Better Vision

I treated myself to something the other day that did wonders to improve my attention and, in a way, my eyesight.

I had no idea when I made the, somewhat, impulse buy that it would have benefits beyond the obvious. Not glasses, or blinkers, but a pair of gloves.

Not just any gloves, these are Marks and Spencer's finest Italian leather in black, with the all important thermal lining - it's Spring here but the cold rain and wind suggests otherwise.

'Hmm', I thought, 'those will make me look suave and sophisticated' (OK so my internal monologue actually said 'more suave and sophisticated' - what can I say? I am a vain creature). In reality, as was pointed out to me the first time I wore them in public, they actually make me look like I lived at the shadiest of addresses, anywhere that would harbour your run of the mill serial killer. On go the gloves, the world turns black and white and I have the leading role in a B movie and not in a good way. Enough of the detrimental image that is conjured up by the sight of me in extra-large black leather gloves, back to the improvement in vision.

When the air is chilly and I go for a walk I put on my gloves. Everything comes into clearer focus, I see more than when I have walked a particular route in the past. The reason for the change is that I cannot operate my phone with these gloves on. Stab as I might (a loaded phrase given the look I carry off when gloved up) my phone remains unresponsive. I keep my phone in my pocket and just enjoy the walk, noticing so many things that they might even make it into a tanka or haiku at some point.

I have complained about not having much inspiration in the past, this should be less of an issue when I am phone free.

Goodbye Dale

I had been wondering what to write in returning to my blog. I rarely, if ever, have pearls of wisdom to share. After much contemplation I came to the realization that, given the likely size of my audience, I should write about things of interest to said audience and when I say audience I mean me. I had never been a big fan of Dale Winton the celebrity presenter from the 1990s and Noughties. I would watch him on the National Lottery draws and when he made celebrity appearances but I never sought him out. My opinion changed after recently watching a travel show he made of a visit to Florida. The friendly approach and self deprecating humour made the show. Without being obtrusive the show was as much about Dale as it was Florida. As I read about his battle with depression I can see that this show was something of a milestone for him, marking a return to television after a 5 year hiatus due to depression. After watching the show on the UK's Channel 5 I did a scout around to see if he had done any more but not yet. Ahh, I thought, I'll just google occasionally to see if he is making any more. The news today of his passing came as a shock. 62 years old isn't old in the general scale of things these days, especially from my position of a man in his 50s. I actually caught myself usually a phrase of my parent's generation "62, that's no age at all!" Thank you for the entertainment Dale, you were always a professional.

BBC Dale Winton a life in pictures

Podcast interview with Dale Winton

Dale Winton on Wikipedia

A return?

I have been re-reading the blog of a member of, what I refer to as, my chosen family. Aside from enjoying reading the posts this side of actually visiting the places she wrote about, it has kindled a desire in me to write; not for an audience but for me. Somewhere to capture the odd thought and store it other than locked away within my journal. I just need to organise a way to do so that I can sustain. Time to look at phone, Kindle (from where I write this), and PC options.