The Best Thing For The Single Guy

I am a single guy dwelling on my own. I was thinking what is a really wicked thing to get a man, especially one that does have to bother too much about family or anyone else. I think the things the person likes is an important consideration. To generalize, most of my mates love a beer. There is nothing like a pint of Stella on a warm (or even cold!) evening. I reckon something like a drinks fridge to keep the beer cold is a great idea. Whoever came up with the idea of a drinks fridge should be given a medal.

Was just browsing the net, there are thousands of things that are marketed with guys in mind. A lot if the stuff are electrical gadgets such as game consoles such as the playstation, iPhone or the latest TV.

Since most men are into sports, a drinks fridge to get the beer cold is a good idea. I was reading about the drinks fridge on the the Net just now. I do own a drinks fridge which for added effects has logos of 'Stella Artois' painted on the outside. It is a bit like a car that has been painted with the sponsors. My drinks fridge is effectively a mini fridge as it is small in size. I have been reading quite a bit about drinks fridges and most of these type of fridges are small in size and so the majority are effectively mini fridges. I think a drinks is so useful, I have put a link to a website where you can read more about the mini fridge on the side of the blog.

As for me, as it is a sunday afternoon and football is about to come on SKY TV, I am off to the drinks fridge to get myself a can of Stella and rest my limbs on the sofa and watch the footy.

Website Advertising

Marketing is the way companies get across to us of their products and services they have available. While letting customers know of products available is a good thing, what advertisers do is to entice people to actually buy then.

Ads are put across in such ways to make it appeal to people. Sometimes, however with advertising, the message oversteps the mark. By that I mean, it offers things which are not associated with the product. If for example, buying if an ad states purchasing the product will come with free shipping then these terms need to be adhered to. Often, you find unscrupulous companies offering things which they fail to deliver. If the terms are not adhered to, it is falling foul of advertising laws.

There is much protection from the law to prevent companies from taking advantage of consumers through lies and untruths. But when it comes to the Internet, due to the infancy of the medium, protection for consumers to date have been somewhat loose. However this is something that is changing. As the web continues to grow and becomes part of everyday life, laws will be introduced to protect the customer. From later on this year, websites have to follow the same code of conduct as traditional mediums. Failing to do so will result in the law coming down heavily on the individuals behind the business.

It is a good thing as it offers people a greater peace of mind when shopping online.

The Beauty of Spring

I was out and about today and the sun was out. It made the atmophere feel warm in comparison to recent months. It almost felt like Spring is here.

Spring is fresh, it is not hot and neither freezing cold. There is a chill in the air but people are unlikely to show much fuss given what they have experienced the previous months. Apparently, it was the coldest December since records began.

I remember during the warm summer thinking how bad can it be during the winter. With a clouded judgement, was thinking winter is a breeze. But oh boy, how wrong was I? Even covered in layers and layers was insufficient to stay warm. At times even felt as my fingers were on the verge of falling off.

I am gladly looking forward to the change in weather and it will be good to experince some warm weather. And in addition to the warmer weather, the longer daylight too which is considerably better then skies seeing darkness come 4 in the afternoon.

I am sure to enjoy a beer or two in the warm sunshine wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Bring it on!

The Global Warming

Global warming is a huge problem faced the inhabitants of world. This is what the newspapers, the television and other forms of media in the UK state. But is global warming really a big issue? Experts would point to freak weather patterns we are seeing throughout the world as evidence of the case.

People who don't agree with it would say this is just patterns of weather. After all nothing ever remain the same.

Whether global warming is an issue or not, the vast majority of the world's population do not care. The majority of the world's population live on less then $1 a day and are struggling to survive. They are more concerned about making ends meet and to put food on the table (if they have one).

The ones who are concerned about global warming and associated events tend to be the comfortable middle classes from the Western nations. These people do not have the worries of the poorer people of the world. They are in a position to concern themselves about these matters and the possible future consequences to people from their genes.

The dangers of global warning are not immediate as the chances are there will be nothing that will be seen for the next 100 years or so but after that who knows? Only time will tell and most of will not be here then. Unless once has the resources to freeze their bodies and to be bought back to life when technology permits!

Holidaying in Britain and Abroad

Coastal Regions such as Bognor in the south and Blackpool in the north were in the past popular holiday destinations.

Back in the 1930s and earlier they were the place to go for British people. All of this changed with the invention of air planes and the low cost of flying. I think until the 1960s holidaying in Britain was the only option for the majority. There was the option of going overseas by ships but it was a very long journey and took a long time to reach the destination.

The result has been a loss of fortunes of the Great British resort. Things just have not been the same since the early part if the 20th century. One reason why people have a preference for going abroad is the weather. In Britain, the weather is never guaranteed. In the summer, we can never be sure to receive sunshine. In other parts of the world like Spain, these are areas where you will without doubt receive sunshine during the summer months.

Another reason is that through Spain or France may be in another country, the cost of getting there is less then going to Blackpool say. Air fares are nowadays dead cheap, it is even less then filling the car up with petrol and travelling half the length of the country.

Plus we get the opportunity to sample the cultures another country. If someone lives in London and travels to Blackpool, the people and the culture is hardly likely to be different from rest of the country. But, however, it might not be the best of ideas to go every time to a British resort, it is a good idea to visit one in a while.

The Rigours of the Occupation

The rigours of life is such most of have to be involved in an occupation. Society promotes the idea of people doing a job as it will lead to the person earning a living to support themselves and their relations while paying taxes to support the society at large.

But the trouble is, for most people the jobs they do is a bit of a chore. It is not something they enjoy and they have to do it to earn the money to support themselves and their family. For many, it is not developing their mind as they are fully occupied during large parts of the day.

I guess the luck of the draw is such that there is many things that need doing and someone has to do it regardless of whether they like it or no.

The best position for someone to find themselves is to born in a position of privilege. This essentially means having lots of money so that the person can do as they wish without a care in the world. It will give the person to try out so many things to discover what they like or dislike and follow their passions.

But most of us do not find ourselves in such positions. I guess they have to hope to win the lottery. As the advert on television says 'It could be you'. Yeah Right!

Looking At Things From A Positive Perspective

Hang out with friends, enjoy a laugh and have fun, That should be the motto of people's lives but sadly for many people that is far from the case.

There is always something there to worry most people. Be it family, relationships, finances, anything in a person's life can be a possible cause of worry. But worrying does not help. If anything results on stress which brings us down further. It is important to look at the bright side of life or as one of friends says always look at the glass as it is half full. Viewing is as half empty is negativity.

Negativity causes stress which can have health consequences and records show happy and optimistic people live longer.

Much of our behaviour is leant and comes from experience. If someone has for whatever reason have had an negative look for a prolonged period of life, it will take time for the thought patterns to change. But with time, we can change our view and outlook and be positive.

Whatever problem you may have, chances are it is not the end of the world. The problem can always be resolved or looked at it from another perspective. Always look on the bright side of life is my motto and I recommend everyone else to do likewise.

My Flat...

I live in a twenty story flat with my apartment right at the top. It is nice to live here as it has beautiful views. Though I live about a good 10 -15 miles from the city centre, I can get a good view of the city. I can see all big buildings such as the HSBC building which represents the financial heartland.

This is where the bankers are based. Yes those people that bought the country and the globe to an almost standstill by lending to people they should never have and effectively gambling with finances. But at least, from their point of view they made tonnes of money. It seems the bonus culture which diminished after the start of the recession is once again  back but that is another story.

Anyway back to my flat. I like the fact it is easy to maintain and run. I remember living previously in a 4 bedroom house, the cleaning was an absolute chore. With a big house, I had to spend a many hours each week just for cleaning and which quite frankly madness. Downsizing has been a really good thing, a two bedroom flat is perfect for my needs. All parts of the home are put to use and there is no areas of the home go unused.

The flat consist of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living / dining room, the kitchen and the bathroom. There is no garden but it does have a balcony which offer the most beautiful of views.

Flats seem popular with young people especially dwellers living alone or as a couple. People only seem to choose houses when starting a family and where bigger accommodation is required.

I for some reason bought a house only to find it too large and having to downsize which has suited circumstances perfectly well.

Footy Season - Top Of The Table

This year there is some surprise as to the fortunes on the clubs in the Premier League and it seems elite is once again shifting.

For nearly two decades, the English top flight football was dominated by 4 teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.  It now seems, a few other teams have joined the pack and indeed, one club looks set to leave the top set.

Manchester City are beginning to look the part as champions. Man City, having lived in the shadows of their successful neighbours Man U for their entire existence was bought out by wealthy Arab business people. And they now have the cash to spend on almost any player they wish. The last two season has seen an injection of world class players to Man City which has rejuvenated their fortunes. They will surely claim at least a Champions League place this season as a minimum.

There is also Tottenham Hotspurs who have made progress. Spurs have always been there or there about but were always secondary to Arsenal, the other North London club. Under the management of Harry Redknapp, they have started to do the business. Last year they finished in the top 4 which meant Champions League football this season. And they have impressed beating the likes of Inter Milan in the Champions League with ease. In the league, they are a competent outfit too.

As for Chelsea, they are struggling somewhat this season. The owner Roman 'however you spell his surname' Ayrambwich failed to spend any money on major signings over the summer on new players and the effects are now being felt.

As for Arsenal and Man U, they are sitting at the top of the table and with a good chance. The team which has been most disappointing is Liverpool. Last year failed to finish in the top 4 which meant no Champions League football. The manager, Beneitez also left the club with the reigns handed over to Roy Hodgeson. Hodgeson has failed in his attempts to move the club forward and the Reds are languishing in the mid to lower half of the table.

Hopefully for Liverpool, this will not be the end of their era and the start of a downward spiral. Liverpool have occupied the top tier of the English League for the last 50 years and the results of the season is probably one of the worst ever. Time will only tell if Liverpool will get back to the glory days.

The football in the Premier League is exciting as ever and I certainly am entertained by the offering.

The Importance Of Gloves During The Winter

The weather now is mild. Well, perhaps it is cold but compared to what we experienced in December, this is sheer relief. The temperature is probably about 6 degrees Celsius which for most would consider as being cold.

The weather in December was the worst for the month since 1860. So much for global warming which was meant to make the weather the weather warmer. If anything it caused a serious amount of freaky weather. All around the globe, you see unusual weather occurrences. There has been floods, torrential downpours, hurricanes and all manner of other things.

The most grateful thing I am to during December is the gloves. I am sure without them my fingers may have fallen off! All throughout December I was wearing a 'thinsulated' pair which kept my hands warm and cold free. I would recommend these to anybody, they are really good at cold times.

There are there different types of gloves. There are the common ones where the whole of the hand and the fingers are covered. Then there is the pair where the tips of the fingers are exposed to the elements, these are good for people who have to use their hands and fingers while out and about and having the whole hands covered is inadequate. The third set are the one like the ones where the tips of the fingers are not covered but they have an outer layer which can be used cover over the palm and all the fingers if required.

Its only a few months to go before Spring is once again here and then it will be shorts and t-shirt time. Look forward to it!

Nuts...

You know I love peanuts. Chocolate based on peanuts seemed to have become my favourite snack. I noticed everyday I buy a bar of 'Mr Tom'. 'Mr Tom' is basically a long bar with peanuts 'stapled' together. It is coved in something 'gooey', most probably sugar as there is a sweet taste.

I have a pack of 'Mr Tom' in front of me now and am looking at the ingredients aside from peanuts. According to the pack, it contains 210 calories, sodium, fibre, sugars and proteins. Apparently 2000 calories are required everyday in the diet of an average person so I figure, 10 of these and I don't need anything else. Well...maybe not.

On the packet, it says HOSTA GmbH & Co which means 'Mr Tom' is a German company, it explains why the packaging is in a number of languages.

In addition to 'Mr Tom', I have developed a fondness for other nut based snacks too. I have a pack or two regularly of KP nuts. These nuts are always flavoured with something such as honey or the peanuts are dry roasted.

There is also a liking for 'Sesame Snaps' which as the name states is made from sesame. It is similar to 'Mr Tom' as it is covered in a syrup of some sorts which I'd image is also made from sugar.

As a result to eating these nut based snacks, I no longer indulge in chocolate bars such as the Mars bar, Twix or the KitKat. These chocolate bars seem to have been around for ages. I remember tucking into them 20 years ago, I figure they have been around for so long because they are very popular and people love them.

I don't know if its a fad but in the last 6 months nuts have become the favoured snack, maybe they will forever replace the good old Mars Bar.

Email And The iPhone

My phone is messing with me. I have an iPhone and the email bit is playing up. I spent in excess of 20 minutes writing an email and there is no record of it in the outbox section. I think there is a good chance the person on the other side did not receive it. I think the settings need to change for the email server but to find the details is a real chore. I reckon it would take an hour and it is something I just don't have. With so many things to do, an hour is just too precious.

In future I will just have to access yahoo email through the Safari web browser and send it that way. In any case it is going to be a pain, writing that email again.

Rain, Rain, Rain...

So why does it rain all the time? In Britain, rain seems to be the prominent weather. Well, maybe not. I would say cloudy and overcast conditions are probably the most common type of weather you see here but there is a hell of a lot of rain. Certainly, sunshine, is near the bottom when it comes to the different weather conditions.

In London, you see a fair share of rain but not as much as in Manchester. You speak to a Mancunian, they would tell you they are glad not to be there any more. Some say the weather in London is paradise (but that is probably pushing it a little!).

A friend of mine was saying, places around the world where the weather is predominately warm, life is apparently 20% better. It its the case, I would probably like to emigrate to the USA . It could be a good place to go as some parts are really hot, especially some of the Coastal regions like Los Angeles or Miami. That is somewhere I'd love to go.

Or perhaps Canada is a better alternative. They say Canada is a more peaceful version of the States. But I believe most parts Canada are cold so I think its best to stick to USA.

I am writing this because as I look out of the window of the train, it is pouring down. Its the expected weather for the whole day. That is shocking. On a brighter note, I am more tolerant to this then snow...lets not even go there.

Food For Dinner

As it's the new year and the time for resolutions, was thinking what am I going to change this year?

I decided to look at the issue of diet. I reckon most of what I eat is seriously unhealthy. often taking trips to McDonalds and Gregs is not a good choice. Gregs is a baker that sells goodies at very reasonable prices in comparison to most other shops. At Gregs there is the healthy option such as salads but does not help if I pick doughnuts over salads.

And as for the food consumed at home is none too clever either. Most of the food I eat at home is microwave junk. Though every meal is vegetarian, I am sure the fact it is heated with the microwave does not do it any good.

I have decided to give McDonalds and the microwave food a miss. Everything is going to be home cooked and very healthy. Last year I did become a vegetarian which was a step in the right direction but still succumbed to fast food consisting of meat on occasion.

Tonight in the way home, I shall pop into one if the supermarkets and buy a load of vegetables. Mixed salads, broccoli, cabbage,and many more things will be on the menu.

Summer Holiday...

Last summer I did not go anywhere on holiday, stayed in Blighty all year long. Having put up with the miserable weather last year and given we are probably going be seeing the same nonsense again, I will have to get away this year. Even a couple of weeks in the sun will be good.

Not sure where to go through. Two years ago went to sunny Monaco. The weather was hot, the cars were fast and the beer was expensive. The cost of a pint was £6 which is almost double London prices but still it was great. The sun, the sea, the shopping and everything else beginning with the letter 'S' was lovely. Having been here once, though it was good, don't want to go back to the same place again.

There is the option of going to Spain but been to various parts of Spain many times. From Tenerife, Ibiza, Barcelona, and many other places, have been there and got the t-shirt. As a teenager, this was the destination of choice. The flights were cheap and the overall cost of the holiday was inexpensive. The night-life was incredible, it was all about sleeping all day and roaming the clubs and bars in the evening and into the early hours of the morning.

I fancy going somewhere further afield and more remote. Africa is place to consider as it would be an adventure. South America, somewhere like Brazil would appeals as does Asia. Maybe I should go to Nepal and visit the monks...

I really don't know how I am going to decide where to go. Maybe I should get a list of places to go and draw straws or throw a coin for it. Anyway, I am sure with as the months go on, I will have a better idea as to where to go for my summer hols.

The State Of Affairs At Fulham

Fulham is my team, I have been a supporter since my dad took them to a game when I was 8. That was over 20 years ago when Fulham were plying their trade in the lower divisions of the English Football League. Since them, certainly in the last 10 years, there has been a massive change at Fulham. Luckily we were bought out by Mohamed Al Fayed who was then the owner of Harrods. Thanks for Mo and his money we were able to get out of the lower reaches of the Footy League and moved into the Premier League with the likes of Chelsea (who are only 2 minute drive away), Arsenal and Man U. Seeing Man U in action at Craven Cottage is incredible. 

We had a great season last year and reached the Cup Final one of the European cups thanks to the management skills of Roy Hodgeson. But he parted company to go-to Liverpool and things have not quite been the same. Replaced by Mark Hughes, we have been languishing in the bottom half of the League table and are now in the bottom 3. Luckily it is a congested table, a couple of wins can lift us up to the mid league respectability.

Perhaps Roy Hodgeson made a mistake as he is doing badly at Liverpool and is probably about to get the sack. The same fate awaits Mark Hughes too. I know we have been a bit short on fire power with Bobby Zamora injured and out of action but you have to question the manager. Fans were chanting at the last week's game 'You Don't Know What You Are Doing' (aimed at Hughes). He needs to do something urgently or Al Fayed need to bring someone else in. Having enjoyed Premier League footy for about 10 years, I don't fancy the prospect of the Championship again. 

Back To Work

The Christmas and the New Year festivities are well and truly gone. Yesterday as back to work day and getting back the usual.

So I went back to work and sat in front of the computer. There was a mood of excitement with my colleagues. It seems as they are happy to get back in the groove, I think most of them were getting bored with staying at home and having to put with family.

I went through my emails, thinking there is lot of emails and work to catch upon. But surprisingly that was not the case. Clients had not got back to me with things that needed done which meant I was able to enjoy a free day.

I spent all day on Facebook chatting away with my buddies and taking an extended lunch break. I was away for 3 hours which gave ample time to hit the shop. The VAT had gone up to 20% which meant price of good had risen. No matter, it was great to stroll around, window shop and kill time.

I went to Pizza Hut for lunch with 2 of my colleagues and we enjoyed a 'happy hour' or is it 'happy lunch' promotion where one can eat as much as they want for a fiver. The Pizza place luckily was not jammed packed as usual. That is because the college kids had not gone back to school so there was ample space to sit down and relax.

Having not much to do, I was able to leave a hour or so before close of play and got home nice and early. It was an enjoyable day, if only everyday was like this......