diaTribe » Struggle & Toil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp The diaTribe blog is our occasional take on life, the universe and everything. Observations on current affairs, the environment, politics, humour and music/gig reviews. Travel diary and extreme sports stories, along with the usual rants/raves are also chucked in for good measure. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:21:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Winter Slumber http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2022/08/05/winter-slumber/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2022/08/05/winter-slumber/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2022 16:54:05 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/?p=3357 ... more »

]]>

While vines slumber in the winter sun
Unaware of footsteps along the rows
of the grower tending canes along the run
between the days where the rainfall flows

More ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2022/08/05/winter-slumber/feed/ 0 The Meaning of Life http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2019/09/19/meaning-of-life/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2019/09/19/meaning-of-life/#comments Wed, 18 Sep 2019 14:17:01 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/?p=3077 ... more »

]]>

Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to figure this out. Guess I’m just a slow learner…

If there is one thing the world really needs that is still within our power to give as individuals, it’s more kindness.

Be kind to those around you. Be open and generous, not just of your material resources but of yourself in whatever way you can and whatever way is needed.

Large or small kindness makes no difference, for the will and intention is the same and each act you perform will increase – in a tiny way – the overall happiness of your own life and the lives of those with whom you connect.

There will always be some who mistake kindness for weakness, but this should not deter you as they are still few and the kind are still many, despite what those in power would have us believe. To surrender that aspect of your character is to forsake a huge part of who you are and will only serve to hand a victory to the ruthless and the self-centered of this world. Be kind despite of them and know that victory is yours.

Live, laugh, love, listen, look, think, learn, care, touch, feel, taste, sing, dance and play to find your happiness, and share with others when you can to find joy. No-one finds lasting happiness or joy in the pure pursuit of status, power, wealth or possessions, not because we cannot obtain these things, but because we are doomed not to want them, once we have them.

Far beyond the doctrines of religious belief or social convention, the happiness and joy you help create is the true measure of the value of your life and is found in those small moments of integrity, passion and empathy which – little by little – help lay the foundations for a more enlightened and better world.

I have never found a greater meaning of life than this.

Go to Post ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2019/09/19/meaning-of-life/feed/ 7 Bad day http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2018/08/18/bad-day/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2018/08/18/bad-day/#comments Sat, 18 Aug 2018 07:19:01 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/?p=3015 ... more »

]]>

An ode…
More ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2018/08/18/bad-day/feed/ 3 An Irish view on the Global Recession http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2013/06/01/an-irish-view-on-the-global-recession/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2013/06/01/an-irish-view-on-the-global-recession/#comments Fri, 31 May 2013 13:16:30 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/?p=2647 ... more »

]]> This is by far the most accurate, frank and honest appraisal of the Global recession you are ever likely to see

…gotta love the Irish!

Go to Post ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2013/06/01/an-irish-view-on-the-global-recession/feed/ 0 Memo to self… http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2013/03/20/memo-to-self/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2013/03/20/memo-to-self/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:52:59 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/?p=2620 ... more »

]]> Came across this great 7-point life philosophy during a web search for something entirely different.

Sometimes I really love the holes in the matrix.

…must try and pay more attention to this stuff

Presenting…

7 Life Suggestions (with minor amendments)

  1. Make peace with your past so it doesn’t spoil your present.
  2. What others think of you is none of your business.
  3. Time heals almost everything…if you give Time, some time.
  4. No-one is the reason for your happiness except YOU.
  5. Don’t compare your life journey with others; you have no idea what THEIR journey is about.
  6. It’s all right not to always know all the answers – just don’t stop looking for them.
  7. Smile. You don’t own all the problems in the world.
Go to Post ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2013/03/20/memo-to-self/feed/ 0 So long…and thanks http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2010/03/26/so_longand_thanks/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2010/03/26/so_longand_thanks/#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2010/03/so_longand_thanks/ ... more »

]]>

Well, my time at the NPIA in Bramshill is now over. It was a very busy 9 months working at my favourite client site and I got a lot done, but as always time caught up with me.

I will miss the terrific team that I was part of, the fantastic site I was lucky enough to work at on and off for over 4 years, the fab meals and the challenging work.

Like any contract, it had it’s down sides on occasion, but on the whole I feel pretty lucky to have worked there.

Ah well – that’s enough looking back – time to look down the road.

So long folks – and thanks for all the fish.

Go to Post ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2010/03/26/so_longand_thanks/feed/ 0 A year in Bramshill http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/10/18/a_year_in_bramshill/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/10/18/a_year_in_bramshill/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:38:32 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/10/a_year_in_bramshill/ ... more »

]]>

In the last few weeks, life has been crazy busy, especially in relation to work; both the work I’m currently doing and the volume of work being offered to me.

I recently pontificated about this to a degree, but since then I’ve received two offers of RedDot work, both based in London and paying a rate that makes me salivate even now.

And I turned them both down.

More ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/10/18/a_year_in_bramshill/feed/ 0 Work! Work! Work! http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/09/21/work_work_work/ http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/09/21/work_work_work/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:56:36 +0000 Phil http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/09/work_work_work/ ... more »

]]>

Jeez! The old saying about it never rains, it pours is true. Just lately, there seems to be so much that needs to be doing and proportionally little time to do it all in.

Which was why it was incredibly good to catch up with Andy, Tri and the boys for the first time in many months. Looking at their calendar, it seems that they are even busier than we are. Dunno where they find the energy…

More ... »]]> http://bandannaclub.com/blogwp/2009/09/21/work_work_work/feed/ 0