Road To Success

Gumption - shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness, Determination - Firmness of purpose: resoluteness, Passion - Strong and barely controllable emotion, Strength - The quality or state of being strong (mentally), Desire - A strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen, leads to Success - The accomplishment of an aim or purpose

Martin Amis

'This Business with the yellows cabs, it surely looks like an unimprovable deal. they're always there when you need one, even in the rain or when the theatres are closing. They pay you up front, no questions asked. They always know where you're going. They're great. No wonder we stand there, for hours on end, waving goodbye, or saluting - saluting this fine service. The streets are full of people with their arms raised, drenched and weary, thanking the yellow cabs. Just the one hitch: they're always taking us places we don't want to go'

Amis, Martin. (1991). Times Arrow. Vintage Books Publications.

Just...well...I thought it was funny

Ok so here I am once again in Cafe Nero...

I am surrounded by middle aged women (most of whom I assume to be married), twelve to be precise, and six or seven empty seats. Sipping cautiously on my Earl Grey tea, no milk or sugar for me thanks. Overhearing whilst reading my extraordinary book, it seems to me that they were gossiping about everybody and anybody but themselves.  

Laughing and giggling, the usual, not about other peoples problems, but related more to fashion, me of course thinking, can we get a mirror over here please?  All of a sudden I realize that I am doing the same.  I have been sucked into this hole of society that I most certainly want no part in, albeit for a few seconds. I escaped. It seems they want to be seen as young women in their twenties (with exception to the overwhelmingly strong perfume), but some things don't work and will never work, for example, me walking on Mars. They on the other hand, are unaware of this, so I continue sipping cautiously on my Earl Grey tea, and continue to smile intently to myself.  Whilst reading Martin Amis' Time's Arrow. 

Whilst being aware that I am no trend setter myself. 

Dream

Last week I finally got the chance to watch 'The Pursuit of Happyness'.  One of my favorite films for inspiration and pure determination to achieve a dream.  The title of the film is intentionally misspelled as it also appears as graffiti in the film.  It is taken from an essay written in 1776 which argued that white and blacks were created equal.  The essay was written by Lemuel Haynes, and he quoted Thomas Jefferson's well known sentence which was taken from a little document called 'The Declaration of Independence' but spelt the last word of the sentence with a y.  

"We hold these truths to be self-Evident, that all men are created Equal, that they are Endowed By their Creator with Ceartain [sic] unalienable rights, that among these are life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happyness"  

I felt that this was an appropriate post as I myself am also in pursuit of an American dream, and will one day get there and look back on this 'blog' and think to myself 'I made it'. 

Seven Wonders of the World, apparently

Chichen Itza (Mexico), Christ Redeemer (Brazil), Colosseum (Italy), Great Wall of China (Obvious), Macha Picchu (Peru), Taj Mahal (India) and Petra (Jordon) are the official seven wonders of the world. 

Petra is an archaeological site in the Arabah.  It is renowned for its rock-cut architecture.  It has been used in films and games. Most noticeable in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Lego Indiana Jones.  Images of such a masterpiece certainly create a wow factor.  It is evident why it is one of the Seven Wonders.  See for yourself here.

Enjoyable

Today was mine and Clare's day-of-fun!  The plan was to spend the day having fun and interacting in adventures enjoyable for us both. Included in the day-of-fun were a) ice-skating b) walking on the beach or c) cinema. The day would then be concluded with a lovely meal at Emperial China, a luxurious restaurant in Lyndhurst.  Due to lack of funds and I'm sorry to say, a McDonalds consumed by Clare, which she enjoyed never-the-less, we decided to shop at West Quay and to then have pizza, enabling us to save the chinese for next week.  The need though to spend £4.99 on a 'Paddington Bear' calendar was also necessary.

It is very rare that we get to spend the day and evening together, to do both was brilliant, a very enjoyable day, especially for me, as the company was of course, second-to-none.  

As far as book reading is concerned, I have now finished Duncan Bannatyne's book and am on the look out for my next read.  I have no idea what this will be but I would like it to be advertising and marketing related.  Music wise I am currently enjoying Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits which include Gypsy, Go Your Own Way and Seven Wonders. Brilliant!

Just a quick update, I have still not heard back from Mountbatten, although this is not expected until mid March, so no need to panic just yet.  That reminds me, I need a contingency plan!