Wednesday, April 30, 2008

rijkaard won't quit

BBC Sport reports that Frank Rijkaard will not quit Barcelona after their defeat at the hands (or feet?) of the mighty Manchester United.

In footballing terms, this means he will be fired by the end of the season.

Timmy "Wannabee Pundit" Magic

Friday, April 25, 2008

oval odyssey

Ok, so it wasn't exactly an epic journey from my house to the Oval, but it was my first time at Surrey's home ground.

I spent the day at the Lancashire vs Surrey match and saw some good cricket. The day was late starting due to a damp pitch but just after 1pm, the day got underway. Lancashire welcomed return of England star Andrew Flintoff who took a couple of wickets early on before Surrey greats Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash settled in for what turned out to be two century innings.

I was quite pleased by the facilities at the ground. Owing to bulding works at the site, the pavilion was closed so instead the members were in the debenture box. The bar is quite cheap which is a bonus. They also have a low level FM transmitter installed and all members get a free radio receiver to listen to the BBC London commentary.

Timmy "Surrey convert" Magic

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

the return of cinemagic

Today I went to the cinema for the first time in a while. I was too late for one showing and too late for another of 21, the film I may see tomorrow, so I settled for Son of Rambow.

Quoted in the press as being one of the funniest British films in recent years, I was expecting something like the recent Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright but it just wasn't.

It was a good film, nonetheless, but just lacked something. It was a little too comic for what could have been a nice story exploring some different issues. It is not really comic enough for it to be a good comedy. Having said this, the film is good and would be good to invest in when it's out on DVD.

It is a story with a genuine feel to it. Issues of bullying, loneliness and friendship are explored and dealt with sensitively.

Timmy "Not Ram-tastic" Magic

Friday, April 11, 2008

heathrow - it really is terminal

My mate Andy, good musician and all round to bloke made a video about the new T5 at Heathrow with his friend Tim. (Everyone has a cool friend called Tim - Andy is lucky enough to have 3!)



Timmy "Flightless Terminal" Magic

Sunday, April 06, 2008

shame at the flame?

Today was the day that the Olympic flame came to my home city of London. What a day it was!

The day began, like many other parts of the country, with snow. It has been a bit of a weird weekend for weather - less than 48 hours before I had cycled to a meeting in my body armour and a t-shirt because it was too hot for my jacket. But the weirdness had only just begun.

At the Army, it was decided that we should end the meeting a few minutes early and go outside to see the flame pass our church and to play a bit of Christian music. A sizeable group of Salvos made their way to the front of church to wave the flame on its way to Greenwich. Lucy and Tim, both linked on the left hand side, took the opportunity to arrange a protest against the human rights abuses that are taking place across China.

It was only when I arrived at home and saw the news the full extent of the protest was made apparant.

A number of scuffles, assaults and security breaches marred what should have been a celebration of sport, culture and all things great and British. Don't get me wrong, I understand that issues that are going on in the region at the moment and over recent years but I really don't feel that today was an appropriate time to protest.

The protesters claimed that they were going to be peaceful, but photographs prove that not to be so. Is it peaceful to attempt an assault on a TV presenter carrying the torch? Or to direct a fire extinguisher at another torch carrier?

Having had a look through various news sources that show various images of what went on today, I can assure you that the manner in which the police acted would have been entirely justified and entirely lawful.

The Olympics is about equality, respect, peace, sharing cultures and leaving a better person. Today in London did not reflect that in the slightest.

So do I feel shame? Well yes, I do - shame that London couldn't effect their displeasure and discomfort about the situation in a way that was fitting for the Olympics

Timmy "Beijing Blogger" Magic

PS - before anyone asks, the band didn't play "Torchbearers"

12 tips to create a sleep haven

Whilst perusing Lifehacker I came across this article in the Reader's Digest.

If you know me at all, you will know that I love being in bed and moreover, being asleep. I shall perhaps heed some of the advice given, and felt it worth sharing!

1. Buy a New Mattress

Don't even try to comparison shop. Every mattress in every store has a different name. And every owner of every mattress shop says that the mattresses in his shop are different -- and better -- than every other mattress shop on the planet. The truth is that the right mattress for you is the one that you try in your home for 30 days. Find a mattress shop that offers that option, pick out the mattress that you and your partner think is the most comfortable, make sure it has a guarantee, and flash your plastic. Don't worry about coils and foam and luxury toppers. The mattress that allows you to sink into a deep, natural sleep and wake up in the morning without aches and pains is the one you want. And there's only one way to find out which mattress that is.

2. Bask in Comfort

Buy silky, natural tree-fiber sheets in a soothing color. An exquisitely soft cashmere throw for the bed. A hypoallergenic down comforter. A sunshine silk duvet cover. Pillows, pillows, and more pillows. A roll for behind your neck, a wedge for behind your back, a full-body pillow for when your bed partner is away. Hypoallergenic, of course. And don't forget the teddy bear. No girl can sleep without one.

3. Spritz

A quick spritz of soothing lavender water on your pillows before bed will help calm your exhausted mind.

4. Chill Before Bed

Lower the temperature of your bedroom before you climb into bed, says Becky Wang-Cheng, M.D., a medical director at Kettering Medical Center in Ohio. Lower temperatures signal your body it's time to sleep. If your bed partner objects, just tell him to bundle up.

5. Soak

A hot bath also helps you lower your body's temperature. Yeah, your temperature goes up while you're in the bath, but your body's response to the heat will be to drop your temperature way down low.


6. Schedule a Massage

"Massage interrupts the neurohormones connected with sleeplessness and almost manually imposes sleep on you," says therapist Belleruth Naparstek, M.S. "If you can't afford a massage, go to a massage school. You can get one there for $15."

7. Get Mean

Women aren't used to nurturing themselves or putting themselves first. But sleep is so necessary to health and happiness that you have to do it. If the dog's snoring wakes you up, then put him in another room. If your partner's snoring wakes you up, help him get treatment. If he refuses to cooperate, put him in another room, too.

8. Shut the Drapes

You sleep better in the dark. If your eyelids flutter open as you move from one stage of sleep to another, even streetlights or a full moon can wake you up.

9. Ditch the Night-Lights

You can also get rid of the clock radios with lighted displays. It turns out your brain can misinterpret even such dim lights and wonder if it should wake you up. "Dark inhibits the brain's biological clock," says Dr. Yan-Go. It tells your brain it's time to sleep.

10. Pull on Socks

There's no solid explanation for it, but studies have found that wearing socks to bed helps you sleep. It may be that warming your feet and legs allows your internal body temperature to drop.

11. Ignore the clock

Turn your clock's face or digital readout away so you can't see it. We wake slightly throughout the night. A glimpse of your clock - and the realization that you have to get up soon - is enough to jolt you out of sleep and keep you out.

12. Sleep Naked

It's easier to adjust your comfort zone with sheets and blankets you can pull up or throw off rather than a long nightgown or a pair of fleece pajamas, says neurologist Charles J. Bae, M.D., a sleep specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center. The idea is to make the adjustment in a way that rouses you from sleep the least.

Timmy "Zzzzz" Magic

Saturday, April 05, 2008

a week or two as timbo

I have been away from the blogosphere for the past week or two - as I have been very busy with lots of very important things.

I have helped various people move various things from and to various places
I have been to work
I have attended some good meetings
I have attended some bad meetings
I have been to, and won, a quiz at Hadleigh Salvation Army
I have written lots of tickets, none of them for David Cameron

For those of you who are on Facebook, I have created an album which recreates one of the days of the last fortnight.

Timmy "Glad of a day off" Magic