Lifting my spirits........

 So, there has been so much isolation and restriction on our lives over the past couple of years, that it has had quite a detrimental effect on my mental health. Between boredom, poor health, spending too much time stuck in the house with all that entails, I have decided to make some positive changes to my life style.

I love cooking, but sadly, TOH doesn't necessarily want to eat what I want to cook, or what are the healthiest foods. So I thought, why do I have to eat what he does? We eat out a lot when the weather is good for riding, which means I can generally find something suitable for me. At home, I've been exploring different cuisines, and I either cook food for me and freeze the extra for later, or I pop the surplus round to the offspring to try.

Craftwork - I found myself with two huge sacks of wool and cotton balls left over from various projects. So I set to over the winter months and made various throws for our sofas, and various items for the charity shop over the road.

We quite often use a small cafe, run by a very nice family, who between them, have 4 girls of varying ages, and several assorted Barbie dolls. So I got myself a cheap second-hand one off Ebay, and started using the remnants to make clothes for her. I finally had a collection of over 100 outfits, everything from knickers to ball gowns. I took them down to the cafe, and the girls divided them up between themselves.

Other hobbies, I've been using YouTube to explore pieces of music that were unfamiliar to me, and I've found some real crackers to add to my playlist. I also 'found' Randy Rainbow - probably the funniest musical parody maker of the American political system. I just wish he'd come over here and let loose his wit on our poor excuse for a Government. I've just started to read his first book 'Playing With Myself'. If you watch his videos, that title will make sense

Finally, I realised that I actually need some serious 'me' time. With all that has happened, accommodation prices have rocketed to the point where I really cannot justify going away by myself anymore. I also need to get more physical exercise, but I'm not one of those people who can just go for a meaningless walk for the sole purpose of fitness.

I need purpose and something to distract my mind. Then deep joy, I came across QuizTrails These are little books, each one focused on a specific local town, which have a set route to follow and questions to find the answers to as you follow the trail. There are also lovely little explanations and enhancements. At the moment, they only cover Kent, and a couple of towns just over the border into East Sussex. So far, I've done three - all places I thought I knew well, but now realise I don't! I'm so impressed with them, I've purchased the entire range, and aim to do one every week. 

I ride to the town, park up, spend 2-3 hours walking around for up to 2 miles, answering the questions and taking lots of photographs (to be found on My British Isles blog) I then find an attractive route home. For example, when I did the Sandwich one, I rode over there (about 40 miles), parked up and did the trail, plus a little extra because the weather was so lovely. I then took a different route home, around the coast. That was a round trip of just over 100 miles and a 3 mile walk

I'm going to enjoy these!

Photoshop or not?

And does it really matter?

You know, sometimes you spot a picture on the internet that really moves you, for whatever reason. And you want to share it with your friends to enjoy, so you post it to FaceBook.

Before you get a chance to draw breathe, odds are someone will yell 'Photoshop!' Sometimes they're right, sometimes they're wrong. But does it really matter if the picture is genuine, or the concoction of somebody's imagination?

The picture was undoubtedly done for a reason, even if that reason is to fool people that it's real. Sometimes it's a tribute, such as this beautiful image of Marco Simoncelli, produced after his sad loss of life

Obviously a composed picture.

But what about this one, the shape of a spitfire shown in the clouds, which was published in the British press on the Commemoration of VE Day

Is it real? It would be a huge coincidence if it is. But does it matter? On such a day of remembrance, it is appropriate and respectful, and causes no harm to anyone.

Sometimes, it's not fake at all, but it may be something that people who haven't seen it in real life, can't believe exists.  Such as this one. People immediately yelled that it's fake. You can't possibly get that close to a fighter plane. Oh yes, you can. I've done it. The place is known as the Mach Loop in Wales. And you're so close to the planes flashing past, you can wave to the pilots and often get a cheery wave back.

But does it really matter? Surely the fact that the picture brings pleasure to others is enough? As long as it is not meant maliciously, or to pervert the course of justice or defraud, or to cause consternation, can't we just enjoy it for what it is?

So before you descry a picture as having been photoshopped, just think. Does it really matter? Or does the pleasure that picture is bringing to countless viewers far outweigh the fact that it might be fake.