THE Josh Aronson

My body crashed. Last night I had coursework from 11 am until late. I was hunched over my computer and studying and didn't even had time to eat lunch. It showed, as I finished that coursework, I was zonked. I couldn"t see properly and I was just finished. In life we get to those points where we overworked and yes, it's ok to work hard, but to a point. That's why today, though I have another seven courseworks to complete, I sat back and relaxed. I let myself just get through life easier. Yes, I did have a driving lesson today, but afterwards I sat and just let the calmness flow through me. My driving lesson was cool as I told the teacher I'm studying with that I'm playing the McDonald's monopoly game and she agreed we could go through a drive-thru and got some lunch. Driving lesson through McDonald's trying to win a electric car, something seems right there. God Above give me please Bond Street, so I get the car, or better yet, give me Mayfair so I get t...

Some may have noticed that from Sunday till today, I didn't post my blog. The reason for that was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. This month, the blog posting will be spasmodic, with Yom Kippur, the day of Atonrment and Succot, a holiday that during the cold weather, we move into huts to remind us of the 40 years traveling in the desert when the Israelites left Egypt. So many holidays brings much stress, as Thursday I ended my second year of college which brings with all the end-of-year coursework that needs to be done in order to pass the various courses. I've also come down with a small cold and along with the various activities I've been doing,  I do feel very overstressed - so much to do and so little time to do it! But I wanted to share with you a phenomanal way of thinking I heard about. I was sitting next to an academic, originally from Poland, now living in Scotland, and I asked him what he studies. He told me the philosophy of mathematics.  Stunned, I asked what...

For the last three nights, Esther and I have been babysitting for a family that the parents have gone away on a personal trip and only wanted the people who had to know, they were away. I had posted in my family group about my  log of tiredness, as I wrote in yesterday's blog, and when they asked why I was so tired and my siblings wanted to know who  etc , I of course I kept the confidentiality clause, which upset some of them deeply. Then this morning, I met my mother in law, who told me that one of my family members had messaged her saying that she had something for me and asking where I was. I got mad and put a strong voicemail on the group saying how wrong that is - to sneakily try and find out where I was through Esther's mother. But then that member of family spoke to me and said they really had something to give me, and hadn't been following the group. They had been out last night with that item and apparently tried to call me. When I didn't answer, they asked my...

I was supposed to have a driving lesson today but last night, I hardly slept. So I called my driving instructor and told her that I didn't want to endanger her or other drivers, so I would have to cancel. She understood, but canceling a lesson less then 48 hours before the lesson means that I am charged for it, but it's worth it not to endanger other people. I stayed home, closed my eyes and slept. I woke up at lunch time went to McDonalds for lunch. In the UK at the moment they have a monopoly game at McDonalds and you can win some cool prizes. I have collected several properties already and all I need is one more and I've won a major prize. I've only have had a few instant wins, which is surprising as in most of the youtube videos I've been watching, the youtubers have had more instant wins then properties so I guess I'm the exception. I did say to someone that if they do the McDonald monopoly in Israel, it will be an instant hit. Israelis love gambling and ea...

Today, I went to town to buy new shirts. With the High Holidays coming up, I needed some white shirts and with my finances so low I decided to go to the place where clothing is cheap: Primark! I entered the store on Market Street, smiled at the nod of the indoor cafe called 'The Central Perk', obviously in reference to the hit TV show, Friends, and entered the lift to go downstairs to the Men's section. I got to the formal shirts and saw that they were on sale at £6 each! What a thrill! I thought that according to Murphy's Law, they wouldn't have my size. I asked staff if they had but unfortunatly they didn't.  So I left and went to other stores only to see prices of £30 a shirt! Fun and games...  As I was anyway in town, I entered several stores and redeemed my birthday treats for free donuts and cookies. Such fun to get treats from stores just for being born! I noticed that in Subway, all I needed to do was show my phone screen to get a free biscuit and the o...

Like the rest of the world today, I watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd.  I watched the splendor of the ceromony as leaders, royalty and dignitaries filed into the chapel to pay their respect. I was proud that the order of service named Marie van der Zyl, the President of The Board of Jewish Deputies , and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis led our representation together with President Isaac Hertzog and his wife Michal, who is such a regal statesman that Sky News cut from the broadcast to show him entering the chapel. As my friend, James Jeremy Marlow quoted,  "Absolutely historic. Planned right done to the very last detail. The coordination, the marching, the band, chimes from Big Ben and so much more! It is like something out of a blockbuster movie! ONLY this is real. Billions were watching some of the best TV pictures ever seen around the world. American networks and others would not be screening it live if it did not have the ratings. Britain is a country truly in mour...

A couple of years ago at a book signing for Sarah Tuttle Singer’s book, I met an American girl called Tova. She told me she does shuk (market) tours.  We got to talking and in the end I added her on Facebook. Over the years I have followed her progress, her marriage to Bezalel Heller, the birth of her children and more. Last week, I saw she was en-route to London so I asked her if she was also coming to Manchester, which she was! I took the opportunity and offered to show her around my town. On Friday, I picked her up with her husband, two of her kids and her sister-in-law and showed them around the Jewish neighborhood of Manchester, a place brimming with inclusion and also Zionism. A place where Jews from all sectors live in peace with amazing NGO's in the community helping the vulnerable and more. I love the neighbourhood I grew up, the community is so welcoming and so open to everyone. The kosher shops may be few, but they serve everyone with a smile and good spirits. You ...