Society is in a poor way

There is a lot wrong with society at present IMHO. "I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here" is a show set in Australia in which famous English people go to a jungle and are voted - by the public - to undertake humiliating and unpleasant tasks involving creatures of all sorts, often in their hundreds (ants, rats etc.). They may also have the eat really weird 'food' in order to win proper food treats for their camp mates.

Who ever thought this was a good idea?

Don't even get me started on Naked Attraction. Was it thought up by somebody with no brain?

People these days seems to have stupid ideas such as "Let's give every child an iPad". Too many youngsters devote too much of their lives to screen time. Children do not seem to have hobbies any more. Trains sets, stamp collecting, model racing cars, carpentry, model making - gosh I sound like a dinosaur! It is getting harder to recruit choristers, bellringers, musicians (note that I am can only talk from my experience) but I guess that children find other ways of filling their time at some martial arts dōjō or other.

The biggest failure of society is to stop children being children. They no longer think for themselves because they cannot do so; they never have to do so, it seems to me.

The school run. Never in my day. I was only driven to school three times in all my years from Infants' to secondary school.

You reap what you sow! That's all I am saying.

Fed up

This has been another of those days when I wonder, "What is the point?" I shall not write about work issues here, but my job does not seem to get any easier. I had expected that I would get progressively better at my job with time. As I approach retirement I seem to be getting progressively worse at it! Perhaps the world has simply changed and I am past my 'sell-by' date.

The other thing about which I am disappointed is that I wrote a piece of church music some time ago and dedicated it to my late organ teacher. Next year will be 20 years since he died in tragic circumstances, far too early. I felt it would be a nice gesture (not for me but for his widow) were my music to be performed again in the cathedral where it has already been performed in the past, to mark the 20 years.

I emailed the relevant person and was told it would be discussed at half term. We are quite a way past half term and I have not heard anything. I shall not chase it again but I do hope they get in touch eventually.

P.S. Was glad, just now, to find a reply to another post from Laura, which was nice.

James Marriott

I have, today, sent off details about James Marriott to In from the Cold. I am hopeful that he will be officially recognised, but it may take a couple of years!

Is 61 Old?

In a few hours I shall be 61. Life has changed over the last 20 years: cancer* and divorce aside.

I celebrated my 40th by arranging an ad hoc choir to sing Evensong at Peterborough Cathedral; this was followed by a meal. Several people who came to that 'do' have died.

I was planning to do a similar thing for my 50th but I was having a rough time what with one thing and another. I went to dinner at a friend's house with my then wife but I didn't enjoy it.

I cannot recall my 60th - I don't think I did much. Usually my birthday falls during the week at school when we put on a play: every 2 years it is a musical so I am very much involved. This year the play is later in the term but there is still a rehearsal tomorrow which I shall be at: it will be another 12-hour day.

Is 61 old? Well I get home and just don't want to go out. Now that it is darker and colder at night I certainly don't want to go out. I am currently watching two episodes of House each evening. I then check my email and go to bed by 10. If there is something good on the Comedy Club on Radio 4 Extra I listen to that but I nod off at 1030 at the latest.

I feel old. I want to retire. I hardly make a difference anywhere anymore. The world has changed and the values society holds are not well aligned with my own. 'Twas ever thus, I suppose.

* sorted out I hope - I'm under regular review.