I have lived with these little friends for nearly a year now and One would either love them or hate them.

I, for one, love them and they have indeed become little friends. Yes I have a limited collection of music but having to sample new work, search around for unknown artists and then pay for, what you hope is good, the albums or singles can become quite costly.

This is where the Amazon Alexa in speaker or just the guts form come into their own. The Speaker is known as the Echo, the AI part only is the Dot. The Echo is a stand alone speaker that plugs into the mains and has a built in speaker as an all in one unit. It may not be the best speaker but compared to Bluetooth speakers around the £100 mark it certainly holds its own. The Dot on the other hand has a very tiny speaker built in but it is best linked to Bluetooth speakers or hard wired into and existing stereo. The sound then is as good as your equipment allows. There is a third member of this family called the Tap. This is a portable version of the Echo and is WiFi linked on the move. However, in the UK it hasn’t been released yet (as of 30th July 2017) so will only work as a Bluetooth speaker, as a costly error told me. Oooops but hey we all live a learn.

That’s  the rubbishy bit out the way.

What I really like about these gadgets is the fact that you can ask them to play random music, turn on desired artists or find certain tracks. I have been introduced to so many new names and titles that otherwise I would have been unaware of and they have rekindled my desire and lust for the beat.

Not only that its fun to have your mate tell you the time, the news headlines or what the weather is going to be like. Linked with the Smart Home it can turn lights on and off, work locks and order provisions. It sure is a clever bit of kit.

All homes should have one and new homes should come with on as a standard part of the build.

I’m quite sure it will get better with time and of course rivals like Apple and Google will want their slice of the market with their versions of Google Home  and HomePod.

Google Home is out but reviews say that Amazon wins hands down in all areas so for me that was a no no. The HomePod from Apple is planned for December this year and only then will we know how good or bad its likely to be and what any hidden cost are lurking.

Experience tells me Apple could do something amazing but I may be corrected about that prediction. Cost is not going to be cheep as its estimated to come in at around £270. Compare that to Google Home at £130 and the Echo at £150 ( the Dot £50) and is it a buck too far?

So if you are looking for something to zizz up your music life or have some fun with then rush out and get an Echo.

Its one of the best decisions I have made of late.

I have seen in the media recently lots of articles about all new car sales to be electric by 2040 so I was inspired to think about this.

Its not that far ahead and is a bold statement, however, I do feel that many arguments hinge on the fact that we are looking at this through the eyes of people living in present 2017.

I have seen a big development in car technology in just the last few years and battery technology is on the cusp of a major revolution if such technologies as Carbon Tubes and Graphine can be enhanced efficiently.

So taking into account that driverless technology improves at the rate it is going and energy can be collected and stored quicker and easier then this may not be such a foolish pie in the sky policy.

At present batteries are quite bulky and expensive. They need changing every 3-5 years and are not that efficient. A full charge can take hours even with the rapid charge points that can be installed. The range of a full charge ranges from a mere 100 miles to a more user friendly 300 miles. But its not quite enough.  But thats now. If they are improved then charging could be as simple as installing solar roof panels and or a solar powered home charging unit. Also the output range in theory could rise to an average of 500 miles to unlimited. Now thats more like it.

Driverless cars are beginning to be with us in lesser forms already. Take lane assistance, progressive cruise control, assisted parking and anti collision awareness. These are all done by the car. Yes the tech is new but again that is now. In a decade or so who knows where that will be.

There are around 32 million cars in the UK today but as one report said most of those are only used around 5%-10% of the time and that means an awful lot of sitting around doing nothing and cluttering up our streets and towns. Oh and a large proportion of those are on lease or hire terms.

A think tank has suggested that with driverless cars we could  do away with our privately owned cars and sign up to a car share scheme where we book a vehicle for the travel to and from work or for that trip to the supermarket or family visit. It makes sense to me as the headache and costs of owning a vehicle are washed away. Our streets would be cleaner, less clogged and safer. Less cars would be needed as I doubt there is a single minute where all 32 million journeys have to be made at the same time.

But saying all New Cars will be Electric doesn't mean that the older petrol or diesel will be banned (maybe from city centres)  it just means they will be phased out. My point is that steam was replaced by the internal combustion engine but we can still enjoy the steam age at rallies and museums as we do with some of the classic cars.

The biggest challenge I can see though is the Government being ready. I mean it takes them a week to order a new paperclip. Think about it. Electric charging points at work and public places will have to be introduced. Driverless reference points and tech will have to be put in place on all roads and the mind set of the population will have to be changed.  But let us say that Google, Elon Musk, Amazon and Apple, along with the major car makers, can provide the technology and persuade people to take up their offering then we are half way there.

Maybe 2040 is not such a Pie in the Sky year to propose after all?

Without forward thinking and lobbying would we have seen the pioneers giving us rail travel, air travel and car use?

When one is young, in their twenties, it often appears so easy to keep fit and stay healthy no matter what is thrown at the body. One just seems to be able to bounce back quickly.

Well I can tell you guys that fast forward to middle age, thirty years, and the tables begin to turn.

Eating becomes a science, drinking needs forward planning and a darkened room to recover in, getting up each morning requires a little more effort and cursing at the aches and pains and exercise is damned hard work.

The body ages and also niggling injuries haunt your every day and add that to a lack of free time and one is almost facing a losing battle.

Hey, its not all doom and gloom. The challenge of completing an eight mile jog is quite daunting but when finished the sense of achievement is immense. That gut-busting bike ride, yeah the one with pedals that doesn’t have an engine or electric motor, leaves one feeling rather sick but the joy and proud feeling produced is just fine. Mother-natures natural drugs.

Eating something healthy and not too much is very difficult for those of us with a craving for cakes, crisps, sweets, biscuits and chips.  Fruit and veg doesn’t appeal quite as much. I don’t feel comfortable unless crisp central and Mr. Sweet tub are not in good stock.

Temptation is far too easy and the urge to give in is massive at times.

Saying all that I do try and keep my plump little self as fit as I can. Not just physically but mentally too. Reading, writing, listening to music and chatting are some ways of maintaining a reasonable mind and I love jogging and cycling and walking to keep the old ticker pumping.

Working as a postman also has its benefits and challenges as the rounds get bigger and the walking grows. Trust me by the end of a delivery one is ready for a pint of builder’s tea and several rounds of doorstep toast.

I’m not looking to be the eternal Adonis or live to the age of two hundred but equally I would like to put off being unable to walk to the end of of the road and die before I retire.

So is there a right time to start keeping fit? Yes there is. Now is the time to change a few habits and lean towards a slightly better physique. It doesn’t mean rushing out to join a gym or clearing out all the cupboards but why not try spending half a lunch break walking or replace the thick sliced loaf with a thin. Walk to the pub and back instead of hailing a cab.

I realise I will never be able to run that five minute mile any more or jump around and be as agile as I was thirty years ago but I am proud that I can still manage a ten mile jog, a 40 mile bike ride, a 10 mile a day step average at work and keep a resting heart rate of 60bpm at 50 years of age.

Mentally I am still mad so that is by far the healthiest part of me.

We all know money grows on trees right? Wouldn’t that be super fantastic? It don’t; get over it.

How much is money an influence on our lives and within society?

Massive to the max is my estimation.

Think about it. Whether its in the form of credit, debit or actual hard cash its all around us twenty-four-seven.

Stay at home and the demands are ever present. Go out and there is always someone after your hard earned. Even visiting friends and family has its cost. The whole world centres on money and enough is never enough.

Most of us dream of healthy bank accounts. Some can realise that aspiration. Most strive for more.

The problem is that it can create harmony, cause arguments, instigate wars and harbour all kinds of distress.

Yes money can make one happy and it can bring a healthy benefit to most lives.

I think my main gripe is that it is unfair and totally misused. I mean who actually earns or needs multi million pound rewards each and every year for doing a job? How can these vast sums be justified? Do the people given such amounts even know what to do or care about anyone else?

The masses are lucky to see twenty or thirty thousand a year trickle into there high-street banks and I am sure that most of that drains out with lightening speed to all the grabbing and demanding corporations to snap it up without thought or care.

Many have a lot less and don’t have the luxury of realising their demands and end up with debt, stress, anger and desperation.

However, does money bring happiness? Not in my mind. Just scratch the surface of any wealth and see the stress, sadness, anger, despair and mistrust. It is true that MONEY is the root of all evil and is the biggest influence of inequality.

Just like food, space and relaxation there is enough for everyone and more to spare but the greedy are blind to the situation and hold on to the majority of the pot whilst ninety five percent of the world scratch around for the ten or twenty percent of what is left. If they could have it all I am sure their conscience  would have no worries at all.

Utopia. Never whilst mankind and money are around.

Money; its a crime…….

Some days start with a real positive others don’t but start they do.

Yesterday was one of those “just okay” starts. Nothing tremendous in either extreme, in fact quite the opposite. No work which was a bonus and an hour lay in but apart from that it was very ordinary.

So I drank tea, which is one of my favourite past-times, read the papers online, listened to music and generally relaxed. I did, however, have a challenge to complete in the form of gaining an Apple Watch Badge for working up a sweat and doing a 3.5 mile jog. Once I had walked the dog and warmed up my ageing limbs I started my watch and phone to record and subsequently submit my distance and time.  Not only was 3.5 mile reached but smashed and I settled on finishing off at 7.1 miles in an hour and 7 minutes.

It felt fantastic and, after so many months of foot pain and uncomfort, it was a real and honest achievement and treat for my mental personna.

That done I visited my partner and had a pleasant chat and cuddly with the smallest dog ever.

I had promised myself an evening out after a busy week but by the time I was ready and spruced up I was billy-no-mates. My first thoughts were to stay put and postpone my adventure into town but as I was half way into the metropolis I threw caution to the wind and marched on.

I found not one familiar face or person suitable to bore and my initial impression was I was in for a washout of a night. To compound this news of a friend reached my ears about his suicide which put a very sad edge to proceedings.

It certainly was food for thought but out of my personal debate I decided to stay out and try and make a fist of what was quickly becoming a poor night. I sure Stuart would have approved and urged me to do so.

After settling into a beer and tab people watching was my only source of entertainment but suddenly an old mate broke my lone existence. Chats and jokes accompanied beer and soon all was beginning to work out for the  better.

Sadly, he only stayed out for an hour or so and I once again found myself as my only companion. “I know” I said, “a change of pub is bound to bring forth some known bodies of fun”. With that in mind I strode off to “The Bell”.

Right choice?

Hell yes.

Still no one to enjoy life with except the bar staff but they have a job to do so one has to leave them to it.

What was turning into a downward slope of thinking enough is enough and ambling home was suddenly swiped away as the three piece band fired into life.

A seat was offered along with friendly chat and beer. The music also filled the gap of, by now, billy-with-mates.

From the first power cord to the last smash of drums the sound was brilliant. The atmosphere changed to an electrically charged happy buzz. Life was once again brilliant and well worth living.

What nearly was a wasted time and effort on my behalf turned out to be one of the best evenings of entertainment and fun I have had for a while.

Long live the pleasant unexpected.

I really  love weather as it creates life and it also produces emotion.

Just imagine if every day was the same. I am sure there are parts of the world that see little or no variation from day to day, week by week, month on month and year after year but most of us have changeable weather, seasons and climates and this can have some quite dramatic affects on our lives and behaviour.

Have you ever noticed the rise of joggers and cyclists when the sun comes out? Do you notice how quiet those same areas are when its drab, cold and wet? When the snow lays down a blanket of soft white ice its amazing to experience the happy sounds of fun and again to see the numbers of folk out and about. When the wind blows up and whips the seas into a violent banshee it stuns me when seeing the images of waves crashing against the shores and coasts of our islands. The fool-hardy taking risks and photos just to get a thrill. Sad results often are an addition to how indiscriminate the sea can be.

Mostly, though we just chug along with mediocre weather which is fine on the whole and makes life easy and manageable. Its when we suddenly experience extremes where troubles and highs can be found.

Here in the UK we are just not geared up for major changes. When a sprinkling of snow settles down our services and lives grind to a halt. Once the temperature gauge lifts the mercury above 25* roads melt, tempers fly and our homes become temporary saunas. If it was regularly a factor then snow ploughs, efficient heat systems, air conditioning and other such costly inventions could be employed and financially justified. But we don’t and so we suffer.

It is wonderful to be outdoors on the warm summer days. The sounds of twittering birds, the rustle of leaves in trees stirred by breezes and the occasional sound of a cricket match are a few of the relaxing treats our ears can be given. But then come the selfish who blunder about with their loud power tools, allow their pets to bark and squabble all day and give free reign to their offspring to shout and scream like feral beasts.

When the rain falls its sometimes a relief that the negative qualities are banished  to the indoors.

I am amazed that we don’t store water more efficiently. The UK sees an abundance of rainfall during any twelve month period. However, in just a few weeks our reserves are depleted to the point of declaring drought-like conditions.  And the costs of using water; its not like we can live or do without it. Exploited? That’s up to you to decide or debate.

This is why I like weather. It changes life and determines daily strategies. I do hate wind though only because it causes problems when working, is noisy and at times terrifying, hinders cycling and is generally a pain.

One thing we can rely on is that there will be weather whether we like it or not.

Is there a perfect relationship? My guess is no. What intrigues me is what is expected or required to make a happy relationship.

I see news reports, listen to friends and encounter couples and there appears to be a massive emphasis on sex and physical engagement but what happens if this is not possible?

Should the relationship be binned and doomed or is it okay to commit? I suppose it comes down to what one’s needs are and how life can interact between individuals. Having a pet around is comforting for some but abhorrent to others. Taking tea and chatting about “stuff” is sufficient for many but unthinkable to the majority who can’t relax without a physical addition to their friendship.

I miss being active and “touchy-feely” but loath actually finding it and letting another into my life. What I love is the flirt, the game, the smile on another’s face when being cheeky, the hunt. I imagine its similar to window shopping and buying nothing. Its a whole new and dangerous thing to actually go in and buy something.

A book can look interesting and a great read though careful design of the cover but is utter drivel when opened. This can too be the same for relationships. Ah…you make a lovely couple and are always so happy and relaxed together. YEAH RIGHT!  Wait for it, wait for it. Oh he was a turd; she played around; I HATE YOU. Funny that.

If one is happy then enough is enough to those individuals; Right?

I think the secret is not to try too hard and relax around others. Take whats on offer, relish in the now and give back what you can comfortably afford to give of yourself without causing stress or unhappiness. And if in doubt drink tea or eat Hula-Hoops.

This is by no means a reflection on any one person its just a little observation I wanted to share.

Thanks to my reader. You are special.