New Year Pandemics

On the dawn of each New Year, records stream wildly on the media of the newest foreign affliction. In 1999 it was mad cow disease, in 2009 swine flu reached UK land and now a bird flu pandemic threatens to cross Chinese waters to infect the brits.
Is it simply media spin mixed with paranoia and ignorance that leads us to hide under our blankets, and tell the boss “it’s S&D”, when only your nose is running - or is there possibly another cause?

After all the excitement of the festive period finally calms down, the turkey gets thrown out, the decorations put away and you munch that last mince pie. There seems to be a worldwide collective downward plummet into New Year illnesses, which later follow onto cold evening droughts of bottle abuse – even though you drank a skinful over Christmas.
Like a trigger, the brand new beginnings seem to follow on the start of coughs, colds and S.A.D (seasonal adjustment disorder).
We all understand that in the coming months, winter will always be a season filled with this kind of national ‘health’. But we can’t deny that sometimes it’s our own attitudes that lead us to the Night Nurse.

All would agree that returning to work plays a big factor in making you feel like hell; it’s not that you necessarily dislike your job, you just don’t rise well before the sun does.
Recently I’ve began to understand those that work the 9-5pm shift. They will happily fall out of their 6am wake up and four bus journeys a day routine.
In the colder months, we all need a few extra hours that we aren’t getting, perhaps like the animals we too should be hibernating. But instead we de-ice our cars, rev the engine and sit in rush hour traffic most of the morning.
The added stress, can lead to depression and then physical illness, in fact if you don’t recognise the pattern, it might keep going around in circles.

The media often point the finger at numerous causes, spreading the statistics and ‘facts, then forget to flag up the one thing that funnily enough, might be the real cause of our weak immune systems.
On top of this, the second January hits, every girl in eyeshot begins to panic about the 4lbs they’ve gained. Creating mass female starvation, where 500 calories a day is greedy.
Zumba and the latest fitness craze are a must every weekday night, followed by fatigue and flu like symptoms.
The latest issue of Glamour will have Dr Nuttjobs latest crash diet guaranteed, whatever happened to storing up for the winter?

Perhaps the only answer is to just sit at home warm and cosy with the heating on full blast, don’t work, drink or give a fudge about your how much you’re eating.
Alternatively you could just stop believing everything you read in the media, take it easy and try not to kill yourself.

Christmas Consumerism

Every year those sleigh bells jingle, people kiss under the mistletoe and children begin screaming those dreaded demands, “I want...” after every single advert on CBBC.
Let’s be honest, most people aren’t thinking about all that lovely time they’re going to spend in the overcrowded shopping centres, fighting for a place in the queue whilst cheerfully saying, “It was all worth it just to buy those bulldog slippers for my Great Aunty Ethel.” They’re thinking, “If I buy this gift, I’ll get that Gucci perfume.”
Most individuals won’t admit to the fact that they give to receive, unless they were talking about sex - for some reason that’s more acceptable!
The 25th of December is universally based around the happy day that you get lots of stuff, all people really talk about in the run up to that day is presents and food.

It could be agreed that parents enjoy Xmas for different reasons. The days where they received 10 tons of gifts have passed and instead have moved on to their offspring. What happens then is the consumerism passes onto the child and the whole process is started again within the next generation.
To save themselves from brat like behaviour, parents pass on the lie that is Santa, stating that if their little darlings behave themselves, Father Christmas will bring them toys – talk about bribery.

Ok, I’m being scrooge, a grinch, a Jehovah’s Witness – but you can’t deny it’s true. With only a week to go, you’re saying you can’t wait to watch your Nana eat her brussel sprouts or your Dad stink the house out after his 8th pint of bitter or the traditional big family bust up over who has the last pig in a blanket! No, your stomach keeps flipping because you can’t wait for that Kindle.

This consumption of random crap you probably won’t want in a few weeks doesn’t end there, next come the January sales- starting on Boxing Day!
Wow, these corporate franchises seriously can’t get enough of bleeding you dry. Yet, even after you’ve maxed out your 4th credit card, the word “No!” never enters your jurisdiction.
Didn’t God say, “Thou shalt not give into temptation”? It’s his sons alleged birthday and you’re doing what?
Ok, so who listens to that guy anymore, but still…that’s another point! How many die-hard (no pun intended) Christians are actually left on this planet and how many of us still celebrate Christ-mas.
Politically incorrect bunch of numptys ! Try a dose of winter solstice celebrating and at least you’ll be on the right page and oh did I mention, there’s presents for that holiday too.

Merry Christmas and a debt free New Year!

Love Kim xx