i lay down the rules...

_{I open …}

_{live at Shepherd's Bush}

this week, with a very old tune! Released 16 years ago (I think), but anthemic.

Anyway, I have only a few notes, this week, have no coffee as accomplice, so a quick post methinks.

C’est Le Tour de France, maintenant ( le dernier etape est Dimanche). Vincenzo Nibali etait incroyable. Mais, Lance Armstrong etait incroyable, aussi. Et puis… Je suis desolee pour Vincenzo, pardon.

The image above shows Vincenzo winning the final mountain stage, leaving the Pyrenees, on Thursday. This ‘screen grab’ was taken on my iphone, live, hence poor quality.

Hmmm. Sun in England, wow! The photo below depicts Kingston Market Place. The area has recently been developed, levelling ground surface, removing a section used in the 2012 Olympics, by Sir Wiggins, on his route to gold. The ice-cream stand would have been blocking his path!

The sun has strange effects on society. As heat increases, clothing decreases, but only for some. Some have thick fur covering them 12 months per year. My note below is entirely honest (unbelievably). I was left feeling embarrassed, stupid, but I was on a mission to fuel-up with coffee (is this an excuse?).

I almost crash into a scantily clad blonde woman, as I approach I get instantly distracted by an old tabby cat, prowling his yard!

Coffee and cats rule (not together)!

Today, I made an important decision (for me)! I lay the rules down.

Coffee, whether it be an Americano, Latte, Cappucino or whatever, is to be drunk alone. Accompanying biscuits etc, are to go. Taste the beauty of the coffee alone without distorting this with whatever!

riverside

today...

:)
I type this week's post, a  bit hot, dazed and confused, by the riverside.

Agnes Obel - riverside

riverside

I went to Agnes Obel's gig last Saturday, in Somerset House, London. Very, very good. I was on my own, but came across another wheelchair user with whom I shared the 'prime view' from the accessible platform(best view in the house). Her French-Canadian nationality meant I was happily flirting in Franglais, all night long!

The Tour de France. The grandest of the three-week grand-tours. Ok, I realise that I am getting old, when tradition is altered. Now, I think that there always used to be two rest-days (when riders could get their hair cut, and dope up), on the middle two Mondays. I may be wrong, but it now seems to be on the middle two Tuesdays! Ok, this may be a trivial, insignificant matter to most, but for a lifelong lover, I found it a surprise (life has had to be planned around Channel4, ITV, and Eurosport schedules, carefully)!

Life.

I can-never, nor should-ever, compare my life to anyone else. I cannot ever expect to live life 'normally'. I have lived minimally, so therefore would like to choose a life-of-no-pressure. This is impossible. I am confused. A problem that is far too complicated, life.

Deeeeeep, sorry, next…

A German won the day's stage, and Germany won the World Cup.

Tony Martin celebrating before kick-off!

http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2014/jul/15/germany-argentina-world-cup-final-brick-by-brick-video-animation

Wednesday, my 'total page view' count reached 20,000! Meaningless, maybe, but it's a nice round figure on which stop and cheer!

20,000

Giuliano’s 

I want to give the biggest  'shout-out', in support of a very very good independent cafe in Kingston. It may often be quiet and small, however the delicious food is made for you by Giuliano himself. Perhaps unsurprisingly it serves Italian deli at its best. Although it is in Central Kingston, it misses out on much of the custom going to larger, more visible cafés. Top quality food (and coffee), needs support!

so, Brits don’t cheat? hmmm….

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/283546860

The above article, shows to all, that 'drug-taking', 'cheating', exists. It is sooooo foolish just to sweep-under-the-carpet any British examples, blaming 'drug cheating foreigners'. Cheating is a fact of life. No matter where, humans always want more success. If 'cheating' allows you to improve, people will cheat.

Always choose what you should do, yourself as an individual. Choose what is right for YOU... Trust your instinct. Use common sense.

Continue to do so. Fate will do the rest. By continuing, your self confidence will grow. Always try to understand and respect others' decisions, but always make your own choice.You will boost your self-belief. Others will have their thoughts, but, only YOU will know yourself. Only YOU will have your experiences to use advantageously. Keep proud of them, use them well.

confused?

never mind...

St Paul's Cathedral

floating...

A rubber band. Skimming the surface at the deep end.  Hmmm

I open with a note, skimming the surface of a much deeper subject. A subject so deep, there is no sea bed!

I believe in a God, but I am not religious 

There we are, the facts are stated, but I do not explain. 

My following note recalls much anger, for me. 

'You're with them?...'

I go into a familiar restaurant on my own, welcomed by a new staff member. I enter, and am greeted by the statement above. The staff member was gesturing towards a table that included two wheelchairs. Ok, maybe fair, but GRRRRRR! I was infuriated! Just because I use a wheelchair, I am lumped together with all others who share this dependency. No, no, no. I am different. Everyone is different. Pleeeeeease don't treat me like this. I work soooooooo hard to be treated as an individual. Essentially I am as individual as the next person. We live in a beautiful world because everyone is different.

As you should know, I have the mentality of a graphic designer. Modern life is much dominated by 'apps'. A while ago, I treated myself to a graphic design magazine, a section of which was dedicated to 'apps'. I love my camera (my iPhone). However photographs regularly need to be straightened/tilted/rotated later. Now with the app

SKRWT, my images can be closely rotated to my perfection! Joy. I seriously recommend for any smart phone photographers out there. £1.49, but it gets your horizon straight (very important)!

@patrickgoodacre - not your usual standard Mnsr Goodacre - I think you need more coffee next week!!

A tweeted response, from a French fan of my blog.

Yay! I have valid reason to drink coffee - for the fans! Hehehe :)

As i left a bus stop in Kingston, I was reminded how fortunate I am of modern day accessibility. After i had left the ramp of the bus, a young, puzzled child, exclaimed to his mum...

'Look, that door fell down.'

Ramp access for wheelchairs, is still relatively new, and an unknown surprise for some, it seems.

Football.

World Cup.

Miroslav Klose is the first player to have played in four World Cup semi finals!

The above note is a fairly quiet fact amongst the English (i think). Polish? Maybe.

It is still quite incredible, showing how consistent Germany have been, especially Mr Klose.

Arsene's been shopping...

:)

http://instagram.com/p/qUN_PqHLM4/

Le Grand Depart...

Hello, a very quick post this week typed at an unusual time (Thursday morning, in a cafe, before a 'physio' session.

I am English, so have a warped view on the World Cup. Game of the tournament, so far:...

Brazil v Chile

Last minute attempts onto the post, 22 class players, resulting in a penalty shoot out.  Wow

Live music. Legend.

J White at Glastonbury 

Le Tour. Starts this weekend!

Although, found guilty of being a cheat (proof of being a human), Alberto Contador deserves much respect. I hadn't registered that he is only one of a handful, to have won all three grand tours! Much respect. 

Armstrong? No. 

Ullrich? No. 

Pantani? No. 

Indurain? No. 

Contador? Yes....

TfL poster :)

My mobile phone backgrounds...