Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the month “September, 2012”

09 Sep 2012

The Exeter University Heroes who cycled 4500 kms for charity. Worth your support? Real heroes


Thirteen Exeter university students have given up a summer vacation to cycle from london to Istanbul for Help for Heroes, a charity that supports wounded soldiers. Today they arrived back at Heathrow to what can only be described as a heroes welcome by their families and friends. Terminal 5 might not have seen such a noise for some while. they have cycled 4500 kms and really deserve our admiration.

 

This is what I wrote a month ago.

 

A week ago on 26th July 13 students from the University of Exeter commenced a 4500km cycle to Istanbul. Why? To support Help for Heroes. Many of these students had just completed their degree and graduated 2 weeks before. Somehow they found time to train,organise and generally prepare for this strenous trip. Aside from the obvious physical aspects there were numerous other planning aspects to consider. For example how to spend as little as possible on the trip, as this would reduce the sponsorship amounts for the charity. So, they spend most nights in tents and some nights in cheap hostels. The van they were donated is not of the Formula 1 category and rather like a beached whale is not deemed well enough to migrate the Alps, so will go around and meet the cyclists on the other side. To date they have reached Lyons and are having a well deserved rest day. My son Charles Bushe texted that he had spent a good day but things like washing needed to be done. They will have finished and be back in UK on September 8th. They deserve as much support as is possible. Even if you can only donate £1 then please do so and also importantly please pass on this message so that others can donate.

They are all good folks and already it is clear that they have bonded well together and are supporting each other when needed. For example the first day of their cycle down to Folkestone the temperature was well into the 30′s C, and there were obvious heat problems. A couple of them have had minor injuries such as a fall and tendonitis but they all keep going.

The links are below.

http://www.justgiving.com/Charles-Bushe

Charles bushe

Heroes returning Exeter Uni[gallery columns="1" orderby="ID"]

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07 Sep 2012

Entry to Year 7


Isn’t it strange how a child goes to school from a young age, often 4 years, and each year they go up a class, sometimes with a new teacher. But then comes the “end” of that school, it happens to be called primary. Around 6 weeks later they start ” secondary or senior” school, and all hell breaks loose. Parents become worried about this entrance to a big school, new uniform, new ways of doing homework and often new ways of getting to school. For many it is the start of independence with a school bus or public transport. Indeed this scenario is what has greeted many children in the boroughs of Sutton and Kingston this week.

The reality is the children are worried for about 2 days before. They worry about the new teacher, the new locker, where the toilets are and if their friends still like them. Suddenly it is all over and the normality of school kicks in. That is exactly what has happened this week.

A little bit of praise though. Nonsuch school in Cheam has been exceptional in its planning and organisation from the original acceptances of places through to selling uniform. Praise also to the X26 bus which transports children in record time at no cost with the precious oyster cards. School is truly back.

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06 Sep 2012

Would the Redcurrant plant please start talking to the courgette plant?


Planting things in the garden is always an interesting thing to do. Some things survive, some dont, and one never knows exactly why. For the last few years we have had an everlasting strawberry plant that has lived outside through some quite tough winters and each year produces fruit. About two months ago a courgette plant came home from school with the 11-year old who had taken a fancy to gardening club there each thursday. the plant was duly planted in the only free space in a sort of light the touchpaper and stand back. I have no idea what courgette plants like. In fact this plant has been producing whole crops of courgettes, maybe 10-15 separate items already and shows no signs of stopping. The leaves are truly massive and I would caution against having more than one plant. anyway courgettes have been harvested and eaten. Delicious . Now for the potatoes. They are due soon from the everlasting black bin bag filled with soil. The redcurrant plant seems to have retired for the winter with a total produce of one small bunch of redcurrants. Maybe it can have a word with the courgette plant when I am not looking?

Courgettes

Courgettes

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