I could and, since I had the towpath to myself, I just let rip and sang and danced. It felt so good.
And now I'm home feeling incredible and not having to feel guilty about having a lazy day because I've just done a decent bit of exercise.
I need more days like these.
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Latest reply: Dec 18, 2011
What I've done (NaJoPoMo Pt.30!)
Posted Nov 30, 2011
So it occurs to me most of my journal entries have been about broader themes than simply what I've done on a particular day. I need to rectify that so this is just about I've done today:
Had a lie-in - didn't get out of bed until 9.30. That was lovely and much-needed.
Went to the strike demo in Bradford. It was quite cool, there was a good turn-out and a lovely atmosphere. The weather wasn't too bad either
Had a pub lunch with a mate and helped him prep for a job interview tomorrow. I've got everything crossed for him.
Bought a new book. Destiny disrupted and it's a history of the world from an Islamic perspective. Only a couple of chapters in but it's fascinating so far. I had hoped to buy Tom Holland's latest book, which covers the the rise and fall of Byzantium, the rise of Islam and the fall of the Sassanids, but it's been put back to April next year.
Came home and watched the latest Glee. It was great.
Went to my group and talked.
I'm really pleased I've kept up with the whole NaJoPoMo endeavour: I've really enjoyed it and it's been the right amount of challenging. Hope I've not been too boring/annoying/offensive.
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Latest reply: Nov 30, 2011
Going out tonight (NaJoPoMo Pt. 29)
Posted Nov 29, 2011
So I'm on strike tomorrow. There are a lot of different reasons for people voting: some people are so incensed by the pensions issue that that's enough justification, some are furious with the government because of their general assault on the public sector and some just want a day off.
For me, I'm just sick of the Tory (the Lib Dems don't really count any more) on *everything* and the constant stream of lies that comes from government these days. We're told education needs to be cut and yet the government is giving billions in money and assets to the private sector, they're saying the UK has got to borrow less and yet Osborne is borrowing 100 billion more to take the risk away from the private sector, they're saying we need to avoid recession and yet they're sowing the seeds of the next recession by encouraging 95% mortgages by guaranteeing them (because that worked so well for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the States). We're being told we must reduce our debt levels to protect our bond ratings when Britain has never had the sort of problems facing the eurozone. We're all in this together but I'm yet to see a single parliamentarian take a hit on their pay or pension that matches the effective 10% paycut I'll be taking over the next 2 years.
There's also the issue of corruption and hypocrisy that's been revealed by the Laws and Werrity affairs, and by the dealings of Andy Coulson with the News of the World and then as Cameron's aide.
In the face of all of this, a strike isn't particularly unreasonable. It's measured, it's considered and it's necessary. Good luck to anyone else who is out tomorrow.
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Latest reply: Nov 29, 2011
I'm talking about a whole lotta history (NaJoPoMo Pt. 28)
Posted Nov 28, 2011
Anyone who's been following these journals since I started will be aware I've had a less-than-ideal and my relationship with my family is fraught with difficulty. Although it used to really mess me up, I've mostly made my peace with it and created a family for myself who I really love even though I'm only related to a couple of them by blood. Still, the issue of family can crop up at the strangest times and leave me struggling.
Tonight was one of those times as in Urdu class we've moved onto the topic of families. I'm faced with a choice: do I invent a fictional family, do I talk about my actual family with key details changed or do I talk about my actual family and ask for words like 'estranged' and 'foster parent'? It's a tricky one.
I was dreading being asked to write or describe my family tree because there's so much I don't know or have forgotten. With the exception of my aunt, sister, mum, dad and brothers I haven't thought about anyone in my family for years and it's only those first two who I've thought about in any kind of positive way. I only know the name of one of my grandparents, I've completely forgotten how many aunts and uncles I have on my dad's side and I've forgotten the names of 3 or 4 aunts and/or uncles my mum's side.
We've been asked to bring in a family photo next week. I don't really have any: I've got one of me on my graduation from Uni which has most of them in, but it's also the last time I saw either of my brothers and the second-to-last time I saw my mum. The last time I saw my mum, a few months later was 
unpleasant. I can't even take the cowards way out and skip the class as we've got a test week after next and I don't want to miss anything. I could explain this to the teacher but then if everyone else shows something and I don't it'll be very conspicuous.
It also came up when I was having a check-up at the doctors and was asked if my parents were still alive and I had to say "I think so..."
Just interesting how things that I like consider ancient history get brought back to life.
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Latest reply: Nov 28, 2011
I am in misery (NaJoPoMo Pt.27
Posted Nov 27, 2011
Went to see We Need To Talk About Kevin today with a mate and, for the first time in about 6 years, I walked out of a film. It was so upsetting and I've never understood why people get off on this kind of misery porn: if I want to feel crap I simply have to revisit my childhood - I don't need a film to do it.
I was chatting to my aunt and she's one of those people who really gets off (I really can't think of another way of describing it) on these kinds of books/films and I just don't understand why: my aunt has had a hellish life, I don't get what comfort or solace can be drawn from them.
Sitting in a nice pub with a drink and a paper helped restore my equilibrium, it's a much better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. My mate kicked off once he found me after the film but sod him: a) I paid for both of us and b) it was his choice of film and he chose badly.
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Latest reply: Nov 27, 2011
HonestIago
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