Volunteering with @GroundworkLON - Clara Grant School

Had a very hard (32 degrees!), but extremely rewarding time yesterday, volunteering to help out clearing a site at the Clara Grant School in Tower Hamlets and helping some of the kids to build Insect Hotels as the first stage of turning an old playground into a wildlife garden...I now have (aches in muscles I didn't know I owned and blisters on top of blisters, but) a big smile on my face from having done something so tangible to help out the local community...enjoy just a few pics that I took during the day (I will definitely be volunteering again!) -

Capital Radio at Canary Wharf

Wow, two posts in one day and we're not even at 9am yet (scroll down for the links if that's what you came for)...anyway, it's been a bit of an eventful morning already, watching BBC Breakfast they announced that the Oyster system (those cards used to pay for using the London Underground and buses) was in meltdown, and it was actually much better as many of the barriers were just left open as a result...queues were reduced, platforms were emptier, shame they can't manage to break it more often... ;)

Picked up some more free chewing gum at London Bridge then got to Canary Wharf and just as Flyingpops told me on the train (she was listening to the wireless on her mobile) the Capital Radio roadshow was right outside the tube station, Johnny Vaughn was right there inside the black routemaster, blaring out (just as I approached) that "this is probably the biggest outside broadcast we have ever done, there are absolutely thousands of people out there", of course, he didn't realise that there are *always* absolutely thousands of people at Canary Wharf but a good 100 or so had stopped to watch and listen (or join in by having their heads shaved for charity) -

- which surprising numbers of people were actually doing -

- I managed to resist...got my haircut booked for tomorrow morning... ;)

Match it for Pratchett

So, a good hearted blogger has suggested that anyone who has had any pleasure from reading a Terry Pratchett book (or watching one of the TV adaptations, I guess) goes and donates a pound to the "Alzheimer's Research Trust", well why not...? ;)

Race for Life 2006 - Epsom Downs - pics and video

Okay, here is the Flickr stream, all general pictures - pics of Flyingpops protected (family/tagged friends can log in) as she is going to email them to the kind people who helped her raise somewhere in the region of (wait for it!) £450!!!!!!!!!!!!

Short video of the warm up here (powered by YouTube)...

(Ooo! Look at me - vodcasting - actually, it's more like vlogging, I think RANS may prefer the former though...hehe... ;)

Now, on to the F1!!! USA again, lets just hope it's a bit better than last year...!

Update - OUCH! I seriously caught the sun... :(

Well done Flyingpops!!

Well done Flyingpops!!
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

Race completed successfully! Just having a picnic under a tree to cool off... ;)

Race for Life Epsom 2006 - update

Race for Life Epsom 2006 - update
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

Warm up done, they are lining up now! ;) Proper pics and maybe some video later... ;)

Race for Life 2006 - update

Race for Life 2006 - update
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

Everyone is 'warming up' now, spirits are incredibly high considering how hot it is! Everyone is dancing and singing! ;)

Race for Life 2006 - Epsom Races

Well, here we are and it's BOILING!!

Race for Life 2006 - Last chance to sponsor Flyingpops!

So, up again early! We are just about off to Epson Downs for Flyingpops to do her part in the race for life, so wish her luck (weather is very hot, so she might need it)!! Cold packs are in the cold bags, which are full of drinks and the picnic food, and I've got lots of water in case she overheats... ;)

(This is also your last chance to sponsor her if you haven't already, it's for a very good cause)!

Do something good today - Race for Life 2006

Flyingpops is in training! The 2006 Race for Life in Epsom (on the Downs, near the race course, appropriately) takes place on the 2nd of July 2006, it's in aid of Cancer Research UK, and they are hoping to raise at least 46 million pounds this year (if they get all 750,000 female runners they are after, sorry chaps, it's ladies only)! So if you haven't already done something good today (help an old person across the road, etc.), then why not put your snack money in the online collection box (it's quick, easy and secure) and help to make a difference... ;)

Update - £190 pledged so far! Sponsor Flyingpops here!