Not for the Faint of Heart

In the past I have definitely touched upon a few sensitive topics in my blogs and have perhaps offended one or two people in the process. Well, you ain't seen nothing yet - this particular blog is going to knock your socks off and is not for the faint of heart.....don't read if you're squeamish...

If you haven't sponsored me and my Movember tache and you are reading this blog, you're a disgrace!!! I don't care if it is one dollar or one turkish lira, get your hand out of your pocket and sponsor Blogger Bobby's tache....you won't see it again after this next week!!

This is where it is at - http://mobro.co/robesteva

I'll put my money where my tache-laden mouth is and say that I will match all the donations made to me. I also don't care about birthday or christmas presents, a donation will suffice.

Don't be shy, and don't think of the tache or me, think of the good deed you are doing to a worthy cause.

Surprise Surprise

Who likes surprises? I kinda feel as if you dislike surprises, there is something strange about you. If you dislike shocks, then fair enough. I can understand that. If you are unsure whether it is a surprise or a shock, it may be like eating asparagus for the first time. The lovely taste and texture is a pleasant surprise, I like mine steamed with a little pepper on. The side effects that come with it however can be considered a shock. It took me months to work out there wasn’t something wrong with me.

Shocks are not nice. I consider these negative generally. A phone call in the night is generally a shock unless I am in North America and it is my bank's fraud team being over efficient. When I was a child, I assumed a call overnight meant bad news....for no real reason other than having old grandparents in a different country. My parents know the rule, death and illness means updating me wherever in the world I am. Anybody who lives away from their family, or perhaps even just for holidays, is likely to have a rule on this. It’s not a pleasant thought but essential to have a rule in place.

Surprises are great. I associate surprises with positivity. I love nothing more than surprising people. I enjoy coming up with great ideas for gifts, random gestures such as turning up on people's doorsteps in different countries, and generally doing things that will raise a smile on people's faces. I feel as if that has not happened as much as I would have hoped recently due to the fact that HJ and I have been so busy, but I am planning on raising my game in 2012 in this department.

Shocks are overrated, I have to say. Surprises however are underrated and I would propose that anybody who reads this blog post comes up with a pleasant surprise that is going to raise a smile for somebody else. It doesn't have to cost money, though a random bouquet of flowers never harmed anybody.....a gesture will do! Carry an old lady’s shopping bags up the street. I’ll never forget doing that once as a kid. An old lady asked me to help her and I duly carried her heavy shopping bags a mile up the road to the bus stop. I was thinking that I was in for a great little tip, until the bus came and we were still some way short of the stop. I flagged it down and the driver waited – the old lady hopped on, and as the doors were closing, she said ‘I’d love to give you a little something but my bus is here! Bye!’ I was gutted for a short period of time, but found it funny more than anything. I quickly realised that doing such gestures and providing surprises, and potentially receiving them, is a great reward for spending a bit of time, care, and effort on somebody else. I feel a new year's resolution coming on!

Painful Reading

Bookshelves and book collections say a lot about people. Imagine my parents feelings when my sister started her serial killer book colllection in her teen years. Not something which gives you a warm loving sensation and confidence that you've raised a normal child, but she didn't turn out too bad I guess.

On my bookshelves - you'll find one in Leeds and one in Lausanne - there is a wide and extensive collection of sports books...largely autobiographies and some historical and reference books, but the common theme is sport. You will also find the Dexter collection which I love and somewhere in the loft, you'll find the complete works of Shakespeare but there is as much dust as pages.

One of the most enthralling but harrowing books I have read in the last couple of years is the Theo Fleury autobiography. If you don't know who is, he was a star ice hockey player in the NHL and for Team Canada, and he shares his life and particularly how he was sexually abused during the early days of his hockey career by one of his coaches. Not an easy read, but pretty compelling and sad at the same time.

It was around a year ago that I read the book and I was reminded of it last week when a similar story hit the headlines. If you don't live in the States or love american sports, you may not have heard the story, but the most successful coach in College Football was fired due to him being aware of one of his coaches allegedly abusing a number of young students in the last 10-15 years. Another story broke this morning of another accusation in another university.

Pretty scary to think that we put our faith and trust in coaches, trainers, and teachers to guide and educate children, and this kind of thing can happen. I have a high tolerance of hearing and watching blood and guts....that may come from my love of Dexter, UFC or maybe my sister's influence, but I cannot abide with this kind of stuff and I think it is one of the worst crimes that can be committed. I hope the book gets thrown at these guys, and I don't mean any from my bookshelf, if they are guilty. It's the only way kids, schools, and communities can get over it and recover their belief. I fear that this is more rife than we realise.

White Mo-Rabbits

You are probably thinking that today is November 1st, the day after Halloween, the first day of the month before December, and you may even have whispered ‘White Rabbits’ wherever you may be. To others, it may just be another day. To me, it is something different. Today, ladies and gentlemen, is the start of Movember.

I think it is fair to say that Movember is pretty North American and it is slowly reaching Europe, though I know some folks that did it last year and probably received plenty of abuse because of it. As I scribbled randomly in my last blog, I aim to do more for charity and this is where it begins.

So what is Movember I hear you ask? Well, for the month of Movember, men all around the world are growing moustaches…..they start the month cleanly shaven, and proceed to develop a Tache for one month……usually in comical fashion. It is a charity campaign with the funds raised going to prostate cancer and other cancers which affect men. My dad has been doing Movember for years…..perhaps he should do the reverse this month and shave it off. I don’t think that will go down too well but I’d like to see it in the name of charity. Unfortunately, no beards nor goatees are allowed neither.

If you read my blog regularly and did so prior to our wedding, you’ll know the dilemma I have between pleasing two pretty important ladies in my life in terms of facial hair. I do my best but it is not easy. I am assured by my Mo Sista that growing a moustache…..a comedy and likely itchy and irritable moustache….will have no impact on the number of cheeky kisses I will receive in the month of Movember. And we are spending much of the month in America so my mum will not have to suffer the view of my tache apart from the occasional photo update.

You can find more information and see my profile – it is pretty tame right now but I promise to post photos on a regular basis to keep you fully informed on the growth and comical development. I ask each and every one of you who reads this blog, to make a small donation. Don’t click the X and pretend you don’t read my blog – I know where you live. Remember, it is a good cause and it will not be funding my blackjack session in Vegas I promise. My Mo Sista and I would greatly appreciate any donations (http://mobro.co/robesteva) – however small, however big – you can then say you have done your good deed for the month and done something for charity. I’ll be the one to look daft and I’ll be your Mo Bro for Movember.