A thank you to Sicily

Welshcakes Limoncello (she of the stunning looking Italian dishes, see above) has been very kind enough to give me a glowing testimonial on her Blog.

I've posted it at CP

Many thanks

A new admirer in the Blogosphere

Looks like Tisha is a bit of a laugh. She has left comments here and over here. Perhaps we can meet up sometime?

Of course, that will not be possible until the end of February. I must remain focused on my preparation for the "Big One"

Can't sleep...........

hence blogging here, here and here

"MR MASTERMIND"

Just stuck up a post at the new site/blog concerning Magnus Magnusson

Housework cuts breast cancer risk

According to this article published by the BBC on their website

In broad terms, research has shown that certain chores equate to exercise. However, the reasearch only applies to post-menopausal women.

Breast Cancer and Betty Ford

From another US site "About Breast Cancer", there's this article about Betty Ford...........

Thanks Again, Betty Ford

President and Mrs. Ford read a petition, signed by all 100 members of the United States Senate, in the President's Suite at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD, following the First Lady’s breast cancer surgery. 10-2-1974 White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library, David Hume Kennerly

As our nation remembers former President Gerald Ford, who passed away just after Christmas, we also recall former First Lady Betty Ford, who survives him. Mrs. Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer during Ford's presidency, and she made that news public. In doing so, Betty Ford broke the silence barrier that had cloaked breast cancer, and opened the door to public discussion of the disease and it's prevention and treatment. "I think I was born to be outspoken," she said. "Hopefully, it's been to the benefit of others." Our sincere condolences to the Ford family, with thanks for their teamwork and public service.

• Betty Ford Biography
• Mrs. Ford Now on Her Own

The Cancer Blog

The information on this US blog is comprehensive and there's a special section on Breast Cancer .

Make hay while the sun shines..........

another glorious winter's day. Time for that 7 mile walk.

Regents Park awaits.......or perhaps I'll make it as far as Regents Street; Christmas decorations an' all that stuff. Besides, I need to do a little shopping.

Just seen something about working from home. Get paid read e-mails. Must check that out.

Top Tips for Sports Success

1. Don't sell your football ground to developers!

otherwise, this could happen (as posted by the Spine)

Thanet Blog List

The Thanet Blog List has just been updated. Looks terrific.

Top Tips for Sports Broadcasting on Radio

As mentioned below, so I've decided to reproduce the two articles here....

Earlier today (Saturday, December 9th), I paid a visit to Sussex. No BBC TV haven't moved from London W12. Just my latest outing for BBC Radio Kent earlier today. Not Gillingham FC but Margate FC who were playing at Horsham.

Sports presenting on radio, as many of you know, is one of my great passions. It's fun and particuarly great when your broadcasting about your own team! It may sound easy but let me assure you that to be reasonably good at it, you'll need these qualities and characteristics:

The ability to write scripts under pressure.

Prepare in good time - and get there in good time!

Research the match you're covering.

Understand what's at stake.

Listen to and carry out instructions from your producer/anchor/editor.

Ensure all technical equipment is in good working order.

Understand the laws of libel, and how they relate to journalists.

Be tactful

Don't engage in polemical arguments.

Have a great "radio voice"


........and that's just for starters


BTW, for those of you who are wondering what the score was, then pay a visit here.

Zara Phillips

What an amazing result at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award last night.

It was also good to see many of our familiar BBC commentators, sports presenters and sporting heros all under one roof. Well done to the BBC for yet another great sporting spectacle.

....and talking of sport, my Top Tips for Sports Broadcasting on Radio posts on my other blog, appears to have gone down well with a few of you.

Margate today

A fleeting visit to see Lord Neville of Margate. Before doing so, I took my lovely niece down to Foreness Bay. You know there's something so refreshing about an English seaside resort in December. It's called the temperature! Although one was blessed with some excellent winter sunshine, the cold curtailed our visit to one of my childhood playgrounds.

Undeterred by this calamity, His Lordship was collected and transported via the seafront at Grenham Bay , Birchington and onwards to the Minnis Bay Restaurant. The fabulous threesome eat their way through a pleasant Sunday lunch before taking in the sites of the wonderful Isle of Thanet.

It was so clear today that one could easily make out La France. The huge cliffs at Cap Gris Nez are easily viewed when atmospheric conditions allow. Apart from being in a plane over Manston aerodrome, or Kent International Airport as it's now known, the "best" place to see France is abive the port at Ramsgate. Yes, Ramsgate, home to Eascliffe Richard, Frannie Oapen, Ramsgate Tourettes and other well know personages of the East Kent Blogosphere.
(Iain Dale is from West Kent).

Having survived "Chav Central", our route took us through Westwood Cross.
(This absurd "out-of-town" shopping centre has decimated the High Streets of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate in one very foul swoop).

Upon our return to Westgate-on-Sea, tea was taken before the long-haul back to the centre of the universe.

What's this got to do with my training schedule. Not a lot. But families should always come first.

Another Blog added - Nourishing Obscurity

Just added James Highams excellent Blog to the links list. Loads of stuff on it.

Gym Membership

........has been taken out at a place 80' off the ground in East Finchley. Now that's got you all thinking hasn't it!

Still a fair bit of preparation to do, so I'll be down there 3 times a week and that's excluding the walking.

Have also added the very lovely Frances Oapen from Ramsgate to the Blog Links. A fiesty young woman, whose looking for a fit bloke with a Beemer! Her Blog is called FRANORAMA.

The Other Blog

This Blog will continue in existence until July next year. At that point, all monies raised for my Trek should be in.

The Other Blog will also continue, well as long as the Blogosphere Police allow me do to so, but I intend to make changes to my website which will involve regular updates.

Ferenc Puskas

The 79 year-old Hungarian forward who tormented England in 1953 has passed away. He scored 83 goals in 84 appearances for the Magyars.

Quite possibly the best striker the world has ever seen.

IMO, England still hasn't learnt from that drubbing at Wembley over 50 years ago. Our football is still all gung-ho and no finesse.

Well - did you?

Alter your time-pieces.

Lovely weather today. Hampstead Heath awaits.

99 kilometres

Just one short of Pierre's magic 100 km figure.

Pierre, as you may have gathered, was on duty at the Budget Car Rental office in Bordeaux. A dour and sullen character - the highlight of his miserable Saturday, would have been charging Paul and I, the additional 17 Euros (or whatever they use for money in France nowadays) should one be so silly to go over the 99 kilometres mark in a single day.

Pierre was aghast when he took the odometer reading from the black Renault Clio and his moment of expectation lapsed into deep depression. Poor chap - I did feel so sorry for him, for he was totally unaware of the shenanigans over the preceeding mintues. Having punched the air with delight in finding a filling station (so one wont incur a hefty charge for bringing one's car back a little empty of juice), I noticed with horror, that this "station automatique" didn't take UK credit/debit cards, nor cash! Panic ensued but a couple of left turns later, another station was found and this time it was "manned" so we were able to fill up.

For more details on the Bordeaux trip check out the other Blog