I wrote this in August, before my Mum got sick. Before we even knew there might be something wrong. I'm glad I wrote it, and I'm glad to say I still feel the same way.
What defines the word "hero"?
What constitutes this highest of accolades?
I have heard the term applied to a range of situations:
Our troops fighting and risking their lives,
Footballers and filmstars we aspire to emulate,
Legendary figures who fought oppression,
Humble people who go the extra mile to make life better for others.
I do not think celebrities are heroes. They just got lucky, whether genetically or by virtue of their situation.
My hero is my mother. And my Gran and my Nanna. The women of my lineage. So strong and fierce in their love and passionate in their defence of their families. These are the women I aspire to emulate. These are my heroes.
Friday, 22 April 2011
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Expressive musings.
Someone once told me "we all need to express ourselves" and the words stuck with me. Unfortunately the someone in question was highly innebriated and trying to get me to go to a motel with him (classy) but the point remains the same.
Humans are intensely emotional beings. Some show it outwardly more than others, but we all feel emotions. Just because we don't all give in and have a screaming match every time someone disagrees with us doesn't mean that in our heads we aren't committing acts which, were we to act upon them, would ensure us a lifetime sentence or two.
The man who teases me most for crying at films writes poetry himself.
So here is my form of expression. Word vomit. Verbal diahorroea. Literary ramblings. I hope they make you think a little, or at least entertain you briefly.
Humans are intensely emotional beings. Some show it outwardly more than others, but we all feel emotions. Just because we don't all give in and have a screaming match every time someone disagrees with us doesn't mean that in our heads we aren't committing acts which, were we to act upon them, would ensure us a lifetime sentence or two.
The man who teases me most for crying at films writes poetry himself.
So here is my form of expression. Word vomit. Verbal diahorroea. Literary ramblings. I hope they make you think a little, or at least entertain you briefly.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Patriotic musings.
Currently playing: B.O.B. and Hayley Williams - Airplanes
Today is the 4th of July. A day unremarkable to anyone outside America. Today is the day that a small group of men declared that they would not put up with unreasonable taxes and injustice in their native Britain and seceeded to form the United States of America. Today this fact will be celebrated with a feast of BBQs and fireworks. With the stars and stripes being heralded from every corner and red, white and blue being the theme of the day. I view all this from afar and I think;
"What the crap, Britain?!"
If a nation such as this, one which has launched wars, imprisoned unjustly and become a beacon for intolerance in some areas can still rise up and be proud of themselves. Proud of their heraldry. Proud of every smudge and tear in that sheet of defiance. The singular sheet of vellum which is the symbol of all that their country can achieve in such a short time, why the hell can't we?
Why can't we rise to support our government? We elected them. Why can't we support our teams? They represent us. Why can't we clean up our streets and make a return to what made our nation great? Pride. We have a beautiful country here. From the mountains and lochs of the Scottish highlands, to the towering cliffs which make England strong, to the soft green bosom of the Welsh hills, over the sea to the astounding earthworks of Northern Ireland we have here a beautiful country. We have achieved so much in terms of invention, productivity, art and culture, music, technology, diplomatic relations and steely determination.
Once our nation was great. Now it is reduced to grovelling at the feet of those stronger. We have become a nation of brown-nosed, slack jawed, spineless cowards afraid to stand up to the schoolyard bully.
Have some pride, Britain. We can still kick arse.
Today is the 4th of July. A day unremarkable to anyone outside America. Today is the day that a small group of men declared that they would not put up with unreasonable taxes and injustice in their native Britain and seceeded to form the United States of America. Today this fact will be celebrated with a feast of BBQs and fireworks. With the stars and stripes being heralded from every corner and red, white and blue being the theme of the day. I view all this from afar and I think;
"What the crap, Britain?!"
If a nation such as this, one which has launched wars, imprisoned unjustly and become a beacon for intolerance in some areas can still rise up and be proud of themselves. Proud of their heraldry. Proud of every smudge and tear in that sheet of defiance. The singular sheet of vellum which is the symbol of all that their country can achieve in such a short time, why the hell can't we?
Why can't we rise to support our government? We elected them. Why can't we support our teams? They represent us. Why can't we clean up our streets and make a return to what made our nation great? Pride. We have a beautiful country here. From the mountains and lochs of the Scottish highlands, to the towering cliffs which make England strong, to the soft green bosom of the Welsh hills, over the sea to the astounding earthworks of Northern Ireland we have here a beautiful country. We have achieved so much in terms of invention, productivity, art and culture, music, technology, diplomatic relations and steely determination.
Once our nation was great. Now it is reduced to grovelling at the feet of those stronger. We have become a nation of brown-nosed, slack jawed, spineless cowards afraid to stand up to the schoolyard bully.
Have some pride, Britain. We can still kick arse.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Political musings.
Currently playing: Radio 1 - that is soon to be changed. Hip hop?
Over the last few days I have been following the election (and it's associated complicaitons) with a passing interest. The outcome is important to our country and the way it continues, but many people do not seem to care. As I type this I have looked on facebook at various statuses (statii?) and what people seem to be most concerned with are Kappa popper tacksuit bottoms, Eastenders, sport, music and lectures. It strikes me that as our country is in such a fragile state our lives go on. We eat dinner, we go on the internet, we study, we work, we live. This is what life is to us. Carrying on when all else may be falling apart. It's a very British attitude to take, but looking out of the window on a speeding train I see snippets of life. The view through the window of an office, a woman hanging out the washing, two children on a trampoline, a couple arguing in a room. All that life, all those stories glimpsed and gone in an instant. I may never meet them, never learn their stories but they are there, outside my circle of experience. Their lives carry on, just as mine does without their knowledge. It's a strange thought, but sort of comforting. That no matter what I do, life goes on.
Life continues.
Life endures.
Over the last few days I have been following the election (and it's associated complicaitons) with a passing interest. The outcome is important to our country and the way it continues, but many people do not seem to care. As I type this I have looked on facebook at various statuses (statii?) and what people seem to be most concerned with are Kappa popper tacksuit bottoms, Eastenders, sport, music and lectures. It strikes me that as our country is in such a fragile state our lives go on. We eat dinner, we go on the internet, we study, we work, we live. This is what life is to us. Carrying on when all else may be falling apart. It's a very British attitude to take, but looking out of the window on a speeding train I see snippets of life. The view through the window of an office, a woman hanging out the washing, two children on a trampoline, a couple arguing in a room. All that life, all those stories glimpsed and gone in an instant. I may never meet them, never learn their stories but they are there, outside my circle of experience. Their lives carry on, just as mine does without their knowledge. It's a strange thought, but sort of comforting. That no matter what I do, life goes on.
Life continues.
Life endures.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Rediscovering musings.
Currently playing: Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses
Oh! I forgot all about this! Hello again. I have returned thanks to a friend who has just started a new blog of her own. I've not known her long, but we've quickly become partners in crime (hehehehe).
As per usual I am procrastinating, today by reading inspirational things on the internets. I've cried and laughed at Nick Vujicic (the man born with no arms and no legs but a whole load of life) and 1000 Awesome Things (buy the book!) and it strikes me. I am incredibly lucky. Not just because I have all these thousands of wonderful things in my life, but because I recognise them for what they are; Little nuggets of happiness in amongst university work and house work and actual employed work. Amongst all the mud and slime of the stuff I have to do are the little wriggly interesting things I want to do. Like having a natter and making a friend feel better, or buying tickets to a comedy show for someone who needs a laugh. When my sister rings and spends ten minutes of her day telling me about the painting she's just done based on her favourite book, or when my brother rings and tells me he's been offered a doctorate degree in Italy. When I can ring my Mum and tell her I'll be able to come home for our family gathering to see people I haven't seen since I was about 4foot tall, or hearing my Dad smile down the phone just at my greeting.
There is a lot in my life I have to be grateful for. Now I think I'll add to the list and make myself a nice cup of tea.
Oh! I forgot all about this! Hello again. I have returned thanks to a friend who has just started a new blog of her own. I've not known her long, but we've quickly become partners in crime (hehehehe).
As per usual I am procrastinating, today by reading inspirational things on the internets. I've cried and laughed at Nick Vujicic (the man born with no arms and no legs but a whole load of life) and 1000 Awesome Things (buy the book!) and it strikes me. I am incredibly lucky. Not just because I have all these thousands of wonderful things in my life, but because I recognise them for what they are; Little nuggets of happiness in amongst university work and house work and actual employed work. Amongst all the mud and slime of the stuff I have to do are the little wriggly interesting things I want to do. Like having a natter and making a friend feel better, or buying tickets to a comedy show for someone who needs a laugh. When my sister rings and spends ten minutes of her day telling me about the painting she's just done based on her favourite book, or when my brother rings and tells me he's been offered a doctorate degree in Italy. When I can ring my Mum and tell her I'll be able to come home for our family gathering to see people I haven't seen since I was about 4foot tall, or hearing my Dad smile down the phone just at my greeting.
There is a lot in my life I have to be grateful for. Now I think I'll add to the list and make myself a nice cup of tea.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Amending musings.
Well, my birthday came and went without so much as a sniff of drama.
<_<
>_>
Woop!
I actually had a really nice day, with unexpected presents and well wishes and we went out that night to have an actual quiet drink. It was lovely ^_^
Thank you for your birthday wishes you two (since I'm sure it's just you who read this :P)
<_<
>_>
Woop!
I actually had a really nice day, with unexpected presents and well wishes and we went out that night to have an actual quiet drink. It was lovely ^_^
Thank you for your birthday wishes you two (since I'm sure it's just you who read this :P)
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Birthday musings.
Currently playing: Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
As you may or may not know (or remember!) tomorrow marks the start of my third decade on Earth. Now, I enjoy a good shindig as much as the next person, but this year I really don't want to celebrate my birthday. I'd love to have a few quiet drinks with my friends and then go home to my bed at a reasonable hour. Does this make me such an old fart? I honestly don't think so. Y'see the way some of my friends have been at the moment I can see the whole evening turning into a debauchery filled disaster, complete with one night stands, memory loss, and thorough embarassment. Fortunately this would all be on the part of my companions, since I'll probably just go home if it turns out that way, but I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't be dreading my birthday. I shouldn't feel the need to avoid my friends for fear of what they might get into. I should be able to go out and celebrate the end of my teenage years without fear of drama. But I can't. This is a sad state of affairs. Oh well, I'll just laugh at them and their hangovers in the morning.
As you may or may not know (or remember!) tomorrow marks the start of my third decade on Earth. Now, I enjoy a good shindig as much as the next person, but this year I really don't want to celebrate my birthday. I'd love to have a few quiet drinks with my friends and then go home to my bed at a reasonable hour. Does this make me such an old fart? I honestly don't think so. Y'see the way some of my friends have been at the moment I can see the whole evening turning into a debauchery filled disaster, complete with one night stands, memory loss, and thorough embarassment. Fortunately this would all be on the part of my companions, since I'll probably just go home if it turns out that way, but I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't be dreading my birthday. I shouldn't feel the need to avoid my friends for fear of what they might get into. I should be able to go out and celebrate the end of my teenage years without fear of drama. But I can't. This is a sad state of affairs. Oh well, I'll just laugh at them and their hangovers in the morning.
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