A Plastic Survey

Welcome to a sunny but cold South Manchester. The sky is blue, the sun is beaming out but the temperature is dropping, something I would expect as we head towards December. 

Shall we answer some silly questions from Sunday Stealing? 

1. How long was your last phone conversation?

I don’t really use the phone a lot these days but I do recall that I spoke to two guys last Tuesday about a service they were providing that I require. Both conversations lasted about three minutes. 

2. Have you ever dyed your hair?

I am a men and generally men do not dye their hair. So the answer is a definite no. 

My hair is slowly turning grey and it will remain that way. I will never be these men:

In fact, even my beard has grey hair. So what? Grow old gracefully, I say.

3. What do you have on your feet?

I have a scruffy pair of slippers on my feet.

4. Do people ever mispronounce your name?

No, my name is very simple. All three of my names have just one syllable (actually that's not quite true because my first name is David. However I use Dave). I’ve travelled to many different countries and even in places like China, Russia and Japan, they get it right (accents aside).

5. Where did you get the shirt you are wearing?

I bought it from a clothes store in the UK called Next. It caters for both men and women.I bought it from the Men's section of course.

6. Does any part of your body hurt right now?

No. I am pain free.

7. Do you drink hard liquor?

Only very occasionally at Christmas and only then as a night cap. I can’t recall the last time I had any to be honest with you so it was probably about three or four years ago know. 

The reason I don’t drink hard liquor dates from university. Back in those days, we used to go to night clubs, usually starting off in a pub with beer and then switching to shorts in the club because beer can be quite filling. I used to be very shy and relied on alcohol as a means to persuade myself to talk to women. 

On one occasion, I didn’t think I was tipsy enough so I went for the hard stuff. 

I overdid it.

The next thing I recall is waking up in the morning with a colossal hangover and no memory and feeling in a way that can be summed up perfectly by the lyrics in this song:

I didn’t remember anything about what had happened and that scared me. These days my tipple of choice, it beer and, less often, wine. I also have the odd glass of port (again at Christmas).

8. Have you ever read a book in one sitting?

Only once. 

I woke up one morning feeling absolutely terrible. I think I had a mild dose of flu. Mrs PM went to work and left me feeling sorry for myself in bed. I woke up later and finished off the book I was reading but realised that I had run out of material. 

Mrs PM was reading the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, so I decided to give it a go. By the time she had returned home from work, I had started the second book.

That hasn’t happened since.

9. Do you like cats?  Why or why not?

I love cats. 

In my life I have had nine of the little beasts, culminating in the two I have at the moment. They are two three year old black cats, brother and sister, called Ziggy and Star(dust). 

Why do I like cats? Probably because they are a challenge. And they are cute. I love dogs too and they are fiercely loyal and loving but cats have very little loyalty in their cute little minds. 

They do what they want, when they want, how they want and they have nothing but utter contempt for human beings. However, they recognise that humans supply warmth, comfort and, most important of all, food and they offer themselves as little items to cuddle to satisfy our love of adorable little animals. They are totally manipulative and suckers like me fall for it every second of every day. 

That said, Ziggy and Star(dust) do spend a lot of time sitting next to us so they really do appear to like us. In fact Star(dust) is sitting on my desk, next to the keyboard, supervising me as I am typing right now.

I still think that cats may still be plotting to kill us. 

Who knows?

10. Do you like the ocean?

I love the ocean and whenever and I try to get to it as often as I can. In the UK we live about 35 miles away from the nearest beach I think and I tend not to go there. We usually see the sea abroad (mainly because it is much warmer and we are in a foreign land). 

At some point during such a holiday, I love to just sit next to the sea and listen to it as the waves crash ashore. It is even better if you are isolated. You can just close your eyes and drift into an almost mindful state. It is so relaxing. 

Also, the smell of the ocean is wonderful. It fulfils most of the senses – not taste though – it’s too salty.

11. Ever think you might have seen a UFO?

I would love to see a UFO. I haven’t seen one sadly, and I don’t think I have ever seen a strange light that could be a UFO. I have met people who fully believe in them and go out hunting them with the hope of being abducted. I wouldn’t go that far but I would love to see one race across the sky.

We do apparently get UFO sightings in Manchester; maybe there’s hope that I will see one.

12. Do you type fast?

I can’t type using all fingers but I have been working with computers for over forty years so my “two-finger typing” skills are the best. You would be surprised how quickly I can type. 

The good thing is that my typing is absolutely accurate and yew wil neva find enny mistooks in the werds I tipe.

13. How long are you usually in the shower for?

Usually about five to ten minutes. To be honest, I’ve never timed myself. 

14. Chinese food or Mexican food?

Both. Obviously not on the same plate though.

15. Do you read and believe your horoscope?

I used to read it for a laugh but then I realised that these words of nonsense apply to one twelfth of the world’s population. They are also very vague and general and can be interpreted in a number of ways, having been skilfully written by somebody with a great imagination but nothing else. Some planet is rising in the east therefore I am going to have a bad day? Nonsense. 

I have never believed a word of them and I never will. I will read my horoscope for today though just out of interest. 

I am Libra by the way.

You're sensitive to the world around you. It's like you're thinking with your heart. It's possible you'll be more impressionable and less objective when your emotions get the better of you in your relationships. If you'd hoped to hide something from someone, it won't work. Even if you say nothing, it's written on your face.

What a load of old codswallop!

Cheers, Mate

Welcome to South Manchester on a dull day when there is drizzle in the air. Winter is approaching and the weather is getting colder. It’s not my favourite time of the year, although I like Christmas of course. 

Next week sees America celebrate Thanksgiving, which is something that is only a thing across the pond. Let’s hope you guys in America have a fun time.

Let’s be silly with questions from Sunday Stealing. 

1. People I'd like to thank and why

I guess I’d like to thank my mates for still being my mates and, of course, Mrs PM for putting up with me for 25 years.

2. Something I rebelled against as a kid

I was rebellious as a child but verbally rather than actually going out and doing things. I spent a lot of time in detention at school for pointing out to teachers that I disagreed with their opinions on my behaviour. We had prefects at my school and these guys were Sixth Formers who had the power to reprimand us and also punish us in a limited way if we misbehaved, by giving us lines, similar to those written by Bart Simpson during the opening credits of The Simpsons. Things like:

I must not call a prefect a useless tosser; I should respect his authority.

We had to write these over and over again on paper and then deliver them to the prefect, who promptly threw them in the bin.

I refused all the time (usually telling  the prefect that the reason I called him a useless tosser is because he WAS a useless tosser). Of course by refusing to do the lines I would end up being hauled up in front of a teacher and given a detention.

I grew out of this behaviour when I became a Sixth Former myself. Thankfully I was never made a prefect myself – probably because I was such an obnoxious little brat in my earlier years and also it would have been hypocritical.

3. What I need to accomplish before the end of the year

I have a couple of things I need to sort out in the house, mainly the final bits and pieces to finish off the back room in the house. It is 95% complete but we still have to get a few things in the loft and free up some space in our outhouse, which is a weather proof storage space that has effectively been acting a  junk room. 

We have disposed of a lot of stuff but we still need to decide what to do with some bits of it. We have an old empty cupboard upstairs and a chest of draws that we are going to move into their and fill up with stuff to make the room look tidy. It would be nice to get that done before I finish for Christmas.

4. Guilty pleasures right now

I don’t believe in the phrase “guilty pleasure”. If it is a pleasure, why do you have to feel guilty about it? I think the phrase is used for things that you like but feel either guilty or embarrassed about liking. I don’t feel guilty or embarrassed about liking anything at all. 

In terms of music, this may be classed as embarrassing because, as a lover of progressive rock, hard rock and heavy metal, this goes against the grain:

In terms of films, I love the Fast and Furious films, even though they are utterly ridiculous. I have to switch off my brain when watching them but they are a fantastic romp:

5. Local landmarks

There are lots of landmarks in Manchester but I will give you just one: The Town Hall. 

At the moment it is having a lot of work done to it, which will last for another year or two, so it is currently behind a lot of scaffolding and covers and the square in front of it, Albert Square, is behind a huge temporary barrier. 

But here is a photo of it from a couple of years ago:

6. Cause or purpose I deeply believe in

Getting rid of the current lying, incompetent UK government that has turned the UK into a laughing stock. Hopefully this will happen in 2024 when we are due a general election. 

7. Things I never learned to do

I never learned to play the guitar, which is something I kind of regret. It’s too late now but I think learning the piano will be enough because I think there is more scope for creating my own music, perhaps with a synthesiser. It’s not too late to try that.

8. Seasonal traditions I’m always excited for

I like Christmas despite the fact that it is embedded in winter, my least favourite season. Here in the UK, we usually spend the festive period with parties, getting together with family and friends as well as the traditional exchange of gifts. And of course New Year is a massive party too.

It’s a good time of year.

9. Something I’d like to be mentored on

Probably learning Spanish. It would be good to have a Spanish friend who can talk to me in Spanish and correct me when I inevitably screw it up. In Manchester we have a Spanish institute where I could go on a proper course and get involved in cultural activities and also use their library to immerse myself more. I may well go there when I retire to see what I can do.

10. Exotic animals I wish I could keep as pets

I don’t really want to keep an exotic animal as a pet. A big cat cub would be good until the beast grows to the point where it decides to have me for lunch instead of its usual fare. Such creatures are better off in the wild though. I will stick to black cats (not a panther).

11. Something normal to me, that might be odd to others

I talk to my cats as if they are real people. Also, I read that if you make the pitch of your voice higher, they are more likely to respond. I am sure that the neighbours have heard me talking to them and think that I am a crazed lunatic. They haven’t told me but you never know. 

12. The last book I quit reading and why

I tend to stick with books even if they are bad. The only one I can remember giving up was a so-called “psychological thriller” that was not a thriller and bored me to tears. I ploughed on with it until I was about half way through and then just gave it away. It was dreadful. I can’t recall the title or the author. 

13. Right now, I appreciate...

Mrs PM for putting up with me and my weird ways.

14. When “the holiday season” starts for me

Probably about a week into December. Mrs PM will decide when to put up the Christmas decorations and at that point she will start buying mince pies. In Manchester the Christmas Markets are up already and Christmas TV commercials have started in earnest, so you could be forgiven for thinking the holiday season was upon us right now. I can’t bring myself to get into the “festive” spirit in November to be honest. It does seem to get earlier every year,

15. Holiday foods and treats I love the most

I love mince pies and my chocolate consumption goes up in the Christmas period. I don’t know why but we always as a nation decide that trying to double our body weight is a good thing and we end up buying sweets, crisps, chocolate, cakes and all manner of fattening foods. This year, I opened a cupboard in January and found a load of such items that we had left over from Christmas so we had to continue scoffing them in January. Also, I got a lot of chocolate as a gift. Now you know why I abstain from mid-January to mid-December.

16. “Terrible” movies that I actually like

There are a few that have poor ratings on IMDB but I don’t care. As I mentioned above, some of the Fast and Furious movies are classed as “terrible” but I love them. If I like a movie, I like it whether other people think they are terrible or not. 

17. Cooking all day for holiday dinner vs. ordering carry-out

If we are hosting at Christmas, we cook. Usually we start the day before so that on Christmas Day there is less to do. This year we aren’t hosting so that will be good.

18. If I were trapped in a holiday movie, I’d pick...

I don’t really like Christmas movies if I’m honest. I quite like “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” but I wouldn’t want to be part of it. Same goes for “Scrooged”. I would probably reluctantly go for “It’s A Wonderful Life”.

19. Which holiday tradition I wish lasted all year long

People get together and tend to have a good time. It would be nice if that occurred all year round.

20. Favourite books, music, tv, movies and music this month

I’m still reading my sci-fi series about space assassins (it’s a five book series). I’ve read better but I am sticking with it. 

Music? I’m currently into Steven Wilson’s latest album, which contains this excellent song with an equally excellent video:

TV? I’m ploughing through The Wire and The Last Kingdom as well as Ahsoka.

Movies? I’ve not been to the cinema this month but I may venture out to watch Napoleon next weekend. I did revisit Gladiator earlier in the month and also Blade. Both excellent movies.

A B C

Welcome to a mixed South Manchester in terms of weather. It is currently sunny with a few scattered showers and, here in the north of England, we managed to avoid Storm Ciarán which struck this week and battered the south coast and northern France, with winds up to 100mph that caused a lot of damage. We were in the eye of the storm and consequently suffered nothing more than a little rain.

This post is called ABC and I am not going to talk about the 1980’s pop band of the same name. However, I will mention them briefly. Thanks to Spotify I found an absolute banger from the band that I had never heard of before, dating from the mid-80s. In typical ABC fashion the lyrics make no sense. 

It is called “15 Story Halo” and he sings “10 20 30 40 – 15 Story Halo”. Surely the song should be called “50 Story Halo”. 

Okay – I am quibbling but here it is – a great tune you can listen to while reading my silly answers to silly questions from Sunday Stealing. 

A - Ambition: 

My ambitions aren’t really ambitions; they are goals that I may or may not achieve. First is to write a novel – or maybe a non-fiction book. Second, I am going to learn to play the piano well enough to justify buying a synthesiser and actually creating some music. Finally, I aim to become fluent in Spanish.

If I get some way to achieving those I will be quite surprised but very happy.

B - Birthday: 

My birthday is October 8th and I was born in 1962. I share that birth date with Bruno Thiry, a Belgian rally driver and an American composer called Michael Abels. 

C - Computer: 

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop with an Intel processor (2.9 GHz) and 16G RAM, running Windows 10.

My work laptop is a lot more powerful.

I also have a powerful Samsung smartphone, a Samsung 10 inch tablet and a free Chromebook that came with my phone.

D - Dream: 

I have some weird dreams but I don’t remember them all. I have thought about writing them down and then trying to look up what they mean but they will probably just tell me what I already know: I am a weirdo.

E - Exercise:

My main form of exercise is walking. In the past I used to run, play 5-a-side football and go to the gym but now I walk between 4 and 5 miles per day. Last year I walked just over 1500 miles and this year I am almost certainly going to improve on that. In terms of steps it, currently my average is about 8800 per day.

F - Favourite Food:

There are too many to mention but I love food from India, China, Italy and generally Mediterranean food from Spain, France and Greece. I also love Mexican food and a lot of Asian food, like Vietnamese. I’m not a fan of Thai food though.

G - Garden: 

My garden is quite small and is paved with various plots for shrubs, bushes and flowers and a lovely cherry tree. We love to sit there during the summer and chat with each other or the neighbours. The cats own it of course (the truth is they also own our house – and us too).

H - Hobby:

I have several. I try to write on this blog and various other bits and bobs, I am learning Spanish and Italian, I am learning to play the piano, I love to walk, I love sports (as a spectator) including football, cricket and rugby union. And I sometimes play PS4 games, watch TV and read weird science fiction novels. I listen to music a lot and go to gig as often as I can. There are more but that’s about it. 

I - Idol:

I don’t really have an idol as such. There are certain rock stars who I think are immensely talented and also a lot of football players but I don’t really idolise them.

J - Job:

I am a software engineer, that is a person who spends most of his time trying to get computers to behave themselves by filling them with detailed and complex programs. I swear at them a lot, if I am honest. 

You could sum my career up as a mad geeky looking weirdo who interfaces with computer hardware via a keyboard and then shouts when they don’t behave themselves.

K - Kids:

I have two grown up boys aged 30 and 27. I actually feel really old writing that. They are my sons but they are both good mates too.

L - Location:

I live in South Manchester, about 5 miles from the city centre. Manchester is in the north of England and if England were to be split in two it would really be the capital of the north. It is about 35 miles east of Liverpool, about 38 miles west of Sheffield, 86 miles north of Birmingham and 200 miles north of London. We are about 35 miles away from the nearest coast. 

M - Military:

I have never been in the army, navy or air force and I am delighted about that.

N - Name or Nickname:

I have had a few over the years. My main nickname is my one syllable surname with “y” added to it. One or two people have their own special name, for example “Dilbert” (because apparently I look like him). 

My actual name is Dave.

O - Optimist or Pessimist:

I am a realist with a tendency to be an optimist. But it does depend on what we are talking about because I can definitely be a pessimist. 

P - Pets:

I have two three year old black cats called Ziggy and Star(dust). Mrs PM liked the name Ziggy generally and I immediately leapt on the Bowie theme. Mrs PM doesn’t like the name Stardust but she agreed to Star (I just add the “dust”).

Here they are doing what they do best.

Q - Quote:

“I believe I can see the future 'Cause I repeat the same routine

I think I used to have a purpose Then again, that might have been a dream

I think I used to have a voice. Now I never make a sound

I just do what I've been told I really don't want them to come around, oh no

Every day is exactly the same”

R - Reads:

I am currently reading a history book and a strange science fiction space opera series about space assassins. See what I mean? I am a weirdo.

S - School:

I went to a Grammar School where there was a massive emphasis on success. The school had an entrance exam but I didn’t need to take it because I got a really good grade in a compulsory exam called “The 11+” which no longer exists. 

I had a mixed time there and I really have to thank them for guiding me through my academic qualifications, ultimately leading to university.

T - Travel:

I could write a whole book on this. This year I have been to Spain, Morocco, the Netherlands, Croatia and Italy (Sicily). Next year we plan to go to Spain and/or France and Malaysia with a few days in Hong Kong. I can’t wait.

U - Unfulfilled ambition:

When I was a kind I wanted to be both a footballer and rock star. I was a terrible footballer because I was hindered by my dreadful eyesight and my almost laughable coordination. I learned the wrong instrument (a trombone) when really I should have learned the piano or guitar. Hence the reason why I am not Dave Grohl!

V - Vacation spot:

It depends on what type of holiday you are talking about. I don’t like sitting by the beach all day (though we do spend time relaxing in such places) so I am more likely to go and explore a country. I can’t really narrow it down any more than that. I’ve been to 30 to 40 countries and they were all amazing in their own way.

W - Wardrobe:

I have one, yes. 

X - X-tra facts about me:

I have spilled a few beans on this blog since 2008. Here are some you may not know.

I am 5ft 11 inches tall. My once-blonde hair is now a light brown with grey appearing at the sides and in my beard. 

I know the word for beer in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Czech, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. I also know the word for “Hello” in those languages but it seems less important.

Y - Years online:

I have been online since the 1990s, when I bought my first PC. I work in IT so I probably went online for the first time with work earlier than that. I have only been a blogger since 2008, though. 

Z - Zodiac sign:

I am an indecisive Libran (as Mrs PM describes me). 

Fall Pals

Welcome to a bright but slightly grey South Manchester. Autumn has really kicked in now and there are leaves everywhere. It was chilly on my walk today but some of the trees look lovely. The photo above is from earlier this morning. 

Shall we dive in with some silly questions from Sunday Stealing? 

1. Do you decorate for Autumn?

Not at all. We only decorate for Christmas usually. I did notice a couple of houses nearby that are trying to embrace the American Hallowe’en culture by adding spooks, black cats, pumpkins, etc. to the outside of their houses. We don’t need to do that as we have two black cats roaming around our house all the time.

2. How often do you clean out your closets?

Before the summer of this year, not a lot. Since then we have been planning the back room redecoration and have decided to have a massive sort out of every nook and cranny in the house. Our house is an Edwardian terrace with high ceilings that was built in 1903 and has three double bedrooms. 

The problem is that I have a lot of junk and stuff that I have kept for years and Mrs PM has been moaning about the lack of space for that junk. If I had a pound for every time she has called me a hoarder, I would be quite well off. 

We took a decision to convert the loft – not as a living space but as a storage space instead. Previously it was just a dusty black mess with no flooring and lots of spiders. Now, it is a great storage space with a membrane to protect everything up there from crap that falls down from the roof. It is weather proof and easily accessible now. 

And I have spent the last few months sorting stuff out and storing it in the loft, and, yes, even throwing some stuff out. There’s still a lot to do but hopefully by Christmas it will all be over.

3. When is the last time you planned a surprise for someone?

Probably Mrs PM’s last birthday.

4. Are there foods you really don’t like?

Yes. I am not a fan of figs, dates, damsons, pears, artichokes, lemon grass, prunes, apricots, liver and parsnips. 

There are more but the king of foods that disgust me is rhubarb. I hate rhubarb. The taste of it makes me feel physically sick and the last time I had it I actually threw up. It should not be consumed by human beings.

5. What is something you recently learned?

I have been trying out Italian on Duolingo so I have learned some very basic Italian phrases like:

Io ho due gatti negri.

6. Items you’re most likely to buy at a convenience store

Usually things that we have run out of like basic groceries, such as milk, bread, butter, cheese etc.

7. Do you believe in the paranormal?

No – but I really hope that ghosts do exist. I thought I saw one once but I could have been mistaken. The problem is that anything paranormal has been exploited by charlatans whose sole aim it to make money out of people’s gullibility.

Like this guy:

8. How would you describe your spirituality?

I find the whole concept of “spirituality” a little bit bogus and whenever people have told me they are “spiritual”, I have asked them what they mean. Nobody has ever given me a satisfactory answer. 

I looked up a quick definition of “spirituality”. Here it is:

Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience—something that touches us all. People may describe a spiritual experience as sacred or transcendent or simply a deep sense of aliveness and interconnectedness.

The implication from that is that we are all spiritual in our own way, and maybe when I start looking into the vastness of the universe, from a scientific perspective, that is me being spiritual. Personally, I don’t think so; I think I am just trying my satisfy my curiosity about things I don’t understand. The universe is certainly bigger than I am and in that universe of trillions of galaxies, each with billions of stars and planets, there must be one planet similar to ours, statistically speaking. 

So – am I spiritual? I don’t think so. I am sceptical about a lot of things and my scientific mind demands truth for me to believe it. 

I’ve said on this blog before that I would like to have a chat with God but only to ask him why he doesn’t come down to people to prove his existence. It would be fun, I imagine. 

Actually, having just written that down, as a Roman Catholic, there is a voice inside saying “now you are in trouble, Dave!”

Maybe I am – but he could dispel my scepticism by having a chat. I don’t think that is disrespectful because apparently he is supposed to have done it many times over the centuries. And I am a nice guy.

That said, many Christians have faith and I am delighted for them if it makes them happy and content. That’s all I want for people. If a person claims to be spiritual, I will be delighted for them if it also makes them happy.

Why would I not be?

9. Do you make plans far in advance

We usually plan for holidays up to a year in advance and I have been planning my retirement for a few years. So, I guess the answer is yes. 

10. Do you like being scared for fun?

Not particularly. I hate rollercoasters now and, as a follow up to question to 7 about paranormal activity, I would be too scared to go to a haunted house. That wouldn’t be fun. 

11. What has been difficult for you lately?

Having the house turned upside down. It’s largely finished now and I am happy once more. 

12. Have you ever written or read fanfiction?

This is really sad. I started a novel based on Star Trek that included the cast of The Next Generation, Deep Space 9 and Voyager. It got into about ten chapters before I gave up. 

13. What type of wall art do you have in your home?

We have just brought some pictures for the back room. There are two of Hong Kong and two black cats, one made up as David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane and the other with the Kiss makeup that Mrs PM used on me for her photography project that effectively turned me into the Plastic Mancunian. 

Here they are. 

Here I am as Gene Simmons (from 2008):

14. Are you more likely to be private or overshare?

I have a tendency to wear my heart on my sleeve but I am very private about certain things. 

15. What have you recently learned to live without?

Listening to CDs.

I joined Spotify while on holiday because my IPod died on me, leaving me without music. Mrs PM was already a member so we now have a family membership. 

Sadly I now have getting on for 600 CDs that are gathering dust and in my efforts to sort my stuff out, I have had to find a place for them. I still use them occasionally and I want to keep them (even though Mrs PM wants me to rid myself of them). 

In fact this morning I have just bought a bunch of CD boxes to store them all in and they will take pride of place, organised of course, in a new cupboard from Ikea that I spent yesterday building. 

I will never get rid of them even though I will rarely use them.

But I have to say, Spotify has been amazing. I’ll leave you with a new song I discovered by a French band called Klone. The song is called “Yonder” and it is amazing.

Storms and Extraordinary Pals

 

Welcome to a South Manchester on a sunny autumn day, the day after a storm hit the UK. Over here, we get named storms and this one was called Babet. Why? I don’t know. But apparently it used to be a hurricane and by the time it had reached our shores it just brought wind and rain, causing major floods in Scotland. 

I had to drive down to Walsall yesterday and it wasa  most unpleasant. The worst motorway in the world (the M6) combined with a torrential downpour all the way caused a delay and made the journey there and back take twice as long.

It wasn’t fun.

Silly questions anyone? Here are some from Sunday Stealing. 

1. October reading & writing goals and plans

Reading? I'm currently reading a space adventure about assassins. At the same time I'm reading a book about the history of Britain. It's slightly out of my comfirt zone but you don't grow unless you do things like that. I'm actually enjoying it.

Writing? The same as ever. I try to write some form of garbage every day under the guise of freewriting. 

I also try to write the odd blog post but I really need to rekindle the more prolific nature I had when I started. I might combine freewriting with bloggery and start to post my rubbish more often. 

I have two back projects – a novel that is slowly evolving and a memoir of sorts. They are both very embryonic and may develop more when I retire. 

2. Something I did that totally paid off

Going part time. I only reduced by one day but it has given me a new lease of life. I take work far less seriously now and any work related stress has all but disappeared. I have actually been very busy on the Friday’s I have off sorting out personal stuff and reorganising things. And also just having a bit of fun. It is a good practice for retirement. 

3. I want to see this make a comeback

There are lots of things I want to see make a comeback. When I was younger I heard a lot of older people say “it was so much better when I was younger” and to be honest, I think I am becoming like those old people. 

The one thing that I have embraced is technology but that is a double edged sword. I want the art of conversation to return. I often see people who are more preoccupied with their phones that their friends and family. In the old days, people would go and sit in a café or pub with their friends and actually talk to each other. These days people just sit playing with their phones and not chatting. 

When Mrs PM and I go to the pub, my phone stays in my pocket and Mrs PM’s in her handbag unless we have to get another drink or go to the loo. And as soon as the person returns they are put away again. 

When I’m out with mates it’s the same story. 

4. Generational traits I really value

I am a baby boomer – but only just. I was born in 1962 and the range is 1946 to 1964. I share a lot of traits of my fellow boomers but I also share some traits with Generation X, the next one. Mrs PM is Generation X. 

I looked up the traits of my generation and of the ones listed, I value the following:

• Independence – I like to think I am self-reliant and over the years have had to be in some ways. 

• Resourcefulness – I have had to dig deep into my own psyche to overcome problems that I have encountered over the years.

• Goal-oriented – I really think it helps to have goals. You can change them and adapt but if you don’t have goals you are slightly directionless. 

5. Changes I’d like to see in my daily environment

There are a lot of potential changes coming over the next couple of years with my daily environment as I near retirement. What I don’t want is for me to become a couch potato. I want to be able to wake up in the morning with a plan that involves doing something constructive every day. 

6. Favourite soup dishes

I love most soups. I think my favourites are probably:

• Chicken and mushroom

• Leek and potato

• Broccoli and Stilton

7. Start with the best part, or save the best for last

Save the best for last – every time. That way whatever experience you have just gets better and better.

8. The most chaotic part of my daily life

Work – without a doubt. It’s been fine working from home but now the management of the company are insisting that we have to go into the office at least two days a week. Whenever I go into the office I get less work done because of constant interruptions, interruptions that I can ignore when beavering away at home. They keep coming up with terms like “collaboration” but I am a person who likes to get things done in good time. If I am constantly disturbed for whatever reason it jeopardises my goals. 

Going to the office also nukes my normal daily work routine. SInce I am so close to retirement anyway, I may just say to hell with it and disobey their stupid rule. They can't hurt me so why not? The naarchist in me is starting to venture out again.

Mini-rant there but I am at odds with the management view of things. Good job I haven’t got long left, eh?

9. If I could only eat 10 things, I’d pick

• Cheese

• Pork

• Eggs

• Granny Smith apples

• British sausages

• Potato

• Bacon

• Chicken

• A variety of vegetables

• Bread and butter

10. What Autumn feels like where I live

At the moment it is sunny, chilly, slightly windy and there are leaves everywhere, the trees currently relinquishing them at a rate of knots, mostly over my garden. There is usually rain (we have just had storm Babet as I said above) but at least there isn’t snow – yet!

11. The teacher who would be most proud of me

I had a massive crush on the junior school teacher who taught me in my final year there. She was young and had long dark hair. I was one of the most intelligent kids in her class and as such I spent a lot of time talking to her (because I really liked her). She did nothing but encourage me to be the best I could be – and I think she would be proud. I would imagine she is still alive; I was about 10 years old and I estimated that she was probably about 25, making her mid-70’s now. 

12. My go to Halloween snacks & treats 

Nothing. I hate Hallowe’en (see moans and rants in previous posts). 

13. 10 ways my life is great right now

• I am back travelling. The next one will sadly be in 2024 but we have plans for heading over to the Far East again as well as Europe.

• The back room is almost finished so I have my man cave/office/second lounge back again. And Mrs PM has promised me that there will be no home improvements for at least three years. Result!

• In my head I feel like I am a teenager. Embrace that inner child.

• Football is back and I am enjoying the new season.

• My piano playing is improving. 

• I am close to retirement.

• I am actually quite content despite the things that life is currently hurling in my direction.

• I don’t have a mortgage. That is a big thing.

• I live in a wonderful suburb of an amazing city so it is virtually impossible to get bored. Even when I feel bored, I can find stuff to relieve the boredom that satisfies the introvert within – learning Spanish, writing, listening to music, playing stupid video games, reading, watching TV, etc. 

• Mrs PM.

14. A perfect day indoors looks like…

Today has been a day indoors but to be honest it wasn’t perfect because I have been battling with a cupboard from IKEA and losing. 

Normally, it would involve a lovely breakfast, do the necessary chores as soon as possible, write something, listen to music, read, play with the cats, watch a bit of TV, watch a bit of sport, chat to Mrs PM. 

15. Pumpkin spice…

Never tried it. Probably never will.

Swap Another Bot

Welcome to a rainy South Manchester where autumn weather has finally kicked in, erasing all traces of summer until 2024. I am working from my kitchen today, waiting for the delivery of my new desk and a cupboard for the backroom, which is now almost complete. We have had a couple of weeks of upheaval but we now have a new floor, new sofas and a freshly painted and wallpapered room. 

It looks good and I look forward to moving all my stuff back in over the course of the next week.

Let’s answer some sill questions from Sunday Stealing, shall we? 

1. Write about the best decision you ever made. How did you make it? Was it reasoning or gut instinct?

Probably the best decision I have made is to agree to continue my education and move away from my hometown of Walsall to Liverpool in order to attend university there. At the time, I was really a product of a working class background and people like me didn’t usually go into further education. My mum kind of expected me to leave school and get a job immediately but my dad encouraged me to improve and better myself. It’s a shame he never saw what became of me, though he was still alive when I gained a place at Liverpool University. 

I was the first person in my family to do this, but was followed closely by my youngest sister who also moved away to university five years later. The elder of my two sisters didn’t but eventually a few decades later, left her job to then go to university and completely change her career. 

For me, it was reasoning rather than gut instinct. It was clear that I was good enough to do it and I succeeded and ended up with a great job, a good life and more opportunities that I could throw a stick at. 

I’ve never looked back.

2. What ONE thing would you change about your life? How would your life be different?

I would retire because I am now ready to put my career behind me. The truth of the matter is that this will happen soon anyway (I am an old git) so it’s not really a surprise – it’s just a question of when.

Don’t get me wrong; I have enjoyed my job – I am just fed up of it now. And I think it’s almost time to wave it goodbye.

How would my life be different? I don’t know to be honest. I hope I will have time to pursue the interests that I have and find some new ones. I have a few ideas for new pursuits and I think the good thing about being retired is that I will be able to try things out and see how I feel about them. If I don’t like them I can ditch them with no real consequences. 

I’m looking forward to it. 

3. What is the hardest thing you have ever done? Why was it hard for you? What did you learn?

Moving to Manchester almost 40 years ago was tough. I had finished university and armed with a degree I had to decide what to do and where to go. I think my mum expected me to move back to Walsall but three years away from home changed me so I wasn’t going to go back there. It was hard because I think my mum was disappointed for me to be so far away. 

I got a job in Manchester and decided that it would be a good stepping stone to possibly move down to London. I didn’t really know what I was going to do but as I settled into my new city, I began to love the place and, in the end, despite a couple of temptations, I decided to stay.

I’ve been here ever since and I have absolutely no plans to move away – apart from travelling from time to time of course.

4. What is your greatest hope for your future? What steps can you take to make it happen?

I would love to be fluent in a different language. I am currently fluent in English, American, Canadian and Australian and a few other English dialects dotted around the globe. But it’s not enough. 

I get frustrated going to foreign countries where I can’t understand the language. 

I speak a little French, a fair amount of Spanish, a little German and, after my trip to Sicily, I have started teaching myself Italian. I don’t think I’ll ever be fluent in any of those languages but at least I will be able to express myself, understand what is going on and perhaps have a simple conversation. 

When I retire, I am planning to enrol in a Spanish class in Manchester city centre (there are a couple of places that immerse you in Spanish), so that will be good. I am currently using Duolingo for Spanish and Italian and plan to brush up on my French and German in due course.

5. If you can time travel, what will you tell your teenage self?

I would tell him to remove all doubts about further education and go to university. I would also advise him to take language lessons on the side – and embrace travelling sooner.

6. Write about the most glorious moment in your life so far.

There have been a few.

• Getting a degree in Computational and Statistical Science

• Seeing the birth of my two sons

• Working in Hong Kong for three months (having already been there numerous times before).

• My first four week trip to the US.

• Visiting Australia, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

• Meeting Mrs PM

Lots of others.

7. Write about a moment you feel brave.

I was stupidly brave the day that I climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I remember asking the lady who I paid for this terrifying experience about how easy it would be for a person who was scared of heights.

“Leave your fear on the ground, mate” she replied in that typical Aussie manner, rolling her eyes.

And I did it – but my arse went as soon as I saw the first ladder. 

What followed was about three hours of pure terror and I cursed myself as I endured it for that first stupid moment when I felt brave enough to do it. 

I don’t regret it at all – it was a wonderful experience and I can add it to my list of achievements.

But I will never, ever, ever, EVER do anything that stupid again.

8.  What made you happy today?

The arrival of my new desk, new office chair and cupboard will make me very happy today (they haven’t arrived yet).

9. What do you dislike most about growing up?

Getting old is irritating for many reasons. My once young body is creaking more as every year passes and while I look young for my age, I know that my brain is 61 years old and that, really, I should be a sensible adult. 

My problem is that I have never been a sensible adult; there is a child in my head that is fighting to be released. I try to release that child as often as I can because that is when I feel happiest – the sweet innocence and stupidity of a child that just wants to play and have fun. 

You have to release your inner child as often as you can – and sometimes people (serious people) frown and look down on you when it happens. 

Once, a grumpy old woman asked me, “How old are you? Forty or fourteen?”. She was frowning at my silly antics with the kids.

“I wish I was fourteen,” I replied. “I’m not – but at least I’m happy!”

I don’t think she liked that answer.

10. Write about ten activities you love the most and why you love them.

(a) Exploring a foreign city (and getting lost). I love travelling to weird and wonderful places and getting to know them.

(b) Listening to music as often as I can. It helps me forget my woes and raises my spririts.

(c) Attempting to write anything, including this post. I may not be a very good writer but I find it cathartic and I love taking trips in the wonderful places in imagination.

(d) My daily walks. I walk at least four miles a day and it gives me time to think about things as well as just observing what is going on.

(e) Reading a good book. Again this is a form of escapism for me and helps me to forget any troubles by getting lost in the story.

(f) Going to live gigs. As you saw above, I love music but seeing some of my favourite artists in the flesh is always a great experience.

(g) Playing the piano. I am still learning this and it is far more difficult than I thought it would be. But I feel a sense of achievement and one day I hope to make music of my own – it’s a long way off but I am slowly, slowly, slowly improving.

(h) Meeting friends in a pub or a restaurant. There is nothing better than a good social occasion, chatting, eating, being silly and enjoying people’s company.

(i) Learning a new language. See my answer to (4). 

(j) Watching TV with Mrs PM and the cats. It is good just relaxing and escaping into a TV series or movie.

11. Do you have an embarrassing moment that still makes you cringe? Write about it in as much detail as you feel comfortable!

Oh dear – there are lots. Okay – this one leaps to mind immediately because it was particularly embarrassing for me. 

I was working in Amsterdam and in the evening, we went to an Ethiopian restaurant because neither of us had tried Ethiopian food before. We were chatting away as the waitresses bought food when I realised that I needed a beer. 

I saw a waitress walking towards me and I raised my hand to call her.

“Excuse me!” I said. 

My colleague said “No – Dave!”

“What’s up with you?” I asked. “I want a drink.”

“Don’t, Dave!” he said.

I ignored him and called out to the waitress again. She seemed to be ignoring me so I shouted louder, loud enough for her to hear me.

My colleague performed a classic facepalm and shook his head. 

I had no idea what was wrong with him, and to be honest, I was a little annoyed because it seemed like he didn’t want me to have a beer. I didn’t understand. 

The waitress came over and said. “What’s the matter?”

“Can I order a beer?” I said, still frowning at my facepalming colleague!

“Oh,” she said. “Do you want me to get a waiter for you?”

“What?” I said, puzzled. 

And then it dawned on me. This was not a waitress. This was a customer who was going to the toilet but who just happened to have a white blouse and black trousers on, similar to the waitresses but really obviously not the same. 

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry,” I said. “I thought you were a waitress.”

Somehow that compounded the issue. She frowned at me and had a slight look of surprise and then turned away and walked back, past her seat to grab a waitress. She pointed to me and the real waitress came over.

I was so embarrassed. The customer walked past me to go to the toilet as my colleague said,

“You absolute muppet!”

I blushed so much that my face was the same colour as the red tablecloth. I had to swallow my pride. When the customer sat down again, I walked up to her table.

”Again I am so, so sorry,” I squawked. “I mistook you for a waitress. I … I … I ….”

“It’s alright,” she smiled as her fellow diners sniggered at my expense.

I relived the moment for about a month as my colleague told the story again and again to my workmates.

12. What has been your best trip so far?

That’s so difficult to answer. 

Japan, the US, Australia, China, Vietnam, Russia, Canada, Brazil and loads of other ones are right up there. It’s too difficult to answer really.

 13. Write a list of 5 things (physical or personality-wise) you love about yourself, and why they make you unique.

That’s difficult because I am a strategically shaved baboon. But here goes …

(a) I’ve been told that my bum is very attractive by Mrs PM and a couple of other women.

(b) I can make people laugh (sometimes without meaning to). That’s always a good thing.

(c) I’m quite a clever guy .

(d) Apparently my eyes are quite nice (even though they are useless for actually seeing things without glasses).

(e) I hate upsetting anybody – even the people I am less keen on. I try to be nice to absolutely everyone – with the possible exception of Boris Johnson and Piers Morgan should I ever be unfortunate enough to meet either of them.

14. Discuss 5 things you wish others knew about you.

(a) Deep down I am shy. If you ever meet me and I seem aloof or I talk too fast, that’s the reason. Give me time to get used to you and I am absolutely fine.

(b) I have a fairly thick skin but sometimes I can be sensitive about things.

(c) I hate arguing. I mean I REALLY hate arguing. Please don’t argue with me.

(d) Sometimes, I just like to be alone. I am really an ambivert but the introvert within can be quite demanding sometimes.

(e) I am kind and helpful – but don’t take the piss.

15. Is social media a blessing or a curse?

At first I loved it but these days I don’t really engage with it that much. I am on Facebook and I have recently connected with two guys from school who I haven’t seen for well over forty years, which is amazing. However, it can be dreadful and it has ruined people’s lives. I can see a time when people start to abandon it in droves. 

The one thing that I simply don’t understand is the concept of an “influencer”. I find it strange and weird and it puzzles me that people will follow a person whose live simply consists of telling you about where they go, what they do and what clothes they wear. It’s just weird (and that is something coming from a weirdo like myself).

Autumn is Here!

Greetings from an unseasonably warm day here in South Manchester. It is my birthday today and I am going to just relax doing nothing apart from writing this blog post and watch some football later. 

My birthday is of course in Autumn and today from Sunday Stealing there are questions about Autumn or, as Americans call it, “Fall”.

I have to say that I don’t mind what Autumn is called by Americans, apart from in one case – and that case is Duolingo. I appreciate that Duolingo is an American company and I love it. It has helped improve my Spanish considerably and I have also dipped into Italian, after my trip to Sicily last week. However, the one criticism I have is that they have Americanised the English on there, which has led to mistakes on my part. 

One of the main culprits is “fall” because I have ended up mistranslating from Spanish to English and vice versa because of the word. And “football” too has tripped me up because in America “football” becomes “soccer”. 

It’s a minor complaint but I won’t rant about it; I am fluent in American and when I use Duolingo, I have to switch to becoming an American to minimise mistakes. 

It works.

Anyway, let’s answer the questions (for which I shall substitute “fall” for “autumn” for the benefit of any British readers who might stumble across the post). 

1. Are there any autumn-specific hobbies or crafts you enjoy pursuing?

Not really. For me, autumn is similar to summer in that it is pleasant outside usually (apart from the end of the season). I still walk every day if I can but the mornings are darker and I have to wear a slightly beefier coat. Otherwise I treat autumn just like the summer.

2. Do you have any favourite autumn-inspired recipes you like to cook or bake?

Not really. We tend to eat more casseroles and soups as the weather gets colder but that’s about it. 

3. Are you a fan of Hallowe’en? If so, what's been your favourite costume?

Absolutely not. 

I am glad that I don’t live in America when Hallowe’en comes along. We seem to be adopting it here more and more and usually there are a few kids knocking at the door asking for treats. We either stay in and ignore the door, or go out. 

I sound like the Hallowe'en version of Scrooge, don't I?

That said, I love the origins of Hallowe’en and the fact that you are meant to ward of evil spirits. Usually on Hallowe’en, the TV shows scary movies and programmes and I try to watch a couple of them. I love a bit of horror.

4.  Do you have any childhood memories related to the autumn season?

My dad was a keen gardener. He used to grow lots of vegetables, so many in fact that he used to end up giving a lot of it away. We used to live next to the entrance of a park, and next to the long garden we had was a dead end road where people used to park to use the park itself. There were lots of trees around and so the road was full of leaves from the trees as autumn progressed. My dad used to hand us huge bags and get us to collect the leaves so that he could use them to turn into compost for his garden. I had no idea whether this worked but he seemed to think so.

Of course, autumn also meant a return to school and a new year with new challenges. It was a mixture of excitement at being a year higher but also more challenging in terms of the subject matter becoming more difficult.

5.  What kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy during the autumn months?

Autumn marks the start of the football season (that’s the “soccer” season if you are American). It is also the start of the rugby season too. As a child, I would play football in the local park and be forced to play rugby at school.

As an adult, things haven’t changed so much by the time autumn comes. I tend to go out for walks in both summer and autumn but spend slightly less time outdoors than I do in summer. The activities are the same until it starts to get too cold.

6. Do you look forward to 'sweata weatha'? What is your favourite go-to outfit for autumn?

By “sweata weatha” I assume you mean wearing sweaters and pullovers. I do start to wear them in autumn, more so towards the end of the season. But really, I don’t really “look forward” to it; I just wear them when I am cold.

7. Are you a fan of pumpkin or apple flavoured treats or beverages?

I don’t really eat pumpkin to be honest. But I am a fan of apples and apple flavoured treats and beverages – with the exception of cider, which has a tendency to upset my stomach. I usually eat two apples a day (Granny Smith’s) and I drink apple juice too.

8. Which autumn scents do you find most appealing?

I like autumn and the local park here where I live has a nice musty autumn smell as the leaves fall from the trees. Apart from that, I don’t really notice the scent apart from the loss of newly cut grass and summer flowers, which is a shame.

9. Do you like to visit apple orchards or pumpkin patches or corn mazes?

It’s not something I have ever done, if I’m honest.

10. Have you ever participated in or attended an autumn festival or harvest fair?

I have been to a few shows in local National Trust historic estates like Tatton Park and Dunham Massey but it’s not something I do that often.

11. What's your favourite thing about autumn?

I like the fact that the trees change colour and when I walk or drive down a tree-lined avenue, it looks very pretty. The weather is usually still quite pleasant at the start of the season too so walking is very comfortable.

12. Are you more of a cider or hot chocolate person when it comes to autumn beverages?

Hot chocolate because as I said above, cider can upset my stomach.

13. What's your ideal way to spend a crisp autumn evening?

Go for a walk. Walking is best when there is a slight chill in the air because I walk quite quickly and work up a little bit of a sweat. 

14. Do you like to dress up for Halloween? What's your favourite costume or what costume do you plan for this year? Do you like to make your own costume?

No plans to dress up for Hallowe’en for the reasons I gave above. Actually, if the truth be known, I could walk around as normal and scare a lot of people.

15. Are you a football fan? What's your favourite team?

Yes I am a football fan (again that’s “soccer” for Americans). My favourite team is my hometown team – Walsall. They are terrible and are currently floundering in the fourth tier of the English football league. This season seems to have started like the previous ones. Yesterday we lost 4-0. You would have thought that they could have made an effort for my birthday. Sadly it wasn’t to be.

I will switch briefly to American mode now.

No – I am not a football fan. I find American Football a little hard to follow though I do know what a quarterback is. To me, it just seems like a crazy game where a load of men dressed in helmets and padding try to beat each other up. There are similarities between rugby and American football but only in the shape of the ball. For example, in rugby, the ball can only be passed backwards but in American Football it seems that this quarterback fellow can launch the ball forward for his colleagues to catch. 

I have watched part of one Super Bowl game but to be honest, I didn’t have a clue what was going on so I switched it off to go to bed (it was on really late in the UK).

That said, when it comes to American sports, I prefer baseball. At least I understand the game more.