I enjoyed a weekend in London recently and decided to take a trip to Brick Lane in East London. I’d seen a television programme that week that was all about the history of the East End. I wanted to see it for myself – so went along to explore.
There was street art everywhere I looked. I went snap-happy with my camera and loved every moment. Here are some of the amazing doors I found!
The song ‘Sing’ by Gary Barlow is an incredible one. It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. The power of children and adults singing together from around the world. Amazing!
Here is the Gary Barlow video. If you have never seen it then sit back and enjoy.
I was on YouTube looking for an instrumental version of it and came across this video. One man in his house, performing over the backing track with his guitar.
What talent!!! It’s brilliant.
Firstly guys, I would like to say “Hello, I’m back”. I haven’t blogged for over a month. Work has been manic and so I haven’t had a moment to think.
At the end of September I flew over to London to take part in the first ever ‘Big Gay 10k’ run. I was very excited about doing the run. It was my first ever run. I was going to crawl and possibly die in a gutter do my best and try to get a good time.
For those who had read more on my Just Giving charity site would have known that I had been training to run since the beginning of July. Fun, fun, fun…
Well – 400 people took part in the 10km run in London. Some were runners, some were walkers and the rest were mincers!
The route was fantastic! Here are some photos from the fantastic day. (I’m in the blue vest, my fiancé is in bright yellow). Our super friends Sue and Caroline came to support us.
The fantastic route with London’s finest landmarks all the way around.
The race was started by Cheryl Baker, in pink in the photos (from Bucks Fizz, the 1980s pop group who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981). I even met her and had a post-run-sweaty photo together. Once the race was started, Bas and I were off like a shot. My music was playing and I was high on adrenaline. I wanted to get a good time. So far my best time had been 10km in 52 minutes (I was averaging 55 mins).
We kept up with the front group and split from the main ‘pack’. The streets of London were packed. As we all reached the Embankment, where the London Eye stands we had to wriggle and jump in and out of the tourists. As it was the first Big Gay 10k in London the organisers had been unable to clear roads or pavements, meaning for us that we had to contend with human-obstacles. They must have wondered what was happening…
Halfway through the race I realised that I was well over my usual pace. I got ahead of Bas who probably got caught in the crowds. Bas caught up with me at about 7 or 8km into the run. That was when we came face-to-face with the photographers. (Time to look as though I was loving it…).
At 8km I hit the wall. Not literally – a wall of pain. I really didn’t know if my body would get to the 10km finish line. Bas was brilliant and ran along side me the rest of the way. The last bridge was the last hurdle. I said to Bas “I don’t want to go uphill anymore”. He replied that we were there.
We had made it.
We came 28th and 29th (seconds divided us). 29th!!!! From 400!!!!!
Stunned. You can see my time below. Just under 51 minutes. It probably took me those 41 seconds to stop my timer.
You can see how much money I was lucky enough to raise for a great charity in London! Brilliant supporters – thank you!
Proof on my time! I am still in shock that I managed it.
The breakdown of the route.
The amount I raised for ‘London Friend’.
So, my niece is also a blogger…. A recent discovery of mine, but one I want to share with my readers too.
Francesca is really keen on snapshots and photos – it’s quite different from my blog, but take a look and see what you think.
What did you think, guys?
While walking along one of the arty streets in The Hague (Den Haag) my attention was grabbed by a rather interesting window display.
Lots of water bottles were placed randomly throughout the window space, each with a different label.
Oh which one to drink?
Anyone fancy a swig of ‘sex’? How about some ‘chi’ to calm your inner self?
Which one would you like to try?
UNBELIEVABLE!
Just when you thought it was safe to check out the washing instructions…
We were on holiday earlier this year in Cyprus and decided to do a spot of holiday washing. When we checked the washing machine manual it showed this…
Read the first line of notes.
Always read the instructions
Just what are they expecting? In fact, no, I don’t wanna know…
GRIM!
I used to hate long distance running. I would watch runners go past and envy the fact that they could do it – and wondered why they liked it.
Strangely enough that all changed earlier this year. I had heard about an App for my phone which could help you get from ‘couch potato’ to a runner (possibly good enough for the Olympics… okay, I can dream).
I have stuck to the challenges and kept running a few times a week (once every two days when I’m being really good).
A friend of mine in London posted information about the first Big Gay 10K in London on Facebook and I was hooked…
A real challenge for me. Will you support me? Here’s my page.
What have I got myself into? The next thing I knew I was signing up for my very first ‘proper’ run. I am currently running distances of 3-4K. The 10K might just finish me off…
Here I am – Looking my most sporty….
I have set up a Just Giving page so that you can track my progress and see if I am still alive. Of course, I’ll be blogging more about it here too.
In short – this is what it’s all about.
I would love it if you took the time to check out my Just Giving page – You may even like to make a small donation for the wonderful charity. (That’s the easy bit – I’ll be the one running around London in September).
Discovered in Antwerp in Belgium.
I was just minding my own business and taking a little visit to the toilet when I walked in and saw this.
Okay – it made me laugh – out loud. It was quite tricky to concentrate while standing there.
Which one to stand at?
I was given this gift at last Christmas.
A book.
No, not an ordinary book!
This book may not look like a book for long.
‘Wreck This Journal’ is a creative, explosive diary (mainly destructive)… So, I shall take you on the journey with me.
It’s just a bit of fun. But – I may need some photos and videos on the way. Hope you enjoy.
I have added a tab on my homepage so that you can come back and see how I am getting on.
Looking slightly deranged with my journal. The destruction begins soon…
“The youngsters of today”.
Oh what a terrible bunch.
“We were never like that when we were young”.
I am forever seeing emails, posts and memories of a rose-tinted past of when older generations lived an idyllic life. But – hang on a minute. I think some people have got it all wrong. Are the older generations right when they criticise the young people today? Read some of the comments below and take a minute to really think about them.
“The younger generation are so violent – It’s all because of the violent computer games”.
Which generation was it that started two World Wars?
“The younger generation have no family values”.
Which generation shipped off women to have their babies then forced them to return home in shame and never speak of their children, who they would never see again.
“The younger generation are always texting and using their phones – Facebooking and Tweeting…”
Which generation effectively Facebooked and Tweeted across their garden fences when entire communities lived in the same village or town. The world is more mobile now but the gossip is just as connected now as ever.
“The younger generation have no respect”.
Which generation showed little respect to other cultures (creating Empires, claiming nations, having slaves, banning mixed race marriages), or homosexuals (banning same-sex marriage)? Which generation created more divides between social and ethnic groups?
“The young are not educated”.
Which generation felt the need to only educate the men and knew that a woman’s place was at home?
If the older generation are proud then so be it, but I am glad to be from the younger, progressive, more open, less high-and-mighty generation where people can be more free with their lives. People can marry who they wish without having to live in shame or run the risk of being disowned by their families and friends.
The world is far from perfect – but surely it is improving – human rights continue to improve.
I would rather live in 2012 (which the older generation criticise so often) than the repressed 1940s.
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