Making sense of it all

Joey Jones11 Comments

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

Being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is a trait, superpower and recognised as a neurobiological difference….and like everything else in life there is light and shade.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity ( SPS) it is specifically called in the science world. It is complex and impossible to put into a bite-sized piece for my blog post this morning.

I will endeavour to put some facts and figures about it for a post later if you are interested. Oh, here’s one statistic …20% of the population is hsp/sps.

Do you think that may include you? Lots of Creatives are.

And relax

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List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

So many of the bloggers here on WP today are answering the DP simply: We don’t want a job!’ And it’s not about being lazy, either. There is not a lot of freedom to be had for many trying to keep home and soul intact.

They change the percentage now and then, but Shelter say between half and three quarters of working renters are one pay packet away from homelessness.

There are people/famlies struggling to keep their heads above water, with bills to be paid at every turn.

No wonder WP the DP is being answered with shouts of ‘ give me a break’…..

I’d like that converted chapel or old school house and have enough room to take in the old and unwanted broken souls from a Rescue Centre…and adequate funds to keep that roof over our heads.

If I was younger? A Search and Rescue dog handler…and before you say anything, yes, I appreciate it would be grim at times.

That leaves being a philanthropist of some measure.Having the cash to give generously and regularly to charity appeals.

English Cultral Heritage: The Creatives

Joey Jones7 Comments

What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?

Yay! Once I get to roll out my main man, William Morris 1828-1882. The designer, poet, craftsman, writer, social activist, and conservationists. I’m so proud of him and his buddies in The Pre-Raphelite Brotherhood.

The Industrial Revolution favoured the factory owners, the merchants, the financiers, and industrilists (sound familiar?), but William Morris fought back. He wanted beautiful and crafted objects for everyone. His Arts& Crafts movement did everything in their power to keep it real.

Amongst his many talents and passions, he pushed for art appreciation and established public exhibitions to be open and available to Joe Public.

The artists in his circle at that time were into nature, details, vivid colour, and meticulous naturalism. William Morris was about quality, beauty, and assessability. What a man!

Designs on you…

Joey Jones5 Comments

What brands do you associate with?

Who wants to live in an environment where everything you wear/buy/use is scrutinised? Day in and day out. Imagine how tiresome that must be.

Maybe it’s the wannabes who suffer the most. They beg, steal, or borrow to get  that handbag, only to find it is ‘ so yesterday’ by the end of the week.

David Beckham wears a silly expensive watch in some ad. How do people not take on board he would have been paid shed loads to model it and probably had one thrown into the deal anyway?

On the subject of watches I have a beautiful but low-key Christian Dior one. It was a gift  ( Thank you PN) and I love it and wear it all the time. I have to admit it makes me smile when the guy in Timpson’s  raises an eyebrow when I take it in for a new battery or strap.

I also have ( yes, get me!) some tatty old addidas trainers that really need replacing. But I bought those as I really liked them. And that’s the point, isn’t it? Even if money was no object, I’d only buy something because I liked it. Simple as.

I associate with Birkenstock, though.Always have always will!

Edit…There was a time I coveted Red or Dead boots n shoes, tbh.

Portrait of a Lady

Joey Jones13 Comments

What could you do more of?

Read.

There was a time I would devour books, then the digital age kicked in, and things changed.

Now, on a table sits a book just waiting to be read. The Portrait of a Lady. I bought it from http://www.awesomebooks.com ( this is my go-to online bookstore). ( Ooh, I wonder if I could nab a voucher for mentioning them?)

The novel was published in 1881 ( a favourite time in history of mine) by Henry James and is partly about a man’s relationship with his grandmother, as they both age.

I bought the book because I have a sample of the perfume of the same name and absolutely love it! Totally love it! I would get no thanks for wearing it round Tesco mind, such is its intensity. But with Patchouli and Sandalwood in the mix for me, it’s gorgeous.

Put together by two masters Frédéric Malle and Dominique Ropion and launched in 2010, it’s a costly bit of kit, that’s for sure.

It’s cold and overcast today. Himself is fed, walked, and watered and is now in the realms of slumber land, so maybe I will snuggle under a blanket next to him and turn to the first page?

‘ Under certain circumstances, there are a few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea....  ‘

Billy Elliot The Musical ‘ Electricity’

Joey Jones2 Comments

What things give you energy?

It was electrifying, watching the young lad ( Forgive me I can’t recall your name) perform this song and dance all those years ago. His pure energy filled the theatre and stunned the audience. A never to be forgotten moment.

Energy is there for the taking. It’s all around us. I find it in people with a generosity of spirit. In laughter. After an undisturbed nights sleep. A beach walk, the sea.  Being with authentic altruistic folk. Children’s laughter. A dog walk in nature. A hearty breakfast. An open bedroom window letting in the night. Finding a poem that resonates. New footwear. A spray of a favourite perfume.  The air after rain. Blogging…..And more…

Spinning the vinyl

Joey Jones6 Comments

What’s your all-time favorite album?

Growing up, there was always the radio on at a weekday breakfast, as we all sorted ourselves out for the day. Dinner times same radio but very beige tunes.

I doubt I heard the launch of Radio One as it was at 7 am, on a Saturday. (September 30th, 1967. Goodness, that was a long time ago! ) The Move, Flowers in the Rain. Oh, Birmingham, you make me so proud. Turning out some fine musos.

My dad had a carved oak box ( on legs) in the hallway, where he kept his records, but strangely, I don’t recall him ever playing them. Although he did teach himself the piano and would play by ear.

My eldest brother, R.I.P, was before his time, into his music, seeing bands, curious. He was generous with any albums or books he thought might interest or educate me. My other brother also very cool would play his electric guitar in his bedroom next to mine.

So, there was always music in the air and I grew up in a wonderful era for it.

My album of choice? Damn the Torpedoes  by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.