Category: Uncategorised

The list would never end….

Joey Jones18 Comments

What historical events do you remember?

Hey, WP. When I first read the DP, I thought I’d write about one event in particular. But during a long walk with Patch, I kept remembering more and more. Staggering, really.

(I have removed the word ‘ major’ from the question)

There are 14 written down so far, and I  could keep adding to the list until the cows come home. But best I simply select a few from there…

                               *********

October 1966. Aberfan, Wales.  This is the first major event I can recall. I was only a child, but the shock of the grown-ups around me was palable. The colliery spoils tip crashed down onto a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults. Devastating.

November 1974. Tavern in The Town. Birmingham. England. My go-to. It is widely believed it was the IRA that blew this pub to bits. Taking with it two lads I knew, brothers( Irish) Desi and Eugene R.I.P

December 1980. New York. John Lennon shot and killed outside his home. I was in a nightclub at the time. The DJ released the news.

August/September 1997. Paris, France. The death and funeral of Princess Dianna. Who can forget the two boys walking behind the gun carriage?

September 11th 2001. New York City. The terrorist attack killed 2977 and injured thousands. How vivid those images remain?

December 2004. The Indian Ocean Coastline. Tsunami.Across a dozen countries, the death toll is estimated to be 230.000. I have my own story about this. Maybe another time.

June 2023. The Titan Submersible imploded off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The CEO, Stockton Rush it is said was above listening to the experts. He took 4 other souls with him that day.

Wildfires, floods, and landslides. Hurricane Katrina, Hungerford, Live Aid. Horizon Oil Spill, Terry Waite released. ( his book ‘ Taken on Trust’, is a captivating read. Sorry)  Nelson Mandela’s release. The passing of The Queen. William and Katherine marriage, Arab Spring. Hillsborough. Grenfill……

Live each day, my friends ❤️

Two-Faced

Joey Jones8 Comments

Foil. Do you still call it tin foil? I do. Even though it was replaced with aluminium after WWII because it was cheaper, more flexible, and left no metallic taste.

Word is that it was  popular in England in the early 18th century – early 20th.

I was aware obvs that foil has a shiny and a dull side..and in my mind, there was a reason to use one or the other for different purposes. ( I had never taken that further than a thought)  Shows how much I know. The fact is that it is simply a manufacturing process and not a functional design. Did you all know that?

Risky business

Joey JonesLeave a comment

Looking at the stats for today, WP, no one was even mildly interested in our proudest moments.

Today ( tomorrow cuz I’m answering this a day in advance ) is not going to help ratings, at all, methinks.

I am looking forward to reading how my fellow bloggers define risk. But I have nothing to give today. Nada. Sorry WP. Will try harder.

Ashes to Acorns

Joey Jones12 Comments

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I will not be having a funeral. Just a simple click and collect kind of affair. From popping my clogs to crematorium. Done.

If anyone wants to say any kind words or  bring flowers, can you do it now, please. Let me smell those magnificent lilies. Let me hear a few sweet words.

I did have this idea of having my ashes put around the base of an oak tree. But it turns out that is more complicated than it sounds.

The mighty oak has sensitive roots, and the sodium would be detrimental to the trees’ well-being. They make eco urns for such this purpose. Allowing for a gentle release into the soil. But this really defeats the object of planning a simple departure.

It would be fun to imagine a squirrel sometime in the future eating an acorn I had helped to produce

Pity, I felt I could channel my inner Christina Rossetti that way. No, I’m just trying to add some humour into a darkish post.

Another day another dollar

Joey Jones4 Comments

When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?

Elon Musk.

He is the wealthiest man in the world. This South African has 500 billion dollars to his name. So, in monetary terms, the boy’s done good. Not a rag to riches story by any stretch, but still…

And of course the saying goes ‘ money can’t buy you happiness’…but if an electric bill doesn’t unerve you a tad, then there’s happiness to be had.

What goes on behind closed doors is a totally different matter. Whether Mr Musk is successful in other areas of his life is another thing. Word is he has issues.

To get your ducks lined up whilst the plates spin is no mean feat. Which brings us to balance. Maintaining a healthy outlook with gratitude and compassion. To have empathy and the ability to be kind to ourselves and others. To be truthful, authentic…and content. That is success.

It’s a good job really that Elon Musk has a shed load of money..to date he has 13 children and their mothers to support.

Blankety Blank

Joey Jones6 Comments

What could you try for the first time?

I had a sneak peak at today’s DP last night, and nothing came to mind. ‘Sleep on it’, I told myself. So I did, but the song remains the same. Inspiration is not with me today.

But what I don’t say often enough is a big thank to my fellow bloggers and readers who often stop by to read and acknowledge a post…even better when you drop in the Comments to say hi.

Bye for now. Have yourselves a happy day.

Procrastination Inc

Joey Jones7 Comments

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

Well then, WP, thanks for today’s DP. It’s going to be a tricky one to pull off, and that’s for sure.

You really think peeps are going to be even mildly interested in  how I keep putting off tidying up the shed and getting outside winter-ready? Rock n Roll.

And why I keep putting it off? Well….because I can.

Edit…A few moments after finishing this quite slim post, I decided to cowboy-up and go out there this morning and get things sorted. So all has not been lost. Maybe it has been an inspiring DP, after all! Thank you, WP.

The Child Within

Joey Jones13 Comments

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

There are times when you have to be the grown-up in the room..and other times there is room to be something else.

When your charges need direction or affection, when their wellbeing and safety is your priority, then the grown up is there. Willing, able, capable  reliable. Down-time opens the door a little for the child within to appear and join in the fun.

It’s about getting the balance right ( I guess we could say that about anything, everything in life). Recognising and acknowledging the time and place.

I have no idea if everyone has their child inside still active. No idea at all. But I am grateful mine is there, in the wings, just waiting to escape from time to time.

*Note to self when looking for images to accompany a blog post, it’s probably best not to put ‘ adult’ in the search box.

Short changed

Joey Jones6 Comments

If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?

Firstly a million dollars is only £750.000. Us Brits need to put in for a raise. You know, level up, I think they call it these days! Thank you. So I have a million pounds now? Good.

There is a special older lady I know. I’m going to skim a nice chunk off the top and pass it on to her to do with as she wishes.

There are 171 registered charities in the UK ( a gross annual income over £5000) and many more struggling to make ends meet. Often, animal rescues.

There is an English lady called Kim Cooling who began Animal SOS Sri Lanka in 2007, having been helping  street dogs overseas for some time.

Kim now has over 2400 dogs in her care, and she really needs help to do what she and her team does to the best of their abilities.I would be honoured to be able to provide substantial financial assistance. The stress of responsibility must be immense. She has my utmost respect.

http://www.animalsos.sl.com

Give Peace a Chance

Joey Jones5 Comments

What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

Love him or loathe him, Donald Trump has successfully used mediators to bring about a peace plan for Gaza. I take my hat off to him for getting thus far.

Sadly, it is too late for the many souls who died, were injured, lost friends, their homes, and their communities. Whole regions wiped out, for what?

What would I attempt to do given I could not fail? It would be to get involved in mediation in international conflicts.

This poem was written during a war…

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

And frogs in the pools singing at night,
And wild plum trees in tremulous white;

Robins will wear their feathery fire,
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

And not one will know of the war, not one
Will care at last when it is done.

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,
If mankind perished utterly;

And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn
Would scarcely know that we were gone.

Sara Teasdale 1884~1933