Sparkling wears her ring

It is unusual but today a Sunday I returned from Scotland back to London and will go to work tomorrow, the first day of 2015 at work.  It is not usual for me to return on Sunday's because I don't like to work a full first week at the Fish Factory. Working a part week helps me acclimatise and get back into the groove so to say. So next week is going to be tough going, if not for the work certainly for the realisation I need to do something about my eating and exercise habits for the new year as I've put on even more weight over the past chrimbo period.  When I left Sparkling's house she requested I phone her up which I generally do anyway when I return to London but this she asked. It was a little unusual but I didn't think a great deal about it. Until it was I got off the last train, opened the door and had drank my first cup of tea with a piece of cake.

I rang but Sparkling was not at home.  Leaving it for about thirty minutes I rang again. This time she answered. She asked if I missed her and I said I did, for when I get back to work and routine again I'll feel a little blue for sure.  Sparkling then told me she had found her engagement ring which I had given to her some years ago.  She put it on for the first time in years and it fitted perfectly, she had tried to send a photo of it on her finger to me but the picture message failed. Which admittedly was probably a good thing because I would likely have been quiet emotional over seeing it there.  So during the phone conversation Sparkling told me she had put the ring back on. A moment passed and I got a little choked up. She laughed as usual. Sparkling said she liked the feel of it on her finger and the way it made her feel inside.  I remember when we got it and looking in the jeweller's window.  She picked the ring from a cluster of similar ones, but it was different. It sparkles just like Sparkling's eyes sparkle and I know is a beautiful sight. The thought makes me happy she feels she can wear it again and she feels good about wearing it. Because of course it will mean some day we will be married.

My Christmas has been very busy and a very happy one, I helped do the things a partner should do, but maybe I thinks more washing up than normal and I got a real taste of what Sparkling has to do all the time.  Empty the cat's tray, throw the rubbish out, do the hoovering amongst other items. I'm getting well domesticated now. Oh how very happy I am, perhaps next week at work will not be so bad after all.

Chasing the Mow

You never really get to know what happiness a child brings until you are in their company and this is completely true with Princess J. Whilst her mum (Rock Chick) and dad (Dangerous sports lad) were to have a new year's party it was down to her nanny (Gaga) and grand-dad (pops) to look after her. So Princess J spent the hogmany and then most of the first day of 2015 with her Gaga and Pops (moi). Whilst Sparkling Eyes and I, also partied into the wee early hours of new years and hit the hay at 3 a.m. Princess J went to bed at 10 p.m. given good fortune she would have a long sleep and we would get up maybe  10 a.m. and be slightly worse for wear. Except as always there is a caveat and this unfortunately is all at the whim of Olly the cat. Which little Princess J refers to as the Mow. For some reason the Mow brings happiness and excitement to Princess J.  For when he is about she has to play the hunting-for-the-mow game.  The Princess is so alert to the Mow when she is in a deep, deep sleep if she hears him meow she will wake up, and stand in her cot saying in the cutest little voice "mow?" Her fixation with Olly is full and complete, she wants and loves him or just plain wants to pester him. It was at about 8 a.m. Olly decided it was appropriate to begin his alarm clock Sinatra, he wasn't particularly loud in his meow but it didn't matter it was enough to wake up Princess, and after about 4 to 5 hours of sleep Gaga and Pops learnt how to live with little sleep and how to run about like blue arsed flies keeping the little Princess happy.

Mow, mow, then Princess J points her petite index finger at the cat. Olly without any compunction of fear at this point continues with his little meows of attention even though deep in his heart there is a fear of being chased by small footsteps of excitement by the intrusion of a little person.  It's not just the intrusion thing he gets unhappy about, it's a matter of affection. The excite loud screams of a little girl must be hitting a certain audible wave length and cause fear.  That and the manic little running steps she has, it is his nightmare to be chased by Princess J, but he very well deserves it for all the many nights of meowing all kinds of hours and waking Sparkling up. Usually these will result in an elbow to my side as Sparkling says "cat" in her authoritative sergeant major like voice. Unless I am comatose it is always my turn to run about after him, get his biscuits, wet meat or open the door and watch him venture out into the dark deep wilderness of the back garden. He prefers good weather to bad weather as well. Yet with little exciteable Princess J here some of the personal waking up mid morning pain is taken away. Olly's daytime habit is to sleep on a bed and Princess J's day time habit is to play Chasing the Mow. 

The purest form of excitement and happiness arises when Princess J find's the Mow. In excitement her finger and arm point at Olly, her voice goes up an octave, as it gets louder, then she does a Red-Indian (native American Indian) foot to foot running on the spot dance. She is like a mini volcano and jogs with intrepidation on the spot.  This is very unlike the behaviour Rock Chick shows who learnt from a young age to completely ignore her pets because more important to Rock is sleep no cat or dog will get her attention.  Princess J though is a different person altogether and she shows absolute commitment to chasing the mow. I help Princess J up on the bed where Olly might of been asleep.  An evil subconscious laugh goes off in the back of my head, and a voice saying you little fury fiend, you've just met your match. The rest of your day is going to be in fear of the cutest little girl in the world, all because the Princess loves the Mow. LOL, yes I can hear my own evil laugh going off. It's pay back time for the 1 a.m. meow, the 2 a.m. meow the 3 a.m. meow. LOL. Princess J gets on the bed after assistance, I gently try to stroke Olly, but now the alarm bells have really gone off in his head, he stares at Princess and he knows her pats are not gentle strokes her excited scream is going to pierce his ear drum and decides he's not having any of it. He creeps away in full view sneakily as only cats can creep off in full view.  Princess J, points again and shouts out Mow and starts to crawl in his direction. Olly is thinking "no way Jose" and he is off, under the bed away faster than a peep of gas escaping from an open lift following the escaping occupants who under held breath hope they can get far enough away for clean air.  Olly has not choice but to seek salvation outside, in the garden, no matter what the weather he would rather  be out there than inside being hunted.

We tended Princess J most of the day. The excitement of the cat, sleeping over at Gaga's and being given the opportunity of climbing, crawling and walking up stairs, because there are none at her gaff is overwhelming to her. I count stairs up and down, then I count more stairs up and down, this goes on for about twenty minutes at a time. After which her attention is taken to something else and Sparkling is on call for the next round.  That night Gaga and Pops slept the sleep of a zombie apocalypse aftermath. Even a nuclear bomb wasn't going to wake us up. Lets also say Mow slept good as well as there was not a peep out of him till 8 a.m. just when we could of done with another game of Chasing the Mow, where's a little Princess when you need one?

The personality of Baby Princess J at 18 months

I returned from seeing Sparkling Eyes and spent lots of time with Little Princess J, who is so cheeky it is unbelievable. For Princess J, the world has been put here to she can adventure and have as much fun as possible. I so love the sound of her giggles when she laughs. It is an amazing thing to here an 18 month old little girl giggle with excitement. She is learning to mimic other people around her and this is noticeable when she does something, such as sneaking a drink of tea.  For an adult having a cup of tea when you are dying for one will lead to a customary "ahh" sound and a face of relief. It's not just the thought of caffine but probably having a hot drink when cold and being thirsty.  Princess J does not have her own cup of tea but this doesn't stop her from going up to Sparkling Eyes and reaching out for Sparkling's cup. Providing the tea is not too hot, Sparkling will then gently hand her the cup and mind as Princess J takes it in both hands and raises it to her mouth. The difficult thing she has nearly got the hang of is realising the degree to which a cup is tilted changes the rate at which the liquid flows into her mouth. However, she is right on the verge of understanding to gradually tip the cup up.  Then as Princess J sips away at the warm tea she lowers the cup and gives out a big old "ahhh" and a beautiful big smile as well. Just to say I-loved-that-as-well.  It is so funny how she is picking up the norms of how adults act and then applies them to her own world. It is not only tea she does this with as well.

It seems Princess J knows a telephone is meant for communicating with. Now she is no longer content with having a play telephone because she likes to have a go of talking on the real thing. When she sees her mum Rock Chick answer the phone Princess J thinks she should have a chat on the line as well. So first thing is first and Rock dutifully hands the phone over to Princess J.  Princess J has not got the hang of language yet but it doesn't stop her from trying so she engages in wonderful displays of baby babble. She can say some words and if counting she probably has about a 100 or so words but they are said in isolation.  Such as "outside" when she knows she is going out or the word "up" to raise something or indeed the word "again" when she wants to hear her favourite song or watch her favourite film (Frozen). She loves music and so likes to engage in a bit of babble with this as well in a beautiful little singing voice.  I have heard Sparkling ring up Rock Chick and in the background Princess J will be doing her best to get the phone off her mum. Rock passes it over, during this time, Rock says Princess walks about with the phone as if in deep conversation which requires all her concentration. Well it is conversation although her own language, and through this comes her excitement at chatting to her Ga Ga (Sparkling Eyes). Sparkling gives Princess J all the time in the world to say what she wants to say and makes a few comments of the like "is that so" and "then what did you do?" At which Princess J continues and tells the rest of her story.  She knows how to use a phone and what it's for this is for sure.

We believe Princess J may well be an explorer when she grows up, because she likes to lead the way when out on walks and she doesn't like to be chained down with reigns or too much hand holding unless she wants to hold hands. It's like her feet have been made for walking and she will walk and find adventure and wonder in this world in everything she sees. Whether it is a multi-bag packet of chrisps off a supermarket shelf or a packet of bird seed, if she likes the look of it she will pick it up and carry it and continue running around the shop, and then drop it on the floor when she's bored. In the park she loves to go on all of the attractions, slides, swings and rocking horses.  Where possible she will climb and hold on and then laugh her head off when she is pushed or swung because for her it is the most wonderful thing in the world.  And nearly every person she takes an interest in she then melts their heart with her curiosity and happiness. Sparkling takes Princess J for walks around a local aquarium and the Little Princess just runs around the shop loving every moment of it. She is picked up to look at the fishes and then put down again because she can not stay in any one place more than a few seconds. Because boredom is not on her agenda of things to do. She races from one thing to another and doesn't stop at all, especially if taken to a new place, then it's all cylinders firing no matter how tired she really is.

When I pretend to be a monster who catches and then tickles her she is the happiest little girl in the world. Usually running to her mum or to Sparkling to seek someone to save her from the tickle monster then to look back over her should just to see if the tickle monster is there so she can burst out into a good giggle.  She is a happy beautiful little girl and were she a prescription medicine all the ills of the world would fade away in an instance.

Walking and thinking about happiness

It's Sunday and the clocks went back sometime very early this morning. So it will mean come 3 p.m. ish the sky gets darker.  But if this is anything to gauge autumn by then it will be pretty mild.  I went out for the usual Sunday morning walk, because I very much needed to get out and walk. On account of being fatter than I was a week ago.  Although the decision to go out might have turned the other way, I might very well of decided not to go out, on account of the clouds. Lots of cloud cover, not quite ominous but enough to possibly sway the feeble hearted and non committed. Today though I was committed and so about 9:30 a.m was out the front door and doing my Sunday thing. Walking. Air is such an important thing, especially if you need to breath. I needed to breath and it was great, I don't know why but there seemed to be more cars on the road this Sunday, generally they don't always hit the roads so quickly, but this Sunday there certainly was a lot more than normal. I guess the people in the cars needed to get out as well, except they were not doing the exercise and breathing part, it's much easier pressing peddles than taking steps.

I walked up through the woods and as I did so kicked up dried crispy brown paper like leaves. It's almost the same feeling you get when walking on fresh snow. Not the same but similar. At one point I wondered should a 50 something man be walking and kicking his feet through autumnal leaves? Nobody was about so it didn't matter and then if there were people about it still wouldn't matter. I wore my yellow t-shirt which has a big iconic smiley face on it. The simple text like smiley face but not text. I felt happy this morning, infectiously happy, how weird it might of been to have seen me, the happy fellow out on a walk. Sparkling said told me in a conversation this evening she found herself reading up on happiness and found it was to do with social contact and family.  Mind I think this can be true it can also be true family or social contact can make you unhappy. But having a walk, well, I can't think of having a Sunday walk not making me feel exhilarated and happy.  I love them. Except as winter grows on they may likely become colder, wetter or not at all if it's just too dreary outside.

I been catching up on some old youtube video's of a group called Shaft, one of the members I used to know but he passed away earlier this year.  He was called Trevor.  He was a really nice person to know and although in most of the videos he momentarily is seen there is more opportunity to see him in the song Kiki Riri Boom, he has a smile and it looks like was having a lot of fun in Miami where the vid was shot.  He is probably one of the most famous people I know, given I don't know that many people at all. I thought as I listened to the music and the happy dancing that what better a way can a person be remembered than bringing happiness and having a great smile.  This reminds me of a quote:

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Ghandi

I want to be more happy and I want people to be attracted to this same happiness and for it to infect them and make them happy as well. Unfortunately it is not something I currently get from most of the people around me, most of which seem to be depressives.  I think they could all do with an inoculation of the happiness drug.  Free of course. A smile and laughter can go a long way to lighting up stressful situations as well.  Although Ghandi probably had something else in mind when he said these words, possibly along the lines of forgiveness and love. The same measure you could attribute to have been preached successfully by Nelson Mandela. Who I might add also had a wonderful smile and attracted much warmth from many people.

If there is a secret to happiness it is probably all in the mind and attitude plays a big part.  Damn it is deep stuff but it always takes itself very lightly.

The New Ugly is Skinny

There is a popularist view of beauty in the West, it's simply put, and simply in this context is a pun (i.e. also refering to borderline subnormal intelligence).  As beauty is youthful and is skinny. Being young and beautiful are two items which inherently go together and who is to deny youth it's own stupidity gene anyway. Yet not all youngsters fall into this category, just the ones who spend too much time in front of a mirror or following the latest fashion.  The Western generalization of skinny and beauty though is probably something held by people who are skinny, or who aspire to being skinny, have low self worth and really do not understand the truth of human nature.  Skinny does not mean beautiful and anyone believing this has lost the plot.  To exagerate in a big way: they've lost the plot in the biggest allotment the world has ever seen, they swim in the sea and ask where is the sea, they breath in fresh air and wonder what the pong is. The poor lost things. The frightening aspect of this body type or view of the rest of the world makes me think it is a stereotype close to racism, sexism and extremism.

A particular culprit of the skinny and beautiful is the fashion industry.  There's a dislike of the so skinny models which adorn pages of magazines, newspapers and websites, well for normal bodied people there is. They quite often look what they are, anorexic and a reminder of second world war concentration camps.  They must be verging on the malnourished.  The clothes they have on are always brand new and pressed, they do look nice but then most people if put into beautiful new clothes can look pretty good.  Depending on the on the fit, but it doesn't mean only skinny people should wear beautiful clothes.  I am lead to believe clothes designers do not like the curvy body type, it is the way cloth hangs on the human body. Yet, everyone has curves, except the skinny drab lookers. Curves are beautiful, the human body is beautiful.  Alternatively there is also the extreme of curvy which is obesity and it is quite understandable clothes on obese people will not look their best.  In many respects botht he obese and the skinny fall within the same category. Extreme skinny is anorexia and can result in death.  Obesity similarily leads to death.  Fortunately in the West most people fall somewhere betweeen, except this may not be entirely true as now I hear obesity is becoming an epidemic particularly in the USA. Gluttony is bad, think twice I say to myself as I devour a second Danish Pastry. Usually the second thought is after it's already eaten and then the guilt kicks in. If only guilt burnt off calories, but it fecking doesn't.

Whether skinny or obese, what is beautiful is in a smile, self belief, personal warmth, an internal calmness with the world, spontaniety and bringing joy to others.  In relation to body type, posture is probably more important for it shows self confidence and beauty.  Yet not in a stuck up posh way which again is something the modelling fraternity have highjacked.  Appearing beautiful in posture and aloof yet again falls into the stupid category.  Beautify can be so ethereal no words will describe it.   It can even be in the picture of a person who has a story to tell.  For example Adam Pearson a
man suffering from a condition disfiguring his body with tumours, fortunately non malignant (neurofibromatosis). Here is a picture of the man, and if I were to say who is the more beautiful of these two photos I'd have to vote Adam.  Doesn't he looks cheeky as well? Something I'm sure Scarlett Johansson would be able to talk about, seeing as they have both been doing a little acting together. In this I see beauty, I see someone who is an individual with character. Whereas the skinny beans above have a surface beauty, I'd be lying if I said otherwise, they look unhappy in a moody.  They need a good bowl of stew and a happiness injection and probably a few years of happiness psychotherapy.

Get over it skinny people, the new ugly is beautiful and I've got a hairy arse look at it and cry.

Farrell Williams - Happy Videos go viral

The last couple of weeks I have been completely hooked a new song by Farrell Williams called "Happy," it's not just a matter of the lyrics and the music it is also the videos. There must be thousands of them, and Williams must of done quite a few himself to the song.  I just love the song, love the music and love videos. On Youtube you can see different videos all of which go through an hour cycle of the track with different people dancing and walking along the same journey, as the song finishes with one person, the video pans to the ground and then pans back again to a new person and the song turns over again. I think there may be as many as 24 different one hour videos, called 24hoursofhappines.com, or something of the ilk.

In a world full of disasters and bad news this single song has shone out to be a contrary ism to the world of bad news. It cheers me up, it makes me want to learn the song and then learn to play it on the ukulele. I recommend it to anyone and after watching the song and a different character dance away to the same music you can't but cheer up and smile. Damn I love it.  I love the fact the people included in the video are so different, they are not all beautiful great dancers although mostly young they are just ordinary in many senses. There is also a complete fan based following where copycats are doing their own version of the song and dancing in all kinds of places. From airport waiting lounges to weddings, the world is being taken over by this one song. Before long everyone will be clapping along, singing along "It might seem crazy what I'm about to say..."

Yes it's crazy, it's fun, it's probably one of the greatest aspects of humanity, it is just being happy and loving it and showing it for a few minutes in a song for all to see.

Happiness is a break from it all

I've been back at the Fish Factory now for two days, and I must admit the happy feeling I get from being away on a break is still there. Two weeks with Sparkling and it's as if the world is a completely different place. Which can only be good for me and anyone around me. I've even been telling jokes. So if stressed take a break and re connect with the important things in your life. Whether this is family, friends or a hobby, like playing the ukulele. It will work wonders. Mark my words, underline them and then highlight them, in a bright happy colour.

A Novice Ukulele player finds happiness

Bertha is my Ukulele, she is a soprano ukulele so has a high sounding tone. I got some Aquilla nygut strings for her and she sings lovely.  To improve on my noob status I've watch a few videos on Youtube, but when I see them sometimes I notice the tutors don't have a soprano Uke but the larger Concert or Tenor style. There is a difference in size and resonance.  But even a more fundamental difference in fingering and fret sizes.  Because the ones on soprano are just a tad closer together. I think it is harder to play, as your hand is a bit more cramped up. I probably helps if you have long skinny fingers as well, then you can reach frets in places short stubby fingers just can't reach.  Stubby fingers are at a disadvantage, unless of course the owner of those stubby fingers has practiced stubby finger Yoga and stretching exercises. Then they may step up their game and play with more confidence, as far as the ukulele is concerned anyway.

But there is more to learn to playing the ukulele than just a couple of chords.  Inadvertently or even rather intentionally, you get to learn about music. And the way music sounds, a chord will always be the same sound, well it will be if your uke is in tune. Then there is timing. Every song in the world, every piece of music ever written has a certain timing to it. Timing and strumming a Ukulele are close compatriots.  It's not possible to do one without the other. Learning words to songs then becomes not just a feat of memory, it comes one of context. For every song has  rhythm and this is enveloped in a tune. Now if you can juggle balls and can do three or four at a time then you could be part the way there to knowing what it is like to play the Uke when you've had no musical experience in your life at all. Which happens to be in my case. There a lot going on to say the least. However, my major love of the uke is the FUN it brings. It is absolutely wonderful. Especially as I string together every aspect of this little instrument to try and sing. I listen to the great Ray Charles and Hit the Road Jack. Which only has four simple chords to play but my singing isn't in time. I then laugh and I am happy.  Which everybody knows is the secret of a good life. Finding your own happiness, top tip numbero uno.

Bertha is singing - You are my sunshine

I can not believe how loud and beautiful Bertha (Ukulele)is now singing to me. I've had her for over a month now and when first researching about ukuleles, the one common piece of information wast to re-string it with anything other than the one it came with. But, I wanted to play Bertha for myself, learn how she moves just as she was when Sparkling Eyes got her for me. She has been doing fine, or so I thought. However, I'd got this set of strings even before I was given Bertha and had them ready. Now I've changed the old ones and put the new ones in. They are Aquila and are made with a synthetic gut called Nygut. It's supposed to be as close you can get to proper gut strings, which I'm not sure whether they are used nowadays or not. To help me with the stringing I watched a few youtube vids and then had a go. Unlike the vids which indicate it should take no more than an half an hour at most, I took an hour and a half. But it was fiddly and I'm not used to pulling strings, although I'm sure some people would say I can do this and pull legs as well. Now as I strum Bertha she holds her sound like an Alpine mountain returning an echo, it is a beautiful vibration. I love the sound. I wouldn't say I love Bertha, I like her a lot, because love should only be for people and mine is for Sparkling (don't reach for the puke bag). Bertha has now found extra  voice, it is like she has grown the vocal chords of Hercules all in a small black soprano. I almost swoon when she sings. It's lovely.

So in homage to the new strings I have been trying to sing along with Bertha. If someone were to walk into my room and see me they would think "crazy man" and probably be true. As I don't know the words I've written them down and the song doesn't seem so long so the agony of hearing an out of tune voice with an in tune Ukulele is shall I say, unique. I strum the strings, (in calypso beat) start the count which is 4/4 and jump in with song. It is hilarious, it is so funny I keep stopping and laughing at myself. I can not believe the racket I am making as against all those wonderful vocalists who play along with their ukulele's and do manage to sing "you are my sunshine." The words of which I am realising are completely different to what I thought they were, except for the chorus.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.

[Chorus]
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same.
But if you leave me and love another,
You'll regret it all some day:

[Chorus]

You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between.
But now you've left me and love another;
You have shattered all of my dreams:

[Chorus]

In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me
When I awake my poor heart pains.
So when you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away.

It is strange how the time I spend with Bertha seems to fly by. I concentrate on the chords, I concentrate on the strumming pattern, examine with seriousness why a string doesn't quite sound the way it does when plucked. Adjust technique, try again, a little better, check the tunning, twiddle a nob, strum again, then try to put a pattern of chords together in what should be the music to a song and occasionally even sing. It is at this point after a dozen or so words I burst out into laughter at the result and am having the the greatest time ever, all on my own with Bertha. Sparkling has said to me on many occasions, it is the little things which matter. This is so very true. Little Bertha has a great voice a big heart and she makes me see the world in a whole different light. When I die I  hope to go laughing, even if the skies are grey, sunshine is always behind a cloud.