My rambling blog posts!

Next to my bookshelf in my bedroom there stands this walking stick, it is a standard extendable walking stick with a mottled marble-effect handle on the top. There are nicks and scuff marks all over it and the rubber on the bottom is all worn on one side where it often dragged along the pavement. I am the current owner of this stick, yet it isn't mine - it belonged to my dad.  I have written more in-depth blogs before about my dad, but here is a mini background for you; I didn't meet him until I was 18, we got on, then he disappeared one day and we were told he had died, his friends had gone to his funeral, etc. Then 3 years afterwards, once I had got married and became a parent myself he rang me! He was alive and living in Ipswich. He met his grandchildren and daughter-in-law and things were good, we formed a strong relationship and then he genuinely passed away.  This was what he left me, he had very little and hence this is why I was given his old walking stick to remember ...

  I saw a squirrel today, I often see squirrels in our garden in fact. So you may be wondering why I'm mentioning it, especially as it's a common occurrence for me...well, I had left some nuts out for the squirrels and they came - how lovely is that!? Now you are probably thinking to yourself "why is he not only mentioning something that happens daily but also the fact they ate something left out for them!?" and you are right to question it, it isn't unusual, it's not a huge amazing incident, BUT...I liked seeing them eating those nuts left out for them, it pleased me, it always does.  Is this not what life should be about? People have an annoying trait where they, upon finding something they enjoy, suddenly think of ways how they can improve on that enjoyment rather than just enjoying it.  I'm content, I am not aspiring to improve on anything really and there is much to be said about feeling happy and content. The things I like are generally simple things...

I need to preface this with this statement; I like "stuff". I am a collector of many things; dvds, cds, books, records, trading cards, autographs, funko pops and many other bits and bobs.  There is a very distinct difference between a collector and a hoarder, all of my collections are neatly contained in their own little area, not in anyones way and besides, it's not hoarding if it's cool stuff you are collecting!  I realise in the current climate it is not considered good to like material objects, but I very much do! I love nothing more than rifling through a box of dvds, books, cds of records- on the rare occasion that someone is having a clearout of their collection and kindly donate them my way - easily one of my favourite things to do in fact. I never add to plastic pollution as I keep all the ones I like and don't have in my collection and those I have already, I donate where I can.  I noticed recently a lot of charity shops I've been in no longer want d...

  Don't stop reading yet! I know the above image doesn't exactly tempt people in, but please bear with me - it will be ok by the end of this blog post.  And that's kind of my point - things by and large do turn out ok in the end, however this doesn't mean we can't acknowledge when we are having "off days" or even days where smiling like a cheshire cat isn't likely. It also doesn't mean you are a grouch because you're not grinning from ear to ear constantly, we are all only human after all. So, I've been off work for a week now and I've met up with a good friend, visited family and had a lot of lovely relaxing days. The weather has been superb so far and life is good generally. However, with all of the spare time I have struggled with sleep and therefore have been lost in my thoughts quite a bit, (tonight being no exception - hence this blog post).  The odd negative thought has crept in here and there - nothing major and mostly a passing...