Some of you may be aware my grandad has been seriously ill over christmas and that I had to make a mad dash to Preston over new years as it looked like we were about to lose him.
Shortly after that he had another stroke and the doctors said he would only have six weeks to live.
My grandad has been the father that my own father could not be. So to say I was terrified would have been the understatement to end all understatements.
My grandmother insisted that I only come up if the worst was to happen because my grandad wanted me to stay with Vince. He has been selfless even in dire times and was more concerned that we were well than weather we wanted to look after him.
However
My grandad is stubbon.
And he has a 50th wedding anniversary in November this year. So he's decided he's not going anywhere fast and despite being a devout and honest christian, has decided that God can wait a little longer before he goes to serve.
He's currently being rehabilitated on the stroke ward and has been walking with the aid of a zimmer frame and recovered in one week faster than many do in months.
Regardless of what you believe in friends, i know this. My grandfathers faith in God and his love for his wife of 50 years has kept him here and kept him alive.
My grandad is a miracle and I am truly blessed to know he's still on this mortal coil.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Monday, 26 January 2009
What this means to me
Its been a recurring topic recently. How important the Sex Pistols were to many but yet not to me.
There was always another band that from being as young as I can remember always seemed far more important.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand the reasoning for the love of the Sex Pistols.
For anyone angry, aware and disillusioned with modern life, here was something that kicked back snarling and full of rage and energy, rarely seen even in this day and age.
Hence why they are still popular and many peoples first lesson in that there was something more out there in music than saccarine sweet pop music pursuading you that everything was great and groovy.
But having been born and raised quite literally into a punk scene that emerged in 77 and was not quite dead in 81, I never really felt the need to outright shock people. I did that enough just being who I was.
But there was another band that I heard from being very little - understanding the rythm before I understood the words, appreciating that everyone that a small child knew back then loved this band for reasons not nessaccery to explain but completely understood as she aged.
This band were the Clash.
This band that sang about things as if it had been written about your life. The band that watched what was going on and put it to music. The Clash were and still are the band that meant the world to so many people.
Musically they encompassed so many sounds, drawing heavily from a black music scene that still suffered discrimination. And in a rare turnaround gave back so much to.
And the thing that really meant the world.. in the years that followed, they still believed that.. and still encouraged everyone else to believe it to.
Joe's Mescaleros produced such beautiful music that still moves. And 6 Years after his passing theres still that spirit. That energy to do something. Whatever that something was to do it positively.
There was anger aplenty in the Clash's music but there was also a humility that is rare in any music. The band that forever symbolised the path of the common people; and that is why they forever will hold a place in my heart that would never be replaced.
There was always another band that from being as young as I can remember always seemed far more important.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand the reasoning for the love of the Sex Pistols.
For anyone angry, aware and disillusioned with modern life, here was something that kicked back snarling and full of rage and energy, rarely seen even in this day and age.
Hence why they are still popular and many peoples first lesson in that there was something more out there in music than saccarine sweet pop music pursuading you that everything was great and groovy.
But having been born and raised quite literally into a punk scene that emerged in 77 and was not quite dead in 81, I never really felt the need to outright shock people. I did that enough just being who I was.
But there was another band that I heard from being very little - understanding the rythm before I understood the words, appreciating that everyone that a small child knew back then loved this band for reasons not nessaccery to explain but completely understood as she aged.
This band were the Clash.
This band that sang about things as if it had been written about your life. The band that watched what was going on and put it to music. The Clash were and still are the band that meant the world to so many people.
Musically they encompassed so many sounds, drawing heavily from a black music scene that still suffered discrimination. And in a rare turnaround gave back so much to.
And the thing that really meant the world.. in the years that followed, they still believed that.. and still encouraged everyone else to believe it to.
Joe's Mescaleros produced such beautiful music that still moves. And 6 Years after his passing theres still that spirit. That energy to do something. Whatever that something was to do it positively.
There was anger aplenty in the Clash's music but there was also a humility that is rare in any music. The band that forever symbolised the path of the common people; and that is why they forever will hold a place in my heart that would never be replaced.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
A Historic Moment
Regardless of what is to come, today is an historic day.
Something that even in my lifetime I did not think could happen.
And yet it did.
Now many people have already begun with the cynasism and doubt. They have good reason. We have had many things that have crumbled. But this man is not a miracle worker. He is a man that is allowing people from all over the world to believe that they to can make a change.
The message recieved loud and clear today was that we CAN improve on things. But only if we can WORK TOGETHER.
I believe without a doubt that this man will strive to improve things in the best way he can. Its the hardest job in the world and the only way we can improve on things is to BELIEVE that we can.
People are claiming that miracles can't happen. But one already has. So whos to say that many more may follow.
Faith. It's a simple thing to have. But it can and it HAS already changed the world.
And a reminder - change can only happen if everyone continues to push forward.
Something that even in my lifetime I did not think could happen.
And yet it did.
Now many people have already begun with the cynasism and doubt. They have good reason. We have had many things that have crumbled. But this man is not a miracle worker. He is a man that is allowing people from all over the world to believe that they to can make a change.
The message recieved loud and clear today was that we CAN improve on things. But only if we can WORK TOGETHER.
I believe without a doubt that this man will strive to improve things in the best way he can. Its the hardest job in the world and the only way we can improve on things is to BELIEVE that we can.
People are claiming that miracles can't happen. But one already has. So whos to say that many more may follow.
Faith. It's a simple thing to have. But it can and it HAS already changed the world.
And a reminder - change can only happen if everyone continues to push forward.
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