Write It Down

Greetings, dwellers of The Man Shed.

I love the term 'man shed', but sometimes it can mean more than just an out-building with an undersized pool table, mini-bar and lots of power tools in it; it can also be a secret place - a place for individual contemplation or at a push, a place to meet with your peers and communicate what's truly on our minds.

To be honest, I often struggle with face to face conversations. I either get over excited in what I wanted to say and forget the main point entirely, or, when faced with a sensitive subject, jump on the nearest passing high-horse and ride head-first, poorly armed, in to a battle of whits.

However, as English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton said in about 1840 "The pen is mightier than the sword." So, rather get my knickers in a twist, I occasionally write stuff down before hand. It focuses my mind and leaves me better prepared to converse with other men-folk, voice an opinion or, if need be, confront a foe (hostile meeting at work/resignation letter etc...)

It's amazing what can be said in just one hundred words; and once started, will often not turn out as expected. Writing stuff down is good for the soul and, if nothing else, improves your basketball skills if what you've written is rubbish and just ends up in the bin; at least you didn't say it in public.

__________________

Finally Rumbled

Corporal Smith rued the day that he’d lied on his Army Bomb Squad application form. He had always chanced his luck, but this was different. Lying about his age was one thing and qualification fiction had become second nature, but this paled into insignificance against every untruth that had ever exited his lips. He was seriously in the mire, and all options looked bleak.

“Major, I have a problem. I am colour blind”

Corporal Smith waited for his radio to crackle back to life.

..............”Don’t worry Corporal, we’ve know for a while. Just cut the blue wire and see what happens.” 

___________________

Kindest regards, Steve


Image: Write it Down (c) Steve Mann / Nelson Art