Just before I go...

It may be gone by the time I'm back.

Happy Families
I'm off for a bit to play happy families.
I'll let you know if I win.

Fair Trade

Went to my home town at the weekend. Went out drinking in the city centre with friends I was at school with. We met at the station and joked about going into town on the train when we were 17 because we stopped being served at the local.

" Nice of Britsh Rail to give us a lift into town for free", I said - referring to the fact that no one had asked us for a ticket. " We should have got a return", said my mate.

A minute later a ragged looking drunk man was shouting "Oi you! Stop! Come back here!" to the same friend. We kept on walking. "What was that about?" I said. " I think he saw me shifting my wallet from my back pocket" said the friend.

An hour later I was introduced to a man I hadn't met before. I had once been frineds with his cousin. He described with puffed out chest his pride in being acknowledged for carrying on the family business. I remembered that under different circumstances that could have been me. He'd been drinking longer than us and talked non stop - but I loved the guts and integrity of what he said.

Three hours later I felt like I had known this man all my life as we chatted to a table of women - one of whom was the sister of one of my friends.

We had chips on the way home. I handed mine to one of my mates as I had a pee. I lost my hooded top in the pub - but it was a fair trade.

Still Here

I'm still here...

Not Quite 9/11

Fame

The other day I noticed that the director of a TV programme I was watchig had the same name as someone I went to primary school with. As it was an unusual name I "googled"it and discovered that he was in fact my friend from when I was 7. I was deeply excited at this connection with someone famous. I couldn't stop smiling and wanted to wake my partner to tell her. The next morning I emailed some of my old school friends who would have rememebered him. It started a trail of emails between some people who haven't spoken to each other for years.

I'd like to speak to the famous person. But i wouldn't know what to say.

Rude Health

I've been ill - not seriously. I've been frivolously ill for about four days. I haven't felt like talking to anyone or listening to anyone or reading about anyone or writing about anyone. I've been watching videos and blowing my nose and sweating and drinking herbal teas and coughing and sleeping.
I'm returning to health now. Im not 100% yet. I'd say I'm about 67%. I feel like talking to some people a bit and listening to maybe only one or two people a little. I'm writing about myself now and I may read about someone later today.
I've been going to work and catching up and coughing and leaving early and buying takeaways and drinkning herbal teas.
I haven't had the time to watch DVD's.

Dreams

The night before last I dreamed that my father (who is dead) phoned me up to tell me that my mother (who is alive) is dead.

I awoke in shock and fear.

Last night I dreamed that there was a breakfast cereal called "Wring Pieces".

I awoke laughing.

Out of Place

I was driving to work this morning when the traffic forced me to stop and look around. I have driven that way to work for 2 and a half years but today was the first time I noticed 2 houses called "Farm Cottages". What made me stare was that these houses were old - the plaque said built 1907 - and they are now in the middle of a modern estate of geometrically shaped flats and maisonettes.

My minds eye conjoured a vision of these houses - unaltered (apart from the lack of uPVC windows) - surrounded by fields with no other dwellings in eyesight.

I felt sad at the lack of mercy shown by modernity.

Sun Sets over Tollgate

Sinking fast, wilting, shrinking, being dismantled, recycling, wasting, destroying, losing, eating away, redundant, renewal, progress, transformation, shrouded, disappearing trick, development, construction, destruction...