Happy Easter!!

I introduce a 'calendar date' on posts now, starting last week, highlighting that last Friday was actually the most popular of this blog's entire five-year life. :)

It could be seen that this blog is becoming more political, but then i promise you that it remains true to it's values, ME and MY MIND!

The link below contains the opportunity to sign a petition  to ban non-recyclable, and unnecessary packaging on products that we consume.

Please act responsibly. Do the right thing...

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/122600/signatures/new

As a graduate of industrial design and a employment history in sustainable design research, I have begun to understand the gigantic severity of this issue. Hopefully you do have some recognition of this problem that we all face.

As you will be aware that this world faces a variety of problems, please ensure that you do what YOU can. Obviously each individual only has minimal ability to affect things, but the advantage of a democratic society, successfully combines us all. However remember that you must have total faith in your vote. Total belief that what you are doing is right.

Be proud of YOUR vote.

If you have any doubt over any decision made by your vote, then you have failed society. Have 100% confidence that are doing the right thing. If not, how can you live with yourself?

lilandmad.com

New music. This week my selection is a new album by American duo 'Lily and Madeleine'.

New album 'Keep it together', doesn't explode, but keeps a nice warm cushioning sound, floating atop ten solid tracks.

He turned, smiled down at me, and chuckled 'difficult, isn't it?'

I smiled, crossed the road, then stopped in recollection.

The above note was recorded earlier in the week. I still don't know how sincere this man was. I was bemused. I had had to wait a bit to cross the road, but so would anyone. Not an explicit one, but a ridiculous occasion of belittling by this old man.

Forgive. Forget.

Maybe IDS should start...

I want to note that one day after 'a letter of despair to my MP', last week, IDS resigned (due to a similar topic). Initials are used, because I do not want to dirty my blog. However, out of an honest concern for his well-being, I can only suggest that IDS starts working voluntarily? Employment at the DWP may be a step too far, but I'm sure he could find some secretarial work at a local charity, perhaps? He must not aim too high, offering voluntarily. Everyone starts somewhere.

The Kills - Doing It To Death (Official Video)The best video ever?

It is Good Friday, and the weather in Surbiton definitely agrees. I am stopped, riverside and although usually empty (me, just me) this summer sun(48hrs early), brings out everyone :s

Happy Easter!

;)

Beware London!

This week's post has become distorted, as my mind has been seriously offended,  needing to write the letter below, to my MP (yesterday's post). I do have a couple of notes though...

Perhaps one of my main difficulties now, is experiencing that NO-ONE expects anything from me (close family, the one exception). It scares me to find people thinking 'anything good from the disabled one, is a lucky bonus'. I know that I can produce valuable work, wonderful friendships, but there is still a doubt (that i sense) developed amongst some people. No one lets them-self expect anything from me. So I carefully choose who deserves my attention.

… For example, the wheelchair servicing organisation/company. I realise that their logistics are often very hard or near impossible, however they think that they organise it all very well. One only receives the opportunity for a ‘morning appointment’ or an ‘afternoon appointment’. There is no choice of a more exact time. Understandably, they cannot offer an exact time. Services have to be located at your residence, also understandably. However, this results in the loss of a whole morning or afternoon by myself, waiting, hoping, waiting, stressing, waiting…

I don’t feel so content, by being imprisoned in my own flat. Wheelchair users are not expected to have lives, it seems. Am i expected to be locked-up in a care-home with a carer, watching Jeremy Kyle (or whatever) on tv? I have already spent a lost time, lying comatose, it hurts me to feel i have lost more. 

Deep breath! 

Another coffee!…

Mmmmm pesto is green. It is the best.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/15/coffee-cup-britons-3-billion-so-few-recylced?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Yahoo_Mail

Drink coffee INSIDE A CAFE

the way to go. Forget 'throw-away cups', just drink the coffee!

Coffee is a special drink. It deserves time. Coffee should not be pushed aside to a secondary role, or drunk 'on the go'.

Not enough time? Have an Espresso! Just a very quick 'short, sharp shock'. It does the job! If you need a longer drink, you may not have time! Just have a glass of pure water. There is no need to have a plastic cup of sugar (as served in chains, Nero's, Costa's, etc). S****ucks does not even enter the equation.

Wednesday evening, I was awaiting for a bus in Kingston, when approached by a gentleman. He took hold of my hand, introduced himself and the church he was a member of.  Small talk continued, and I kept quite private , aware of his peculiarity.  He was still hold of my hand, when he told me that I would die that night! My bus arrived, whilst he spoke. I rapidly pulled my hand away, to hail the bus. As I left, I told him where to go! I spent the bus trip bemused.

That comment shook me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NjISA-FIIA

My letter

The main issue that has troubled me this week is explained in the following link...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/esa-wrag-disability-benefit-cut-disabled-mps-vote-tories-iain-duncan-smith-a6918556.html

I wrote the letter yesterday (post below), explaining my utter despair.

It hurts me that Britain/we have been naive enough to let these people rule us.

I know some of you actually voted for them. 
To be hurt so directly by you, wounds deep.  As there is another election this year (London Mayor, and Greater London Assembly, May 5th), I warn everyone to beware. Please vote carefully. Please do some research beforehand

Beware London!

http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/esa-cuts

despair.... my letter to my MP

Dear ..... .....

I am Patrick Goodacre, a Graphic Designer, a former keen road cyclist, and now a physically disabled wheelchair user.

I work voluntarily, as i continue developing ‘life skills’ following my life-threatening accident, yet i know that i have plenty of valuable work skills to offer those who deserve them.

I am in dismay that my borough is represented by someone who stands in support of such harmful financial cuts of ‘disableds benefits’. It hurt greatly to hear of the cut to ESA and PIP. Not only will it seriously affect all of us deserving recipients’ well being, but it definitely wounds us psychologically. It feels like we are being kept ‘held down at this unemployable, low, pathetic, dependent level. if this is how you want ‘us’ to be seen, fair enough. 

I DONT WANT THAT. 

This disability benefit is what I am forced to rely on (as well as many, many other people). 

I do not like to consider myself as a lifelong, disabled, wheelchair user. I am currently  working voluntarily, with an aim of a future that includes being financially employed. However, it hurts me to see these cuts introduced. I do not understand how anyone is supposed to train themselves for employment, whilst receiving such a low income.

It hurts me more to feel that these government choices are aimed at maintaining an unemployable, lower-class of people that are 'almost human-beings'.

I was incredibly lucky, at 22, I had survived my life-threatening road traffic accident, caused when cycling in Richmond Park. I was just completing my second design degree (fully graduating for a second time), when I was placed in a six-month coma, given a Traumatic Acquired Brain Injury, and the prognosis of a lifetime wheelchair user. This scared me, but I had the determination and the will needed to recover, as far as I could. I have successfully battled through hospitals, rehabilitation homes and work experience, to now live independently in the RBK. There isn’t a ‘full recovery’, it is the case of taking a massive diversion on my life journey. But now, you try and enforce this on me?

The above paragraph, is MY story, just mine….

Everyone is different, however I know I am not alone, feeling so lost, wounded and betrayed by these cuts.

I work voluntarily for KCIL (Kingston Centre of Independent Living), through which I have heard of many, many more disabled humans, alike, just residents of my borough. YOUR borough.

Little is ever expected of George Osbourne, when he isn't flying across the world to watch the Super Bowl, but I had, incorrectly, thought more of you James. As a good MP, representing the people of Kingston, I had thought that you would see sense.

I was wrong.

Patrick Goodacre

who to believe?

Please don't read any joy into the opening note of this post. I still have the mentality of a professional cycling fan, and it causes me no surprise at all, to hear of 'a failed dugs test'. Another sport? Tennis? Wow, another sport has been brave to do such, potentially opening a huge can of worms. Maria Sharapova? Wow, perhaps the one, legendary player, least expected by the general public. A cheat? No. 'Doping' is not cheating, at sport's highest level. All competition does it. The nature of professional sports, encourage it (trans-global, 12 monthly pressure, corporate commercial advertising etc,). A human being can only do so much. The pressure humans apply on themselves to reach, and then maintain the highest level of competition, income, and self-satisfaction, explains these results. Sharapova had to deal with such incredible extremes of pressure. Breaking onto the scene, winning Wimbledon as the youngest ever. Unsurprisingly, her beauty gave her a number of advertising deals. Problem (similar to every young winner), the only way is down. A whole career to be had, with such pressure to maintain highest level competition.

Hmmmm, at least she has a good excuse, prepared. Even I don't bother reading all emails! I don't feel we should be harsh on Maria, she has gallantly accepted her mistake.

who to believe?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35753772

Self-belief.

You either have it or you don’t. Self-confidence is different, everyone can build their self-confidence. Anyone can learn to enlarge their self-confidence by re-considering what they have achieved. Everyone can have self-belief, but they must keep it internal, otherwise they collide. Self-belief if positive, will allow you to be content, safe in the belief of your own fate and destiny. 

Yes, I have just watched a super X-Files, and yes I do have a lovely coffee.

screen-grab from the latest episode of new series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oERJYbRU9Ts

HAELOS

Rinse and repeat lyrics RITON

I have already posted this song (... http://patrickgoodacre.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/just-reshuffling.html)

I want to show my adoration for the lyrics that are spoken. I have decided that these lyrics are good enough to be spoken alone, without the need of a house dance beat in the background. If one is to read the words, an automatic 4beat rhythm is encouraged.

first verse:

Time to make the club go up Time to shut this place down This is not how I woke up But it's how I look now If you leave with me We'll be on till mourn' Then we Rinse & Repeat And it just goes on...

!

!

!

!

:)

London Mayor election 2016: Green hopeful Sian Berry talks housing and immigration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHSyySIECGE

pure thought :)

Only fairly recently that I have recognised how lucky I was to have the time of 'pure thought', lying in hospital post-coma.

No worries, no loves, no hates, no fears, self-pride but without particular reason, no direction, no concept of time-being-wasted, knowledge that you cannot possibly allow yourself to think big. Lack of understanding. 'Why?', but no reason to care of 'why'. Oh, I can have an excuse for anything, forever! Memories but acceptance of a new reality. Pride of my life so-far. Realisation that therefore I have set myself a incredibly high standard to live up to! But, knowledge that 'if anyone can, i can'. Rehabilitation skills. Most important ones to 'learn', and what will be gained through 'experience'. No-one else can understand my brain now. Only me. No-one knows. TUNE! :)

A short post this week, as I have been focussed on designing for the Green Party.  Local newsletters, and broader, London-wide work. One of my latest pieces , a placard/poster design being used by the Green candidate for London Mayor, Sian Berry...

'I love this so much!' Sian Berry

(click on poster to view larger)

http://www.sianberry.london

Designing a purely graphic/text layout, my graphic skills drew on various influences. However, it may seem clear that my under-graduate dissertation was very influential, investigating graphic design in the inter-war period (1918-1939).