My rambling blog posts!

  Well, today is my last day off of my two weeks holiday, it's been nice and I'm feeling a bit deflated that it is now coming to an end. I've always feel a bit guilty during summer that I never have enough money to take Rox and the kids away on a "proper" holiday, especially when I see other folks enjoying amazing summer holidays abroad, (I've yet to travel overseas). It is all too easy to compare myself to other parents and feel slightly inadequate when it comes to money - especially at this time of year when I know others are going on exotic, sunny holidays and all I can offer is a few day trips. However...we are experts at enjoying the simple things in life so this is 100% not a self-pitying post, I'm genuinely happy with my lot in life. We've had a lovely time off; I've spent quality time with my little family - many nights of laughing, watching films, playing games, camping outside, late evenings, early mornings - perfect! The kids have had ...

  There's the old sayings about being the "bigger person" by "extending the olive branch" to someone you have fell out with. Well, recently, I was reminiscing, (I'm 40 so I'm at the age where reminiscing and reflecting on past events and actions is commonplace), and decided to do just that; firstly I apologised to those that I felt needed an apology that was overdue and they were predictably lovely about the whole thing and it was a nice feeling knowing they were ok.  Secondly, I extended an olive branch to someone,  (who shall remain nameless as it matters not who they are, that's not the point of this blog!), we had fell out years ago and then things had been ok afterwards but "frosty", (not from my end I hasten to add, I'm not that malicious), so I figured, even though I knew I'd end up with "egg on my face", (or should that be an olive!), it was a nice thing to do. I would gain nothing from this other than maybe a chat...

  I'm currently on my summer holidays, and despite having just had a thoroughly lovely week off last week and still having another whole eight days off before I have to return to work I find myself worried!  Now, this isn't a depressing blog post, (which I'm aware I sometimes have a tendency for), in fact it isn't even a moany blog post; I just thought I'd put down in writing what is rattling through my old noggin, (I know some of the more pedantic of you may say that this isn't writing, this is text, but to you I say check out my many diaries, there is enough writing in there to justify the above statement), maybe some of you may have encountered this same phenomena and I wont feel quite as much as an oddball!  So, like I said above; so far I've had a truly wonderful time in London with some of my closest friends, had a perfect beach day with family, I've met up with friends for coffees, chats and laughs, enjoyed the weather, late night film marathons, ...

  I bought a secondhand copy of the fantastic book "The Magic Toyshop" by the brilliant Angela Carter and tucked inside the cover was this note.  Now I have no idea who either Jennie or Mary are but I could tell from this note that they were both good people; Mary who was clearly grateful enough to write the note and gift and Jennie who helped out Mary's ill mother. This edition of the book was published in 1986 so I have no idea what became of either person or indeed how the book became for sale; Jennie clearly was touched as she kept that note inside the book for potentially years. The note smells fusty, just like the book itself, (a wonderful smell I hasten to add, easily one of my favourite smells), so it's been there a while.  So, although I have no idea what became of either party, I'm glad I got to read this charming note, it's nice, heartwarming in fact. The note shall remain in the book, it seems only right really.  There is no point to this story ot...

  If you were to look up the word 'friend' in a dictionary it would say something along the lines of "a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection" and if you then flipped through that same dictionary and read the definition of 'soulmate' you would see it says something like "a person ideally suited to another as a close friend". They can be the same thing, friends and soulmates.  Long ago I realised that it is therefore entirely possible for someone to have a number of 'soulmates' which must be good for the soul - the clues in the name.  Now, not all friends automatically become soulmates, oh no. I'm lucky in that I have a lot of friends who I've met in a variety of places and at various different times in my life who I've spent many happy hours with, laughing and joking. Some friendships, over time, naturally change, maybe even become distant, this is just a fact of life; certain friends may come and go and although the...

  Social media is weird, we can all agree on that; the interactions you have on facebook, instagram, threads, etc don't aways bear any similarity to interactions you would have in real life. I hasten to add that this is not always the case; I try to be as accurate to my offline self as possible snd I would day my social media presence is fairly authentic to my everyday vibe.  This isn't going to be a blog post saying all social media is evil or corrupting society because I firmly believe it can be a great thing. I've met people through various social media sites and many I class as my friends now. I use my social media accounts to attempt to entertain because lord knows the world has enough hate, misery and bitterness already, so if one of my stupid posts raise a smile then that has to be a good thing.  So, what exactly is this blog post about? Well, it's "likes". I don't do anything for attention, genuinely, and I know a lot of my lovely friends do click ...