Walk along Kenilworth Greenway

One Tuesday morning during my week off from work. I decide to go on a walk along the Kenilworth Greenway. It is an old railway line. It effectively provided a short cut avoiding Coventry for freight trains heading south.

What a lovely day I chose for it as the sun was shining! 

 

The blue sky 

 After a bit I took a green path off into a greenspace which is called Diamond Wood. And halfaway around it follow a mini river.

 A part of the Finham brook

 A sculpture made out of a tree called Habitat by David Nash at the other end of the green space I walked along.

After heading back up the handmade path I came across the following sculpture.

 

 The hill at the end of University of Warwick branch of the Kenilworth Greenway

 One of the old tunnels which was apart of the old railway line that ran along the greenway

New Bridge was installed in 2011 over the main road allowing easier crossing for cyclists and walkers from the Kenilworth Common

Railway bridge over Common Lane

Kenilworth has recently got a new station. It finally opened on Monday 30th April.  They had one up until 1965. The new train may only go from Leamington to Coventry and back but at least we got one now.

The train that stops at the new Kenilworth Station (Only has one coach)

The final part of the walk was through Kenilworth Common which is a Local Nature Reserve, which can be traced back to its creation in 1756. 

It was a lovely walk and even more so with the sun shining!

Going to Davis Cup Semi Final at Queen's Club, London

Davis Cup Tennis Quarter Final!!!!

During the weekend of July 17 to 19 Team GB were in the Quarter Finals of the Davis Cup. On the Saturday I went to watch the doubles match at Queen's Club, London.

I took the train from Coventry to London Euston. I then got on the tube and went all the way to Barons Court.

When I got there I took my seat that was about 5 rows from the front and had some food while waiting for the players to come on court. I saw Greg Rusedski and Jamie Baker who were working for British Eurosport and Sue Barker who was working for BBC. There were also some opera singers on the court before the match as well.

Then the two teams came out and when Team GB came out the atomosphere was amazing and really loud. For Team France Nicolas Mahut and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were playing and it the Murrays Brothers for Team GB.

A nervous start as Andy Murray lost his first service game and then the Murray Brothers lost the first set. Into the second set and the Murray brothers started to play really well and noise from the crowd was getting louded eventually they won the set to level the match. The third set was a nervous afair as it went to a tiebreak and each team kept win and losing mini breaks. In the end the Murray's won the tiebreak 7-5.

I then went out to get a drink and some more food as it was really hot but in the fourth set the Murray's got better and better and won the set 6-1. Watching some of it from gangway was hard as I could only see one end of the court. Winning the set they won the match and took a 2 -1 match win into the final day!

The atomsphere was amazing and the support that was recieved was really good. Before the tie took place I was worried about the atomsphere especially after how good it was in Glasgow.

Team GB did win the tie in the end even if I will never know how Andy Murray won his match playing with no energy. Next up is Australia in the semi finals in September. Who knows where it will be but hopefully I can find away to go even if it for the last day!

 

 

When I got I watched a recording of the match and found myself on the television. 

Volunteering at Birmingham Diamond League Meeting!!

Volunteering as Transponder Collector

On Sunday 7th June I volunteered at the Diamond League Meeting at Birmingham Alexandra Stadium.

            

I took a train from Coventry to Birmingham New Street and then got a taxi to the Alexandra Stadium. Once I arrived I checked in at accreditation tent before going to the volunteer room inside the stadium. We were given a hat and a volunteer t-shirt which was bright orange.

After a bit my group was taken to athletes call room and trackside area for training on how to do our job. All we had to do was to get the trackers, which record the lap times of all the athletes as they left the track and then hand them in.

Once our training was done we were free to wonder around the grounds. I went with four other people as we looked around the grounds including having some food and watching a bit of athletics even if we kept moving places. After a bit we made our way back to our meeting point to start our role.

There was a lot of waiting around as we only had to do our role for six events. They were 800 and 1500 metres for men and women, men's 5000 metres and the 3000 metres steeplechase for women. Jake Wrightman, was one of athletes who I got a tracker off, he also gave me his name sheet which all athletes have attached to their kit. During the day I got close to alot of athletes including Adam Gemili, Dina Asher-Smith, Laura Muir, Laura Weightman, Tiffany Porter and Eilidh Child. I also walked straight past Denise Lewis, Paula Radcliffe, Colin Jackson and Steve Cram who were working for the BBC.

After the last race of the day which was 1500 metres for women we made our way back to the volunteer room to pick up our stuff. I then made my way home via two train’s first Perry Bar to Birmingham New Street and then Birmingham New Street to Coventry.

After the event I watched a recording of the athletics on the BBC and found a brillant picture of me in action. (See above)

It was fantastic opportunity and definitely something I would want to do again hopefully in 2016. I am also looking at becoming a volunteer at the World Championships in London in 2017 and at the World Indoor Championship in Birmingham in 2018.

Meeting the Saturdays!!!!

Meeting The Saturdays!!!!!

On Monday 15th September 2014, the Saturdays were performing at the National Indoor Arena. As a surprise for my birthday I was given meet and greet tickets. I love the Saturdays and was really looking forward to meeting my favourite pop group.

 

After picking up my friend we drove to Coventry Station and took a train to Birmingham New Street. After a quick walk to the National Indoor Arena we arrived and joined the queue. Once we were checked in, we waited for a bit before being taken down to stairs to where the dressing rooms were. We waited for a bit again and then the Saturdays arrived. One at a time we had our chance to meet them. Just before I went in, I was really excited.

 

Then I went into the room and had my picture taken with the girls but got so nervous and still can't remember what I said to them. They must have thought I was so strange!!! Especially if they notice me during the show. It was a experience I will never forget.

 

After having some food we went to our seats waiting for the big show. They were in the front row! The two support act we saw were SD*Jem and Calvin Goldspink (who was in S Club Juniors), we missed the other two supports acts. Then after a break the main show started. It was the best show ever, I must have sang from the first minute until the last. They played all their hits including my favourite Ego to Higher to What are you Waiting for?!

 

 

An amazing night that I will never forget!!!! Just wished I knew what I said to them.

Day 13 - Last Day at Glasgow Adventures!!! (2nd August)

So it's my last day of my Glasgow 2014 Adventure! After have a mini lie in, I had some breakfast and packed up my tent! (The tent and chair was being donated to a scout or guide group in Scotland)

After checking out, I walked with my suitcase to Dumbreck station. (Luckily the rain had sort of stopped, it had just before I left being very heavy)

After taking the train to Glasgow Central, I walked to the bus stop and got on the bus that took me to Glasgow International Airport.

I checked in and went through security and waked for my flight. I got home at about 5.30pm.

So my Glasgow 2014 as a clyde-sider has come to an end, I miss it and had the time of my life, even if staying in a tent for nearly two weeks was tough but I did it. Next time maybe a house or hotel would be better.

I made friends that I hope to keep in touch with and learnt about a different side of big sport event. Would I do it again if I could? Yes but not in a tent!

Glasgow 2014 is over!!!!

Day 12 - My Adventures in Glasgow!!!! (Last Shift at Hampden Park) (1st August)

After having a lie in, today was my final shift at Hampden Park. After having some breakfast, I relaxed at the campsite for the rest of morning and early afternoon watching the television in the bar!

After some lunch (another pot noddle of the week), it was time to leave for another shift at Hampden Park! I took the bus to Battlefield Road and then I walked to Hampden Park! After going through security and  checking in, I went to the Print Distribution Room ready to start my shift!

When I arrived Hannah (one of the managers) and other members were already doing some printing, photocopying and delivering, as it was relay night and no morning shift and there were changes to the relay starts lists. So it was straight into it! So once they were out of the way and everyone had arrived me and Fraser did our final briefing.

After the briefing we all went down to workforce break area to have some food before the night action started.

Once the action started the process was a calm process like the previous shifts. We continued to plan ahead as much as we could making it a lot easier. The team all worked well. Tonight there were problems and it was all to do with relay starts list as each team only announced who is running less than hour before each race and it was causing problems as clients were wanting them quicker than we could get them out because of them being so late. But apart from those reports we didn't have any other problems, apart from some of reports took a long time to come through the printer or got missed.

We continued to deliver, print and photocopy reports until the about 11.00pm. 

With this being our last shift we all said our goodbyes. Hannah (one of the managers) gave her thanks to us and a group of us went down on the track and had our picture taken on the medal ceremony podium. Also when we were down there Sally Pearson (Won 100m hurdles gold medal) appeared on the track to do an interview but we left her alone.

I was sad leaving Hampden Park for the final time as I had really enjoyed working at the athletics venue and seeing a behind the scene side to a major athletics and sport event. 

I went back to campsite via two trains. Once back at the campsite I went to sleep after a long day! (I arrived home at midnight!)

So my final full day completed and tomorrow my Glasgow adventure will come to an end!

Day 11 - My Adventures in Glasgow!!!!! (Watching Men Time Trial Cycling) (31st July)

After having a lie in, today was my last rest day so I decided to go into Glasgow city centre to watch the Men Cycling Time Trial! (free event on the street) and do a final bit of sightseeing. After some breakfast I took a train from Dumbreck to Glasgow Central Station!

I walked down to Glasgow Green to try and get a space but the queue and street around the venue was packed, so decided to go back into centre, have an early lunch and then go back to a different part! When I went back I found a place to watch the cyclists! I also had a picture taken with another Clyde statue! 

The cyclists got some really good support and it was really good to see how fast they went. (This was a time trial by the way, the winner is the cyclist around the course the quickest). Luckily the weather held and I didn't get very wet. (A couple of quick light showers)

Once all the cyclists had gone past, I decided to go for a walk up to have a look at the cathedral. Outside the cathedral were all the flags of the different countries taking part in the Commonwealth Games! I went for a walk inside the gardens and then went inside the cathedral itself. (On the Monday afterwards there was a World War 1 special service that took place in the cathedral, where I walked)

Then I walked back to the city centre and walked to Albion Street which is where the Volunteer Centre is where back in May 2013 had my interview to work at the games! I then walked to Merchant City and took into the atmosphere of a market and saw a gold medallist from Scotland. (Euan Burton I think was the medallist)

Finally I had a snack in a cafe and then got some more food supplies and went back to campsite via the train. I also had my picture taken with another Clyde Statue.

In the evening I watched the athletics action on the TV while having tea (fish and chips). The atmosphere inside the bar was good especially when Eilidh Child of Scotland won her silver medal. An amazing achievement after so much pressure as the face of the games!

So the end of another day. Tomorrow is my last full day in Glasgow and my last shift at Hampden Park. Time for bed!!