27
May
The Berkshire Olympics
by garethg,
at 5:52 am
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| This year saw the fourth annual Berkshire Olympics, which consists of a day of fun and frolics around a variety of sporting venues in the region. David Wolf was this year’s champion and boy didn’t he deserve it!
The most enjoyable part of the day is that I feel like I am participating in sport for sport’s sake in as much as I enjoy every moment. I get to spend time with friends, some of whom I see every day and some of whom I see only a couple of times a year. I am not getting paid thousands of pounds to do so like professional athletes, but you couldn’t offer me an amount large enough to keep me away from next year’s event- which I will win I hasten to add.
I just wonder if sometimes we forget the important things in life, throwing a ball at some skittles and high fiving my friends afterwards, surely takes my mind away from problems at work or of the soul more than anything else I can think of.
I look forward to competing in the fiftieth event. |
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21
May
Mum and me
by garethg,
at 6:57 am
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| Last night I watched an incredibly moving programme which dealt with the subject of Alzheimer’s disease, and its effect on a relationship between a mother and daughter. I was hard pressed not too laugh at some moments, and cry at others as the mother’s descent into dementia left her unable to remember who her daughter was. What was clear was that the love of a family meant that no one ran away, no one ignored what was going on, and no one focussed on anything else apart from their need to spend time together, and to make that time as happy as possible. It makes you think that one day this could be you or I, and it could be us suffering from very public humiliation which ramshackles an already confused sense of self esteem. It is another indication that not only should we never take the sun, the birds and trees for granted, but also to appreciate every interaction with another human being, especially those that matter most. |
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19
May
The Gym
by garethg,
at 5:44 am
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| Gulp, it is too late. I have joined the gym! My money is paid and my membership card is printed.
Alas for some strange reason I am actually excited. I am looking forward to the challenge to be honest- let us see how long this attitude lasts! |
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14
May
and so it goes (fine)….
by garethg,
at 8:37 am
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| Well the diet is going along splendidly. I have eaten nothing but salad (and the occasional buttered roll) this week and unbelievably I am starting to enjoy it. I now look forward to what lovely fruit and vegetable concoctions I am going to consume in the day, and the thought of tonight’s pasta meal is almost too exciting to bear! Maybe this raises an interesting point- the promotion of diets. They should be treated as an exciting possibility and not a pain which has to be tolerated? I think so. |
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12
May
Recipe for disaster!
by garethg,
at 8:11 am
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| What is on the healthy menu tonight? Well here is a recipe!
Take one Monday evening meal
Remove wine
Add water
Reduce fun
Throw in some stir fried vegetables
Serve with something boring
Et, voila! |
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12
May
Dublin to Brighton
by garethg,
at 4:04 am
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| Following the success of the 63.9 mile London to Brighton trip, Mark Walker and I will soon be attempting a 425 mile Dublin to Brighton trip. Of course the ferry trip will consume some of the distance but it will still be an epic journey. October 13th is the provisional date we leave, but I will keep the blog updated with news. |
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08
May
here comes the summer sun
by garethg,
at 10:15 am
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| Strange in a way is it not? One minute it is freezing cold, rain lashing against the windows and the first April snowfall in goodness knows how long, then beautiful sunshine. Today in the city it is 25 degrees with the irritating noise of electrical office fans working overtime drowning out conversation. People are sunbathing in parks, and the tube feels (and smells like) an old sock. Walking to work this morning suited and booted made me feel like I was dressed in a suit of armour, and to be honest made me long for a good old frost.
Despite this, the sun brings something else to a working day. People seem to be in a better mood, as evening plans change from sofas to beer gardens, rounds of golf and gardening. It is pleasant, however when I am in the sock on the central line tonight I am sure tempers will be frayed and as the sweat pours down my neck I will be longing for the chill of a freezing January morning.
This is why God gave Britain such interchangeable weather, because one day we want sun, the next day we do not. Have you ever met a miserable eskimo? No, neither have I! |
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07
May
Burma
by garethg,
at 6:00 am
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| What a chaotic time in Burma, with most of its south coast resembling Atlantis, and somewhere in the region of 30-50,000 people dead. Yet with offer of aid pouring in from all over the World the Burmese government are refusing to allow aid agencies to enter the region and distribute much needed help. Their stance is “give us the money and we will make sure it gets where it needs to be”- er, I am sorry….no.In 1962 General Ne Win led a coup in Burma leading to its current status as a military state- democracy does not live here. Our aid which is lets not forget, taken from our taxes will not be used to help, but to hinder. We will see soliders with some fancy shiny rifles but very little medicine- this is a country which still shoots students for demonstrating remember!
If the government will not allow the international community to help in a fashion which is acceptable to us then what do we do? We cannot leave the poor souls floating in the streets and millions homeless can we? Of course we can’t. Therefore let us use the same tactics which we used (so effectively?) in Iraq. Let’s execute a regime change to save lives rather than take them. If it works then let’s pop into Zimbabwe on our way home. |
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06
May
The diet
by garethg,
at 6:22 am
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| On January 11th 2008, my good friend Mr Mark Walker and I finished our wonderfully over-hyped bike ride to Brighton, raising £1,555 for Breast Cancer care. This was particularly good news for me as since we got off our saddles for the last time I have managed to grow myself a pair of breasts, fuelled by a diet of pastry, beer and a sofa. Therefore I have decided to begin a diet, which will consist of salads, excersise, water and very little fun. Last year I managed to lose two stone, three chins and a smile through this diet and thus I am hoping to do the same this year, just in time for a late charge at an olympic gymnast spot (never say never).
The hardest thing is always fitting a diet around work and the stresses and strains of it. Approximately half a second after I walk through the front door at 7 pm each night I want nothing more than a pizza, a few beers and an episode of “Megastructures” on the discovery channel. I am aware now however of my own mortality and the estimated life span of 32 that this diet brings, therefore it is time for a change, an unwelcome but necessary one.
I will keep you updated dear blog. |
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06
May
Welcome
by garethg,
at 6:04 am
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| Well having spent a long time blogging on myspace I have decided it is time to be slightly more professional about the whole thing. This blog is designed to provide family and friends whom I seldom see, with an insight into what I am doing with my professional and social life. I hope that even if one person reads this then it is useful and interesting although I doubt it! |
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