May 2008
| Published: 26th May 2008 09:30 |
Biography: Jack Watson was born in Shanghai at the start of World War Two. In 1942 Jack and his family were 
imprisoned in a concentration camp after Jack's father refused to work for the invading forces). In 1945 they were rescued by American troops.Jack's most treasured possession from this time is a plane made of bullets given him by one of the US soldiers. The family then moved to England where Jack was brought up. He studied English at Cambridge, and has spent 33 years of his life teaching in three London Comprehensive schools. Jack has received several awards and commendations for teaching both religious studies and the martial arts. He still teaches martial arts after beginning training in kung fu and karate at the age of 37. The style he now teaches is Choikwangdo. Jack is a 5th degree black belt in free style martial arts, a third degree black belt in Choikwangdo, a second degree black belt in Iai Batto Jutsu, a second degree black belt in Taekwondo and a 1st degree in Karate and a brown belt in Okinawan weapons. Jack enjoys his local daily walks and has agreed to share his Walk in the Woods experiences for all to read.
Saturday May 24: One Obstacle Puts Many Burglars Off
People who break into your house during the day are called housebreakers. Those who break in at night are called burglars.
A week or so ago, my next door neighbours were burgled. The burglars came in at 8 p.m. when I was out and my neighbours were out. The burglars stole jewellry and cash.
On my walk round the neighbourhood today 24th May 2008, I chatted to one houseowner who had a single padlock on his garden gate. He believed that most burglars or housebreakers are too lazy to get past even one obstacle.
I was reminded immediately of myself. I tend to miss a work out if I am not already outside and near the door to my gym. This is why I combine my workouts with my walks so that I can go straight into the gym after the walk.
This week I ordered a weight training bench which is now ensconced in my front room. This way I can do some training without even having to go into the gym!
So far this ploy is working well. I might even lose some weight! The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism is and the more easy it is to lose weight.
As I write this post, I am watching the Eurovision Song Contest. The emphasis now is more on spectacle than on the actual songs. However, it is good to see so many countries taking part in a peaceful activity as opposed to some kind of warfare.
Sunday May 18: Garden Snails Seek Safety
I walked round the neighbourhood. The sun was out and the snails that had populated the pavements last night had nearly all disappeared.
It had rained all day yesterday and snails escape the extra water in the ground by moving on to the pavement. Two large armadas of snails had moved on to the pavement in Berens Way.
They might well have been safer in the grass and garden soil. Humans quite innocently tread on them and kill them. At least the snails in England are not the edible kind. No one goes out to harvest them for the restaurants.
Edible snails can be found along the Atlantic coast of France and in several areas of Mediterranean countries. I once ate a snail omelette in France and they tasted OK.
Humans need to know how to survive flooding as well and more recently earthquakes like the ones that have hit China recently.
One controversial expert advises not going under tables etc. He prefers would be to survivors to hunker down in the 'safe triangles' of space near sofas and tables.
Other experts disagree with him. The subject clearly needs more in depth research sponsored by the relevant authorities. Snails cannot afford such research but we can.
Friday May 9: I Can't Wait to Get Home
Today I drove down to the chemist's to get some pain relievers as I had overdone the weightlifting on Thursday and had fairly intense pain in my left shoulder and upper back.
Pain is very tiring and I felt like hitting the sack for longer than usual. I am full of admiration for people who suffer pain on a daily basis. I have no idea how they keep going.
I went for a short walk near the chemist's and ended up at Comet's to get some new batteries for two smoke alarms. The sample battery I had in my pocket had become almost too hot to hold. Perhaps it picks up heat and/or electricity from the body.
I picked up some Deep Heat and Ibuprofen at the chemist's and then visited a local grocery store. The young lad at the counter asked me how I was doing.
In return I asked him how he was doing!
"I can't wait to get home," he said.
"That's not the right attitude," I said.
He smiled and asked if I wanted a receipt. "I'm not married," I said, "so I can buy what I like."
We finished the transaction and he rushed off, presumably to his home. It is estimated that huge numbers of people have the same attitude to work as he did.
They can't wait to get home! By now I couldn't wait to get home myself. I need to be more grateful for having a home especially as a major disaster is currently happening in Burma where dead bodies are lying in the water without homes and without life.
Saturday May 3: The Joke Has the Last Laugh!Today, Saturday May 3rd 2008, I combined a walk with some shopping at Waterstones. There were some interesting books on sport and one book which focusses on the lessons we can learn from sport.
I bought one book on Joe Calzaghe, one on Lewis Hamilton, one on belief in God and the one about lessons about life which you can learn from sport. I have a website on this topic at:
http://www.lifelessonsfromsport.com/
On my way to Waterstones, I saw two young lads who have recently joined my martial arts class. They smiled but did not stop to talk as their mother walked steadily onwards.
I am hoping their mum will join the class later as family groups encourage each other to keep going and if you keep going you get better and better. Cue my current favourite quote:
"Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it."
- Ted Williams, Hall of Fame Baseball player
On my way home in my car I spotted a grey cat with a bulldog type face crossing the road. It watched my car so carefully that it walked straight into some iron railings. I chuckled for the next hundred yards or so!
On Thursday May 1st I combined my walk with a journey to the voting station on St Paul's Wood Hill. I had almost decided not to vote when I saw a poster being unveiled in Ken Livingstone's presence. It said:
"Vote for London and Not For a Joke."
I hate people being written off before they have been given a chance so I made up my mind to vote for Boris. A month ago very few people believed he would win the vote to be Mayor of London.
However, Boris had the courage and confidence to take up the challenge refused by other conservatives. He is now the most powerful conservative in the country.
People who have the courage to try and who believe in themselves have often had the last laugh throughout history.
