Twinned Outfits
Posted: Fri 15 August, 2014 Filed under: Domestic, People, Thoughts, Weirdness 3 Comments »As regular readers know, I’m really not great at relationships. The whole concept of being with one person for decades leaves me cold – let alone the way some people seem to become almost symbiotic – perhaps even parasitic – beings, who can’t be separated, can’t be apart at all.
The ones that disturb me the most are the ones who also wear the same type of outfits, or at least the clothing colourschemes. I’ve seen quite a few over the recent weeks, some in my village and some around where I work.
I don’t know why it creeps me out as much as it does – although it also does so when parents make their children (and particularly twins) wear the same outfits. But I do, it does, whatever.
I suspect it’s to do with what I see as the giving up of identity, the willingness to give up things I see as most valuable.
All very weird, but such is life, I suppose. Horses for courses, and all the piss.
Anniversally Regular
Posted: Tue 12 August, 2014 Filed under: D4D™, Domestic, Driving, Getting Organised, Thoughts Leave a comment »Yesterday it occurred to me that this week has actually had quite a lot go on with it over the years.
Among other things…
- On the 9th August 2002, D4D™ came into being
- On the 9th August 2012, I declared myself bankrupt
- On the 11th August 2003 I passed my driving test (at long last)
There’s been other stuff too over the years, but it is a bit odd to have even those three semi-major events all in one week…
Nine Years
Posted: Mon 11 August, 2014 Filed under: Domestic, Driving, Thoughts Leave a comment »It’s now nine years since I (finally) passed my driving test. Nine. Years.
I dread to even imagine how many miles I’ve covered in that time – it’s well over the 250,000 mark for sure, which is pretty hefty for a non-professional driver. And from that, I’ve had – and yes, I’m touching every wooden item in my presence right now – no points, no speeding tickets, no ‘speed awareness’ courses (for which I’ve always said I’d say “Yes, I’m aware I was driving at 90. Do I pass?”, but I digress)
I’ve had one accident – back in December 2009 – and killed two deer in that time.
I’ve been breathalysed twice – once just after that accident, and once two weeks later, for the well known suspicious occurrence of “driving a hire car at exactly 70mph down a dual-carriageway at 5pm on New Years’ Eve”. In both cases, blowing an absolute zero. Unsurprisingly in both cases, having not had a drink in months beforehand…
All things considered, I reckon that’s a pretty good track record. Long may it last.
Stocked
Posted: Sat 9 August, 2014 Filed under: Bankruptcy, Cynicism, Domestic, Introspective, Thoughts 1 Comment »Since the bankruptcy – and to a slightly lesser degree beforehand – I’ve noticed that I have a tendency to stockpile things a little bit. Nothing hoarder-esque or anything, but just as a backup, a “just in case”.
I’ve noticed that I now tend to have that backup as being roughly a month’s worth of whatever.
For example,
- I could get by for a month on the food I have in cupboards, freezer etc. without needing to shop.
- I could manage on savings (already) for a month or so if jobs were to go tits-up. That’s bills and the domestic stuff – petrol would be slightly more of an issue, but only slightly.
It’s not an obsession, or even obsessive behaviour – it’s an awareness of what can happen, and protecting against it.
Just an odd thing I’ve noticed myself doing more.
Interesting Start
Posted: Tue 5 August, 2014 Filed under: A428, Commuting, Domestic, Driving, News, Thoughts Leave a comment »On the way to work this morning, I was confronted by road closures and the after-effects of this crash.
Fairly serious – and the damage all looked pretty grim – so I hope all are OK in it.
[Update : As it turns out, they weren’t. One fatal (a motorcyclist)]
Unbalanced
Posted: Tue 5 August, 2014 Filed under: Cynicism, News, People, Politics, Thoughts Leave a comment »In today’s news, there’s (yet another) ceasefire in Gaza.
I’m neither pro-Palestine or pro-Israeli – personally, I think the entire thing is insane.
But what really gets me is the inequality of the body count. From the article…
Gaza officials say the four-week conflict has killed 1,800 Palestinians. Some 67 Israelis have also died.
That’s just over 26 Gazans killed for every Israeli killed. And that’s disgraceful.
I seem to recall that at the start of this, the Gazans had killed one – yes, one – Israeli, for something like 200 Gazans. And I just can’t see that having one dead person is an excuse to go and re-invade a country and effectively declare war.