“Growing old is Compulsory, growing up is Optional” so said comedian Bob Monkhouse and I’m so glad to have grown up in the generation that I did. There was no benefit system, no washing machines or dish washers and owning a car was a luxury, and from the media to the street there was discipline and boundaries that gave daily life some order & some goodness. There were no weapons when it came to fighting, you just fought with your fists and the worst anyone walked away with was dented pride at a bleeding lip or the impending black eye, If someone went down the fight stopped til they were back on their feet, anyone that continued was seen as a coward and all respect was lost.
You didn’t swear at your elders because again it would’ve been deemed highly disrespectful and you daren’t answer a policeman or a teacher back either as it would’ve earned you a clip around the head or the cane on your hand or bottom. There were only three television channels but you could all sit and watch anything and everything as a family. If a neighbour was ill or in trouble, everyone including those in adjoining streets would rally around to help……….In theory, we have so much more now but look what’s happened?
I’m no prude, there’s certainly a time and place for everything but it seems at every turn we’re bombarded by the “S” word like it’s something new, Yaaawn! To be honest I’d rather read Fifty Types Of Shed than Fifty shades of grey.
The digital age seems to have bred an anything goes culture and tuning into facebook is like the Jeremy kyle show with its daily dose of drama, who needs a therapist when you have a huge audience sat waiting for your every post with sympathy and advise?
And I thought I was in a parallel universe the other day when I settled down to watch ITVs “This Morning” only to see the silverfox Phillip Schofield discussing bondage? ...choke….splutter….it was only ten forty five, what were they playing at? worse still I’d let my mother up from under the floorboards to join me for a mid-morning cuppa, it put me right off my custard creams and I squirmed and shrunk into the sofa surrounded by an embarrassed glow while she cackled loudly . I can’t seem to turn on the telly without someone locking lips, getting jiggy or effin and jeffin, even poor old Keith Chegwin starring in Celebrity Big brother and worn down by his fellow housemates calling him boring finally erupted with the “F” Bomb.
Call me old fashioned but I just don’t think it bodes well for society as a whole and future generations, but you may well think differently?
Someone else with red cheeks but for different reasons is Mike Harley from Bristol. Regardless of the chilly conditions, Mike has been in training because he is going to attempt to run a full marathon in 28 EU countries and all to raise awareness and hopefully some funds for ME and the charity www.investinme.org I’m sure you’ll agree it will be an amazing feat? it’s going to take a long time but Mike is no stranger when it comes to a challenge. Last year alongside his wife Cat, Mike Ward & Raza Rizvi they visited 92 football stadiums in 92 hrs all in aid of the same charity. There are plenty of ways you’ll be able to keep track of the training & progress of the current challenge via his blog http://mikeseumarathons.blogspot.co.uk/ facebook https://www.facebook.com/mikeseumarathons twitter @MikesEUmaras
there is also a Just giving page for those who want to show support by donating https://www.justgiving.com/mikeseumarathons/
And last but certainly not least, my cheeks were flushed with the sheer excitement of Watfords stairway to heaven magnificent seven against Blackpool. Final score 7-2 Odion Ighalo scoring four of the goals. It couldn’t have come on a more appropriate day. The team wore black armbands in memory of former manager Ken Furphy who passed away at the weekend. He guided the club to the old second division of English football for the first time in their history in 1969 so I’m sure he would’ve been smiling down from a front row seat.
Til Next week, stay blessed
Back Before Elvis XXX
https://www.facebook.com/RunninOnEmptee1
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