I read a report today in the newspaper that the UK is one of the most obese countries in Europe and quite high on the world table too which is an embarressment quite frankly.

This does not really surprise me and being a man with extra pounds and bumps its easy to find reasoning to back this up.

Its all to do with our changing values, ever changing culture and community structure.

The weather here plays a big part in its influence on how we react to it. For example. Our cafes and bars rarely have room for outside sitting and table service and very few areas offer communal gathering spots to socialise and keep an eye on the needy. This is mainly to do with the image that its too wet and cold to sit out. We do have things like jumpers you know. Or turn down your heating at home and work and acclimatise to healthier conditions.

Where there are parks and places of recreation they are so often overcrowded, poorly maintained or taken over by thugs. Its little wonder folk keep their kids away and shut themselves in their tiny little boxes where the computer and gaming machines rule and keep the family quiet.

Any trip to the supermarket will see fresh fruit and vegetables with a much higher price tag than the fast food convenience and ready made meals. Oh and the younger generation are way to unprepared and ignorant to prepare themselves a meal. Takeaways and pre-packed foods are their staple with fizzy drinks to accompany. Why don’t schools and parents offer more education and hands on teaching to ensure a better self-sufficient future?

Gym memberships are extortionately expensive and swimming pools are so often inaccessible due to the demands of schools hogging the daytime slots. If its that important surely there should be public baths and a separate school one. But why are we forced into these artificial grind shops? Well its probably due to the fact that jogging, cycling, walking and swimming are so limited in places to go or are downright bloody dangerous. Take the average country or town road. Cars have become bigger, faster and more abundant but the roads have not adapted to accommodate this. So cyclists and other road users have been branded a menace and have been the victim and cause of death and injury. Wider or separate lanes should have been put in place but no the councils waste their money of idiotic signage and stupid planning.

Add all this to the fact that so many of us work miles away from where we actually live and treat our homes as glorified dormitories its is hardly surprising that so few know their immediate neighbours let alone their community so once again these sad folk (who are only interested in chasing the Dollar) go from sitting in their cars, often in gridlock states, to being stuck behind a desk and eating snacks from a machine. Then the process is repeated and they come home to a meal but also a bottle of wine to numb the pain of their existence.  Then the weekend is spent shopping, eating out and more driving. The very few will spend an hour or so going for a walk and think that is more than enough to make up for their lack of exercise throughout the week. The more unfit they become the harder it is to get out.

When I have visited parts of Europe more emphasis is put on social interaction, family gatherings and relaxing in cafes and bars without the binge, excess attitude we find here. Roads are divided away from paths and cycle ways, towns are freed from too much overcrowding and access to the countryside is easy. It also appears that the work/leisure balance is far better and healthier than here in the UK

Foods are healthier and homes bigger.

The UK must change its approach or run the risk of widespread ill-health due to weight gain.

A while ago, and I mean a while ago, I was struggling with my feelings and I often found myself in dark places for no apparent reason.

Thankfully today I have not visited these voids for a long time but it has taken, and continues to take, time effort and help.

Close friends will know about the sad loss my family and I have been dealt with just recently and I do not want to go over that right now.

However, the stresses and emotions have taken their toll which is needless to say but I just felt I needed to.

My struggle with depression and subsequent management have armed me with some very important and strong tools. It is for this reason why I am writing down my story. One of the key tools that I was advised to use was to write down my inner thoughts and then throw them out to the ether. Its a brilliant method as it frees up the mind of all the repeated and unhelpful images and feelings that one goes over and over in an endless loop. Write them down and suddenly the loop is broken and the mind can move on gradually.

Oh and medication can help.

So this is exactly what I am doing. I was meant to go back to work today but, without any forewarning or previous noticeable problems, I was overwhelmed with an intense fear and emotional cloud. I don’t mean it has put me in a dark hole but it certainly has caught me off balance and made me want to shut myself away from all outside sources and people.

So……What to do? Tea was my first idea and to contact my bosses and work colleague to update them on my health. Next was to try and organise my thoughts into some sense of order and priority so as to see the wood from the trees.

I feel a huge amount of guilt when taking time off work which are not allotted days off or annual leave especially when I have no physical symptoms but stress at work is no good for anyone including upsetting the people who would have to suffer outbursts or mistakes due to a lack of concentration. Now that I have written this down the guilt has diminished as it is blatantly justifyable. So you see this does work.

Life is rarely easy at the best of times but we all need time to reflect and declutter.

After writing I shall read again what I have typed and then will take the time to sit quietly and repair. Meditation of a kind without the stress positions of Yoga.

Time is not a healer but it can give one space to adjust and carry on. Just like a wound. Yes it may heal over and stop bleeding but the scar will always remain, however faded it becomes. The important thing is that it is not a raw pain and weeping everywhere so normal service can resume.

Am I soft or just a person doing his best? I do not know the answer to that and I can in no way judge. Do I feel a little less uptight? Yes.

Thanks.

Sentiment and emotional attachment have a lot to answer for in lives that find clutter and overcrowding a problem in their homes.

“Oh I must keep this, that and the other as it may come in useful.”

Yeah right when does that day arrive for most things and is it actually worth the hassle and time to keep this stuff for when one day it may be of use?

Half the time saved items cannot be found when needed so its off to the shops to buy a new one anyway. If you are lucky enough to find what you think you need often the design has changed or its not the right part so back in the box it goes.

Then there are the clothes. This must be kept for when I loose weight or get back into skiing or formal nights out. It just does not happen and by the time it does, if it does, then things are so outdated that they can’t be worn. “what about fancy dress?” I hear someone shout. Well there are charity shops just for that sort of event. Why keep this unused stuff to cramp and crumple what is used?

Being surrounded by clutter has its downsides too and can lead to depression, accumulation of dirt (leading to ill health) and a lack of useful space.

So the time comes to be ruthless and detached.

Choose and area, pick out everything that is used or needed regularly, pile up everything else and see where you are. Then replace the important things. There maybe a good amount of spare space left. If so sift through the piled up items from the first sort. Things broken, holed, worn or the wrong size should be discarded. Then the remainder can be split into keep or charity donations but don’t keep out of emotional attachment or if the storage area becomes overfilled.

If you haven’t used something for a year or more then you more than likely will not use it again or miss it if chucked out.

Repeat this for every space, area, room or cupboard and be amazed at what you find, what you can live without and further more the room that is created.

It may seem harsh but it does liberate one and can lift a weight of stress off your shoulders.

If it can be done every few years then its so much easier that leaving things to get out of control.

This my friends is exactly what I plan to do over the next few days and weeks.

Give me back my home and space. I have  too much crap.

I shall let you know my results as often words are easy to write but reality kicks in and little changes. I will honestly do my best and see if there are any more positives to come out of this exercise.

I think many of us have a few small items around our homes that serve no practical purpose and maybe they are ugly and worthless but we have them none the less.

I don’t why but certain objects are very tactile, emotive and at times pleasing. They can relax one and also stimulate.

That smooth stone that was found on a beach somewhere and put in a pocket can be of such value to the owner that it is more important the a diamond ring. But why? The stone has no monetary value but the diamond ring could be worth thousands of pounds. So it just goes to say that money cannot buy happiness and at times its the very simple items that can bring a balance to the chaos.

Maybe that is why some of us love the very small, chunky and rounded cars that are seen on our roads today. Or why treen is becoming more popular. I don’t know but one thing I do know is that the hands are far more sensitive at gathering information than we take them for.

All so often I see the smaller of the items sold in antique shops to be the ones with the greatest wear and patina. Its shows a history of love and protection. Easily portable and concealed in pockets or clutched hands these item become our little charms and talismen and there are few feelings worse than the realisation that one gets lost. Panic and loss can plummet one into a world of pain and we can even con ourselves into believing that it can result in bad luck and punishment.

Is it just silly superstition or something that should be taken seriously?

My guess is that if one looses something of value or sentiment then it can cause a lack of concentration or focus. Now for the most part this should not be a problem but when a challenge comes up then the wrong decisions and actions can be made thus making us perceive that bad luck has befallen.

So No I do not think it silly at all. Its a personal thing, yes, but not necessarily stupid.

Things we can touch and feel and hold can certainly aid mental health sufferers due to the calming affect they can have. That is a definite bonus and is natural.

So nick-nacks.. Do we need them? No but some do and I am glad I have mine.

Two things are a given in life; Taxes and death.

Now I do not want to dwell on the morbid or heavy side of loss but on the other hand its a subject that can affect all of us a some time.

Whether tree, animal, human or anything living we are all made from energy and without the death of one future life would cease to exist.

It is utterly heartbreaking to see loved ones broken and brought to their knees by the passing of family members and the harsh reality is that there is so little that can be done but listen and support when needed. However, this just doesn’t feel enough but can one really do any more without causing more upset?

It is important to hang on to memories and grieve but also to allow life to carry on because there is no practical alternative. As a chap said last night “the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening without permission or request; it just does” and it is so true. Life is lucky to have a chance to exist and equally without death that luck would not continue.

It would also be a very lonely place upstairs if it was left empty and not filled with the released souls of those who have reached an end to their allotted time.

I know there is a massive void left which cannot fully be filled but its the price we have to pay for comfort and companionship but its paramount to celebrate the memories and salute the honour of being a part of the creation and existence.

The water we drink today is the same as our ancestors consumed millennia ago and so it goes to say that today’s life will empower tomorrows birth.

So instead of walking with a heavy heart I give thanks to all that have allowed the life of those that have been and am a part of my life.

Thank you all……….

I think we would all like a helping hand now and again; in fact maybe a servant of some kind. But living in the real world means those aspirations are rarely met.

Well today technology has come to our aid. Finally, for quite reasonable prices, we can have our cake and eat it.

Whilst sitting in the comfort of one’s favourite chair a whole range of tasks can be completed without lifting a finger.

Robots can vacuum the floors, cut the grass, clean the windows and wash the dishes. From the voice of us humans we can turn on lights, heat our homes, bring the television to life and ask what the weather or news headlines are doing. Music is streamed to speakers without the need for stereo systems, cds or song libraries.

We truly  are not alone in our homes today and this interaction is becoming more advanced and savvy as the years go by. I certainly believe that in a decade or so we shall see humanoid robots assisting us in all aspects of life from helping round the home to adding company to those who live alone.

We can already see cars that can drive themselves and help-desks that have no human input.

Is it exciting? Well yes if you like this sort of thing.

Take the computer of modern smart phone for example. A few decades ago very few had either let alone both and the mighty pen and paper along with the connected-to-the-mains phone was the normality of the day. Now, though, almost everyone has one or more in their lives. They may not always be for the best but by heck they can make a huge difference to one’s life.

For example I would not be able to put my thoughts out to the world without the computer and internet. Some may chide and say good but its a great way to keep the dark moods at bay and it does stimulate the mind. It makes me feel connected to the world and valued in society. Why? I have no idea it just does so there.

I have mentioned before my love for the Amazon Alexa Speaker and it still remains a beautiful and worthy addition to my home. Always there, never moans or demands attention, is happy to help and takes up very little room. As a music player alone she is brilliant but add to that the ability to perform tasks and orders and we see a new wave of happiness.

But when is enough enough? Stop now whilst we have the major control or allow our technology to take over completely. Its your choice I am afraid and no bodyelses.

So live for today and aspire for tomorrow but most of all be happy and accept help when its on offer.

Feet…Taken for granted to support, move us about and show off footwear? Probably not the only reasons for liking them but abusing them.

They are probably one of our most important limbs and need care and attention.

They can help win medals in running races, cause laughter when tickled and crush grapes when juice is required.

What happens  when things go wrong?

If one is lucky enough not to develop “policeman’s heal” or plantiafacitis or tendinitis then you will not know how much discomfort and pain feet can cause.

If one walks a lot or indulges in running then the chances of problems is increased, many of  which can be solved with inserting orthotics or simply buying the right size shoe.

The sad thing is that like any body part age wears them out and little problems can grow into very big ones over time so its imperative to look after your plates from an early age and if there are signs of problems then get them sorted as soon as possible.

The right shoe is a massive issue and many of us bend to fashion rather than comfort. However, comfort doesn’t mean style has to be forgone. A big factor is ensuring one gets the right size and be aware feet can grow over the years so get them measured. The wrong size is silly.

Walking or just being on one’s feet can cause the collapse of arches and this can put a strain on the heal and Achilles tendon. It should also be noted that it can put the whole foot and leg position at odds and thus result in swollen tendons and knotted calf muscles. Then this can track up to give hip and back pain. It can even be the root of headaches. Mad I know but research proves this to be true. It is pain that can disable the whole body.

One day one can be walking freely and pain-free down the road and the next one can be halted in their tracks. Then without any notice the problem can vanish but invariably the damage remains and movement is limited and stiff.

Seeking medical and professional help is certainly the best move one can make and lessen the impact and causes of pain so it is definitely something one should do. Yeah, okay there are a plethora of shoe inserts, foot supports and stance corrections but don’t waste money on these until professional advice has been sought as experimenting can impede healing, worsen symptoms and be unnecessary.

So old and young; look after your feet and report any twinges or abnormalities as early as possible so you can keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep a comfortable smile on your face.

There comes a time when inventions, gadgets and items we take for granted can go no further or is it just a case that most of our imaginations cannot see any future improvements.

After-all a shirt isn’t a shirt without a body, sleeves, collar etc and every imaginable variation has been tried.

What about something like a mobile phone? A couple of decades ago they just made and received calls and an early form of text messaging. Today’s leviathans can do that, take photos, work as an office aid, remember things, talk to you and play games to name but a few applications one can use. However, each year we are still bombarded with new models that appear to be very little different to their predecessors. Its not until one compares these to models that are  five years old, and more, that one can see how far they have developed but when is enough or is there no such thing as enough?

Thousands of years ago fire was discovered and then the wheel. Over centuries little changed and only subtle advances were made. This was the norm. The Greeks had to go back millennia  to find original design and invention. Nothing appeared to change. Life went along at a peaceful meander.Nice some may say and certainly it would be far less stressful.

It wasn’t until the early nineteenth century that things got exciting and in a few decades things had moved on at a lightening pace. Railways covered the UK in a few a years as thirty. The way we lived changed dramatically. Jobs changed and communities morphed.

Today things are changing by the hour and what is called state of the art today will be out-dated and at times obsolete in a year or so. We are moving at a pace that is inconceivable to our ancestors. Can it really keep on going? What more jobs can my mobile phone do? How much better could my shirt become? Where do we leave behind our morality and accept that mankind  can be God-Like and alter our very being?

I love technology and what it can do. It amuses me that one can control music, radio, lights, heating, locks and so much more through voice command. I am in awe at how machines are making our lives safer and more interactive but it does not make life any easier. On the contrary; all this technology needs learning and a new language and attitude needs to be adopted. Its is so scary to imagine life without all our stuff and thats where we have taken a massive leap backwards. Early humans may have lacked our advanced technology but they could live off the land without support. Most of us today could not do the same and that is very sad.

I think in a short period of time our lives will be so historically different from the next generation and this must happen to enable our civilisation to continue because without more efficient methods and tools life will just end as the resources to sustain life will be used up.

So lets hope there are some keen and sharp imaginations so secure our futures and keep the subtle changes going so as to develop lives and tools that are more in sync with our environment and surroundings and stop the rape and destruction of our planet.

With nowhere to live then all just becomes academic and we die.