Off(side) with their heads!

Not sure how to start this, or indeed where it will end. But the Richard Keys/Andy Gray sexism furore needs commenting on.

Yes, they said stupid things. Yes, there are plenty of women who know the offside rule (and obviously plenty of men who don’t!). Yes, there is absolutely no reason why women cannot be referees or linesmen (Linespeople? Ah yes, Referee’s Assistants, that’s better). But I think it was the fact that they appear to be ‘repeat offenders’ that did for them in the end. The clip of Gray suggesting that his female co-host tuck his microphone wire in for him, could have been some sort of ‘banter’. But the look on her face suggests otherwise. ‘Banter’ like that is only fun if everyone’s in on the joke. It’s not if it’s at the expense of someone else who, quite obviously, doesn’t wish to be part of the joke.

Generalising and stereotyping are dangerous games to play. Sexism is the taking of stereotyping to the extreme, leading to the actual belief that one gender is greater than the other. There are differences, of course, but they do not preclude the possibility of women excelling at typically ‘male’ tasks, and vice versa.

I’m going to stop now before this turns into a rant about working in a largely female office and having to listen to those who appear to use ‘Huh, MEN!’ or ‘Typical man!’ as swear words.

And don’t get me started on Loose Women…

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I did have a relatively relaxed weekend planned. But that has now been turned on its head. We have moved, you see. However, a lot of our stuff is in our old house, which we’re planning to rent out. So we’re in the new house, most of our stuff is still in our old house (for various reasons that aren’t particularly interesting). We were contacted yesterday by the letting agent to say that someone is coming on Monday to view the house. So it’s Action Stations all round. We shall be there for most of the weekend putting things in boxes, transporting said boxes, cleaning, dusting, hovering, painting, that sort of thing.

(One good thing to come from all of this is that we do get to order pizza while we’re there tonight, having taken all of our eating utensils with us to the new house!)

Anyway, this isn’t meant to be about what I’m doing this weekend. It’s about change. More specifically, my response to change. I’m fairly sure that I’m considered to be a reasonably laid back person.  But every now and again I get completely thrown by a change in plans. Most of the time, they’re not even big changes, or big plans. But I will have had it in my mind that something is going to happen, so much so that, when it doesn’t, it really throws me off kilter.

There was a King, according to legend, myth and proverb, who wanted his wise men to deliver an ultimate truth. Something that could be counted upon in all situations, at all times. After much deliberation they presented the King with a ring. Upon the ring was inscribed the mantra, ‘This too shall pass’. The King would look upon the ring, in good times and in bad, and realise that nothing was permanent. That whatever state he was in, it was transitory.

Things are always changing. It’s up to me to accept such things and move on, around and upwards.

I’m being philosophical today, aren’t I? Never mind. This too shall pass.

More about me!

 

I’ve told you a bit about myself before (see here and here), and I thought I’d add to that knowledge here. So here’s some more juicy gossip (it’s not) about me:

 

1.       I have never been to a Nando’s.

2.       I think (and I’m really having trouble committing myself here) that my favourite piece of music is from The Matrix soundtrack. It’s Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino mix) by Rob D. I’m basing this on the fact that it upsets me when it finishes because I never want it to. I can’t think of another piece that does this. *This is subject to change!

3.       I have a rubbish memory. I can go into a shop, wander around and come out again not knowing in which direction I was originally going. This does worry me a little.

4.       My first name is actually Owen. Which confuses me in Doctors’ surgeries.

5.       My birthday is exactly 6 weeks from today. This was good in school because, although it was always pissing down, it was almost always during half-term. I’ll be 29, by the way.

6.       I enjoy puzzles, Sudoku, crosswords, quizzes, etc. Give me a cup of tea and some puzzles and I’ll be happy for hours. Oh, I’ll need a pen too.

7.       I photobomb. A lot. Usually only my friends photos though. No, I don’t know why they’re friends with me either. If there’s a photo album on Facebook with me & my friends in, chances are there’s one of me jumping in front of a lovely group shot like a twat.

8.       I love sprouts. They’re my favourite vegetable.

9.       I’m fine with blood. Not so good with vomit.

10.   I’m not good with finishing books. I may have told you this before. I need to know exactly what’s just gone on in order to continue reading. If I put a book down for more than a couple of days (and forget what’s going on, see point 3) then I get confused and might not pick it back up again. I’ve still never read the last 4 pages of The Silence of the Lambs. I must point out that many books that I’ve never got round to finishing I have thoroughly enjoyed, but haven’t finished for the above reason alone.

So there you have it. Another insight into the Rock & Roll lifestyle that is mine.

Oh, by the way, as much as I’d like to, I don’t always dress in a tuxedo.

New Year, same old me

I don’t tend to do New Year’s Resolutions. I do write a list of things I would like to achieve during the year, but I don’t tend to approach January trying to change a lot about myself.

2010. Gone. Like the proverbial thief in the night who gave us some Milk Tray, but also nicked the tv. For me, it wasn’t the best year. No particular reason, just didn’t feel great. The last 3 months were spent not really looking after myself particularly well. But they did follow one of the highlights of the year, which was my completion of the Cardiff Half Marathon. Probably why I thought I deserved a three month long rest afterwards!

So, I am looking forward to 2011. By the way, are we going for ‘Two Thousand and Eleven’, or my wife’s favourite ‘Twenty Eleven’? Any preferences? I am beginning this year in a whirl of positivity, enthusiasm, and confidence.

Generally, during the year, I would like to:

Become a less flabby version of myself

Stop biting my nails (this was also the plan last year. Didn’t happen.)

Write more blog posts (once a week – manageable?)

Get a good camera

Do more walking and running

Save some money

I know that these aren’t particularly measurable, but for some of them I do have specific numbers (I don’t think you want to know those!). I’ll keep changing my aims throughout the year anyway!

My definite plans for the year include going to South Africa for a friend’s wedding and to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, both of which have now been booked. I also have another wedding here in Wales to go to. All of which I am very much looking forward to doing.

How about you? Are you all excited about the prospect of a New Year? Filled with hope and wonder at the thought of things to come? I hope so. Enjoy it.