Hugs - The Wonder Drug

Have you ever wondered how effective hugs are? You rarely give a hug that is not appreciated, or receive one that does not make you day a little brighter. They are particularly effective in treating everyday problems like stress, worry, anger, frustration, sadness or sorrow, and even the occasional nightmare. They are available without a prescription. Can you think of any medication that has such pleasant side effects?

Hugs are good for you. They are non-fattening, they don't cause cancer, and they don't give you cavities. They are all natural; contain no preservatives, artificial sweeteners, or other chemical additives. They are cholesterol free and contain one hundred percent of the recommended daily allowance of hope and kindness.

Hugs don't need batteries, tune ups or x-rays. They are a completely renewable source of energy and they are energy-efficient.

They are non-taxable as we as fully returnable. They can be safely used in all kinds of weather - as a matter of fact they work especially well during cold and rainy days. The best thing about hugs is that you can use them without special training or prior experience.

They don't require any instructions or a manual and tapes. But a word of caution for those trying it for the first time: you should never wait until tomorrow to hug someone who needs it today. Once you realise how good it feels you'll want to do it all over again.

Yes - hugs are extremely addictive.

Consider yourself hugged!

Right Now ...

- somebody is very proud of you.

- somebody is thinking of you.

- somebody misses you

- somebody wants to talk to you.

- somebody wants to be with you.

- somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.

- somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.

- somebody wants to hold your hand.

- somebody hopes everything turns out all right.

- somebody wants you to be happy.

- somebody wants you to find him/her.

- somebody is celebrating your successes.

- somebody wants to give you a gift.

- somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.

- somebody hopes you're not too cold, or too hot

- somebody wants to hug you.

- somebody admires your strength.

- somebody is thinking of you and smiling.

- somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.

- somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.

- somebody thinks the world of you.

- somebody wants to protect you.

- somebody would do anything for you.

- somebody wants to be forgiven.

- somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.

- somebody wants to laugh with you.

- somebody remembers you and wishes that you were there.

- somebody is praising God for you.

- somebody needs to know that your love is unconditional.

- somebody wants to tell you how much they care.

- somebody wants to share their dreams with you.

- somebody wants to hold you in their arms.

- somebody wants YOU to hold them in your arms.

- somebody treasures your spirit.

- somebody wishes they could STOP time because of you.

- somebody praises God for your friendship and love.

- somebody can't wait to see you.

- somebody loves you for who you are.

- somebody loves the way you make them feel.

- somebody wants to be with you.

- somebody wants you to know they are there for you.

- somebody's glad that you're his/her friend.

- somebody wants to be your friend.

- somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.

- somebody is wishing that you noticed him/her.

- somebody wants to be near you.

- somebody misses your advice/guidance.

- somebody has faith in you.

- somebody trusts you.

- somebody needs you to send them this letter

- somebody needs your support.

- somebody needs you to have faith in them.

- somebody will cry when they read this.

- somebody needs you to let them be your friend.

- somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.

Thinking of You!

English Language???

Maybe I am getting old before my time or maybe it is my problems with dyslexia confusing me but I am really getting highly annoyed and frustrated and the use of the English language these days! Having discussed this with my colleagues in work and friends I appear to be fairly unique. I cannot be the only one!

This is nothing to do with political correctness because I am certainly not that! I am the first to admit my English grammar is not always the best. I mix up my tenses and me spelling is terrible (thank God for the spell checker). However I do feel that basic English is being lost. Being lost by what I would deem as fairly intelligent adults. By the term “adults” I mean older than me! I am not sure what I mean by “fairly intelligent”!

I have done a little research into this blog as I do not know a lot of what is said or communicated so I have had to speak in depth the friends and colleagues to make sure my information is correct. I have also used several social networking sites where a lot of what I am getting frustrated about seems to live.

Do not get me wrong I am not advocating going back to Shakespearean days where he would say: “How camst thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?” meaning basically: “How did you get here and where did you come from?” Throughout my research there are a lot of new ways of communication about. I think my particular distain is for abbreviations that are used. An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning short, apparently) is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase. For example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation abbr., abbrv. or abbrev. I think a lot of my annoyance is I have to think about what is it the person is trying to say.

My biggest problem is with the word: “LOL”, an abbreviation for laughing out loud, or laugh out loud. This is a common element of Internet slang. It was used historically on the Internet but is now widespread in other forms of computer-mediated communication, and even face-to-face communication. This is one of many acronyms for expressing bodily reactions, in particular laughter, as text, including acronyms. There are more emphatic expressions of laughter such as LMAO ("laugh(ing) my ass off"), ROTFL "roll(ing) on the floor laughing") or ROFL ("roll(ing) on [the] floor laughing"), and BWL ("bursting with laughter"). I have got to point where it really gives me utter distain every time I read or hear it and think the person using it is not very clever and should go back to school!

I shall tell a little story now about the word “LOL” now. I was in a ‘quiet’ carriage on a busy train coming back from a day out somewhere a few months ago. Now this carriage was very quiet and a lot of people were stood up. I was unfortunate enough to be one of the people stood up. I was not being noisy but I happened to be standing up close to a lady that was sat down and she was sending a message on her mobile phone. This lady was middle aged, well dressed and looked like she was returning home from an important job or meeting in London. The carriage was very quiet and I happened to glance down to her mobile telephone. I happened to notice she had entered the word “LOL”! Well she did not “Laugh Out Loud”! If she had the whole carriage would have heard. So not only terrible at English, showing a lack of education, but she was also a liar! I did not say anything but it made me think how my first impressions had obviously wrong. I may have been over reacting to three little letters but it does seem to be a little lazy and give the impression of “idiot”!

There seems to be a lot more abbreviations coming into everyday speech. I lot of the time I do know what they mean! For example:

JK – Just Kidding

BF – Boy Friend

GTG – Got To Go

BRB – Be Right Back

CLAB – Crying Like A Baby

FB – Facebook

I also received HNY in an email from a top solicitor the other day (Happy New Year)!

In my day we only really had six I can think of:

PTO – Please Turn Over

ASAP – As Soon As Possible

RIP – Rest In Peace

PDQ - Pretty Damn Quick

DIY – Do It Yourself

RSVP – Répondez S'il Vous Plaît

I am aware that certain companies and industries use abbreviations more than others. In my girlfriends profession she has a list of over 700 that she refers to regularly in the course of her job. However when they appear in everyday speech it tests my patience slightly. I do wonder if it just people being lazy?

There are some new ways of communication I do not mind. For example emoticons: An emoticon is a pictorial representation of a facial expression using punctuation marks and letters, usually written to express a person's mood. Emoticons are often used to alert a responder the mood of a statement, and can change and improve interpretation of plain text. This is a list of commonly used emoticons that I know about:

Smiley or Happy Face >:] :-) :) :o):] :3 :c) :> :}

Laughing, Big Grin >:D :-D :D 8-D x-D X-D =-3 8-)

Very Happy :-))

Frown, Sad >:[ :-( :( :-c :-< :< :-[ :[ :{

Wink, Smirk >;] ;-) ;) *-) ;-] ;^)

Surprise Shock >:o >:O :-O :O :O 8-0

There is also some picture made up of characters that I think are very cleaver and can be very sweet:

(\_/)

(='.'=)

(")_(")

There is also SMS language that is also known as txt-speak, chatspeak, txt, txtspk, texting language, txt lingo, txtslang or txtslang. It is a term for the abbreviations and slang most commonly used due to the necessary shortness of mobile phone text messaging, in particular the widespread SMS (Short Message Service) communication protocol. SMS language is also common on the Internet, including in email and instant messaging. It can also done using pictures and single letters or numbers to represent whole words (e.g. "i <3 u" which uses the pictogram of a heart for love, and the letter u replaces you).

Some rules that I can find and do not overly mind:

Single letters can replace words: be becomes b, see or sea becomes c, okay becomes k or ok, are becomes r, you becomes u, why becomes y and oh becomes o.

Single digits can replace words: won or one becomes 1, to or too becomes 2, for becomes 4 and ate becomes 8.

A single letter or digit can replace a syllable or phoneme: to or too becomes 2, so: tomorrow becomes 2mro or 2moro, today becomes 2day. For or fore becomes 4, so: before becomes b4, forget becomes 4get. Ate becomes 8, so: great becomes gr8, late becomes l8, mate becomes m8, wait becomes w8, hate becomes h8, date becomes d8 and later becomes l8r or l8a. And becomes &, thank you becomes 10q, thnq or ty.

Combinations of the above can shorten a single or multiple words: your and you're become ur, someone becomes sum1, no one becomes no1, anyone become any1 or ne1 and for you becomes 4u.

In conclusion after writing this I have decided that I may just be a bit old and grumpy because I do actually like some of this new way of speaking and do actually find some of it clever.  A great message I was once sent after a football team: Manchester United scored eight goals against an Arsenal team that scored two was:

I’d h8-2 b an Arsenal fan!

This made me laugh out loud but I would NEVER say LOL!!!

                                          Oooo

                Some people       (    )

          come into our lives     )   /

              and quickly go..     (_ /

                      oooO

                      (    )      Some people

                       \  (        become friends

                        \_)       and stay awhile...

             leaving beautiful      Oooo

             footprints on our     (    )

                       hearts...         )   /

                                            ( _/

                       oooO

                       (    )      and we aren't

                        \   (

                          \_ )      quite the same

                                    because we have

                                      made a good

                                        friend!!

       (\        /)

       (  \  _ /   )

        (  \( )/   )

       (   /  \   )    TAKE THIS LITTLE ANGEL

        ( / \/ \ )   AND KEEP HER CLOSE TO YOU

         /      \    SHE IS YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL

        (        )    SENT TO WATCH OVER YOU

THIS IS A SPECIAL GUARDIAN ANGEL

Slow Dance

I listen to the radio every night before going to bed and while asleep. I started doing it when I listened to French radio when I was revising for my French GCSE. I gained a grade C in my exam and so thought this was a good way of learning and relaxing. It is a sort of comfort thing for me now. I do not listen to music much, mainly talk shows.

I first came across this poem or song that I would like to share about fifteen or so years ago. I believe it was a rumour that an email was sent out saying there is a little girl who had six months to live. People were asked to forward the email about her to as many people as possible because the American Cancer Society will give 3 cents per email to support her treatment. The email started with a poem titled “SLOW DANCE”. The email is signed with the name of a professor at Yeshiva University in New York. There are several versions of this email making the rounds of the internet. Some simply say this is a poem written by a dying girl. Others say the little girl gave it to a medical student. Others say the poem is being circulated by a doctor. The poem is actually from the pen of psychologist and writer David L. Weatherford.

Whatever the facts I love it and I first heard it late at night on a talk show. I could not remember what the poem was called but I emailed the show the very next day to find out what the poem was called and if could get a copy. Fortunately they replied. Here is the poem or song and hope you enjoy it as much as I did then and still do now ….

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
Or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,
Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
'Cause you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It's like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn't a race, so take it slower,
Hear the music before your song is over.

Don't judge a book ...

This piece is an apt piece as a lot of my memories writing this go back to this particular time of year. I am not sure where to start on this blog entry or where is going to end but here we go…

I like to think that I am thought of as fairly confident about things. At least in my adult days anyway! I do worry and analyse things much as anyone else. But try not to overly worry about things I cannot control. I do worry a bit though but try to put it to the back of my mind and have a positive outlook on life. I remain positive and try to pass this positive vibe on to others that I have contact with.

Occasionally, when I was younger, I used to stay up all night worrying about things. Things such as camping trips with the scouts or school tests or amateur dramatic plays I was involved with.  As I got older these things did not bother me so much and I did not worry about my exams during my degree and did not worry about job interviews. I felt I knew myself and was confident that I had done enough to get the required result. I knew if I had not then it was too late at that time of night to worry about it.

Now when I finished university I got a job and was working in Bristol. I was however shortly to be moving to Swindon (Wiltshire) with my partner. The plan was to commute to Bristol for a short period whilst finding a job in Swindon. The commute was half an hour on the train and a short bus journey each end. I was confident enough to think I could make this trip relatively short term. My last few weeks in Bristol before I was due to move all my things to Swindon were very busy at work and I was already catching two buses from my work to where I was living in Bristol.

This was around December time and very cold. Waiting around for buses was not much fun. I started to feel very tired in the mornings and very dizzy and had big headaches. I carried on but really struggled to get up and get out the house in the mornings. I ended up walking a lot of the way to work to wake me up and also to avoid catching a bus for fear I would fall asleep and miss my stop. I sometimes called a taxi to get me to work. It came to a bit of a head when I called a taxi to work and had to ask the driver to turn around as I just felt far to spaced out to do into work.

I made a doctor’s appointment and the doctor said I have “Labyrinthitis”. This apparently is an infection of the inner ear and it was affecting my balance. This explained a lot. Fortunately I was not feeling overly sick with it! I got some medicine and tried to carry on and convince myself the medicine would soon kick in and I would start to feel better soon. The dizziness was just in temporary.

Before I knew it I was moved to Swindon one weekend and it felt all like the right thing to do. However I was still suffering a bit with the tiredness and dizziness. After the weekend of move I really struggled to get up, it was dark, foggy and freezing outside. I kept yawning in the shower and as I was getting dressed. I walked outside in the cold and dark and all around me seemed to be closing in and blurry round the edges. I walked to the bus stop really spaced out. I managed to get on the bus but was thinking about how the world seemed to be really close around me. I continued to be yawning and feared falling asleep again. I feared missing my stop and then thinking about what would happen if that happened on the train! I had to get off the bus as there was no way I could go into work feeling like that! I pressed the bell and got off at the next stop, which could not come quick enough. I put my head down and walked back to the house. The sun was coming up and all I wanted to do was go back to bed. First day commute – failure.

It was coming up to Christmas and I had some days booked off to look for jobs. I phoned my boss and signed myself off sick for a week to lead up to my annual leave and Christmas break. I spent my whole time in bed sleeping and feeling sorry for myself. I should have been happy as I had a new start with my partner, I should be looking for a job, I should be enjoying the Christmas festivities but all I felt was tired and really worried about stepping outside.

I did go outside for a bit but there was no way I could face going into a local little shop to get some milk and a paper, let alone going to the doctors’ surgery and sitting down there, surrounded with other sick people and risk feeling worse. I did not want to go to the shop as it had a big hot fan in there above the place where you queue and the hot fan would make me feel really uncomfortable. At the doctors I would have a wait in a crowded waiting room with people coughing and sneezing and have to fill in forms as I was not registered with them in Swindon. This was as well as the relatively long walk there and back. We did not have a car and there was no way I could be trapped in a car and defiantly not drive one!

After Christmas my thoughts were turning back to work and I got to a point where I got so worried I decided to book into to a bed and breakfast close to my work in Bristol for a few days so I could have a relatively short walk into work and would not have to get a bus or a train. This cost a lot of money but for my own sanity this was the only way I could think that would help until I got into commuting.

The bed and breakfast was a lonely place in the evenings after work at night. I had to live of take away food for tea. I would just lie in my room, alone, fearing I would never be able to walk out again the next morning. Getting up the next morning was a struggle and sitting down for breakfast was difficult as did not want to see anyone else or eat anything. For me this was totally not right as I love my food, especially as I had paid for it and a cooked breakfast was on offer! I could not cope with the world looking at me as I was eating, and waiting for my food with other people in what seemed like close proximity. My world was very dark and closed in. I handed in my notice at work as I knew I had to find a job closer to home in Swindon and could not stay in the bed and breakfast forever, and this was still not curing my problem.

I just wanted to go outside but not too far. The pavements were covered in snow, covered in ice and a little dangerous to walk too fast. It was cold outside but I was hot and red in the face. I was concentrating on getting to where I needed to get to, head down, feeling alone in the world with my own thoughts and fears. My heart was pumping hard and this was making me red in the face and I was breathless. No one else understood, I did not understand, what was wrong with me? When I was walking into work all sorts of questions entered my head:

What would happen if I collapsed?

Would anyone find me in the snow?

What if I had to go to hospital?

Would people know where I lived and who to phone?

What if I was in hospital and ill for ages and could not make a call to anyone to say where I was?

Who would tell my boss?

My partner would think I did not want to live with her and we would split up. I would then be alone in the world with no job, no house. I did not want to go back home to Knutsford (Cheshire) to live with my parents again!

I had to go back to Swindon, stay at home and sign myself off sick again. This was more than an ear infection. I felt quiet alone and no one could help and I felt like a failure. I could not work my notice period and ended up back in Swindon and sleeping most of the day and eating very little and not caring about food, drink or even washing as the heat from a bath or shower made me feel uncomfortable.

After two or so weeks in bed one morning I woke up and decided that I had to go out. I could not stay inside much longer and I had enough of feeling rubbish and I had to push myself through this and get some help. I pushed myself up to the local shops and stopped outside. I was hot, out of breath but knew I had to go on. I counted to ten in my head and walked in. I did not buy anything but I walked around and looked at a few bits and walked out. I walked home feeling really good and really proud of myself. I had to see the doctor still because I defiantly was not right.

The next day I phoned to make a doctor’s appointment and encouraged by my success at the shop the day before I walked there and went in. I sat on the hard seat in the reception area. I tried not to look at anyone. No one was really looking at me anyway. After what felt like hours the doctor finally called me in. I was shaking when I walked in to his room but I had made a list of everything I wanted to tell him. To his credit he was very good and listened to everything I said and gave me lots of time. The doctor said I had depression and was suffering from anxiety. The doctor prescribed my some tablets called “Citalopran” and said to come back if they were not working and he could get me some stronger ones. I did not like the fact I had to take tablets but if there worked I did not care. They said I would feel worse at first but then better. I was informed it was not addictive. I was just happy to have an answer!

I picked up my prescription and walked home, really proud of what I had done. Every day after I picked up my prescription I took a very small white tablet in the morning. I made myself get up and take it early. I was determined these tables would make me better. I would then go out and have a short walk. I walked further and further each day and about two weeks later I went into the local shop and bought myself a chocolate bar and actually stood in a queue for a few minutes. This was another big step. My confidence grew and started speaking to people in the shop. It took a couple of weeks but I then got a bus into the town. I walked around for a bit and then came home. Each step I took I gained more confidence.

By April that year I was out going into agencies and seeking more work. I managed to get a new job in a new team for a major stationery retailer and met some great people. My life was back on track! I did not have a day off sick for two years solid. I had the occasional cold but worked through it. I was determined I had spent too long in bed previously. I wanted to make the most of everyday. I even started going to football matches at the weekend and standing in a crowd of people and loved the whole experience.

I did not like to keep having to take the tablets and I tried to cut down and take one every other day. This was okay and did not suffer too badly. I then started taking one at the start and end of each week but I was getting to the end of the week and staring to feel shaky and tired. The world was starting to feel a bit big again and the edges of my vision were looked slightly blurred and like a heat haze. I put myself back on the full dose again not wanting to go down to the depths I had gone down before. By reading about the tablet it worked by restoring the balance of serotonin, a naturally occurring substance found in the brain, which helps to improve certain mood problems. I was happy to take it again thinking that if I had a broken leg I would wear a plaster cast!

I still had the odd day where I just felt awful and really had to push myself to get into work. These days generally happened when it was a bit foggy or icy or if I was feeling a little unwell. I had to really fight the fear and not go back to bed and know it was just the brain lacking a chemical. I would still go red in the face, my heart would still race and I would still believe I might collapse or I might just need to lie down and fall asleep just suddenly in the middle of the street. If these “Panic Attacks” happen then it takes a good few days to get over them and I feel extremely washed out for days later, and struggle to get my confidence back again. I still have the occasional day like it now. Sometimes these manic attacks leave me breathless, very hot, my heart beating very fast, weak in the legs and generally exhausted. It can feel like a heart attack with the pain and think take a few days to feel right again.

The effects of depression are constantly with me and even writing about some of my tough times makes my heart start to race again and I start to feel a little dizzy. I have fortunately never felt suicidal with it but know I have been in some desperate states and I would not wish feeling like I have felt on anybody. I have not suffered as many have but certainly know the power of the brain.

In conclusion I am off the tables now and day to day I do not think of the condition that much but it has probably left me suffering occasionally and with other side effects I may disclose in a blog later. I hope this will help people to understand a bit more about the problem. I am writing this over ten years later from my first illness of suffering from Labyrinthitis and have not let it take over who I am or what I want to achieve in this life.

I have come off the tablets by taking my time, listening to relaxation CD’s, breathing exercises and attending a stress and mood management course. The course was great at the relaxation and also telling be to look at my feelings in a different way and rank them in how bad they are one to ten and thinking of them as a curve that will go up and then down again. The course also consisted of a workshop on overcoming panic attacks. As I said earlier I still get them but try to get over them a bit better and quicker now.

This piece is not going to be me ranting and raving about how everyday people do not understand this illness. I am not going to rant and rave about how some people think illnesses in the mind makes you mental and people put you in a box. I am an everyday person and I would not really understand it if I did not suffer from it myself.

I hope this article has been interesting or if not entertaining but I do hope you have learned something. If not about depression and anxiety but maybe about me!

Please note this blog post in no way represents medical advice – always speak to your doctor before changing doses, or coming off medication.

About me ...

Last night I did not sleep well because I was thinking. I was thinking that I should really say some bits about me before I start blogging. So those who know little about me can decide if they want read my blog.

In further blogs I will look to explain (in greater depth), some of my character traits and views. I will also include some pictures. I would like to think my blog will consist of thoughts and feelings, opinions and stories to warm and (hopefully) rescue the sole.

I hope my blog will be a guide to help lost individuals find themselves and know they are not as odd as they my think they are. So this is me ...

Full Name: Timothy David Skinner

Sex: Male

Age: Would not be able to go on an 18-30’s holiday! Would not want to anyway!

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual but can be a bit girly!

Star Sign: Libra – Suits me well as think I am relatively balanced.

Eye Colour: Blue

Shoe Size: 10 (British)

Height: 5 foot, 11 inches

Favourite Colour: It is not red and not yellow (both of which are ok), but somewhere in between.

Religious Views: Not sure, but there is a place for church, but do not like to be made to feel guilty.

Political Views: A lot of them seem the same but it is a tough job for anyone.

Royal Views: I love the queen and think she does a good job for the country. I also love Ant and Dec!

Pets: One pet penguin who has a facebook page and my girlfriend has cuddly toys that talk to me.

Hand writes with: Left

Foot kicks ball with: Right

Famous People I like: David Beckham, David Hasselhoff, Chesney Hawkes, Rubins Barrichello, Michael Jackson, Peter Falk, Michael Crichton, Ant and Dec!

Famous People I don’t like: Anyone from big brother, Paris Hilton, Elvis and TOWIE.

Foods I like: Curry, Pizza, Toast, Hash Browns, Bacon and Digestive biscuits.

Foods I don’t like: Marmite (Devil Excrement)!

How do I take my tea: In a mug with no sugar and splash of milk.

How do I take my coffee: Same as with tea.

Skills: Juggling, Sewing, Writing, Reading, Arithmetic and Speak a bit of French.

Non Skills: Dyslexic, Cutting out stuff and Riding a horse.

Sports I like: Football, Rugby Union and Formula One mainly.

Sports I don’t like: Running (why not catch a bus)? Cricket and Physical Education at school.

Bad habits: Biting my nails and Picking my spots.

Pet hates: Sniffing, Eating with mouth open, Littering and Swearing loudly.

Places I have lived: Romford in Essex, Knutsford in Cheshire, Bristol and Swindon in Wiltshire.

Places I have been: Ireland, America, Tunisia, France, Spain, Holland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Crete, Fuerteventura and The Balearic Islands.

If there is anything else you’d like to know about me... just ask!!

My New Years Resolution

For 2012 I have decided to set up a blog page. I thought I would make it one of my New Years resolutions. This along with other ones I have thought of to date:
1. Drink more port.
2. Make less random statements on Facebook.
3. Stop biting my finger nails.
4. Get physically fit.
(The last two I have had for the last 3 or so years!)


I thought I would blog this for several reasons:
1. It gets ideas out of my head and on to screen.
2. It is a good opportunity to rant if I so require.
3. It seems like a popular pass time.
4. It gives my random ideas an arena to be aired.


Now I thought of some pros and cons of starting to blog:
Pros:
1. It will help me sleep.
2. It will stop my mind doing overtime.
3. It stops my girlfriend beading for a bit and gives her something different to read.
4. It may help some people think they are not the only ones in the world that think like me.


Cons:
1. No one will read it.
2. I'll get bored and go back to writing random face book comments.
3. I'll get so into it I will not have any time for my girlfriend.
4. I'll run out of things to say.


I have written a list of things I am going to blog about but this is my first one to get started and have a mess around with the settings so here we go ... 


Oh by the way Happy New Year!!!