Twenty something year old doing twenty something year old things

 How do you approach your deadlines? An easy breezy week or two in advance with plenty of time for editing, procrastination and intelligent gathering of brain waves? Or up to the wire, dotted i's, crossed T's the day of?  I always liked to think I was in the first camp, however last weeks experience has shown me that in my old age, I have slipped up. Panic writing for two job applications on two separate days occurred with caffeine and a thesaurus being the necessary survival kit. Cover letters require a degree of cunning, artifice as well as gumption. I generally have these by the bucket load and live to tell the tale. I am hopeful that my future bank account as well as adulthood will thank me. This is also my excuse for not giving you, dear readers, a blog last week. I know that you missed me.  I write this now feeling distinctly cosy--or, to satisfy the Norwegians--Hygge. I returned from child minding 90% wet and 10% human and have recently returned to a semi-normal st...

 Smashing is a smashing word isn't it? It seems to encompass excitement and brilliance but in a kick-ass, plate breaking kind of way. My obsession for this word today is inspired by an earlier workshop I took part in run by a theatre company called, drum roll,  Smashing Times--they are pretty kick ass. They use theatre and film as a tool for social change, underpinned by a "rights based approach" and with a commitment to promoting "social justice, peace, gender equality, human rights, positive mental health and anti racism". Phooo. Is that all?  Their workshop today, via the good aul' zoom, made me feel all fuzzy inside, with a sprinkling of empowerment. Before I go full blown 'american wellness blogger' on you, hear me out. I loved it because this is what you get from the darkened auditorium of a Theatre. I loved it because once again it was about going on a journey with total strangers. In a Theatre, all you see is the heads and shoulders of peopl...

 I believe people--animals included--are getting more tactical these days. It's the pandemic push to our grey matter. Walking along the street you notice people doing the 'think ahead' concentration face of how best to avoid the approaching human. What way are they going? What way should I step? Should I say hello? Maybe a nod whilst holding my breath?  All of these thoughts rushing through our brains at once, we filter through them; selecting the best possible POA and execute. It's done seamlessly, but the reality of the bombarding thoughts can be seen in the eyes. Everything is about the eyes now. In them we recognize an urgency and a desperation. We're all back in Maths class, steam coming out of our ears, in need of acknowledgement, not admonishment.  On a game of human dodge/ walk to the shop, I saw a huge fluffy dog, with elements of St. Bernard crossed with sheepskin rug, exercise similar levels of tactical thinking whilst taking its owner for some air.  ...