Mmm

It is imperative that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas make a concerted effort to find and free the BBC journalist Alan Johnston. If there is any truth in this, then Hamas should do the necessary. As the only western journalist living in Gaza, he gave voice to the voiceless - surely his kidnappers would not want to silence this voice. To sign a petition calling for his release, click here.

Just incase anyone thought that Lewis Hamilton wasn't the real deal, his performance in Bahrain has seen the odds on him winning the Formula 1 title this season, slashed (if only I had placed a bet when I wrote this). His dad, Anthony Hamilton, says his son's feats frighten him - well he should prepare to be afraid, very afraid.

So it's going to be Chelski vs TTFFUTM in the first FA Cup final to be held at the new Wembley. I predict that TTFFUTM will win this, but they won't win anything else as their defence is shot and Van der Sar is going through a dodgy spell. Chelski will win the premiership and Liverpool will win the Champions League for the sixth time.

Wolfie doesn't have the decency to resign, he's waiting for the inevitable push. As one of the architects of the monumental folly that is the invasion of Iraq, he's appointment to head the World Bank didn't go down too well to begin with. During his term his message to prospective lendees is that corruption will not be tolerated, so why should we tolerate his?! The Bushman has voiced his support and despite the chorus of disapproval from around the world, Wolfie seems determined to ride things out. There should be a concerted campaign to run him out of office because otherwise the reputation of the World Bank will be irreparably tarnished.

Wills and Kate have decided to end their relationship. That is their decision, they are after all, adults. Their reasons for doing so are nobody's business but theirs.

They can sell their stories, no actually they should not have. Like I said before, Iran has given Britain a lesson in the art of propaganda.

Roy "The Enforcer" Keane has turned around Sunderland's fortune to such an extent that they are likely to gain automatic promotion to the Premiership. Paul "The Guvnor" Ince has instilled a degree of professionalism and work ethic at Macclesfield that has seen them move off the bottom of the table to the relative safety of 20th in League Two, with a game in hand.

Have a good week y'all.

Pour ma petite soeur - Bon anniversaire

You are the Yin to my Yang, the day to my night,
you complement me in ways that are just beginning to come to light.
You could actually be my alter ego,
the persona I adopt when I'm in the mood to go with the flow.

Your perspective on life is remarkably well balanced
and its good to see that the setbacks you've faced haven't radically altered your stance.
You're very perceptive and you've got a big heart,
you're extremely selfless and that's just the start.

Your sunny disposition is very endearing,
you're funny and altogether rather appealing.
Like me you sit back and absorb the goings on
though you should occasionally try to make more of a commotion.

I sometimes sense that you don't fully appreciate the immeasurability of your potential,
I do, but self recognition is way more beneficial.
A person's wealth is measured by the quality of their friends
so I guess that means my wealth is without end.

As you celebrate your first birthday after Z's birth,
you will undoubtedly put her needs first.
Nevertheless, I hope you'll be able to set aside some time for yourself
despite Z's reluctance to spend time with anyone else.

Happy Birthday from across the Atlantic
and lots of love from your big sis.

The long ride

Yesterday I rode from Reading to a Heathrow hotel, a distance of 26.5 miles (42.6 km). It took me about five hours because I got lost and when I paused to catch my breath, I took some photos. The return journey was a lot better because I found a short cut and rode to Slough where I caught the train back to Reading.

She is well and truly broken in and so is my derrière.

Left at Caversham Bridge

I turned left at Caversham Bridge and rode along side a stretch of the river Thames and here's what caught my eye.

My wheels

On account of this, I decided to get myself a set of wheels and not wanting to antagonise Mother Nature any further, I opted for the two wheeled variety.

As you can see, I believe in safe cycling.

She's exhilarating to ride and the guys here kindly fitted her with semi-slick tyres which means I can use her both on and off-road.

She's a GT Avalanche 2.0 and here are pictures of her bell (didn't realise that was a bell!), handlebars and shock absorbers.


I'm in the process of breaking her in and today I did about 25 miles (40km). I'm saddle-sore, but my endorphin count is off the charts, despite the unwanted attention of a bulldog who wanted to play (what is it with dogs and people on bikes?!) - of course I let the dog know that I wasn't interested, despite its efforts to persuade (should that be dissuade!) me.

Black

Black to me signifies understated elegance,
an aura of mystique, a defining essence.
Black is who and what I am so don't denigrate me,
otherwise you will be engulfed with my incandescent rage, rapidly!

Black is my favourite colour as it goes with everything,
it sartorially transforms the wearer by adding an unquantifiable something.
It has a certain je ne sais quoi, a refining quality,
just attend a black-tie dinner if you don't believe me.

Black has an infinite coolness, it signifies a defining classiness,
an inherent goodness, an inclusive universality.
I don't have time for the stereotypical associative negativity
and believe I have stated my case pretty eloquently.

Black conciousness espoused by Steve Biko is the ultimate aspiration,
let's start with ourselves to overcome the inevitable discrimination.
We need to proclaim it from the rooftops and say it very loud,
that WE ARE BLACK AND WE ARE VERY PROUD!

Take Me As I Am

She's been down out,
she's been wrote about,
she's been talked about constantly,
she's been up and down,
she's been pushed around,
but they held her down NYC.

She has no regrets,
she accepts the past,
all these things they helped to make she.
She's been lost and found
and she's still around,
there's a reason for everything.

You know I've been holding on,
tried to make me weak,
but I still stay strong.
put my life all up in these songs
just so you can feel me.
So take me as I am,
take me as I am
or have nothing at all,
nothing at all.
Just take me as I am
or have nothing at all,
at all.

Yes she's older now,
yes she's wiser now
can't disguise her now
she don't need
no one telling her
what to do and say,
no one telling her
who to be.

She's on solid ground
she's been lost and found
but she answers to G-O-D.
And she's confident
this is not the end,
ask me how I know
cause she is me.

You know I've been holding on,
tried to make me weak,
but I still stay strong.
put my life all up in these songs
just so you can get the real me.
So take me as I am,
or have nothing at all,
at all.
Just take me as I am
or have nothing at all

This is me, this is me.
So it's all or nothing at all
all or nothing at all
don't you know
I can only be me (x2)

So it's all or nothing at all
all or nothing at all
don't you know
I can only be me (x2)

I said take me as I am
or have nothing at all
I can only be me (x2)
So take me as I am
I can only be me
So take me as I am
or have a nothing at all

Take me as I am (x2)
said it's all or nothing at all (x2)
Just take me as I am
or have nothing at all

This is me,
this is me,
Just take me as I am
take me as I am
or have nothing at all

Just take me as I am
take me as I am
or have nothing, nothing at all
take me as I am.

As written and sang by the inimitable, incomparable Queen of RnB Hip Hop Soul, Mary J Blige, for the critcially acclaimed masterpiece that is The Breakthrough.

Another year older = one year less to live

Today I'm another year older, but still in the 35-44 demographic,
I would tell you my age, but then what's the point in dwelling on specifics?!
I've outlived Princess Diana, which is no mean feat
because in 2006 things were looking pretty bleak.

So to all those who continued to shine a light to penetrate my gloom,
I can but offer a very grateful thankyou.
These last two months have seen me reintroduced to my creative side
and inspired by my muse, I've started to feel alive.

I've acquired a certain calmness and nothing seems to faze me,
I'm engaging my brain and my grey matter is happy.
The possibilities are endless, I'm only limited by my imagination,
the choices I can make are a source of fascination.

So I'm daring to dream, think the impossible, believe the improbable,
I feel my time has arrived and I'm determined to see what's achievable.