Scratch

Here you will find older scratches, musings and other detritus that once were located on the front pages, but have now faded.

Filed away here to collect dust and cobwwwebs in perpetuity, links may break, facts may change and data may corrupt.

On occasion I may come down here to tidy, but for the most, I prefer to leave the past where it lies.

 

Time. Principles. Priorities.

Just over a year ago, I wrote how I felt that I was under utilising my free time. In the end I don't think I came to any life shattering decisions, other than basically some days you just really don't fancy doing stuff, and that, on occasion, this is fine. Other days you do. What matters is picking your priorities and sticking with it. Sometimes you don't have an option, but hey, thats life.

I think this whole issue stems from that notion that time is the one factor in life you can't control. It just trickles by and you never know how much of it you have until its (almost) gone. Therefore, how you spend it, what you do with it, to me, seems to be the big thing in defining your happiness (or lack thereof). It defines you. Time is what its all about. Although I dislike the phrase, there is truth in the phrase 'time is money'. Working harder, and longer will give you more money, which may make you happier, or may not, but you will have less time to be either. I think this is what I had rattling around my head 18 months ago. It goes hand and hand with wanting to make the most of the things I do, hence, one of the reasons why I started scribbling here. It may not amount to a hill of beans, but its my hill and my beans, and barring catastrophic failure, fire and flood, is here to help me remember things, in quiet moments.

Even before I began thinking about this, events of late have been busy for me, but mostly enjoyable, which is important (well to me anyway). The downside is that to'ing and fro'ing hasn't left me with much time to think about what I've been doing let alone digest it. I can live with not writing here so long as the real world is occupying me, as I know full well I'll get here eventually.

I had intended to write about the last week or so last night, detailing things here for posterity, witty anecdotes and comments that may, or may not, interest visitors, but mainly for myself. It didn't happen.

I had intended to write about the stretch between Junctions 18 and 19 of the M4, how it smells as though every cow in Britain has defected just behind your dashboard. I had wanted to write how happy I was that Smile, the internet bank have started re-advertising, which gives airplay and royalties to The Supernaturals a brilliant Scottish band I saw on many occasions who sadly split years ago. I wanted to comment that Ikea opens on weekdays from 10am to 12 midnight which is longer, and later, than most pubs. There was something about my accidental mis-pronunciation of Minehead as being where the hipped people go. Plus many others that have been lost in the interim. Why? Because some oike (for want of a better phrase and the fact this is notionally a family site) took time out of his day to mug me.

Some little shit decided that his day, the time he spends awake, could only be made better by mugging me. Whilst I know this probably wasn't personal, I find it deeply agitating (probably not the right word, but I'm not sure what is, or whether there is one).

From that moment where I failed to chase him down, being hindered by his travelling on two wheels down an A road and me on two feet running across traffic, the three hours me and two officers spent looking before we found him, to the point, seven hours latter when I finished giving my statement, all my time, effort and priorities were to prevent this happening to someone else. Technically, they were to find him and let him know how really irritated I was for ruining what had, up until that point, been rather a good day. but law, due course etc.

Even now, just thinking about it, makes me angry, which in so doing bugs me more, as I don't know why.

The articles that I lost were personal, and had a neglible monetary value. Certainly not compared with the hourly rate of the two officers for the three hours I spent crawling the area, the phone calls, etc Afterwards I felt bad given the resources that were being spent for my benefit given my comparably nominal loss, but as everyone pointed out, it was a matter of principle as much as anything. This sentiment was echoed when I learnt the individual may have been a suspect for a similar crime earlier in the day.

I'm not sure what I've learnt from this brief experience. That time and money are outweighed by principles? Perhaps. I think on some level, I've always known that, and just typing it makes me think its bloody obvious. I suppose its just quite re-assuring to have it put in perspective, although to be truthful, I would have preferred a less personal view. Its also true to say that sometimes we have to do things we don't like and don't really want to at our own expense, but again, thats not rocket science.

I guess there really is nothing new to say. I just wanted to say something. I don't think I should particularly worry about it now. I'm not even sure if odd, minor, events like this could, or should, have any lasting impression.

Perhaps I just started rambling and then just arrived here by chance. Perhaps I wonder that if I can rationalise my reaction, then I can stop being angry. After all, I'll be ok. The bad guy may go to jail. Justice may be served. I've done my bit. If I've lost some beans from my hill because of it, then so be it. If the foundations were that rickety I might have to worry, but I am sure, given time, it'll all be peachy.

3 Aug 2005 8:48 | (0) comments | Thoughts

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