hmmm....

Bad, sickening news that should help decide your vote in the next election! I say no more...

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Olympic year, Kingston

Lizzie Armitstead

 Shara Gillow

 Tatiana Guderzo

Emma Pooley

Looking out the door, I see the rain fall upon a field of mourners

'Broken down and hungry for your love, but I've no way to feed it'

Such a powerful tune, that is my second favourite song ever, and has been since I discovered it as a teenager. Strong lyrics, with a lot of meaning that i will not enter a depressing tale about.

Oh lover, you should've come over.

I made a note on my phone whilst experiencing the next topic. I went shopping on Monday, at the Apple store in Kingston. I had yet to  properly use this shop (i would usually approach a shop staff for help/guidance). On monday I knew that i needed a specific cable. I went and got it off the shelf. Ok, now to pay. A till? Hmmm, I look around and am amazed/confused as to what to do/where to go. There are no tills or queues anywhere. I get asked by staff if i want to pay, giving the affirmative lets me pay for my cable through my mobile phone! How crazy is this? I realise that i may be out of date, not up to speed, but I  remember when shops used to employ people to sell you things and remove security tags. 'No, we rely on trust' was the answer i was given when i asked about security. Am I crazy or naughty, but is this attitude not extremely arrogant. Hmmmm...

I admit that my mentality has probably changed a bit but I maintain that cyclists should be on the road. Please don't give me the 'oh it's dangerous'. "yes, yes it is at the moment because people are so used to seeing cyclists on the pavement and not on the road, no-one expects cyclists where they should."

Please cycle on the road, not on pedestrian paths.

The most beautiful...

... place,
i think,...
... maybe

Special special special

Although Paris  probably comes second, Richmond Park is unbeatable , for me.

A 'special' description

A deserved Olympic venue

Olympic

Sun in Kingston

So, i was saying...

... this blog started life in December 2010, here

my blog is born

But it's all about now, now, now NOW.....
You can navigate through the blog using the drop-down menu in the right-hand column.

This week's first note to talk about simply specifies
'Bloody cyclists'
Hehe, those who know me will know that I am being very VERY sarcastic. I find it sad that only now, people are discovering the wonders of the bicycle. I don't mean to narrow down, but the success of my hero, Mr Wiggins, has helped as a massive marketing tool in England, which, in turn can only be seen as a good thing. Thank you Bradley!

The more cyclists there are, among us, the more aware everyone  becomes of issues involved.

Ok, I stop before i get carried away and preach too much! It was MY birthday on the past weekend, the penultimate day of the Olympics. I took a trip up to the Southbank in London, which is an ever-vibrant place.

A snapshot of crowds, partying in colour, sound and vibrancy

It was on the way back from Butlers Wharf towards Waterloo, I was feeling down, stopped and  noted that i felt as such on my birthday. 

I then realised that 'Hold on you are 28 now, not a 22 student loving the passion of life.' I appreciate many things, but I am not student anymore with a love-for-life. I have taken half a decade away from my city. I noted that the only passion that i sense ' is when a hot girl walks past, head swivels, desire'. I am not feeling the same passion for things any more. It is sad, but the world keeps turning, I cannot pause everything else just because i had a rest.

The next note, I made yesterday. A man sitting outside a cafe exclaimed to a friend, as i went past 'No, I don't speak French. Well, I think they're all divs anyway'.

I had just left a cafe, and he was just about to slurp on his coffee in the cafe next door. Fortunately, as I'm not French, no offence was taken. Instead he made me smile. I looked down on him, ' racist simpleton' i thought to myself. Then I criticised myself for thinking such harsh sentiments. It just made me realise that as we are always living in a growing multi-racial society, to hear such racism on the high street, was shocking. So, like everything, it can be viewed positively.

      

Swedish sisters, 'First Aid Kit'

  

Addition...

I include the 'pageview' counter on the side, as i seem to be moving fast (in terms of page-views). In my first blog year (December 2010- Dec 2011), I had 3,163 page-views. Therefore by attaining 6, 326, before December 2012, is an improvement! Thank you all for the help. It sounds strange focussing on this, but, it is a simple way of convincing me that there does seem to be a purpose to all of my ramble!

What a date to start proper summer!!!

As I am British, i feel that it is indeed my right to complain at weather. Indirectly so, as i praise the timing (date) of the Sun's arrival. It obviously knows the most important date of the year!
I say that and now it will rain tomorrow....

Anyway, i have no relevant notes to talk about. Instead...

 Kingston bridge, the venue where myself amongst hundreds more, got drenched watching the Women's olympic cycling (below).

 Kingston celebrates the fact of being an olympic venue

Above and below, Queen Anne had a prime view during the Olympic time trial, on the Market Place buildng. 

i can have fun with my photos...

Only the above image, and those from the post below, have had  'Photoshop treatment'. The original images have been posted in the piece entitled 'OTT photos'.
We, Great Britain, are now third in the medals table! Incredible. Wow.
:)

Olympic Road Race winner, Marianne Vos

Olympic fever!...

Whilst I have 'olympic fever' along with the rest of the nation, I need to type a normal blog post as i am compiling too many notes for my phone! EEK....

Firstly, I must state, admit that i am quite superstitious (or maybe more...). Things happen in threes. Or should i say, 'things can be grouped into threes'. Whatever. My coffee is now made. I get.

I've got. Three. Or it seems to me that often for me :  3 = 2 + 0.5  + 0.5

This could be viewed as 4 but i like to consider it as 2 plus two more manageable things, when tackling problems. If problems can be broken down, which all can be, then it becomes easier reaching the final goal. It may take more time, but the problem can be solved.

I think that I’ve got maths correct.

I am now used to facing facts, no matter how harsh. I am seen as ‘a flirt’. By various people (especially café staff). It maybe that I feel more relaxed and opportunistic in familiar surroundings. As long as I know that I am the only one who can get hurt, it is good to be positive to others who deserve it. I think. Maybe.

OK, you all know that I was a cyclist, and may consider myself to still have the psychology. Wednesday was the Olympic Time Trial (pics below), so I spent Tuesday afternoon, when free, surveying the course around my hometown.

I should have been more aware that this was also a time when the course was to be tested, but no. I went across Kingston bridge, intending to cross sides at the end, and return on the other side. Once I reached the Hampton Wick end, I pressed the traffic lights. Red lights, the cars stopped waiting for me to see the green man. I did, and travelled across.

“SWOOOOSH!!!!!”

I was almost split in half.  An Olympian, testing the route on his time trial bike, paid no attention to the traffic lights, and missed me by millimeters. If I hadn’t cut my toenails………

I was left stunned If it had been anyone else, I would have yelled obscenities, but at an Olympian, no.

My next note, explains dissatisfaction with the Olympic cycling. I woke up on Thursday, extremely overjoyed by Bradley Wiggins’ medal success. As everything has opposites, I could definitely feel a negative of this mass ‘cycling popularity’.

This wasn;t right. The note I made:

‘… but cycling is MY sport. It is supposed to be unknown, with unknown heroes battling away in my foreign dreamland

NOT on my doorstep, followed by every English pleb! Hmmm’

Of course, the nations success at cycling, can only really be seen as a positive, I have just been allowed to love it selfishly, and wish to spread the wonder, although am now unable.

Essentially, I am delighted that now cycling has won.

 Kazakh, Alexander Vinokourov

 Bronze medallist Chris Froome

Australian Team Sky rider, Michael Rogers

My last note on my phone, was made today.

‘Even a forced smile can make oneself happy, content that you are spreading happiness.’

As long as it is not obviously fake, it is good.

OTT photos

Olympic Time Trial

Olympic 'Women's Road Race' Winner, Marianne Vos 

Briton, Lizzie Armitstead

Olympic 'Men's Road Race' winner, Alexander Vinokourov 

Winner, Bradley Wiggins, was just too fast for everyone...

(images used for Print sale on http://naturallybeautifulnormality.blogspot.com)