As I sit here tired, slightly bloodied and with sand in my feet (from hockey) my thoughts turn to Spring.
Have you noticed the tiny buds on the ends of the branches on the trees? Little teardrops of potential which will burst into colourful brilliance in just a few days.
One tree I saw today had already bloomed. Pink flowers flowed over into the road, a sure sign that Spring is here.
The other thing that shows we're into the second season of the year is the lighter evenings. This was particularly noticeable tonight as we started hockey in the daylight. Lovely.
On another weather related note, have you ever looked straight up into the sky when its raining?
If the rain droplets are coming straight down it looks beautiful. In particular if you look up under a streetlight the light creates a beautiful effect. Something worth doing next time you think of it.
Health warning- your face does end up getting pretty wet however!
Well, I'm not far from home now on the metro but just have time to tell you that this is my 60th post- my diamond post!
So, until next time, the slightly less momentous 61st post, adios.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Monday, 14 March 2011
Malta: truly Mediterranean. Pretty good for defecting Libyan fighter pilots too.
The title refers to an advert I saw on the train...
Ahh the south. Warm, sunny, comfortable. Or maybe that's just what being at home is like.
I have been there for only a short time this weekend after a family party in London, but it was lovely.
Yes it is a Monday, and i'm writing this 'live', so I am indeed on holiday. Which is as pleasant and relaxing as it sounds.
I've been thinking recently about all the goings-on in north africa and the middle east. Here I am, in comfort, writing on my blog and posting things on facebook, but some people in libya or iran or egypt are posting messages covertly about their situation, probably risking their lives in the process.
I've heard it said that the time we should really be concerned is if a revolution starts in saudi arabia. We "have to worry" because it would send oil prices through the roof and we'd pay loads more for petrol.
I'm sorry?
If such a revolution took place people, who are most likely heavily repressed, would be taking an extremely brave stand and saying they have had enough. They may be facing beatings, imprisonment, even death. But the concern here is about how much it costs to fill up our cars?!
Surely we've got something wrong there.
Adios.
Ahh the south. Warm, sunny, comfortable. Or maybe that's just what being at home is like.
I have been there for only a short time this weekend after a family party in London, but it was lovely.
Yes it is a Monday, and i'm writing this 'live', so I am indeed on holiday. Which is as pleasant and relaxing as it sounds.
I've been thinking recently about all the goings-on in north africa and the middle east. Here I am, in comfort, writing on my blog and posting things on facebook, but some people in libya or iran or egypt are posting messages covertly about their situation, probably risking their lives in the process.
I've heard it said that the time we should really be concerned is if a revolution starts in saudi arabia. We "have to worry" because it would send oil prices through the roof and we'd pay loads more for petrol.
I'm sorry?
If such a revolution took place people, who are most likely heavily repressed, would be taking an extremely brave stand and saying they have had enough. They may be facing beatings, imprisonment, even death. But the concern here is about how much it costs to fill up our cars?!
Surely we've got something wrong there.
Adios.
Monday, 14 February 2011
It's Monday, so it's hockey.
4-3 to us. I'm clocking up the wins! That's two (or three, the press association doesn't keep a record of Monday night newcastle matches) wins on the spin.
England will soon be calling. :-)
England will soon be calling. :-)
Monday, 7 February 2011
My Monday night adventure
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
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
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.
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