Sunday

It's 5am and I'm wide awake! I'm having problems with my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) this morning. 'Restless legs syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming irresistible urge to move the legs.'

I took my Ropinirole early this morning. (Ropinirole is a medicine used for conditions that affect how you move. It is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome).

RLS affects me by making my legs (also sometimes my torso) twitch, and move uncontrollably, creating feelings such as receiving electric shocks.

'The main symptom of restless legs syndrome is an overwhelming urge to move your legs.

'It can also cause an unpleasant crawling or creeping sensation in the feet, calves and thighs.

'The sensation is often worse in the evening or at night. Occasionally, the arms are affected, too.'

During the night, it started playing up and I had to sit up, make coffee, and do something to relieve the symptoms.

National Readership Survey

 What is the National Readership Survey?

The NRS social grades are a system of demographic classification used in the United Kingdom. They were originally developed by the National Readership Survey (NRS) to classify readers, but have since been used by many other organisations for wider applications and have become a standard for market research.

A Higher managerial roles, administrative or professional.

B Intermediate managerial roles, administrative or professional.

C1 Supervisory or clerical and junior managerial roles, administrative or professional.

C2 Skilled manual workers.

D Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers.

E State pensioners, casual and lowest grade workers, unemployed with state benefits only.

PAMCo – Audience Measurement for Publishers is the JIC (Joint Industry Currency) for published media, using approved world-leading methodology. 

Breakfast Blues

 At 06:00 this morning, I ordered a McDonalds breakfast. I asked for, and they confirmed, delivery by 06:25, which then kept changing. At the time of writing (06:32), expected delivery is 07:00 - 07:20. Nightmare! Latest estimate 07:05 - 07:25. Now 07:10 - 07:30.

 

Desiderata

This is the original text from the book where Desiderata was first published.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann ©1927

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

Ye Frydayf

 It's not really happened before, but I'm of the mind of an ancient penfmith! I love the language of old.

 Here'f a quotation that I love...

"The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown:

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice."

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I [The quality of mercy is not strained]

William Shakespeare 1564 – 1616

Not Placed!

Monday Night was the results evening of the autumn 'Article' competition, December 2024

Cruising the Canal du Midi

My submission wasn't placed. Below are the adjudicators' comments.

"There is a lot of info in this. Which is great. We step from the region to the canal to the boat, to the journey itself and this is a great flow. You lean on LTC Rolt to take us from the port of Agde to Beziers and this is all captivating.

The addition of the passion for the area form the ship’s captain endorses your feelings. And the description of the canal being ‘a linear park’ created by Pierre-Paul Riquet.

Nice, easy writing style that pulls me in and keeps me interested and I really enjoyed it…"

The article itself is in the 'non-fiction' section of my 'DannyDog Pieces' website at www.dannydog.co.uk

Lazy Sunday Afternoon (In the wintertime!)

BBC Weather uses the meteorological calendar, where winter always begins on 1 December and ends on the last day of February.

Meteorologists use three-month periods to define the seasons. This makes year-on-year comparisons easier. Winter is therefore defined in the northern hemisphere as the three coldest months - December, January, and February.

This afternoon, I've been writing, editing, and submitting my fifth assignment of my course 'Article Writing and Freelance Journalism'.

When does winter start according to the Met Office? Click here.

Where is AGEUK in Berkshire? Click here.

This afternoon/evening I've been listening to Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Concert in Berlin and listening/watching to Tubular Bells 2 live in Edinburgh Castle.