Tuesday 16 November 2010

On Breaking the Monotony


Lately the world around me has become somewhat grey and dull. As I sit here on the train, opposite a huge man who is taking up two whole seats [how many tickets has he bought do you think? Fare dodger], I find myself yearning for something exciting, something anarchically fun and completely unexpected.

This was prompted in part by last weeks' student protests, which I observed (via news feeds and twitter) from my cluttered desk at work. How I wished I'd booked the day off and joined them in their insurrection. How I envied their passion and their anger. I toyed with the idea of joining them, but decided that a picture of me scaling Millbank in the paper would do my credibility no favours.

The feeling grew deeper as I wrote my TASG post on what I wanted to be when I grew up - dragging up memories of how magical the world once seemed. But don't worry - this isn't one of my usual woe-filled posts. In fact, it marks a new beginning. I stand at a crossroads; on each side a road that leads to an alleviation of the gloom in which I'm currently lost. I will not sit idly by while my life is taken over by bad news, bad prospects and austerity cuts. I will take action.

To my left (for that's the direction to which I'd lean) is a road that leads to the land of political involvement, home of last week's Feedom Fighters. Perhaps, instead of moaning or silently fearing the future, I should get off my arse and shout about it. However, as Rachel tweeted last week, it's incredibly annoying to hear ordinary people talk about topics they don't really understand. To be politically involved, without sounding like a complete pillock, I need to know about stuff. Really know about it, inside out, or else I won't feel comfortable shouting about it. At the moment, I don't know anything about...anything. This will need to be rectified.

So to the path to my right, directly inspired by the memory of trying to jump into a photograph in a book when I was young. I shall stop viewing things with these adult eyes. I'll stop looking at price tags and newspaper headlines and retreat into a world of make-believe. No, that's incorrect. I won't retreat into it, I'll just do what I used to do when I was little, and imagine that there's more to the world than meets the eye. I have dubbed this option my Imagifesto. From now on, I'll imagine that there actually are castles on clouds, the tube is pulled by a team of invisible Harry Potter horses (top marks for anyone who remembers what they were actually called) and that the man opposite isn't just dangerously overweight - he's actually a giant, and therefore it's fine that he only has one ticket for two seats - it would be completely unfair to charge one species more than another. Already, my reality seems a little bit more colourful, and I seem a little bit more insane, I suppose.

I think it's a form of mid-life crisis or something; only where most people revert to how they were in their hedonistic twenties, I've reverted to being six.

8 comments:

  1. THESTRALS!

    I am a complete and utter Harry Potter geek. The first book came out when I was 10, I was hooked from the get go and devastated when I didn't get a letter. I dressed up as Harry Potter for Book Day once- did you know? It's the most embarrassing picture of all time...but it's one I didn't untag myself from!

    Imagifesto. What a beautiful idea. For real. I want to Imagifesto my life.

    Oh, and even though I'm pretty "political" and rather vocal about it, I think the best way to learn about things is to jump in feet first. You'll learn as you go along- there are so many nuances, yes. But you can't grasp nuances unless you're in the thick of it!

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  2. Good post. I like your idea - Imagifesto!

    I'm a semi-Potter convert - which means I've only seen the movies just recently and have not read the books. From what I understand, those who've read the books don't like the movies - so I'm glad I can enjoy the films without feeling betrayed. Are you going to see Deathly Hollows?

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  3. Yes, Thestrals!!

    Well, I'm not really into politics so I don't have anything to say about it.

    By the way, I love your pictures on TASG!!

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  4. "it's incredibly annoying to hear ordinary people talk about topics they don't really understand."
    Yes, that really irritates me as well, which is ironic. But the overwhelming flood of letters in to The Metro condemning all students was infuriating.

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  5. I also agree with the fact that you really need to know "stuff" before you get involved in politics. I see people passionate about things, and I would love to be one of them, but I really don't know much about politics either. Not for lack of trying....

    And p.s. I totally would have gotten Thestrals first IF I had seen your blog post sooner! Ha! Who's acting like the six-year old now, eh?

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  6. I'm 24.Or so they think.The age of 5 rules.
    But I don't think that shouting has made anyone who's in a crowd -where some people can be for reasons other than the right ones- be heard.
    If people started talking truth -like kids do- and not shouting threats, then maybe some hints of colour could appear.
    ps.Thestrals.But I prefer unicorns.

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  7. @ Risha - if I were to embrace politics and become an activist, I would come to you for advise first. Especially if the cause I'm fighting for involves liberation of the house elves, or furthering female centaurs' rights.

    @ Allison - as per our chat the other day, I desperately want to see it, but am finding it difficult to find someone to go with. I need my brother to have kids, soon. It will be a long wait. I'm a fully-fledged Potter fan (not quite in the same league as Risha yet). The books are fantastic - although I'm upset that I can't remember how I imagined the characters to look before Daniel Radcliffe & co.

    @ Gnetch - ok, you get a point for knowing the right answer, and a bonus point for being nice about my pictures.

    @ Tabs - I have spoken, and so it shall be!

    @ Leavespaceblank - I know. But apparently the Metro is owned by the Daily Mail, so I'm not too surprised. I should probably have realised that before, too, but it's never occurred to me.

    @ K-Money - you know what I mean then, politics confuddles me greatly. I get all worked up one way, and then re-think it and am relieved I didn't shoot my mouth off!

    @ Ria - there's a lot to be said for how kids see the world, I think. It could work - but then at the same time they can be little bastards sometimes too! I'd probably choose a unicorn, too. At least you can see them. There's not much point in an invisible pet, is there!

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