31/03/2009 by Russell.

Sounds like a line from ‘Pop Music’ by M…but its true.

Last week New York and all the things such a city can behold, and now Berlin today.  Roll on Easter for a break lol!

New York, was well New York…Skyscrapers, shops and shops and recession hit. Third visit now in a decade and it is still vibrant, and full of life.  The one recommendation I have for any future visitor is to go to the World Trade Centre (WTC) and get on the guided tour.  Just blows you away, the accounts of the events of that horrific day told to you by Survivors.  Jo from the South Tower can be gheard on my Youtube page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FG46hJrFzc

He was accompanied by a father of a Fireman, he croaked, quite understandably, it took 2 months before they recovered his son’s body.  Of 343 firemen who perished only 12 helmets have been recovered.  On display are some incredible findings such as two Colt Magnum pistols fused together because of the intense heat, and even one part of an airplane’s fuselage. You must go.

Students were great, especially taking it on the chin when they lost at Wii Sport to Nick and myself.  The clincher was bowling where we won 149-148! see youtube for video evedence.  Photo’s to follow.

Now onwards and forwarsd to Berlin with management students

Posted in Nick, Berlin, New york | No Comments »

15/03/2009 by Russell.

We were up then we were down, Chesham Strides U14s needed the win against the league leaders. We were always up in the game until the last 2 minutes again, what is it about our results? Another hard defeat to take, I can’t do much more. On the positives we have found our formation, 4-5-1.  We have played much better and with more steel.  We should have been 5-4 up just after half time, but we hit the post for the second time in the match.

A failure to communicate, to pass and to finish teams off.  However, we have more-or-less found a settled side and now its up to the boys to finish the season with a flourish.   If we get relegated, it would be too much to bear, c’mon boys.

Next up is New York City, I fly off next Sunday in the late afternoon - ah well see what comes round the corner next.

Posted in Tom, chesham strides, Louis, ben Standish, Greg, Football | No Comments »

09/03/2009 by Russell.

It strikes me that following Richard Hammond’s Engineering series on the Beeb, that he seems to have replaced John Noakes from my generations perspective.

Who is John Noakes?

John Noakes was a geat presenter during the halcyon days of Blue Peter, the childrens TV series on the beeb.  He was up ladders, a free fall parachutist (for which I believe he still holds a world record for a civilian), he blew up chimneys, he was a bit of a boys own character and had adventures around the world on the famous Blue Peter summer holiday.  He livened up our tv screens every Monday and Thursday teatime during the 60’s and early 70’s.  Above all he did these antics with great enthusiasm and spirit.

Roll forward 30 odd years, and doesn’t Richard Hammond  do the same? his programme on the Troll Gas Platform (BBC 2 - 8th March 2009), resonated with the antics John Noakes used to get up to. Namely - blowing up things, clambering aboard a precarious elevator up a power station cooling tower and down the depths of the Troll platform itself. And it is he of course who had that horrible high speed crash, comparable to John Noakes and the Cresta Run.

It seems to my particular age group - 40 somethings - that Hammond - is our latterday ordinary bloke giving it a go whatever the challenge. Great  tv - long may it continue. So is he the new Noakes?

source of pics:http: http//www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1977/gallery/images/340/johnnoakes.jpg

and http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42111000/jpg/_42111486_hammond300.jpg

Posted in Richard Hammond, Blue Peter, John Noakes | No Comments »