Busy Busy

FINDING TIME

How do people manage with children? It seems to consume the lives and energy levels. If there's a job and travel to consider on top, where is the time for one's own enjoyment?

I'm selfish. That's why I'm not having children. It's not that I don't like kids, it's just that I want to get stuff done and there isn't enough time available in my day as it is. Once we take an 8 hour job out of the way, there really ins't much left for enjoyment. We have to factor in buying and making food and there's a lot of other chores to take care of. Once we take care of all the priorities, make sure we're keeping in with our families and friends, add in some exercise, made our ablutions and personal care/grooming, the bit remaining should be used to evaluate/take stock/assess the status quo and make plans for ways to improve our lives. 

Making Time To Learn

I barely have time to fit everything in, but at least I've managed to keep a routine of fitness for physical management/improvements. I've also read a lot of great books this year. And every day when I read a bit more, I'm finding myself saying in my head or to whomever will listen - 'everyone should read this book'. Just as everyone should take more time out for community & political matters, volunteering time towards doing charity and generally giving everyone about them the time and attention they deserve.

Unfortunately, people would rather waste their precious limited time reading poor newspapers, playing with smartphones checking Facebook status (or similar), procrastinate/lounge around watching trash TV or get drunk. We all need to free up our time more in order to understand what is happening in the world today. I'm sure much of the distractions are geared up to distract us away from the real agenda and keep us busy.

Time and again I've asked people to get on board with political issues that affect us all (I am not politically minded), or read an article/passage in a book that has been a revelation to me, yet they don't have the time - or rather they can't make the time. But better organisation of our time, with prioritisation of the most important matters - real matters that is - will help everyone to find time to improve themselves and ultimately the lives of those around them too.

Golden Ray Days

TAKE A DAY OFF

If we count the days that we potentially have available to spend basking in the sunshine, we will see that there is only a finite number remaining. That's not meant to be morbid - just realistic. There's no guarantee that tomorrow will come. But at 43, with my grandparents living up until their late 80's, I may be fortunate enough to get the same number of summers again.

And if like me, you live and work in a country where the weather can be fairly cool and as unpredictable as the UK is - there won't be many chances where you can truly enjoy the best times of the day to bask in the sun. It's rare that we get the chance. Unless you count the paltry hour's lunch break in the 9-5 job, the odd weekend when the planets align for a sunny spell or the week's holiday roasting in scorchio Spain. That's if you're lucky enough to get abroad for a proper break in a sunny climate.

Life's too short

It really is. So why miss out on those golden days when they come along?  Do whatever you have to do. Take that time for yourself. The world will keep turning regardless. Down tools for just one day. 

Lied to your boss? Faked a stomach bug? A family crises? Whatever it is that got you there - kicking back on a random day in the middle of the week, warmed by the glorious sunshine, sipping a cold one and grabbing life before it passes you by - this is living. Relax - your conscious can take it! 

Life's a Beach

BEACH BUGGIES

In this day and age - driving is not allowed on the beach. But, yesterday, I managed to get on to Margate Beach with my car. It's not any car that should be allowed on a beach - but there are some that were made for hopping around in the sand - namely a Beach Buggy.

Everyone should have a drive in one of these cars. Beach Buggies make you feel alive. Loud, quick and nimble, open to the elements and close to the ground, it's a real driving experience. Blasting along on the beach with the wind in your face just a few feet from the sea - you drop all your worries. Everyone you pass, smiles and waves and you can't help but grin back at them as you pass - with a feeling of freedom washing over you that only a car like this can give you.

I recently watched this great programme on Channel 4 called For the Love of Cars - about air cooled engines that were used in Citroen's 2CV the VW Beetle, Camper and the greatest and most fun car of all....the Beach Buggy. Here's a picture of mine above, also featured on the (back) cover of The Definitive Guide to Beach Buggies by James Hale.

If you'd like to hire this car - please look at my website for more details.