ENEE

A lot of this week's post was written in 'note form', on my iPhone, earlier in the week, so I apologise if comprehension is minimal!

How I like to think I live my life…

Drop fear, learn to live with the correct level of self-confidence. Too much  confidence is fatal, too little can destroy your personality too. 

Live with as much self-confidence as you can, but always keep it hidden. Refrain from excess of anything. 

Remain confident in yourself, but accept that s--t happens. There is no point wasting energy in fearing it. It is totally random and cannot be planned for. Understand that you will have to tackle anything, with success or not. Life is to be lived. If you live an over-protected life, full of rich, glee, then you are missing out on life. You must experience the lows to reach for the highs, successfully.

ENEE

Expect nothing. Experience everything.

Do not wait, or waste time expecting. Experience what is there. Experience, and feel it as a ‘positive’.

This is part of my attitude and explains why I find it so easy to ‘offer compliments’ (flirt)! ;)

Sun!

Hmmm, everyone is enjoying, but with much caution!

Hehehe. The above note was obviously made earlier in the week. The very recent, grey, cloudy weather explains why us British, are always cautious when it comes to our climate! ... or some of us.

Music. An artist that i have promoted a number of times on this blog (having thought that 'Findlay' was a plural name for a band, incorrectly). I can have a punky/rock mood!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Findlay_(musician)

Natalie Findlay released her solo album at the start of this month.

Findlay - Forgotten Pleasures

03rd March

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk9iZItvtcA&list=PLGXsgKqFALcxWpGhKvHEBQg70OCireHL0 (findlay playlist)

I love it when tanks (4x4 Jeeps/ Range Rovers/ Sports cars) have to face off, against each other, on a public roadway, and someone's pride is destroyed (in their eyes), as they give way!

I am a good person. Honest! It's only that certain things irritate me, so therefore I search for a way of twisting into an amusing positive!

Recent work, was printed on a mass scale, and handed out throughout London.

I share my opinion, and I hope you agree with The Greens too.

Brexit. We have left Europe. This is correct, because we democratically voted to leave in last year's referendum. There are rules and laws that Britain must maintain, however. Support the Green Party to  apply huge pressure for us, onto the government, to get the right things for everyone.

Below, Surbiton riverside welcomes early sun, earlier this week. 

Legend

Milan-SanRemo 2017 has been and gone. We await 'Tour of Flanders', in the beginning of April. The proper cycling season has begun!

:)

The strangest things have always irritated me.

I have a road-cyclist's brain. Maybe injured, but it is still a live, working brain of a road cyclist. I have failed to progress in the last decade, maybe. But I howl with horror, when i view a high-end, 'light-weight', racing bicycle, fitted with disc-brakes. When top-end professional racers are forcing themselves to take drugs, without detection, performance levels are totally maximised throughout. Why strap an unnecessary added weight to yourself?  I have never known a problem surrounding the older, more classic 'rim-brakes'. There must be a reason that i am yet to find. A rapidly spinning rotary blade, bare, amongst a packed peloton.

Why?... 

Peter Sagan - true champion!

Second placed competitor, at the Milano - San Remo, was the rider who truly ignited the race on the final climbs of the Cipressa and the Poggio. World Champion, Peter Sagan progressed into the final roads as a clear favourite. At a top-level, of such a huge sport, characters with such humane personality are so rarely found in any sport.    Peter Sagan is such a true champion, he seems to perform, and win promoting such justice, in a sport where it is rarely found. He can be a favourite to win any type of race (hilly, flat sprint, cobbled classic, all-weather). Ok, perhaps not a mountainous race or a time--trial, but everywhere else.

Tom Boonen

Leading the peloton, last week, on the way to San-Remo

A similar image as below, depicting the finish of 2005 World Championships.

A strong, Belgian rider, was found at the front of the Italian classic, as it approached San-Remo. Tom Boonen was riding selflessly, for his 'Quickstep' team. The 2005 World Champion turned professional for Lance Armstrong's 'US Postal' team in 2002. He has won Tour of Flanders three times, and Paris-Roubaix four times, amongst many many more smaller victories.

The sprint legend's 2005 Worlds victory was also used for the cover to 'Colours of the Peloton'.

Outside John Lewis, Kingston, Boonen (181) on his way to claiming victory in the 2016 'London-Surrey Classic'.

Cover of my book, depicts sprint finish of 2005 World Championships.

coloursofthepeloton-pg.blogspot.co.uk

Music. 

https://instagram.com/p/BRzMr0SFXK6/

I hurt sometimes, everybody does. My life, for the past ten years, has been non-stop 'goal targeted' then 'effort given' and 'result given'. I am a very productive person, am pleased with what i give/provide, yet I am still awaiting to receive what my mind needs. Too long. 

Tonight...

Italy v Albania (a 2018 WC qualifier, tonight)

Gianluigi Buffon 1000 games!

What a legend!

Senior international debut 20 years ago, 1997 :)

Best goalkeeper ever!

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/23/italy-juventus-gianluigi-buffon-1000th-game

5th century

Although my namesake is the patron saint of Ireland, he represents a vast international celebration...

‘Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.’

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

Although he became the Patron Saint of Ireland, Patrick was actually Roman-British…

‘Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Much of what is known about Saint Patrick comes from the Declaration, which was allegedly written by Patrick himself. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. According to the Declaration, at the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland.^[11] It says that he spent six years there working as a shepherd and that during this time he "found God". The Declaration says that God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest.’

My 'new experience'

A good, special, meal was had last weekend. The centre of London (well, a stone's throw from St Paul's Cathedral). Perfect food with the closest of accompaniments (family). I do admit however, that I felt so 'out-of-place'.  I know that negative feelings can easily be reversed. I stop talking, as i will, hmmmm. Unfortunately, the experience made me realise that perhaps I am the problematic one, Am I too set in my ways? But do I really have choice?

I HAVE tried.

I know that 'I stand out', 'I am different', 'I always get attention'. I cannot bear the fact that this is only because I am 'a wheelchair'. If I know that I'm going to 'stand out from the crowd', I want to ensure that it's for a positive reason. The easiest way of doing this, is being honest and complimenting someone. If people cannot bear my 'forward behaviour', maybe they should assess themselves, or realise that such reserved emotions do need more escape. Emotions define character. Be proud of your character.

I drive at them!

Whenever I am confronted by an oncoming 'bike rider' on the pavement, I know that they know that they should not be there. I get psychologically damaged, knowing that they should be on the road. The more that cars get used to 'having to deal with cyclists', the more used everyone will be to sharing the road, less accidents the result! 

... Anyway, i know how to steer my wheelchair, but both of us will know that I cannot be very agile. I drive at them. The bike rider gives way, hehehe, but i like to scare them! I am warning them of the dangers of cycling on the pavement.

50/50 :)

These photos, above, provide me with great happiness. Equilibrium was subconsciously achieved both when i tested arms (at the gym), and legs (at home), using a gym bike. I am most pleased by achieving such equal power outputs, subconsciously (considering I used to be so imbalanced).

I am forced to face backwards.

I do not feel as poorly as i had done a few years ago, regarding travel-sickness. TFL displays the rules, stuck inside every bus. Only one passenger must face backwards. If a wheelchair user needs to use a bus, they must sit backwards. I find this so degrading, if it is physically possible. Further, extreme segregation for wheelchair users, from 'normal' society.

...'Senza zucca, sempre!'!

Wednesday, I am stunned. I visit two of the best coffee shops in London. 'The Espresso House', just next to Covent Garden. I order a single espresso, declining sugar (as always). The coffee is relatively sweet (for me), anyway.

I am left pondering as i leave. I go to Soho for the Bar Italia. A supreme place, as always. My ciabatta is accompanied by another espresso, 'singolo'. Yet again, I am asked if i want sugar.

I respond in Italian.

I enjoy very much, the work i do for the Green Party. Our new 'Kingston Green Party newsletter - spring 2017', is now out. I was able to also do some quick work for Sian Berry, Caroline Russell and London Green Party, designing  their 'LGP City Hall logo'... (used on webpage and Twitter, and various printed corporate media)

www.cityhallgreens.london

turn it up! ;)

Sometimes i find myself thinking one way, then i recognise my situation and feel a mixture of sadness and disappointment. However, when i experience the misery that is caused amongst others, by them, my sadness is softened! I was in a local cafe, having lunch on Monday, following big exert at the gym. I had not saved myself any energy to cope easily with my lunchtime experience...

Surrounded by mothers and the future (yelling, screaming madness)

Utter madness. Good foods very tasty. Surrounded by utter madness!

Baby children are the future. We owe the future so much, even if they are screaming at us now.

Music...

2016 but…

TCHEEEEWN!!... Ride (Vince Clarke Remix) - Dubfire & Kittin

turn it up. play it loud!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARoukZ8Svbs

Ride (Vince Clarke Remix) - Dubfire & Kittin @bbcmusic

By hearing this music, on the radio (6Music), my student-aged passion for a '4x4 House music' beat

Houseschuh podcast

I am yet to fully listen to an episode, but i needed to feed my rediscovered passion. Well worth investigation...

Hmmm, a bit cheesy, i think...

So, I talked about this race, eagerly, last week. I viewed with surprise, Italian sprinter Sonny Cobrelli win stage 2. It was the first big win for the new 'Bahrain-Merida' team.  Vincenzo Nibali, is in a useful set-up.

Cobrelli sprints to victory, wearing red rain-jacket.

World Champion Peter Sagan rides to success, today, in Tirreno-Adriatico

It has varied most years, as riders move, management changes, and sponsors change, but this is the time of year that I usually choose who deserves my support. This year, my team is Trek-SegaFredo. Ivan Basso (hero) is on the management. Alberto Contador. Although he seemed to begin on Lance Armstrong's team, and like-wise dominate races, he has always been a classy rider.

More music...

last year, but fffff'n’ rocking ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7lNtFnrHMA

Politics

Recently, the new budget was announced. Led by Theresa May, the Tories have decided that they will advertise their immense generosity, by giving £350m  to grammar schools!

This value may not really exist, because it was 'promised' by Farage to be spent on the NHS (currently it suffers it's worst decline, in history). But, ok, he won, he must be correct. The Tories will give more to those who are at the top. Grammar schools. 

I guess that those Grammar schools really need bigger indoor swimming pools, those public comprehensives will just have to cope and suffer.

I stop, as I am getting so angry, whilst I type.

£350m on grammar schools!!!

BBC music playlist highlights  -

... Conor Oberst - Gossamer Thin

... Andrea Belli - Lead

... Tom Adams - Sparks

... Jesica Hoop - The Lost Sky

... Laura Marling - Soothing

... Bat for Lashes - If I knew

pourquoi?

Si vous êtes Francais, pourquoi est mon blogspot (ici) populaire, en France 🇫🇷?
C'est ne pas de probleme, mais, pourquoi?
J'aime ca, beaucoup
Merci,
patrick.goodacre@yahoo.co.uk

Race to the Sun

Get your hands off my face!

I was left astonished, totally exasperated.

This older woman who lives locally, always seems ever-so happy to see me in one high-street chain cafe (In which she is so regular, she seems to live). She is ever-so-keen to provide any help she can, for me (moving chairs, opening doors).

I was in the queue, awaiting service, when all of a sudden I felt her hands in my face! She was talking about me to one of the staff, and for some reason, she chose to gently put her hand in my face!

Alarmed, i jolted backwards. What right did she have? I felt so belittled by her! 

Never, never, never! :(

Change of subject.

Happy mood. This Sunday marks the start of 'The race to the sun'. The week long Paris-Nice race is often a key indicator/warm-up for 'Le Tour de France', in the summer. In my eyes, this is the main season warm-up. I realise that professional cycling should be considered to be more global than this now, but i have very little interest in 'drag-strip-racing' in the Middle-East. Winners there will not be able to race at fitness peaks later this year.

Some traditions have remained, and the Italian equivalent (Tirreno-Adriatico), will start midway through Paris-Nice, finishing later. Usually, this is a flatter race, favouring sprinters.

Both warm riders for the season opener, La Classicisima (Milan-San Remo, March 18th)

Paris - Nice (5th March to 12th)

Tirreno - Adriatico (8-14)

... La Classicisima (18th)

Music. A favourite, follow the link...

http://www.npr.org/event/music/515178447/agnes-obel-tiny-desk-concert

Three songs, all from her third album ‘Citizen of Glass’ (2016).

Agnes Obel 2014 http://patrickgoodacre.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/riverside.html first album ‘Philharmonics’ (2010)

was supported by her strong second album, ‘Aventine’ (2013), before last year's beautiful, third album.

I go out, and I generally find myself to be happy with myself, or calm and content. I know that I act in whatever way I believe ‘the right thing’ to do is. I aways try to act correctly. There is nothing better than making someone else smile. I want to believe that sometime, somewhere in the future I will be in a relationship and find 99% happiness again (nothing is ever, anywhere, 100%). I get home and brought back to reality when I see my reflection in the front door. I ponder… ‘this is what EVERYONE sees of me, but it’s not ME’. :(

 Yesterday's trip along Southbank reached spectacularly designed, City Hall.

To everyone, this applies to everyone,

Stop. Look back on the past decade of your life. Be proud. Make sure you realise how much worse it could’ve been. However, your hard work, and strong-minded, pure-determination has brought you where you are today. Of course you want more, as every human does. This drive perhaps directs our future. We have no exact say in our future, but it makes us who we are. Be happy, however make sure that you will continue to be proud of yourself, in the future. Without it, we risk to lose too much.  With it, we can gain so much.

The above paragraph is written by me, and helps to describe how I keep my mind straight! This blog began life proving my ability of ‘mental positivity’. More recently, I have proved that I am human after all. I may often seem to be moaning about things (I want, I want, I want…). I have been able stop fortunately, and the above paragraph explains how I have kept my mind, throughout. Pride and self-confidence. Whilst my ’self-confidence’ was almost completely wiped out, my self-pride has always remained! Self-confidence can be made from self-pride. Be proud of your mind, and believe fully in what you want. Be proud of your thoughts, no-one else can have them!  These proud thoughts will enhance your self-confidence. Confidence is the key for everything. Personally, a lot of these lessons were learnt whilst i was cycling by myself, or cycling among others, and could open my mind, alone. Opportunities to train and/or test yourself, not only physically but mentally as well.  

February 2017. 28days but the highest total number of pageviews ever. I refuse to bore you with numbers, instead this graphic represents pageviews since this blog began life!