Thinking time (in my own space)

Just before I finished my shift, on Friday, Eric (my supervisor -Team Leader?) asked if I would be prepared to swap shifts this week and help him out by manning the "filter fence". Makes no difference to me, eight hours is eight hours - as long as the dough remains on offer, I'll do whatever is required. Within FSIS Digital Dept., the filter fence is a key area in the manufacturing process, ensuring that our finished inks are within a very tight tolerance for usage by the modern ink-jet printing platforms. So I find myself back on earlies for a second week on the spin - so I'll be off fishing on Thursday evening again! On Saturday night (15th August) Bev and I, joined Dad, Tim & Julie, Sye & Yve, plus extended family and friends to celebrate my cousin, Ruth's, 50th birthday. A 1970's themed disco at the Kingston Lodge Hotel, in deepest Surrey (North Downs territory - we actually passed close to Banstead on our homeward journey). It was an absolute blast - Ruth stole the show with an outrageous mime performance to McArthur Park - a wonderful time spent reminiscing with my brothers, cousins, Uncle Pete and Dad. We had a fantastic journey through our childhood - family being the overriding factor in amongst so many other influences. The disco music was brilliant and Ruth had even gone to the effort to resource some traditional 1970's sweets to add to the nostalgia trip.
Whilst we were all together I had the chance to seek answers/opinions on the subject of "what have we (you - as an individual) done, today, to make a positive impact on those around us (you)?" Dad had his I-pad handy and I was able to show others what I'd written following the funeral on Wednesday. It was great to sit around a table and talk about this stuff, 1970's music as a soundtrack, and realise how varied individual opinions can be on such a (any) subject. I came away from this celebration no more enlightened than before I sat in St. Mary's Church and the Revd. James Fields posed that original question. What I did have, however, was a better understanding of the power of faith; the un-questioning belief and comfort that can be derived from this stoic mind set. Still can't buy into it, but have absolutely no doubts about the authenticity of those who have - Mum was as devout as any and her belief allowed her to pass, peacefully, from this world into the next. Although I'm sure that Uncle Bill's trip was just as easy - he didn't have that faith, but he wasn't a "Bad Guy" - you only had to be in The Eel Pie Club on Wednesday to see that. The spontaneous reaction from, so many, exceptionally talented guys and girls suggesting that Bill had, indeed, impacted very positively on many people that he encountered during his unique journey through this world.


Back down on The River Stour - I fished like a "dude"
I'm sure that I could have done more? I blanked!

I am, therefore, still exploring the crazy implications of that question - at a very individual level, quite possibly never to be shared, should I actually discover an answer? The very fact that I've bothered looking suggests that I will actively seek to be a better individual as a consequence of the experience? Having been given a week of earlies, working on the "filter fence" has allowed me time and space - it is a very specialist and individual role, within the complex manufacturing process of a digital ink, so, as long as I don't screw up a batch/process, I am at will to explore my thoughts with very few interruptions. It is not only these complex personal conundrums that are given president, what bait/rig will be used on Thursday? Will the drain be coloured, or should I go barbel fishing on the river? With so much other stuff going on in my head I'm not sure how I find the time to, concentrate and, process any of our inks? You could always ask Eric - he'd know - minge! (private joke, please don't take offence)