robzlog aims to amuse, interest, entertain and encourage reflection
I do quite a lot of things, some of them for the community, but this year I stopped. It’s interesting how people notice differently. Some ask why things aren’t being done without stopping to think about the people who do them, while others are more perceptive. The reason I had to stop, or pause, is that it’s … Read more
Monster Raving Loony Party candidates used to feature heavily in UK general elections, but you hear little of the party these days. I’ve always respected them because their slogan, which applies to most political parties, is totally honest: Vote for insanity. Whether we vote for them or not, it’s what we seem to get. Once, I almost … Read more
Yesterday, while walking my dog, I was approached by a man who was sweating profusely and asked if he could speak to me for a few minutes. He looked in distress, so I stopped. He said that he was very ill and was moving to the town and couldn’t afford to pay the van drivers who … Read more
1. Don’t use social media. That way you don’t have to connect with people, collect online ‘friends’ and followers or shoulder the growing burden of the minutiae of everyone else’s lives. 2. Don’t buy a phone. No texts, no calls, no gossip: peace. 3. Don’t network. You won’t have to walk into a room full … Read more
There’s a lot of self-help about: so many blogs, books and inspirational quotes. They don’t seem much use though when you become so overwhelmed that putting one foot in front of another, replying to a simple email or just opening a letter is just too difficult. What’s the problem? How can something so small become so momentous? This has happened … Read more
It’s a game. It’s fictitious. Maybe. Empire Avenue is a virtual stock market where you invest in other players and they invest in you. What’s important for your social media effectiveness is that you can connect all your networks: Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook profile and page, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, Foursquare, WordPress and blogs. What’s more important is … Read more
Things felt grim this morning when I got up. But, as on most mornings for the past 15 years, I started the day with a dog walk. We met up with another dog walker and his dogs, who asked how I felt and I said: “Grim.” However, as we walked and our dogs played, we … Read more
It’s a strange thing, grief. Just when you think you’ve worked through a stage, it strikes again. Fortunately, I’ve got some wonderful people to talk to and, of course, there’s the calming magic influence of dogs. The past couple of days have been tough, but after a deep chat this morning, I decided my brain needed … Read more
2015 has been a dramatic year so far with the passing of my Mum and the bittersweet combination of farewells and celebrations of her life. The slow working of Parkinson’s disease made life more difficult over recent years, but our family were there at every step of the way and even in the darkest moments … Read more
Sometimes we can get lost in the pursuit of numbers. I need more followers, likes, shares, retweets, plusses! Not that they necessarily lead to more sales or transactions, but they look and sound good, so they must be of value. Over the past day, what have really had an impact on me are individual messages from people: … Read more
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but here’s a glimpse of the world I seek in 2015. Already, on the first day of the year, I saw daffodils springing up in the park and realised what potential is available to us all over the next 365 days. In the UK, we’re due an election in May 2015. … Read more
I’d wanted to do something about it for years. I didn’t think I was overweight, I just felt uncomfortable at times: not right. In 2013, a stomach bug caused me considerable bloating and discomfort for some months. I had to buy bigger trousers as I couldn’t wear 90% of those in my wardrobe. As a Crohn’s … Read more
I’ve never been a frequent party-goer or a seeker of casual chit-chat. Even as a student attending Latin seminars in the beautiful surroundings of St John’s Lodge in Regent’s Park in London, I used to enjoy solitary walks around the Inner Circle on winter days, listening to the wind in the trees and watching the water spouting from the … Read more
I find the Christmas and New Year break a good time to wind down, recharge and prepare for the year ahead. I don’t usually make resolutions, but it is good to refocus on what I want. I’ve even refreshed this blog in preparation for more frequent posting in 2015. 2014 has been a tough year … Read more
Over the past 10 years I’ve owned lots of pairs of wellington boots. It’s not that I have an obsession with them, but they just don’t seem to last very long. Whether expensive, cheap or mid-range, inevitably I experience my socks suddenly soaking up water as I walk through a puddle or paddle in the sea. After telling several … Read more
How often do we make mistakes and think we have blown any chance of having a second chance? Several years ago I was driving along a country lane when a squirrel ran out into the road. Now I know all creatures take their chances in the wild, but I hate the idea of anything being … Read more
There is often more than one way to view anything. I could say that last weekend was wasted on work as I had to bring my business accounts up to date so I could file my value added tax (VAT) return. Or I could say that we spent a relaxing weekend by the sea: on Friday night we … Read more
I joined Empire Avenue three years ago and, apart from Scrabble, don’t play any other online games – I don’t have the time. After initially enjoying the fun of raising my virtual share price and dividend paid to shareholders, I realised that I was connecting with some interesting people. Empire Avenue enables you to add your … Read more
Sometimes days and weeks pass and I wonder what I actually did. So I’ve just been thinking what I did that was different this week. In addition to a full week of work, this week I: Made porridge for the first time rather than just eating it Compered interview role-plays in front of 170 Year … Read more
I’ve got so much to do over the next few days that I don’t have much time, but before rushing to my office this morning I remembered the seeds I had planted. I had to take a look. Sure enough, the runner bean and tomato seedlings are sprouting. What a wonderful feeling. What makes it … Read more
