I draaaaag them out?

G’day

Or, it is early evening now, as I type, so, ‘Bonsoir’. I have made a trip up to central London, today, so caffeine levels hit an early max. I type, a short piece, without power. Dzzzzzzz…

Only three notes this week, so I apologise if I draaaaag them out!

First note, music reference… I admit that I fell into a nasty hole (not literally)! An IPod, yes. Download mp3s instead of buying cds, yes I do. Earlier in the week, I broke my third rule. I downloaded individual tracks, instead of being forced to buy the entire album. OK, most people do anyway, and it is just like buying a single (except cheaper, and you don’t get ‘b-sides’). Hmmmm mmmm…

… So, ‘what is it?’ you ask. I defend myself, after linking to the track. Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing cars’.

I AM MALE!!!

I know that this song is considered by many (including myself) as a ‘girly track’. It is, but it gets me every time. I like it. My excuse for breaking my rules. Hmmm, well, I downloaded three individual tracks from ‘Snow Patrol’s Greatest Hits’. Other songs were ‘Run’, and ‘Set the fire to the third bar’. This album, is a compilation of selected tracks anyway, so it’s ok. I am ok, right?

My second note. Another fall. I have started using Instagram. As a very ‘2D, visual aesthetics, design educated’ person, I love eye stimulation (long, crazy way of saying ‘graphic designer’). Personally, I have always liked to design for print, although as most of my picture subjects are now drunk before ‘logging on’, I willingly accept that things have changed. Love enters through the eyes (and then drunk. Hot!). My Instagram name is ‘passione_celeste’, referring to my Bianchi road bike. Have a look/follow, if you wish…

http://instagram.com

Third and final note, was made today, as I sat outside the Soho café, with a treat.   

JUST A COFFEE!!!

One must live life, and ensure that it gives the most happiness. Do not waste time planning too much. Shit happens. Life happens. Fate happens. Negative stuff happens. Positive stuff happens. Smile.

:)

Written live...

Hello,

I type this as a 'live post' (away, but at the same time). My first note actually was made last week, but, as I visited the town in a similar pattern, this week, and I have space and time to, include it I must!

* Hat's off, Richmond *

I know that I have slagged off the town previously, for being very inaccessible, It is now incorrect to say such. Just by visiting for a few hours, arriving by the train and travelling down the high street, I am able to view the vast improvement of generic accessibility. Thank you Richmond!

Two shots is the norm?

The above note does not reveal extreme alcoholic tendencies, instead, you guessed it, coffee. It seems that quite regularly the level of caffeine in a 'coffee', varies from place to place! Personally, it is something I like to be aware of.

Tune!

Findlay - greasy love

After more than seven years since my accident, I have spent over six years using a powered wheelchair. I am experienced, (despite a few accidents here and there). Earlier in the week, at home in Surbiton, I...

Try and cross road safely, and then...

... I was overtaken, and my head pulled around to the side by an incredible distraction. I was reminded that I was male, as a blonde female of the species decided to be wearing short skirt that could quite easily be her underwear. I survived. I made it across the road, but it was a  case of severe danger!

I was representing the KAT group at the 'Pan-London Mobility Forum', in Central London, yesterday. Please visit the KAT blog page for a summary.

http://kingstonactionontransport.blogspot.co.uk

Although it was a brilliant forum, and I feel that my participation was valued, I was not willing to attend the post-forum event. Most other members travelled to outside Westminster Cathedral, campaigning for various issues to be filmed on ITV. I could think of nothing worse than making national television because of my wheelchair need. This is not something I am proud of. I am happy to voice opinions, acting behind the scenes, but no...

I am not wanting to be identified by my wheelchair.

 My view of 'the Wheel', from the other side…

Tune from quality album

This Is The Kit

A sad note, made when I was feeling down...

I have lost

I am tired of having to face the facts I have done so for seven years :(

A Christmas special, but even the barista remarked

'A gingerbread latte? You've changed!'

A latte in disguise…

Hmmm…

A recent shot, and my current wallpaper, I share…

G'D MAAAWNNING!!!!

MAAAWNING!!!!

Huh?

In the morning? It is morning as I type this, so I warn coffee has not called me yet (I am an evening coffee drinker)! I type in the morning, and yes, it looks like a beautiful winter’s day outside, but I am trapped inside as the wheelchair engineer is due. Fun fun fun!

My first note was typed a few weeks ago, but it did not make it to this blog.

I feel down

I try and console myself with the fact that 'the worse you feel, the better you will feel at a different time.'

I realize that I may seem very, very ego-centric, but, hey did you ever check the address of this blog? I am forced to deal with issues independently (most of the time). Therefore I have to draw on the theory stated above. Believe me or not, I still believe that everything equals. Good things happen to good people.

My next note…

How good is this?

RBK recycling 

The above note refers to the photograph below (RBK – Royal Borough of Kingston).

 I was very happy on Wednesday, as I had returned home from work and given a smile on discovering a load of compostable recycling bags in my mailbox. Hehe, OK, I realize that I may seem strange by such, but it is so good to see how far forward everyone’s attitude has been forced to progress by society itself. As people may know, I have worked in ‘sustainability’, am a very keen re-cycler and take many ecological issues very seriously.

Food recycling is perhaps the most satisfying (I don’t know). It just seems so obviously beneficial that everyone should separate/organise their waste. As I must replace it regularly, a food recycling bin, definitely means that the bins in my flat do not smell or get dirty. Hehehe, the cleanliness of residential rubbish bins, is an obvious positive.

OK, I could spend far too long typing on this subject, but I move on. It’s a load of rubbish anyway…

To my surprise, I found out that one of my favourite coffee bars, has been serving to everyone coffees (cappuccinos, lattes, americanos etc), involving  a double shot of coffee! This perhaps, whilst tasting amazing, does explain why the café is so successful. Everyone is addicted, without knowing!

Anyway, for those who take note of their caffeine intake - keep aware, everywhere is different!

I provide a link, from which a special BBC interview with Lance Armstrong, can be heard (only for a couple of days).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03k5k9x

I quote a couple of key sentences, which as a fan of professional cycling, hold very close to my heart. I learnt to accept this fact, as a teenager, but had then been ridiculed as a ‘crazy cyclist nutcase’.

'There's been some form of performance enhancement, since the ancient Greek games. There will always be some element of it. If you think there won't, then you're kidding yourself.'

Sunset in Surbiton

Yesterday. Hmmm.

My note…

Hat's off!

As I often do, I was wearing my hat on yesterday’s trip up to Central London. However, I was soon forced to remove it, as I neared crossing the Thames. Bright sunshine, but it is November and I don’t value my hat enough to jump out of my wheelchair, dive off the bridge, and swim after it! A beautiful day though.

teeheehee...

Hehe, hmmm, hehehe, hmmmmm, hehehehe,

HAHAHAHA.

Ok, we are not past a tough Sunday trip to Old Trafford yet, but I want to explain much of my ‘positive attitude’, currently can be attrifuted to being an Arsenal fan. Thank you Arsene.

I include a picture of a great, Raymond Loewy inspired, Google header, that I found earlier in the week, celebrating his 120^tth birthday. The great Modernist designer is still celebrated for his ‘US slipstreaming’ style.

I continue properly now. Strange though, it may seem, but my first note reminds me that I got fairly down at the beginning of the week, but then attributed it to my rather moody music choice, and although not in full time work, I realized that I faced that ‘Monday feeling’. It’s tough, but my route out was that

‘you’re no different here. Everyone gets depressed on Mondays.’

An example of beautiful, powerful Cat Power.

My next note leads me to thank BBC Radio 6, for yet again, introducing me to another top top top  artist!

Although not newly breakthrough, her record was released earlier this year. Right up my street, and hopefully yours too! Torres.

On Thursday, I was in a good good mood, making the following note.

Life is like a roller coaster, no

... a football season

You win and you lose. A team has never won or lost all, a team will always lose at some point.

Oh, actually...

I am trying to explain the need to view everything in two ways, both positively and negatively. No matter who you are, what you do in life, everything is always positive and negative. With this fact, we must all learn to focus ourselves/thoughts/brains on the positive side of things. If we concentrate too hard on negatives, we will get lost.

A local cat required my attention yesterday.

I want to talk about cheating. Everyone should cheat if they can legally. If there is a way to improve, most normal people will choose to improve. Lance Armstrong cheated in a cheat’s world. I followed the world of cycling closely, not surprised at all by Armstrong’s confessions. Now that he has made it to ‘coming clean’, I respect him, a lot more than I did during his cycling years. I am now close to finishing another book on the topic. Here, David Walsh attempts to explain the sheer number of doubters that Armstrong faced. Of course they were correct, but could not prove anything official to slander him. Well done, Lance. I was a doubter, and forever a fan of the opposition, but you have been as successful as you could’ve imagined.

Finally, I link again to my KAT (Kingston Action on Transport) blog. I wrote a piece this morning, involving my experience on a bus, which I had earlier in the week. Personally, quite a momentous story regarding myself in a wheelchair on a local bus.

http://kingstonactionontransport.blogspot.co.uk

Finally, I provide another music link. Unfortunately, I realize that many find my YouTube links, unable to work on your computer, or android. Sorry.

However, Diane Birch has released her second album this past week, much anticipated by myself. I am undecided as yet, so no comment.

If there is a video on this blog that you are having trouble to view, but wish to, please email me.

...Behind where the old Thames does flow,

...

Behind where the old Thames does flow,

My first note is the post’s title, this week. Although a line from a William Blake poem, it was also used by a British rock group of the mid-nineties. An amazing, legendary, beautiful tune. Thank you Richard Ashcroft. A personal favourite.  

Immediately I supply you with a second music sample. I ordered yet another CD through the post but don’t worry, I don’t love it so much it deserves endless photography! Rachel Sermanni has released a very good EP, entitled ‘The Boatshed Sessions’.

OK, I talk.

I believe my luck is insurmountable and therefore I know that everything is possible. Dreams can be made real.

It is perhaps with this naivety, that I know I am forced to live my life. I am different. I know that everyone is different, but I have to believe in myself. This is how one gains inner self-confidence. Events may seem small or insignificant at some stage, but then at another time we, ourselves, will view these events as much larger, important, significant events. We, ourselves will then impress us and our self-confidence grows. There, an explanation of why I have such a big head, but am quiet about it!  

All that big, deep talk, and I ruin by admitting my serious superstition! I was on the way home, when I saw a black cat, beautiful, long hair. He was sat in the pavement, obstructing my path. He then saw me nearing, got up and walked off! I passed, and then was thinking with despair, ‘what does this mean?’ The black cat definitely did not cross my path in any direction. It moved out of the way! Please, if anyone knows, drop me an email!

I am fortunately

not as ' out of touch' as i thought.

The tune above threw me completely. I heard this a few weeks ago, fell in love with it and downloaded the mp3. FatBoy Slim of a few years ago, I thought ‘doh, I am so ‘out-of-touch’

I checked with my friend who would know, although can be excused for not, being pre-occupied by hosting a magnificent wedding!

Anyway, I then discovered that it was set for release on Monday 28 th! It has circulated the globe, but this year. It is a TCHOOOOOON! 

As a key member of the KAT forum, I run the blogspot, to which I give the link.

http://kingstonactionontransport.blogspot.co.uk

I find it interesting, investigating some of the public transport in the borough (it IS my work), hence the linked piece is regarding rail disability access in the Royal Borough of Kingston.

Yesterday, hmmm, October 31^st. I had a flu vaccination, oh, and it was Halloween. I don’t think my humour was appreciated by the doctor. As the needle went in, I shut my eyes, and let my head fall to the side. I am totally fearless, well experienced with needles in my situation. Unfortunately my acting failed, she hadn’t feared killing me, just gave me a very strange look instead!

My final note, I made earlier today, experiencing conversation between fellow supermarket shoppers.

People don't expect to be told the truth, if shocking 

I type this, realizing that I am unusual. Unusual in that I quite readily, tell people the truth. It seems that many people are not used to hearing the truth. Correct, the truth can hurt(a negative), but it can also please (be a positive). Fortunately I am well practiced in saying the right things…