Contemplations

In my office. Contemplating Christmas. Sounds from the kitchen, banging and scraping. I realise that my mind isn't processing correctly and I feel dejected. My comfort is poor and I hang on to my pride of being strong but feeling weak and too tired to shout. I must mentally prepare for spending time with the others. Today is our staff/carers Christmas dinner.

My friend Malcolm sent me this link Dakar Supporters Club seems like fun take a look!

X-factor goes XXX

In the UK we have a talent show called X-factor. It is a high energy quest, on live TV to find exceptional talents in the area of pop music and it is based on the performance and charisma of the contestants. Last night was the penultimate show as the contestants performed their hearts out to be the winner. Being the winner is a guarantee of fame and fortune in addition to a cash and benefit prize.

I follow the show occasionally as I have been fascinated by the variation of talent and the development of each contestant. Last night left me in a perplexing mood. I woke up during the night thinking about what I had seen. Young people have such big horizons these days. To be able to appear before an audience of over 10 million at the age of 17 is an amazing privilege and opportunity.

What disturbed me was not contestants. It was from the way the invited guests (Christina Aguilira and Rihanna amongst others) used sexuality in their performances. Don't get me wrong I am not against sexuality in music it is, after all, an important of being human. What concerns me is the over emphasis on sex in music essentially watched and followed by young (12-16 year old's}. I know that I sound like a grumpy old man but I remember having so to much to deal with and enjoy during my youth. Anyway, this got me thinking about being young and the pressure we faced.

In each of us we have powerful forces at work.

• There is a powerful biological drive fuelled by a flood of hormones in our teenage years.
• There's a social pressure which comes from our upbringing, parents and society (friends, teachers).
• There is a final force which is similar in all of us, conscience (this is our inherent sense of right and wrong).

It's a miracle that we manage to grow up at all with all this pressure! Anyway my point about the exuberant use of sexuality is that we already have a powerful force in this area and it certainly doesn't require stimulation! I hope that the youth get through this, as a parent I am bewildered and unsure how we are meant to help.

Noo project - nooskin

Busy can't describe the hectic pace of my schedule lately. After numerous requests from people to get access to an oil I have been using for my body care, I decided to develop it as a brand. Frantic work into bottles and labels, trademarks and web domains. I finally settled on nooskin.

The oil is so effective and yet so safe. It works using natural plant mechanisms that plants use to protect and heal themselves. I use it for nail care, eczema relief and control and massage. It has eliminated my flaky, itchy scalp.

I recommended it to a carer who complained of poor, thin nails. Today she boasts about her strong healthy nails and to be honest, they are a marked improvement.

Take a look at my website for nooskin.