FRIDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2015 07:48 GMT

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
6th November 1935
The Maiden Flight of the Hawker Hurricane
Although overshadowed by the Supermarine Spitfire, the aircraft became renowned during the Battle of Britain, accounting for 60% of the RAF's air victories in the battle, and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War.

The 1930s design, originally conceived by Sidney Camm after several previous designs for a new fighter were rejected, evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft which acted as fighters, bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers (also called "Hurribombers"), and ground support aircraft. Further versions known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications which enabled operation from ships. Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts, known as "Hurricats". More than 14,583 Hurricanes were built by the end of 1944 (including at least 800 converted to Sea Hurricanes and some 1,400 built in Canada by Canadian Car and Foundry).

Though the Hurricane was outclassed by other fighters in performance and dogfighting, it was a very reliable fighter that was easy to mass-produce. It was therefore deployed as a predator of bombers and later a ground-attack aircraft that relied on other fighters such as the Spitfire to fend off enemy fighters. As the overstretched Japanese and German air forces began to weaken from 1942, the vulnerabilities of the Hurricane became less of a problem and it became highly effective as a ground-attack aircraft in offensive operations, particularly in the North-African desert and at sea, as well as being used as a night-fighter.

The ground-attack role was in the latter stages of the war taken over by its successor, the more powerful Hawker Typhoon.

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Shift 1 of the Weekend Job
TV Comedy night

Twitter Followers = 2,032 (up 4)
Non-followed eliminated = 0
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Unfollowers eliminated = 0
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New Followers followed back = 3
@Jordet, @syedbalkhi, @KieraJacobe, 
Spammers not followed back = 1
@MemeStreme

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION

How nice to be invited out by Son for a few pints yesterday, and to be general confidante. Having learned from experience, I think I succeeded in being good company rather than an embarrassment. To those closest, I see my role very clearly, as a reliable comforting refuge, so I'm focused on that when I'm around them. 

I feel that only now am I really getting it right on the personal front. On the professional front, I've been getting it right for years, although that's easier - it's "my show" in which the client consensually participates to achieve specific objectives. 

There are limits on the personal front to who I can engage with. I require a degree of empathy and generosity of spirit from the other. Those who lack this quality, including some former friends, I have ejected from my social circles. It's not surprising therefore that my relationships with Missus and Son flourish, whilst that with Daughter, who has not a shred of these qualities, is dead. 

It has taken a lifetime to reach this point of awareness, and though I would have preferred to get to it earlier, the length of time has made me profoundly grateful to be here, having been fully acquainted with every degree of being "lost", lonely and confused. This character matters and makes a difference, rolling along "under the radar" and so free of ignorant scrutiny and unwanted attention. 

I "get it"!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Do you really know what you're doing and why you're doing it?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Showery start
Showers will move away by noon and cloud will thin out, skies clearing entirely by mid-evening.
A moderate southerly will swing south-westerly by the afternoon
Max Temp = 14 degC at 1pm
Min Temp = 11 degC at midnight
Sunrise at 07:16
Sunset at 16:24
Moon: 

Weathertrack: Weather fronts crossing Britain will move away overnight

Air Pressure: 1011 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER

I like to walk up to strangers and ask, "Would you take a photo of me?" If they say yes, I hand them a photo of me and walk away. :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!

Hugh Laurie on the Craig Ferguson Show

8. TRIVIA

In 2003, Dr. Roger Mugford invented the “wagometer” a device that claims to interpret a dog’s exact mood by measuring the wag of its tail. Though getting extensive media coverage at the time, it never became a success.

9. ZEN WISDOM

Life is best lived by being bold and daring. People tend to grow fearful when they taste failure, face a daunting challenge or fall ill. Yet that is precisely the time to become even bolder. Those who are victors at heart are the greatest of all champions.