Drinking and Driving ...a cautionary tale

With the holidays upon us, I would like to share a personal experience with you about drinking and driving.

This is a first for me as I usually don't preach to others. As you know some of us have been known to have brushes with the authorities from time to time on the way home after a 'social session' out with friends.

Well, a few days ago I was out for an evening with friends and had several beers followed by some rather nice red wine. Feeling jolly I still had the sense to know that I may be slightly over the limit.

That's when I did something that I had never done before - I took a taxi home. Sure enough, on the way home there was a police booze bus. But since it was a taxi, they waved it past and I arrived home safely without incident.

This was a real surprise as I had never driven a taxi before. I don't know where I got it and now that it's in my garage , I don't know what to do with it!


Merry Christmas!

(I didn't write this but I pass it on in good faith! - GF)

T'was the night before Christmas ...and not a good wish in sight anywhere

Views in Verse - on contentment


The economists of late have been having a field day in bagging the inevitable decline of the western economies and prefacing the misery that will be to come as a result.

Everything ...from: what you will be doing without in a few years (the predictable list of ten ranked 'to be lost' items) to the charts showing the new third world 'rising stars' against the 'new poor' of western establishment by whatever criteria can be made to suit.

Well I don't know about your thoughts, but it is hard for economists to say anything positive any time; even at a time when both US, UK, Japan and Europe are showing signs of recovery. Beats me?

I am in truth of a view that the luxury goods we have had access to recently appear to be even cheaper these days since globalisation. So where is the problem? And as far as the real lagging measure goes ...I'll take real happiness any day compared to the 'how many toys you end up with' approach. Perhaps 'contentment' in  life is a better key indicator that I would suggest.

It all depends on how you measure value in the end. How you live your life will always be the yardstick of true happiness ...skyrockets may light up the night but they shine for only a few fleeting moments.



By Candlelight

To-night is the night
I've been thinking about all week
away from mundane chores
the 'our time' that we seek
We do the shop together
choose the menu with some care
We try to make it simple though
...easy to prepare
Just you 'n me so right
Dinner ...by candlelight

I'm happy to serve it up
As you like to fix your hair
A glass of wine before we sit
Brings 'still' beyond compare
The music that you choose
Brings thoughts of long ago
The talk is flowing now
The fire burning low
And here we are so right
Romance ... by candlelight

The kids ...out for the night
Brings release from the 'mo'
Our chat turns to talking 'bout
people that we know
We  talk too of stellar times
Of travel to and fro
Laugh about the children too
And how they tease us so
Easy to feel so right
Laughter ...by candlelight

A kitchen clean-up
jolts routine into the air
No need to rush it though
It's 'our time' that we share
The weekend brings a window
Lots of hours to spare
Let's just enjoy it too
the morning awaits there
now so right
Bedtime ...by candlelight




Grahame Flynn - Sent from my iPhone

Christmas ...hey let's celebrate! But remember you do want to be welcome back at work after the holidays

Views in Verse - on ego.



It's Christmas and time to celebrate the fact!



But, there is nothing like the predictability of a good night out spoiled by some ratbag who appears to have a totally different agenda to all of the rest of us...?

What does he have to say on the subject? Let's find out...

Reflection

The man in the mirror
is toiling away
Working off last night's fun
A self-critique
while purging away
Reflection on the run:

I pump and I grind
cause I have to really
I carry some weight you see
Cause the man in the mirror
He ventures on out
a little too often that's me

As I work through my session
Thoughts comes on thru
A little uncomfortably
I'm the man in the mirror
I'm feeling good but
moving gingerly...

The woman with the hat
Was in my face
Well ...that was plain to see
A friend of a friend
she was so pissed off
...but hey  ...not because of me?

What about Sonia's brother in law
Some people argue
Even when they're wrong you see
He's better off really
for the 'spray' I gave him
 hey ...deservedly

I was with that blond
...say ...why not?
She captured my interest awhile
The 'hat lady' sank as the
Blond headed 'skank'
Waved at me and smiled

The blond wouldn't dance
when offered the chance
Said I'd  indulged 'too willingly'
tried to resolve it
but I couldn't hold it
in speaking ...adequately

More time at the bar
Could only but mar
any chance of a budding romance
By now kind of numb
right down from my bum
Best suited for sitting ..not dance

Then (hey) that fellah
who just kept looking..
Staring provokingly
I broke my rule
Confronted the 'tool'
Sorted it out...well...
gentlemanly?

Sometimes there are things
that are much better
well...left unsaid
 a good shove ...hey?
It works every time
Puts the issue
'straight to bed'

The pain in my shoulder
I can't quite trace though
the bouncers do come to mind
for no good reason
That I can recall
The barman really wasn't that 'kind'

My mates tell me
I could do a little better...
Be more careful with what I drink
But those last few...
'wow'!!!
Kind'a creep right up on you
you just can't ...really...'think'

Anyway...
Better for the workout
Time to text the boys
Sunday's a great day
I always reckon
For makin' me a little noise...

Reservedly though
Yes so reservedly so
I'm a social soul
That's me


Forwarded from my I phone - Grahame J Flynn

'You can't give up on love' - or so the Alan Jackson song goes

Views in Verse - on 'new horizons'.

'Are you into 'one night stands' ...racing home after 'holding hands'?

Seems to me though too many people when they go out looking for love ...aren't really!




Social norms are too often not really that 'personal' despite the hype. And as sure as night folds into day: we all wake to be ...just me!

 

Tomorrow night

Too much 'me time' with my dog 

Or playing with that old blog

Hey ...it's time ...I got on out

and had some fun!

A chance to catch up with 'somebody new'

whose motives might just be true

Someone I might just really want
to hold on to...

Cause I'm not into one night stands

Racing home after holding hands

To be frozen in the morning fog

Asking "where to now?"

So this night 

is the first night 

where I work from some sort of plan

To never ever make those same mistakes again

  

There are many many girls in this club to-nite

And lots of and lots of them would surely be alright

But the kinda special girl that I really wanna meet 

Is the kinda special girl that I really wanna see again

Tomorrow ...night!  tomorrow ...night!

Lots of girls are keen to dance

I'm ok to take a chance

I've met Shannon, Stacey, 

Jade, Jen, Nici and Jane

But this night is the first night

That I'll stick to my new plan

To never ever make those same mistakes again

  

I can take her out to the movies

Take her out to a show

Take her to a place where she's always wanted to go

Or maybe just spend some time in the sun

just to see her having fun

And to hope that she'll 

really...

really ...

really want to see me again!

There are many many girls in this club tonite

And lots of and lots of them would surely be alright

But the kinda special girl that I really wanna meet 

Is the kinda special girl that I really wanna see again

Tomorrow ...night! tomorrow ...night!

Sent from my iPhone - Grahame J Flynn

Gay marriage - who needs it?

Views in verse - on equal rights.  

I just read an article by Rob Burgess describing Australia as "exemplar to the world" on matters relating to multi-culturalism. I couldn't agree more. He further notes "we all have our problems ...but we are all Australians". Noble and true.

The boat people all find a home here (despite the political view) and they end up enjoying full status here as citizens. Advance Australia fair!

Meantime ...our politicians continue to demonise our gay minorities by their 'at arm's length' responses to popular opinion on the matter at hand (gay marriage).

Coupling the above matters I see a clear anomaly. Why are we so willing to bend or break all social norms in relation to migrants (and we do!) and yet continue to deny our own sons and daughters on a slim pretence of 'religious values'? Beats me ...? Are we that bloody religious anyhow?

Right of Passage

It's your time 

Lovely boy

your hard work's almost done

Acceptance wasn't easy

in a school designed for some

Your progression has been honest

Your plans so well thought through

Adulthood came quickly 

from your trials

Yet it'll take time

Lovely boy

to see a fairer state

In a society
designed just for some

Why do politicians we elect

hide so well from truth?

Can we allow this 

mere 'opinion on the run' ?

Own the space

Lovely boy

look to those who lead

Accept things you can't change

yet fight for what you need

Equal rights are there for all

no matter how it often seems
Don't let anybody

keep you
from your dreams!!!

Forwarded from my iPhone - Grahame J Flynn