Connecting to the past from now

Imagine being able to connect with others from your past in a common place. Some you wanted to see, others you did not. You are all aware that this was temporary and you were together. You have no rush to be anywhere else and know that this time is not actually taking any time out of the reality of life but you are meeting and getting the chance to communicate and connect with people you’ve lost connection with.

What would you do? Who would you talk to and “catch up” with. Its a nice thought for it to happen but could it really happen. I’ve read about how some people know that something bad has happened to a loved one although no phone call has happened – its just that – a knowing, a connection that can not be proven or quantified in any scientific way but just is all the same.

Maybe time isn’t a line as we see it but all mixed up. When were in a dream, time seems to exist but a lot can happen in a slow amount of time in our consious mind. Our subconsios mind seems to process time differently and while we are dreaming (which is apparently only a fraction of the night) time can be days, or even weeks for the couple of hours sleep we’ve had.

My thoughts are there is a lot more we as people can do in life, a lot that we’ve not quite understood enough to do… We accept the limits we have been told are definite but they are only active limits if you don’t test them. What else can we access.

I wonder if we could harness the speed of time of dream state into real life… imagine the amount of work done. Get a weeks worth of work done in a day and then relax for the remaining…. I’d love a 2 day week and 5 day weekend to do what I loved to do rather that what I needed to do do be able to have those 2 days.

I’ve missed Swimming

For the past few months I’ve been going swimming before work between 2 and 3 times a week for 2 main reasons: 1. I love it, its so relaxing and yet enegizing and 2. It wakes me up before going into work. It also has the nice side effect of helping me get a little fitter too. I don’t do a lot – Only about 10 to 20 minutes worth but its regular most of the time.

Over the past 6 weeks though, I’ve missed out most weeks due to sore eyes, a chest infection and tummy issues. Things best not to be in a pool with. With a chest infection breathing becomes an issue and anything with eyes its best not to share water with others.

I’ve been for “the appointment” now for an endoscopy down my throat and pretty much since then my life and health are getting a lot better and I’m back to swimming.

When I went for the first appointment as I’ve spoken before, I was quite nervous and once I got there I had to wait (as normal) but to find it wasn’t happening there and then but I had to stop medication for 2 weeks beforehand. I’d had appointment from 3 weeks before so could have been told this.

When I spoke with the doctor they insisted it has to have been 2 weeks. I was told 3 days, and when I said this to him I was told “well, I am the specialist” – my reaction was someone should have notified me the proper information and the reaction was around “well thats not my job” – I argued that if he was the only one knowing the rules, how did he expect others to know if he doesn’t tell them. He kind of shrugged it off.

Most people would have just accepted without discussing any further what a doctor had said but I work with them most days of the week, they are just people doing another part of the job and yes they have specific knowledge for health and can help but also they often require help for example from me in IT – The basis of Treat one another as you want to be treated can go a long way.

The second time I went to get the treatment I was not notified by post to stop any medications, and actually stated in the letter to bring any medications I was on with me but I stopped them all the same.

I was told not to eat or drink from 7am and appointment at noon. Noon came and went, I was seen soon after 4pm – many hours after food or drink and overall it seemed OK – glad I took the choice of sedation. It does’t put you to sleep and you do remember but instead of the 15 minutes that is apparently took, I can only recall about 2 minutes. Those 2 minutes were not nice so could have done without them too.

I was not worried when I had to actually go for the treatment. I felt a peace that nothing drastic was going to be found. I’d stopped the meds over 2 weeks and my tummy was generally fine, I’d not felt like that for years. Now i’ve been told I’ve new medications but the prescription suggestion hasn’t quite made it to my doctors yet so I’m not on it… and if it was urgent I’d have got one there and then. So I’m getting better and getting back into enjoyment of life again.

Spicy BBQ Shreaded Pork

When I’ve been out I’ve always enjoyed shreaded pork from takeaway places and wondered how to make it myself. I thought it was difficult and expensive but turns out I was wrong. I read up online on several sites how to make some and made my own version using the same baseline of how its put together using ingredients I enjoy for seasoning.

It turned out a lot better than I expected it too, and it was great for a saturday. The weather is getting nicer, spring seems to have arrived and to have something that I didn’t really need to do much with and make great sandwidges with, all I can say is its turned out well and now I can make something more.

The cost for the whole receipe came to around £7.50

Ingredients

* Pork Shoulder / Pork Roast
* 2 onions, sliced and deviced
* 1 onion, chopped (Optional)
* Juice of 2 limes
* 1 green bell pepper
* 1 Jar BBQ Sauce
* 1 tablespoon of olive oil (Optional)

Seasoning Mix Ingredients (cost around £1)

Season Mix blitzed
Seasoning Mix Blitzed

* 3 chillis de-seeded & finely chopped
* Around a 2cm cubed piece of ginger finely chopped
* 3 cloves of garlic
* A few Black Pepper corns
* A little Salt

Create the seasoning:

Method 1:

Chop ingredients and mix in a bowl

Method 2:

Place in food processor and let that blitz the ingredients together. This is the way I did it.

How to make the dish

I have used a slow cooker to create this dish, but its also possible to use an oven and slow cook using a low heat however I found a slow cooker was more economic and simple enough to use. My instructions are for what I use, you may need to look elsewhere for heat settings for an oven.

1. Prepare the seasoning mix
2. Place 1 sliced onion at bottom of pot
3. Place pork on top of onions
4. Cover pork with seasoning mix
5. Top with remaining onion, and add chopped peppers
6. Drizzle with lime juice
7. Cover with pan lid
8. Cook on a high heat for 6 hours
9. Remove meat & veg
10. Discard juices
11. Shread pork using two forks to pull it apart
12. Return pork to the pan
13. Pour and mix in BBQ sauce
14. Cover with lid and heat on low for 1 hour or more
15. Fry chopped onions in a little oil to how you like them (Optional)
16. Serve

Works well in bread buns.

The shreading of the pork, pulling it apart took quite a while to do but it did pull away so easily. The meat turned out to just work so well in this dish, and was almost falling apart when I took it out of the pan in stage 9… but overall it worked well. Not sure when I’ll manage to eat it all but glad others are coming over to join in. Hope they enjoy it as much as I am.

An Added Heat Twist…?

I’ve thought that if I was to add to the seasoning mix a naga jolokia chilli blitz into this, it would make for a Hot shot version but thats not for people in general. The heat of those things are an aquired taste. Most people do not taste anything more after the heat has hit them and we don’t want to waste the lovely flavours. I didn’t add much heat to this one and it is delicious and one to share in a party I’d think.

The end look of it:

Shreaded Pork in a BBQ Sauce: The End Result
Shreaded Pork in a BBQ Sauce: The End Result

Enjoy, I have and will again!

Naga Jolokia Chilli Popcorn

I wanted a snack, something spicey, cheap and tasty so I thought… Popcorn is easy to make and in general quite healthy for you unless you add loads of sugar (which I like) – Add some chilli I thought and it came out delicious so I share it with you all.

Ingredients

  • Vegitable oil
  • Popcorn
  • Naga Bin Jolokia Chillies paste (Available here, and here)
  • Optional: Sugar

Process

  1. Vegitable oil to coat bottom of pan
  2. Add about half to a teaspoon of Naga Jolokia Chilli paste
  3. Heat up and stir to mix the chilli into the oil
  4. Add popcorn to cover about 3/4 of the bottom of the pan
  5. *Optional* Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to cover popcorn for sweetness
  6. Cover Pan and heat on a medium to high heat
  7. Wait for popping
  8. Wait for popping to slow to almost stopped
  9. Remove from heat, stir and serve

Enjoy!

It was a nice change, quick and cheap to make and will most likely suprise people when they try it. It starts as a tingle heat and seems to get hotter the more you have.

I once made regular chilli popcorn for a church event. I told people I was bringing chilli popcorn, they didn’t seem to grasp the chilli part. Almost every person tried some and liked the first taste, but after a few then people went for Water of all things… we told them milk but they didn’t listen.

Some of the group loved it and ate the rest. People tended to listen more after I said things after that. Strange coincidence, or just looking after themselves?

Looking at a Law Degree

I’ve been through university and found it a hard time work wise, I learned loads in the “social” side of things although wasn’t out even half as much as many of my friends. I ended university with a HNC in IT and its done me well over the years but I’ve been looking into completing/upgrading my university education to something more.

I’ve always liked the idea of standing up for those around me when it comes to rights, and although I sometimes get it wrong, people generally do come to me and ask me for advise. I would like to know things for sure – to be taught what is acceptable (law wise) and at the end of it do something different in life. I’ve grown up with polotics around me (in my family) and seen when it works (and doesn’t) and want to help.

I’m looking at working with a Law degree of sorts part time while I continue work – no real chance of doing one full time and paying the bills eg. mortgage etc and in reality I think I’d like to keep working while learning.

I found there was a lot of time in university that I could have been studying but didn’t feel encouraged to do so. With working at the same time, it would reduce the “entertainment” time and make me focus on the education to get anywhere – encouragement by annoyance.

I want to do a course that involves me going to a class to interact and listen in lectures, and tutorials and is not just distance learning. I’ve tried distance learning and although I slowly get through the material, I feel I could get a lot more done with people to bounce ideas to and from, and interact better.

I am much more confident in talking to people than I was when I was at university – there I seemed to be quiet all the time in class, even when I had answers and was asked I was afraid to answer. Now I look back and wonder why. Now on many occasions I am talking to groups of people or one to one, and even though I get nervous, I get through it and feel that could help me education wise.

I am aware that I will need to do a LOT of reading, and study work again. Something I never thought I’d do again (how gullible I was then – life is always a learning thing) and I’m looking forward to it.

Over the past few months or so since my migraines are generally gone (due to lack of chocolate), I’ve had a lot more time available to me to do things, and my mind seems more active. Reading has become a great experience again and words don’t seem to be moving as they used too and things make a lot more sense. I’ve wanted to challenge myself again, I’ve been getting through a lot of my ideas that I’ve thought about but never got further until recently and things are happening. I want my education to be one aswell.

I’ve found that Teesside University do a Part Time Law Degree from one full day a week for around £1500 a year for 3 or 4 years. So I’m researching an intro course first to see if its for me. But the degree starts in september so got a little time to research. I’m also looking at transferring my points from my IT HNC to the degree to help top it up.

Should be interesting. I think there will be a lot of boring parts aswell but at the end I should be equiped to help people a lot better and go into industries that I can’t even think of at the moment.

Under Investigation

In the morning, I have a mini operation of sorts going on. I’m getting an endoscopy thing – basically its swollowing a camera so the doctors can look inside of you and see if everything is working as it should be.

Ever since I was on meds for migraines my tummy got a lot of acid, and even after I’ve stopped taking the migraine tablets the acid has stayed even after 6 months and the meds are not really working anymore. I had the choice to leave it, but decided I’d rather know than worry about it… instead I have worry about the idea of it all.

Its coming up 1am the night before the operation and even after reading about it all and knowing that its a simple routine operation I am worried – worried if something goes wrong, or if something bad is found.

I have two thoughts of mind, one part of me knows that everything will be fine and whatever is found will help heal me… and on another is the “What Ifs” the what if anything wrong happens… I’d not really thought about it before Tuesday.

I should sleep, but to get there I’m not sure I’ll be there soon. Good night all, and hopefully I will be able to write more tomorrow night if I’m awake enough.

Its been a good weekend

Its been a good weekend and it really started on Friday afternoon. It was not all rest and relaxation though. On Friday afternoon, I met with someone with Business Link. I’ve been running a business on my own since about April, and its been hard – I’ve had difficulties and still am and was getting to the point of “what can I do to make this successful” – this was one reason why I made the meeting appointment.

I didn’t know what to expect but was due to start around 3pm. We finished soon after 5pm, I didn’t expect it to go on that long but got a load of my questions answered that I’d not found through searching websites. Some times its just better to talk to people.

The guy asked me lots of questions and gave me lots of information. Most of which was totally relavent to me. Things I had just missed, I knew, but had somehow missed for the process – thinking it was non relevent and just dismissing it. He guided me through what relevence it had and after seeing a point it really made sense again.

For the first time in about 4 months, I am really positive again about a real future with the business and that it will be successful now. I never really speak of the business here as this is my personal blog but still its part of my life that I tend to share with everyone. I am keeping in contact with business link and can honestly say that I think it was truelly benificial to have gone there.

The Night

Its been a long time since I’ve been out for a night out in the town and it was a good night. Went with a group of friends – there was about 7 of us core in total but people joined and left depending where we were.

I felt really good on the night, I think it had something to do with the meeting in the afternoon – I felt positive before doing anything more – its a feeling I enjoy, yet forget every so often.

We met around my place, and had some drinks before heading out to the local and meeting with the rest of the group. Music, chat and drinks – a nice combination. I tried a variety of drinks, many of which I’d never seen or heard of before that friends had – some very very sweet, much to my liking.

We went to “GLAM” – a remodelling of the stockton night club that changes name every 5 years or so. One friend said it was really good now. I can say that I enjoyed going, the layout had changed a little but was generally the same place with the difference that I could actually get to the bar and somehow people there could hear what I ordered (even if at that point it was just water).

After a while, I met a cousin of mine in there. I wasn’t expecting to see him and neither was he to see me. We stopped and chatted, I lost the rest of my group. They had told me they were thinking to head to the wobbly goblin – a smaller pub/club place but hadn’t said when. I had continued to chat with my cousin keeping them in sight – they lost me.

When I looked around the next time they were all gone, I wandered looking for them but had lost them so I headed outside – it was about 1am so my thought was if I didn’t find them I’d just head home. When outside I got a text message telling me they couldn’t find me and headed over to the wobbly.

So I headed over, paid to get in and got a small collection of game tickets to get free drinks. I think everyone got one, but I seemed to get a few so handed them out and won drinks using the one I got – worked out for whatever I bought, I got double so that cheapened things slightly.

It was a good night, and headed home somewhere after 3am – it was great that we all live so close by as the taxi worked out around £3 for each of us instead of the £10 or so it would normally have cost.

For the Weekend

I’ve not really done a lot over the weekend but have enjoyed it and got a few of my ideas done that I’ve thought about for weeks but not sat down and worked out in practice.

On saturday night, I didn’t realise the time – it was actually nearer 6am sunday that I headed to sleep – I’d watched several movies that I’ve not seen in years on TV including “Dusk til Dawn” which the opening scenes are just great (especially if you’ve the volume loud) and was chatting to friends I’d lost contact with (probably due to time differences)

Sunday – my church isn’t on due to it being the 5th sunday of the month and was meeting for a walk but I didn’t fancy that so the late night wasn’t a worry. I really should have set an alarm though as didn’t awaken until around 3pm when a friend called asking if I was going to IXth hour and wanting some transport if they can.

I was greatful for the call, and will be grateful for the company – 50 minutes in a car with no sounds but the car and me isn’t so great. My radio decided to just stop working about a week ago in the car – no idea whats wrong – it just doesn’t turn on anymore. Maybe a fuse, I’ll check it when I figure out how too. Alternativly, it may be the time to put in my other stereo thats been packaged since my last car but still requires me to pull it out and find the issue.

Anyhow, being woken up was a good thing… looking at the clock and wondering why someone was calling at 3am then remembering you were still awake at that time… oh no, that means its 3pm you should get up.. Its a good thing, otherwise i’d be exhausted tommorrow trying to get up.

Tonight is IXth hour, It will be a change as Y-Friday no longer run the worship – will be nice to see. I’ll be up stewarding – helping out if I can and will talk to people. Loads of friends there so its a good night.

I’ve only posted 3 times this month, hopefully I’ll share more but to be honest, I didn’t have anything much to share or I never thought I did.

Qype

A friend pointed me to this site / application for my mobile to find places current to where I was and get general reviews from other people. Its quite helpful I found, and totally free.

It works by its userbase, giving ratings and reviews and seems to have a lot of the now common social networking tools such as groups, friends, & linking to facebook, twitter, google etc.

Its name: Qype – Not particularly new, but I like it. Its helped me find things while in London. Hopefully it will help me in the next months too where I normally am.

I like it 🙂

Happy New Year 2011

Thank you for reading any of my posts over the past year or so, I plan like so many things to write more often and like the way that others do actually read them.

I am wishing you an amazing new year and hope that you have fun time.

Change of Pace

For the past few days or so I’ve had some time away with a friend in London and enjoyed it although feels there is not much to do. I do miss things such as a DVD player and choice on TV to watch things. There is freeview here and well sometimes there is good things to watch often not. We have been getting back to the flat around 11pm til about 1am as there is nothing really to do when we get back.

Were spending around a week down here in London and so far visted the natural history museum, of which we plan to go back, ate at different places, met with friends and hope to meet with more and later on going out to spend new years eve in London. Its something I always fancied trying and never actually doing it. It will be busy and I hope we get something to eat at some point.

Most of the day has been chilling out, and not really doing anything in particular. I’m feeling the best I have all week. Since boxing day last week I’ve been full of cold and slowly been getting over it. Will be nice to be over it for the new year.

The pace has changed, at home I’ve always something I can be doing – here not so much. Its either travelling to and from places or walking all over the place. Lots to see and enjoy but at the end of it all I do wonder what to do. While I came to London on my own it wasn’t an issue – I would just go online and talk to others as if at home but with others here too its not quite as simple to do so. I also like the ability to get away from everyone else and just be on my own if only for an hour.

Today feels relaxed but lacking at the same time. I feel I should constantly be doing something – to use the time, and not waste it but I don’t have anything I need to get done while I am away so I stop and write and this feels good. I could be doing this at home, but its still something I want to do so it is done now.

What will the new year bring in… Hopefully lots of fun, joy and excitement mixed with friendships and more happyness.