No 6.

Remember a day before today
A day when you were young
Free to play along with time
Evening never comes.
Song: Remember A Day
Album: A Saucerful of Secrets

Why is it that one's perception of time changes so much as you get older? When you're young time seems to move much more slowly. Weekends and half-term holidays seemed to last for ages and the Christmas and Easter breaks even longer. But they all paled into insignificance next to the summer break. I can remember as a child thinking that the six-week summer holiday seemed like an eternity, full of long days in which there was plenty of time to do whatever I wanted. I'm sure that part of this feeling was due to the knowledge that, once the holiday finished I'd be a whole year older (in school terms) but that's not the whole of it. There just seemed to be more time.

Now weeks flash past almost before I realise they've begun, speeding me towards the grave as if I'm running late and need to catch up. There's always a pile of things to do and deadlines coming up imminently and not enough time to go round. And I find myself wanting that child-like perception of time that I used to have.

Ironic, isn't it? Now that I can actually appreciate having time to spare, I don't have any.

No 5.

Doctor Doctor I'm in bed
Doctor Doctor aching head
Song: Take Up Thy Stethoscope & Walk
Album: Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Not sure about the aching head but my back is certainly killing me after my sardine-like journey into work this morning. Bloody trains.

That's not what I was going to say, though. I wanted to talk about how infrequently I'm ill enough need to see a doctor.

I get colds several times a year (in fact I think I'm coming down with one at the moment - if so I'm probably only at Stage 2) and there's always a touch of hayfever in the summer but I rarely get anything worthy of a day off work, let alone a trip to the doctor. In fact, if I wanted to see my doctor I'd need to go all the way to Manchester because I haven't registered with one since I graduated over four years ago! I just don't get that sick.

And before anyone says it, I'm not the sort of man who turns into a lump at the first sign of a sniffle, either. I foolishly battle onwards when instead I could be milking it for all it's worth. I'll drag myself into work rather than spend the day at home because I don't believe I'm ill enough to warrant a sick day, unless I feel truly awful.

I wish I knew the secret to my general healthyness - I could make a fortune if I did.

No 4.

New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I'll buy me a football team.
Song: Money
Album: Dark Side Of The Moon

It's really quite amazing that, 30 years before it happened, Pink Floyd prophesied that Roman Abramovich would buy Chelsea football club.

No 3.

The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
Song: Free Four
Album: Obscured By Clouds

This was the lyric that inspired this project. Whereas many of Pink Floyd's lyrics are obscure and seem meaningless, especially the very early material, this sounds like a wise old saying and has long caused me to think. Hence the inspiration for this post.

So, what deeds would you like to remember in your old age? Something daring and adventurous, perhaps? Or something more kind and gentle?

I don't think that I've done very much so far that I would count as a memorable deed, good or bad, though I have provided emotional support to various friends when they most needed it, which I think they found invaluable at the time. However, I've got a long way to go before I reach old age so there's plenty of time, yet.

I want to run the London Marathon and raise awareness of (and find solutions for!) the problems of the world but I think the deeds I would most like to look back on in forty years or more are to do with raising a happy, close family and providing all I can for them. Soppy, really.

No 2.

Is there anybody out there?
Song: Is There Anybody Out There?
Album: The Wall

Well? Is there?

There are two ways to see how many people read my blog: comments and stats. Of the two, comments are much more meaningful because they allow interactivity with the readers.

However, it appears that more people visit the site than comment on it. So if you don't normally comment, why not introduce yourself and tell me what you think of Clear Blue Skies?

I won't bite, I promise.

Pink Floyd Month - No 1.

His blood has frozen and curdled with fright
His knees have trembled and given way in the night
Song: Sorrow
Album: A Momentary Lapse Of Reason

This seemed like a good choice to kick off this series of posts inspired by the lyrics of Pink Floyd, given that it was hallowe'en yesterday. (Great party, by the way, thanks to every one that came along.)

This is supposed to be a very scary time of the year. It's getting dark earlier and earlier but it's not late enough in the year for our uneasiness to be soothed by all the Christmas lights and merriment. The weather contributes to the feeling with winds whistling through the towns and rain lashing against our windows. Add to that all the hallowe'en tales of ghouls & goblins and the bangs of fireworks and it's hardly surprising that some people don't like this time of year at all.

Not me, though. I'm not a very fearful person. I'm not afraid of spiders or mice - I've quite happily caught both in my bare hands in order to remove them from the house - and I don't mind the dark or open spaces or being alone or other things that people have phobias about.

That's not to say I'm completely fearless, however. I'm wary of walking home late at night through the woods and I sometimes get quite claustrophobic when I'm in a very busy pub. But they don't scare me - I wouldn't walk through the woods at night or go into busy pubs if they did.

Not having any deep fears may sound great but it can bring complications with it. If you're not afraid of anything then it can be hard to be understanding of the fears of others. After all, if you can see that a spider is just a little creature trying its best to get away from you and live its own life why is your boyfriend or girlfriend, wife or husband stood on top of a chair screeching as if their life is in danger? It's hard not to laugh at them for being so silly but you have to remember that, irrational though it may be, their fear is a very real thing and needs to handled with compassion.

What are you afraid of?

Welcome Flashbloggers

Welcome to the Clear Blue Skies Hallowe'en party.

Please, park your broomsticks outside and hand your cloaks to my servant Igor.

Igor!

"Mussster?"

Take these cloaks to the dungeon and then make sure the cauldron of punch is bubbling nicely.

"Yesss Mussster."

Don't mind Igor, he's pretty harmless, really. Please, follow me.

We have a variety of games for you to play. There's bobbing for apples in the Great Hall and a game of Web of Fate taking place in the ballroom shortly. Get there quickly if you want to find your soul mate (last year we matched up an aging vampire with a young virgin - they're still happily together twelve months on!).

If you care for refreshments at any stage, the dining room is just through here. We have toffee apples, gingerbread men, roast chestnuts and all manner of pumpkin dishes created by Chef. We also have a range of punches and brews for the thirsty among you.

Before you join in the fun and games, I need to ask you a few questions. Just post your answers in the comments and enjoy the party:

Who are you?
What's your blog called? Tell me a little bit about it.
Who invited you to the party?
Describe your costume so everyone knows what you're wearing.

Right that's it. Go on in and enjoy yourselves. If you require anything, please ask my butler, Lurch. In the meantime, make yourselves at home.

Ale of the Month

November's Ale of the Month is a little bit unusual. It's Fuller's Vintage Ale, a bottle conditioned ale that can be left to mature like a good red wine.

Also, there are only 50,000 bottles available. I'm going to try and get hold of a few tonight and I'm going to drink one and then leave the rest to age. I'll drink one every six months or so to see if it really does improve.

Flashblog Finale

Details have been sent out for tomorrow's grand finale to Flashblogging Month. If you haven't got them, let me know.

Recommended Reading

Since I began writing this blog just a couple of months ago, it seems to have become something of a mission of mine to introduce my (few) readers to new, interesting blogs.

Which is why, when yesterday I stumbled across a blog I'd not seen before, I knew I'd have to tell you about it. It is, quite simply, one of the best blogs I've seen, and I've seen quite a few.

It's called ...she's a flight risk and it has everything going for it. It's beautifully written, serves a clear (and unique) purpose and is really well designed.

The following passage is from the beginning of the very first post, on March 20th 2003:

On March 2, 2003 at 4:12 pm, I disappeared.
My name is isabella v.
I'm twentysomething and I am an international fugitive.

I'm still not completely convinced it's genuine but that doesn't really matter. I strongly recommend you go and take a look. Click on the 'where to begin' link and just read on from there. I doubt you'll be disappointed.