tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75483439232374028602024-12-18T19:17:09.130+00:00Learning how to fail is as important as learning how to succeed.MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.comBlogger358125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-13276676592833533092012-12-18T05:25:00.002+00:002012-12-18T05:25:37.188+00:00

As an aunt, I’ll tell you how I feel; I feel rage, I feel impotency, I feel it’s time adults ceased their follies and faced up to their parental responsibilities. I feel that my niece at 19 months old embodies; vitality, vivacity and a precocity she’s inherited courtesy of her genes I feel that her ‘right to grow up’ is not negotiable. No more cold, dead, little hands

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-50265718742011873742012-11-03T22:37:00.000+00:002012-11-03T22:37:05.675+00:00

I've always been interested in the Olympics and one of my lifelong ambitions is to attend one. In 1996, I wrote to the IOC asking for tickets for Atlanta 1996 - they sent me a pin badge commemorating the Olympic centenary. Having failed to make the grade to volunteer for Beijing 2008, I was hoping for better luck for London 2012 as I was born within walking distance of the Olympic Park. So I was

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-25230323237445344812010-11-13T23:16:00.000+00:002010-11-13T23:16:06.362+00:00

A name is an identifier, sometimes unique depending on how creative your parents were if we're talking about people - occasionally if your parents get too creative, then changing your name by deed poll is an option once you come of age. But how about countries? At one time, Britain had an empire that spanned a quarter of the globe and chose to name countries within her realm as she saw fit. Once

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-50437358711261172562010-10-27T15:56:00.001+00:002010-10-31T11:31:47.470+00:00

In July, Wikileaks released over 70,000 classified documents on the war in Afghanistan putting themselves, and in particular Julian Assange, the face of Wikileaks, in the firing line of the US government. Both the US and UK governments were quick to condemn the release of the Afghan war logs and say that the lives of troops and people who had collaborated with them were at risk. This has since

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-34356393247039378102010-10-09T10:31:00.000+00:002010-10-09T10:31:37.619+00:00

Imagine there's no heavenIt's easy if you tryNo hell below usAbove us only skyImagine all the peopleLiving for today... Imagine there's no countriesIt isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die forAnd no religion tooImagine all the peopleLiving life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will be as one Imagine no possessionsI wonder if

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-77054295206943223852010-10-05T21:23:00.000+00:002010-10-05T21:23:48.766+00:00

Over the past week, there have been a number of sporting results which can be categorised as upsets; Rafael Nadal, the world number one tennis player losing to his compatriot, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, in Bangkok, Liverpool FC, England's most successful club, losing to newly promoted Blackpool on Saturday and the reigning NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-19930780264838111912010-09-14T09:31:00.001+00:002010-09-14T09:39:06.082+00:00

At the age of 17 he won his first French Open and the deciding rubber that won Spain the Davis Cup. He successfully depended his French Open crowns three times and in the process surpassed Björn Borg's record for the number of consecutive victories on clay - they called him a clay court specialist, but by 2007 he had reached his first Wimbledon final on grass. In 2008, he would become the first

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-75518630538033668862010-09-12T05:21:00.001+00:002010-09-12T05:24:10.369+00:00

Over the past eighteen months, my expectations of support from people I know have become as permanent as the footprints left on a sandy beach. But when one door closes another opens and it's the kindness of strangers that has restored my faith in humanity. I believe in helping when I can and its karma that in my times of need, strangers have come through for me. Je remercie les deux hommes qui

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-36507761821378965552010-08-22T14:19:00.001+00:002010-08-22T14:27:52.869+00:00

Given the heats were set up so I couldn't fail to progress to the finals, I did have serious reservations about how well I would do at yesterday's tournament, especially when it became clear that the other heat winners had actually won their heats. What's more, I lost my only warm up game, here. My first match didn't start well when I did an air shot for my first serve and didn't land my second

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-47949987448384712272010-08-15T18:04:00.001+00:002010-08-15T18:06:22.148+00:00

The sport that embodies the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius is athletics (some of you may know it as track and field) and that's my first love given that I was a high jumper and sprinter back in the day. So it was very nice to be back at Crystal Palace yesterday for the second day of the Diamond League London meet. On my way to my seat I stopped to congratulate the person responsible

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-26214232834300041972010-08-11T20:01:00.000+00:002010-08-11T20:01:52.252+00:00

Today I realised that dogs have Napoleon complexes too because it's been the smaller dogs, Scottish Terrier and Cocker Spaniel, who've attacked me for my balls. The latter dispelled the notion that dogs are colour blind when he opted for my orange ball instead of the lime green tennis ball is owner had thrown. Once again the owner after retrieving my ball, telling the dog off and wiping the ball

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-66958187670343229292010-08-04T14:54:00.000+00:002010-08-04T14:54:38.207+00:00

On this historic day, at a defining moment for the country of his father's birth, one cannot but ask what alignment of stars ensured a referendum that will chart a new path for a country that is yet to live up to it's not inconsiderable potential would fall on the date that a US president of Kenyan ancestry celebrates his not quite half century. It does look as if the YES YOUTH CAN supporters

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-39789103152144043642010-08-01T18:36:00.000+00:002010-08-01T18:36:52.208+00:00

Mo Farah's historic 10,000m/5000m double at the European Athletic Championships in Barçelona was made in in Kenya's Rift Valley where he spends time altitude training with the world's best long distance runners. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy and here's to hoping it provides him with the motivation to take on his much vaunted training mates at next year's World

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-28410094106801326042010-08-01T18:23:00.001+00:002010-08-01T18:25:02.611+00:00

Christope a gagné une médaille pour le rouge, le blanc et le bleu, les couleurs de son drapeau, le tricolor. Félicitations à Christophe et Renaud. À Teddy, pas mal. Voyez-vous à  Londres en deux ans. Allez les trois mousquetaires, allez!!!

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-15471017558451928212010-07-26T23:43:00.000+00:002010-07-26T23:43:26.547+00:00

Over the weekend, "I took part in the London 2012 Open Weekend challenge" by playing table tennis at different venues in London. Having last played in 2005 on the rooftop of a famous Manhattan building, overlooking the East River, I was pretty rusty on Saturday, at Brunswick Square, and it showed when I lost my opening game (I wasn't fully focused), but won my next 2 games before losing my final

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-79826732367864388372010-07-26T23:27:00.000+00:002010-07-26T23:27:17.205+00:00

I lived in an equatorial country for over a decade where direct sunlight was the norm and I worked in the country who's national slogan is, 13 months of sunshine. I am an avowed sun worshipper (I would never go on holiday to look for snow) who enjoys basking in the sun rays or rather I used to because now I can't spend 5 minutes in the sun without a rash on the back of my hand and neck flaring up

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-15972740083924428202010-07-23T03:13:00.000+00:002010-07-23T03:13:19.464+00:00

Yesterday I was in the park doing my usual exercise routine that combines footy-boules, karate katas, juggling and stretching. I was juggling when all of a sudden a Scottish terrier takes it upon himself to get involved. At first, I wasn't having any of it so I kept the balls in my hands and backed away from the excitable mutt. The problem was, this served to make him even more excitable and he

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-35741362503251932602010-07-19T11:57:00.000+00:002010-07-19T11:57:39.524+00:00

Leo Messi's nationality is Spanish - do you think they know something we don't?!

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-36451035955307704612010-07-19T02:28:00.000+00:002010-07-19T02:28:15.951+00:00

It will be interesting to hear what the spinmeister-in-chief will say with regard to the IDF's latest atrocity. But an even bigger atrocity is being committed by those countries who refuse to condemn this Rogue State's wanton impunity and belligerence. All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing 

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-77269650582300831362010-07-19T02:13:00.000+00:002010-07-19T02:13:54.539+00:00

As you can see from this, the very American sounding Israeli prime minster knows how to get the dog a fetchin' and a carryin'. It does make you wonder just how committed the current Israeli PM is to the peace process. His recent statements before his most recent mend-the-fence trip to Washington were in all probability part of the manipulation process.

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-51009634805979020832010-07-18T07:22:00.000+00:002010-07-18T07:22:41.084+00:00

Pas Athos, Aramis et Porthos, mais Christophe, Renaud et Teddy. The latter 3 are beginning to create waves in the world of athletics. While Teddy's performance may have been the most impressive, when he triple jumped 17.90m to go sixth on the all-time list ( he bettered his PB in New York with a jump of 17.98m to go third on the all-time list - WR = 18.43m) and Renaud leads the Diamond

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-80540281011101976252010-07-18T03:28:00.000+00:002010-07-18T03:28:43.641+00:00

This figure represents the number of years that Madiba has devoted to human rights work - that equates to 72.8% of his lifetime. The first 25 years of his life were spent preparing him for a calling that would see him put his commitment to the struggle for equality before his family. As a fitting tribute to mark his 92nd birthday, the British Museum is hosting a series of events to mark Nelson

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-9956713569556389712010-07-15T02:35:00.000+00:002010-07-15T02:35:40.872+00:00

According to this, Bliar never asked the questions that needed to be ask about the post war reconstruction of Iraq. Instead, he assumed the Americans would take care of things and left it at that. For a supposedly intelligent man (I couldn't possibly comment!!), he's decision to bury his head in the sand is Palinesque. What's more, he did a hatchet job on anyone who had the temerity to pursue

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-91137533168386972832010-07-13T05:56:00.000+00:002010-07-13T05:56:22.436+00:00

All those countries that have sent troops to Somalia as part of the African Union's peacekeeping force were served notice of their unwelcome presence by the atrocity perpetrated in Kampala as spectators watched the World Cup final.

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7548343923237402860.post-3557427250012767482010-07-13T05:39:00.000+00:002010-07-13T05:39:04.429+00:00

is how US foreign policy has been described by the man who survived countless CIA assassination attempts. The same applies to it's satellite state, Israel.

MusingsofaFailurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14844669008717171956noreply@blogger.com0