Honesty vs Integrity

Song of the Day - Eskimo - Damien Rice

Album of the Day - Ideas Above Our Station - Hundred Reasons

Word of the Day - Inconceivable!

Quote of the Day - "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die!"

Honorable mention to - Danielle, for honesty - the greatest gift a person can give.

Hey there,

Do you ever wish that you had a decent forum? A decent place to air your views? A place where you can speak in freedom, without fear of prejudice, without fear of persecution? A place where you can rant, rave, talk in tongues, love, hate, extrapolate, theorise, globalise, monopolise, unify, quantify, magnify or JUST FUCKING SHOUT YOUR IDEAS OUT SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR??

Ah, you do. Welcome, then. I'm glad you found us.

Today... Today I am mostly pissed off, and it's an emotion that is currently showing no signs of abating. Why am I pissed off? What am I pissed off with. Well, he's sat here typing on a keyboard... That's right, it's me!

The last few days no matter how hard I've tried to do everything in my life right - whatever I've touched or attempted has gone to absolute bollocks... I speak inreference to work. I've been here three months (nearly), and I haven't made anywhere near the impact I was planning to. I've had wins, and I've had successes, of course - and I'm so much happier than I was in my old job - but I feel like I'm consistently letting myself down... I'm my own worst critic I suppose...

Before I move on - advice for you all. Sometimes, it's better to take the plunge and put your feelings out there - because I've learnt over the last few years that there's no point in sitting on top of everything, hoping that the thing you want to happen will happen - because it won't if you just wait for it. And you never know - when you lay yourself out on that line, while you're at your most vulnerable, you might hit the jackpot.

At the very worst - you'll discover there might have been a good reason you did that in the first place - you might realise why you have so much respect for that person. Why you know that in whatever form, having that person in your life is a true blessing. And you'll also realise that their honesty, their bravery in being transparent with you - is why you began to have contact with them in the first place.

And you know what? You should bloody well thank that person for that. Because so many people will just lie to you to keep you happy. So many people will be two faced, and laugh about you behind your back. It takes true strength of character to be honest with someone you're afraid of hurting. Just remember that.

And that is why I'm not angry at you. You know who you are. I'm glad we're still friends.

And to the rest of you - take heed. Sometimes what you don't want to hear is the right thing to hear...

It's not like someone shat in your cereal, is it?

I think I'm going to leave it here for today. I don't have any songs, I don't have any funny stories - just a whole load of work related pressure an five minutes of lunchtime yet...

Lunch... I remember that... Involved eating, didn't it?

Remember always, I love you all. each in your own special way!

Peace,

Chris

New Stuff vs Not Much

Afternoon, all!

Just swinging by to introduce my new work. It's called 'No Sound'. Enjoy. It has been described by my dear friend Akash as being like "Shakespeare getting it on with John Nash before he lost the plot" - which is a pretty big endorsement.

So here it is, 'No Sound':

Where is the fire that burned your fingers, boy?
How did you find that Flame and
Tire your heart?
When did you feel like flying so badly
That you jumped at the cloud?
I perceive your melancholy shackles
That held you down
All broke up in iron-clad memory
There's no way back for you now
I will grab your frozen shoulders
"Why'd you leave us here?"
Why do I have to pretend that it's ok?
Doesn't that mean I am
Only riding your intensity?

Well, I guess you found your peace in the ground
And there is no sound
Yet we're still screaming!

Hey girl, where's your shocking individuality?
Or your sense of
Strained hypocrisy?
Why d'you need to find your solace
In your inability to shine?
I can see your small heart shaking
Yet too tough to break
We're caught up in violent memory
Why're you kissing me?
I will pull your
Ripped-up T-shirt
"Are you listening?"
Do you have to cry in
Your own scarred palms?
Does it bother you that
You know me?

Well, I guess you found your life in a refraction of yourself
And there is no sound
Yet we're still screaming!

**

Oh, and I just wanted to say - UP THE GUNNERS!!

Peace.

Chris x x

Stonehenge vs Wardour Castle (Or Why my Weekend was Better than Yours!)

Song of the Day: The Pot – Tool

Album of the Day: New Adventures in Hi-Fi – R.E.M

Thought of the Day: “There is an advantage to always being right – you never have to change your mind” – JK Galbraith

Hello!

For those of you that are still talking to me, that is. For the rest of you, welcome back to my comforting and fuzzy folds. We missed you. Come in. Put your feet up. Not there. That’s better. Tea? How many sugars? Milk?

Good. Now then, doesn’t that feel better?

So, what’s been happening? What did you do this weekend?

Well, I can tell you one thing. You sure as hell didn’t have as good a weekend as me!

That’s right, folks – I had another weekend of greatness! But why? Calm down, I’m about to tell you!

I went to Dorset on Saturday. And while I was in Dorset, I once again had the opportunity to spend the day with someone who I rate incredibly highly. You’ve probably guessed it already – I went to hang out with Danielle.

So, my journey began early morning in East London. I left the house at 9am to scorching sunshine – so Jensen, being English, puts shorts on (probably the first mistake of the weekend) – and then began the frankly epic journey across London and down to Salisbury. Arriving about quarter to one, I was picked up by missy M in what can only be described as a brilliant car, and we went and grabbed THE BEST sausage rolls I have EVER eaten (and I know my sausage rolls, thank you very much), and then off to the fabulous, the mystical…

STONEHENGE!!

OoooOOoOOoooOOoooOOOoooOOOOOoooooOOOOOOOooooAAaaaaa!!! (In Mystic Purple!)

Druidish or what? What an absolutely amazing place. Even though a big road thunders relentlessly by about a hundred yards away, the whole place has this unerring sense of serenity… Great to visit it. Although it is also funny to mock the henge – with it’s ancient footbridge and mystical shop of gifts and treats…

And then – back in the car! And off on a random mission to Wardour castle… Wardour castle is where they filmed the bits of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which had Brian Blessed in… Which invariably led to both me and Danielle running about the place shouting “Gordon’s Alive!” and exploring cellars and boy-holes and Mediaeval DVD racks. If you weren’t there, and you weren’t unless you are Danielle, or I, then you won’t understand. But needless to say there is much comedy to be found in pretending to be a real estate agent selling a ruinous castle, Mediaeval Mars Bar wrappers do exist, and it IS scary to look up Chimneys.

And then we went and had a good old natter over drinks, curly fries and cheesy Garlic bread. I think it might have scared her a bit that I didn’t eat much – but then I hope that I made up for it with funny banter!

So once again I am lost for words when it comes to miss Menage. I’ve met her before – you remember, when she came to London, but it’s nice to be constantly amazed and refreshed by someone. It’s incredibly rare that I can feel instantly comfortable with someone. It’s rarer still that someone will laugh at all of my crappy jokes, and rarer yet that someone can make me smile and laugh with such ease… AND she has the most perfect nails EVER!! It feels strange that someone I hardly know is having such a profound and deep effect on my life… I don’t quite know how to explain it really. I’ll try – it feels like I’ve known Danielle for years, and I actually fear the day that she’ll stop e-mailing me, or leaving me snazzy comments, or sending me funny texts… I think life’ll be a lot bleaker then.

Oh, and this will really embarrass her – she’s an exceptionally pretty lady too. And you can take that from me.

So to sum up – Danielle is much, much cooler than flared trousers. Oh, yes. Danielle is about as cool as a polar bear, taking a dip in an ice pool while eating a lolly. That’s how cool Danielle is.

But I’ll stop embarrassing the poor girl now, she doesn’t do compliments so well. But thanks, DM. You are the reason that my weekend was better than everyone elses!

Anyway. Mum has gone away on her hols (lucky lady), and the rest of life is swimming along nicely too. Work is going well, I have formulated plans to buy a flat, and Top Gear is back and it’s making me drool over yummy cars again.

My favourite things at the moment:

1) Danielle (of course… Did you even READ the above?)
2) Lovely Brie and Bacon baguettes
3) Words like Flang, Wangdoodle, Monk and Cheesebread
4) Tool’s new album – absolutely fantastic
5) Feeling back on the road again
6) The kitten that keeps following me home – Little Mau – he’s ace
7) Somewhat bizarrely, my new socks
8) My proposed name change – to Baron Pierre Von Moonboot of Flufflehausen
9) Stonehenge
10) Brian Blessed

So there!

I hope you are all well, I hope Danielle isn’t too embarrassed, and I hope that I’ll see all of you soon!

Lots of Love,
CJ x x

Me vs Bigotry vs Opus Dei (or Ruth Kelly is a Twat)

Song of the Day: Falter – Hundred Reasons

Album of the Day: Films About Ghosts – Counting Crows

Word of the Day: Flang

Thought of the Day: Whose pig is this?

What’s up, bretheren?

Don’t know where the slightly theological welcome came from. I’m sat here at work, and I just realised it’s been a good long while since I’ve swung by to say hello. I appreciate it may come to a shock of my readership of, well, two, but I haven’t been blogging because there’s not been much to say, in truth.

But then something happened that I really and truly had to write about.

If you are a Christian, or have Christian beliefs, you’d better skip on to a different blog – you won’t like this.

Next week sees the release of the film of the biggest publishing phenomenon the world has ever seen. In fact, the book that the film is based on is the second-biggest selling book of all time. Second only to (would you Adam & Eve it?) the Bible.

I refer, of course, to ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

I don’t know if you’ve read the book – but it’s a damned good romp. And that’s exactly what it is – a romp. It’s got mystery and clues that need to be solved and an underlying sexual tension between the two main protagonists… Oh, and a plot that revolves around the fact that Jesus, while being the son of God and all, was in fact a horny bastard like any other man – and had a baby with Mary Magdalene. You know, she who the Catholic Church vilified as a prostitute (so says Mr Brown) because it was inconceivable that Jesus would want his Jollies. Anyway, before I send myself any deeper in to hell, the premise of the book is that the Holy Grail is not the cup used in the last supper, it is in fact the bloodline of Christ himself. Not only that, it’s ended up in Scotland! Throw in a murderous albino (!) monk, and more twists and turns than a yogic sex session – and you’ve got quite a story.

Can we remember that word for a minute – ‘Story’.

STORY!

Godsdammit!

Because what’s getting to me above all other things at the moment is the bigotry being displayed by the Church. “Don’t watch this film!”, “It’s Blasphemy!” – they cry… Waving their hands and gnashing their teeth and generally being all fire and brimstone again.

Oh, please. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion – and as an individual who believes in anything if it’s proved, I respect that. But these people who so strongly object to the screening of this film are demonstrating the sheer and utter closed mindedness of the Christian Church.

Let us see the film. Let us decide. And hey, why don’t they see the film as well – they might even enjoy it.

After all, wasn’t it Christ who said: “Judge not, lest ye be judged”? Just a thought.

Oh, and here’s another – Jesus was a very famous bloke. Has a lot of resonance now, actually. And he was most famous for telling parables.

Or Stories, if you will. Stories loaded with metaphor, intended to make the listener question beliefs and values – and bring them faith…

But there we are. I’d hate to be a closed minded arse.

And something else that’s been getting my goat recently. In this country, a lady who has been elected in to power is part of the Opus Dei cult. Whoops! Did I say Cult? What I meant to say was… well… Cult, actually.

As part of this woman’s religious belief, the practice of homosexuality is a perpetuating sin, and in her eyes this is wholly wrong. Again, entitled to her opinion, even if it is morally retarded. Anyway, her name is Ruth Kelly and she is at the forefront of managing the full equality process for homosexuals.

Can anyone say ‘hypocrite’? In the last 9 years of power, Ms. Kelly has missed no fewer than 12 votes on homosexual equality, and consistently avoids the subject in interview – only going as far as to say (and here I paraphrase) “Well, whatever Tony says I have to do…”

Surely it would have been morally (and religiously) sound for Ms. Kelly to state from the outset that due to her religious standpoint she is entirely unable to take part in votes and decision making on a subject she is fundamentally opposed to? Then she could get on in building that ‘affordable’ housing that her predecessor so fantastically failed to do…

Interesting how members of Opus Dei are referred to as “Subjects”. I wonder if it’s the same in cabinet?

But enough of that. I really shouldn’t talk about religion, it’s probably a bad move.

So during the course of this blog, we’ve determined that Jesus was a bit of a skirt chaser and Ruth Kelly is a bit of a twat.

No change there then.

I think I’d better leave that there. God knows the sort of response this will generate…

But know that I love you all.

Jesus loves you all.

Except you, you cunt. He says you should stop doing that.

Peace!

x x x