Vuvuzela news.........OR..,"The world cup gets the Horn!"

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This particular piece of football supporters kit has made the news so much recently that I thought it apt to post at least one comment about it on my blog!

Vuvuzela,Lepatata or just plain "stadium horn", this simple instrument (if that is not too grand a title!) has had people talking,arguing and blowing since the beginning of the 2010 world cup, mostly because to some it is a great traditional supporters gadget, but to others it is the reason that all you can hear during a match is an infernal background noise!

Having watched most of the world cup matches so far,I tend to agree with those who think that although the Vuvuzela is a traditional part of South African Football, it is way,way overused, and,rather than enhance the atmosphere, it can ruin the experience for many non Vuvu fans.

Whilst most celebratory devices (drums,trumpets,rattles,air horns etc) are used on an occasional basis, and to celebrate an event in the match such as a goal being scored, Vuvuzela "players" tend to simply produce a a constant noise throughout the match, which has even lead to players expressing their annoyance at not being able to hear such unimportant things such as the Referee blowing his whistle!

Put it this way.If the noise was being produced by a faulty PA (Public Address) system, constantly emitting a monotone feedback throughout the game...would the "traditionalists" be so willing to put up with it ?

Anyway, here are links to a few more reports about the Vuvuzela and it's place in this years world cup celebrations:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuvuzela

http://arsenal-mania.com/articles/3108725/Wenger-not-a-fan-of-the-vuvuzela-but-loves-South-Africa.html

You can even get an "iVuvuzela" App for your iPhone!

This is by no means the first time that the Vuvuzela has caused a stir.........

Love 'em or hate 'em I have a feeling that the Vuvuzela is here to stay! :-)

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Signed Royal Navy Sharks Picture (PAF 1993) for Sale

If you (or anyone you may know!) would be interested in buying this 27" by 22" professionally framed limited edition  picture (in caricature) of the final lne up of the Royal Navy's Sharks Aerobatic Team (Circa 1993) to help support my 2010 project, please do get in touch for details and if required more pictures.

This is a rare oppertunity to own a very nice peice of military aviation history...and would help me to transform the Scirocco for her Leukaemia Research (LLR) mission in 2010.Thanks :-) .Andy

New year,now it's time to find some sponsors for THE 2010 project !

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Ok, it's a few days into 2010, the booze is almost gone and "Normal" life is starting to kick in again. Now it is time for me to start the familiar task of seeking out potential sponsors for the project for this year, the transformation (again!) of Scarlett into a mobile PR platform for the Leukaemia Research Foundation when it celerates it's half century annivesary this year.

The gang at the West Nottinghamshire College (which has over 25,000 students!) are currently  working away at several designs for the car/trailer combo, and in a few weeks (Feb/March) we will be having a look to see what they have come up with and picking a winning design which will then be produced in vinyl and applied to the car and trailer hopefully by the end of March.

Of course this will be the third set of "clothes" that Scarlett has worn, the first was for the "Roc Around the Clock" challenge in 2007 and the second was for the "Scirocco 2 Morocco" adventure in 2008.In 2009 she kept her S2M livery whilst I concenrated on my project for 2009 which was to establish 2 Anthony Nolan Recruitment clinics in Nottinghamshire.2010 then is going to be the year that Scarlett gets to wear a new set of clobber !.

I am now beggining the process of contacting various companies who I feel may be able to assist in Scalett's transformation,although I know from previous experience that this is a job that can cause a lot of stress,dissapointment and frustration, although on the other hand it can be a most fulfilling experience when you manage to get good positive feedback from companies and the occasional offer of help.....this is the part that makes it all worthwhile !.

So....If you are a company who gets an email or letter from me over the next few weeks/months, and you have taken the time to have a look at this blog page,may i just say thanks for taking the time to have a look, and please,please consider giving us a hand for 2010 and being involved in this project, a project to celerate the work of the LRF over the last 50 years, but also to celebrate the vision of the Eastwood family who, in 1960a fter suffering the loss of their daughter Susan, decided to establish this charity in her honour,and provide others who suffer from blood cancer a beacon of hope and support in times of fear and uncertainty.

Give a little help to us here with this project and believe me, you will get an awful lot of satisfaction out of it :-)

Happy new year!......and a Happy New baby for our family !

Yes folks it is now officially a new decade, and 2009's new years eve was a little special this year for the Ward family as my cousin and his partner had a new little baby boy!.How about that for a new years eve surprise.

                                                                                              Jack Henry Ward born 31st December 2009.

Congratulations to Darren and Debbie, and a very Happy and wonderful new year to them as they leave 2009 as a couple, and begin 2010 as a family.....just don't expect to get much sleep fom now on ! :-).

Beefy Botham is off on new walk in aid of leukaemia research's 50th Anniversary

England cricket great Sir Ian Botham unveiled plans for his latest charity walk on Tuesday, saying he would not stop until childhood leukaemia had ceased totally to be a fatal condition.

Former all-rounder Botham's 13th charity walk will start in April next year and take him on a 10-town tour of England.

'Beefy's Great Forget Me Not Walk' will also mark the 25th anniversary of his first trek in aid of leukaemia research, and 2010 will also be the 50th year since the LRF was formed in 1960.
"My walk in 2010 will be extra special for me," Botham said on Tuesday.
"I never forget why I put myself through the pain and blisters. I won't stop until we beat childhood leukaemia. We're up to about 90 percent survival now and that's remarkable."

Click HERE to read the full story on the AFP Website..
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