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[sherrid555]

John Lewis ad - it's a marmite thing...

So my thoughts (for what they're worth) on the John Lewis Christmas ad. I'm a bit bah humbug in the middle of November so do forgive me, but having worked in the digital marketing world in an agency where the most creative people surprised and wowed me every day with their talent, I love waiting to see what the likes of John Lewis have spent their millions on to make us love them, want to spend our money with them and reduce us to blubbering wrecks whilst watching. Frankly, I feel a bit short changed...

And yes, I get it. There's a message in there and I've got it. Instead of a piano (they do sell them btw - even they couldn't have been that stupid), it could've been a microphone for a future famous singer, a telescope for an avid astronomer or a set of paints for a budding artist. Elton John donates a lot of his earnings to good causes and supports a huge amount of charities - he's probably given more away in one day than I'd ever hope to earn in my whole lifetime. I think he's a decent guy and I like his music too. At any other time, I might even have thought promoting an artist might have been a good idea. But I make no apology for saying that I think it's wrong for now. I'm not suggesting that all tv should focus on eating well for less, budget buying or recycling and upcycling from rubbish tips - the rich can't all be penalised for having when so many others don't, but John Lewis are an influential brand and they've missed the mark. More people in this country are depending on food banks to survive, more children than ever don't get a hot meal during the day when schools are closed and the gap between the rich and poor is at its biggest ever. So John Lewis, perhaps now wasn't the time to put something out there that's so wide of the mark of the majority even if there's a great message at the core. I stand by the brand, love their quality products and have always found their service second to none, plus I'm not one of the unhappy partners there currently being made redundant, upset by the money spent on the ad.

So, it's not for me - the Sainsbury's ad with the little child in the school play is way better. It's more real, probably a good few million pounds cheaper and at the end I looked like I'd been chopping onions. Oh and well done Lidl for your response to the John Lewis ad, I hope you brought the team a beer or two to celebrate!

[sherrid555]

When Life Really Is A Pain...

So after an accident at work in 2009, I ended up having emergency spinal surgery which involved a double disc implant in my neck…. and That was supposed to be That…

Except it’s not – because despite that being a whole eight years ago, the pain has only ever gone away for short periods and it’s indescribable just how much it can hurt, albeit I’m very lucky it’s intermittent.

It’s not like I haven’t tried to help myself before and I certainly don’t feel sorry for myself.  After surgery I was given tramadol around the clock for the pain.  I probably wouldn’t have taken it had I read some of the headlines around this medication - ‘Fatal side effects can occur if you use tramadol with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing’ and ‘Tramadol can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death’. The hallucinations were bad enough for me to know I’ll never want to take it again, no matter how much pain I’m in – I understand more why Frankie Boyle called his series ‘Tramadol Nights’… thankfully I haven’t seen dragons coming through the bedroom window since!

I’ve had extensive physiotherapy and seen a chiropractor and osteopath. I’ve taken over the counter pain relief, used heat wraps, medicated wraps and taken prescription pain killers. I finally saw a consultant that totally understood what and how I was feeling (my original consultant surgeon says I’m fixed) and he advised steroid injections in the facet joints in my neck. He said it worked for ‘the majority’ of people for anywhere between 6 months and 5 years but science hadn’t yet come up with the reason why!  Although I’m glad I tried it as it worked on and off for about a year, it wasn’t a great experience. Putting a claustrophobic person to sleep face down isn’t asking for a great review to be fair and it didn’t kick in for about three weeks after the procedure so I was a bit down at the prospect it had failed.

So now I’ve got to decide what’s next. I’m planning a trip to my GP to see what’s available - it’ll be interesting to see what my choices are on our already overstretched NHS (yes the guilt’s kicking in already). Friends have suggested yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage, hypnotherapy, hydrotherapy and Pilates (not all at once!) and I’m willing to try them in turn, so I know what’s working and what isn’t.

The hardest thing with intermittent anything, is trying to explain to someone what it’s like when it’s ‘mittent’ – ok that’s not a word but you know what I mean. Imagine someone giving you a dead arm but in your neck, and the throbbing doesn’t subside but just sits there like a bad toothache. Because of the nerve damage as a result of the operation, my right arm is affected with the same dull pain and sometimes it just doesn’t work very well at all. However, again, this is only intermittent so I’ll happily run round like a spring chicken if it’s not boiling hot, freezing cold or if I’m not stressed or tired. (I’ve discovered nerves are incredibly complex and not everybody gets that).

Since the surgery I’ve developed arthritis in my neck, back and shoulder – I’m guessing this is the source of the pain and one consultant said I’d have got arthritis regardless of the surgery – mmmm maybe. Oh and I’ve recently developed an intermittent searing pain in my hip – an impending x-ray will determine whether this is arthritis too, so I’ll wait and see.

I have enormous empathy for anyone that has to live with chronic pain. I hope that I find something that works for me so I can pass that on to others to try – there’s certainly a lot to trawl through on t’internet – a headline that caught my eye just today was ‘According to a new study, chronic pain may reprogram the way genes work in the immune system’. In the meantime, it’s a good day today and I’ve got lots to do so thanks for listening. All suggestions very welcome indeed…  

[sherrid555]

Blind dates don’t always rock...

So it was actually my mother - yes, you heard right - it was my mother, who set me up on a blind date many years ago...  I swear she said she’d met him before but either way, she knew him and the date was fixed. 

I met him outside the station - I’d stupidly not thought to ask what he drove but I could see him parked up in a low-key dark green Jag and he looked really nice. I walked over casually and started talking to him and just when it was getting past the ‘hello how are you’ bit, his other half got in the car and they drove away - clearly not my blind date then! Oh how I wished the ground would just swallow me whole...

So Darren eventually turned up late in a ramshackle Mini - it would’ve been a great motor if it hadn’t had a hole in the floor or the remnants of about a month’s worth of takeaway packaging in the footwell on my side. We drove to a local pub and got a couple of beers.

After about half an hour I realised this truly wasn’t a good idea - mum had clearly thought we’d have a lot in common - I was stuggling to find anything. He liked animation and I like art so that was one thing I guess - he liked electronics and did a lot of circuit building in his spare time (really?) - sadly there wasn’t a single spark on our date and I was desperate to leave.

I went to the bar under the guise of getting more drinks and asked for help - the guy serving said he’d give me a shout out in around five minutes or so, pretending a friend was in trouble and then I’d be clear to leave. Never has five minutes felt more like five hours and Darren was moving ever closer to me in my seat...

Eventually the bar guy ‘did his thing’ and I took the ‘message’ and told Darren that I had to go - he said he’d drop me back to my flat so I reluctantly got back in his smelly car and directed him to where I lived. Now obviously I didn’t want him to know where I actually lived so about a mile from my flat, I said this was it and went to get out of the car - I politely thanked him for the lift.

As I went to get out of the car, I had to lean over towards him as the seatbelt thingy wasn’t very good and I couldn’t unclip it. He clearly took that to mean I was going in for a goodbye smooch and he stuck his face full on mine, shoved his big wet tongue in my mouth and clamped my head with his hand! After I’d got over the initial shock, I did the one thing I could to get out of the situation and I punched him... Now it wasn’t a mega hit and it was totally a reflex action, but it did the trick and I managed to get the seatbelt off and get out of the car - I actually ran the mile back to my flat and the first thing I did (after brushing my teeth I’m sure), was ring my mother and tell her how horrible the whole experience had been. 

Apparently he spoke to mum not long after and she asked how the date had gone - according to him it had gone really well and we were planning to see each other again in the near future - errr hello!!!!!  Never have I been so sure that I’d done the right thing to get the hell out of there and apart from many years later when I was setup and genuinely knew nothing about it (hubby is the result), I never went on another blind date again...

[sherrid555]

We did it!

It’s Election Day, wow it’s finally here Decisions were there to be made Did we vote for the ones who pushed centre stage Or the ones that remained in the shade

Did we vote for the party that interviewed well And that didn’t falter over the figures Did we vote for the ones that came across more As revved up, hyper like, Tiggers

Did we believe all the stories we saw on the news And the rubbish on Facebook and Twitter Did our friendships divide on our choice for PM Did their views make us angry and bitter

An ‘X’ in the box besides someone you like Or a last minute change of heart, presto! Perhaps personalities aside as we read the small print Instead, choosing the best manifesto

People died in our history to give us the chance To state our wants in that polling station Whoever gets in, we’ll be stuck with them now And we hope they’ll be leading our nation

The election campaign has been so full of hate Condemnation and not sugar coated But at last it’s now over (and thank God for that) Did my bit and can now say ‘I’VE VOTED’…

[sherrid555]

If the shoes fit...

I walked down the platform this morning And just couldn’t help but peruse An elderly lady that was waiting Dressed in what I’d say were ‘old ladies shoes’ It actually started me thinking My taste over the years? Yes it’s changed My wardrobe is certainly different And sometimes I just dress ‘deranged’! I’ve got three different sizes of clothing In a wardrobe that’s filled with disasters Most of it’s black and unshapely You can tell that I do love my afters! My skirts? Well I hardly have any And those that I own now are long Gone are the days of my 16 inch hems And don’t get me started on thongs! My t-shirts are all Marks and Spencer Well they’re comfy and they fit really nice And I often buy two of the same thing Nothing quite like a little bit of spice! I’m not what you might call ‘adventurous’ I’m a bit samey and not very on trend I play it safe with my jeans (always skinnies) It’s a lot harder these days to bend… When I get home from work I get comfy It’s leggings or sweat pants for ease Hair scraped back and shoved in a scrunchie My poor husband, I don’t try to please! When I go out, I do make an effort Bit of make-up and sometimes some bling I do like to be quite presentable As for ‘fashion’ I do my own thing So when will I start wearing ‘old ladies shoes’? Dress for comfort, without having a care Well, given the above, plus I’ve just seen my feet It would appear that I’m already there!

[sherrid555]

Realisation!

Discovery... He can be aloof and often quiet He very much likes his own space He does things on his own terms And he has the cutest face

People love to stop and chat When we’re out having a walk And although he’s quiet when he needs to be He really does loves to talk

He doesn’t like to be disturbed If he’s doing his own thing He takes himself off to his place on the couch And there’s just no talking to him

He’s playful and happy, the life and soul Beautiful eyes that are bright And when he’s freshly groomed and smartly brushed He’s really the best looking sight

He can be quite demanding And he likes to play and tease He loves his food and treats galore He’d happily live on cheese

He’s stubborn as hell, but that’s ok As I know how to train him He’s very food orientated So I normally know how to ‘reign in’

He loves to travel in the car And look for new places to be He totally loves the water And his favourite place? By the sea

Reading this back I’ve taken a pause And stopped to think, “Oh Wowser! OMG it’s just dawned on me My husband is a SCHNAUZER”!!!

[sherrid555]

Anxiety...

How dare you creep up on me as I’m lying in my bed To place thoughts that really trouble me, so deep within my head How dare you come and visit when my family member passed You turned up unexpectedly, you never even asked How dare you even be there on the last day of my job You stayed, though uninvited, causing me to sob You play with my emotions and cause actual physical pain For what, I mean, just what’s the point, tell me what you gain How dare you be around me when I’m trying to move house You thought I’d never notice you, as quiet as a mouse You’re always in the background when I’m going through some change Perhaps that’s why you’re there then, like a dirty piece of mange It’s time you took damn notice of just what I’m saying to you You cause me so much trauma but I know just what to do I will fight you with every breath I have, I will never ever give in You can feck right off anxiety, you will NOT stop me from living…

[sherrid555]

You Will Never Win...

I used to work in Clink Street That’s down Borough Market Way We’re talking twenty years ago It’s very different there today

The market then, it just sold tat From a dodgy car park stall The pubs were places to avoid But we still all had a ball

There were armed police in ninety-six We’d see them on our way to work, it scared the crap from us We lived in fear of the IRA

Generations before have also feared The things they can’t control The wars and bombs and terrorists All things that rip our soul

My father was an immigrant A muslim here to roam I was called a paki as a kid And told to go back home*

I’m fearful of the hatred That I’m seeing on my feeds “Send them back to where they came from” What to Kent or maybe Leeds?

All I know is that these scumbags Are destroying lives, so willing With their heads so full of brainwashed crap And no reason for the killing

They aren’t human, they are COWARDS With hatred in their souls With support from others, also trash That feed social media trolls

It’s senseless and it’s mindless With nothing there to gain Just destruction on the highest scale So many families left with pain

If you kill, you are a MURDERER I really hope that it will cease And I just wish that hate would fuck right off So our kids can live in peace

*I was born in Carshalton, Surrey, U.K.

[sherrid555]

Thoughts since moving - one year on...

I am stronger than I think I am I can be intrinsically lazy If you don’t have a day job, it doesn’t mean you don’t have deadlines Time still passes too quickly A freshly installed brand new cracked bath that needs to be ripped out isn’t the end of the world Family and friends mean the world to me Grown-ups can be much more badly behaved than children I should listen to, and trust the voice in my head more I’m not the plant killer I thought I was Loving nature used to be fun, living amongst it is even better Whatever size space you live in, you will grow or shrink to fit it Forging new friendships doesn’t have to be frightening Not every decision has to be made at once I hate boundaries and am quite bad at living on a budget despite the necessity! Reading doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure; it can be just a pleasure Despite never believing in myself, I’m capable of producing some great ideas It feels good to be slightly more comfortable in my own skin – one day it’ll fit like it’s mine I love being a hostess and looking after people Cooking and all things food brings me immense pleasure There are still places in the garden I haven’t explored I can live quite calmly in mess and chaos I can hold my own with the best of them When you use a rotary washing line, you don’t have to keep walking round it, it spins! There will always be budget for a good bottle of wine….

[sherrid555]

It’s Time..

I can’t believe it’s May just now, this year has really flown The greenhouse is awaiting me, but seeds are not yet sown The days are still too cold though and I wish it were July At least it would be warmer as there’d be more sun in the sky

In fact I wish that it were August, as I’d be even warmer still Long lazy days and picnics out and barbeques at will Although not hot, I also love the autumn season too The colours are so stunning and there’s so much more to do

I wish that it was Christmas, what a brilliant time of year So many happy faces, lots of fun and winter cheer I so love buying presents and then dressing up our place And eating all that yummy grub, it’s ok to stuff your face!

Ooh I love it when it’s January, the chance to start anew And plan my resolutions and the positive things to do A month to eat more healthily and drop the dreaded booze Not long enough for me though, with all the weight I’ve got to lose

I wish that it were February; I want a glass a wine! I’ve been so good for one whole month, a rioja? About time! I’m glad this month is really short; the frost is long and cold Only six months to my birthday, God I’m really feeling old

I wish that it were March as all the flowers start to sprout Longer days, the start of spring, a chance to clear stuff out But the garden is so dry now and I hope it’s April quick So the showers come and do their stuff, but the rain gets on my wick

Before you know it, that’s a year gone, a whole year I wished away I can’t stop time from passing; it never stays as just ‘today’ I’d like to live more in the moment and not look too far ahead And stay the right side of that lovely grass; live here and now instead!

[sherrid555]

A Schnauzer tale...

I've had a busy day today A pamper and a groom I'm so so tired and very glad My bed is in this room I'm comfy cosy, warm as toast The fire's burning bright Stop taking pics, I want to sleep And tell everyone, "night night..."

[sherrid555]

An Ode to Izzy...

I’m not a gorgeous looking pet Nor cuddly draped in fur I don’t make puppy noises And I certainly do not purr

I don’t climb up upon your lap Nor nuzzle round your feet (Well, other than to bite you Which apparently isn’t ‘sweet’)

My skin is hard and scaly And you cannot teach me tricks My nickname is Houdini So my pen is lined with bricks

I do not have a proper nose Just two holes in my face My beak is sharp and roughened And I do not move with grace

My dad is not my biggest fan If I escaped, he’d shed no tear That’s despite the fact I hibernate For six months of the year  

My mum though really loves me She sits down with me to talk She takes me down the garden So I can have a good long walk

She holds me up to see her face And tells me I’m the best She feeds me lots of yummy stuff And ensures I get my rest

She keeps those pesky dogs away (That Nessa is the worst) She sniffs my bum and bites my nose And barks likes she will burst!

I’ve also got a girly name (No one knew I was a boy) But I’m well behaved and come when called I think that I’m a joy!

You could do a lot worse than a tortoise As an addition to your crew So this is Izzy, signing off now With lots of love to all of you xx

[sherrid555]

Oh the irony... my top 10

1. Playing hunt the bayleaf despite the fact it refused to sink when you started cooking

2. When you get to the checkout and you remember all your ‘bags for life’ are at home

3. Not being able to find the one thing you need in the utensil drawer, despite it being right in front of you. You could ask, but you carry on looking regardless

4. When you need a black pen to fill out a form but can only find a gazillion blue ones

5. When you’re in the shower before you realise there’s only a sliver of soap left

6. When you’re the one in the toilet when the loo roll runs out or needs changing

7. When you’ve tipped yucky stuff in the bin before you realise hubby took the liner out to empty it

8. When your recording finishes too early, just when you were about to find out who did it

9. When the only time you forget to put your slippers on is when the dog’s had a drink and left a shower of water all over the kitchen floor

10. Alanis Morissette was right – it’s like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife…

[sherrid555]

My Eyes Are Drawn To Windows...

My eyes are drawn to windows... Whenever I am out I feel a kind of magnetism Of that, there is no doubt

There's something so inviting That simply draws me in It feels so wrong to linger though, It's almost like a sin

There's a story behind every one Just like an unread book I want to turn those pages I almost have to have a look

Whether stately homes, or cottages Even beach huts by the sea I want to see how people live Is that so wrong of me?

I want to see their decor And to glean their sense of style I want to know about their lives I need to stay a while

I love looking at interiors Are they carpets, rugs or mats? And how different are the layouts In a single block of flats?

But my favourite? Country cottages With teeny windows set in flint So difficult to peer inside I really have to squint

Behind the glass, enchantment And another world from mine Old photos, grouped together Of lives spread over time

It's the lure of what's behind the glass Don't think that I'm a sneak My eyes are drawn to windows I simply have to have a peek!

[sherrid555]

My New Year Resolutions...

In which I give myself 10 attainable New Year resolutions... http://sherri.life/the-new-year-resolutions-i-gave-myself/ Happy New Year!

[sherrid555]

A Plea - to c2c - from me

Dear c2c, this is for you from me

(I’ll also write and give you a bell)

The new timetable that you shoved in place

Isn’t working at all very well

 In fact I’d go so far as to say to you

It’s not working well at all

You’ve totally screwed us over

And you’re treating us like fools

 You offered a consultation

But didn’t listen, it’s too late after

An example being, ‘we just can’t fit

what you’d like, a Laindon starter’

 You’ve shortened trains from 12 to 8

Many places are left with 4

But you claim to be helping passengers

And you say you can carry more…

 Introducing this in December

Was a ruse of yours for sure

Most lucky peeps are enjoying their sleeps

Let’s see how January goes when there’s more

 Why shouldn’t I sit on my train home?

I’m at the station in plenty of time

Why should I have to stand all the way?

Because 8’s down to 4 on my line

 Why did you introduce new trains

That had a limited number of seating

But far more room for standing

In reality squashed in ahead of our meetings

 And your tweets are so patronising

Did somebody say ‘let’s all just bait her?’

‘Let’s wind her up and suggest to her

That she simply should travel in later’?

 I’d like to suggest that idea to my boss

One thinks it might not go down well

But your twits sorry tweets from your central control

Seem to think that idea is just swell

 So how long do you think that it’s ok to stand

Packed in like a tin of sardines

Did you think that we’d all be ok with such tosh

That we’d think it’s an end to our means

 And what about all the customers

You’ve left hanging around on the loop

Who get to the station and can’t even board

How many of us did you dupe?

 Thank you for making the changes you have

And rethinking at least one decision

But you know deep down that it’s just not enough

better thought wouldn’t have needed revision

 So please c2c if not listening to me

Can you at least listen to everyone else

For the fainters and fighters, the absolute nightmares

Paying customers and the good of our health

 We need a solution, we need to sit down

We need to at least get on board

We need help to make these things better

I hope this at least strikes a chord

 Please do what you can and stop fobbing us off

With excuses and just saying no

You as a Group need to listen to us

Or the head of your company should go

 It’s not much to ask for the price that we pay

Just to be able to work

It’s over to you, now please do the right thing

Travelling comfortably is our right, not a PERK!

[sherrid555]

A letter to my 20 something year old self... part 1

I finally did it - it’s not easy to write a letter to your 20 something year old self but here it is... http://sherri.life/a-letter-to-my-20-something-year-old-self-part-1/#more-300