Whales: Perspective

Posted on February 5, 2016 by

Whales. Poor whales.

Poor dead sperm whales, to be specific.

Six of them have beached themselves on the east shores of the UK over the last few weeks.

I don’t have any theories as to why they washed up. They were still alive (well, at first) so it wasn’t something as basic as their mighty corpses being driven in by tidal action.

And they arrived in twos and singles.

Mass suicide? Disease? Environmental issues? Whale SatNav failure?

Even the experts don’t really know for sure.

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Seeing that huge mountain of animal stuck heavily in our dry alien landscape – the sheer size, the fleshiness, the Whale Wall BIGNESS – made me think.

If primitive man had come across this massive gift on the beach, this natural and glorious largesse, might he not see it as a Blessing from the God(s)?

A bloody miracle, like whale manna from heaven.

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I can just imagine the Chief Magic Man/Priest taking the credit for interceding with the gods.

I can speculate how the important bits like the liver went to the most important members of the clan.

And I can ponder how every speck of internal organ, meat, oil, bone, would be respected — gleaned, harvested and used by the grateful people with happy glee.

This would be something to talk about around the fire for generations, until maybe the next rare occurrence of the god’s magnificent gift from the sea.

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But what do we make of the same thing today?

Tragedy. Distress. Sadness.

We blame ourselves.

We think we must be doing something wrong.

The Whales’ deaths are our fault.

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Also, they are seen as a problem.

A public nuisance.

Apparently, the cost to the British taxpayer for the disposal of just three of the whale carcasses on the east coast amounted to £26,000.

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So not a blessing, then. A misfortune.

That got me thinking.

When something like this happens – something that can’t immediately be explained – there is a tendency to blame ourselves.

“Oh no! It must be something we are doing wrong.”

But back then, when we were struggling for survival through a cold northern winter, we might have thanked the mysterious powers above.

“Oh yes! It must be something we are doing right.”

Perspective.

Fascinates me.

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Click on the link at the end of this sentence (not the pic) for poignant thought-provoking aerial footage of the Beached whales

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There are a few theories on Why Do Whales Get Stranded? This link will take you there. Warning – this does have sad scenes of the dead and dying whales.

And here’s a time lapse of two of the whales being removed. It is a whale of a job

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Posted in belief, culture, death, life, musings, people, perception, thinking, thoughts, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Him, Robot

Posted on February 1, 2016 by

I follow the thought-provoking blog A Narcissist Writes Letters, To Himself so it was wonderfully exciting last week to find a yellow padded package (with an exotic San Francisco return address) stuffed into my humble post box here in the UK.

The Narcissist (E.I. Wong Himself) had kindly sent me a copy of his book*.

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I sat down at my quintessentially English breakfast table, poured myself a cup of quintessential PG Tips tea (pyramid teabags, natch) and began to peruse the pages torn from the tortured Poet’s mind.

All of human life, rich in experience, is here.

From the evident joy of harpooning a pelican, to depression echoing the symptoms of a giant tapeworm, this small book covers a multitude of subjects to make us all pause for thought, and wonder.

How often have you considered the implications of a birthday surprise from friends that features deadly blow-darts?

Or that by simply walking into a web you can turn an excited spider’s dream feast into a broken home hell?

Amazingly perceptive, perspicacious and pretentious.

On every page E.I. Wong (I think I can call Him Eric) teaches us that life knows we are all idiots; indeed, ‘life’s main purpose is merely to try and replace us with something better’.

My particularly favourite poem is ‘A Shrill Shriek Follows Me’, which I reproduce here for your delight, and to give you a small flavour of the mad genius that lies within this small book.

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The Poet’s explanatory notes beneath His poems and prose are worthy works of their own: poignant, funny, erudite and often downright rude.

Bald, bold, bad.

This book is provocative, sometimes sexually graphic, and occasionally non-PC. But E.I. Wong doesn’t care what you or I think**.

And for that I have to admire Him.

In his defence, the book’s cover notes tell me E.I. Wong ‘attended the University of Oregon for Poetry, where He was not well received’.

I commend this book to all who enjoy discovering a different poetical perspective on life. I recommend you follow E.I. Wong’s blog too. Even if you don’t always like his writing, I understand he is very good looking.

I’ll leave you with some final precious advice on the art of creative writing, direct from the virtuoso Himself:

‘Write better poetry.’

 

*I had to agree to review it. So I am.

**He just wants the coverage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in art, books, creative, culture, fun, humour, life, musings, people, poet, poetry, reviews, thinking, thoughts, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Re: creation

Posted on January 22, 2016 by

I wanted to be a poet once upon a time.

Ha ha. But please feel free to Open door

Then a storyteller.

Well, I ended up with a blog.

Then I wanted to work in advertising.

And I did. I was (and am) a creative copywriter.

But along the way I learnt how to suffer when my creation was pinned to a wall.

There’s nothing quite like presenting your first idea to a group of fellow creatives.

You feel raw.

Vulnerable.

Exposed.

The birth of an idea can be very painful.

The delivery onto paper can be slow, and fraught with difficulty. Sometimes even blood is involved, if the art director annoys the copywriter enough.

And the copywriter happens to have a heavy steel ruler in their hand.

But then, at last, you have your beloved concept.

‘My baby. My love. Heart of my heart.’

You beam. So proud.

The time has come to present it to the world.

You hold it up for others to admire.

And so often they slowly (joyfully?) tear it into pieces.

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If you’ve worked in the commercial creative business, you too will know the hot, wrenching physical pain of your work being picked at, dissected and destroyed in front of your friends, colleagues, and most horribly, your rivals.

The deep cuts of scything criticism. The shredding power of chilling sarcasm.

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I used to hear a small child’s voice inside me, begging the critics and the creatives to move on, move away.

To please, please, PLEASE look away from my precious, previously loved work.

My beautiful baby.

Only now I see it is maybe not so beautiful.

It has many faults.

It is deformed. Wrong.

Nobody loves it.

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When you decide to pin your heart to a wall, or a page – or a blog – everyone has the right to look at it.

To hate it.

To ignore it.

Or to love it.

 

It can be difficult to keep on going.

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Posted in advertising, cartoons, change, copywriter, creative, growing up, musings, Starting out, thinking, thoughts, women, work, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Three. Free.

Posted on January 14, 2016 by

Lemmy.

David Bowie.

Alan Rickman.

Sharing an appropriate salute to the past fortnight.

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Pic taken from the Twitter feed of @CardinalPhink.

I’ll leave you with Alan Rickman’s words.

“A film, a piece of theatre, a piece of music or a book can make a difference. It can change the world.”

Ain’t that the truth.

 

Posted in art, belief, books, culture, death, film, life, loss, music, people, thinking, thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Life on Mars

Posted on January 7, 2016 by

 

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So that’s Christmas over.

 

That means no wine.

 

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The above is quite a crisp and refreshing experience for me.

I’m feeling cool and deliciously smooth, with a hint of tropical fruits (mainly because I’m eating a lot of tropical fruits).

It’s good for my mental health and my attitude to business for 2016, because for the past few months I’ve been experiencing a lull.

Lull (not LOL)

Now, I like lulling as much as the next (wo)man.

But when it gets too lully, I get a bit edgy.

I’m currently feeling like Matt Damon in The Martian: joining up pieces, scratching around for fragments to make things happen, so I can carry on living.

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Building a life support system on a cold and barren planet may sound a lot more dramatic than building a business in Surrey.

But we all have to do what we can to survive.

And we all get lonely. And fed up.

Trying to build something out of nothing.

Trying to make things happen.

Having the energy to keep bouncing back after frustration and disappointment.

Working to help things grow where there is less than nothing.

Waiting for a sign — any sign that someone knows you are still there.

Still alive

You just have to keep going.

I’ve finally managed to open some lines of communication to NASA (London) so I’m hopeful I’ll be off and away again soon.

Before I run out of potatoes, at any rate.

Until then, Happy New Year — I hope it’s a good one for you.

Lots of lull xxx

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Posted in advertising, copywriter, creative, culture, film, life, marketing, musings, science fiction, thinking, thoughts, work, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Living on plates of fresh air

Posted on December 16, 2015 by

Following yesterday’s unfestive rant, here’s some genius from The Oatmeal.

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For more stuff like this I highly recommend The Oatmeal Blog

 

 

 

 

Posted in advertising, art, cartoons, copywriter, creative, culture, humour, life, marketing, musings, thinking, thoughts, work, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Merry Christma’s (or Deck The Halls With Sloughs of Folly)

Posted on December 15, 2015 by

Christmas, eh.

It’s all well and good if you are in a happy place. But when you’re not, Christmas is something that can push you over the tinsel-bedecked edge.

“Joy to the World!” pipes the tinny supermarket muzak as you watch sad, grim-faced people gazing at boxes of SuperValu mince pies.

It can feel miserable. And depressing.

A fake jolliness we desperately try to invent, to get involved with, ‘Because it’s CHRISTMAS!’.

And, ‘CHRISTMAS IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!.’

And, “IT’S NOT ABOUT ALL THE PRESENTS … IT’S ABOUT LOVE, AND FAMILY, AND GOODWILL TO EVERYONE.”

Bah.

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So, I was browsing in a department store trying to find a festive jumper for my son, but it was out of stock.

Bah.

In-store was jostling with shiny Christmas promotions and glittering displays. That’s when I noticed:

‘We’ve Got The Perfect Christmas Gift’s For You!’

BAH.

BAH BAH and DOUBLE BAH with a GIANT APOSTROPHE HUMBUG on top.

As a copywriter (who too often has been told ‘We’re bringing the writing in-house’), it makes me mad (and sad) to see a well-known brand approve and print a glaringly gleaming grammatical goof like this.

Maybe the marketing department think the words are of so little importance that they don’t mind displaying their ignorance, lack of attention to detail, slacksadaisical approach to quality etc. etc.

After all, IT’S ONLY THE RETAIL YEAR’S MOST IMPORTANT SALES EVENT.

It really doesn’t matter that they have produced, approved and printed (all in-house – it’s better, you know,) a lovely display with a stupid typo in it. Then plastered the mistake all over their lovely top-notch merchandise.

It’s only been reproduced and repeated in hundreds of large shops all over the country.

Nothing to see here.

Move along.

Let’s all deck the halls with sloughs of folly.

FA LA LA LA LA

LA LA

LA

LA.

Seriously, here’s just how lazy and samey things can get when no-one cares about the writing.

Apparently, all of these brands have Christmas all wrapped up.

 

By the way, I don’t know if these three examples are from ad agencies or produced by marketing teams in-house, but these are just three (JUST THREE – I know McDonald’s amongst others are also using THE SAME copyline on TV) that I’ve randomly collected from emails and online ads I’ve seen over the past 3 weeks or so.

Bah. Bah. Bah.

Anyway, let’s get back to the REAL meaning of Christmas.

A writer friend of mine was discussing the commercial compulsion we may feel to spend too much and eat too much at Christmas.

It got me thinking, if money was no object, what would I like for Christmas?

Maybe a new dress. Perhaps a new winter coat as mine is looking a bit shabby. And gym membership would also be good. Thanks Father Christmas! x

But my friend said she honestly couldn’t think of anything she wanted.

Her slippers had holes in but were comfy.

Her coat was warm and a bit rubbish, but she didn’t have to care about it.

She’s not bothered about food (other than where it comes from).

She did however have a book list encompassing 25 titles. And she could do with a couple of new Bic biros for writing.

I love her way of thinking, even though I can’t live up (or down?) to her standards. She’s such an other-worldly old hippy, too good for this world.

So, yes.

If I really think about it, I don’t actually need anything.

I’d like some things, for sure.

But I have a warm, dry, safe home.

Enough food. And not too much debt.

Which is more than about 95% of the world.

Putting my children to bed without bombs exploding outside their bedroom windows is also big bonus, of course.

But, if you’re asking, a nice big fat copywriting contract for next year’s Christmas promotions would be nice. 🙂

 * * * * * * * * *   STOP PRESS * * * * * * * * *

Just been sent this little gem…

staples wrapped up

And a late arrival…

 

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Any more out there? Don’t let me know…

 

Posted in advertising, christmas, copywriter, creative, culture, depression, fun, humour, marketing, musings, Shopping, thinking, thoughts, work, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A life not lived?

Posted on November 30, 2015 by

I’ve been researching the rise of ‘Pauper funerals’ in the UK.

Also called Section 46 funerals, these are burials that are paid for by the local authority when someone dies alone, with no known next of kin.

What struck me as I read through case studies, watched news articles and looked up Gazette postings, is that when these people died, they got more attention in a few weeks than they may have had in their entire lives.

These almost nameless, unknown people, often living in crowded streets where they spoke to no-one, saw virtually no-one. For years and years.

By chance (or sadly by smell) they are eventually missed, and discovered deceased in their homes.

Council officers visit to sift through personal letters and correspondence, try to find photographs, make connections. They try to get to know the deceased as a person, maybe even trace friends or family.

If no relatives are found, the local authority is responsible for disposing the bodily remains under the Public Health act.

The ‘pauper funeral’ can range from transporting the body in a van to be buried in an anonymous mass grave, to a more respectful and ceremonious committal. It’s usually a burial, as it’s cheaper than cremation.

But how difficult it is to say ‘goodbye’ to these elusive people, often the most shy and reclusive members of our society, when we’ve never really known how to say ‘hello’.

It was comforting to see ministers striving to find relevant and appropriate words to say at the simple ceremonies.

And to see council workers caring enough to attend the service so the ‘pauper’ wouldn’t be sent off alone.

In some cases the thoughtful neighbours even clubbed together to buy a few flowers, so at least one wreath could be laid.

But I wasn’t so sad at the manner of their lonely, austere deaths as I was at the thought of their (seemingly) lonely and anonymous lives.

The non-stories of their life stories.

Lives never properly begun?

I was particularly affected by the life — and death — of Malcom Horncastle, who lived in Leeds.

This much I know about Malcolm Horncastle.

He was born.

He lived in the same house as his parents until they died.

And then he lived in the same house, alone, until he died aged 64.

I know he rode a bike.

He was slim and had dark hair and was always clean shaven.

He used to work at a printers when he was younger.

He visited the local shop for groceries: it was the absence of shopping trips that eventually alerted his neighbours to see if he needed help.

Not one photograph exists of Malcolm Horncastle.

Read the above sentence again, because in a world of social media, smartphones and CCTV, it is worth a moment of thought.

Not one living relative is known.

We know that Malcolm’s life began.

And then it was over.

If I could, I’d love to know the real, true life story of Malcolm Horncastle.

I heard he was very shy.

Maybe something in life frightened him?

Maybe he had a traumatic childhood.

I worry that Malcolm may have perhaps been on the autistic spectrum (like my own son) and never learned to cope socially without mum and dad.

I can’t bear to think of him, year after year, just going through the motions of ‘life’. Summer. Winter. Summer. Winter.

The same. The same.

No one to mark his birthdays or Christmas. No one to share a meal with or talk to.

Or maybe he had a rich fantasy life and I’m worrying about nothing.

Maybe he had a cat.

Maybe he was happy with his own company.

I’d like to think that.

But I’ll never forget him now.

 

Find out the very little anyone knows about Malcolm Horncastle in this short film about Pauper funerals: The story of one man’s death

 

Giles Fraser in The Guardian must’ve thought this was a subject worthy of coverage too. He wrote something similar in Lest we forget

 

 

Posted in ageing, aspergers, autism, belief, death, depression, family, life, loss, musings, people, sadness, society, storytelling, thinking, thoughts, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

No idea

Posted on November 24, 2015 by

I’ve had no ideas lately.

No wonderful words have slipped through my mind.

No scintillating thoughts I feel feel driven to share.

No things.

No thing.

So, I am borrowing a few of my favourite words. I’m just going to leave them here. And see if they start talking to each other.

Perspicacious. Crystal.

Ethereal. Emerald.

Ocean. Sapphire.

Translucent. Equinox.

Jewelled. Satsuma.

Sublime. Susurration.

Epiphany.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in creative, life, musings, storytelling, thinking, thoughts, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Time to take off

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

What if we could treat each day as arriving on a new planet.

What if each dawn was a new beginning on our own fresh, clean world.

What if the grass or stone we walked on this morning had never been walked on before.

How pure and clean life would feel.

Just standing, looking up into the sky, and feeling happy and free to be there.

To breathe it all in.

To know what it is to be alive.
To finally arrive.

Arriving. Knowing.

Arriving. Knowing.

Reaching out to touch the grass.

Hearing the wind ruffling leaves.
Gentle breeze
Cooling your skin.

The sun warming your face. Or the rain washing it. (Either would be perfect.)

This world is yours.

To walk, to run.
To stand, to listen.
To watch, to feel.

What if we are given this new chance every day?

We could travel there. (If we can only get through the Black Hole!)

Out into the light on the Other Side.

Travel through the black to a better world

Travel through the black to a better world

We could take off today.

Couldn’t we?

Shed the dirt, the sadness.
The hurt, the badness.

Arrive warm, clean and ready, at light, bright, fresh, new Planet Me.

A place of fantastic possibility and opportunity.

A place of sunshine, of infinite new horizons stretching ahead.

Planet Me

Planet Me

What would you do on your new Planet today?

It’d be great to explore with friends.

There is Do or Not Do.

Wisdom.

So, I’ve been thinking, is it so very wrong to take some comforting life guidance from science fiction?

I know, I know.

I sound like a foolish fool.

But I find some of the ideas in Star Trek, Knowing, Signs, Star Wars and Interstellar quite moving and profound.

I like to think that somewhere, camouflaged by Hollywood hoo-hah, a writer/director sitting quietly at their desk added that depth to share a message of hope: the possibility of new beginnings.

No matter how old you are, or how fucked up your life has been, there is a moment where you can change.

Where you can influence the future, and leave the rotten old past behind.

Time and gravity

Today is the future

New planets, new days, new chances.

Sounds good.

Just as long as there isn’t an Alien or Prometheus waiting.

Welcome home!

Hello.

Do not go gently into that dark night. Live a bit.

Do not go gently into that dark night. Live a bit.

Posted in ageing, belief, depression, film, musings, philosophy, poet, science fiction, Starting out, thinking, thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments