contrast...

The greatest intro to a song, ever? … hmm…

No competition really.  As soon as the cymbals are hit, immense throughout.

Cigarrettes and Alcohol, by Oasis.

I was reminded of the quality (not that I needed reminding), by the song, introducing Lauren Laverne’s show on BBC 6music. A very good quality radio station, helping introduce me to a large, wide range of music.

The next clip I provide, is of a song which I heard on the ‘Civil Wars’ album. I was annoyed, as I knew the song very well (I was singing along!), however, I did not know what it was. As an mp3, I had no CD case to peek at. I checked my IPod, then checking online to reassure myself.

OK, a note…

I felt down...

But then was comforted by a response that i received in a pattern of email talk. I can let myself talk amazingly honestly through type. I cannot/do not talk to people in the same manner. V therapeutic.

The note is self-explanatory. This blog speaks for itself, here, explaining that although I blame a lot of gobbledegook on accompanying coffee, I actually have the mental capacity to articulate my feelings through type. I am very lucky.

Live for the NOW

I often fall back on the instruction above, and rely on my get-out-clause, “I am very very lucky to be here at all”. My outlook on life has taken a mighty leap to the side. I do not suggest that I am ‘ahead’, merely ‘alternative’. I may go further into this topic, a different time. Well, actually, this whole blog offers insights into my ‘new’ mentality. Hmmm…

The photos below, are a week old. Sorry, I missed them out of last week’s post, as I was running late! Somerset House, London is a beautiful place, with a tremendous café J

            

'Grrr! Everyone waits for me!'

'They have to'

These were the comments that I surprisingly exchanged with a fellow pedestrian, as I tried to cross the road at home, here in Surbiton. I expressed my dismay as I wanted to stop and allow a car turn off the main road, and down a side street. The car paused, waiting for me, but also blocking the entire high road. I guess I am used to feeling much safer, allowing cars first… but hey!

Hehehe, coffee talk. I feel that is sooooooo much tastier and more refreshing, to

split an 'americano' up, into an espresso and a glass of water!

Once you have the strength, taste and power given to you by the espresso, you enjoy the nice refreshment of a glass of water.

OK, enough coffee talk.

A recent music discovery is the wonderful, powerful voice of Nadine Shah.

The new, debut album ‘Love your dum and mad’, is an amazing, deep masterpiece, that may take a few listens to truly appreciate. It could be said that it is quite ‘dark’, but it is definitely deep, multi-level music.

My next two notes are fairly philosophical, and I understand that they may just be ignored, forgotten as my ‘whacky thoughts’.

Life just is a series of experiences

Brain-injured, ‘living for the now’, is often something I have to  force myself to understand/believe. As everyone does have, I used to also have ‘dreams/aspirations’, that I would plan for. As a designer, I was strongly educated and taught to believe in the wonders of planning and designing to solve problems.

I now know that this is a good and useful way of thinking, but… ‘shit happens’. There is absolutely no way we can plan everything. We must also rely on our ability to problem-solve issues straight-away.

Therefore, it may be best to relegate the dreams/aspirations, and just accept that ‘what will be will be’. If we treat each experience, individually, life can be a lot more beneficial. Maybe…

contrast is nothing AND everything

Ok, please bear in mind that I have been educated as a graphic designer. It may sound stupid, but I do think very visually. You can only see this type, and therefore comprehend the mental thoughts, because you read/see the type. Typography is just a part of visual design. Always what we understand is the contrast between something and something else. I talk visually, but this can be used for everything that we experience. We only hear what we hear, because otherwise there is nothing/silence. We experience the contrast. If there is no contrast or difference, we experience nothing. So, essentially the contrast is what we experience, and is everything. At the same time, the contrast is nothing.

Deeeeeep. Confused? You need to have been in a comatose state, to understand, I think! 

Kindred Spirits

He he he he  hehe he, Hello! I type on a Friday afternoon. I would converse about the tremendous coffee that I have just made, but I don’t want to show off too much.

I will talk about my preparatory notes, in a second. Primarily, I want to start to explain the joy I get by this picture…

The above whisky has been a mighty grand project, distilled by family with friends, over 10 years ago. Still a teenager at this time, I was not involved. A fairly momentous decade later, I had graduated in both 2D and 3D design, awoken after being comatose for six months, I learnt to live again. My key design skills had been maintained, and I was called upon to create a label for this mighty mighty fine beverage, ‘Kindred Spirits’. This afternoon, my uncle received the delivery after a great expectation, we have proof of success!

Notes. Right. Erm, my first note involves myself admitting to taking a big step backwards. Not literally, metaphorically. I admit that I bought a CD. It was even off Amazon, and sent through the post! I can’t believe it myself. My argument is that I had no choice. The band, ‘Roscoe’, are Belgian. I couldn’t find the mp3 for sale anywhere here in England. I could have downloaded it, if I was on mainland Europe, so my only option was to order the CD. Their first album, ‘cracks’.

roscoeband.com

Another discovery, that I may have already promoted, are ‘Drenge’  

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/20/drenge-review

My next note was made to myself, in comfort knowing that I want to share with my blog.

I now feel inferior to no one, as everyone is different. No-one should feel less or more than. anyone. All are equal.

I sat ‘pres de la riviere’ earlier in the week, and thought deeply about my next note.

Everything is art. Everything is viewed differently, therefore can be interpreted differently, allowing for an infinite number of mental thoughts/interpretations. Creative arts will always be vieŵed by everyone, differently. Nothing is identical, similar, yes, but not identical. Art is all expression of mental thoughts. Mental thoughts are always unique. Therefore as long as people have mental thoughts, there will always be art.

I spend a lot of time riverside, and perhaps the reason is more obvious than I realise. I amazed myself earlier in the week as I posted on Facebook that I had the best cappuccino, ever!

 Quite possibly the best cappuccino ever.

Now, I do not state this lightly, but Anna (Riverside café, Kingston) made an amazing drink. I am fairly well experienced in this arena, but unexpectedly, quite instantly made the decision. VVV nice, thank you.

I have no real reason for including the above picture of Penelope Cruz, but I want to. My last note, was made this morning, in which I return to talking about my belief in fate.

We must accept fate. If we do, it treats us well. We cannot strictly choose our path. If we try, we fail, and the truth hurts us.

what is 100%?

Friday afternoon, as per usual. I typed a large amount of notes on my phone this week. I copy them here, so essentially, this week’s post has been compiled throughout the week, made throughout London… Perhaps it is possible to conclude that different sites cause different emotions which are represented here.

A quick note that i made separately, was of a story, i read in the newspaper earlier in the week...

68 years since the end of World War 2! Evading justice for 68 years makes Bin Laden et al, look like foolish children!

I  am going to keep my commentary to a minimum, as hopefully the notes speak for themselves!

We must make sure life treats us well. Life is like, but not, a game. We lose, we die, but we cannot win. Our life is all about how we choose to play the game.

This should not be treated lightly. In no way do I suggest that life is a game, but we have to teach ourselves how we can play.

One of the most important, key facts was one of the earliest things that I remember, post-coma. I remember the same being told to all patients in hospital (RHN) – ‘everyone is different’

We were all taught very early on that everyone is different. No brain injury is the same. Therefore it is impossible for people to be ‘cured’. Every brain is individual, most injuries are different, therefore results are always unique.

I never met a 'success story' example, of my injury (everyone is different anyway). I have therefore had no-one to look up to but myself, throughout my rehabilitation. This perhaps explains my strong self-belief. I don't let myself consider negatives, I focus 100% on positives.

I am now living life (out of rehab) and beginning to find out what I have been forced to miss out on as a young/mid twenty something. I have been used to living in blissful ignorance. Fear is ok, but the truth hurts. I must maintain the thought that I now live in 'life part 2'. It is now impossible to have the same dreams/aspirations as I have always had in 'life part 1'.

I enjoy the things which I enjoyed in ‘part 1’, obviously, but now am seriously restricted in how I feed these loves. I am lucky to be feeling these loves at all, but I often find myself asking myself too big questions. I do find it hard to completely turn off Patrick1, and beginning to learn to experience life as Patrick2. Confused? Ah well.

Bar Italia, espresso, fresh water, fixes everything. Surrounded by perfection, a smile returns! :)

I leave, the question returns. How can I attain 100%?. Nothing is perfect, but, oh I am confused. 

just ONE question

Hello,

No crazy introductions this week, I’ve only just started my coffee, so I apologise if I bore you to tears!

Straight in.  My first note, is to promote the new album of Alela Diane, ‘About Farewell’.

For those who don’t know, it is her second album (I think, although I am not confident), and in my opinion, just as good as the first. As you probably guess, she is my sort of ‘thing’ (solo, female singer songwriter, acoustic, folky). Have a listen…

I have been feeling lucky this past week, long may it continue!

'Well, now's the time when you've gotta ask yourself one question.'

 I realized that whilst I easily throw out compliments, to those who I feel deserve them, I actually seem to rarely receive them in the same fashion. Although, as I crossed the road in Kingston in front of a motorbike, the rider just exclaimed whilst letting me cross,

'Good socks'!!

??? what?

Then, once crossed, I looked down, and ‘joy’. I was in my ‘Francaise Des Jeux cycling socks’. I have received derogatory comments about them, and I’m not too bothered. But for someone, to see them, recognize what they are, made my day. Cycling socks, of a French team (sponsored by the national lottery), worn by an English wheelchair user? Random, but recognized by someone!!

I was in the shower, when 

'CRASH'

I heard the breeze enter through the open window, making the window curtain send my mirror flying! I despaired, thinking that my run of luck had finished, signalled by a broken mirror. I finished my shower knowing that I wouldn't be able to fix my mirror. I checked, it lay in the sink, in perfect condition! Overjoyed, I realised that I turn 29 in a week of very good luck. I was born 29 years ago, come this week's end. 24th hour, sunday 11th August.

The large problem that I discovered last week, with my flat’s plumbing, was fixed fully on Tuesday, and I took this opportunity to have (a mini version only), a very delayed ‘spring clean’! My excuse is that my spring clean was delayed, as we only just experience a very late change of season! Sort of.

Positive thoughts and attitudes breed positive thoughts and attitudes. A smile is the best way to portray such.

:)

Although I have made two different notes shown above and below, both issues, are considered regularly by  myself.

Hmmm, do i rely on my dreams too much?

One must have aims and targets, but is it good to dream too much?

Hmmm mmmmmm

Am I a perfectionist? Can perfection really exist?

I continue by giving two pictures. The arty photo of Surbiton Station was actually taken last week but as I feel it merits it’s inclusion, I include it. The second photo is of a professional cyclist in the Pru London-Surrey Cycle Classic, in front of the Town Hall in Kingston.

A long way for a cup of coffee, but worth it!

My final note (above), was made earlier today. A free day, as my physiotherapy got cancelled, I decided to give myself a birthday present. I took myself up to Soho, sitting in the sun enjoying a coffee at The Bar Italia. I enjoyed London in the summer time. 

They know what perfection is!

 www.baritaliasoho.co.uk

fully charged. How?

Hiyaaaaaaa!

I hope that you are well, and fate is treating you kindly. My blog, here goes…

I smile  because I am happy and content. The world is such a beautiful place. OK, everything should be considered relatively. Is beauty relative? Hmmm. What is beauty? 

Normality is beautiful. Something that most people consider to be normal should still be treasured because it is special for someone in the world. We don't know what we have got until it is gone. 

It is only from my injury experience that I have been able to learn to treasure things so much more. Humans must realise just how fortunate we are to be here, or having done so, experiencing life.

Hmmm, a nice thought for you to start this week. I feel well experienced in either composing text for a letter, or an email. If doing such, always start off with a welcoming sentence, maybe asking a question to try and immediately entice the audience. Then talk about something easy, before reaching the main intention of the communication. Finish on a positive note, ensuring that the reader is left with a ‘positive’.

Writing these blog posts is nothing like that. I just talk about whatever I want! Ramble on, and everyone listens!

Much as I love the Stereophonics, do they suit the cover? Hmmm, I am still undecided. Well worth a listen though.

Iconic Preston Bus Station was visited last weekend whilst visiting family.

Why do I type this blog?

I have a reason. I type this blog regularly, and i like to keep it 'live'. I could keep a diary, added to weekly, and perhaps turn it into a book, yearly. But no, I do not want to do this. An online blog, is a much greater option ecologically, and it allows my words to be distributed trans-globally, accessible by those who want. It cost's people nothing. Everywhere, it is of human choice whether to access, or not. I want to thank everyone who has visited my site. I sit and wonder...   

David Millar’s lone escape around the Champs Elysees, definitely deserves more respect from me.

I had a funny experience, earlier in the week. As I was near the riverside, on my way to work, I heard a voice shout at me from behind.

Do you think I could get past you?

She squawked, I laughed.

I laughed because I was highly amused by this old granny, who was zipping along in her scooter, behind me. I slowed, she passed and zoomed off! I despaired to myself, knowing that she is giving ’us’ a bad name. I class myself together with her as I need a powered wheelchair (whether she actually needed a scooter is debatable, but hey).

She frustrated me, I talk about it. I clip myself short before I cause trouble.

Everyone gets a positive charge from the sunlight :) !

Emit a positive vibe; maintaining existence, you will receive it!

I love the riverside. When sunny, I get fully charged (no caffeine needed)!