NORTHERN PLANNER

On the Radio 4 this morning I heard the results from the what is claimed to be the biggest memory survey ever. They got ten thousand people to reveal their earliest memories, self defining memories and public event memories (I remember where I was when Kennedy died for example). There was lots in this stuff but it was ‘self defining’ memories I found most interesting.

These are recollections that are incredibly vivid and have had a profound effect on your life – the course it’s taken and how you’ve lived it. One person mentioned the shame at getting told off in junior school making them really bad at taking criticism, while, another embraced their half Swedish heritage for the first time thanks to the peace they found on a mountain near Stockholm. Unsurprisingly, it’s the senses that bring these memories crashing back into the consciousness, and they will dramatically affect what we’re doing at the time.

Songs bring back things for me, which is why I think this Nokia campaign is so powerful.

Can’t resist getting involved in duck v turkey. I agree with Paul (who’s lovely picture you see above) vote duck, it tastes better and duck fat is THE thing to fry stuff in. Turkey is bone dry in the wrong hands.

Speaking of motorways, the journey home through wind ravaged carnage on the Yorkshire motorways reminded me how risky driving really is.

Todays cars are designed to make us feel impregnable. We can drive at high speeds and feel in control, while we’re cocooned in our own little kingdom. People drove far more politely on Thursday night, maybe because they felt a bit more vulnerable than usual. Driving in the strong wind hasn’t been a barrel of laughs, but I’ve enjoyed feeling like I’m really driving, as opposed to the car driving me.

Sorry, I’m sure you’re as sick of Big Brother as I, but I can’t help it.

From ‘good hearted working class girl’ to ‘foul mouthed dimwit’ in the space of few days. Has anything revealed the cruelty of the media better than this sorry spectacle? No one would excuse the bullying meted out to Shilpa, but the meticulous assasination by the media seems just as bad.

Britain feels pleased with itself for punishing this pathetic creation of celebrity obsessed times for her terrible crimes –  I wonder how many have noticed the double standards in the unwillingness to forgive someone who is so obviously a product of under education and upbringing? That doesn’t strike me as tolerant either.

This week David Cameron wrote in The Telegraph that he would opt out of the EU Social Chapter. That means lots of things, but in particular, part time workers would lose most of the basic rights afforded to full timers. This is cuddly, ‘Hug -a Hoodie’ Cameron, ride a bike to work Cameron. But as long we all know how evil Jade Goody is I suppose it doesn’t matter eh?

This is a brilliant article from The Guardian on the development of motorways in the last 50 years. You’d be pushed to find a more searing example of the changes in our cultural tastes than roadside services. Out with Little Chef and in with M&S Simply Food.

On the drive in this morning I played an old compilation tape. It included these four, in this order. it felt really, really good. 

Paint a Vulgar Picture -The Smiths (alledgedly about Paul Young)

Perfect Day (Lou Reed)

The Killing Moon – Echo and the Bunny Men

Under Pressure – David Bowie singing live without bloody Queen

Perfect

Before:

After:

Thanks to the culmination of darkness, the weather and post Christmas comedown, today is supposed to be the most depressing of the year.

So, contrary so and so that I am, I’m rejecting the temptation to pull the duvet over my head and call in sick. Instead, I’m going to be annoyingly upbeat.

Reasons to be cheerful this morning:

1. The wind has abated for the first time in ages, and there’s a wonderfully crisp, clear blue sky out there.
2. It’s cold and frosty like winter is supposed to be. It may even snow.
3. Today is a day off from swimming, training and stuff. Right now my body has that lovely dull ache you get when you’ve pushed yourself.
4. I woke up this morning with the cat snuggled against my leg.
5. I’ve had a Yakult.
6. I don’t have to dread going to work, I mostly like my job.
7. Getting to work means 45 minutes to myself, with the Today Programme and my choice of music.
8. I’m looking forward to seeing that Mrs Potter film tonight.
9. I’m on my second cup of tea. Tea is the greatest invention known to man. As long as it’s made in the pot that is.
10. After the weather forced me to work late on Thursday, my desk is pristine.

So there you go, not too shabby for Andrew.

Not only am I having a day out of the office tomorrow, if I ever get home tonight, I’m having a total computer embargo. Need some time to think and wander around some stuff.

Have a good weekend and here’s a picture I like, just because.

While tidying my desk, I found this old cutting from a newspaper about age and sex. A global study (doesn’t say by who or what for) using 30,000 people (doesn’t say how they were recruited) has found that over 40’s have the best sex. Since I’m 33 and feeling it, I’ll welcome this new knowledge with open arms, despite it’s dubious source. Two interesting asides:

1. Men tend to be more satisfied than their female partners.

2. Australians claim to have the highest satisfaction rate.

I’m liking the thought of challenging the institutionally chauvinistic notion that only the young have the right to get their nooky, and older people doing it is a bit icky. Feels like part of the wider occurance of people staying younger in their heads for longer.

On the other hand, isn’t one persons definition of ‘good sex’ someone else’s idea of a ghastly mistake?