The Origins of the Itch (or How I came to suffer the Itch)

To quote:

Mrs. Fussey: Joan may think you're a gentleman but personally I've got sore misgivings.
Sid Boggle: You ought to put some talcum powder on them.

This is perhaps my favourite Carry On line after the immortal "Infamy, Infamy, they've all got it in for me" and I thought it a neat way to start my first post in my first ever blog. Who knows, it may be the last ever post in my last ever blog. Let's just see how things pan out.

I thought the quote apt (and I wanted to crowbar a Carry On quote into my first post). I don't have anything physically sore that I wish to confess and if I did I wouldn't do it on the Web. What ails me is a kind of psychic itch, that I can't seem to scratch, or if I can, it's not going away. It's like an itch on the arch of your foot when you're wearing a pair of walking boots. You can't do anything about it. You try to press into the sole of your shoe but it won't go away. Or you try to magically fold your foot up, as if you could scratch it with your toe. Unfortunately, our evolution has passed that very useful itch scratching stage.

So, what is this 'psychic itch'? Well, it's certainly not one thing!

I'm one of those people who has opinions and suffers impotently when my opinion is ignored or not heard. I have really good ideas that come to nothing. I'm well meaning but a little lethargic. I think I could write but I suffer from a fear of rejection if I actually tried to publish something. Therefore, I quite often have a good idea and don't do anything about it.

I watch the world, aghast at what happens. How can countries declare war without diplomacy first? How can so many have nothing when a few have more than enough for everyone? How can people channel all their energies into blind faith, rather than into working with each other?

I could go on, but I won't. I guess the problem could be summed up as a general irritation I have with things. Don't get me wrong, I have a very happy home life with my wonderful wife Tanya and the fabulous cat Ori (or Bongo for short). What I'm talking about is a bit more abstract. It could be untapped potential, it could be an unvented spleen or it could be a niggling issue that I haven't got to grips with; it's probably all three.

So that's what The Itch will be. The subject may vary from a constructive reflection on something in the news, an angry diatribe, confession, the odd stream of consciousness, my own musings on popular or even high culture (more likely the former), not to mention my own hopes / dreams / aspirations / fear / neuroses / loves / hates. I hope it remains entertaining, topical and controversial where necessary. I'm sure you will vote with your feet if it isn't.

How often I post will depend on whether I can be arsed or how passionate I'm feeling about something. I'm looking forward to it. Perhaps it will be the talcum powder I need for the 'psychic itch'.

p.s.: Being the lazy 2:2 attaining History graduate that I am, I didn't bother checking to see if the phrase 'psychic itch' has been used previously. I'm sure the term has been used and probably for something altogether more profound than my little malaise! If you've heard of it before let me know. If you google it, let me know.