Category: Thoughts

One year ago I had to buy some more glasses, (see previous entries), and as I had used a local branch of SpecSavers where I live in Kingston upon Thames, in the UK, for some years, I returned to them.

The offer of two pairs of glasses for the price on one, (really?), suits me, as I can carry both pairs around the world, if I break, damage or lose a pair, I have another ready to take its’ place. Another great asset is that one pair has green frames and the other has blue frames, so I could be colour co-ordinated.

I do not wear the all the time as they are for reading, but being bi-focal, I can keep them on, but as I do a lot of reading, I really do need them.

Three weeks ago, one of the arms off pair of glasses one, dropped off, no problem, I had another pair. I must be my fault, perhaps I sat on them, perhaps I could have abused them. I could not remember doing so, but then am I aware of every thing I do?

I wore my second pair, and live continued as normal, a trip to Italy, to Turkey and then on to Bahrain to give courses.

Whilst in the training room in Bahrain, I took my second pair of glasses off to give the presentation, and put them in my shirt pocket. When the time came for the participants to do the exercise I wanted them to do to reinforce their learning, I reached inside my pocket to get my glasses, put them on, to realise that the arm off these glasses had become detached.

Now this time, I know I was not abusive to my glasses, I had treated them with the love and affection they deserved, after all, they were now my only pair. Yes the frames were thin, light etc, but then we have to use them, wear them, that is what they are for.

Like many modern consumer goods, cars, TV’s, computer, they have a life expectancy, and it must be the same with these glasses, as both were the same style of frame.

Now I was in a mess, no glasses, four days of training left for me to give, e-mails to answer, and the latest book I was reading, The Complete Works of Sherlock Homes to finish.

Oh Poo Poo.

There was no way to get them repaired, I tried and the shopkeeper did not want to know, or did not have the correct equipment.

I purchased a pair of off-the-shelf reading glasses. Not bad, not the correct strength, but I could read.

On returning to the UK, I went straight to SpecSavers, and of cause they presupposed that I had damaged them, and it was suggested that it was the way I took them off, until I pointed out that on one pair the right arm had come off, and on the other it was the left.

SpecSavers broken glasses

This is the second time this has happened to me, and it has meant I have had to look at life in a different way.

Whilst I was unhappy when this happened to me, I was inoculated as against the anger, rage, sadness of loosing such an old trusted friend, and I knew that if I stayed calm, the hands of my clock would still turn round, a solution would be found, and friends, people I know, would no doubt offer advice and perhaps support in my hour of need, or perhaps not.

There would be light at the end of the tunnel, if I waited, got on with life, and enjoyed the present day. Carpe Diem.

Whilst at college at the Staffordshire College of Commerce in the West Midlands of the UK many years ago, I came across the Latin saying, Carpe Diem, which means seize the day, or as I interpret it enjoy the present day, and whenever I can I try and remember to do that.

I spent over 35 years in the computer industry, being the computer expert, supporting customers who had purchased computers, designing the systems, writing the programs, installing the software, training the staff, for I worked for computer manufacturers, NCR, Sperry Univac, Texas Instruments. I was the expert, I have loads of knowledge and experience.

When my trusted computer broke down, a computer that had lasted me only 18 months, 18 months ago I was really upset. I found a solution around the problem keyboard by using a removable one, but that could only be temporary, so I purchased a replacement computer.

That has lasted 18 months and now that too has developed a fault on the keyboard, so although I have found a temporary solution, I had learned from my past experience and replaced it with another.

Having now needing to wear glasses for reading, when I replace my glasses I purchase two pairs at the same time. If anything happens, I have a backup. I could loose them, scratch them.

Two years ago, one of my pairs of glasses, broke, but I had the second pair, I was safe. But within weeks the second pair broke as well, in the same place, so I had to buy another two pair of glasses.

Two weeks ago, on of these replacement glasses the arm fell off. No problem, I have a second pair. Yesterday, the second pair of glasses had the same thing happen, the arm fell off.

Something told me this may happen before I left for the trip I am on now here in Bahrain, but I dismissed it.

Thankfully, on our way to find a sandwich last night, my host Philip Edwards took me to an optician to see if the glasses could be repaired, but no. We had a solution, off the shelf reading glasses, I can still see to read.

Carpe Diem.

Life is full of such incidents. 

Sitting here in the UK, watching the F1 Grand Prix taking place in Istanbul, I began to feel for last years World Champion, Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton could not be beaten last year, yet this race he has just been lapped by Jenson Button in the Brawn Mercedes. How will Hamilton feel? How is his confidence?

Not only is it Hamilton who drives the Mercedes-McLaren that is down in the race placing, but so is Massa who drives the Ferrari.

What is happening?

Like anything we do, we have to have the right tools to do the job as well as having the knowledge, experience and competence.

We also have to have a good team behind us to support us.

Without all components in place working together to the full potential we will not win.

There has been other things I have noticed. Although the F1 drivers are racing each other, fighting to gain a place, there is respect for each other.

Perhaps there is much to learn for us all. 

Residents and business’s in and around Norbiton Hall, London Road and surrounding roads were sent a letter (May 2009) from the Directorate of Environmental Services of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, titled:-

The introduction of cycle ways within London is part of the Mayor of London’s scheme to get people on bikes. I believe there are incentives for the local authorities who create cycle ways, even if they are only 10 yards in length.

On many occasions I as others, have been confronted by cyclists who insist in using a FOOTpath to get from A to B, so bike riders already use the FOOTpath involved.

So is this proposal a waste of money?

In the space of one hour I took a few photographs that Mr Roy Thompson (Service Director, Royal Kingston) and Younes Hamade (Traffic Engineer, Kingston Town Traffic Engineering Team) may consider. Email :- younes.hamade@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Firstly, closer into Kingston town center along London Road, there has already been installed a cycle only facility, that is a green sectioned portion of the road.

In ten minutes I observed two people on bicycles using the green cycle way, but others not, they are still using the FOOTpath.

        

        

Bike riders using the footpaths in London Road, even though a cycle way has been provided

Street furniture, that means lamp posts, traffic lights and their control boxes, telephone and communication boxes, vehicle entrances to buildings and the Norbiton Hall Estate, will have to be moved at great expense.

How about the normal day to day traffic and parking?

The local offices have many deliveries during the day, with vans and lorries parking on the FOOTpath, deliveries to the apartments facing onto London Road of Norbiton Hall also have deliveries, again meaning lorries and vans often park on the FOOTpath restricting usage.

        

        
Lorries and vans parked on the footpath outside Norbiton Hall and Clarendon House, London Road, Kingston upon Thames

Then there are the many mobility cart users. They often use the FOOTpath as a raceway.

Two mobility vehicle users and street furniture including traffic lights control box

I consider that the proposal is flawed and needs more consideration, and a strict enforcement of what is in place already, as a FOOTpath should be what it says for feet and pedestrians.

FOOTpath =’s Footpath (right of way), in the UK, a path on which the public have a legally protected right to travel on foot.