An excellent week. Even though we were working at staffing levels reduced by 50% of the norm, the team was so amazing, we managed to get everything done, with style. There was a veritable ‘spirit of The Blitz’ vibe going on; adversity is the salt that adds the savour to success, and it was a very good week indeed. Plus we were practically buried in a deluge of doughnuts and chocolates given to us by our awesome customers so what’s not to love? (apart from our new love handles?) Plus, autumn. How much do I love autumn? The leaves are changing and there are blackberries on the bushes everywhere. Even the drive to work is a pleasure, the colours are so amazing.

Away from work, the funniest thing I read was in an article defending women who put on make-up in public. This is probably a phenomenon most often encountered on the Tube, and I have looked on in awe as some gal goes the full Zoella, emerging with immaculate maquillage in six stops. This has been met by a distinct lack of approbation by some men, generally of the older generation. They apparently believe make-up should be reserved for the bathroom. My favourite was a chap called Gerald who is in his 60s. The fact that he referred to women as ‘females’ as though we are some exotic species rarely encountered in the wild had me in stitches. I’m going to make some assumptions here – I don’t think dear old Gerald was ever what we females would refer to as a studmuffin. Wait until he finds out that half the population of the world is made up of females. Quelle horreur 🙂 Having said that, people who comb their hair in public fill me with horror, but then I absolutely abhor seeing piles of hair. Why? Who the hell knows. Some childhood trauma probably. Worst job option for me, ever? Hairdresser. Eek and double-eek. And ladies, do not take this as permission to wax your legs on the Tube. There are limits…..

What else? I read a very interesting article in ScienceAlert about the mystery of why people still have measurable brain activity after being officially pronounced dead. One person still had delta waves activity 10 minutes after his heart had stopped. I don’t think it’s a mystery at all; I think it’s the conciousness moving on after the body is dead, as posited by pretty much every religion ever. There’s a reason why so many cultures have an extended period of mourning based on their supposition that the deceased is still there for a while after they have died. Fascinating, no? Well, maybe only to me. AlaraApothecary: we solve the mysteries of life and death 🙂 Here’s the link if you are interested:

https://www.sciencealert.com/brain-activity-recorded-as-much-as-10-minutes-after-death-human-science/amp

Best thing I saw this week? The video of a bull’s reaction after being freed from where he’s been chained up. People, what is wrong with us? The way we treat animals is disgusting, and don’t even get me started about how we treat one another: Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar….. and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the greed, mendacity, and wickedness we see even in places where we are ostensibly at peace. If I didn’t know so many lovely people who counteract the image of humanity displayed in the daily news, I would truly despair. Here is the video for your delectation. Have a weekend filled with joy and kindness: