It's a bitter night here temperature wise. I'm waiting to go to hockey.
Birmingham was so good. (See previous post) It was great to see Jono in his 'natural habitat' - at least his natural habitat for half the year.
On the metro train now. Yesterday I was on a metro that would more accurately be described as a sauna on wheels. The heat was intense!
I'm going to be late for hockey which may mean I miss the 'run round the pitch jumping up and down' section.
This is followed by the 'dynamic stretching' section and then drills and then THE GAME. :-)
THE GAME is generally my favourite bit. If you've ever played a game - of any type- with me you'll know I'm very competitive.
And so in THE GAME I put all of my effort in to haring up and down the pitch doing my best to tackle/pass/shoot/block.
----
It's now two hours later.
THE GAME's result? 3-2 to us. :-) With me on the score sheet!
I did miss the run around and stretches but did plenty of drills followed by THE you-know-what. Started off in defence and made a couple of goal line blocks.
Later I switched and went into midfield, collected a cracking pass and whipped the ball into the goal!! :-)
Very pleased.
Off home now to iron some shirts...
Adios
Monday, 7 February 2011
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Brum brum brum
Don't get the title of my post? Ah, it's all to do with where I have been for the weekend... England's second city, home to Aston Villa, a large university and, currently at least, home to my brother!
Yes he's there at uni and has hosted me in his great flat for the last 48 hours or so.
It was nice being back in the uni life- relaxing, friends everywhere who can pop in at a moment's notice, or even no notice at all, and brain-bending conversations possible at any point.
And then I remembered the other side of university life- that small matter of the course- when we walked along the corridor of my brother's law department.
Jono (for that is my brother's name) was showing me around his department and the law library.
Just outside is the largest free standing clock tower in Europe! What about big ben I hear you cry?! Ah but big ben is attatched the houses of parliament. The tower in Birmingham stands all on its own - built to remember... oh I'm not going to tell you everything about it, you'll just have to go!
Well it is now late and I am back in the cold north (ha i used to think Brum was pretty north!) and i want to eat something and head to bed.
So thanks Jono for a lush stay in Birmingham- see you there again soon... :-)
Adios
Yes he's there at uni and has hosted me in his great flat for the last 48 hours or so.
It was nice being back in the uni life- relaxing, friends everywhere who can pop in at a moment's notice, or even no notice at all, and brain-bending conversations possible at any point.
And then I remembered the other side of university life- that small matter of the course- when we walked along the corridor of my brother's law department.
Jono (for that is my brother's name) was showing me around his department and the law library.
Just outside is the largest free standing clock tower in Europe! What about big ben I hear you cry?! Ah but big ben is attatched the houses of parliament. The tower in Birmingham stands all on its own - built to remember... oh I'm not going to tell you everything about it, you'll just have to go!
Well it is now late and I am back in the cold north (ha i used to think Brum was pretty north!) and i want to eat something and head to bed.
So thanks Jono for a lush stay in Birmingham- see you there again soon... :-)
Adios
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Live to Kenya
Welcome to Sam's blog.
For those of you new to this particular segment of the internet this blog is a mixture of thoughts and wonderings from my wanderings. And for those of you not new to this blog, its the same. :-)
I am currently on a train on my way to Thatcham- where my parents live. It is quite misty outside at the moment and has been for most of the journey since leaving Newcastle.
I often walk up and down the train and it's very interesting looking at the different passengers, most of whom are reading newspapers. I always think that is strange given the mediums' dwindling popularity nationwide.
The mist outside has taken on a rather red hue now.
Having walked along this train it seems like the daily mail is most popular today. Usually its the guardian!
On a completely different note: what must it be like to be engaged to a royal?!
To be on the front of national newspapers for days on end, see your family tree examined, your school 'friends' interviewed and everything you've ever worn analysed?!
The coverage of the engagement announcement did make me laugh though. "And now we go LIVE to the wildlife park in kenya where the proposal was made". "What's the scene there lucy?"
"Well clive its pretty dark here but thankfully our camera crew are shining a massive light on a tree so you can just about make that out. I'm making my way now up to the ACTUAL rock where the proposal happened".
"What extraordinary scenes lucy."
"Yes clive, and here you can just about make out some markings, scraped into the kenyan stone: KM 4 PW". Amazing stuff. Back to you clive".
"Thanks lucy. Now we can speak to John who sold kate middleton her first goldfish- is that right John?"...
And so it goes on!!
Full scale fog now outside.
Adios.
For those of you new to this particular segment of the internet this blog is a mixture of thoughts and wonderings from my wanderings. And for those of you not new to this blog, its the same. :-)
I am currently on a train on my way to Thatcham- where my parents live. It is quite misty outside at the moment and has been for most of the journey since leaving Newcastle.
I often walk up and down the train and it's very interesting looking at the different passengers, most of whom are reading newspapers. I always think that is strange given the mediums' dwindling popularity nationwide.
The mist outside has taken on a rather red hue now.
Having walked along this train it seems like the daily mail is most popular today. Usually its the guardian!
On a completely different note: what must it be like to be engaged to a royal?!
To be on the front of national newspapers for days on end, see your family tree examined, your school 'friends' interviewed and everything you've ever worn analysed?!
The coverage of the engagement announcement did make me laugh though. "And now we go LIVE to the wildlife park in kenya where the proposal was made". "What's the scene there lucy?"
"Well clive its pretty dark here but thankfully our camera crew are shining a massive light on a tree so you can just about make that out. I'm making my way now up to the ACTUAL rock where the proposal happened".
"What extraordinary scenes lucy."
"Yes clive, and here you can just about make out some markings, scraped into the kenyan stone: KM 4 PW". Amazing stuff. Back to you clive".
"Thanks lucy. Now we can speak to John who sold kate middleton her first goldfish- is that right John?"...
And so it goes on!!
Full scale fog now outside.
Adios.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Wet.
Back in the north now and it is very wet! After a week in the balmy south, especially in devon where it was so bright and hot i needed sun cream, this weather is particularly noticeable.
Let me tell you a bit about Longbarn: its a camp for 8 - 11 year olds in kent, set in the middle of a forest. As such there is not much electricity (there is some thanks to a couple of solar panels), no flushing loos, no internet, and no showers.
Surprisingly, speaking as someone who loves cities, mod cons, and a shower in the morning, going to longbarn is one of the highlights of my year!
I help run the camp, along with around 15 other leaders, ensuring the kids fufill one of the most important rules of the week: to have fun!
Its always strange re-entering society after a week there. One is struck by people using money, rushing to get places, and wearing suits! This is compared to longbarn-ers who emerge into the world needing a wash, engrossed in the idiosyncrasies of camp and looking blankly at a £10 note!
This year's highlights: winning astroblitz (longbarn's premier game), aceing survival (enter forest, cook lunch, try to make sure children don't get food poisoning), and having a bunch of kids really understand the bible stories we were teaching them and ask some excellent questions.
Check out scripture union (who run the camps) to be inspired yourself. :-)
Adios.
Let me tell you a bit about Longbarn: its a camp for 8 - 11 year olds in kent, set in the middle of a forest. As such there is not much electricity (there is some thanks to a couple of solar panels), no flushing loos, no internet, and no showers.
Surprisingly, speaking as someone who loves cities, mod cons, and a shower in the morning, going to longbarn is one of the highlights of my year!
I help run the camp, along with around 15 other leaders, ensuring the kids fufill one of the most important rules of the week: to have fun!
Its always strange re-entering society after a week there. One is struck by people using money, rushing to get places, and wearing suits! This is compared to longbarn-ers who emerge into the world needing a wash, engrossed in the idiosyncrasies of camp and looking blankly at a £10 note!
This year's highlights: winning astroblitz (longbarn's premier game), aceing survival (enter forest, cook lunch, try to make sure children don't get food poisoning), and having a bunch of kids really understand the bible stories we were teaching them and ask some excellent questions.
Check out scripture union (who run the camps) to be inspired yourself. :-)
Adios.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
The big L
Hello from the train!
I have worked out how to write on this blog from my new phone. Woohoo!
I'm on the train to devon after a week at Longbarn camp. (The big L). This is the fifth year i have been and it was, once again, brilliant.
Now REALLY tired though so won't write more, hope to do so soon.
I have worked out how to write on this blog from my new phone. Woohoo!
I'm on the train to devon after a week at Longbarn camp. (The big L). This is the fifth year i have been and it was, once again, brilliant.
Now REALLY tired though so won't write more, hope to do so soon.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Is Sam Wylie there...?
I haven't forgotten about this blog, honest!
But I just haven't had any big thoughts that I could put down here to make it really interesting reading.
Generally life in the North is good. I have been here for more than a year now which is amazing! I'm driving a bit too now so am getting to know the roads better and feeling like I'm piecing parts of the city together.
I will be going off on holiday soon and I'm really looking forward to that. Not getting up early for a few days will be great.
One quick observation from today: I was on the Metro (Newcastle's underground rail network) and some tourists asked a Metro worker how to get somewhere. As he was describing where to go he asked them if they knew a particular road.
"No", they replied, "we've only just met this city".
What a nice way to describe being new in a place!
Adios.
But I just haven't had any big thoughts that I could put down here to make it really interesting reading.
Generally life in the North is good. I have been here for more than a year now which is amazing! I'm driving a bit too now so am getting to know the roads better and feeling like I'm piecing parts of the city together.
I will be going off on holiday soon and I'm really looking forward to that. Not getting up early for a few days will be great.
One quick observation from today: I was on the Metro (Newcastle's underground rail network) and some tourists asked a Metro worker how to get somewhere. As he was describing where to go he asked them if they knew a particular road.
"No", they replied, "we've only just met this city".
What a nice way to describe being new in a place!
Adios.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
The Boys Are Back
I have just finished watching a brilliant film.
It is called The Boys Are Back, and stars Clive Owen.
The film is set in Australia mostly - Southern Australia I think.
The setting is quite extraordinary - amazing vistas and sunsets as well as beautiful coastal shots.
It is about journalism (one tick), cars (two ticks), and real men (three ticks). When I say real men I mean men going about their lives, portrayed in a genuine way - in a way that men in real life actually live. (Know what I mean?)
I found it moving, funny (Owen is a sports writer and can't leave his kids so he writes about the Australian Open tennis from his house watching it on TV instead of being actually there), and quite uplifting.
The two boys in the film are excellent. The older one looks very much like Rubert Grint and I spent most of this film thinking it was him, but he's actually another very good actor - George MacKay.
He plays a 17 year old who is finding that stage between being a child and an adult quite difficult. But he has a firm friend in his younger step brother.
The younger boy really loves his brother, and that relationship is one of the best in the film. It really moved me at points.
*The main character - Owen - would certainly be classed as 'flawed', and so do be aware of that if you see it.
*The film does at one point go to England. This is a cue for rain, red buses, posh schools and English pubs. Please excuse its stereotyping, persist with the film regardless!
I didn't see this film advertised anywhere, so it may be that it only came out on DVD. But it is certainly worth a trip to HMV or Blockbuster for the experience.
This is a film that I massively enjoyed. Perfect? No. But excellently written characters, lovely scenery, good story and it certainly made for a lovely way to spend an hour and a half.
Adios.
P.s As I said on facebook - you may have to think of this as more of a monthly magazine column than a 'blink and you'll miss the next post' blog... :-)
It is called The Boys Are Back, and stars Clive Owen.
The film is set in Australia mostly - Southern Australia I think.
The setting is quite extraordinary - amazing vistas and sunsets as well as beautiful coastal shots.
It is about journalism (one tick), cars (two ticks), and real men (three ticks). When I say real men I mean men going about their lives, portrayed in a genuine way - in a way that men in real life actually live. (Know what I mean?)
I found it moving, funny (Owen is a sports writer and can't leave his kids so he writes about the Australian Open tennis from his house watching it on TV instead of being actually there), and quite uplifting.
The two boys in the film are excellent. The older one looks very much like Rubert Grint and I spent most of this film thinking it was him, but he's actually another very good actor - George MacKay.
He plays a 17 year old who is finding that stage between being a child and an adult quite difficult. But he has a firm friend in his younger step brother.
The younger boy really loves his brother, and that relationship is one of the best in the film. It really moved me at points.
*The main character - Owen - would certainly be classed as 'flawed', and so do be aware of that if you see it.
*The film does at one point go to England. This is a cue for rain, red buses, posh schools and English pubs. Please excuse its stereotyping, persist with the film regardless!
I didn't see this film advertised anywhere, so it may be that it only came out on DVD. But it is certainly worth a trip to HMV or Blockbuster for the experience.
This is a film that I massively enjoyed. Perfect? No. But excellently written characters, lovely scenery, good story and it certainly made for a lovely way to spend an hour and a half.
Adios.
P.s As I said on facebook - you may have to think of this as more of a monthly magazine column than a 'blink and you'll miss the next post' blog... :-)
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