Lifestyle confessions

[Charlie]

We don't do much lifestyle reports in this forum, and probably for good reasons. But for some reason I feel like confessing to a couple of changes in my weekly routine that I am still getting my head around.

As I probably mentioned before, for many years I used to play football on Clapham Common every Sunday, often playing in games that lasted for three hours although towards the end I began to drop out after two. But after I was hit by the syndrome that put me on the sofa for three months, I was never the same, and didn't know how to stay active and recover some of my lost fitness and breathing. I enrolled in a nearby gym, but could not or anyway did not discipline myself to attend often enough to justify the high monthly fees.

Miraculously, a local second hand junk shop on the corner of Wandsworth Road and Lambourn Rd was recently taken over by a Personal Trainer, who put a sign on the side saying "PTBYPT", which intrigued me. In front of his shop was a car with his name on the side, Philip Tabajjwa. I knocked on the door and found the man himself, friendly and ready to cope with the task of restoring a crock to some kind of fitness and health.

I have tried to set aside two hours a week for sessions at 4 in the afternoon, and for the first time in my life have got up early enough to do 15 to 20 minutes of exercises before breakfast. I've always known this is a good idea, but was never able to carry it out. For the moment I feel better than I can remember. www.ptbypt.net (thanks to Alannah, below, for pointing out the previous in accuracy)

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For twenty years I have been a loyal VW owner, getting through four of them, always bought about a year old from a VW dealer. But the last one needed so much to be done at the annual service, I decided to change and fell for the lure of the Toyota Prius. In effect I had a number of test drives, as a passenger in the back when being driven to work. There is far more room for back passenger heads and knees than in any other car of a comparable size and price.

Lured by an annual road tax of £15 and no congestion charge, I took the plunge, found a one-year-old model in perfect condition with a three-year guarantee, and now sit virtuously at traffic lights knowing I am not polluting anybody's atmosphere because the engine has completely switched off. This is the new-fangled hybrid, which is powered by battery up to about 20 mph when the petrol engine kicks in. It's perfect for city driving, using far less petrol. On the motorway to WOMAD, it was just another petrol-driven car, but it does have a character of its own, choosing to stick to lanes one and two and not once venturing into the fast lane three. The result is a much calmer drive, no danger of breaking the speed limit and no nervous tension worrying about other cars coming up too close behind. Why British and American car manufacturers did not start making cars like this five years ago, instead of filling the roads with SVUs and 4by4s, I'll never understand.

[Des]

Whenever I get the urge to do some exercise I have a lie down until it passes.

[Des]

Can I put in a good word for pottering? Many will assume that, like so many fellow forumistas, I lead a hectic and glamorous rock and roll lifestyle, but no! I have always enjoyed pottering around the flat and the older I get, the more I appreciate it. So don't be ashamed, celebrate the ancient art of pottering!

[Neil Foxlee]

My wife's taken up bellringing. My reaction:

[Des]

Apparently you must never call bellringers campanologists - they don't like it because it sounds pretentious. Which I suppose it does!

[Alannah]

Charlie - I think you can find Philip's website at www.ptbypt.net ... unless, of course, you really have undertaken a complete change of lifestyle and are now into stats and "infographics"!

[judith]

Whenever I get the urge to do some exercise I have a lie down until it passes.

Sorry, Des, but this just wasn't funny this morning because what Charlie is talking about comes from a place where exercising is not a choice but a necessity - and a taxing one at that - just to maintain some mobility or to not worsen. He's talking about when having a lie down isn't a choice either because, jeez, what if you just have to lie there forever because 'IT' will not ever pass? Or what if once you're down you don't get up? Pottering about?...absolute heaven just to be able to get up and do so.

Of course humour is often used as a way to deal with our discomfort with our inability to help a person or communicate with a person whom we care about. This is understandable. However, it doesn't help anybody when the humour detracts from the achievements of said person and the resultant banter comes off as belittling their accomplishments. Though, I suppose switching the conversation to one's self is another way to deal with it.

Lifestyle changes. It is interesting how an abrupt physical change such as a lifelong runner not being able to use his feet can make one person receptive to other possibilities in his life and do things like get up, go out on the street and knock on curious doors while another with a similar shock to their reality shuts themselves off in their room and never changes their socks, or begins hating everyone who can run, or something.

"changes to a weekly routine" Now that's funny, Charlie - in the classic English understatement sort of way that we find hilarious on this side of the pond - if I consider your entire story from beginning to end rather than your relatively recently acquired exercise routine or car purchase.

By the way, are some people as loyal to their cars as to their families in England as they are in America? I do know we are more of a car culture but the car/machine thing seems to cross cultural barriers. By the way, over here, the manufacture of automobiles like the Prius was slowed and hindered by ridicule as much as anything else. Ricicule is a powerful weapon.

[Des]

Whenever I get the urge to do some exercise I have a lie down until it passes.

Sorry, Des, but this just wasn't funny this morning because what Charlie is talking about comes from a place where exercising is not a choice but a necessity - and a taxing one at that - just to maintain some mobility or to not worsen.

Please don't patronise me. I know full well what Charlie went through. Mark Twain's adage is still funny and I'm sure Charlie knows I wasn't referring to him. I suffer from Myasthenia gravis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasthenia_gravis - I can still laugh at Twain though.

Don't be so po-faced and lighten up.

[judith]

We don't do much lifestyle reports in this forum, and probably for good reasons.

Probably so.

Okay Des, going back and rereading this thread start to finish, I could see how it could appear that seriousness made me immune to what you considered a humorously sympathetic few words. However, I was not patronizing you, that's how I talk. I was trying to express why sometimes humour can trigger a negative reaction rather than a laugh. As to whether Charlie does or does not know your intent was not the point. Charlie can take care of himself and how would I have known whether or not he thought the banter hilarious? Hey, I was looking forward to a first-hand conversation on an engaging subject and then ba da bing ba da boom, the thread is dead.

As for the conversation on lifestyle changes due to physical stuff, when you are bird watching - looking through binoculars - does Myasthenia gravis cause a hinderance?

[Dayna]

Charlie, I'm so glad you've recovered so much & haven't given up like some would. My life has been so enriched more than you know because of what you do. It's very inspiring.



Sort of what Judith said, There are a lot of people, like myself, that have been discouraged by things so many times, it seems like giving up would be much easier to.

I'm finding I enjoy excersise the best when I'm out walking in nature. It doesn't seem like work so much.

[garth cartwright]

Good to know that you are feeling so strong and healthy, Charlie. Looking at photos we took on our recent Italian holiday I noticed that someone in the beach shots was wearing a lot of excess weight around his waist. Flo's family also commented on this. Funny how in middle age even if your diet doesn't change your body lets you know things are changing. The lesson here is that if I want to return to something approximating my formerly svelte self I need to drink less beer and eat smaller portions. A tough call. And exercise more. I don't cycle as much as I used to now I have an Oyster card. Perhaps I should see a personal trainer too to get some disciplined exercise programme? The links you and Alannah posted don't lead to what you have described. I used to think that as I don't eat McDonalds and cycle regularly to Peckham - as easy 1 km - I was doing enough to avoid flab but this aint the case. Funnily enough, I went to see Lydia Lunch perform the other week - first time I've seen her in decades - and at 50 she is now a real blimp. I never thought punky goths were allowed to get fat but there u go.

I owned a car when living in NZ and the US as both have atrocious public transport but have never felt the need to own one in London. Considering you work from home and have no small children to rush around (and even then observing Flo and other parents I know cars remain unnecessary) I'm interested in why you feel the need to own one? Is it habit or status symbol or somehow essential? Personally, if I ran the UK I would ban all private cars as the first step in the fight against global warming and making this city a less congested, polluted, aggressive place.

[Charlie]

As to whether Charlie does or does not know your intent was not the point. Charlie can take care of himself and how would I have known whether or not he thought the banter hilarious? Hey, I was looking forward to a first-hand conversation on an engaging subject and then ba da bing ba da boom, the thread is dead.

Not quite dead, thanks to you, Judith.

But I did smile at Des's retort, which was the typical English response (I say English, because I don't know what the humour in Wales, Scotland and Ireland is like).

[Hugh Weldon]

Garth

I owned a car when living in NZ and the US as both have atrocious public transport but have never felt the need to own one in London.

I last drove a car in London over eight years ago and have hardly missed it at all. No big moral decision, the old wreck eventually gave up the ghost and I couldn't afford another one at the time. Sure there are occasions when it would be handy to still have one, but if I really need one I can rent. Also just noticed that new Streetcar idea advertised on the tube, where you can rent a car by the hour with fuel and congestion charge paid. Anyone tried this? It sounds a good idea.

[Charlie]

The links you and Alannah posted don't lead to what you have described.

Alannah left out the crucial 'b' but my corrected link now really does lead where it should.

Considering you work from home and have no small children to rush around I'm interested in why you feel the need to own one? Is it habit or status symbol or somehow essential? .

Fair question, Garth.

Although I can walk quite well now, I do need help in carrying my box of CDs (heavier than you might imagine).

Shamefully, it is also a matter of time. Going to St Thomas's Hospital and back by bus is a two-hour adventure, often standing in the rain. By car, less than an hour.

But I do think you are right about banning cars.

However, before they (you) do that, please do something about the buses, which are incredibly uncomfortable, especially at the back where passengers have to sit above the very hot engine. I can't believe the people who plan things have spent much time experiencing the results of their efforts. I'm glad Boris is getting rid of the horrible bendy buses.

[garth cartwright]

Agreed, the bendy buses were one of Ken's many follies. That a more functional double decker and a more comfortable small bus (the 78 that i take to Shoreditch is horribly uncomfortable) have not been designed for London is shameful considering the millions of passengers using said buses each day. As an anti-consumerist I would suggest to you Charlie that you could have used a good mini-cab company like Addiscombe Lee for your trips - they knock on your door and would of carried your CDs to the car (and you could have charged them against tax for your work trips). Anyway, you have bought the car as most Londoners appear to wish to do so putting us all on the highway to hell. Perfect feature in today's Guardian:

Neal Lawson

As you read this, take a look around and at yourself. You are decked in and surrounded by symbols of consumer society. It's not just your clothes that give it away, but your watch, jewellery, mobile, MP3 player, bag; the furniture and the fittings; all are brands designed to speak for you. Wasn't it ever thus?

Well no. We consume to sustain life, but over the last 30 years we have become turbo consumers. Many people recoil at being told that, like me, they live their life like glorified soldier ants in an army whose purpose is to reproduce a social system over which they have no say. They genuinely feel they follow no fashion and live a free life. But in the immortal words of Dexy's Midnight Runners, "if you're so anti-fashion – why not wear flares?" It's not just what we choose that reveals our consuming compulsion, it's the thousands of things we don't. We consume to buy identity, gain respect and recognition, and secure status. Shopping is the predominant way in which we know ourselves and each other, and it is at the point of ruling out other ways of being, knowing and living.

This is because of the consumer industrial complex of designers, advertisers, psychologists and retail consultants who create an endless stream of new wants and turn them into needs. The market competes like a shark; it has no morality but feeds incessantly on us to get us to buy more because sales and profits must go up and up. It means we end up with 120 mobiles for every 100 people and 70m credit cards in circulation. And it means we have the six-blade razor, which at one level is ludicrous but at another makes perfect sense. Six is better than five when buying more is all there is.

It is not just the environment that is in peril, or even our own happiness as we exhaust ourselves working harder for our Prada. Remember, the point is to leave us unfulfilled so that we quickly go back for more. The most dangerous consequence is the eradication of alternative ways of being. Today, the dream of the good life is found by flicking through the weekend colour supplements; in new kitchens and cars as we feel compelled to keep up on the consumer treadmill for fear of being defined as abnormal; as failed consumers. We vote every day with our feet for our own good life. It cannot be the good society because there is only consumer society.

The market extends into more aspects of our lives in its search for profit. At the weekends there is increasingly nowhere to take the family but the shops and other paid-for experiences. We end up in a vicious negative feedback loop; we shop literally for retail therapy, to make us fleetingly feel better because we live such narrow monocultured lives. But the very act of finding compensation for a truly free life through consumption further closes down the space for real alternatives. And so it goes on.

Frighteningly, we are just at the tip of the iceberg of the consumerisation of our world. The search engines we use every day are amassing huge amounts of information on what we like and value so that they can send us the pop-up adverts we are most likely to respond to. Scientists are working on food ingredients that tell our brains we are still hungry and neurologists are working out how to trigger the "buy" button in our brain.

Who will challenge this creeping monoculture? Not the main political parties. They offer only minute variations of the same pro-consumption product; for Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems read Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda. They even behave like retailers, testing policies to see what works best and adjusting them accordingly as they compete for market share. Meanwhile, retailers appropriate what's left of the language and culture of democracy. Walkers crisps holds the biggest election of the year for its new flavours; Costa Coffee claims "the people have voted" and that seven out of 10 prefer its brand over Starbucks.

Totalitarianism, a society where alternatives are ruled out, was meant to arrive in the jackboots of the communist left or the fascist right. It now arrives with a smile on its face as it seduces us into yet another purchase. The jackboots are in this season's colour and style. We are watched, recorded and ordered not by our political beliefs but by our shopping desires. The gulag is replaced by Gucci.

Are we at the point of no return? Is the space for other ways of being human so marginalised that an alternative post-consumer society becomes impossible? No! Millions of people are deciding to shop ethically and shop less. About 25% of 29- to 59-year-olds have downsized by 40% of their income, swapping money for time, drudgery for creativity, and the freedom to choose in the shops for the freedom to choose a different life.

But they are leaderless. No mainstream party will speak about the dire need to curtail growth and ensure that limited resources are fairly redistributed. Quite the reverse. As the MPs' expenses scandal revealed, too many of the representatives of the people are now only interested in changing their home, not the world. Like every other consumer they represent only themselves and their own private dreams.

A life of turbo consumption cannot be the pinnacle of human development. Do we want a consumer society or a democracy? We cannot have both. There is still time to choose – just. Shoppers of the world unite – you have nothing to lose but your chain stores.