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!
What is the first thought that comes to mind when someone says ‘bankers’?
$*^@! is probably the answer.
The bankers are not the most popular people at the moment – oh, I must forget that they are closely followed by the politicians.
I was shown this video last week and wanted to share it with you (my friends around the world).
It really reflects how the ordinary people feel about the people in power!
Power to the people!
Enjoy the song.
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?
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).
I get tingly arms every time I think about the moment that London were announced the host city for the 30th Olympic Games.
I remember being at work (way back in 2005) and refreshing the page on the internet to see the announcement come through LIVE.
Would it be London?
Could London possibly beat the favourite, Paris?
Here’s a video of Trafalgar Square in London. You can feel the tension as the crowd nervously await the news…
What a moment!!!
Tonight all eyes will be on London as they open the games with a huge ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. Tonight I will be more than ever to be British. Here’s to a fantastic games. Good luck to all taking part.
60 years on the British throne.
She’s pretty amazing.
I like this new side to the Queen too.
For more great shots and captions, look here.
I have blogged about the Queen before. She is on Facebook (just in case you didn’t know). Check that post here.
I saw HRH The Queen at her boat flotilla – yay! I was so pleased. If you want to see how I’m getting on with my 2012 ‘To Do’ list – check here.
Britain and Europe.
You thought that they were linked? Clearly the Brits disagree…
It’s all very mixed up.
The UK (or is it Great Britain? Or Scotland? Or Wales?…. England even?)…. They don’t really feel like Europe. Quite often you hear the UK media refer to ‘over in Europe’ as though the UK itself is not part of it.
Well it makes sense. We (Brits) are ever so glad to have the ‘English’ Channel to keep us and them far enough apart.
Here’s what the Brits really think of the rest of Europe.
After all my years of watching the Eurovision Song Contest I don’t remember the UK sending an entry to match this. The first time you hear it you may dismiss it, but ‘The Hump’, Engelbert, has got an amazing voice. At 75 years you cannot discount him. Age has nothing to do with his very obvious talent. He can carry a tune – very well. The song is a gentle ballad with a big finish. The lyrics are beautiful too…
In May he will be first up in the final, hoping to bring the contest back to the United Kingdom: It’s a possibility. He is currently 4th favourite to win - after Sweden, Russia and Denmark (however the betting odds will surely change between now and May).
Engelbert had so much negative press after his name was announced as the UK representative. People joked that the BBC were mocking Europe by sending him. I think quite the opposite this year. If the British public are left to make the choice then they send ‘something Eurovisiony’ – Scooch, Andy Abraham, Daz Sampson and Jemini…. all of which prove to be disasters in Europe. The British public do not ‘get it’ when it comes to Eurovision. They still harp on about the bloc voting; they claim that ‘nobody likes the UK’… It’s pretty untrue. The last time the UK actually made an effort they came 5th, in 2009.
This year the UK will do well. Mark my words. Here is the video of the UK’s 2012 Eurovision entry.
Tensions between Scotland and London have been hotting up over recent months. The question about whether Scotland should split from the rest of the United Kingdom is not a new one. It’s also not a question which can go unanswered for much longer.
Personally, I think it’s a good thing that the question of independence be put to the people who will be affected. I would however prefer for Scotland to remain as part of the UK. I don’t see many benefits for an independent Scotland or a smaller UK within Europe with the current economic troubles.
I saw this referendum voting slip. Of course, it’s just for fun, but I do like it.
On a serious note, there have been strong debates over what the question will be. Will it be a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to independence or will there be a compromise; a semi-independence. I hope not. I think it should be ‘in’ or ‘out’. Too much hangs on it.
What will happen to the rest of the United Kingdom without Scotland? Will it still be called the UK? Some say yes, some say it cannot. What will happen to the Union Flag? The blue (from the St Andrew’s flag) will disappear…
Will Scotland enter the Euro? Will Wales and Northern Ireland also seek independence?
Countries dividing is nothing new in Europe. It wasn’t that long since Yugoslavia split into other countries (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, etc) and that Czechoslovakia split into Czech Republic and Slovakia. It just feels weird that this time it could be my own country, the UK, splitting up.
The future of the UK looks set to be interesting over the next couple of years.
What do you think should and could happen?
It’s all gone wrong in Europe! Bail out – bail out.
Sometimes living in Europe can feel a little ‘titanic-ish’. Yup – this place hit an iceberg – and that iceberg is called Greece!
Greece is dragging us all down.
Latest news – a bailout of about 1 TRILLION! Hmmmm, nice one. That’s me on bread and water for the next hundred years!
The prime ministers, chancellors etc etc are all throwing their toys out of their prams too. The international meetings must be fascinating for those proverbial ‘flies-on-the-walls’. Cameron and Sarkozy have been arguing about who should be in the meeting…. Oh, the old battle between France and the United Kingdom.
It’s all old as time.
Don't you wag that French finger at my Prime Minister... Not that Cameron seems to care.
If you’re interested in a more ‘high-brow’ view on the latest economy news from Europe, but still something easy-to-understand then I’d recommend reading this Q&A site.
But, the best thing that I’ve seen – and it really sums up the state of Europe right now – is this.
Merkel has to look after Sarkozy - again!
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