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 welcome to erixlife - blog - March 2009...share Eric's story in words and pictures |
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my top five videos
      see the videowall - clickable links to all the videos (many of the latest in HD)never miss a video - subscribe to the free RSS feed Sunday 29 March 2009
Iffyton High Street This may not immediately have meaning - until you see my video... It is the brand name for an exclusive range of T shirts, and I am talking about (and wearing) a new one from their web store, together with young rocker, Hugo. Join us, and enjoy watching me modelling this excellent Iffyton T Shirt  It should be The Erix & Hugo show! CK (UK) apple crumble I am more surprised than you - as I never thought I'd be doing a cooking recipe, although this is one of my favourite meals (always prefer puddings). I have to confess that I had thought the breadcrumbs were actually pastry "crumbs" until I opened the packet. You may be amused at my feeble failings when I open the oven door for the first time. Take a look, and see what I mean... UK postage price increase Yes, April 6th sees an increase across the board, notably plus 3p on 1st and 2nd class mail. See the video for details, ideas and also me on a postage stamp! How to overcome the problem of cracked and broken finger nails - the video demonstrates the use of a wonder liquid which will greatly improve the problem. Easy to apply, with great results. Jenga like dominoes Continuing my childhood season with a video of success - I manage to build and complete a domino-like line of collapse. Many attempts before I achieve my goal, but good fun. Have you tried it? See how I did it... Disney towel Here is my video of a new Disney magic towel unwrapping itself in water. Whether I actually want or need one of these is doubtful. Judge for yourself...  beyond
Last night I travelled to the land of beyond - a magical place of beauty and timelessness, where I did not meet any people, yet I did not feel alone. The journey started at a tree, the most beautiful tree I had ever seen. Although at first it seemed like just a tree in the park, gradually it merged into a stunning landscape, and me with it. At first it seemed like an early Summer morning, before anyone had got up, but I soon realised that time here did not exist, it was whatever "time" you imagined. There was a peace previously unknown to me, yet the place seemed so full of life. Whilst one could not actually see it, I knew it was there. "Have faith...", a voice said, believe whatever you like, you will only want to think good here. What is "good". What is right? I had so many questions, yet did not need answers. I seemed in tune with my inner self, inspite of being solitary. Is this what Heaven is like I thought? My answer came, when minutes or hours later I was back at the tree in the park. Heaven is actually here all the time, we just need to discover it, by discovering ourselves first. Lets listen to the peace within ourselves, observe the world around us, and feel the beauty without questioning. Accept life, be yourself... and you will quickly find your Heaven.  pied wagtail
Spotted this delightfully named and colourful bird enjoying food scraps in the March sunshine yesterday, in Hemel Hempstead. A nature loving friend and I were there to feed the ducks, and look for signs of new arrivals. Well I think we were a bit early and will try again early next month. We did see one broody Mallard fussing about her almost floating nest (secured by just one trailing branch from the tree above). The pied wagtail has adapted well to urban situations and overcome fear of people. They are now perfectly at home in towns, and not observed so much in gardens (apparently). The is not my photo unfortunately. Keep looking... Wacky the weasel Share a moment of childish delight as I film new toy - Wacky, playing in a box, on the table and after falling off... the floor. See him experience the pure joy of uninhibited play. He is forever attached to a plastic ball, and I am a child of the Universe... No apologies! perfect toasting techniques My latest video discusses the merits and pitfalls of making toast, with lots of tips for that perfect slice - enjoy.  Mr Bingo
I've played Bingo, when it was known as Lotto and Housey-Housey, but today it is more popular than ever on the internet, and if you want the best guide to this fun gambling game, look at the Mr Bingo website. Thankfully it is UK based, and a very friendly and attractive site. It really is the best introduction for any beginner, and a complete resource for players at every level. It contains reviews of online bingo game sites, bingo news, a bingo discussion forum, even tips for playing the game, and you can sign up to a free newsletter. For comprehensive coverage of all things "bingo" have a look at this up to date and interesting site, and play bingo better.  blog power
As my top YouTube video overtakes the 3000 hit mark, I am now receiving requests to review products - a shaver and a T shirt so far. No payment of course, just fame! Blogging is more popular than emailing apparently. Although I did persevere with Twitter, and decided (again) that it wasn't for me. I think for that to work, you need to be online 24/7, even plugged in. The best Twitters probably have a Blackberry permanently attached. I could never use my mobile for texting to that degree, and I don't think I want miniature web access wherever I go. So I've let Twitter go. Blogging and Vlogging are very important to me, but there are limits. A younger person might find my comments strange, but don't forget I am a silver surfer, and do quite well with technology. I have mentioned chipping for criminals in the past, but really I can see "unknown" developments with things like the internet in the future. A "screen" could be visible inside special glasses (it would seem bigger that way) and speakers literally built in to our brain - mind you it is questionable whether we will have brains in the future if they really are damaged by this technology. Never mind, lets get another one - off the shelf, priced according to topic specialisation. Imagine wanting an instant career change. I'll be a banker now... Perhaps not a good choice of career? But, you know what I mean. By then body parts will also be available to replace damaged ones, or there could be designer models for extra points. Points not money that is, earned by community effort - known now as work. Wrist watches would be obsolete as one would manage with the other gadgets, and "time" as we know it would be another dimension. At last we could control our duration and destiny. But more importantly we'll witness the world web war between Google and Microsoft, and guess who'll win... It won't matter really, because all conflicts and wars will be virtual - an ideal world... maybe?  illegal immigration
Readers will know of my humanitarian views, but I am continually alarmed at the lack of border controls by successive UK Governments. This has been a global problem throughout history, but has intensified during the last twenty years. First world countries are obviously attractive targets for armies of illegals. Our policy has been rather slack for too long, and I have observed places like the US, Australia and some EU countries taking a tougher line. It may seem like a losing battle, but it has to be done. In France near Calais, they established an official centre to "help" travellers from eastern Europe, but now from further afield - this was closed because of political pressure. People are gathering again, and living rough in the French countryside near the departure port of Calais. They are supported by a local charity, and this encourages more to join them. They try every conceivable trick to enter lorries for their illegal entry into the UK. It seems like the French authorities are "passing the buck" by turning a blind eye on this matter. Remember the "boat people" travelling in south east Asia some years ago, well now these people in France are taking incredible risks by climbing under lorries to escape. How do they get to France in the first place. Criminals are demanding a high price to transport them - by the inaction when they get there, we are encouraging this trade in vulnerable people. This must stop, and with minimal border checks within mainland EU countries, they are able to escape detention. For the UK (an island) it should easy to control who enters. Perhaps it is a lack of political will that fuels the situation, but now no one can even guess how many thousands of illegals there are here. Eventually I imagine they will be allowed to stay - legally! Political unrest will intensify, unemployment of nationals will increase, and crime figures will worsen. Is that what we want?  parents
Returning on the bus yesterday I was chatting to an elderly lady, and the conversation reminded me of my parents - not that one can ever quite "forget" them, but the faded memories got me thinking. As one gets older, it is easier to relate to ones parents' behaviour (which at the time wasn't always so easy to comprehend). With that often comes regret that one didn't respond or behave differently. How I wish that I had or hadn't said certain things. How many times I had reacted badly and "childishly". However forgiving they were at the time, they must have hurt inside, while I selfishly and defensively showed defiance to the end! Whatever happened they always loved me - I was very fortunate in my choice of parents (by adoption) and I will always be thankful. That is why I made a special effort to support my widowed mother in her last years. I can always be proud of that, and she said many times how grateful she was. That memory softens the blow of isolation. At whatever age, after the death of ones parents, one wonders how they will cope with life without them. Well, I did of course, although maybe I could have done better. I often wish I could telephone Mumsie to tell her about certain aspects of my life today, but there we are... As I am not, nor will be a parent myself (nor are there any close relatives) I will continue to wander "lonely as a cloud" but safe in the knowledge that my parents did their best for me at all times. I am so grateful - thank you.  separation
It is the early hours... as I cannot sleep I am slumped in front of the television sipping sweet tea, when one of the many advertisements catches my attention. It is a public information message inviting us to give blood. A very worthwhile activity, which I did once while working at Harrods. As I felt so ill afterwards, I vowed never to do it again, inspite of the fact that my own blood group is pretty unusual. Anyway, during this ad there is mention of some theory I had never heard of - "the six degrees of separation". This suggests that everyone on the planet is connected to another by no more than six (or should it be five?) others. Subsequent research suggest it may actually be seven. Whatever the number, it is of course a very interesting "fact". Remember the many occasions when you meet someone who knows someone else etc. We used to call it a "small world". Think about it, and I bet the very next time you are talking to a colleague, neighbour or friend that something will occur during the conversation that reinforces this latest thinking. It is quite recent, perhaps started by the writer of a play, and the research done by Microsoft. When you think how many billions there are of us, it is quite fantastic to think we could really be so easily connected to another person of our "choice". Who would you like to be connected to/with? I could think of a few people...  gay ducks
This is one of the rarest birds in the world. It has been on the endangered list for years - the Blue Duck from New Zealand. There are conservation programmes in force, but two male birds at the famous Arundel Wetlands and Wildlife Centre in Sussex have let the side down by "getting together". They have ignored a willing female, and happily spend their time together as a couple. The ducks have been named as Ben and Jerry, and the hapless female is called Cherry - perhaps they could have done better with the names? This has got to be the "ironic story of the month". Their future existence in the UK depends on them performing right now, but it doesn't look like its going to happen. There are countless stories of same sex couples in the animal world, and another story in The Telegraph where I first read this, reports that gay Penguins steal eggs from straight couples! Outrageous!!!  homeless
A surprising news story from the US is that there is suddenly a 400% increase in homelessness - guess why? But, amazingly it is not just old single men suffering alcohol abuse, this time it is young middle class white families as well - yes, and with kids. Tent cities are springing up around most major US cities - even in California. People interviewed for this tv news item, said they had previously driven by (in their new car) and said to themselves "that could never happen to me". But it has, and this story is repeated around the world. It just seems so much more shocking that it is now becoming widespread in somewhere like America. All my life in London I have been aware of night-time pavement doorway sleepers and "cardboard city" in Waterloo (but this was removed by the authorities). Street sellers of the"Big Issue" magazine are very common in all towns and cities of the UK. It seems to be an ignored issue on our own "doorsteps" yet we are inflamed by animal abuse, and do something about it. There are probably more laws protecting animals than people. I have to say that as an animal lover, any cruelty to animals is of course completely wrong, and I do not support mindless experimentation on little creatures, BUT we have to get this into proportion and people here (and in your place as well) do need our attention, support and care. Western governments are fond of donating billions in aid to third world countries, but what about looking after our own first? This whole problem needs our interest and action - please be aware of what is happening in your country.  bird watching
Latest sighting on the feeding ground is a female pheasant - the first time I have had a pheasant as a guest. I have seen them in the distance (the colourful male is easy to spot) but this was a joy to observe, and I rushed to get my camera - this is a still from a short video I took before she ran off. My list of visiting species is growing, but I have to check each one as I imagine they are going to be rarer than in reality. At first I thought this was a Capercaillie (remember I am still a novice at this) because of the feather markings. I soon found the bird book which confirmed it to be a pheasant. Regular daily food and clean water are the big attraction, and the "all welcome" sign is up.  scoot
Here I am in this rather badly posed photo, about to depart - into the (chilly) March sunshine. I use the mobility scooter to negotiate the local hills as it is too much for me to cope with on foot, because of my Angina. Yesterday I travelled with a neighbour and his scooter and it was good fun. I notice that pedestrians are very friendly and will always say "hello". Driving the scooter is an eye-opener as often I am forced into the road because of pavement blockages caused by parked vehicles, badly positioned street furniture and overgrown garden hedges. My scooter is a class 2, which means I am restricted to pavements at 4mph. This is quite fast enough in order to miss walkers, mothers with prams and dog owners. One has to "look ahead" like driving a car, to see whether there is any obstruction which needs avoiding action. In cold weather it is freezing on a scooter, and I need several layers. On a wet day, I stay indoors. You can see where the scooter lives - luckily my hall is big enough, and I reverse in using the door ramp. I look forward to the warmer weather, and many daytime outings.  prayer support
A recent advertisement surprised me, when advertising a portable back support, they included "praying" as a use! Prayer doesn't get much media coverage nowadays, but as a boy I was brought up on it. Every night at my bedside... you will remember the sort of thing. I don't think I was too clear about the reasons for this behaviour (except perhaps to ask for something I wanted). This early routine led onto Sunday school and serving at Mass (loved the dressing up) and I suppose it was a structured part of my boyhood. Inevitably in an all male environment I discovered that men liked boys and boys liked men, and it was the perfect training school of camp! In the long run it didn't harm, and although I drifted away from the church, the grounding did give me a sense of life purpose, and a knowledge of love, respect and duty. Unfortunately these things seem to be missing from the daily life of young people today.  Jade
Sadly, Jade's cancer is spreading so rapidly that it seems she will fade away very quickly. She was Christened with her two boys at the London cancer hospital, and is reported to be very weak. We have followed her life and times as a "reality tv star" for some years now, but sharing her death is difficult to manage. I suppose you either love or hate her - she is difficult to ignore! You could say she "says it like it is" (in her opinion) and has always had amazing self confidence. A good example of being yourself and living the dream? She must be the iconic heroine of the young generation wanting to be a "celebrity". Cancer charities uphold her example as a good thing, but for you and me it is sometimes hard not to feel embarrassed at the detailed media coverage during this time. Jade would love the attention, and these have been the happiest years for her. We all remember the media "shame" of being ejected from the Big Brother house, but now this regrettable episode is forgotten, and she has become the anti hero of Essex. In time, she will be forgotten but she has reached the pinnacle of suburban celebrity style in her short life. Like Diana, there will be an outpouring of emotional mourning, and perhaps her statue will be erected on that fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square? I am sure she will forever be known by just her first name. Lets hope the boys will think well of their mother as they look back, and her husband... is he still in prison? Jenga bricks Invented in the seventies, this now global game (with many different local names) is a popular pastime for children of all ages. I demonstrate the rules as I play the game, but soon the tower comes crashing down... I also use Jenga bricks as flower pot supports (three for each) on my patio, as the raised pots are not so accessible to slugs and other crawlies that would find the plants tasty!  videowall
Makeover to erixlife website includes addition of two photos (as seen on last month's blog). The main improvement is the start of my videowall - a picture link to all my YouTube videos. They are arranged in numerical order but not indexed as this is available of the YT site. Regular viewers will easily recognise most of the link pictures - should be a fun feature, so I hope you like it. Bath Spa Day trip to see friend (from Devon) in Bath, Somerset. Trouble was it was raining, but nevertheless we had a good time, and rekindled our love of the historic city. At this time of the year, tourists are thin on the ground. The new shopping centre (near the train station) is still growing irrespective of the financial crisis - one wonders if it will be filled with bustling shoppers next time we visit. The attached video highlights some of the many attractions - go see for yourself, you'll love it! one hundred Celebrating my 100th YouTube video today - another flight of fantasy, but good fun. Amongst the series there are some serious and interesting topics... Something for everyone perhaps? If there is anything you would like me to feature, I'll be pleased to hear from you. Cheers.  Spring
In my mind, I associate this date with the start of that most wonderful of seasons - Spring. My pic, taken last year at a similar time, shows the carpet of young daffodils in a friend's Sussex garden. (He is now in the big garden in the sky!) We all react to the weather, and after a dismal winter this time, we all will herald the new season with much joy. I can understand early mankind, living their simple lives according to the position of the sun, and the different seasons. If this credit crunch continues for much longer we will be back in that lowly state... ? |
 every completed monthly blog page, has a linked alphabetical index of entries - by title this month May 2009 (1) April 2009 (1) February 2009 (22) January 2009 (21) December 2008 (9) November 2008 (10) October 2008 (12) September 2008 (12) August 2008 (31) July 2008 (20) June 2008 (17) May 2008 (16) April 2008 (19) March 2008 (28) February 2008 (29) January 2008 (33) December 2007 (48) November 2007 (28) archived from Blogger (41) see me here... please link to erixlife <!--start erixlife link--> <a href="http://www.erixlife.net/blog.html"><img src="http://www.erixlife.net/erixlife-blog80x15.gif" border="0" height="15" width="80" alt="erixlife - blog - pictures and more"></a> <!--end-->  see whose linked Thanks for the site. Really enjoying your videos on YouTube, do keep up the good work. DP (UK) INDEX OF ENTRIES (26) March 2009 alphabetical order apple crumble Bath Spa beyond bird watching blog power Disney towel gay ducks homeless Iffyton High Street illegal immigration Jade Jenga bricks Jenga like dominoes Mr Bingo nail hardener for men one hundred parents perfect toasting techniques pied wagtail prayer support scoot separation Spring UK postage price increase videowall Wacky the weasel |