2024 August – Olympic Challenge, United Nations, Yarn Bombing – Dr Who, Snoozles, Swimbles, Goblin Slime

Olympic Challenge

Mum has been watching bits of the Olympics.  Offspring #4 has suggested everyone chooses an Olympic challenge and takes a year to see how close they can get to the Olympic record.   Mum has chosen women’s 2000m single sculls.

Of course she has.  She has zero experience and no skill whatsoever.

The picture above shows an early attempt on the gym rowing machine.  10min 24 secs.

Wanna know what the Olympic record actually is?    As of writing, the current record for the women’s single sculls 2000m Olympic rowing event is 7:13.97, set on July 30, 2021.

So Mum is only 3 mins and 10 seconds slower.   She has to go about 30% faster to get close.

I’ll keep you updated.

It’s a bit of an ask in my opinion.

And she’s not tall. So pretty limited leverage on those rowing sticks.

You may well be wondering what my Olympic sport will be?  I am inclined to join offspring #2 who is going for how many crisps she can eat in a minute.   I know it’s not an Olympic sport at the moment but who knows what will happen before 2028.

Los Angeles, here I come.

(PS: Mum’s PT at the gym wrote this month’s book recommendation – see below.  Clever man).

 

United Nations

Slightly terrifyingly (for all of us I feel) offspring #2 is representing the UK at a UN shindig.  It seems to be going well apparently.

I wonder if she can casually slip in a small demand that yellow dogs are considered to be under threat of extinction and require more chicken as a matter of urgency to remedy the situation?

I reckon she could, don’t you?

 

Yarn Bombing – Dr Who

Someone’s been busy.  Mum spotted this walking up the road to go for a dip in the river at Holywell.

Technically (apparently) this is illegal but hey, it’s going on all over the country now.

Fun Fact: The Post Office seem to have taken a pragmatic approach.  “We first began to see these toppers in 2012 over the festive season, although this soon spread to other key times of the year such as Easter.    Over the years we have enjoyed seeing the various post box toppers that that different groups have showcased in communities across the UK.  We value the passion of the post box yarn bombers and have no problem with the craze as long as the toppers do not obstruct people posting items or posties from collecting mail.   Royal Mail’s iconic post-boxes are a treasured part of communities around the UK and are for use by our customers’’.

Sometimes it is to raise money for charity or to highlight an issue.

Expect Dr Who will be gone soon – planets to save etc……

Here are some top quotes from Dr Who:

• there’s no point being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes
• You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: they don’t alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views
• Letting it get to you. You know what that’s called? Being alive. Best thing there is
• Never be cruel. Never be cowardly. Remember, hate is always foolish and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind
• The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don’t always spoil the good things or make them unimportant.

 

Snoozles

Because I can…

 

Swimbles

Because they can….

 

Goblin Slime

Because you can …..

 

Saffron’s recommendations this month:

Music:

Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. They comprise Thom Yorke; brothers Jonny and Colin Greenwood; Ed O’Brien; and Philip Selway.  Here’s some of their good stuff.

• Paranoid Android
• Creep
• Fake Plastic Trees
• Karma Police
• Everything in its Right Place
• Street Spirit
• There, There
• Exit Music (for a Film)
• How to Disappear Completely
• Pyramid Song

 

Reading:

The Guardian Protocol by Simon McConnell.

The Guardian Protocol – a gritty, brutal and graphic political thriller which could easily be a 21st century reality. Surrounded by his loyal protectors, Saleem Abdul Maware, aka the Angel of Death, is hell-bent on wreaking cold, hard revenge over the western world. Stealthy and arrogant this evil terrorist seems untouchable as he scours earth, land and sea leaving death and devastation in his wake. His well-organised itinerary of reprisal brings him to London where explosions, murder and deadly cat-and-mouse chases are the norm. MI6 are on his trail but Operation Guardian is littered with problems. They do have Sean, however. Plucked from his regular 9-5 job by MI6, this gutsy, brave, intelligent and quick-thinking team member isn’t just intent on proving himself… he wants to see the Angel of Death and his terrorist cell come crashing down because for him, it’s suddenly become personal. But time is running out. Find out what happens in this rollercoaster tension-fuelled adventure where there are no rules.

Good book.

 

Film:

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.  More chaotic than the other two films in the trilogy, it is a beautiful conclusion to the Guardians’ story. Boasting stellar set pieces, an excellent soundtrack and perfect chemistry between cast members.

So all good. Mum just loves this stuff.