THE Josh Aronson

I've had a tough day today so I'll probably unwind with a gin and tonic. I like my alcohol ,I must have got that from my Grandfather. He used to drink a lot. He always used to drink two shots, one after another. Once I asked him why.  His answer was, "I drink one shot and I feel like another person, another person is also allowed to drink!" My Grandfather, every time he felt ill, would just pull out a bottle of alcohol and drink a bit. He must have been doing something right as he died at age 100 and was in full senses until the end of his life.  In fact, he performed as a cantor the week he died. Whenever I feel under the weather, I make a spot of tea with a dose of whiskey in it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Life is about finding that balance. Today in my driving lessons, I learned the rules of the roundabout. Drivers coming from the right have right of way, unlike junctions where if you are going straight,  you have right of way. In life sometimes ...

My body is aching and pains all over but things are starting to move in the right direction. My Landlady came this morning with her husband to pick up her mother's items which had been stored by us in the hall cupboard, as we obviously didn't need them. It comes at a good time as my stuff from Israel arrived last week, so now we have more room to store items. My electric massage armchair also arrived, so looking forward to relaxing and relieving my pains. I got a phone call this morning that an issue that has been stressing me out has been sorted and slowly until the next storm hits, we are good. Yesterday was my Hebrew birthday and Esther surprised me with chocolates she made for me. Its always good to get good news and feedback as it gives you strength for carrying on your life. It allows you to push forward positively. This week I recieved the class schedule for next year, my final year at university. After three years, I am finally about to graduate with a degree! Now my pa...

I'm writing this aboard my flight back to UK.  I flew to Israel for the wedding of someone very dear to me, the son of my Rabbi, Rabbi Zarbiv . As I said to people, Rabbi Zarbiv is like my father, I wouldn't travel for my brothers wedding?  But going to the wedding also gave me other opportunities such as meeting one of my PR gurus, Isaac Cohen from Bardenstein communications , someone I speak to often but never met. Also to go into university classes where the teachers said "Hey, it's that guy from Zoom!" Yesterday, I walked into one of the classes which is taught by Michael. Now Michael, just last week had been teasing me how bad Manchester United has been playing. I had was really offended as he said Manchester United will lose to Liverpool, so as I walked in, I said, "Manchester United will do what against Liverpool?" as obviously we won. He was thrilled to see me and I expect more ribbing as time goes on. In life, we have to take opportunities tha...

In my previous blog, I updated that I am currently visiting in Israel. I booked my flight and hotel together in a package deal.  I landed Thursday at 6am,  had meetings and university all day and then at about 11 pm, I arrived at my hotel. I checked in and was told I had to pay extra for VAT. I entered the room and was shocked at the poor lighting, the dirty carpets, the walls were peeling and there were garish red curtains on the window, making it look like a prison cell. I contacted Expedia, through whom I booked the package, and they said to speak to someone at the front desk. I went to sleep and following day I went to the front desk and asked how I can speak to either the manager or the owner. A young man there said he was the manager. I told him about the state of the room and he answered something which shocked me, "You get what you pay for!" He told me they would clean my room,  so I went out to volunteer and afterwards to visit my parents. I returned to the room ...

I'm writing this blog from the Holy Land. Yes, I'm in Israel for the weekend for my friend's wedding. I, of course, flew Virgin Atlantic, an incredible airline. As I entered the lounge, I bumped into friends of mine who were en route to New York, so we had a bit of a chat. I ordered a drink and then my friends suggested we go up to the rooftop terrace. I sat up there watching the planes and suddenly the waiter, Miguel, came up to the terrace and said, "Here's your drink sir, that your ordered downstairs. I thought you might like to have it up here." Such dedication, such thoughtful service to the customer. I went back down and ate some wings and chips and then went to the plane. I was seated for first time in Virgin's premium class. The seat was comfortable I received an amenity kit and a welcome drink and we then continued our flight. I watched a movie, a drink service came by, food service came by and then the purser, Tim, who was on his first flight as...

I'm sitting on a train from Manchester to London. I put my case on the luggage rack on top of another case and went to sit down. Aa woman nearby came to me and said, “Excuse me, you put your case on top of mine -  I don’t want that!” I was shocked. Had I done something taboo? Something wrong? Sometimes as a person on the autistic spectrum, I may do things without realizing that it might be wrong, but then people next to me came to my rescue and said, “He's right, this rack is meant for several cases. He can put his case there.”  The woman became a bit of a ‘Karen’ and kept complaining. Another woman came and sorted the luggage space out so that there was space for my case and the other woman stopped complaining. The whole situation got the cogs in my brain whirling around again. It’s astonishing how people have egos, are selfish and think of nobody else except themselves. We come across this phenomenon often and I often rack my brain as to why one would not think of other peop...

Today I voted in the primaries of the Meretz political party in Israel. I joined Meretz several years ago when my friend, who is actualy one of the candidates today, Dr. Laura Wharton, was running for Jerusalem City Council. She asked me to join the party to support her. I looked at the party's values and discovered that they included equality for all, helping the weak and disadvantaged, support for those who are different and minorities and pluralism: accepting everyone, whoever you are. My voting list today included Laura, as I think she needs to be on the national stage, my friend Eliran, whom I wrote about yesterday in my blog, and my friend, Anat Nir, an incredible feminist who does incredible work for feminism and the weak. During my time in Meretz, one person I met who really made a massive difference in my life is MK Mossi Raz. He is a guy who finds the time for everyone and makes an effort to be everywhere and cares for everyone. I knew we need to have him on our list. Fo...