Welcome to my blog. I post on this, roughly once a week (it does vary). I sustained a 'Traumatic Acquired Brain Injury', and a six month coma from a 'road traffic accident' whilst cycling, in October 2006. I spent the following 4 years (22-26yrs old), in a combination of hospitals and rehabilitation homes. Now, I have been living independently in Surbiton, England since October 2010. This blog begun life in December 2010, as i realised that there are many people worldwide that i want to share experiences with. I know that, as a wheelchair user, I am obviously not as mobile as i wish, so, use the internet to connect to you. I enjoy letting my thoughts represent through type. I type honestly. As numerous readers, as well as email recipients, will understand, I find typing to be very therapeutic. Thank you :)
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Friday 7 September 2018

Written in the stars

—- Bold and brave. Our New leaders :) —-
—- October 2006 —-
—- Written in the stars —-

I voted for this team.They won!!!
Bold and brave



Back in early stages of ‘rehab’, I feared becoming too insular. I remember witnessing someone who boarded the bus, and seemed very timid. Silent, timid, alone. 
I cannot bear that thought. It terrifies me.
I want to be different. I believe that I can be different. I want to be positive.


'Italy', 'Cycling', and 'Coffee' is 'one culture'.

Gianni Bugno - coffee positive :)
In 1994 the Italian had one too many espressos one morning, initially faced a two-year ban.
British newspaper reaction, in 1994...

October 2006 - Sunday 1st…100mile ‘Stephen Roche Cyclosportif’ just north of Paris (tired, but I always have enough energy to smile for a camera)!


I spend next weekend (7th/8th) in Birmingham with my girlfriend. Then a Friday 13th, precedes a fateful Saturday 14th. The ‘London Dynamo club ride’ was 4-laps of Richmond Park (anti-clockwise), usually followed by a couple of ‘warm down laps’. I think that it was when riding one of these, I fell off my road-bike for the first time ever. As our group of 12 cyclists came up to overtake a group of roller-skaters. I am told, that I swerved sharply to avoid contact, fell off my bike, hit by a following car. 

Helmet

It may have only cost me less than £50, but it’s value was priceless! It remains in one piece (above, recent photo), but is cracked inside. I hold this ‘Briko Solo’ so close. Without it, I would not be here!

One of the greatest racers ever, in my opinion. He never won the World Championships, but then neither did Michele Bartoli (my supreme hero).
Alejandro Valverde - Unique
However Valverde is unique. The roll call of his honours is incredible. He has had victories in the widest range of competitions, compared to any cyclist since  maybe Laurent Jalabert, or before. Early 21st century, I remember finding results of his stage victories in relatively minor Spanish races, for the Kelme team, as a sprinter.
Valverde victories include...
Stage wins in Giro & Tour… Liege Bastogne Liege 2006… Vuelta a Espana winner 2009…
I include him in this post because, he still wins!

Stage 8 of Vuelta a Espana 2018


I was not only wearing the helmet shown above, but a cycling outfit including Valverde’s replica jersey of 2006.
2006 Caisse d’Epargne jersey



Formerly sponsored by ‘Banesto’, and now ‘Movistar’, the Spanish team of Valverde, was sponsored by ‘Caisse d’Epargne’ in 2006.
The team were belatedly given ‘Overall Victory’ of the Tour de France 2006. Victory was awarded to Oscar Pereiro (runner-up to infamous Floyd Landis).

Óscar Pereiro (Caisse d’Epargne) is the first winner of the Tour de France since Marco Pantani (1998).
Climbing up to La Toussuire, Pereiro races towards yellow, which he will lose the following day!

 Yellow jersey, Floyd Landis loses his yellow jersey, suffering up to La Toussuire. Landis won on the following day but his victory was annulled after his positive drugs test.

Victor in the Pyrenees, Denis Menchov is feeling the pain on the Alpe D'Huez


Erik Zabel and Pippo Pozzato amongst the leaders at the centre of the 'gruppetto', ascending the Alpe D'Huez a long time after leaders.

My photos above, are only a small portion from my 2006 Alpine visit! :)

2006 Tour was one of the most momentous (in my opinion, obviously)!

The seven years of Lance Armstrong dominance, has been scrapped from the records. Fear not though, he is interviewing celebrities on US websites... 

Lance Armstrong and Mia Khalifa



Fabio Quagliarella
Just a week after I post my initial claim for ‘Goal of the season’ by Javier Pastore, Fabio Quagliarella proves me wrong!!!
This IS the best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xk7LIak0_8



Written in the stars.
I believe that we only have free will with regards to small/everyday choices. But we cannot design life. I have always had this way of thinking, from long before ‘my accident.’

I feel ashamed. I arrived back in Surbiton, and as I got off the bus, I told myself that ‘I will no longer compliment female strangers, however attractive.’
... 
Then...
Halfway down the high street a woman overtakes me and is possibly the sexiest girl ever, wearing a tight gym-outfit, beautifully tanned skin, long brown hair. The greatest legs ever! Beau coup. I was dazed and confused. I complimented. I am so ashamed with myself. I am weak. I had not lasted 5minutes of my ‘compliment-ban’!
Silence is the law.

I NEED to be outgoing, confident, with a positive, progressive mentality. Silence would destroy me.
I am hurting. I am confused.  I must break ‘my law’!

I have never felt any different, for the past TWELVE YEARS!

I enjoy complimenting people who i feel deserve it! Inducing a beautiful smile is the prize!

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