41 Comments

I was a horrible person for the first 40 years of my life, I am considerably calmer and nicer now.

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YET MORE - If you read this correctly you will either be offended or you won't by this statement -

The most inconsiderate drivers in Britain drive German cars.

I don't make this claim lightly, I have been driving 45 years, on/in 2, 4 and 6 wheeled vehicles, I have driven for a living, I have been a motorcycling instructor, I have driven well over 500,000 (that's half a million !) miles so I believe my experience in not insignificant. (NOTE: I have not been a TAXI DRIVER !!!, I don't know how to spell the noises I am making... )

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AND ANOTHER THING - TAXI DRIVERS ! ( I don't know how to spell the noises I am making... )

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After what I heard about the abusive aftermath of the football final I fully understand why I am so anti-social.

I could go on, and on, and on...

Boris Johnson said ' they should crawl back under the stone from which they came'...

S' funny isn't it how some people get rightly vilified for racist abuse and others get away with it, Mr. Johnson...

Michael, I make no apology for turning your venue political but I am now of an age where I am confident to say what I think and sod those who disagree. I will argue with anyone.

As for Branson, Musk, Bezos and space, don't get me started.

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I feel I am happy to say what I think as well!

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Feel free to leave any comment you like, political or otherwise :)

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Just read your email.

It seems that you are taking everything as a personal attack.

It isn't.

Sometimes SHIT HAPPENS !

You should know that this is just a losing streak, stick to the plan and the winners will come back.

Influence what you can and accept that there is some stuff that you can't control.

Delegate.

Ignore the children when they call sometimes, you have times throughout the day to indulge them and you have to have 'grown up' time.

Good that you are GOING TO exercise, make time.

Learn to play a wind instrument, it will help you breathe !

(this a shortened version of the original text because I deleted it before sending !)

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Definitely not taking everything as a personal attack, just decompressing :) I did always fancy playing the saxophone !

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I'm afraid I wasn't very clear, what I'm getting at is 'before the need for decompression'. The build up of that stuff.

I take it you have an intray or inbox, when I worked for a corporate giant I was taught to only touch a piece of paper (yes, we used paper back then) to prioritise and then deal with the priority list. It's the same in your head.

Yes I know thing don't always run to plan and fire fighting is necessary but, as you know only too well, systems work, people fail.

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I play saxophone...

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:) have you played it for a long time?

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Take up the trumpet, its easier to learn and we could form a rhythm section !

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Ha ha, I'm not sure I'd be very good at the trumpet, it might be a non-rhythm section. I did find my guitar in storage the other day, it's now at home with me, so we'll see!

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Consider this, the piano is easier to learn than the guitar because the notes are all there, you just have to find them but there are 88 of them. The guitar has an infinite number of notes and chords, but you have to find them AND make them.

Trumpet has three valves and you can make lots of notes with just 7 combinations !

Anyway, you now have the guitar in the back of your mind... and that's a good thing.

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First started in 1984, started again around 2002, started again about 3 months ago but I'm serious this time.

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I am really happy to be playing again but I had a problem with very high notes, they were really strangled unless I played them loud. This was frustrating as I can play the lower ranges quietly. So I looked at the advice from my online tutor and worked on my technique.

LO ! and BEHOLD ! With the smallest of adjustments I can easily play 'up there' and not annoy the neighbours !

As you have said, maybe stuff just needs tweaking a little...

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If you would like to use this as any sort of analogy be my guest...

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Do you play a musical instrument ?

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I don't, I used to play the guitar at school but don't play it anymore.

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A bit of pedantry here. 'getting rid of the shit that holds me up' can be read more ways than one. Getting rid of the shit that holds me back is clearer.

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pedantry is fine here, good spot, I've changed it :)

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Michael, learn to meditate (if you don't already). I know it sounds all cheesecloth and sandals but if you met me you would see that I'm not a hippy or a hipster and it helps me.

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I do! I was taught how to do it by a friend. I'm definitely no master, I definitely don't do it as often or as long as I should. But, it makes a huge impact, particularly if I feel things are getting a bit on top of me. I also tried Headspace for a while, and there's another app I tried but can't remember the name of. Always willing for other suggestions.

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Music help me a lot. If you have 10 minutes, a complete 10 minutes of freedom, listen to Samuel Barber's 'Adagio for strings' or, if you only have 5 minutes try the adagio from 'Gayenne' by Khachaturian. Music to touch your soul, in my opinion.

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