We've got to stand up and be counted!

*long winded ramble*

This one will take a while so either log out or read the God damn blog. I've been thinking about ranting for a while. I never like to be serious or negative if I can help it as I have enough of that every minute of the day from others. At my worst you wouldn't know it as that's just the way I am built. I can be having the most stressful worrying anxious time yet I evolve to an outer body experience for preservation of character and to help others. I've suffered greatly at the hands of many years of poor mental health but this isn't about that.

Recently though I've been feeling all of  my 38 years and 2014 has without doubt seen some of the biggest highs of my life and also the worst lows. I'd say the good V's bad axis is bang on 50/50 so in a way I'm hoping this rant will help at least make it 51% V 49% in favour of positivity. There will be absolutely no structure or flow to the rambling which is about to come. It is just an outpouring of ventilation from the soul. I am a person searching for a meaning as to why I am here. I've always been searching but I now know why I'm here.

I like to help others. I don't do it for recognition I don't do it for reward or anything like that. People always ask me why I go to such lengths to help total strangers etc. but I just like to help. It gives me massive satisfaction to help others no matter what the cost to me personally. I also like to write. I'm not very good at it but I do like it and I'm going to do more of it from now on instead of less.

I'm genuinely concerned about our future and our society and I'm sick of people moaning and moaning and yet doing nothing to try retrieve ourselves from mental and physical oblivion. Our social media and mainstream media drives this Johnny on the spot existence we now live in where we are actually experiencing every thing that happens bad or good as it is actually happening.

Just this last fortnight off the top of my head we had killings in a hostage situation in Australia along with a mother stabbing to death 7 children as well as over 140 people (mostly kids) killed by Taliban in Pakistan. We had killings in domestic abuse this morning in Canada and dreadful stories unfold from Cobh a few days back on top of an air Asia plane crash not to mention ebola or water charges.

It's just a non stop wave after wave of bad news after bad news and hatred after hatred. It seems like nothing will stop the juggernaut of evil anymore and all we do is talk and say "oh that is awful" and move on.

I used to think that it was only because now the world is such a small place and we hear the news faster etc. but it's not. It is simply because ,bad people, evil and hatred are now starting to triumph. They really are. We are all too busy trying to claw at everyday survival to do anything about it. We don't care anymore. We say we do but we don't. We do nothing or very little. We have given up in our own little bubble worlds afraid to put our necks above the water.

We need to correct this balance and we need to do it soon. As the quote says "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing".  Martin Luther king said; "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it really is cooperating with it."

No need for anyone to start going on the street attacking bad people or no need to sign up for the army yet as the problem needs to start right at the very core of good peoples character, design and beliefs. 

To redress the balance in favour of good over evil we start at the very start again and not just jump in the middle or top end of the problem. Just like the smallies learn to plant a small sunflower seed in school, water it and watch it grow, we as a society need to plant our own sunflower seed of good.

Forget banks, politicians and corrupt governments as they have failed us over and over and the systems they have prevent any good politicians from affecting real change. Forget they even exist for now. Just start planting good seeds wherever you go. Here is just a few things anyone can do instead of moaning and doing nothing and the more people that do this the more good it leads to for all and that sunflower of good will grow and grow.

Before we even get to trying to solve the bigger picture on the national and international scene look closer to home and community. Within the four walls of your own house do a self check. We all have issues in our lives regarding physical health and mental health and we all have bills and daily worries and relationship problems. Let people know this. Talk talk talk til you are blue in the face. Most people not only don't talk but they think the problems they have are confined to just them or another few.You are in fact in the majority and not the minority especially in todays world of financial and social ruin. We are gone privacy mad. Tell people your problems. Let them Help! They will help!

Stop running from any issues you have and instead face them. Stop escaping from them and running to the couch and the wine. Face them and change them. Get up. Do something different. Do absolutely anything but run from your problems and escape them. Suicide and depression are the murder of our government and the scurge of our society. Of that I have no doubt. Just tell anyone even a stranger at a bus stop that you are struggling and I can tell you despite what people say there is a mountain of help there.

Just take that first step to decide you will speak to a family member, friend, doctor or whoever and watch what happens. Watch the relief you get initially and then leave no stone unturned to battle back to strong mental health. The mental health talk is another story and I'll be writing about that soon. This is about regaining the good in the world.

Lets start reclaiming our communities and not accepting anti-social behavior. For those of you that don't get intimidated then challenge people on respecting others. Tell people skipping queues, loitering, littering, making noise or acting the maggot to cop on. Shame them if you have to. Ask people "why are you being negative?". I do it all the time in a respectful manner and it's a great feeling.There is nothing better than telling a bunch of teenagers that are being totally disrespectful to cop themselves on. They don't even know how to handle being challenged 9 times out of 10.

For those that do get intimidated then just help a neighbor or friend with something. Call to an elderly friend you know is struggling or alone. Instill old school beliefs that you have in your own children. Teach them manners and respect. Correct them when they are wrong and correct other children when they are wrong as well and to hell with whoever gets odd with you. Lets get the respect back and not be afraid. If you don't have kids then start making them. lol.

Get involved in your community in any way small or large. Join a group and affect change instead of talking about it. Volunteer somewhere. Be strong in your opinions and beliefs but show respect for others opinion and don't get personal.Never get personal. Take pride in yourself that you are still here battling away and keep pushing that rock up that hill. Keep trying to turn that tide of negative into positive. We can all do this.

Tell people what they mean to you. Don't take those people in your life that you love for granted. Tell them how you feel. Don't be afraid to be the person you want to be. Go outside and exercise. Get fresh air. Meet people! Get their story! See how you can help? Smile! Forget about the evil that is money.

Do not look down or judge people. You don't know their story. There is bad and good in everyone. Acting out that bad or good is also a choice for everyone so choose good and positive over bad and negative. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. Stop holding grudges. Stop gossiping and reading people. Stop worrying about what others think about you. Stop trying to conform with what society wants you to.Just stop doing these things.

Negativity, hatred  hurt and pain spread like a cancer through every crack in the surface of good but if we plants the seeds of positivity and we water those seeds then positivity and good can spread just as easy and it will mushroom up the line to other things.

A good place to start and a good template is to ask yourself if you were to be given one month to live would any of the negative things or troubles in your life matter anymore. My guess is that 99% of them won't so why should they when you are still alive and kicking. We get so little time between work and sleep that it is an enormous waste of time then to spend what little time you have control over by being negative or moaning. In fact do something or just don't fuckin moan.

Anyway that's my rant over. I hope we can all claw back the good in the world because evil is winning hands down these days and while I'm sure there is more good people than bad in the world the bad people are actually doing something and they are motivated by greed and money while we all sit and watch the X-factor.

Be kinder!Be nicer! Be friendly!Be positive!It's not that hard is it?

Happy New Year to all and remember never bring a knife to a gun fight.

Poor old Luis Suarez.....

*long winded ramble*.

I have been more vocal than most this week on the 3rd Luis Suarez biting  incident and I have to say that while I do not have much sympathy for him I was no angel when I played and It's funny to me now as a ref to see the carry on from the other side of the fence.

I was a master at the dark arts and used every trick in the tool box over the years to win which is surprising for someone who was never very competitive. I played for 28 years with 12 of those at senior level.

I will however say that for me spitting,biting, hitting or kicking an opponent (on the ground or when unaware) and racism are beyond the pale and in a different class to violence or harming a player intentionally altogether.

I never once intentionally went out to hurt and opponent in a physical way but obviously down the years ended up in more scraps and 22 man brawls than I can remember.

I feel qualified in the area of spitting having been spat at twice and on one occasion it didn't end very well for the guy that spat at me or his mode of transport and I am un-apologetic to this day for my actions on that day.

I have only one regret from my playing days and that is for fighting with a player on my own team and I wholeheartedly apologise for that. It should never happen. Sorry Regi again.

I'm lucky to have had far more good days than bad days on the pitch and I can honestly say I played with some of the best characters and balm pots you'd ever care to know.I could write a book on the antics and nights out but seeing as I'm defending Luis I'll just make a list of  some of the atrocious,despicable, embarrassing and also proud incidents on the pitch. 

For anyone thinking I'm exaggerating here there are many many witnesses to each and all of these below.

I played in every single outfield position on the pitch and played in goal plenty as well. Good players can play anywhere but it was at left back and centre back I played most often. 

You often hear of me saying diving should be a red card offence and it is because of the HUNDREDS of dives I've taken over the years that I say this as a red card would have stopped me cold.We have all taken a dive. Be honest.I still would. I'd cheat at cards or tiddly winks.

I have pretended to be injured on the pitch many many times usually to get an opponent sent off or mostly to waste time. Poor old Jim Horgan was exhausted from coming on the pitch to me as I lay like a man from platoon screaming in agony all the while winking at some dub to hold out for a win.

I was the worst for doing this in the big intermediate cup games. Sorry dubs and to the guy in particular from home farm who I got sent off in Dublin only for his girlfriend to attack me in the mens toilet.Lol. You were only one of many. I will not even mention who my favourite was to get sent off or drive mad as its not fair. Don't ask me if you don't know. Some of them were all to easy though and I'd have them off by half time.

I was a big game player without doubt and was always at my best from a  playing and Tom Foolery point of view in these games home or away. As far as refs were concerned I was never one for abusing them at all but would try to deceive them in every second of the game and in every way.

Here are some other things I've done down the years:

Stole opponents footballs for our team and wrote our name on them.

Hid or poured out opponents water or hid training cones. 

Hid opponents keys to their dressing room.

Turned off warm water to opponents showers.

Punctured opponents ball off goal post hooks to waste time.

Stayed down as a keeper as the keeper does not have to leave pitch.

pretending to have something in your eye was always a great one as no-one ever questioned that or got angry about that.

Threw away an opponents boot into the bushes after it fell off him causing mayhem.

Kicked away last available ball into a river to hang onto a one nil lead when we should have been 5 down. It was our own ball. That one started a riot.

My left knee used to pop out of it's joint and I could pop it back in like Mel Gibson. My leg would look like it was completely broken at a 30 degree angle and fellas would be nearly getting sick but I would pop it back in with a huge crack and off I'd go again after wasting 10 mins.

Said despicable and awful awful things about direct opponents wives mothers sisters and daughters to provoke reaction. I'd never fail to find a way to get under a fellas skin.

Told a guy who called me an ape that I would find him and eat him and then eat his children and their children (even though they didn't have any children) along with eating everyone from his neighbours to his aunts and uncles. I was in a total spitting rage.This outburst actually stunned all 22 players and a colleague ref into absolute silence including the player who called me an ape. As the silence rang out I then in a low voice said "sorry about that bud".

I have taken advantage of poor refereeing position at corners and free kicks to pull down opponents shorts, stand on his toes, give him a wet willy or pinch him on the arm rendering him useless to affect the game.

Two of many 22 man brawls spring to mind in particular. One glorious 25 minute no holds bars proper scrap with  Rockmount that made papers and radio. I loved every minute of it and wish I could go back in a time machine to it.

On another occasion against Tralee dynamos holding on to a 3-2 lead in extra time in a youth cup quarter Final an opposition fan attacked us with a corner flag. He used it like a spear sparking off scenes you wouldn't see in game of thrones. I remember the glint in cuddles eyes as he took out his false teeth to get stuck in with bomber. Great great times.

I twice famously fell over while tackling and because I couldn't get back to my feet I decided to make last ditch tackles with my head taking the full force of ball and shot to the head. Colin Yelverton reminded me of this last week and inspired this blog along with Luis.

I could go on and on and on and probably will. Lol. So embarrassing now looking back. I'd say there wasn't a single game I played in where I didn't employ these tactics. I'm so so sorry but just like Luis I was off me trolley as a young fella.

I should get a life time ban.

Week in review #1

*Long winded ramble*

In a week that has finished with Jimmy Magee reminding me why I never watch the late late I decided even though I have no time I'd start writing the blog again as it allows me to escape the harsh realty of Groundhog Day even if the subject is normally just that. I've literally loads of stuff but I'm very lazy.

I've been exceptionally busy in a new position in work. Not sure how I feel about it but I haven't cried yet so that's a start. I have finally made my peace with exercise and now look forward to jogging with the craziness that is the wibbly wobbly wonders. It's insane the good will you feel at it and something you have to experience to understand. Everyone just forgets their troubles for an hour.If only you could bottle or and sell it.

This household has been very sick this week between flu and "chickenpops" as Mia calls them. I've been pushed to the max and my limit by my 3 girls this week but apart from running out of washing powder I'd win housewife of the year without doubt.

I'm going to keep it short for once but a special mention to my good friend Stephen Jordan who kept my secret this week when he could have destroyed me. He only didn't because he is a gent and knows it's pointless trying to shame me.

On Wednesday I brought a full bag of recycling to work with me. I was supposed to put it in the bin outside my front door but brought it to work in the car and then to my desk. It was only when someone smelt chip papers that I copped it. 

Later after work I went for a run with a 10 k work group and as I was late I changed  by the side of the pitch in a hurry. I didn't realise until I got home that I had left my runners and a pair of my Dunnes stores finest jocks pitch side so rang my local connection Stephie J to get my stuff. 

He got my runners but there was no way he was touching my jocks. Now if it was me I'd have destroyed him in work for days but to his eternal credit he said nothing out of pity for me and knowing it was pointless. I like to think my jocks are flowing in the wind in the lower harbour area finally at peace with the world and their new found freedom. 

Other highlights this week have been a good increase in the drying and long evenings and a lovely evening match in the sun in Kinsale where once again i was enjoying the match so much I forgot I was the ref. This is of course problematic when you forget to blow the whistle after a fella is almost murdered 3 feet away.

On the negative front Mia has developed a hilarious routine where she asks me for a drink or food and follows it up with "chop chop daddy". This has proved popular now with Ellie as well and Jane so now most demands are followed with "chop chop". It has stripped me of any dignity I had left.Mis also lost a front tooth and is now the spitting image and bulb off her granda Jim.

I'm off now because its Friday night and I have a dishwasher to fill. I'm living the dream. I have to rest before the breakfast rush in the morning. I've been strengthening my toast buttering hand this week with some weights. Mind yourselves lads and roll with the punches. Go hard or go home!!!!