Category: Uncategorised

Ummm…

Joey Jones18 Comments

What are your favorite websites?

Oh, WordPress! Really? Today’s DP was such a simple one. Not so long ago, I’d answered something similar and thought it would all be plain sailing, tell you the few sites I visit, and then get on with my day.

Naturally, I  was interested in where fellow bloggers spend some of their time and quickly became engrossed in their replies. I began taking notes as I was intrigued by their lists. And now I have this long list of my own that I so want to work through…

It’s much calmer outdoors this morning after a few stormy days, but the carpet of wet leaves really does need tidying up. I am a huge believer in the #leavetheleaves campaign. But they can’t be left sprawled out all over the shop. That was the first thing I had set my heart on doing after dropping into WP for a few minutes. Now, over an hour later, I’m just itching to look at some of these websites I’ve heard about for the first time today.

Through the French windows, the leaves look back at me, suggesting they’re not going to tidy themselves up.

Through another window, I eye the car. It has the same attitude as the leaves. Living rural-side with a dog in Autumn, well my wheels are not going to stay pristine for long, are they? That needs doing inside out, and this is exactly the mild and dry Sunday morning to do it.

And yet here I am. . We spoke of procrastination versus laziness not so long ago ..Oh dear. What to do? Perhaps another cup of coffee and an early snack would be a start?

All change….

Joey Jones4 Comments

What historical event fascinates you the most?

Most days, I’ll glance at the DP and then take the Patches out for a long walk. He sniffs every blade of grass, and I have a think about the blog. On returning home, I can pretty much write off the top of my head… but occasionally, I need to scribble down my thoughts/ideas/facts to get them in order.

Today is one of those days…and some. I’m struggling to answer the DP in a bite-sized piece. How on this Earth do I tell you why the Industrial Revolution fascinates me the most?

I guess it’s the social history that has interested me for the longest time. How rural cottage industries using animal power, wind, and water as energy sources in 16th century Great Britain was left behind as steam-powered factories took over production.

The Industrial Revolution was not a sudden rupture but an evolution of the availability of land, labour, capital, scale, and control.

Massive social change.

I dream of Jinni

Joey Jones6 Comments

You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?

A genie, maybe that conjours up an image from a Disney movie. We see Aladdin and his magic lamp? But this tale comes from  a living archive of Middle Eastern Folktales.

There are 27 known editions, countless translations, and adaptations crossing centuries. The collection continues to grow.

In 1948 in Syria the first few pages were discovered of  a work titled Kitab Hadith Alf Layla ( a book of the tales of a thousand nights). It is said to date back to the 9th century.

The first English edition is  from the early 16th century.

A Thousand and One Nights is probably more broadly recognised as Arabian Nights. Aladdin and his lamp don’t appear in early editions. But The Fisherman and the Jini do.

Despite all the variations, the core story remains the same King Sharyar betrayed by his queen vows to marry and execute a new wife every day… until along comes Schehrazade, who begins but doesn’t finish a new story each evening..thus delaying her execution.

Justice, cunning,love, betrayal, and fate. Wisdom, resilience, and the power of storytelling. It’s all there.

A wish for me? That everyone has the life they deserve.

He takes the lead

Joey Jones11 Comments

What is your favorite form of physical exercise?

Walking with Patch at my side is the best! Perhaps I should rephrase that…following behind my beloved companion as he decides exactly which path we will take is the best.

Three times a day, I open that front door stand to one side and let His Nibs through. From this point, he will either stop at the car, turn left or right. And that’s just the way I like it. Leaves me to blog-think-mode and him to be in charge of his own destiny for a while. Win win.

Without Patch, I fear I would not get much exercise at all. Which is a tad worrying. When the time comes, I will clearly need a chat with myself about remaining fit… but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

In the meantime, we will be out there together every day come rain or shine… and at the moment, autumn in England is spectacular.

Never to have an earthly chance….

Joey Jones4 Comments

How much would you pay to go to the moon?

WP. Thanks bit no thanks. I wouldn’t go for free.

Instead, let me turn the attention to Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth on soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2, on Sunday November 3rd 1957.

Taken from the streets of Moscow and chosen for her small size and temperament, this poor dog, part samoyed or husky/ terrier, was never intended to remain alive.

Laika was given one meal and seven days’ worth of oxygen.

Soviet officials claimed she survived for several days, but decades later, it was revealed she died within hours of stress and overheating….

DNA

Joey Jones3 Comments

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?

Out of three siblings who had uninvolved parenting, one took his own life, one went to a dark place-and then there’s me.

I have often thought about how different life may have been for us all.

Which brings me to today’s DP. …A career in forensic sciences, I think, would have been an interesting path to go down.

The Bloggers Banquet

Joey Jones9 Comments

What food would you say is your specialty?

Once again, it has been good to read lots of the replies to the DP today. Thanks for that, guys!

It’s funny that so many of you to profess to be the master/mistress of preparing hot chocolate or ordering Uber eats. Lol.

With just His Nibs and me under this roof, food is a relaxed affair. No longer do I have that dreaded thought ‘ what’s for dinner’. Dogs thrive on routine, so I serve ( yes, it’s like that) his meals promptly. That just leaves me… so it’s all plain sailing.

Soup made with seasonal produce/fresh vegetables and herbs is relatively inexpensive. So, I go down that road regularly. With delicious bread…  Oh, and I make dal quite a lot.

‘Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper’.

This school of thought is attributed to an American nutritionist, biochemist, diet guru and early influencer called Adelle Davis ( 1904-1974). Although the idea had probably been considered before this.

It makes sense to me to fuel up, first thing. I understand that doesn’t suit everyone. But it does give your body the best start. It’s good for blood sugar regulation, metabolic health, your mood, and a whole host of other benefits. It will certainly curb snacking later, which could  disrupt insulin levels.

A light lunch and even lighter dinner is excellent for general digestion and aids better sleep. Then, the next day, you’re ready for breakfast and off you go….

Have a good day, Peeps x

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.