Knowledge, Passion and Madness.

So, having just come from my place of work (I use the term 'work' loosely here, as most of the time I just drink coffee and chat) which this morning was at a social morning for the over 50's, I have an uncontrollable urge to blog again. Clearly some kind of addiction is forming here. I should explain that for work, I volunteer for Age Concern Southampton, partly in the office and party helping out with activities for the over 50's.

Anyway, at the weekly session there are two fascinating women that never fail to amuse/ inspire/ confuse me. The first is a lovely vietnamese woman, who despite the fact her English is not very good, always wants to talk about deep and meaningfull topics such as religion and knowledge, Atoms and science. It is, admitedly, often a little heavy handed for 10am on a friday, when I have yet to drink the first and most vital coffee of the day. Nevertheless, the woman made some good points today, that really made me think. She talked very passionately about her 7 (7?!?!) Grandchildren a lot, and given that it has taken her 30 years to leave the comfort of her own home and come to a social morning to discuss the things she has learned, it was clear that her family are important to her.

Now, my family isn't the biggest group of people, but in the past year when times have been hard I have come to be more and more thankful for my parents. Yes, they have their faults, like when Mum doesnt do her filing for 4 years at a time until one day, when I'm looking for that one letter which is so important that not being able to find it might actually end my life, the MOUNTAIN of filing topples over onto me and sends me to an untimely reclyling bound death. Or when Dad really helpfully slips in a few bits of my washing, sets it to his usual 145 degree cycle and I'm left with clothes that are only fit for the wardrobe of a Barbie doll.  Strangely, those are the things I love most about them because they are the most endearing and probably the memories that I will take to my grave. 

The other lady, I'm afraid I do not know much about. Other than that she seems to have a burning passion for just about everything. On a weekly basis, she comes into the social morning bearing a world of goods wrapped in a co-op bag that probably hasn't been made since the 1950's, and from the heavenly parcel she withdraws all manner of cooking recipes, cat calenders, alottment guides, newspaper articles about chair making, photos of andy warhol and almost certainly a poster, card or pamphlet about international womens day. You may be thinking that she sounds mental, and to be honest there may well be a few marbles missing from the bag, but her passion never fails to impress me. The women could get passionate about a thimble if she wanted to, infact, she probably already is. It is this broad passion for just about anything that I really wish I had right about now, when exam stress is starting to kick in and my motivation for Uni work is thin and far between.

Procrastination over. Time to crack on with life!