Walking in Petts Wood and The Hawkswood Estate Page 6

Monday Nov 3rd 2003 Is it a squirrel or a fox?

Feeling almost recovered from the 'flu I headed into the woods once more. It was a windy day but not very cold. I took the short walk along the bridle path and spotted what looked like a very large squirrel or fox crossing the path.

If I had been quicker to focus on this animal I might have realised which animal it was but I was too slow. By the time I took a good look at it, it had disappeared into the ferns. This reminded me of an outstanding article I had read yesterday by Peter Thomson called "Speed stuns"

He makes the point that speed is a rare thing even in these days of gadgets which make amazing speed possible. How long do we have to wait for an email to be answered. Sometimes days. Sometimes the email is never answered. I was amazed to receive an answer almost instantaneously from Bill Myers when I emailed him about a product. It was a detailed answer to my question. Not surprisingly I immediately bought the product. Speed stuns. Any business which deals quickly with a customer's queries will stand out from its competitors and will also have more time to deal with the extra demand for its products.

Endurance and will power also stun. Recently David Blaine completed his 44 hour fast in a glass cage by Tower Bridge, London. Today Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the explorer completed his amazing 7 marathons on 6 continents in 7 days at the age of 59. This staggering feat which included long hours in flight from continent to continent with the accompanying jet lag was undertaken 6 months after a double heart by pass.

The hot Singapore leg nearly finished his resolve He felt like collapsing on the pavement after this one He called on his explorer determination to complete the whole task. Dr Michael Stroud accompanied him throughout. Sir Ranulph tells his wife that the stress of not doing these amazing feats was more likely to kill him than getting on with these impossible but exciting tasks. My short walk through the woods looks increasingly pathetic when I think of Sir Ranulph. Here is some one who knows how to live life to the full.

Tuesday Nov 4th 2003 Speed saves

I took the same walk more or less today and immediately spotted a horse woman cantering along the bridle path. If you happen to be on the bridle path the speed of the horse could kill you if it ran into you. On the other hand a quick step to the side could save you from death or injury. Speed can save as well as kill.

If a crocodile is coming straight at you, it tends to keep going in a straight line. A speedy sidestep out of its path could well save your life. Bull fighters are adept at the speedy side step. Such evasion could save you from an attacking human being as well.

A speedy visit to the doctor could save you if the doctor knows what he is doing! When I was a boy of about 13 or 14 I spent a week of the summer holidays in an army camp in Wales. One of my toes became infected and I went to see the medical orderly in his tent.

As I walked in I trod on his watch which, for some reason was on the ground. My big army boots made short work of the watch and in his distress, he suggested I return next day.

I didn't bother and by the time I returned home to the Isle of Man from Wales, the toe was quite badly infected. As it happens, I needed an operation on a small bone growth on the toe. After the operation, the toe was bandaged up tightly. Within days, I was in agony. The local doctor suggested I was making a fuss about nothing.

After a further day or so of agony, my mother removed the bandage on her own authority. Her swift action probably saved my life. The toe was black with gangrene and poison was spreading up my leg. Fortunately there was no further delay and after 6 weeks in hospital with regular penicillin injections I recovered although half the toe had to be amputated.

I learned a harsh lesson that speedy treatment can save your life and a second lesson that the experts (the local doctor) are not always right.

Wednesday Nov 5th 2003 Evading fireworks

Today I came across one or two spent rockets in the woods. Fireworks can be dangerous to state the obvious. How can one avoid this danger? Last year a mother had two sons Andrew and Martin. After firework's day she had only one son.

Andrew, her elder son, had warned Martin that an apparently dud rocket had reignited. Martin quite sensibly covered his face with his hands to protect his eyes. Sadly the rocket hit him in the side of his neck and burst a blood vessel. He lost so much blood that he died.

A simple precaution like having a bucket of water to douse dud rockets in might have saved his life. Dropping to the ground and protecting his eyes with the ground and his neck with his hands might have saved his life. Wearing a helmet could have saved him. It is easy to say this after the event but a little thought in advance can make all the difference.

I am suprised that martial artists when training with sticks seldom use eye protection. It is considered weak to wear protection. To my mind, it is weak not to wear eye protection.

Thursday Nov 6th 2003 To jab or not jab

Today I met one of my martial arts students who told me that he had had the flu immediately after having a flu jab which is suppposed to prevent flu. Later as I walked through the woods i met a jogger who insisted that the flu jab had kept him free from flu for many years.

This seems like a contradiction but possibly having the flu jab when your defences are low could lead to flu. Probably we should go back to just eating an apple a day!

I felt well enough today after three weeks of the flu to teach my martial arts class. They made it very easy by being a real pleasure to teach.

Saturday Nov 8th 2003 Confrontation in Eltham

On Saturdays I often visit Eltham to go to my bank or visit my stepbrother.

On my way back from the bank to my stepbrother's house I dropped into Dixon's to check out the computers etc.

When I was in Dixons; my path was blocked by a huge man and his wife and daughter looking at a television. I hung around a bit waiting for him to move and he did ease slightly forward. I was about to say excuse me but thought I might fit in the gap! However as I walked through we bumped into each other

He looked down at me and said contemptuously “’Excuse me’ usually works”

I replied “Moving out of the way usually works”
He answered “I haven’t got eyes in the back of my head. What’s your problem?”
I glared back and unimaginatively replied “What’s your problem?”

At this point he backed down or just wisely gave up an argument which was probably leading to violence and looked at the television again.

I had been ready to hit him and even go outside for a punch up.

I was astonished at my own anger and at how unnecessary the whole thing was. He could have been more aware that he was blocking an entire path through the shop and I could have said something like: “Sorry I was about to say ‘excuse me’ but thought I could get past without bothering you” This might even have made him feel a little guilty at his own reaction.

Neither of us swore or shouted which is probably why the confrontation ended without violence. I often teach my students in the martial arts that politeness is the best form of self defence. I didn't really follow my own advice but was still quite glad I had suggested to the big man that he was not entirely without fault in this particular situation.

Sunday November 9th 2003 World Cup Rugby

Instead of going for a walk this morning I was seduced by the TV coverage of the World Cup. Last week Ireland nearly conquered Australia (the current world champions) and Wales gave the mighty All Blacks a scare. Neither Ireland nor Wales were given a chance against these awesome teams but the Irish and Welsh teams were thinking on a different plane from everyone else. Their sheer belief in themselves and their resulting fire and energy gained them huge respect.

Today Ireland folded under the onslaught of a great French team but showed some form and belief in the second half. Keith Wood the Irish captain had said that he would tell his team to believe they could win and this was the key idea he would be stressing. He wanted every member of the team to believe.

Sadly for the Irish, the French also tend to believe in themselves at World Cups especially if they get off to a good start. A good start obviously gives self-confidence and extra energy to a team.

England are about to play Wales as I write this. I'll let you know what happened!

It is half time and Wales have turned it on again! They have scored two tries and lead the game by 10 points to 3. They are playing with dynamic energy and flair while England are making mistakes and getting in each other's way. If Wales can maintain their dynamism they could win!

All this makes me realise again that it is pointless to get involved too much in who wins a game. There is absolutely nothing I can do to help England at this point except pray for them. All I have control over is what I do next in my own life game.

Thankfully in the second half England came back and ended up winning 27-18. However, Wales even though they lost the game gained tremendous respect and glory for the way they played. They scored three tries to the one scored by England. Wales can return home to a great reception even though they did not get to the semi-finals. They frightened the life out of New Zealand and England and even though they did not complete their success, they and their country know they have put in 100% effort.

Monday November 10th 2003 To fall or not to fall

Today the paths in Petts Wood were covered in a blanket of leaves. Fall or Autumn has truly arrived. Apparently the word 'fall' used to be the word for Autumn in England but the word eventually fell out of favour in England but is still used in the United States.

Melvyn Bragg did an interesting program on American English last Sunday night. A key influence on American English was The Primer of American English printed around 1823.

Pupils were encouraged in school to pronounce every syllable in a word when this primer was used. Americans for examply pronounce cemetery as cem-et-er-y where as English people will pronounce the word cem-et-ery (using three syllables instead of four)

At the start of my walk I trod on a tree root covered in leaves and twisted my ankle quite badly. The pain wore off as I continued to walk. I was lucky not to have sprained or broken the ankle. If I had, I would probably have fallen over and been stuck there for some time.

Some areas of the woods like the one in the photo below are smooth and a pleasure to walk on; others have tree roots or little logs which invite a sprained ankle.

Later I met Reg who was joking about going wild when there was a full moon. At one time the full moon was thought to bring out the worst in people - hence the word: lunatics.

I took my Monday martial arts (Choikwangdo) class in the evening and we discussed the Saturday incident in Dixon's. I stressed that we should not do what I had done and answer back. We practised saying sorry when someone had bumped into us or been rude. I told the class about the advice of Tony Leung ( my Kung Fu teacher) from about 25 years ago. Apologise even if you are in the right but if he pours a bottle of tomato sauce over you get up and fight!

One of my younger students came up to me at the end of the class and said

"You should have hit him!"

Tuesday November 11th 2003 Yippee! Shit!

Today I met a couple in the woods by the oracle of the oak tree. The subject of the full moon came up and they mentioned a woman who would dance down the street shouting out the magic words "Yippee! Shit!" She was classified as mad and taken away by the men in white coats.

But one could argue that she was anything but mad. Maybe we should all be dancing in the streets as we did at the end of World War II. We are still free and a democratic country and life is full of opportunity.

The phrase she used could be regarded as a complete summary of life. There are moments of sheer joy - Yippee! And there are also moments of horror and despair- Shit! Maybe another word is needed to describe the large areas of time when nothing much happens and life seems very average and ordinary - Yippee! Boring! Shit! ??

It is up to us whether we create the Yippee or the Boring or the Shit.

Sunday November 16th 2003 Master Beggar

I spent today in London at a Darren Winters investment seminar. I learned a lot. I caught the train home to Petts Wood at 6.12 p.m.

I was soon to receive a master class in how to beg on trains. A young man came on board using a crutch to walk with. He stopped in the middle of the carriage and spoke in a polite and humble manner as follows.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen I need £15 to get a place at a hostel tonight. I apologise if what I am saying gives offense to anyone but I would be grateful even for a few pence to help me get the money I need."

Several members of his captive audience including me felt grateful that he was asking only for a few pence instead of the full fifteen pounds!

Six or seven people (again including me) meekly gave him some money. We were completely stunned by a master performance.

£15 is often asked for by beggars in London for a bed at a hostel but I have seldom heard the money asked for in such a polite manner. I once gave a beggar a few pounds for the same cause. He then wanted me to give him the entire amount and was so persistent in his begging that i had to be rude just to be able to move on.

This man, however, was able to win over his audience. He had the courage and communication skills to become a great politician or leader of men. I was impressed. I felt he had almost earned his money!

When I arrived home I had the great pleasure of viewing my recording of today's world rugby cup match between England and France. England beat France and are now in the final. Next Saturday England will play Australia for the world cup. As I am part Scottish and part English, I can enjoy the victory of either nation.

Monday November 17th 2000 Quit or get good

Clive Woodward, the English rugby coach whose team have reached the final of the world cup, spoke on television today. "My only goal when I left my business was to make England the best rugby team in the world." We shall find out on Saturday whether he succeeded or not.

Another man who demanded excellence was the investment guru at the seminar I attended this weekend, Darren Winters. In fact, after writing this, I'm off up to Bloomsbury, to hear him again. When Darren began investing he lost about £40,000. He decided he would either have to quit or become good at investing.

He decided to become good

He studied with the best both in the UK and in the USA. In the USA he had lessons from the world champion trader amongst others. He then started with £2000 which he turned into a million pounds within three years and has gone on from strength to strength. He now runs what some call the best investment seminars in the world. Several of his students have become millionaires.

Thursday Nov 20th 2003 The idea that you might win

Before heading out for my walk this morning I heard the following interview with a Dutch soccer player Johnny Metgod. Johnny was speaking on Nov 20th 2003 on Sky Sports News

Holland on Sat Nov 15th had been beaten 1-0 by Scotland. On Wed Nov 19th Holland beat Scotland 6-0. Johnny was asked what had made the difference. Why had Holland lost on Saturday but won on Wednesday? Johnny's reply was interesting

“On the Saturday, Holland allowed Scotland to score a goal early on and this gave Scotland the idea that they could win. Scotland then went on to win.”
On the Wednesday Holland grabbed Scotland by the throat by scoring early on and Scotland never recovered.

Holland have more players with football skills but these days you cannot rely on skill to win. You must work hard as well."

Again and again in sport, the importance of belief is stressed by players and coaches alike. If you do not believe you can win, you probably will not. The importance of hard work is also stressed. A top team can be beaten by a less skilful team who are prepared to work harder than the talented players.

The woods were again covered in leaves. Half the trees looked bare. When there was a burst of wind, the leaves fell like snow. I met some friends at the oracle of the oak tree where we discussed the ongoing problem of terrorism. News of the attack on the HSBC and the British Consulate in Turkey had come through. We could not think of an easy solution.