Ernest Hemingway once wrote a famous 6 word story and the concept has ever since enraptured me. Using the least amount of words possible to say the most is, to me, the epitome of writing. http://www.sixwordstories.net
Hemingways story:
For sale:
Baby shoes,
never worn.
I'm not sure I could ever match that but, for as long as my interest is held, I'll give it a go.
Some may not be 6 words. The one thing they do need, however, is narrative. That is the trick.
I sobbed.
She walked away forever.
That's my first effort, people. Explanation? No.
Monday 30 September 2013
Sunday 29 September 2013
Turn your head and coiff
A supremely disappointing journey to the barbers yesterday would've ended in barbicide* if the barber/hairdresser hadn't been so nice and friendly.
I've never been that interested in my own hair. I take the occasional glance at it and style it to any 80's or 90's convention that is currently en vogue. I was lucky enough to grow up in an era where style mattered less than substance (cheers, Thatcher). the 20/30 year cycle we have on fashion is both inevitable and comforting (God help us when the 90's come back).
However. This is the first ever cut I am seriously considering taking it all off and starting over again. Styled, it looks ok. Non-styled? A four year old with a Flymo Strimmer (there's your 90's reference) would've done better.
"Grade 3 on the sides and an inch off the top". How can you mess that up? This is why I don't talk to hairdressers.
*Barbicide =a translucent blue disinfectant solution manufactured by King Research. I, however, would like it to also mean what it etymologically should - the murder of barbers. Especially when they have given you a bad cut. It may become a word that is father of the action. What justice is there for someone who takes a fringe too short? A bad bleach? A poor perm? A futile feathering? Ok, that went too far.
I've never been that interested in my own hair. I take the occasional glance at it and style it to any 80's or 90's convention that is currently en vogue. I was lucky enough to grow up in an era where style mattered less than substance (cheers, Thatcher). the 20/30 year cycle we have on fashion is both inevitable and comforting (God help us when the 90's come back).
However. This is the first ever cut I am seriously considering taking it all off and starting over again. Styled, it looks ok. Non-styled? A four year old with a Flymo Strimmer (there's your 90's reference) would've done better.
"Grade 3 on the sides and an inch off the top". How can you mess that up? This is why I don't talk to hairdressers.
*Barbicide =a translucent blue disinfectant solution manufactured by King Research. I, however, would like it to also mean what it etymologically should - the murder of barbers. Especially when they have given you a bad cut. It may become a word that is father of the action. What justice is there for someone who takes a fringe too short? A bad bleach? A poor perm? A futile feathering? Ok, that went too far.
Friday 27 September 2013
A special arrival...(addendum)
I just wanted to note that there were so many P's in the last post because it was P-ing down. Buh-dum Chi.
I'm available for birthdays, weddings and bar mitzvahs
I'm available for birthdays, weddings and bar mitzvahs
Thursday 19 September 2013
A special arrival...
I've waited a long time for this. I thought it would never happen. You hear people talk about theirs and think you would never be so lucky. When the conditions were right, however, I was finally blessed.
Yes, people, my first blister! Well, first since I started running again. I was happily surprised (and grateful) that I didn't experience any during my first Half. The weather, however, has stopped all of this. Yesterday's plod through puddles and periodic precipitation provided a perfect platform for pustule a la pied.
I've strapped it up and can now go about my business.
Yes, people, my first blister! Well, first since I started running again. I was happily surprised (and grateful) that I didn't experience any during my first Half. The weather, however, has stopped all of this. Yesterday's plod through puddles and periodic precipitation provided a perfect platform for pustule a la pied.
I've strapped it up and can now go about my business.
Tuesday 17 September 2013
Why we fight
A few words from Dorothy House for those of you unfamiliar with their work:
Every day, Dorothy House Hospice Care supports around 700 families affected by cancer, motor neurone disease and other life threatening conditions. It is the major charity providing free specialist nursing care at home for people with life-threatening illness over a 700-square-mile area including Bath, north and west Wiltshire and north east Somerset. Most of our care is provided in people’s own homes, as that is where the majority of our patients prefer to be. Short-term care, out-patient and day patient services are provided at the hospice in Winsley, near Bath. We also have two drop-in centres based in Trowbridge and Peasedown St.John, and are open to any member of the public for support and signposting services.
To make sure patients have the best possible quality of life, pain and symptom relief, respite for carers, emotional and spiritual support, and day patients sessions are all provided free of charge.
Providing such a comprehensive service is costly and Dorothy House Hospice Care receives only about 30 per cent of its funding from the NHS. No funding is received from Macmillan Cancer Support or other national charities. Most specialist nursing care in patients’ homes is funded by Dorothy House. This year, after NHS funding, more than £3 million – or £7,000 a day – must be raised to continue to provide services at the current level.
For more information about Dorothy House visit the website – www.dorothyhouse.co.uk
Every day, Dorothy House Hospice Care supports around 700 families affected by cancer, motor neurone disease and other life threatening conditions. It is the major charity providing free specialist nursing care at home for people with life-threatening illness over a 700-square-mile area including Bath, north and west Wiltshire and north east Somerset. Most of our care is provided in people’s own homes, as that is where the majority of our patients prefer to be. Short-term care, out-patient and day patient services are provided at the hospice in Winsley, near Bath. We also have two drop-in centres based in Trowbridge and Peasedown St.John, and are open to any member of the public for support and signposting services.
To make sure patients have the best possible quality of life, pain and symptom relief, respite for carers, emotional and spiritual support, and day patients sessions are all provided free of charge.
Providing such a comprehensive service is costly and Dorothy House Hospice Care receives only about 30 per cent of its funding from the NHS. No funding is received from Macmillan Cancer Support or other national charities. Most specialist nursing care in patients’ homes is funded by Dorothy House. This year, after NHS funding, more than £3 million – or £7,000 a day – must be raised to continue to provide services at the current level.
For more information about Dorothy House visit the website – www.dorothyhouse.co.uk
Thursday 12 September 2013
Who doesn't want just another 5 minutes in bed?
Who doesn't want just another 5 minutes in bed? When you want to get up early enough for a run who doesn't want an extra hour in bed? I have a plan (because consciousness should never be a bad thing and should be actively encouraged).
I have turned my laptop into my alarm clock. To wake me up I have a Youtube playlist consisting of the following:
- Survivor: Burning Heart. The name may not mean anything to you but it is the best song in Rocky 4 (Rocky 4 is the greatest of the Rocky films. The is no argument, not even a discussion ." I win for me, for ME!")
- Elbow: One day like this. This is the perfect track to feel generally uplifted. "So throw those curtains wide. One day like this'd see me right". The strings are beautiful.
- You're the best: Commuter. Again, you might not recognise the names but its the music from the competitions in The Karate Kid. Anyone in their 30's would understand these choices!
- Man up: Book of Mormon. Greatest musical ever (parental advisory). A musical written by the guys who write South Park and musically directed by Robert Lopez, the guy who did Avenue Q (the adult, musical version of Sesame Street). Youtube it. It is awesome and Man up is the complete 'musical' song.BTW I Believe is also great.
The question posed was "What makes a champion a great champion". Dougie "husky voiced" Anderson kicked off the answers with "consistency". It was a good, solid answer backed up with examples citing Phil Taylor, Nicklaus, Hendry and Navratilova.
Martin Kelner (Wish him well. His blog is awesome http://www.martinkelner.com/ ) then waged in with "class". Roger Federer was his noble example.
And now the meat. Bob Mills came in and disagreed with both consistency and class. He disagreed, in effect, with the system that made these great sportspeople great ("no-one came here for a lecture on communism").
The following gets me up in the morning, got me through many miles of the Thames Meander, will continue to get me through many other moments.
"There's one person I called champ and I shook his hand, said 'Hello, champ', and that's Lloyd Honeyghan.
because to me, a champ, is someone who gets ONE moment. He gets one chance and he GRASPS it.
Lloyd Honeyghan; he was a two-bob boxer, he's alright, he's a two-bob boxer and he went there and he saw Don Currie who was the best pound for pound fighter in the world and he thought 'TONIGHT, I'm gonna box your ears off, sunshine. And if NOTHING else ever happens to me in my life, tonight will be MY night. Tonight I WILL be the champion'.
And I think to most that's what a champion is. Yes, of course Arnold Palmer and consistency and class but just ONCE. Grabbing it. And saying 'Tonight, this is mine. I'll lose it tomorrow, but tonight, I'm the champion"
It loses something in my text transcript. Go to http://www.anton.co.uk/fighting/files/2010-05-22_Murray_Rawling,Mills,Anderson,Kelner_Champions_of_Champions.mp3
At about 20 mins in you'll get it. When you listen to it you'll understand. I well up and psyche up in equal quantities.
You may understand why I can get up early.
Sunday 8 September 2013
8 is my favourite number
I'm sorry. I will get bored with these stats at some point but I just googled "strategic vaseline". Number 8 on page one, baby!
This is the proudest moment of my blogging career and will only be superseded by someone actually reading it.
This is the proudest moment of my blogging career and will only be superseded by someone actually reading it.
A gentle reminder. Nice and friendly, like....(Note to self: text impressions of mobsters don't work)
http://www.justgiving.com/aaron-gilbert1. Dorothy House Hospice (team Dotty) is an awesome charity. Get involved.
I love all of you beautiful people.
I love all of you beautiful people.
Stats are good. The tears tell me they are good.
Stats, FYI
Views:
Views:
This is fantastic data. It may be as it is and I have this diverse readership. A popular following in the UK & US.
Do we believe that? No.
Bots, Proxys, idiots. All words that I wish I didn't know (especially idiots).
It is very liberating, though, (seriously) to have a journal that is available to everyone but viewed by no-one. You get to feel important, trepidous, humbled and cheap all at the same time. I am starting to understand The X-Factor.
Risen to the bottom pt2
Fighting Talk's decline (post Colin Murray) has continued today with the previously safe hands of Jonathan Pearce. For one who is so assured and erudite on the radio it seems his Kryptonite is a script. Dougie "2 answers" "3 answers" "4 answers" "Ando" Anderson looked decidedly annoyed/non-plussed by the whole affair (I was on the webcam like a true fan/geek/£"$^) . As he may say "michitie me, michitie me" (apologies for spelling).
It was strange. Jonathan Pearce clung to his script and his voice suggested he found no solace therein. The insecure, progressing redacting of the questions suggested he didn't want to be there. The true quality of the man came out, however, when, just after half time, they had a kickie-uppie comp. Pearce relaxed and gave his normal, assured and entertaining patter. Without a script the man is class. Good man!
I am a big fan of JP. I'll always remember one of his early C5 qoutes - "...the growler, the prowler; Robbie Fowler" many years ago (apparently 1997, according to Google). In fact, it is only second to (I think) Ray Stubbs on MOTD saying "His name's Karel and he's got long hair but Mister Poborsky's certainly Match of the Day's man of the day".
Like a football club manager I hope JP gets a chance. If he relaxes he could be great. I still miss the big CM., though. I'm grieving too much to listen to him on talkSPORT.
This was supposed to be a small post. Apologies.
It was strange. Jonathan Pearce clung to his script and his voice suggested he found no solace therein. The insecure, progressing redacting of the questions suggested he didn't want to be there. The true quality of the man came out, however, when, just after half time, they had a kickie-uppie comp. Pearce relaxed and gave his normal, assured and entertaining patter. Without a script the man is class. Good man!
I am a big fan of JP. I'll always remember one of his early C5 qoutes - "...the growler, the prowler; Robbie Fowler" many years ago (apparently 1997, according to Google). In fact, it is only second to (I think) Ray Stubbs on MOTD saying "His name's Karel and he's got long hair but Mister Poborsky's certainly Match of the Day's man of the day".
Like a football club manager I hope JP gets a chance. If he relaxes he could be great. I still miss the big CM., though. I'm grieving too much to listen to him on talkSPORT.
This was supposed to be a small post. Apologies.
Risen to the Bottom
Comic genius Adrian Edmondson has been named "Celebrity Masterchef". I will be suitably commemorating this by watching season 1 of Bottom. And may I say what a smashing blouse he had on?
Saturday 7 September 2013
Stock blog title #43
Hrmmm. I started out running having always hated distance running (and by distance I mean literally anything over 100 metres. In fact, I was a pretty good 100 metre runner and, as such, had massive ham thighs. Seriously).
I started my running to get back to football fitness. I think this is acheived although it has not necessarily improved my tekkers (although the volley I scored tonight would dispute that - bittersweet goal as I can no longer enact my Gareth Bale celebration).
Its funny (not funny, ha ha) because I'm kind of playing football now to give me a proper pace workout for my running. I understand that my fellow players would be laughing at the idea of me using the words 'pace' and 'football' when referring to my play but it is definitely faster than my normal running. Just remember, 2:36!!! I would hope, however, that none could deny that I can now put in a shift.
FYI My legs are getting back to looking awesome!
I started my running to get back to football fitness. I think this is acheived although it has not necessarily improved my tekkers (although the volley I scored tonight would dispute that - bittersweet goal as I can no longer enact my Gareth Bale celebration).
Its funny (not funny, ha ha) because I'm kind of playing football now to give me a proper pace workout for my running. I understand that my fellow players would be laughing at the idea of me using the words 'pace' and 'football' when referring to my play but it is definitely faster than my normal running. Just remember, 2:36!!! I would hope, however, that none could deny that I can now put in a shift.
FYI My legs are getting back to looking awesome!
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