I was happy as a European, to be seen as part of a team. Working together to keep our continent safe and thriving. As a member of the European Union there were hundreds of benefits.
Even unpacking my sons new car seat it dawned on me that many of the improvements in car safety were thanks to the EU.
Anyway, I'm trying to think of how we can improve this situation. Clearly there are massive swathes of people in the UK who have been treated with so little understanding and help to thrive that they have rebelled against the government and the system we have been part of for years. It frightens me that no matter what happens now, there will be huge unrest in our great nation. It has started already.
When I discuss my fears with my peers there are real worries that even if Article 50 is not triggered this will only cause (quite rightly) disgruntled voters to rebel further.
The system is broken, but one thing I would urge every remain voter to do, if you agree with compromise, unity and a fair view of the world, we must all pull together so that the extremes of our nation do not win. I for one will be continuing to support the Liberal Democrats, but I will be doing so more intensely and with great pride. I will do this in the hope that if we all follow them and support them, they can lead us back into the EU if needs be, or help us to find a balanced society in which everyone is treated fairly.
Please consider this and I apologise for not being the most articulate of people.
Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
The Helmet Debate
I recently had a very healthy debate with a friend about crash helmets.
I must admit my personal experiences have swayed my opinion greatly, but I try to point out to others, learning from mistakes isn't always the best way. Maybe learn from others mistakes, surely thats a win win, you've learnt but not made a mistake.
Anyway I digress.
Obviously everyone has heard about the terrible incident involving a cyclist near the Olympic Park during the 2012 Olympics, this was a tragic incident and as my friend quite rightly pointed out a helmet would unfortunately not have saved this poor mans life, but that doesn't make me feel any less strongly about the issue.
In the last 7 and a half years I have spent a total of 47 minutes on a bicycle without wearing a Helmet. For those 47 minutes I was filled with dread, not because I feared for my life, but because I feared for the lives of those that I love. I have therefore decided to share my very personal experience in the hope that it will make someone else think, and wear a helmet.
As a student I received a phone call from the police, my mother had been in an accident on her bike. As I raced the 350miles home to be with my mother and my family I travelled by train and by bike. The sheer stupidity that I wasn't wearing a helmet didn't even register.
It wasn't until my sister would not let me leave the hospital until I had a helmet, ironically my mother's which had been left at home, that I recognised the importance of wearing a helmet, not for yourself but the ones you love.
I am very grateful that my mother is now fine and apart from a few little character changes, she is herself and happy along with my father. But for a while there it was touch and go, and I cannot even begin to describe what it was to see her, looking very unlike her and for a long time acting very strangely.
The head and the brain are fragile and until you have experienced a head injury first hand it is difficult to comprehend that a single blow can change someone's whole character, even their eyesight. For our family it was the lesser known injuries and changes that were more difficult to digest, the 2 broken arms would heal, the fractures to the skull would heal, but the changes to personality and the loss of my mother's sense of smell were hard to gauge. Nobody was able to tell us if these were permanent.
The greatest fear I had was that this new mother, the post injury mother was not the woman my father fell in love with, it would be neither's fault if they no longer loved each other or even liked each other. It would be the fault of a blow to the head. Luckily my mother is left with only small reminders, she has scars, yes. She cannot smell anything and her glasses have a different prescription, but she is still my mother, she is back to normal.
I wear a helmet everytime I get on a bike, because I do not want to cause pain to those around me, I know there are dangers out there that I cannot protect myself against, but for the dangers I can I will try my hardest.
For my partner, my family and my friends I get the impression they like me because of who I am, maybe I should protect that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu4QzAIayTU
I must admit my personal experiences have swayed my opinion greatly, but I try to point out to others, learning from mistakes isn't always the best way. Maybe learn from others mistakes, surely thats a win win, you've learnt but not made a mistake.
Anyway I digress.
Obviously everyone has heard about the terrible incident involving a cyclist near the Olympic Park during the 2012 Olympics, this was a tragic incident and as my friend quite rightly pointed out a helmet would unfortunately not have saved this poor mans life, but that doesn't make me feel any less strongly about the issue.
In the last 7 and a half years I have spent a total of 47 minutes on a bicycle without wearing a Helmet. For those 47 minutes I was filled with dread, not because I feared for my life, but because I feared for the lives of those that I love. I have therefore decided to share my very personal experience in the hope that it will make someone else think, and wear a helmet.
As a student I received a phone call from the police, my mother had been in an accident on her bike. As I raced the 350miles home to be with my mother and my family I travelled by train and by bike. The sheer stupidity that I wasn't wearing a helmet didn't even register.
It wasn't until my sister would not let me leave the hospital until I had a helmet, ironically my mother's which had been left at home, that I recognised the importance of wearing a helmet, not for yourself but the ones you love.
I am very grateful that my mother is now fine and apart from a few little character changes, she is herself and happy along with my father. But for a while there it was touch and go, and I cannot even begin to describe what it was to see her, looking very unlike her and for a long time acting very strangely.
The head and the brain are fragile and until you have experienced a head injury first hand it is difficult to comprehend that a single blow can change someone's whole character, even their eyesight. For our family it was the lesser known injuries and changes that were more difficult to digest, the 2 broken arms would heal, the fractures to the skull would heal, but the changes to personality and the loss of my mother's sense of smell were hard to gauge. Nobody was able to tell us if these were permanent.
The greatest fear I had was that this new mother, the post injury mother was not the woman my father fell in love with, it would be neither's fault if they no longer loved each other or even liked each other. It would be the fault of a blow to the head. Luckily my mother is left with only small reminders, she has scars, yes. She cannot smell anything and her glasses have a different prescription, but she is still my mother, she is back to normal.
I wear a helmet everytime I get on a bike, because I do not want to cause pain to those around me, I know there are dangers out there that I cannot protect myself against, but for the dangers I can I will try my hardest.
For my partner, my family and my friends I get the impression they like me because of who I am, maybe I should protect that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu4QzAIayTU
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
The Police
Brilliant! There are 2 kinds of cyclists that really really annoy me. 1. The fixie riders that think its fine to just whizz off the pavement onto the road and into my side, I understand that they like to go fast, but I will never understand the need to go fast an then brake all of a sudden. 2. The people that ride the 'Boris' barclays Bikes and have no road skills whatsoever. They swerve all over the road causing havoc.
This morning a wonderful thing happened, an example of both were annoying me on my way in to work, both went through the red lights at the cross roads before Southwark bridge, both got stopped by the police and fined.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Flashing vs Solid
Hmmmmmm, which beam is better?
I like a mixture of both. I'm a rear flasher, but I don't go full frontal, I must admit though I notice cyclists more if they're flashing me :)
I like a mixture of both. I'm a rear flasher, but I don't go full frontal, I must admit though I notice cyclists more if they're flashing me :)
Monday, 22 November 2010
Crazy BMW
Well today my friends, I actually nearly died. Some of you may say it serves me right for cycling on the Shepherd's Bush roundabout, but I had my fluorescent jacket on, I had my lights on and I had run no red lights, I was quite clearly in the correct lane and very visible. Maybe the man in his BMW didn't see me because he was texting. Yes that sounds accurate.
May I ask a potentially stupid question?
I'm going to anyway. If it is illegal to use a phone whilst driving, why do people think it is better to text than ring someone? Is it because the phone is more or less out of sight? Is it because it is cheaper.
Answer peeps. Don't fucking text while you're driving, you'll kill someone and then you'll never be the same again, they'll be dead and you'll be guilt ridden for the rest of your life.
Rant over.
May I ask a potentially stupid question?
I'm going to anyway. If it is illegal to use a phone whilst driving, why do people think it is better to text than ring someone? Is it because the phone is more or less out of sight? Is it because it is cheaper.
Answer peeps. Don't fucking text while you're driving, you'll kill someone and then you'll never be the same again, they'll be dead and you'll be guilt ridden for the rest of your life.
Rant over.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Little action on the sun filled roads
Racerback tan lines and a dodgy knee, I did what all cyclists should hate on monday and decided to run into work instead, now my knees hurt. Silly.
The roads seem to fill up with Fair Weather Cyclists about now, its potentially the most annoying thing ever, because they behave like fish caught in a tide. No control or awareness at all.
Get off the roads!
I shouldn't say that I welcome all cyclists but I wish they were less of a danger to me, at this time of year I fear the Fair Weather Cyclist as much as I do the motorist.
Ah well the adventure continues...
The roads seem to fill up with Fair Weather Cyclists about now, its potentially the most annoying thing ever, because they behave like fish caught in a tide. No control or awareness at all.
Get off the roads!
I shouldn't say that I welcome all cyclists but I wish they were less of a danger to me, at this time of year I fear the Fair Weather Cyclist as much as I do the motorist.
Ah well the adventure continues...
Friday, 5 February 2010
2010 cycling
WOW! It has either been freezing cold or i've been on holiday. I've been rubbish. Got a new helmet for christmas and it matches my bike. What a loser I am.
Anyway will post next week, might even get my helmet cam back off Dhrubo. Catch some nice morning footage of motorists trying to kill me.
Anyway will post next week, might even get my helmet cam back off Dhrubo. Catch some nice morning footage of motorists trying to kill me.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
The problem with cycling
So it could be any number of things;
maybe i'm referring to the rain, maybe i'm talking about the generally crap driving abilities of London motorists.
But today i'm referring to the general grumpiness of drivers. Taxi drivers hate us, car drivers hate us, bus drivers hate us & lorries seem to think we are the spawn of satan. (I think this is because they have to actively look at the road) The irony I spotted over the last two days was that on Tuesday (heaven forbid) I went through a red light. I stand by my decision to do so as it was my safest option, but a taxi driver pulled up next to me and asked me why I did so, I explained that it was safer to get out of his way because he was very close to me. Today (Wednesday) I stopped at the same lights, and on pulling away when the light went green, the driver of the car behind me, who was very impatient, shouted at me out of her window for taking too long to pull away.
My question to motorists is, which would you prefer?
1. I go when it is safe for me to do so. Breaking the rules, but allowing you and I to progress at leisure.
or
2. I wait and follow the rules, and you patiently wait for me to pick up speed as i'm using my own energy to move forward rather than petrol.
As the great lottery advertising once said.
YOU DECIDE
T.A.C.
maybe i'm referring to the rain, maybe i'm talking about the generally crap driving abilities of London motorists.
But today i'm referring to the general grumpiness of drivers. Taxi drivers hate us, car drivers hate us, bus drivers hate us & lorries seem to think we are the spawn of satan. (I think this is because they have to actively look at the road) The irony I spotted over the last two days was that on Tuesday (heaven forbid) I went through a red light. I stand by my decision to do so as it was my safest option, but a taxi driver pulled up next to me and asked me why I did so, I explained that it was safer to get out of his way because he was very close to me. Today (Wednesday) I stopped at the same lights, and on pulling away when the light went green, the driver of the car behind me, who was very impatient, shouted at me out of her window for taking too long to pull away.
My question to motorists is, which would you prefer?
1. I go when it is safe for me to do so. Breaking the rules, but allowing you and I to progress at leisure.
or
2. I wait and follow the rules, and you patiently wait for me to pick up speed as i'm using my own energy to move forward rather than petrol.
As the great lottery advertising once said.
YOU DECIDE
T.A.C.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Long time no speak
Well, this morning proved to be enough incentive for me to write a post.
My issues today:
1. If you are a parent, I would assume that you wouldn't stand in the road with your small children to cross the road, maybe stand on the pavement and teach them how to cross the road properly. (can you recognise the sarcasm) Also when I tell you to stand on the pavement i'm trying to be helpful (granted in a very busy body way), don't tell me to shut up.
2. If you are the driver of the Range Rover that cut me up this morning, you are a wimp, when I shout at you through your window telling you that you have cut me up, locking your door makes you seem a bit pathetic as i'm a girl. Just don't cut me up and then (in a diddums voice) scary girl won't shout at you.
T.A.C.
My issues today:
1. If you are a parent, I would assume that you wouldn't stand in the road with your small children to cross the road, maybe stand on the pavement and teach them how to cross the road properly. (can you recognise the sarcasm) Also when I tell you to stand on the pavement i'm trying to be helpful (granted in a very busy body way), don't tell me to shut up.
2. If you are the driver of the Range Rover that cut me up this morning, you are a wimp, when I shout at you through your window telling you that you have cut me up, locking your door makes you seem a bit pathetic as i'm a girl. Just don't cut me up and then (in a diddums voice) scary girl won't shout at you.
T.A.C.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
TUBE STRIKE
So, to start I am very sorry that I haven't done any blog posts for such a long time, I have been uber busy but there is no excuse.
This Tube Strike has spurred me into action though. I have still been cycling into work everyday and to see the amount of traffic there was on the roads this morning, I thought I should mention it. My usual journey, which on average takes about 40 minutes took 1 hour 15 minutes today. I literally cycled through one giant traffic jam today.
I say to you RMT strike losers, "My company has a pay freeze because of the old recession, so I won't have had a pay increase since Jan 08, stop being so greedy and deal with the fact that you do a job that requires limited training and education. You provide a service which the whole of London is grateful for, but there are people who don't have jobs, but might want yours."
This Tube Strike has spurred me into action though. I have still been cycling into work everyday and to see the amount of traffic there was on the roads this morning, I thought I should mention it. My usual journey, which on average takes about 40 minutes took 1 hour 15 minutes today. I literally cycled through one giant traffic jam today.
I say to you RMT strike losers, "My company has a pay freeze because of the old recession, so I won't have had a pay increase since Jan 08, stop being so greedy and deal with the fact that you do a job that requires limited training and education. You provide a service which the whole of London is grateful for, but there are people who don't have jobs, but might want yours."
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Shake it
Some more footage of my commute into work. I've speeded up the bits I thought were boring but let me know what you think.
Yours
T.A.C.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Awesome substitute to actually cycling this weekend
I'm guessing there would be a lot of punctures, but I could live with that. Imagine how cool I would look.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
The rules
So...
...when I am cycling I know that there are people out there who assume I will go through red lights, assume I will mount the kerb and assume that I wwill generally be shit on the roads.
I can understand peoples issues with cyclists, there are a lot out there that give us a bad name, but I would like to point out with this video that there are also pedestrians out there giving other pedestrians a bad name.
If there is a queue of traffic and you are a pedestrian, please don't just cross between the cars, because I may be cycling down the side of all the cars. Usually in a little lane called the cycle lane.
I usually get very annoyed, but this is because I would hate to hurt somenone, so just look please.
Yours
T.A.C.
Officially Gutted!!!
I was very disorganised and so I ran out of space on my memory card this morning, only to miss a motorcyclist get so annoyed being stuck in a traffic jam that he went up onto the pavement and rode along on that for a bit. So let's hope people don't say its just cyclists, its motorcyclists too.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Nice Socks
Its funny how cyclists hate buses and taxis and vice versa, but sometimes we dislike each other. I wouldn't go so far as hate, as i'm pleased so many people do cycle. But get out of the way!!!
Bit of a video mash up
Wow! This footage is pretty incident free. I think i'll see if I can film where I have been as opposed to where I am going. Then I'll be able to see all the car drivers swearing at me.
Some more footage finally
I'll be far more effective in cutting together my footage soon. Sorry for the lack of excitement.
Yours
T.A.C.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
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