We all looked down as Penny sobbed as though her heart was breaking. Diet Club was like that, you never knew when the emotional storm clouds would roll in like twisters from the sea. Confessing you had "lapsed" from the strict "shakes and bars" 500 calorie a day regime always elicited gentle but probing questions from Val, our group leader and expert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We were all emotional eaters, either packing it in or drinking it down in a vain attempt to fill up … [Read more...]
Shopping
There are several clues that I'm a man in disguise and shopping is the biggest of those. I absolutely hate it. From growing up poor in a house where every penny was spent on doing up the latest old wreck my mother had bought in her endless search for upward mobility, via property, to being a poor teenager (at least until I could get a part time job myself), I'd never been able to shop carefree. It was never a pleasure, always a guilt trip. As a more affluent adult, I'm simply not a … [Read more...]
Train Rage
He smelled awful and I immediately felt sick. I looked around for another seat but he'd got on at Hove and it was standing room only to Victoria now. Breathing through my mouth, I realised that he was dressed in cycling gear and his helmet was on the table where a book or laptop belonged. I felt a surge of anger wash over me at his hypocrisy; how dare he cycle to the station, presumably for his health then puff on fags, endangering my health with his second hand nicotine and body … [Read more...]
Shoes
Opening her eyes slowly, she felt the now all too familiar thrum of the engines, the vibration a constant companion for the last twenty-four hours, before realising that it was dawn somewhere in the world. The deep, eerie orange glow came in low through the open blinds of the more wakeful passengers, highlighting the figures of the cabin crew as they slowly moved along the aisles dispensing water, juice and the vegetarian breakfasts (the vegetarians always got their food first). The scene … [Read more...]
Happiness & Hope
It creeps up on you, Happiness, it taps you on the shoulder and catches you by surprise. Especially when you haven't seen it for a while, when you've forgotten what it looks like, what its company feels like. At first, it arrives solo, but more often lately, it arrives with its best friend, Hope. That feels good. It's been so long since I met Happiness and even longer since Hope came along for the ride; every event, every thought, every moment since that day in March 2016 having being … [Read more...]
The Sounds Of Summer
She lifted her head out of the clear blue water and immediately heard the rasp of cicadas and children's cries of joy as they ran in and out of the shallow waves. Dipping her head under again, she felt her hair fan out like so much seaweed while the blissful silence returned and she moved gently up and down with the swell. The sun was warm on her face and she knew that, if she opened her eyes she would see the Taygetos Mountains standing guard over the little village and the sea she … [Read more...]
Thank Heavens For Jamie Oliver!
Thank god for Jamie Oliver. Really, when’s he going to get his OBE (or whatever they give chefs for being bloomin’ everywhere with their brand)? If it were not for his coffee shop in North Terminal Gatwick this would be a very bleak 5 hour wait indeed for the 05.35 EasyJet flight to Kalamata. I left Phoebe earlier at Shoreham Station, where she had helped me with my two suitcases and one piece of hand luggage, 100% full of tech stuff. That was hard, I nearly cried, she’s so sweet and I love … [Read more...]
The Russian Doll
Nobody tells you that you will have to start again one day. That’s one big fat dirty secret everyone older than you seems to keep to themselves. Standing invisible, looking around at the typical shopper in Tescos in Shoreham on a Saturday afternoon, you would hardly imagine that the 50% of them or so, quite obviously in the right age group, are feeling the pangs of whatever this is. Adding to your sense of isolation, you can’t really believe that they are all currently starting again … [Read more...]
Making An Entrepreneur | 001 | A Helicopter Overview
Dear Phoebe and Nelson, in the light of Steve's sudden demise, I wanted to start to write my memoirs, to tell you more about my entrepreneurial journey so far. Why would I want to do that? Especially as you don't really like to read yet, and may never actually read this at all? I believe that, by telling you my story, but also, more importantly by sharing the books, tools and techniques that changed MY life, you can improve your lives too, maybe by becoming a full-blown entrepreneur or … [Read more...]
Steve Watson Remembered | One Year On
Dear Steve, I can't believe it's been a year. I would say "already" but boy, has it been a long one! The last 24 hours have been the longest of all, remembering each painful hour what we were doing only a year ago. Wondering if I could have done anything differently? Wondering if I could have somehow saved you? If only I could have stopped you going out for that walk... If only you had come back to my house instead of staying at your flat.... If only, if only.... The pressure eased … [Read more...]