Every day I here boasts that this tech is better than that and someone’s phone is better than another’s. My Dad is better or harder than your Dad or my Mum is cooler or a better cook than your Mum.

In reality us humans all have our weaknesses and strengths and we work together to make a working team.Or thats how we should interact.

So too can this model be used when arguing which piece of modern tech is better.

It all boils down to individuals needs, comfort, affordability and uses. Nearly all the Tech Giants offer such similar functions in their phones at the different levels that it is hard to pick one. Just because one brand may be expensive or another cheap it does not necessarily mean they are the best. However, once one gets used to an operating system and has other devices that rely on that working model it is often hard to change due to habit and the cost of change and relearning.

It is important to remember that personal and sentimental attachment can cloud one’s view-point but if honesty and practicality reasoning were used then I am sure a different and more harmonious outcome would preside.

For example, I love my Apple phone as it works. I have used one since their launch in 2007 and so have got used to the way they work. Does it mean its the best? No,not by a long chalk. I see better photos from the Samsung (but the Iphone does have slightly better filters) and longer battery life from HTC. What I personally do not have a problem with are the features that I need. I do not have battery issues or photo quality qualms. I have a budget which I fix and any upgrade has to be within that figure. I like the look of the Apple products and am swayed by this. If I was to ignore these points then maybe I could or would choose something different.

I have tried different phones but they just don’t appeal. That is not to say that they are not good.

I love the fact that Android System users can use their handsets alongside so many third party developers and technology. The flexibility is wonderful but this is no reason to ditch a network that is in place. Replacing, tablets, watches, laptops and all the other gadgets that one may have that are linked to their particular platform is just way too expensive and unnecessary. It would be better to wait until the new flagship models have been replaced and their price is reduced.

No follower of a certain brand can be called sheep when all the top tech giants are selling to similar amounts of customers. It’s called the marketplace where choices and innovation allow competition and future development.

My choice or opinion is no better than anyone elses but it is my choice and opinion and respect for that should stop the argument. It is healthy to debate and listen to each side or the story but biased argument helps none.

Men and women really are different. We may look similar. Having two arms and legs, one head and two eyes will do that but we are wired up differently.

It’s not bad until we try to do things on an equal basis and then we enter a whole area of debate and anger.

Now I agree that any person, no matter their gender, should be rewarded and treated the same way in work and society. There should not be any excuse why men should be paid more or less than a woman and vice-versa. The only time this should be acceptable is if one person is more productive, is better qualified or produces more favourable results.

Feminists, malists, chauvinists or bigots damage our ideals and to be honest just lack self confidence.

For example I would hold the door for anyone behind me or even in front. Its manners after all. What I don’t want to hear is that I have the audacity to presume the person, being shown respect, is capable of doing this and is humiliated by my actions. Should one slam the door in their face then? Or maybe smile the assine smile of up yours?

Why can’t we have ladies only clubs or gentleman only lounges without the cry of sexism? Don’t we have enough shared spaces already?

Is it right that men play five rounds of tennis and women play three rounds but want equal prize money? Of course not. Equally, an actor and actress in leading roles should be paid the same? Yes, if their parts have a similar screen time.

Most blokes I know love being childish and find toys amusing. Let’s face it there is far more fun to be had in playing with a remote controlled boat than doing housework. Going to the pub and acting like dicks has more attraction than decorating. Most men hate chores and will put them off for as long as they can or they become a threat to life. The shed, the greatest invention to date, is a man’s best friend and any healthy home with a man in it will have one. Women tend to have boudoirs or summerhouses. But the shed; a man can never have enough. “Two sheds Jackson” springs to mind.

I have heard that some women actually like cleaning, ironing and decorating and would prefer this to visiting the local or blowing things up. Are you kidding me?

I bet most times one could tell a batchelor’s  pad to a baccelorette’s. No probably all the time.

We are different themes in the same species so why do so many want to change the sexes to equal units? Can’t we just be ourselves and find someone to be honest and true with. Why does compromise nearly always play a part because it may not be possible to maintain.

One thing I do know is that we are all bound by our own personal limitations. Sometimes we may not realise what those are or we can’t accept them but they exist. A good partnership is one where one’s strengths will counterbalance another’s weaknesses.

So we can treat each other equally but not all of us are equal.

Over the last week or so I have been asked if “I have had a nice Christmas”.

My reply is “yes I am having a nice Christmas as there are twelve days of it”.

Have we lost our way so much? I mean all the stress and effort that is put into the festive celebration and for it to last a few hours. What a waste.

Traditionally, this festive time lasted well into the year and wouldn’t end till the end of February. It was a constant feast time and a salutation for many a different reason. Mostly, to share out and be thankful of the hard work involved in producing food and shelter during the productive months of the passing year and to wish in the Winter Solstice.

Within this time of feasts and thanksgiving Christmas was introduced to mark the birth of The Baby Jesus. Thus transforming and intertwining Christianity into the Pagan beliefs.

Okay having the festive period from the end of November to the the end of February would cause compound troubles to our modern lives such as time off work, eating and drinking too much and the brutality that endless days of partying would see. I say this as the focus would be hijacked by the marketing boys and we would be exploited by their want for us to spend all or our money and more and end up selling our souls to the Devil, the bean counter.

The revised window is a far more refined way of doing things but there is still  some mystery attached to it. It all depends when one starts their celebrations; Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. For me Christmas Eve is the time to decorate the home, hang the stockings and set out the mince pies and port. So yesterday was my Epiphany. However, for others who start on the 25th then their twelfth night will be today the 6th January.

Why spend so much time trying to make one day perfect when one’s efforts can be spread over nearly two weeks? Vast mountains of food can be enjoyed in smaller amounts on separate days. The cost of the whole affair can be cut dramatically if it wasn’t all crammed into one day. Stomach upsets, wasted food, stressful expectations and obligations would be far less and so everyone has the chance to relax and enjoy the time of year. Gifts shared over twelve days? Far more exciting than all in one bundle and it wouldn’t have to be extravagant. Start with the simple things and end with the main.

Christmas and New Year could become a wonderful festival again rather than the commercial farce it has turned into in modern times and all could be included rather than the few chosen for that One day.

Yes I have had a “nice” Christmas thank you, have you?

Television???

Watching the box, the telly, or tv used to be a simple pleasure and either one was around when the programme was aired or one was not. The choice was either or and the air times were limited. Children’s viewing slot was even more  narrow but at least it was understandable. The major difference was that not every home had a television (let alone a colour one) but today not many homes do not have a set (and they are all colour).

Once we were given 4 or 5 channels to choose from and the “video recorder” was introduced then we thought we were given more freedom. In some respects we were but for many it just increased the amount of time we could spend watching shows that would have normally been outside our normal scheduling.  Now we could watch our normal favourites but record others to watch at a later time. On wet days or time off we didn’t have to use our imaginations to find entertainment as there were all the pre-recorded items to watch or the rental videos to turn to. The only decisions were what to watch and which snacks to have on the sofa side table. This in itself could take up hours of the day.

As time has marched on and technology has advanced we have shrunk in our ability to imagine as viewers and create our own entertainment. It did trigger me to contemplate this and I thought why.

Up until quite recently I would watch, record or play on demand mainly the shows broadcast on the terrestrial  channels. I fell into the trap of watching for watching’s sake and routine. This was especially true on cold, wet, dark winter days or after busy shifts at work. It was easy and took little or no effort on my behalf and because I lived alone the telly became a housemate and broke the silence of sole living.

That was my routine until subscription. I signed up to Amazon Prime a while ago to take advantage of free postage and offers. It also offers a huge library of music for the Alexa speaker. Within this package are books and a vast amount of television. These are offered in series, film and one-off shows. All of a sudden one can watch a box set or a series and they become so powerful and addictive that all other content is blurred out. There  is no waiting and time just evaporates into one big blob.

To this end I found that I have left behind most of my previous terrestrial choices and can quite honestly say that on the whole I miss none. So maybe, and only maybe, could this actually spell the end of watching tv altogether? I mean if I don’t miss the regular stuff then by rights if the streaming was cut off then I would find something else to do and ultimately not miss that either.

There are only two Box Set series I am watching at present and they are Eureka and Castle. Once they are finished what then? The choice is so great or that is what we are led to believe but in reality there is very little content added which is within the subscription package or one has to pay extra for.

Is it back to terrestrial? Probably not as one gets left behind quite quickly and most of the shows have moved on too far to know what is going on.

Maybe it was better years ago when choice was limited and one could view at allotted times. I think that it would be far better to opt for a few good offerings and then turn off until future quality programmes become available. Too much content can cause massive indecision and frustration and so often brings one back to the normal staples and as a result we waste so much.

I can’t ever imagine the day that television will cease to exist unless there is a power shortage or some disaster renders it useless but the way we use our sets is gradually changing.

Technology as we all know is twisting and turning at great speed. It is morphing our lives and aspirations at a terrifying rate. Everything is beginning to become joined. There will be little need for tablets, laptops and PCs in the home shortly as the television set will become the viewing screen. Even keyboards will no longer be required. Handheld microphones and voice controlled boxes will enable the user to demand information as easily as talking. Artificial Intelligence is already integrating into our homes and lives. I mentioned the Amazon Alexa Speaker, a voice controlled assistant that can bring information and entertainment at the demand of our spoken words, and she is becoming a big thing in our homes as an addition to the family.

Our demand for entertainment, fun and new experiences will always be there and the visual aspect is one of our primary senses that needs feeding but the box in the corner of the room is gradually changing shape and format so in a few years time our interaction will be as different as today is from the sixties experience.

Excited? You bet. Tomorrow’s world is never a boring subject. History is full of mystery and conjecture. Today? Live it and see.

We have all heard about recycling or the lack of it and now we are being told the problem with plastic is going to become an even bigger nightmare.

Why is my  simple question? Why is this such a massive headache in our modern times?

Since the introduction of charging for disposable plastic bags I have not had to use one since as I either take my own of carry the few items in my arms or pockets. So Government legislation can create huge change.

There is a very sad fact that there is no national policy on recycling, plastic production and packaging laws. This has got to be one of our dumbest situations ever apart from the other depressing fact that our Councils, throughout the UK, sing from completely different hymn sheets when it comes to refuse collection and recycling. This should be a standardised practise set in law and regulation.

I am seriously contemplating returning all the unnecessary packaging to the supermarkets and shops (even the online ones) so they can deal with all their crap which is so wasteful and used to dupe us into their marketing techniques.

What I find remarkable is that many of us will carefully divide our waste and do our bit to help only to hear that our efforts are worthless due to the fact that so much is not fit for recycling. Surely in our modern times all plastics should be recyclable, disposable coffee cups made from either reusable materials or ones that can be recycled and packaging can be fit for purpose.

Confidential waste from businesses or from domestic homes could be shredded and then added to our organic waste to be made into compost.

If supermarkets and shopping centres introduced bottle and tin banks which gave a deposit back then the amount of litter on our streets would dramatically fall. Kids would scour the bins and streets to boost their pocket money.

China has announced it will not be taking our plastic any more which came as a shock as why didn’t we sort this problem out before it became so bad we had to export our rubbish? Also, we should return all the unrequired packaging back to them when they ship the tonnes of imported goods to us. It might help them be more efficient in their approach to packaging things.

I think the most important Law that we can pass in the UK is that if an item of packaging cannot be recycled or reused then use products that can. I understand that some products contain certain components that cannot or are hard to recycle but a vast amount of things can be changed. Outlaw the one use items that end up in landfill and take lifetimes to break down.

This should be spread to all countries via G8 summits and global education.

It may cost more to start with but if waste is cut, pollution is halved and lives are saved then in the long term it will balance out and may even be cheaper.

Yes it will take some organisation and harsh law enforcement but it would be a worthwhile exercise but I guess that’s the point. Its hassle and work for those in charge and, to start with, profits may take a hit (so the bosses and shareholders will see their fortunes halved).

Designers, engineers, inventors and science must come to our aid; now, not tomorrow. There must be alternative solutions to the easy answer plastic and non-recyclable products pose.

Something has to change though and we must make an effort to address the question, “why?”

Animals live better lives in the wild but man calls them savage, yet we destroy and pollute our habitats and call this civilisation. Our world and society leaders need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Can it be that hard?

Loads of people do sporty things and age doesn’t seem to stop them and they seem to be able to conjure up the time and place to do it. Good for them I say and well done. No patronising, just honest praise.

But what about the other side of this coin for the folk who lives, age and time does get in the way and make a huge difference? Does it mean sport has to be given up on or can there be a pleasant balance?

I used to love sport from club rugby to gym workouts and long distance running to cycling and maybe a bit of walking and climbing with an occasional swim and shoot.

Where did I find the time and what has happened to me?

My guess is age versus injury and  other commitments have taken their toll not to mention cake, biscuits, sweets, crisps, beer and television. Oh and who wants to go out on a cold, wet winters day and freeze their nuts off or become a statistic when blown off the face of a cliff during howling gales?

Twenty-five years ago I could quite comfortably complete a ten mile run in under an hour. Today I can’t manage ten miles and find the hour only gets me to around five and a half to six miles and even then I’m done in. If I push harder then injuries flare up and I’m in danger of blowing my heart up.

Even cycling and swimming have become almost a burden and walking is just so slow and boring. What is going on with the loves of my life and the buzz that exercise proved too alluring to give up?

A lack of fitness and a constant feeling of exhaustion is my immediate answer but look a bit deeper and its more than likely the weight gain too. It does appear to be a simple fix. Ditch the weight, find more energy and become fitter. But that’s like saying get rid of the dog or cat and be free of pet hair. Its not quite that straight forward.

Will-power to stop buying the easy fast food and treats would help. Beer? It is just too nice. Maybe invest in a gym membership for the dark, cold and weather-restrictive days of the year and change to a simpler diet.

I’m not looking to become an Olympian or ultra-sportsperson but I could do with changing my shape from a bloated beach ball to one of more just slightly round.

I hope with the new-found focus and more positive mental attitude that I can develop a new routine. Hell, I’m writing about it so that’s a start. To empty out all the cupboards though and bin the crap is such a waste but not adding to them would be a step in the right direction.

Discover new recipes, and seek out tastier foods.

Fifty one years of age is young really but my body feels as though it has gained twice the years over the last decade. Things I took for granted have become painful by comparison but there must be a way to slow things down or bring these ages into a more synchronised plain.

If by changing a few things and adjusting mental perceptions I can do this then be assured I will let you know and try to explain how this came about. If nothing changes then I shall put it down to how it is meant to be. No anger or down-heartedness but acceptance.

We are all built differently after all and one cure cannot cover everyone. We all have to find our own natural balance and capabilities. Boundaries are there to push, and at times break, but we must know our own personal limits and learn to live within them.

Sport? Its still there but needs a new title and direction. Don’t give up because you can.

Money. One of the most controversial elements of society.

Some don’t have enough. others have far too much but rarely does one have a comfortable balance.

It causes death, jealousy, corruption, lies, cheating, unhappiness, joy and pain.

I think that most folk would be happy with just enough or a little more but then once that level has been lived with then a little more is needed and so the cycle goes. On and on.

Are we really richer in life with money? Can it in all honesty cure all problems? Is it right that some have next to nothing and others vast fortunes up in the hundreds of billion realms? Could we live without it?

I have had the fortune to travel a little and have experienced some very happy times. The majority have been in areas with much less wealth than I have grown up with.  The fact that stands out is that some of these poor places see a strong community spirit, a welcome to share what little they have and there are smiles and laughter by the room full.

In stark contrast the more developed and so-called wealthier places seem angry, lack any sort of welcome (unless you wave money about) and more often than not want to pick fights or rob you. Ask them to share and they will laugh in your face and tell you that they are not a charity.

To be lucky to earn an income to provide a home, food, entertainment and comfort is a fine thing but when one has to start thinking about what to spend their rapidly growing disposable income on then things have surely got out of hand and then frustration and corruption play their part.

Money can certainly bring one peace of mind and can pay for health and treatments but it can in no way buy love and honest happiness.

Our lives and society in almost every inhabited place on earth requires money to live unless one can find a remote retreat and can survive off the land. Here in the UK one has to have a bank account to work as most full-time contracted employment is paid into one. Long gone are the places where mortgages, utility bills and such could be paid in cash face to face and we have become so reliant on our electronic devices, artificial heating, processed food and commercial enterprises that to do away with it would spell doom. Even going to a beauty spot to relax today costs money for the car-parking pay and display.

But I guess that we can’t simply bargain and barter for all our needs so something has to be a common denominator. There are just too many of us nowadays to provide a self-sufficient lifestyle.

My personal view is that the very top heavy fortunes and incomes should be dramatically cut and then used to bring a little more equality into society. Is there any justification for one employee in a company to receive £20,000 a year and another to be rewarded £5,000 an hour?  Oh and bonuses for just doing their job and for even not doing their job? What does that actually achieve?

It would be far better  for moral, productivity, loyalty and understanding if the lower end was made up to £50,000 a year and the other downgraded to £500 an hour. Bonuses should be equal throughout the company but only if targets are reached or outstanding  work has been done.

Money the root of all evil or a social necessity that just needs adjusting?

I was in two minds as to write about The New Year as it was such a predictable topic to choose but then I have to be true to myself and write about what I think about and the New Year is something that is drifting around in my brain. So write I will.

2017 has seen a lot. Not just to me but to all of us. Some will take the positive and others will only see the doom and gloom of the negative. A balance is needed to give one clarity. One can’t “see” without the “saw”.

Every single event this year has had an impact, some in small ways and others in a big way. I’m not going to list them as it will be unfair to do so.

Have all my choices been the right ones? I have no idea but what I can say is that they have shaped my position and thoughts of today.

As I have said a few times now, one of my seriously smarter decisions was to visit the doctor to address my depression. Two friends brought me to take action and I thank them very much. It sometimes takes a leap of faith to see the daily destruction one can cause to themselves and those around them. Having lifted the oppressive weight of self loathing and anger from my life it is very clear to me that things need to change.

Not for the worse or better but because of focus and hopefully something different. I have no idea where I shall end up but I can say I am happy to see my way forward to a bright and well lit future. If things go to rat-shit then so be it and start again.

Now when it comes to New Year Resolutions I hate them. Promise this, that and the other and what does it achieve? Nothing unless one is committed and fully aware of the demands that are being made. Yes there are things I would love to change like loosing a few stone in weight, having a house with more space, see more, travel a little and learn something new. Trying to achieve all that would put to much of a strain on my life so maybe choose a couple of things and the rest might just fall into place.

Recently, two things happened which completely rocked my world. I was under the impression that they should have buried me under a pile of emotion but I found the complete opposite. I discovered a new energy and comfort from them. Yes they have left a huge void but I do realise that the void was always there and now it has taken a new form and identity. It certainly has given me the confidence to grow and move forward.

2018 is not all about me, in fact it should only be a fraction of me. Everyone will be reflecting and facing new challenges this year and our personal actions will have a profound influence on those around us if we let them. So it is of the utmost importance to support and help where needed and not ignore the plights of friends and family. Some of our choices will not always reap benefits or happiness and we can all be subject to mistakes and wrong-doing. Its called life.

I think I will buy an iron and a ironing board this week. It is time as I haven’t had or used one  for years and a pillow shop may have my custom too.

Clearing and cleaning are two jobs I abhor. It is time to plunge myself into these though as they have both gone way passed their sell by date. It is something that I have been undertaking recently but it got so boring that I left it alone but its more boring looking at clutter and cobwebs.

So predictions for 2018? None. None whatsoever as, lets face it, no body can predict the future. What I can say is that I wish everyone I know, have met and will meet a very Happy New Year and that with a little effort and support the options are limitless.

Thanks to you all and 2018 here we come.

I guess like many I think Christmas Day is about trying to include friends and family so people are not left alone. Although some will say its just another day (and that is true, it is only a day with a title attached to it) inside they still remember the family excitement and fun that went on. The warm home, smells of cooking and the decorations. The rubbish telly and Top of the Pops were always there along with the Greatest Escape, Colditz and The Wizard of OZ.

So I decided to take to the road and travel the fifty odd miles to my father’s house as this year he is facing his first ever Christmas alone. I knew there would be no fancy meal, gifts or decorations as he just doesn’t want the fuss or hassles.

I packed a small lunch of sandwiches, crisps and a KitKat and off I set. It was bliss. The roads were practically empty, it wasn’t raining and there was a sense of “where has everyone gone” about the scene. It really does go to show how much traffic one incurs and how much it slows one up. A journey of normally one hour twenty minutes was cut down to fifty five minutes without being reckless.

It was actually a pleasure to drive which is rare these days.

We had a good chat about topical issues, science and put the world to right which was brilliant. Nothing to heavy and quite a few things to laugh about.

Since mum died a month or so ago we have been gradually sorting the house out. I say we but it has been more like my brother, dad and sis-in-law. Okay I have helped in a minor way and I have done what I can during the limited time I have when visiting. Things are slowly forging ahead.

One thing I was given was my “file” which contained tax codes, national insurance numbers and such. It mainly held my old school reports from kindergarten to senior level. None had much to feel proud of. “Could do better if tried”, “He is a nice boy but lacks concentration,” “He tends to be a bit disruptive in class” and “very weak academically”. The only real positive was sport and I suppose being awarded my School Colours proved I was an asset in this area. I just hated the lessons and antiquated style of teaching. Luckily I don’t have to rely on these references today as a new member of the work force. I do look back and think it was a bit of a waste but there again I wouldn’t have met and done the things that have blossomed in my life to date. They may have been better or a darn sight worse, who knows? What I do know is that the people and places I have met and been to have shaped me into who I am today and yeah I feel comfortable and proud to say so.

I haven’t done that bad after all. I have a home, a job, a brilliant little car, a vile dog, friends to brag about and loved ones in their basket full (they are all mad).  I even have a little money in the bank and cupboards full of food. To be honest I don’t really want any more or less.

The best Christmas Present I have given to myself and those around me is a growing confidence, happiness and honesty. I really do think I am living the best life I have had in many a year and although its taken a year, and upset to some, to get to this position I can’t imagine anyone begrudging me this feeling however much anger or grief they are experiencing.

This is not about me though. It is about taking the time to think of others who are having to deal with sadness, hassles and worry. Its also about taking time out to send a prayer of hope and good wishes to loved ones who are experiencing heartache, illness and unsure futures.

I enjoyed my visit yesterday. Both the driving and goodwill cheer to dad made for a very relaxing and undemanding day.

Happy Christmas ALL and remember a visit to someone, even for a short time, often is better than an invite but I guess we can’t all visit as that would end in just swapping places.

Thanks for  reading.

I recently set a challenge to my friends on FaceBook. This was in the form of suggestions for music. Not mainstream, everyday bands or artists that fill the popular radio stations but something different and new.

The result has been fantastic. Its cool to find out what others think is good and very interesting to try out new material.

The main problem is that when listening to quite diverse tunes is it can result in some work being dismissed as not liked. However, moods can draw you towards many differing styles. I guess its like trying ale. If you try one then try another completely different one then the taste can be conceived as yucky but on another day it may be received as a lovely tipple.

So I shall be busy over the next few months doing some research and listening to all of the suggestions and will give at least six plays before dismissing anything. The beauty is that most of the songs can either be streamed through my Alexa Speaker of via YouTube. That is the astonishing convenience of the modern world and the internet.

It does make the process quite lonely and a bit sterile. It also can leave one reliant on others for inspiration. Years ago one either listened to pirate radio, went to gigs, spent hours in record shops or read music magazines. Many a mistake was made and sometimes a light bulb discovery would occur. Either way it was fun and very social. It did lead to being limited to a stereotypical style of music within a group of friends.

Today though peoples music libraries will more often than not be filled with a plethora of diverse tunes and sounds as the barriers of peer-pressure have been lowered. They have the freedom to listen to and like what they find pleasing.

A massive thank you goes out to everyone and I am open to any more suggestions folk may have.

The way chords, structure and content are put together never ceases to amaze me. You would think that every conceivable combination and slant would have been discovered and repeated. It seems not as exciting new methods are coming out all the time. The imagination of art has no bounds. Voices and singing styles can make or ruin a track but it is all personal interpretation.

I still have my favourites though but I hope to add to those with future discoveries.

Happy Hunting All. Cheers..