Its NOT a sport!

OK, so, first things first, this medieval banquet. It didn’t happen. My friend the actress that works there ended up injuring herself and we couldn’t go. I am not too happy about this but nothing I can do. I was hoping to go at some point this weekend, but due to work I am again unable. It’s not so bad this time though because I am training for a new part of my job. More will be revealed later.

I will also be getting to work at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. There is an American NFL game happening, The Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers.

I am not really a big fan of “American football” in fact; you can’t even call it “football”

The game of football is a team sport which involves kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal as marked at opposing ends of the playing field by a pair of goalposts connected by a crossbar as shown by the picture over on this side and not the pitchfork thing the Americans use shown over there.  Besides, what the Americans play is not football. It’s more like rugby for beginners. They basically play rugby wearing full Kevlar body armour and stop for a break every 20 seconds. It’s not a sport! It’s a tea party! Speaking of sports that aren’t really sports, what’s up with baseball? That’s just rounder’s right? Anyways, that’s a rant for another day. I won’t get into that just now.

I have recently decided that instead of spending my student loan on a trip to San Francisco over Christmas, I am going to instead buy a car. After some thought I have decided to go with a Mini Cooper. In fact, I’m thinking of getting this one.

I will be taking it for another test drive at some point within the next week.

I no it’s a bit of a hairdressers car, but I actually like this one.

Earlier this week, I was (supposed to be) looking for images of textures on the internet (actually I was supposed to photograph them myself but had neglected to do so) when I randomly happened across a story about German Air Traffic Controllers at Frankfurt Airport, and I thought I'd share it with you. I don’t know how true this is but it did make me smile.

Allegedly the German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They, it is alleged, not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206. 

Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway."
Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven." The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"
Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?"
Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark... and I didn't land."

In closing, I’d just like to remind anyone who is handing in any kind of written work, be it an assignment or a blog for example, to make sure they actually proof read it for spelling mistakes. Simple things like putting ‘know’ instead of ‘no’ (F7 really does work)

Isn’t that right Uzma J

Stand on the RIGHT!

So, been a while since I last wrote. It’s been quite a busy month. Started back at uni, I am with a new class now having moved to being a part time student. The first couple weeks back were pretty good. There was a film crew that had taken over the university campus, filming Pirates of The Caribbean 4. They had turned the campus into a representation of London in the 1800’s. Couldn’t see much of the set because it was all blocked off as they had put up screens around it. The security guys were also very irritating. I needed to take some pictures in the chapel for an assignment, and they wouldn’t let me because I was facing outwards. Ended up getting in a massive argument with them about human rights. I am told by my classmates it was actually quite entertaining to watch.

Started to get back in the swing of uni life. Courseworks haven’t started pilling up yet, but the small assignments have begun. I think I’m off to a pretty good start this year, managing to keep on top of things. Hope it stays that way.

I've found lately there seem to be an increased number of tourists in London. Especially in the Greenwich area. This becomes most apparent when coming out of the DLR station. I usually find a large group of them just standing in the entrance to the station. It’s really annoying because they just stand in the entrance and you can’t get in or out! They tend to block up the escalators as well. Stand on the RIGHT! Walk on the left. Speaking of walking, why do people walk down (or up) the escalator? That totally defeats the object. It’s a moving stairway. It does the moving so you don’t have to. If they wish to walk, they should take the stairs in the middle. 

Work has been pretty crazy too. I found myself working at the fresher fair at Middlesex University, recruiting Special Constables for the borough of Barnet. The place was pretty weird. Didn’t feel like a university, more like a college. It felt odd being a student at Greenwich, and doing this at Middlesex. I have recently started working with a Safer Neighbourhoods Team in Barnet. I get to work on some pretty rough estates in the area and it’s really interesting. Makes a change from driving around responding to emergencies.

I worked at the Open Day this past weekend too. That was fun. I ended up being a guide for tourists, directing them to the Greenwich Observatory. Was tempted to give them wrong directions for a laugh. I think at some point I actually did. No one came back to complain so I guess I’m ok there, for now!!!

In other news, I finally cashed in my birthday present. My uncle gave me a voucher for a driving experience day at Mercedes at their Brooklands museum in Woking. I basically got to spend the whole day being driven around their test track in a number of different cars across their entire range. I even got a couple hours of instruction on high speed driving and then actually got to drive a McLaren SLR on the track doing crazy things like donuts on the skid pan. I felt like The Stig on the Top Gear track.

Tonight should be an interesting evening. I am going to a medieval banquet in London. One of my friends, an actress works as a waitress in this place, so we get free entry and booze all night long. Hopefully I will have some pictures of the night for next time.

Till then, remember ... STAND on the escalator!