Being at home today I was lucky enough to be able to witness the annual Christmas treat that is 'World's Strongest Man' It took me back to my childhood and family Christmas breaks. I did notice today however, that some of the competitors listed themselves as a 'Professional Strongman'

What does a Professional Strongman do when not taking part in 'World's Strongest Man'?

Weight lifting? Surely then they would call themselves an 'athlete' or 'weightlifter'
What about dressing up in leopard print loincloths, sporting a handlebar moustache and raising black barbells over their heads each one emblazened with '1 ton'?

Do they have to do shift work helping to remove boulders from roads when there has been a rockfall?

'Hello strongman HQ, how can we help?'
'There has been a rockfall on the Matterhorn, please come quick, a small boy in lederhosen is stranded, a strongman is urgently required'

Or do they just travel the world pulling buses, pushing stones and hoisting women in bikinis over their heads and getting paid for it?

I hope my brother remembers *that* fancy dress costume :)

Posted by kary at 07:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We were sitting in the departure lounge at Monastir International Airport when we heard from a fellow passenger about the earthquake. We had not seen any news, or listened to the radio whilst we were away, so it was a bit of a shock. I am aware that I don't usually comment on things like this as it seems a little serious for a nothing blog like mine. This time however, I tried to write a post a few times and my thoughts throughout the past two days always came back to the same thing. It is hard to imagine that many people having been killed in one disaster. Highbury holds 38,000+, so far enough people have died to fill the stadium almost twice over and so many more unaccounted for or at risk from disease. It is unimaginable. Truly awful.

The the story that followed on the news was that of terrorists in Baghdad. My mother made the point early on that we sit in horror watching the devastation this natural disaster has caused, then it is followed by people intentionally causing death, destruction and pain. How anyone can think that right is beyond me.

Boxing day last year and it was the terrible earthquake in Bam which killed around 30,000 people and this year the tsunami in Asia, the death toll of which has already exceeded that of Bam. It is all so very, very sad.

Posted by kary at 01:11 AM | Permalink

Thank you to my lovely mummy for a very relaxing Christmas.

Highlights:
Christmas carols and mulled wine by the Grand Piano.
The surreal experience of watching three Belgian men, wearing big dresses mime along to famous songs - badly and the northerners in the room roaring with laughter.
Visiting the lions.
Being told off by security for trying to smuggle blankets to the beach. 'If you do it then everyone will want to'
The car starting when we got to Gatwick.

Other bits:
Baggage handlers at Gatwick failing to show up for work on Boxing Day - over two hours delay on the flight, turbulance that made me and a few others particularly uncomfortable, coke machines, ticket machines and arriving home at 4.30am instead of around 1.30.

Christmas abroad is different. At times more like Christmas than at home, at other times almost like it isn't Christmas at all. Quite strange.

Posted by kary at 12:53 PM | Permalink

Those who know me well, I think would consider me to be quite a patriotic person. My intolerance of Americanisms, my insistence on standing during the National Anthem - even when it isn't a sporting event! The fact that I believe in the people of the country, if not the Government. My belief that I would not have achieved what I feel I have done had I not been born in this country, coupled with the fact I still cry when I see Sally Gunnell win that medal. Of course, not forgetting my urge to wave a little Union Flag during the last night of the proms :)

But for all these years in which I have strived to be a good citizen of this wonderful land, I have failed. I am not the patriot I believed myself to be. Clearly I have let everyone down, myself, my family and *sniff sniff most importantly my country.

I am going abroad at Christmas.

The shame.

Posted by kary at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So Christmas draws ever closer and I finally complete my Christmas shopping. Late on for me as I am usually done by the end of November! The festivities go into overdrive at school, with nativity plays, Pantomime trips, Christmas dinner, Christingle service, parties and the wonderful spectacle that is the staff pantomime on Friday. I feel exhausted already! It was nice to stop and look at the children today though, the school hall filled with energy and excitement, party hats, music and lots and lots of happy smiles. We spend so much time thinking about lessons and planning and all the other stuff that it pays to take the time to stop and look, remind yourself why and who we do the job for.

Sickly bit over.

While I think of it - thanks to Nik for a thoroughly pleasant evening out. My age is showing today though :)

Posted by kary at 09:31 PM | Permalink

I love my job. Those who know me well, know that there is nothing I would be happier doing than teaching. It is times like this however that I am almost jealous of those in boring office jobs. People I know all getting dressed up and heading off for Christmas parties in hotels etc. Obviously us teachers do not have anything like that. We are good for a meal out together but it isnt the same as putting on an expensive new outfit and heading off somewhere nice is it? If anyone has a party to go to and needs a rather odd ginger person to accompany them, let me know.

Topical Link

Posted by kary at 12:35 PM | Permalink

Well done to Ryan for passing his Masters in Global Politics with a merit. I am proud of you babe, makes those hours spent in pep talk phone calls worthwhile doesnt it? :)

Having begun to recover from the weekend's activities, I have been watching the Arsenal this evening. With the mouthwatering prospect of the family season ticket for Sunday's game against Chelski, it has been good to see us put away 5, even if against somewhat subdued opposition. We need to sort out this goalkeeping situation though. As lovely as Lehmann is with his curls and Coulthardesqe chiseled jaw and as good a save as Almunia pulled off in the first half...they are simply not convincing enough. However, qualification even when we have played well within ourselves in the group stage and having miraculously managed to somehow win the group, we are given the chance to pull up our socks and do better next time :)

Posted by kary at 09:48 PM | Permalink

I return from a very hectic weekend in Chigwell, involving an early Christmas dinner for 15, the maternal side of the Holbrook/Burke family and the company of the wonderful PJ.

Family, friends, food, drink and a whole heap of washing up. Thanks all of you for a lovely time :)

Posted by kary at 10:00 PM | Permalink

It seems I have left it a while before updating. Nothing to report. Christmas season is once again upon us. Erm. Weather is cold.

Good to know Brad is ok and thanks to the lovely Mrs Farr for her recent comment :)

Erm.

Hope the viewing went well last night Nik.

I am sure I will think of something more interesting later.

Posted by kary at 11:59 AM | Permalink