Choosing Life

... And so another New Year begins, and our hero finds himself with yet another series of good intentions.

This year I decided to:

• Cut down on chocolate
• Do more exercise and be more active
• Join a club and make a few new friends (several are married off and with child now) 
• Learn to drive. 

So how's it going so far?

Give up chocolate? Never

Says it all really. I've gotta be honest with you, my friend, I love chocolate too much. You've heard the Queen song 'I'm in Love with my Car'? Well, for me, it's 'I'm in Love with my Chocolate Bar'!

If you're shaking your head, tutting in disgust or both, you try resisting the big bags of Maltesers at half price. Go on. I dare ya!

But it's not all bad news. I've cut down on caffeine, I'm drinking more water and eating more fruit. I've also given up the Greggs breakfast sausage rolls, exchanging them for bananas instead. Oh and my skin condition is clearing up slightly too. Hooray!

Me? Exercise?

I used to be really active. In my twenties, it was running and the gym. In my early thirties, it was the gym, spinning classes, which I particularly loved, and swimming. For the benefit of the tape, I promise I wasn't splashing round in the pool. Oh okay, just a little bit, then....!

These days not so, but I'm trying to change that. Was struck down with flu on New Year's Day, which just about wiped me about for the next few days. Still got a vicious cough that won't go away, no matter how much medicine and flu capsules I hammer it with.

So at the moment, I walk both to and from work instead of catching the bus, which is an hour each way on these short legs of mine. As soon as this cough goes on its way, I'll be enrolling in my rollerblading lessons. Been wanting to rollerblade for some time now, but I'm not steady enough to make a hasty exit from the kids at the skate park in Gorgie or be sure I won't end up under a bus! I'll also be swimming again (safer!).

Friends to the End
Poor health is no excuse for not making friends. Managed to indulge myself further in my horror film interest and joined the city's horror film society. Went out for a pint the other night, followed by a gallon of Diet Coke in front of the family film that is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2013 in 3D. Slightly weird and unrealistic ending, but still worth going to see. Not that I minded - I have new friends! Hooray again!

When Driven, Maybe I'll be Smitten!
Not made any progress on this front yet. Not sure what's stopping me either. Maybe once I get behind the wheel, I'll be smitten. It's just getting over that first hurdle: the telephone!

Oh well, in terms of keeping to my New Year's resolutions - revolutions, anyone? - 2013 has been a mixed bag so far. Of course, I'm getting older, so I'd better get cracking with them.

Thankfully, though, the year is still very young. Hopefully, I'll have some good news to ring in 2014 with.

Watch this (thinner) space! 

I'm a Christmas Shopper, Get Me Out of Here!

'Tis the season of bah humbug, 'twould appear. Always makes me laugh how grumpy people get toward Christmas. Seems to be becoming an annual pain in the proverbial for some - up there with filling in tax returns and spring cleaning. 

But soon Christmas Eve arrives and it's marvellous. Getting together with your mates, having a few beers and a laugh, and collectively hoping you can manage Christmas dinner the next day (yes, you will, you always have done). 

You make it to Christmas Day and, again, it's magical. Gorging on turkey and Quality Street, opening presents with family and seeing the delight / disappointment on their faces at your amazing/awful gift, and laughing at near-the-knuckle innuendos with words like 'giblets' and 'stuffing'. All in a nice warm sitting room. Lovely! 

Then there's Boxing Day for the post-Christmas Day hangover. Not me. I stay fresh. Second day of turkey and on to selection box number two already, and finding ways to pack up my presents for heading back up to bonny Scotland.  

Storm Before the Calm

But before all that, you have to get your presents. Last year I proposed the strategy of buying something practical plus a gift card for a win-win situation. It worked!

This year I'm wondering, what's the best way to do your Christmas shopping? Bit by bit, a big push in the final week or online?

Option A: Here a bit, there a bit

My own personal 'preference'. Wrap up warm and hit the high street, a little each time! 

The pros:

• I always come back with something nice for myself too
• I treat myself to lunch or a two-hour coffee break for all my hard graft
• I can see what I'm buying
• I get to laugh at other people getting grumpy. Heard several people dropping the F-bomb today!       

The cons:

• Queues
• Lots of pushing
• Having to dodge all kinds of chuggers, brass bands and what not on the main streets, in shop doorways, etc.

Option B: The Massive Push

Some people's preferred option is to do it all in one foul sweep the night before Christmas. I salute them!

The pros:

• More free time for you
• Getting it all done in the aforementioned foul swoop!

The cons:

• Higher stress levels
• Still have to cope with queues and people pushing
• Still have to avoid chuggers, brass bands and all other what not on main streets, in shop doorways, etc.

Option C: The Safe Haven of Amazon

Some people opt of the stress-free environment of Amazon and other online stores. Liking those apples!

The pros:

• Sometimes cheaper
• Avoids crowds, queues and chuggers, or even crowds of chuggers!
• Less hassle

The cons

• Pray the online company delivers on time
• You don't see what you buy until it arrives
• You can't laugh at other people getting highly strung over Christmas!

Just a few things to ponder for drawing up your plan of (no) action for Christmas shopping. 

Whichever you choose, though, just enjoy the smile on the recipient's face when they open your present. Resist the urge to say 'I went through hell to get that!'. Who knows? They might have been to hell AND back for yours!

Phyllis

I read a while back that there's no such thing as ghosts. It's funny how fiction can also contain elements of reality. 

This was in one of my beloved detective novels, of all things. In it, the main character comments that ghosts come from within. He feels they're a product of our fears, our worries or our sufferings, and our mind creates them to comfort us. 

It makes me wonder about a dream I had recently about you, Nana. You were in it, certainly. But were you in the room with me too? I dreamed you were hugging me. I could even feel something holding me.  

I even thought I saw you. The person in the dream - it was Edna - told me that the noises I could hear while I was sleeping were coming from you as you tidied my room. Why you were tidying my room, I don't know, but I didn't mind. I opened my eyes for a split second, but I don't know if this was in the dream or in real life, and there you were, making a right old racket. You were wearing your lilac outfit. 

I was in such a deep sleep I can't be sure, so maybe it was all just a pleasantly lucid dream.  But it's the second time I've had such a dream and felt you were there. Do you come to see me? Are you watching over me? 

I hope so. I wish I could see you.

How I wish I could see you and know that the novel is wrong.I guess I'll never.