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Showing posts from November, 2013

Captain America: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

A few weeks ago I was out shopping and I happened to be wearing my Captain America t-shirt. I'm a huge fan of the Marvel films and especially the character of Steve Rogers (mostly because I identify with him the most). Anyway, a young boy ran up to me suddenly and yelled, “Captain America! I need your help, I lost my mummy.” I was quite shocked at first because I had no idea why the boy was calling me 'Captain America' until I remembered what t-shirt I was wearing. However, if someone associates you with one of their favourite characters - particularly one who is known for their good deeds and who fights against injustice, you don't want to let that person down, especially if you can help in anyway. So I did the best thing that I could in that situation: knelt down next to him, asked him what his mother looked like and where he last saw her. He reached for my hand so I held it because he looked scared. We managed to find his mother and they were reunited; she was i...

The Day of the Doctor

Doctor Who, a British science fiction television programme, first aired on BBC Television at 17:16 (Greenwich Mean Time) on the 23rd of November 1963. The very first episode was entitled 'An Unearthly Child'. Time-travel forward half a century, and the fiftieth anniversary special, 'The Day of the Doctor' aired at 19:50 on the 23rd of November 2013. Over the years, Doctor Who became a cult television show, not just to the British nation, but to fanatics all over the world. And no wonder: it's something more than merely nonsensical imaginings or a traveller's tales. Although the face of The Doctor has changed over the past fifty years, at its hearts, Doctor Who remains a show which inspires hope to generations, to adults and children alike. Both of my parents were born in 1960 and grew up with Doctor Who playing a huge part in their lives. Their enthusiasm for the television show continues to this day. Like my parents, I grew up with Doctor Who in the backgroun...

Time for Slowing Down.

My brain is persistent with its constant whirring, ticking round and round every second of every minute. It’s in those moments late at night, when all those thoughts are rushing through my head all at once, never pausing, when I feel far more alive than I ever feel during the day. At night time all is tranquil and calm. During the day the world is so busy:  full to the brim of people rushing to meet their friends at the little coffee shop in town, hurrying to catch that next flight to New York, scurrying along in the rain to get back home and finish the novel they were staying up until four to read the night before. People never stop. It made me realise, we know nothing about these people, the strangers we pass by on the streets. We’ll never know how their day has gone or what their goals and aspirations are, nor whether they like tea or coffee or neither - or both. Their lives are a complete mystery to us, and ours to them. I feel as though the human race could achieve so much mor...