Keeping the drug habit.

We joke about growing old as being a painful process, and although it's mean half in irony, half as an observation about the emotional slings and arrows we suffer, there seems to be a physical side too.

For about 10 years now we have been using Glucosamine to keep our joints in reasonable order, and that has been beneficial. I also take Cetirizine Hydrochloride to control an allergy that's been developing for a long time (I remember having days of streaming noses even as a small kid, but they are more frequent) and iron + vitamin supplements just because.

But most recently I've found a magic sleeping tablet - Ibuprofen.

For some years I've been woken in the small hours with joint and nerve pains - you may have seen me mention here several times that my bed is 'not my friend' because of the discomfort laying still for long hours causes. Well, Ibuprofen has helped enormously and I can now sleep until 4 or 5 in the morning - sometimes even as late as 6am without waking.

The one downside is that I now seem to be popping far too many pills (in my own view - anyone who's had a serious heart condition might be envious) and that I'd like to take fewer. The problem is, I can't see any way of cutting down without it hurting one way or another, and quite possibly speeding me to even more premature immobility. So for now I'll keep active and keep taking the drugs, but I wish my body didn't feel so 'worn out' - considering that I'm not quite 50 - when I don't use them.

Do pirates really want to become admirals?

An interesting view of reality and acquisition of creative work here. Food for thought, even if it isn't necessarily correct.

And so I find myself home alone.

Chris left this morning to go with some others from the church to Bosnia Herzegovina.

:p

The upside is that I can play guitar loud if I want. The downside is both obvious and subtle.

That time of year again.

Curiously, this year we really don't feel like we want to share it with people that haven't walked with us. Maybe it's a reflection of getting over it (not really - this isn't something to 'get over').

More likely it's a mix of self-protection and having walked with some people that have sometimes been more enemy than friend over the last few years. As I sit here, I find that I don't want to be open, vulnerable with various people, and rightly or wrong, don't want to push through that either. In some ways there's been healing, in some ways I hurt more now than I did 3-4 years ago, and trust people much less.

Or maybe I'm just older and more cautious.

We might just go out and watch 'Inception' with the Somerton social club tonight. Hopefully our Byriani will be ready in a mo.

Has anyone else notice the barcodes?

Y'know, the 2 dimensional barcodes that are apprearing all over web pages and on posters & documents as well as the ordinary 1D type.

I've just downloaded an app for the HTC called (surprise) barcode scanner. It uses the camera and when the phone is aimed at the barcode it will interpret the code into either the appropriate words & numbers, or show you the link to you can follow with the phone's browser. This is not dumb.

This is so tempting

Tom Petty trib band looking for mature experienced Lead Gitwrist. You will need to be competent to play Mike Campbell parts and have a versatile tone/fx. Backing Vox would be well handy

We say mature mainly because its a committment, and anyone with young kids would be a problem, (families must come first) also someone with nagging wife or weird working shift patterns wont be suitable.

Also a Keys / Synth player needed, same goes as above. Backing Vox would be useful again

Wheels, decent gear, (not necessarily expensive, but reliable/good tone) experience, willing to rehearse, and commitment are mandatory.

Based in Oxford, but obviously within a certain radius would be fine...say 20 miles ish. Too far away would get annoying for rehearsals unless you have petrol money and time in abundance

Not that I know any Tom Petty, but I'm playing so little these days that I've effectively retired as a musician, and frankly, I'm not enjoying what I do play most of the time either. Last autumn someone visiting the church actually gave me an invite to join a band, but I turned it down because I really thought that playing in church was turning round and wanted to give myself to that.

On the drive down from Newcastle I had some Joe Bonamassa going in the car, and all the emotions that go with playing freely in worship came back. It's all very well to keep climbing back on the altar to be a living sacrifice, but sometimes you just wish the knife would come down so you didn't want to get back off again.

Yup, tonight is feeling miserable night.

What happens when we break our wedding vows?

Over the years I've known quite enough friends that have separated and divorced who really should not have had to. There's often the thought 'why did they break their vows' but it occurs to me that they probably broke the detail of their vows well before the wheels actually came off the pram. How many wives loved but didn't honour (cherish) and obey? How many husbands failed to love their wives, even though they respected them?

A quick google tells me that not everyone uses exactly those words, but the essence is frequently similar. I wonder if we fail to see the shame or pain that comes from breaking an 'easy' part of our vows while being horrified that the 'important' part is broken.

Home again.

Good to be back in my own bed with my own wife (not that the hotel provided anyone else's wife, you understand).

Newcastle is an interesting city, and one that should be on the list of any tourist that wants to catch some of the variety of Britain. Interesting people too. I learned about Maccas and Taccas after suggesting that someone's Toon accent was causing them not to be understood. He came from Sunderland, and so was a Macca (where they made ships) rather than from Newcastle (Taccas, who took the ships to have their engines fitted).

Pics now:





Small gallery here.

Just watched Alice in wonderland

Harry potter meets Avatar with a large helping of Shrek. Someone has been at the laudanum again.

A couple of pix from Holland

There's more to follow: album here.

Just read a review of the Honda Civic hybrid.

Apparently in 'economy' mode when used with care it will average about 54mpg, and over 60mpg on runs, but requires the engine to be running all the time. I have a 6 YO Peugeot 307 diesel estate that averages 54mpg and about 61-62mpg on motorway runs. Please tell me why we're bothering with hybrids that are slow, heavy, expensive and have a short working life for the battery?

Ever go somewhere and feel the vibes?

So that you KNOW you've done something that displeases someone, and it's going to take ages before things are OK again. I really do feel like I've had enough of climbing on that particular altar sometimes.