BlogPositive

Exhaust knocking?

Today I took the car to the garage and got my exhaust sorted. It was a minor bit of work, took them about half an hour. It had been knocking really badly until the pipe-work warmed up and more recently even after that. It sounded dreadful and was really irritating. Its been niggling at me for about 2 months. I would notice it as I drove away from the house and then forget it as soon as I got out of the car. But it was steadily getting worse and a friend remarked on it recently. It was a terrible noise, sounded as it something big was falling apart.

However despite all this and knowing exactly what it was, it took me two months to sort it out. Now its great. Sounds much better, no knocking, nice and smooth no matter how fast I go around bends. Its was so easy why didn't I do it ages ago?

Well there are many, many things in life that that. They are small and niggly and you don't sort them out. They needle and irritate and have the potential to become bigger issues if not dealt with. You know the sort of thing. Your partner never filling the car with petrol, your mates always getting the round in and getting you the wrong drink, your kids inviting friends around on homework nights, your boss assuming you'll do the overtime cos you are the only woman without children, your colleagues never filling the photocopier with paper or toner. Its these little things that don't get dealt with that can gnaw away at you leading to a flare up or can become a bigger issue like when you have limited time to catch a train and the car needs petrol on the way.

Just think how much better life could be if you dealt with those small issues today. Think how much smoother your day would be. Think how much stress you could remove with just one small adjustment. Think how easy it would be to address it.

What small niggly issue are you dealing with today? How will you reward yourself when its sorted.

Kashmir

In 8 hours I am on a flight to Delhi and then on to Srinagar in Kashmir by way of Shimla. I'm really excited to have this opportunity to work out there. I'm particularly interested to see how their attitudes to older people might differ from ours further West. Watch this space!

The League for Older Gamers

Well today I have read some news that has left me behind.  The new Nintendo Wii is a virtual reality computer game that allows you to take part in simulated sports like tennis, bowling or golf in the comfort and safety of your own living room.  There is a lot of evidence that keeping active physically as well as mentally as you grow older is really beneficial.  This game allows you to bring those two together as well as improving hand to eye co-ordination.  The news that I saw today was that they are now using it in a old person residence in Birmingham.  The game was brought in by one of their chefs and now all the residents are challenging each other.  And what I thought was - how invigorating that must be to be able to have a physical and mental challenge - pitting your wits and skills against each other.  One guy was heard to say "Well we all hate each other now!"

So maybe its time for you to commandeer the game console from your children or grandchildren and create the league for older gamers.  At the very least you'll have a good laugh which will increase your heart rate, release endorphins and make you feel good!   And while you're at it what other games and activities seem to be the preserve of the young?  Isn't it about time we also thought about and grab for those areas as well.  A life without fun and enjoyment would seem to drag on for ever due to boredom.

Here is the link to the news piece

BBC News

The back roads

I was driving across to my nearest town on Saturday to collect some great pictures that I'd had framed and I went the back way.  I chose the small winding road that travels along Hadrians Wall rather than racing along the main road.  Its about the same distance and a much more relaxing and interesting drive.  I get to see the abbey at Lanercost, the roman fort at Birdoswald, the tranquil River Irthing tumbling though the valley.

As I drove I reflected that in our grey and forbidding future we may be forced to all drive on the main roads because the back roads have fallen into disrepair when everyone wants to go faster, quicker more directly.  The same thing happens with pathways in your brain and your skills.  If you don't use those pathways that are conencted with all the things that you can do then they too fall into disrepair and get overgrown by the moss and grass of your sidelined future.  If you make a positive effort to keep using all those pathways then you will continue to have limitless possibilities.

So what are the back roads that you have been neglecting?  Where are those shady lanes down which you have not taken your thought processes for years?  Do you need a map now even to remember the way back to some old ideas, old feelings, old experiences.  Get out on those back roads of your brain every day and keep the neuronal traffic flowing.