Welcome 2017!

A reminder from last week of my favourite album of 2016. 

'Not to disappear' was released by Daughter near the beginning of 2016. Throughout the year it grew on me, more, and more.

Daughter - PG album of the year 2016

Happy new year!

2017, this weekend! Aaaaaah!

I am yet to finalise my 'new year's resolution'. I will set it with regards to what I eat.

I eat well,  but feel relatively rigid, in terms of what i buy. I must be open to buying and preparing 'unknowns'. I am going to stop 'offering compliments'/flirting with girls. I have done so, freely, without a care in the world, for a decade. Forever unsuccessful, I now feel that i should give up and accept my fate.

2017 will be a welcome change. 

Light, a positive future, following a dark, horrible, miserable 2016.

For most, 2016 seemed to be a year heading on a downhill from the start! Unfortunately the descent never stopped. We have to cite successes, be pleased, happy, and proud of our achievements.

Personally, I remain ultra-pleased with the success of Sian Berry, Caroline Russell, et al in the London Green Party.

This success helps to counter-balance some global, political disasters for progressive politics, in 2016. Disastrous steps 'backwards' are Brexit and Trump.

I cannot sulk too much. It is a new year approaching, it is about time that everyone, everywhere woke up!

It is 2017, this weekend. Woh! It was ten years ago that I awoke, and begun to learn to live again! I was still 22, and I knew that I was incredibly fortunate of EVERYTHING. I was however, unsure of my next step along my life’s path. I was not prepared to face the facts, that I would have to spend my next, immediate, future years ‘disabled’. I remember predicting, as a child/teenager, that people’s twenties/thirties are very, very definitive. Prime age of sportstars, celebrities, etc. People find jobs/occupations, and husbands/wives. I had not decided exactly where i was to work full time, I knew that i was so grateful of my girlfriend having stuck with me for as long as possible afterwards, but i didn’t want this.  She deserved the best possible, and i knew it. Then, I was strong enough to tackle this alone. But, now what? 

Accessibility of coffee shops

I have been pleasantly surprised. Not only is my 'other main' blog proving popular and useful.

http://independentcoffeeshops.blogspot.co.uk

I am surprised by the fact that I have been able to access all 20 of the coffee shops investigated. I have approached all as 'new-to-me'. The only two shops that are not visually accessible, are here in Surbiton,  and have ramps  enabling access for wheelchairs. I have to admit that I failed to investigate toilet facilities everywhere. Some shops do and some don't. Nowhere, no where has proved impossible to enter! Difficult, yes, but staff are always more than happy to help, often rearranging furniture etc.

:)

Thank you to those who have messaged me in response to reading this blog. It means so much, thank you.

Spinning the wheel

RIP George Michael.

Not to disappear

Sometimes I feel so down, but then I am very aware that I cannot continue falling down, down, down. I realise that at as a 21 year old, this is not how i wanted to be, I was very focused on three things, design, my girlfriend, and cycling.  But then someone hit my 'POWER ON/OFF' button, and I had to restart from 'DOS mode'. I am forever salvaging things stored on my 'HARD DRIVE'... But I am a human, with emotive feelings, not an inanimate computer!

I used so much energy to power through my rehabilitation homes.

Currently I am 'running on empty'. I am partly hurting because I need those three elements which powered me at 21. 'Cycling' was obviously lost, but elements remain. I have my gym bike, which aids my fitness, and keeps me focussed on myself, my fitness, and my abilty! I remain a fan of the professional sport (although, admittedly, 'professional road-racing', I am unsure about my feelings towards the ‘globalisation’ of this previously ‘euro-centric sport’). 'Design' similar. My love of certain iconic ‘design histories’, remains, as well as my graphic design knowledge and skills. I am very fortunate to use my skills to aid good causes, that I see fit for help. My work is used, and does seem to be valued!

Two out of three elements!

:) 

Last week, i foresaw this number reached, implying that this blog attains an average of 7000 page views per year.

42k people do read my words!

I force no-one to do so, but thank you for choosing to read!

The day before winter solstice, is the birthday of this blog. The following cumulative totals of page views, have been achieved. Born in 2010, the first year's quantity, was calculated in October 2011. This sixth, past year, has shown steepest gradient/increase in views. :)

The steepness of the line-graph above, suggests how popular the blog has been, each year (1=2011).

Cumulative totals...

2011 - 3195

2012 - 9020

2013 - 16, 483

2014 - 23,454

2015 - 30897

2016 - 42,089

I spend much of my free time working on my new blog

independentcoffeeshops.blogspot.co.uk 

Both, creating, developing it, and running it provides me much joy (hopefully, you can tell)! As a keen coffee lover, I feel like I recognise the severe need of small, independent, coffee shops who sell, very special, supreme, often unique, versions of what big, high street brands are fooling joe-public with.

the best.

I have reviewed my music highlights of the year. Only entire albums deserve such full respect, but discovery of 'A Carnage/' EP, seems very very special!

2016 music highlights...

Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool - Burn The Witch

Unsurprisingly, Radiohead supply me with one of the best. The album is so forward-thinking, and progressive, but full of tunes that hold your ear.

Two more artists (3 people)

Lily and Madeleine - Keep It Together

To Bear Sir (I await album, but 'A Carnage/' EP is incredible) www.amusicalpriority.co.uk/introducing/reviews/ToBearSir.html

My favourite album of the year...

Daughter - ’Not to Disappear’ - ('Numbers', favourite track, opens this blog post) 

... official video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-fD3PIRSO8 

I cannot live completely, unlike everyone else.

I feel lost.

No-one knows.

Alone with everybody.

The more help one needs, the greater one’s self-recognition of disability. Therefore, I have strived to be as independent as i can be. I cannot bear living in care. I live away from care, but… 

I have succeeded so far, but I am left floating on the edge of reality. I fit nowhere.

I live my life, maintaining self-pride, which drives me along. I hurt, but I am used to this, and my pride overpowers such weaknesses.

Be proud. Self-pride can battle you through anything!

Never allow for self-doubt. Always let your instinct lead you correctly. 

Merry Christmas 

:)

absolutely terrible

A time for us all to try to relax, be happy and to celebrate life. I have restrained from sending ‘old-fashioned’ Christmas cards this year, sorry. Although they may add to the festive atmosphere of each home, I cannot bear the putrid, overload of some ‘decorations', so my mind is feeling messed. Each year, we 'get' more and more. Such a mass attain, by everyone, scares me. The greed of humanity, may be an invisible, suicidal weapon. Dangerous.

Honestly, I am later than most to feel a ‘Christmas mood’, if at all, this year (it is Tuesday 13th, typing this note). The ridiculous, very similar, almost monotone seasons we now experience, make me sad. Will it ever be cold, or hot, in our lifetimes, again? We have taken, and continue to take, far too much. Consume, consume, consume… nothing left!

We are turning our heads, because we cannot bear the truth. Unfortunately, the truth exists...

"The truth is, it's absolutely terrible,"

Global disaster...

A humongous problem, that our world is contently ignoring, because people do not want to disrupt their Christmas festivities. I am not really sure that everyone is aware of what is going on, as long they have a hideous celebration of a capitalist Christmas, they do not care about the rest of the world! 

Why do we shut our eyes to such misery caused, by fellow humans?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38320910/your-aleppo-and-syria-questions-answered

https://www.unicef.org.uk

UNICEF  - txt ‘blanket’ to 70002 - £3 per month

Please show humanity. Support an international charity which is offering aid to victims of this war. 

I texted 'BLANKET' to 70002, adding £3 to my monthly phone bill, supporting the aid.

Please do what you can. 

Dec20 = 6th birthday of blog 🎉 

Almost the Winter Solstice (21st). Almost averaging 7,000 page views per year!

'Oh, you should use a dating-app'

A suggestion, that people always give to me, if the relevant topic is discussed. People assume that it can be such an easy route. No, it isn't. No-one is attracted to a wheelchair. A wheelchair-user, always 'comes along in a wheelchair'. You cannot lie in your 'online profile'. Therefore, when I state in mine, that 'I use a wheelchair', people think of the worst. I am 32, ok not very old, but not young either. Ten years.

I need to keep my mind from falling in despair...

COFFEE!!!

Smoke Fairies  -   cwak

mange tout

I never ever had the self-confidence to speak as I do now.

Do I have 'self-confidence', or is it a sad realisation/acceptance of my situation?

I open this post with a note regarding myself (surprise, surprise)! Everyone needs to have some self-belief and self-confidence, in order to continue building energy and power for their next steps along life's pathway. It can be of little importance, whether one is correct to have such. If you are not, you can simply approach the issue as a lesson, and learn from your mistake. If you are correct to have self-confidence, use it to progress further and further.

How to get it? Stop everything, and try ever so hard to view your life's history from a distance. Highlight all of the things that you have been proud of achieving (yourself). Remember, you don't need to tell anyone. They are your memories, only you deserve them. Recognise the achievements that you have given yourself. Compare with no-one else. Everyone lives an individual life, different to everyone. No-one lives with completely identical experiences. Therefore true comparisons are impossible. Similar experiences will always differ in space and time. Everyone is unique. You are lucky, this life is only experienced by you. Recognise this, happily pleased with the successes achieved in YOUR life. 

Then, step back in to your life, able to recognise these successes, and understand that anything is possible. 

Happiness, more or less,

It's just a change in me, something in my liberty

In mine, oh mine, oh my

Donut in gym!

I am still unaware of the true reason, behind them. The gym session's strenuous effort, was interrupted as everyone was handed a donut! Very welcome, however eating a sugary, fat, pastry in a gym, did 'mess with my mind'. I didn't feel the burst of energy and power that i had hoped for (ah well, it did taste good)!

I do not live at the forefront of the 'music press', admittedly. However, it does suprise me that more has not been made of this brilliant release!

Ok, only a big, popular band, with a super history of great class and ability, can attempt to release an album of blues tunes. 

One answer. The Rolling Stones. :)

High quality and class throughout!

A Led Zeppelin classic...

THE ROLLING STONES - I Can't Quit You Baby (Blue and Lonesome)

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

The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger chats about new album "Blue & Lonesome" on BBC Breakfast 02 Dec 2016

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

Bialetti

This logo means so much to me.

Bialetti means so much to me.

Coffee means so much to me.

My blogspot is proving a popular success. Twenty coffee shops from the South-West London Area. Not sandwich/lunch bars, but places serving good coffee for those of us willing to appreciate magic.

http://independentcoffeeshops.blogspot.co.uk

'they don't, they don't speak for us'

Empty buggies!

They take up spaces usually reserved for wheelchairs. Empty!?

How hard is it to fold the buggy?

Goodbye!

The above note is a disguised statement that I am changing 'my coffee shop',  and I am using the experience of being left outside, because of lack of room inside, as a reason to 'change'. My experience of being told 'there's no room' by a bus driver, again due to an empty buggy sitting in the 'wheelchair space', will never be forgotten!

It is by making the first note do I realise that, rarely do these types of 'wheelchair issues' affect me anymore. They still happen, but they cause less irritation. No surprises. Siiiiiilence.  No alarms, and no surprises, please...

a heart that's full up like a landfill,

Francesco Totti 40 years old

Last Sunday evening, I watched Roma beat Pescara 3-2. Midway through the second half we saw the introduction of a legendary Roman, aged 40.

Commentator provides me with news of Brazilian star Ze Roberto who has just won the domestic league title, in Brazil, aged over 42!

I feel incredibly comfortable providing compliments to girls who i see are due such.

I know that first impressions are so memorable. People always use vision as their primary sense, if they can. When anyone sees me, they see a wheelchair as well, therefore assumptions of dependency, physical disability, and medical requirements, are made. Whether we accept this or not, this is how i have had to learn to live. Girls are happily surprised when they receive compliments about their appearance. I know that I have nothing to lose. I want to cause happiness. I question myself beforehand, and rapidly confirm and allow myself to proceed, and pay compliments. Live for now. You may never see the person again.

There is nothing better than creating a beautiful smile!

😃

2nd of December!!

Almost the end of this terrible year! ;)

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2016/07/is_2016_the_worst_year_in_history.html

However, positively...

Success of my blog!

I was pleased this morning to receive confirmation that my 'coffee shop blog' has been read and used by a complete stranger! 

I entered my local shop, meeting a total stranger who had read my blog, and therefore chosen this coffee shop ahead of others.

20 venues, spread throughout South-West London!

http://independentcoffeeshops.blogspot.co.uk

I am happy. At last, the people of ‘Richmond Park Constituency’ saw sense in the by-election, and voted for Sarah Olney, a Progressive Leader. My neighbouring constituency remains very close to me. I grew up there, went to school there, with many friends from there, and hold the Park itself, so close to my heart (I almost died there)!

I have always been a strong and proud supporter of the Green Party’s decision to stand in support of a Progressive politician, standing against Mr Goldsmith. Both the Conservatives and UKIP, did not stand, in support of ZG, so I am so pleased and proud of our Green Party decision to stand aside, and the result won!

Sarah Olney is opposed to Heathrow expansion, and fought her campaign, largely on the issue of Brexit. These are two issues that have disturbed me greatly in the past year.

She said the by-election result was a rejection of the "politics of anger and division".