Nine months from today (plus about an hour) will be 30th October -- the day that I get married to the love of my life. He himself reckons I'm mad, but, at the risk of repeating myself, it is by far the most sane decision I've ever made! So there you go!
So, we're getting married. And, as Éamonn would say, I read it on the internet so it must be true!!
For anyone who is interested in knowing the wheres and whens of the big day, we have a wedding website where we are planning on putting all that kind of info...
And for pretty TLM related wedding pics (from, well, not our wedding, obviously!), you can look here!
(Ok now... back to work for me...)
0 A little fundraising appeal...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Labels:
misc
... from my friend Matt!
He's leading a sponsored 50 mile walk with a group of 12 young people to raise money to attend World Youth Day in Sydney this July. Here is the site where you can sponsor him: www.justgiving.com/mattvand... He's got a way to go yet before he reaches his target, after which he promises to do the whole thing in fancy dress! Knowing that this is a sight I would love to behold (he also promises photographic evidence!), I figured I'd plug his fundraising appeal on my blog... So here we are. Dig deep, guys!! ;-)
He's leading a sponsored 50 mile walk with a group of 12 young people to raise money to attend World Youth Day in Sydney this July. Here is the site where you can sponsor him: www.justgiving.com/mattvand... He's got a way to go yet before he reaches his target, after which he promises to do the whole thing in fancy dress! Knowing that this is a sight I would love to behold (he also promises photographic evidence!), I figured I'd plug his fundraising appeal on my blog... So here we are. Dig deep, guys!! ;-)
Dear Esteemed Friends and Family,
As you may know already, or might have heard from somebody else - I don't like walking. Or exercise in general.
And I particularly don't like walking in excess.
Such is the persuadability-factor that I have, though, for a group of young people, that I have been duped into leading (yea, leading) a sponsored 50-mile walk up the Grand Union Canal from Aylesbury to Northampton on the weekend of the 1st / 2nd March 2008, stopping only to sleep on the salubrious floor of a Milton Keynes Concrete Church.
I'll be walking alongside 12 teenagers and young adults, with my personal intention to raise £1500 to contribute to a life-changing experience for them. In July of this year (provided they've raised enough money), we'll be heading down under to Sydney to represent Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire at the international 'World Youth Day' (which is actually a deceptive name, it being 2 weeks long), where they'll be meeting with over a million other young people from around the world. Here, they'll learn first-hand about what it's like to be from different cultures and different backgrounds, and we'll be leading them through a practical process to become positive advocates for change in their local communities back here in the UK.
As part of the social responsibility that we are exploring with them, they have opted to also give 10% of any money that you donate to a youth empowerment project in Eritrea - one of the poorest and most oppressed regimes in the world. We have a reliable local contact in Keren, Eritrea, who will be ensuring that the money we donate will go directly towards establishing sports and education projects within their diocese, giving young people there a new sense of dignity and interconnectedness. Young people in Eritrea would not be allowed to leave the country to go to something like World Youth Day, but we hope this would be a first step towards a partnering relationship and exchange programme between our UK young people and those in Keren.
I'd be most grateful if you would consider sponsoring me in my quest to support this really valuable and inspirational group of youngsters as they learn what it means to be citizens of the global community. If you would like to do so, you can donate online via my webpage at www.justgiving.com/mattvand, or alternatively, you can send a cheque (made payable to 'NYMO', unfortunately) to: 37 Hivings Park, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 2LF, where I'll be able to get in touch with you with a gift-aid declaration to complete if you pay tax in the UK.
As you will read on my page, if I exceed my target of £1500, I'll do the whole thing in fancy dress, and be sure to post photos for all my supporters to use as leverage in years to come...
Thanks for taking the time to give this some thought, and please don't feel under any obligation to donate - your sympathy and understanding of my pain is just as important!
Any questions or further queries, give me a shout - otherwise, I'll keep you posted in the run-up to (and fallout from) the weekend itself.
Yours, as ever,
Sporty-Matt
0 Meme from Therese
Monday, January 21, 2008
Labels:
meme
I was tagged by Therese over at the Aussie Coffee Shop... so here goes!
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE ?
Contrary to popular belief, I was NOT named after a certain character in Star Wars (it is a completely different NAME, people!!!)... My mum's friend heard the name, liked it, passed it on.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
This evening
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not hugely.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
That really nice ham from Super Valu in Dean's Grange!
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Hmm. Maybe!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
All the time!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
After that abseil??? You've GOT to be kidding....
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
On occasion I would get cravings for Honey Loops.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
My shoes? Yes. My trainers? No!
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Not particularly, no... :-)
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Without a doubt, Brennan's homemade ice cream!! But if I'm nowhere near there, then Dale Farm Raspberry Ripple.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Hmmmm.... I don't know!! :-s
15. RED OR PINK?
Red. Or, more accurately, NOT pink!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?
The fact that I can get sooooo worked up about something so tiny and not be able to let it go for ages, even though I know it's silly in the grand scheme of things.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Usually Éamonn. Unless he's right in front of me! (Is that a bunny I can smell boiling in the background?!)
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
By pants, I am assuming you mean trousers!!! :-P Jeans... and no shoes at the moment.
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Tiramisu!
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The fan on my laptop
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue
22. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Éamonn's aftershave! And freshly baked bread buns... :-)
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Éamonn. (He's featuring a lot in this!)
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Sports?? HA!
25. HAIR COLOR?
That's debatable. ;-)
26. EYE COLOR?
Blue
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No
28. FAVORITE FOOD?
Hmm. At the minute I'm finding it very hard to decide between chocolate, strawberries (but not strawberries and chocolate together), my fiancé's homemade pizza, Mrs Hicks' sausages, and my future mother-in-law's bread buns. (Can you tell I'm on a diet right now?!?!)
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
The Terminal
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Navy
32. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer
33. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both?
34. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Strawberry Pavlova
35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse
37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Charade. GREAT movie!
38. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Ummmm..... ???
39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles
40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Melbourne
41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Not really
42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Northern Ireland
Okay, I tag Éamonn (as always! -- Though I'm reckoning he'll probably not get the chance to respond any time soon, so never worry about it!), Dana, and anyone else who feels like considering themselves tagged.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE ?
Contrary to popular belief, I was NOT named after a certain character in Star Wars (it is a completely different NAME, people!!!)... My mum's friend heard the name, liked it, passed it on.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
This evening
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not hugely.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
That really nice ham from Super Valu in Dean's Grange!
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Hmm. Maybe!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
All the time!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
After that abseil??? You've GOT to be kidding....
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
On occasion I would get cravings for Honey Loops.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
My shoes? Yes. My trainers? No!
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Not particularly, no... :-)
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Without a doubt, Brennan's homemade ice cream!! But if I'm nowhere near there, then Dale Farm Raspberry Ripple.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Hmmmm.... I don't know!! :-s
15. RED OR PINK?
Red. Or, more accurately, NOT pink!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?
The fact that I can get sooooo worked up about something so tiny and not be able to let it go for ages, even though I know it's silly in the grand scheme of things.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Usually Éamonn. Unless he's right in front of me! (Is that a bunny I can smell boiling in the background?!)
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
By pants, I am assuming you mean trousers!!! :-P Jeans... and no shoes at the moment.
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Tiramisu!
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The fan on my laptop
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue
22. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Éamonn's aftershave! And freshly baked bread buns... :-)
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Éamonn. (He's featuring a lot in this!)
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Sports?? HA!
25. HAIR COLOR?
That's debatable. ;-)
26. EYE COLOR?
Blue
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No
28. FAVORITE FOOD?
Hmm. At the minute I'm finding it very hard to decide between chocolate, strawberries (but not strawberries and chocolate together), my fiancé's homemade pizza, Mrs Hicks' sausages, and my future mother-in-law's bread buns. (Can you tell I'm on a diet right now?!?!)
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
The Terminal
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Navy
32. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer
33. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both?
34. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Strawberry Pavlova
35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse
37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Charade. GREAT movie!
38. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Ummmm..... ???
39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles
40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Melbourne
41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Not really
42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Northern Ireland
Okay, I tag Éamonn (as always! -- Though I'm reckoning he'll probably not get the chance to respond any time soon, so never worry about it!), Dana, and anyone else who feels like considering themselves tagged.
1 Especially for Carole... :-)
Labels:
humour
A Guide to Driving in Ireland
1. Indicators will give away your next move. A confident Irish driver avoids using them.
2. Under no circumstance should you maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, because somebody else will fill in the space, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.
3. The faster you drive through a red light, the less chance you have of getting hit.
4. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork, especially with LM, CN or KE plates. With no insurance, the other operator probably has nothing to lose.
5. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a vigorous, foot massage as the brake pedal violently pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to strengthen your leg muscles.
6. Never pass on the right when you can pass on the left. It's a good way to prepare other drivers entering the motorway.
7. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as a suggestion and are not enforceable in Ireland during rush hour.
8. Always brake and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tyre. This is seen as a sign of respect for the victim.
9. Learn to swerve abruptly without signalling. Ireland is the home of high-speed slalom driving thanks to the Department of Public Works, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them alert!
10. It is tradition in Ireland to honk your horn at cars in front of you that do not move three milliseconds after the light turns green.
11. Remember that the goal of every Irish driver is to get ahead of the pack by whatever means necessary.
12. WARNING! Never come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No one expects it and it will result in you being rear-ended.
1. Indicators will give away your next move. A confident Irish driver avoids using them.
2. Under no circumstance should you maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, because somebody else will fill in the space, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.
3. The faster you drive through a red light, the less chance you have of getting hit.
4. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork, especially with LM, CN or KE plates. With no insurance, the other operator probably has nothing to lose.
5. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a vigorous, foot massage as the brake pedal violently pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to strengthen your leg muscles.
6. Never pass on the right when you can pass on the left. It's a good way to prepare other drivers entering the motorway.
7. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as a suggestion and are not enforceable in Ireland during rush hour.
8. Always brake and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tyre. This is seen as a sign of respect for the victim.
9. Learn to swerve abruptly without signalling. Ireland is the home of high-speed slalom driving thanks to the Department of Public Works, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them alert!
10. It is tradition in Ireland to honk your horn at cars in front of you that do not move three milliseconds after the light turns green.
11. Remember that the goal of every Irish driver is to get ahead of the pack by whatever means necessary.
12. WARNING! Never come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No one expects it and it will result in you being rear-ended.
3 Another light bulb joke...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Labels:
humour
Q. How many women with PMS does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A. One. ONE!! And do you know WHY it only takes ONE? Because no one else in this house knows HOW to change a light bulb. They don't even know the bulb is BURNED OUT. They would sit in this house in the dark for THREE DAYS before they figured it OUT. And once they figured it out they wouldn't be able to find the light bulbs despite the fact that they've been in the SAME CUPBOARD for the past SEVENTEEN YEARS.
But if they did, by some miracle, actually find the light bulbs, TWO DAYS LATER the chair that they dragged from two rooms over to stand on to change the STUPID light bulb would STILL BE IN THE SAME SPOT!! AND UNDERNEATH IT WOULD BE THE CRUMPLED WRAPPER THE STUPID @*!#$% LIGHT BULBS CAME IN! WHY?! BECAUSE NO ONE IN THIS HOUSE EVER CARRIES OUT THE RUBBISH!!
IT'S A WONDER WE HAVEN'T ALL SUFFOCATED FROM THE PILES OF RUBBISH THAT ARE 12 FEET DEEP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE. THE HOUSE!! IT WOULD TAKE AN ARMY TO CLEAN THIS...
I'm sorry... what did you ask me?
A. One. ONE!! And do you know WHY it only takes ONE? Because no one else in this house knows HOW to change a light bulb. They don't even know the bulb is BURNED OUT. They would sit in this house in the dark for THREE DAYS before they figured it OUT. And once they figured it out they wouldn't be able to find the light bulbs despite the fact that they've been in the SAME CUPBOARD for the past SEVENTEEN YEARS.
But if they did, by some miracle, actually find the light bulbs, TWO DAYS LATER the chair that they dragged from two rooms over to stand on to change the STUPID light bulb would STILL BE IN THE SAME SPOT!! AND UNDERNEATH IT WOULD BE THE CRUMPLED WRAPPER THE STUPID @*!#$% LIGHT BULBS CAME IN! WHY?! BECAUSE NO ONE IN THIS HOUSE EVER CARRIES OUT THE RUBBISH!!
IT'S A WONDER WE HAVEN'T ALL SUFFOCATED FROM THE PILES OF RUBBISH THAT ARE 12 FEET DEEP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE. THE HOUSE!! IT WOULD TAKE AN ARMY TO CLEAN THIS...
I'm sorry... what did you ask me?
