Beam me up Scotty

Those moments where you wonder what on earth is happening

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

I have often used the phrase over the years ‘beam me up Scotty’ when something weird, outrageous and all the similar adjectives, happens to make me feel life is just becoming XXXXXX - please fill in the blank. There are so many topics I could write about on Substack that get me saying those immortal words. But am I just old or is life becoming more bizarre? I even hear myself thinking ‘in my day it wasn’t like that’ - it is official I am old.

Diversion - the badger 🦡 set threw up a Wikipedia page on Beam Me Up Scotty. The phrase was actually never uttered in any of the TV series or films. But - The complete phrase was eventually said by William Shatner in the audio adaptation of his non-canon novel Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden.

I would love to hear your ‘ beam me up Scotty’ moments.

Here are a few of mine as a starter for ten:

1. Politics - I think the word maybe enough to get the blood boiling. Why is it not possible anymore to have political debate without mud slinging, lies, deceit and manipulation? Political policy gets lost in all the infighting and slanging matches.

   Personal power seems to be all encompassing for so many leaders rather than using the power for a better world. Now that is a real big one to chew over.

   Why are we endlessly told about how much money is being put here there and everywhere? Particularly as the figures mean nothing unless they are ring fenced, accounted for and outcomes monitored etc etc. Don’t worry I am not going down that rabbit warren for a fuller explanations. I would definitely come up in a meerkat tunnel in Africa.

   On the other side of the coin. Why do people feel it is acceptable to personally attack politicians with the most vitriolic comments on social media, that have nothing to do with politics and incite violence. This has nothing to do with Party Politics. Is this really free speech?

   I will leave you to ponder this massive can of worms🐛🪱. There is a lot more that could be written debated about the state of politics today.

2. Cosmetic Surgery - I genuinely cannot understand the need to make yourself look like someone else. I realise this is the extreme end. I will leave you with an example from YouTube.

   Teeth 🦷 is a subject I am planning to cover in a future Substack. They are something we cannot ignore as we grow old. Once we lose them they are gone. My beam me up topic is that younger people are actually spending £1,000s to have their teeth filed down to have veneers added and other such procedures. There are countless warnings about Turkey Teeth from dentists and journalists but people still feel that their looks outweigh the risks. I am not talking about minor or properly funded procedures or those that are carried out because of medical and/or dental necessity.

   Here is just one example on the Leicestershire Live website Brits warned of 'Turkey Teeth' dangers as 22 die following surgery.

   I am NOT totally against cosmetic surgery. The things I want fixed aren’t possible - an additional 6 inches on each leg, for example or a complete face transplant. I am also a coward and realise some things are down to me, like a healthy diet, more exercise.

   I’ll leave this one here. I am tying myself up in knots 😉😆

3. Respect and Manners - being on crutches has opened my eyes to the best of and not so good in people.

   I went with a friend to see Janey Godley for her not yet dead tour in Cambridge on Monday night. It was a real belly laugh evening. At the theatre we saw the best in people. Two sets of people stood up to give us their seats as we queued to get in. Then everyone let us into the queue and waited as we hobbled up the stairs. It was a good feeling to know that people still have manners and getting to the head of the queue 😂. I remember the time a young woman offered John, my late husband, a seat on the tube. He was horrified 😂, but polite in his response.

   On the other side. The following day my friend and I went into Cambridge city centre to hobble about and do some shopping. A couple of times my crutch was nearly used strategically after I had been pushed out of the way. I don’t think people meant to be rude but there is little awareness of others.

   I cannot abide old people who do not acknowledge it went a young person opens the door, gives up a seat or other act of kindness or respect. Being old does not grant you the right to be rude to others. So says the curmudgeonly old woman. Rant over.

   For a laugh one here is one of Janey’s voice overs.

4. Climate Change - I have to mention climate change as it is a big beam me up subject. It is something, if we are honest with ourselves we see all around us not just in news items. I have no idea where to start. Definitely for another day.

5. Other beam me up Scotty moments and things.

   1. X formerly twitter - I occasionally look and then run for the hills after about 2 minutes

   2. Social media generally

   3. Litter, flytipping, rubbish

   4. 100s of other things

   5. Angry drivers - oops I can be one

“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” – Samuel Ullman

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