tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91210572631315562882024-03-13T16:19:52.448-07:00Keep your mind wide open and let your imagination fly...Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-24706066653772856612016-06-26T04:43:00.001-07:002016-06-26T04:43:27.095-07:00ANXIETY AWARNESS <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As an Anxiety sufferer myself, I am constantly miss understood, underestimated and pushed aside by society... So I've decided to shed some light on this topic, hoping to raise awareness and acceptance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think the first thing most of us would like you to know is: "I have anxiety, but anxiety doesn't have me" we try our very hardest to control our anxiety and not let it interfere with our daily lives. But everyday is a struggle, even when we are at our best. Our anxiety is always with us and panic taps us on the shoulder a few times a day. On good days we can usually just brush it off, on bad days we would just like to stay in bed. Anxiety isn't something that goes away, it's something we have to learn to control.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our society turns their back to mental illness and come out saying things like "Anxiety isn't that bad". Yes, yes it is. Anxiety makes you sit there and over think every single thing. At times it makes you think that people in your life are leaving you, you begin to feel abandoned and like you're not worth anything because the most important people in your life don't want you. So you start to push away because you're scared of getting hurt. You push them away so they can't leave you anymore. When in reality nobody was ever leaving you...but your anxiety made you distance yourself and leave the ones you love and it sucks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another thing our society does (on those are occasions it acknowledges mental illness) is paint a pretty picture of a someone being hugged while overcoming a panic attack...Well the picture is never that pretty, usually there is no one there to help you and to be brutally honest even if you are lucky enough to have someone there to hold your hand or to hold you it makes little difference. Panic attacks aren't cute or pretty, they are not funny or adorable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Panic attacks are a massive censorial overload... Do you know what it's like to have a censorial overload? To not be able to breathe, getting so dizzy everything around you becomes blurry? Having your hearing so heightened until everything you hear becomes a massive loud buzzing sound? Having your taste buds become so sensitive that all you can taste is blood and metal, even though your mouth is empty? Having everything you can smell become so strong that you just want to vomit? Having your touch so sensitive that everything you touch or anything that touches you physically hurts? And your body's response is to contract all your muscles so tightly you start shaking uncontrollably, but apart from shake you can't move an inch? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But anxiety attacks aren't always hyperventilating and freaking out, for me, most of my anxiety attacks come out in major frustration (with myself and others), fast-talking, stuttering, not talking at all or staring into space zoned out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think what annoys me the most is people saying "Stop being so nervous and anxious" or when I'm having a panic attack "Why don't you just breathe normally?" SERIOUSLY?? You don't think I would if I could...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anxiety can stop you doing everyday tasks, simple tasks become difficult and extremely stressful. Ordering food in restaurants, Walking down a busy road or entering somewhere busy, Talking to people on the phone, Eating in front of other people, Asking for help, Meeting new people, Being in a group of people where I don't know some of them, Getting on public transport, Speaking in front of more than two people...Are some of the examples...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are a few things that anxiety sufferers would like for you to know:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-It may seem irrational to you, but what I'm anxious about is very real for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-I'm not blowing you off, It's hard for me to talk sometimes no matter how much I want to. I just can't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Don't give up on me when I isolate myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Be patient, it doesn't always look like a panic attack, sometimes it comes out in frustration and anger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Even when things are wonderful, I'm waiting for something to go horribly wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-When I'm being quiet, I'm not sad, bored, tired or whatever you want to fill the blank with. There's just so much going on in my head that I can't always keep up with things going on around me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-I can't "Just turn off". Everything can change in less than 30 seconds...Too many people, too much noise and new place and no known exists, the list continues...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-It's not you, I promise. It's me and I'm sorry for every plan I've made and had to cancel. I'm sorry for every time I've seemed irrational and nasty because I was overwhelmed or scared. I'm so sorry my anxiety hurts you as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Don't shut me out, my anxiety stops me doing a lot of things but being invited out by someone who cares can make my day to know they still care.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-I analyze EVERYTHING constantly, I can't turn my brain off and it's exhausting...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-I want you to know it's not your job to fix me. Please just love me the way I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Most of the time you won't know I'm having anxiety unless I tell you, over time you learn to hide it to your best ability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-If I'm not comfortable doing something, just let it go...Please don't try to convince me- it makes it much worse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Even though I have anxiety and can't do a lot of things, please always know that if you need me, I'll be there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-I don't know what's happening in my head a lot of the time either. I understand you don't get it,but your efforts to try and understand mean the world to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Don't take it personally when I don't want to go out. My home is my comfort zone, it's my safe place. Keep inviting me to group things, some days I feel stronger than others, so my answer might surprise you. Be patient.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-When I say I can't take on one more thing, I really need you to understand, I really just can't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-When I can't do something, no one is more disappointed than me. Please try to understand that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Sometimes I need to be alone. It's not personal. I'm not mad. I don't have some big problem. I don't just need to shake it off and do something fun. I just need to be alone so I can reset myself and breathe a little. Give me space, but please don't forget me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All we need is a little understanding, a little acceptance and someone who cares. Please don't underestimate our abilities, yes some days we feel weak and don't even know if we will be able to leave the house. But on other days we are strong and will surprise you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for reading and I hope this has helped you understand the situation of millions of people worldwide a little better.</span>Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-77803270913362869212016-05-06T12:15:00.000-07:002016-05-06T12:15:41.372-07:00We As Teachers..."Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree it will spend its whole life believing it's stupid" -Albert Einstein<br />
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As teachers our job is so much more than teaching, we are role models and motivators. We are also partly responsible for a childs self-esteem... When a child enters our classroom they give us their innocence along with their self-esteem, they fully trust us with it and we make the decision consciously or unconsciously to help it grow or to minimize it.<br />
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We, as teachers NEED to be motivators. I, as I'm sure many other teachers do, make the conscious decision not to tell my student they are wrong. Instead I smile and say "Try again" followed by "Would you like a clue" (giving the first letter of the word if they need the clue). If they still can't think of the answer I simply say "That's okay, don't worry, you'll get it next time". And I have found my students are more willing to try and participate. I think we all forget that constantly saying "No", "Incorrect", "That's not right", "You're wrong" or whatever quote you want, slowly breaks self-esteem. We, as teachers need to help build their self-esteem, to help protect what they so innocently trust us with every time they walk through our classroom door.<br />
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I've had the honour to be able to talk to Kyle Schwartz, an American teacher who created the "I wish my teacher knew" activity. Each child is given a piece of paper and writes something he or she wants you to know about them. Kyle informed me that most of the time you get papers that say "My dog is called Bongo" or "My favourite ice- cream is chocolate" but every now and then you read one piece of paper that takes your breath away. And she was right. I did this activity today, one of my 10 year old's papers made the world stand still for a minute. On this paper was written: " I wish my teacher knew I try my best in English class and I'm sorry I make mistakes." I was speechless... Give a child a voice and they will surprise you every time.<br />
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"Sobre cada niño se debería poner un cartel que dijiera "Tratar con cuidado, contiene sueños."Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-21147872608260613412015-01-16T05:49:00.001-08:002015-01-16T05:49:59.941-08:00Fears & What If's...So the Christmas break is over and back to work it is... The year hasn't started great, only two weeks in and we've had to say goodbye to a loved one and seen my little cousin admitted to hospital...<br />
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But these fears weren't my biggest over the holidays; I became very anxious about returning to work with one group in particular. My youngest and largest group: 10 kids between the ages of 3 and 7; it's a challenging group. We have 5 beautifully behaved, polite, bright, willing to learn kids but we also have 2 selective mutes aged 4 and 5, an autistic boy aged 3, a 7 year old with ADHD who can be very disruptive and another boy with extreme ADHD who is also very violent aged 5...<br />
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We are known as the circus class and it's very easy to see why. Every class, my classroom assistant and myself and breaking up fights, giving countless timeouts, trying to keep the attention of 10 very active little kids and trying to defuse problems before they start. We encounter hitting, kicking, swearing, spitting, chairs being thrown across the room... pens, pencils, books, rucksacks have all flown across the room at some point. So you can imagine my anxiety levels towards the end of the holidays...<br />
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Before Christmas we had made huge progress with 4 of the 5 challenging children: Both my selective mutes where able to whisper to my assistant and myself; We had made the 7 year old with ADHD the "classroom helper" so he would help us hand out colours and activity sheets, it seemed to really calm him down and his behaviour had improved very very quickly; With the violent ADHD 5 year old, things improved a lot slower but we still made progress, we were starting to learn what triggered the violent outbursts so we diffused the situation before it got too bad, we weren't perfect and still we had days where he was totally out of control, days where he swore at us teachers, hit, spat and kicked everyone who was in his reach and threw chairs across the room, but they were less. With autism it's different, we aren't equipped with all the tools to help him fully, but we do our best, we have days where we make progress and you start to think "Okay, we can deal with this, we're going in the right direction" but the next day you are right back at square one, progress is almost invisible.<br />
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My anxieties were in particular with the selective mutes and the ADHDs: After two and a half weeks with no class, not seeing us twice a week, would they still feel safe enough to whisper to us? After two and a half weeks with no routines, no structure, was the ADHD going to be worse? Were we going to have to start back at square one? Were we going to have to do all of this over again? Was everything a waste of time? Had it been worth the stress and worry?<br />
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First day back, all seemed calm to begin with, we sat down and did and colouring activity; Our 5 year old girl who is one of the mutes, whispered to me "Yellow please" my heart skipped a beat, I passed her the colour, smiling from ear to ear "Good girl you remembered the colours, high five!"; Our eldest ADHD sat nicely, helping one of our younger children who can't read yet, "Good job buddy". I turned to my youngest mute, held up a colour "What colour is this one?" silence, in my head I was begging him to talk, I'm not sure if I wanted him to talk more for the benefit of his confidence or mine...still nothing..."Okay... don't worry. It starts with Rrr.." he smiled "Red!" another round of "Good boy, well done, high five!" was in order. Our kids survive because of the constant praise we dish out. The children beam when we praise them, they are happy and proud with themselves.<br />
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But it wasn't long before my tummy flipped, I heard the dreaded word..."FIGHT"...Oh great here we go again. Yep I could have made myself a million air if I had bet on who it was fighting, violent ADHD vs Autism, the result? hurt feelings, a scratch and timeouts. I still get frustrated that a 3 year old autistic boy is capable of doing a timeout very well, yet a 5 year old ADHD will not sit still and just starts attacking me for putting him there, but it's something we knew we'd have to work with...<br />
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Oh it's good to be back, I still have anxieties, but now they are different. What else can I do to help these children? What if this as good as it's going to get? What if I'm making it worse? What if I'm not good enough? Will we have also taken 4 steps back after Easter break?<br />
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We have another 5 months left with this class, on bad days we look and each other and say "How the heck are we going to survive another 5 months?" but on good days we are more positive "Can't believe we only have another 5 months with them...it's going way to fast" Yes we still have days where we feel like just breaking down and crying, days where you clear up after the kids have left without saying a word to each other, days where you feel helpless, like you're never enough. But those days are getting less. We also have days where we smile constantly, were ALL the kids get sticker for good behaviour, days where when parents ask how their child behaved that day you can smile and say "Wonderful, they did a great job today".<br />
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Maybe 5 months is a long time, but we are sticking with these kids and helping them the best way we can. Our goal as teachers is to do the best possible job, to help the kids learn, have fun, smile and most of all to see happy little faces. Anxieties aside? Yeah, we love our job.<br />
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<br />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-15570602478448622932015-01-02T11:42:00.002-08:002015-01-02T11:42:49.336-08:00A look back on 2014Wow, can't believe another year is over. Can't believe all the things that have happened over the past 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8765 hours, 525949 minutes, how ever you want to put this year.<br />
As a whole we've been through many ups and downs: Schumacher's accident, Banchi's accident, we lost Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Peaches Geldof, Joe Cocker, John Button, P.D James, Lynda Bellingham, Richard Attenborough, Maya Angelou, to name a few, we saw Oscar Pistorius sentenced to Jail, we watched Syria get ripped apart, watched planes dissapear left right and center, Ebol spread like wild fire through Africa...<br />
But it wasn't all bad news, There we more fifth birthdays then ever before, it was annouced that Little Prince George would become a big brother later this year, a paralysed man was given the ability to walk again, a deaf baby got to hear for the first time, In Toronto a high school senior took his great grandmother to his prom because she had never been to one before, a family in Alberta who have triplet boys all fighting eye cancer were donated thousand of dollar by strangers to help fund the treatment, thanks to social media many missing people/kids have been found safe and well...See it hasn't all been bad no has it?!<br />
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For me personally 2014 has been filled with many ups and downs. Many woderful things have happened and I've met some amazing people. I've laughed, smiled, jumped with joy... but I've also struggled, cried and shattered into a million pieces. I've gained a lot but also lost so much. You can be so depressed and no one even notices, you can be on the verge of tears, drowning and everyone is oblivious.You put someone first who puts you second. You work at something really hard only for it to fail. You give 110% in a realtionship with someone who only gives 40%. You are there for your best friend at 3:00am because they need help but when you call a few days later they won't even pick up their phone. It seems like all you're doing is giving everyone everything and they are just walking away with it. When I look back I'm happy with how I coped and the way the year ended.<br />
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I also learnt a hell of a lot this year:<br />
-Its not necessary to be in a forest to be lost; you don't need to see everything grey to see no colour in your life; but you need sufficient strength to fight your problems.<br />
-I'm a lot stronger than i though I was, but I don't have as much patience as I though I did.<br />
-I'm not good at taking advice and criticism.<br />
-I can't let go.<br />
-it only takes one person to give you a chance so you can prove yourself.<br />
-Never give up, just keep moving foward, doesn't matter how slow you advance, as long as you keep going.<br />
-No one else cares about your problems, they are fighting their own battles.<br />
-Friends just take advantage.<br />
-Never trust anyone more than 90%<br />
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Every year is going to be full of ups and downs, no year is going to be perfect. It's what you do with these ups and downs that makes the difference! I wish all who read this a happy new year, I hope it's filled with health, happiness, laughter, love and joy. I also wish you hugs, comfort and strength when you face bad days.<br />
"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it."<br />
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<br />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-11159118729896322682014-10-18T07:30:00.002-07:002015-01-07T03:13:46.299-08:00An easy profession? <br />
The other day I was stopped in the street and asked what my job was; So I said: "I'm a teacher". They looked at me, smiled and said:"A teacher, that's an easy job, all you do is play with kids all day long"<br />
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I'm a decent person,<br />
No I DON'T work in an office, but I have my own space to share my knowledge with young people.<br />
I DON'T discriminate anyone, I treat all my pupils equally.<br />
NO Im NOT a boss of a huge company, but your kids see me as a leader, they look up to me and I set a good examples for them.<br />
NO, I'm not a psychologist, but I can make you child believe in their own abilities.<br />
NO i'm NOT a doctor but I can diagnose problems, dislexia, ADHD, autism and struggles.<br />
I DON'T have a fixed timetable, because when you are at home sleeping, playing with your child or watching the television, I'm sat at my table for hours on end planning lessons and activities to be able to give your child a better education, hours I don't get paid for.<br />
I'm NOT an architect who designs buildings, but I help build your childs dreams.<br />
I DON'T play with the kids, I participate in their education, helping them reach their full potential.<br />
I DON'T play with plastecine, I helping my students shape their dreams.<br />
I DON'T turn kids away, I listen to their stories giving them my full atention even if they've told me the same story before.<br />
NO I DON'T know how to stop wars, but I do know how to teach your kids right from wrong, to treat their classmates and others with respect and good manners.<br />
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NO, being a teacher ISN'T easy, but it's worth it, it's rewarding.<br />
Yes there are days when you feel helpless, when you couldn't help a child to understand how to do an activity, when you see two of your pupils fighting, when a child turns around swears at you and kicks you because you've told them they can't go and play until they finish their worksheet. Those awful days when a child turns to you and says "Yesterday I was sad and you didn't realise, you didn't help me" but that is all outweighed by the good.<br />
The feeling of proudness you feel when you see one of your pupils helping others, getting an activity right for the first time without help, over coming obstacles, finally believeing in their own abilities, a pupil turning around and saying "Thank you" or "That was fun", a child saying "Please" for the first time or child who has selective mutism to feel so safe and comfortable that she will actually whisper to you... That feeling, those few seconds, no words can describe. I wouldn't want to change my job, even though some of you think it's easy and silly. Everyday I get to see little faces light up, I get to watch children grow, I get to help them chase their dreams. Everyday I get to make a difference.Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-49654911618317836502014-10-17T11:08:00.001-07:002014-10-17T11:08:17.871-07:00Formula One, not just a sport...<b>Mark Webber</b> taught me that sometimes being second best is atually better than being the best.<br />
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<b>Felipe Massa</b> taught me never to give up no matter how bad things are going.<br />
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<b>Lewis Hamilton</b> taught me that to be understood you must first listen.<br />
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<b>Jenson Button </b>taught me that it's okay to have bad days and be down as long s you pick yourself back up.<br />
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<b>Susie Wolff </b>and <b>María de Villota</b> taught me to follow my dreams and don't let other people comments stop you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOAARGLhwaaKqG_bauryNFq2XAAKvCu0C-S7BGqCjyqruCcWtiPHyOl8p5tiiTmxJE9l2ozpBchZs7HXdWCVeH6LlHskRr4aOH_AGT5BY8OmY49tdhrej3Cxbx81kDKXZlF0SVusLW9pv/s1600/jhg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOAARGLhwaaKqG_bauryNFq2XAAKvCu0C-S7BGqCjyqruCcWtiPHyOl8p5tiiTmxJE9l2ozpBchZs7HXdWCVeH6LlHskRr4aOH_AGT5BY8OmY49tdhrej3Cxbx81kDKXZlF0SVusLW9pv/s1600/jhg.jpg" /></a><b>Kimi Raikkonen </b>taught me that it's okay to be quiet, that sometimes one worded answers are best.<br />
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<b>Senna</b> taught me it's okay to walk in others shadows until it's my time to shine.<br />
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<b>Fernando Alonso</b> taught me that you need more than just talent to be the best.<br />
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<b>Claire Williams</b> taught me that women have no boundries, we are just as good as men.<br />
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<b>Rob Smedley</b> taught me to put others happiness before my own.<br />
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<b>Michael Schumacher </b>taught me that my problems are small compared to those of others.<br />
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<b>Jaume Alguersuar</b>i taught me tht not everyone will appreciate how talented you are.<br />
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<b>Sebastian Vettel</b> taught me that it's okay to be a little bit selfsih as long as I'm a good person.<br />
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<b>Daniel Ricciardo</b> taught me that it's okay to be overestimated, It only takes one person to give you that chance to prove everyone wrong.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pv9Flm7p5rkSAZTVrT3dy4rChfR5i9B8u3G11HrQJSKV8yinYCfvTPX3X7tlFWCe0vrX0lgeVTCXgCsoJr_gmV1h_KR1tUUrXGBfG1er47sMbGt3AzH2UouHJHZQ1EjL3KaCPtEEZOc-/s1600/ms+fm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pv9Flm7p5rkSAZTVrT3dy4rChfR5i9B8u3G11HrQJSKV8yinYCfvTPX3X7tlFWCe0vrX0lgeVTCXgCsoJr_gmV1h_KR1tUUrXGBfG1er47sMbGt3AzH2UouHJHZQ1EjL3KaCPtEEZOc-/s1600/ms+fm.jpg" /></a><b>Pedro De La Rosa</b> taught me that it' okay to step aside, but always be there when they need you and that you're never to old to continue living your dream.<br />
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<b>Bruno Senna</b> taught me to fight through pain and disappointment, because it mkes you a stronger person.<br />
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<b>Niki Lauda </b>taught me that set-backs are there to remind us of how much we really want something.<br />
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<b>Toto Wolff</b> taught me that hard work pays off, you just have to be patient.<br />
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<b>Jean-Eric Vergne</b> taught me to never stop fighting to better myself.<br />
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<b>Frank Williams</b> taught me how to turn my weaknesses into strengths.<br />
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<b>Adrian Sutil</b> taught me that making one mistake doesn't make you a bad person; everyone desrves a second chance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26NZN8lwMc5rJjofyH1P8XndU0muD9LZFrfGhtUKM_WfEACU70EUzJ7jbYIGhBy8s5NsLr-pStFyDSgz5dNgwMEbReDfG0BYqsS-91W1AQdEbpi_c0L5sBgCqM9P69E4g-9nO4Y-seiuw/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26NZN8lwMc5rJjofyH1P8XndU0muD9LZFrfGhtUKM_WfEACU70EUzJ7jbYIGhBy8s5NsLr-pStFyDSgz5dNgwMEbReDfG0BYqsS-91W1AQdEbpi_c0L5sBgCqM9P69E4g-9nO4Y-seiuw/s1600/images.jpg" /></a><b>Jules Bianchi</b> taught me to be grateful for everyday and to live my life how I want.<br />
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<b>Kamui Kobayashi</b> taught me that people will still like you even if you're not the best.<br />
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<b>Jessica Michibata</b> taught me to stand by my loved ones through ALL there ups and downs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdJy3hwxca24u9ZtWcBWqV4DSjoqbx8uEgay779CXgPK3eWEaAH1khl3_YVZT6C_tEnlH-ocbZZBznImJNfvhdEX_544hFhqi-dWUqvYkOZP1fF3IXpbCQh9gEIyw25mlE4oRAFkniJtB/s1600/rwg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdJy3hwxca24u9ZtWcBWqV4DSjoqbx8uEgay779CXgPK3eWEaAH1khl3_YVZT6C_tEnlH-ocbZZBznImJNfvhdEX_544hFhqi-dWUqvYkOZP1fF3IXpbCQh9gEIyw25mlE4oRAFkniJtB/s1600/rwg.jpg" height="95" width="200" /></a>To many, Formula One is just another sport, predictable, boring and not much point to it. To a select few, it's more than a sport it's a way of life. To me Formula One is more than a way of life, every driver is there to teach you something, its up to you to learn.<br />
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<br />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-77641961498335243512014-09-10T04:05:00.000-07:002014-09-10T04:25:32.960-07:00I'm sorry i couldn't save you...10th of September is suicide awarness day so I want to take the chance to talk about something that over the past 4 years has become close to my heart, something that inspires me. Its called the Will-To-Live Foundation. I have the honour of knowing the family who set up the foundation in memory of their 15 year old son Will, who they lost to suicide on the 15th of October 2010.<br />
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The age of suicide victims has dropped to as young as 9 years old in the last 15 years, yes 9! So why aren't more people doing something about it? It's simple, nobody talks about it, it's taboo. But how can something so common be taboo?<br />
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The Will-To-Live Foundation teaches kids to look around them, to talk to their friends about their problems but also to listen to their friends when they need them, These kids/young adults find that they are not alone, they have Life Teammates to help them along.<br />
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One thing that MR Trautwein said, that stuck in my head was "You kids have it tough,the pressures you are facing now I didn't feel until I was 4-5 years older than you guys" and it's true, or modern day society pressures us to be beautiful, to be perfect but refuses to give us a consistant defenition of either... Nowadays we are constantly critsiced everywhere , by the goverment, by friends, by family. teachers, bosses, the list doesn't stop.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago I was told a girl I went to school with took her own life. Her suicide note read "Mi Depressión me ganó" (My depression beat me)... Why do we live in a world where the words "I suffer from depression" aren't said, or if they are said they fall on deaf ears. If someone tells us they suffer depression, why do we run a mile? We are scared of talking to someone with a mental illness. But are we scared or are we ashamed?<br />
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A kid in the USA loses the will to live at a rate of 1 every 2 hours, thats 12 a day, 12 kids a day attempt to take their lives in the States alone, it's chilling. It's the 3rd biggest killer in people between the ages of 15-25, behind accidents and homocide, 3rd!!<br />
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And yet a lot of us turn our back and pretend we don't see... If someone you know says they are gonna take their own life, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. When you're walking down the street or shopping smile at someone or say "Have a nice day" you might just make that persons day worthwhile. tell your friends and family how much you love them, they are your Life Teammates, the ones who willl pick you up when you fall down. Don't be ashamed or embarassed to drop a "I love you man!" on someone once a day. Life Teammates are important they are what keep you going.<br />
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The Will-To-Live Foundation is crustial in many kids lives, it gives them Hope, it shows them they are not alone, a place to go and talk, it teaches them the value of life with Life Teammates. I've learnt a lot overthe past 4 years and i'm very grateful and inspired by the Foundation.<br />
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Thank you John and Susie Trautwein.<br />
Love ya Man!<br />
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<br />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-45540770129749591382014-08-15T10:39:00.004-07:002014-10-30T02:55:31.529-07:00Robin Williams, We will miss you...Four days ago, I joined the world in mourning the death of Robin Williams, one of my favourite actors of all time. He was so funny on screen, so full of life, so natural and had perfect timing, and now he was gone. I was lost for words, I felt numb and empty. How can someone you've ever met, you've never talked to, mean so much to you? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePbJHOtSxX40L3ZvRg6AUjYj55V2Jx_PyrWPoz3Wh4FwUbQ4qSpmaZPqrZnQhM0RxVaX3aS1A856UxdkKmNsZoWK8xYYr3XUCQoT1r2xhWC6qXKruceS2DLjAtStCegXCryipZGEqRV0t/s1600/hatehj.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePbJHOtSxX40L3ZvRg6AUjYj55V2Jx_PyrWPoz3Wh4FwUbQ4qSpmaZPqrZnQhM0RxVaX3aS1A856UxdkKmNsZoWK8xYYr3XUCQoT1r2xhWC6qXKruceS2DLjAtStCegXCryipZGEqRV0t/s1600/hatehj.png" /></a></div>
I was instantly replaying all my favourite movies of his in my head: Dead Poets Society, Hook, Mrs Doubtfire, Jumanji, Hamlet, Good Will Hunting, Flubber, Robots and the Butler. Yeah I grew up watching Robin Williams, he made me laugh more than anyone else to date. He always seemed so happy on camera...<br />
He always had such a jolly demeanour, a happy face, that brought a smile to millions of people around the world. But behind that smile was a man battling server depression. Depression is like a war, you win or you die trying...<br />
Robin talked about his depression in interviews, using quotations that will forever stick in my head: "I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone." , "You are only given one spark of madness. You mustn't lose it" and "You can judge how heavy a persons burdens are until thye put them down and the whole floor shakes"<br />
The afternoon of his death I was given the unbelievably hard task of telling my 7 year-old cousin that his favourite actor from his favourite film (Hook) had died and gone to live in Heaven with the Angels. His answer was "But Granny is older than him and she still lives, so why did he die?" I knew I couldn't tell him the whole truth, he was too young to learn about suicide, so I took a different approach "He was sick Hadyn" "Oh...okay" and off he went.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33mhboRcKNAhaWJah5PwaxD9KvhINMBa7YQjB6LmRIvoF4rETCbGHIWKzcm2v2-8s1GmimcRTy9d4_R-opeO95QmNDBL95d3Q7Yt7RrWszOeb-kBOUWDFmOupUqL9XFr-E0zeEHazWWdA/s1600/Williams.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33mhboRcKNAhaWJah5PwaxD9KvhINMBa7YQjB6LmRIvoF4rETCbGHIWKzcm2v2-8s1GmimcRTy9d4_R-opeO95QmNDBL95d3Q7Yt7RrWszOeb-kBOUWDFmOupUqL9XFr-E0zeEHazWWdA/s1600/Williams.png" height="212" width="320" /></a><br />
Dear Robin Williams,<br />
On behalf on millions of kids and adults, Thank you. Thank you for making us laugh hours on end. For bringing comedy into our houses. For talking about depression and making people aware. <br />
We will miss your laugh, your personality and your silly smile. <br />
Sleep tight, fly far and wide. <br />
Xx<br />
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<br />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-70957212611509410232014-07-03T13:20:00.000-07:002014-10-30T02:56:54.399-07:00New Job, New LessonsFor the month of June I am working as a live in au pair for a family who live in Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca. I'm looking after two children: a girl Antònia María who is 11 and a boy Tomeu who is 9, but these aren't just ordinary kids, they have Attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) so everyday tasks are that little bit harder and take a little longer. Don't get me wrong they are great kids, full of positive energy, they are caring and loving but they have their Oh dear moments. <br />
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I've only been with the family for a week, before that I'd only spent an hour with the kids a week, and so far this job has taught me that I don't have as much patients as I thought, but's it's also teaching me to accept every single person for who he/she is, to adapt to the life around me and to try not to stress out over little things. <br />
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The days are challenging and long, timetables go out of the window, you have a list of tasks to do that day and if you have time left over you can do whatever you want. The first task of the day is breakfast, something that should only take 15 minutes takes nearly an hour, once task number is one done it's time to move on to task two: getting dressed. Oh hell, that's the most challenging task of the day, "Tomeu, please can you go and get dressed?" his answer is a "yes" with a huge smile, of he goes. An hour passes and he still hasn't returned, so I go and check on him, there he is either still in his Pyjamas, no clothes on at all or only managed to put underwear on, but he's got completely distracted and is now playing with a Lego boat... <br />
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Even though both kids have ADHD they are completely different, Antònia can control herself more she just struggles academically where as Tomeu has a photographic memory and is highly intelligent, with an IQ higher than most adults but doesn't have the self discipline to apply it, you have to sit with him and help him concentrate on the task ahead. <br />
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But despite the everyday challenges they face, they are the happiest kids I've met, respectful of every single person they meet, apologetic after a meltdown, love to play games, swim and draw, like the average kid. They are massively misunderstood. People think that just because they have ADHD they are going to be a handful, but that couldn't be further from the truth, you just need to know how to talk to them and get them engaged in the task in hand.<br />
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To Antònia Maria and Tomeu, Thank you for helping me understand :)<br />
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<br />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-72997663173997450562014-05-28T02:04:00.001-07:002014-05-28T02:04:23.013-07:00Jenson Button<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favourite guy races cars for a living,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Racing round and round he never stops giving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's tall and slender with bright blue eyes,</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7h8jlCSuznzTehxTxX2LyIqgLT95uAexRyJvPr6ZNZfDmIHpolslx3Qp9l00ytR_il0Y-CYMJhKWJfUkVX4xjjieNgudWszPdskg0k3I9BKYT5pq-BnOpMihM920S9-aCMM0_ydBjsKN/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7h8jlCSuznzTehxTxX2LyIqgLT95uAexRyJvPr6ZNZfDmIHpolslx3Qp9l00ytR_il0Y-CYMJhKWJfUkVX4xjjieNgudWszPdskg0k3I9BKYT5pq-BnOpMihM920S9-aCMM0_ydBjsKN/s1600/untitled.png" height="132" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter what race, his best he always tries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car of glistening silver shines in the light,</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To get on the podium is a difficult fight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he crashes or retires it makes me sad,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But to see him walk away unhurt makes me glad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Screeching tyres as pits pit stops are made,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good stop mean the race could be saved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make on mistake and the whole team pays,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The race engineer, an important role he plays.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenson's racing skills make him a master of rain,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the starting grid, so much to lose, so much to gain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Monaco Grand Prix of 2009 he did win,</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuoQQYmSwyWDgCi8ryckKY83DEAClTSRCqZ51N8tk7ORhPJw3HqZDeQMui47nO6eo-s8Q_CmKAqXKa-XUcOIz3nI243w_-3jg_pmZd-O5gMwM6RwG0bSfzKGye-JrdFF5JE9GIc8_YvRi/s1600/jb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuoQQYmSwyWDgCi8ryckKY83DEAClTSRCqZ51N8tk7ORhPJw3HqZDeQMui47nO6eo-s8Q_CmKAqXKa-XUcOIz3nI243w_-3jg_pmZd-O5gMwM6RwG0bSfzKGye-JrdFF5JE9GIc8_YvRi/s1600/jb.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That season "We are the Champions" he did sing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the next victory I might have to wait a while,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't mind as long as he continues to smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JB is the one I follow with all my heart,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've followed him right from the start.</span><br />
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Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-70647940874418238522014-04-21T10:22:00.003-07:002014-04-21T10:22:38.697-07:00Easter weekendWhat a gorgeous weekend!! My Aunt and Uncle came over for the weekend and the weather has been spectacular, it's been so hot and sunny, we spent the whole weekend in shorts and t-shirts getting tanned and in Uncle Paul's and my brothers case sunburnt.<br />
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The weekend actually started before they arrived! On the Friday evening we went into town for a few drinks with a couple of neighbours. In the town they had an Easter procession, there were huge statues of Jesus and the Virgin Marie being carried around on peoples shoulders, each statue weighs just over a ton and is carried around the town by a group of 20 men or 28 women. Each float was followed by, what the Spanish call, "Carapuches", which are hooded figures. It was actually quite scary.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF3s3UXk8fgL32509k30iTv4MzPVxDrpXnoxf6PfYU3BRAhBONFMNxLi3s6z7qL1Gxf5xh_9fFrMDeLzV77TMskDfJIDswq80q0hzcAaQgSJS4C8QAKm0o_M31ffcz5NMF-QGvvLbAoVy/s1600/20140419_171012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF3s3UXk8fgL32509k30iTv4MzPVxDrpXnoxf6PfYU3BRAhBONFMNxLi3s6z7qL1Gxf5xh_9fFrMDeLzV77TMskDfJIDswq80q0hzcAaQgSJS4C8QAKm0o_M31ffcz5NMF-QGvvLbAoVy/s1600/20140419_171012.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Saturday morning I felt sick with excitement, I hadn't seen Uncle Paul or Auntie Vanessa in over two years, as they went travelling around the world for a year, so it felt special to see them again, I was like a kid at Christmas. I woke up early, watched Quali, what a disappointment... didn't go the way I wanted it to. After that I went off to the airport with dad to pick them up, I had butterflies. As soon as I saw them I ran as fast as I could straight into Uncle Paul's open arms, my butterflies went away immediately. On the way back home I got to have a girly chat with Vanessa, it was amazing to catch up! We spent the whole afternoon outside just chatting in the sun, there were some hilarious stories that came out, it was BLISS! We went out for dinner just to a local restaurant, it was nice just to chill and catch up. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAGPgHhw8IfBbk2CiW-Glz7AL3887te0LA91FhTANCaKdytzhNm4SdXKW1-wei1KDqwDC96JaQ85mNcDz2oQpLC9axzfQ0AYAl2Y2xg7uA62pN9p0WW3k3BotGWxUDNPQY4xiFNqn3v8I/s1600/CIMG1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAGPgHhw8IfBbk2CiW-Glz7AL3887te0LA91FhTANCaKdytzhNm4SdXKW1-wei1KDqwDC96JaQ85mNcDz2oQpLC9axzfQ0AYAl2Y2xg7uA62pN9p0WW3k3BotGWxUDNPQY4xiFNqn3v8I/s1600/CIMG1885.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Sunday morning, race day, what a shockingly bad race for McLaren and Massa, that put me in a bad mood, Uncle Paul winded me up something rotten, but it was hard to be mad at him, he's just so funny. So again just another day of chatting in the sun while eating and talking. Oh and of course, like every time we get together, Dad and Uncle Paul jammed on the guitars for a while, needless to say Uncle Paul was miles better than Dad! But he still insisted on showing Dad how to play songs Uncle Pauls band plays, it was funny. The evening just got better, after a night time walk, we played Articulate, We've never laughed so much in our lives. Mum burst out into song mid-clue which had us in stitches and then Keiran had to describe Nigel Lawson, but not knowing who he was Keiran's clue was "His first name is a bit of a funny name" So Uncle Paul responded "Dick" my brother cracks up instantly and answers back "Not that funny"... Oh my days, we all ended up crying with laughter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yQpBdsPHGYk06AxJlUmrF4_bemy8HtJgVmJiwatHYLgo2WionorMeZ5MGrgz3DBQoa7sEmahNHg2yRDjJYP-_-PbKI04l-G4hrCzrs1a67AbIT4VePjLc-OjKOxZ14po044KLEk7_47/s1600/CIMG1900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yQpBdsPHGYk06AxJlUmrF4_bemy8HtJgVmJiwatHYLgo2WionorMeZ5MGrgz3DBQoa7sEmahNHg2yRDjJYP-_-PbKI04l-G4hrCzrs1a67AbIT4VePjLc-OjKOxZ14po044KLEk7_47/s1600/CIMG1900.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Which brings me to today, Monday, we all got up quite late, so we decided to go out for a walk in a village up the road and have a snack and a walk. We walked all around Sineu then found a little bar to have lunch in, we all had typical Spanish food called "Pa amb Oli" It was so nice. So again we started chatting, the topic turned to Uncle Pauls job, he's an undertaker, its amazing how many funny stories can come from working in a funeral home. after lunch we drove back home and lounged around a bit before they had to pack. And before I knew it the weekend was over and Uncle Paul and Auntie Vanessa were saying Goodbye. I felt sad saying Goodbye, as I've got older it's started to hit me that every Goodbye could be the last. <br />
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Easter is over, there were horrible parts to the weekend but on a whole it was also really special and amazing. Just can't wait to see them again now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn-TZW_NDz6zhWAXFJ7Dq6kHFQ14uRwunJgKjDXbTOYCBrgRA-hK_piQbK1lGMHFbLJ9GKGQkJkk2o9yM2_kZF-JVZqUbte8PUzYONpWQ7pI-678c73ZPj2OFu7dqS9mDK30hq9-c3_M-/s1600/CIMG1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn-TZW_NDz6zhWAXFJ7Dq6kHFQ14uRwunJgKjDXbTOYCBrgRA-hK_piQbK1lGMHFbLJ9GKGQkJkk2o9yM2_kZF-JVZqUbte8PUzYONpWQ7pI-678c73ZPj2OFu7dqS9mDK30hq9-c3_M-/s1600/CIMG1911.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-65553654063796805322014-02-17T12:41:00.000-08:002014-02-17T12:41:28.486-08:00A Poem for WillI had a dream that was so real,<br />
Will it was you I could almost feel.<br />
I thought you were really here,<br />
Then I woke to see you disappear.<br />
<br />
Tears started running down my face,<br />
And my heart began to race.<br />
Will, I felt you all so near,<br />
Your voice is the one I hear.<br />
<br />
You tell me to stay strong,<br />
But everything feel so wrong.<br />
Deep inside I feel so bad,<br />
I constantly feel cold and sad.<br />
<br />
You whisper in my ear "All shall be okay",<br />
Because tomorrow will be better than today.<br />
I wish so much you wouldn't leave,<br />
Because I don't want to continue to grieve.<br />
<br />
All those days spent at the beach in the sun,<br />
Now are precious memories, we had such fun.<br />
No you're an Eagle who is free to fly,<br />
All day long high in the sky.<br />
<br />
At night you are a bright shinning star,<br />
But you being far away has left a scar.<br />
Deep in my heart forever it will stay,<br />
It's been there since you went away.<br />
<br />
Will, we all miss you lots,<br />
In my throat I have a huge knot.<br />
You are forever in my heart,<br />
Even though we are far apart.<br />
<br />
Love ya man. XxxxKellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-37858336436546144762014-01-23T11:09:00.003-08:002014-01-23T11:09:51.582-08:00Jessica Dubroff: A seven year old who lived by her own rules.
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few days ago I was looking into getting started for my
pilot licence, something I’ve wanted since I was 18, when I stumbled across and
article about a seven year old little girl called Jessica Dubroff. To be
perfectly honest I had never heard of her before, but I became hooked on her
story. She lived her own dreams not caring what people said about her and I’d
like to share her story with you guys:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgHt7P8JmPDyKx8D_o-tZJWBTK0VSt1WkW06_oP-rbdcz4gOZL_J8vawVr7wzr5ax0rdEBSi8mf5Nuyf9saBhBfATck5wjO-J28EJgcNzntDx0p62wTSpne5Ra8jZ3dMX1pnnMF9vbQfu/s1600/hjghfgd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgHt7P8JmPDyKx8D_o-tZJWBTK0VSt1WkW06_oP-rbdcz4gOZL_J8vawVr7wzr5ax0rdEBSi8mf5Nuyf9saBhBfATck5wjO-J28EJgcNzntDx0p62wTSpne5Ra8jZ3dMX1pnnMF9vbQfu/s1600/hjghfgd.gif" height="135" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was born in Massachusetts on the 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of May
1988, to Lisa Blair Hathaway and Lloyd Dubroff and moved to California when she
was four with her older brother Joshua and her younger sister Jasmine. She
began taking flight lessons from flight instructor Joe Reid on her sixth
birthday, and became enthusiastic about flying. Her father, who was separated
from her mother by this time, suggested the idea of a coast-to-coast flight,
which Jessica readily accepted, and Reid agreed to provide flight instruction
and his four seated single engine aircraft for the endeavour. They decided to
name their flight "Sea to Shining Sea".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jessica would sit in the front left seat, Reid in the front
right, and Lloyd in the back. It was agreed that Reid would be paid for his
services at normal flight instruction rates, plus compensation for the layover
time. Reid reportedly told his wife that he considered the flight a
"non-event for aviation," simply "flying cross country with a
7-year-old sitting next to you and the parents paying for it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nevertheless, Jessica became an instant media celebrity,
having already logged 33 hours of flight time in such a short time. ABC News
gave Lloyd a video camera and blank cassettes to tape the flight; once the
journey began, it was vigorously followed by supporters, media outlets, and
others who monitored its progress, reporting each time Dubroff landed or took
off- Jessica had to be assisted by Reid in one of the landings due to high
winds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3G-8sqdtXQMfQoSdEFmWuy5_aZwC4bR097nQVXOXvxHicYdciG3MvdhcNzB4th5lFbo7yoCrUKr1vmHPWAcDVzKzVlm7tAzhX5vvvB8uTH0H3xtEKpawMmfvzS-ye52vwt0nvO5Gk7_L/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3G-8sqdtXQMfQoSdEFmWuy5_aZwC4bR097nQVXOXvxHicYdciG3MvdhcNzB4th5lFbo7yoCrUKr1vmHPWAcDVzKzVlm7tAzhX5vvvB8uTH0H3xtEKpawMmfvzS-ye52vwt0nvO5Gk7_L/s1600/untitled.png" height="200" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dubroff, her father, and her flight instructor arrived in
Cheyenne and after some media interviews they got a ride to their hotel in the
car of a local radio station program director, who recalled them discussing the
forecast weather conditions for the next day. Composite radar image <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was showing precipitation intensity around
Cheyenne airport at time of departure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The weather in the morning of the flight, the north and west
of Cheyenne was hit by torrential rain but weather conditions were much better to
the east, where the flight was headed. Since it began to rain at the airport
and the weather seemed to be deteriorating, the program director invited her to
stay in Cheyenne, but Dubroff's father declined, explaining that they wanted to
"beat the storm" which was approaching. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reid decided to take
off despite the worsening conditions at the airport, and to try to escape the
poor weather by turning immediately eastward. Just before take off Jessica
called her mum from the plane phone “Can you hear the rain? Can you hear the
rain” The last words Jessica spoke before they were cut off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDhzYSOb2HqTcuX6kk69TZgzhEWEACjtRGuGolqP3Sld5dcgXu62VHd0OhO5TPvB6oJrjhMjrrxL1ornFvv_Cph80lGx4sbuOnwxq1JdeOxY6dUsd34mFncnWeu7q2eriU29ianFBzkfo/s1600/jessica1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDhzYSOb2HqTcuX6kk69TZgzhEWEACjtRGuGolqP3Sld5dcgXu62VHd0OhO5TPvB6oJrjhMjrrxL1ornFvv_Cph80lGx4sbuOnwxq1JdeOxY6dUsd34mFncnWeu7q2eriU29ianFBzkfo/s1600/jessica1.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the aircraft began taxiing to the departure runway, it
was raining and visibility at the airport fell below the three mile minimum
required for VFR flight. Cheyenne's control tower advised the Cessna about the
reduced visibility and that the "field is IFR." Reid then requested
and received from the control tower a special VFR clearance to allow him to
exit the airport's control zone visually, despite the reduced visibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At 8:24 AM MST, Dubroff's aircraft began its take off roll
from Cheyenne's runway 30 to the northwest, in rain, strong gusty crosswinds
and turbulence. According to witnesses, the plane lifted off and climbed
slowly, with its nose high and its wings wobbling. It began a gradual right
turn, and after reaching an altitude of a few hundred feet, the plane rolled
out of its turn, then descended rapidly, crashing at a near-vertical angle into
a street in a residential neighbourhood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-8frq7LHopcROGnOB91lwBy_aa7GPlyEo2fD-pZ0N2XTCZwPjD11IcpJ4LnfViNYN00r4SwxIAfZcktfTNsS7oHoUh695AfIfu59UfcAN6Y5A4jNTgYr9dxFH_ydbWGwTPpY6Rr_2tYs/s1600/hy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-8frq7LHopcROGnOB91lwBy_aa7GPlyEo2fD-pZ0N2XTCZwPjD11IcpJ4LnfViNYN00r4SwxIAfZcktfTNsS7oHoUh695AfIfu59UfcAN6Y5A4jNTgYr9dxFH_ydbWGwTPpY6Rr_2tYs/s1600/hy.jpg" height="175" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 7-year-old student pilot, Her father, Lloyd Dubroff, 57,
and her flight instructor, Joe Reid, died when the plane nose-dived into the
driveway of a single-story brick home in a residential area about one mile
north of the airport. At the airport now lays a sign : "A little girl and her big dream died here Thursday morning."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Jessica Dubroff (1988-1996)</o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do you hear the rain? Do you hear the rain?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-2403022348557420252013-12-08T11:47:00.000-08:002013-12-08T11:47:19.989-08:00Nelson Mandela; A Hero, An Inspiration.I remember February 2000, I was six year old, sitting in the classroom staring at a tall man from South Africa, he had come in to talk to us about Nelson Mandela, it had been ten year since he's release form prison. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm0jX-LqCqp1RviasUu2GxYKSuH_AiwJOP4u7EjIywHFxF9bOA7pPFrCcAfWXRcrgt7M5NjNECdSjik6jP_c8epsskI7nP7opF39KkV4ZSgWFZyAO0UWoQDg8Bm_Mq60clGJCIdyumbgM/s1600/mandela.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm0jX-LqCqp1RviasUu2GxYKSuH_AiwJOP4u7EjIywHFxF9bOA7pPFrCcAfWXRcrgt7M5NjNECdSjik6jP_c8epsskI7nP7opF39KkV4ZSgWFZyAO0UWoQDg8Bm_Mq60clGJCIdyumbgM/s200/mandela.png" width="182" /></a>I listened as he spoke, inspired, hanging on to every word, I was hooked and finally I had found something I had been searching for: A Hero.<br />
<br />
From that day every library session we had, while my friends hunted down E.B. White and A.A. Mill, I searched for books about Mandela. The more I read, the more I liked him, his achievements were inspiring. First black president of South Africa was something special, I had only ever heard of white presidents until then. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But what struck me the most was his imprisonment, how can someone be put in jail for encouraging his own people to fight for their rights, it sounded barbaric to me at six years old. I was obsessed with Robben Island, Mandela remained there for 20 years, locked in a cell of 2.4 x 2.1 meters with nothing but a straw mat to sleep on; by day he broke rocks into gravel and at night he worked on his LLB degree. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLWREJnjhraKFl5ytsJJN0_Twm5fH0_W5wtjaicZ8r-a37E-Uakt01U-NsjGaq9Xr6wZgDhFR3q0PTlQCcbiPM8l3eVoH0_9ERzb9BHOw1dRJOFqyfyBua1AUbk1y8cCthM-gAKq5E2u8/s1600/prison.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLWREJnjhraKFl5ytsJJN0_Twm5fH0_W5wtjaicZ8r-a37E-Uakt01U-NsjGaq9Xr6wZgDhFR3q0PTlQCcbiPM8l3eVoH0_9ERzb9BHOw1dRJOFqyfyBua1AUbk1y8cCthM-gAKq5E2u8/s200/prison.png" width="200" /></a>After Robben Island he was moved to Pollsmoor Prison, which allowed him to have communication, through letters, with the outside world and also permitted him to read voraciously. It was here he would be appointed Patron of the Multi-Racial United Democracy Front. There he remained until his 70th Birthday in 1988. <br />
<br />
Recovering from Tuberculosis he was moved to Victor Verster prison, housed in comfortable conditions which allowed him to complete his LLB degree.<br />
<br />
He was released on February 11th 1990, standing with his wife at his side he gave his first public speech declaring his commitment to peace and reconciliation with the white minority. The speech worked, in 1994 he became president of South Africa, a big step forward for the country and in 1996 he was appointed Chairman of the Southern African Development Community and installed negotiations to put an end to the first Congo war. In 1997 he stepped down as ANS president and gave his final farewell speech on the 29th of March 1999 after which he retired.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxhNKG_1MvLRL-9zwcGEv4iZ0RKMq61lolY7LLMucmOIAYi-sLGt7LbV4MkSIb-b1I9SlhYUD3nngLwkBPNjRdpQ6K11Pi3CMR1ne44OLUSNHSe5eONb8pyymrpI6e31MzGccvS_n3Kf7/s1600/imagesPX5BI2E8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxhNKG_1MvLRL-9zwcGEv4iZ0RKMq61lolY7LLMucmOIAYi-sLGt7LbV4MkSIb-b1I9SlhYUD3nngLwkBPNjRdpQ6K11Pi3CMR1ne44OLUSNHSe5eONb8pyymrpI6e31MzGccvS_n3Kf7/s1600/imagesPX5BI2E8.jpg" /></a>But that wasn't the last of Mandela, still hugely important to his country he made several public appearances. In 2001 he was treated for prostate cancer and in 2008 he celebrated his 90th birthday along side his third wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.<br />
<br />
I had a heavy heart after his death, I lost a hero, an inspiration and South Africa lost their father, their voice.<br />
<br />
He was a fighter, he had been all his life, he spread a message of never giving up and fighting for what you believe. He was a voice for people who didn't have one. He taught us that education was important to change the world, that we must use our time wisely and it's never too late to do things right. He fought for the freedom of his people which left him fighting for his own freedom, but South Africa stood by him, he was the voice they needed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyjweYPhPbmn7g7FHQFWl6-7tEST0joad0qPmDJ6L_KsjdXsZCGuDeibfRHj80_jUne77-Ewi0u35Qd5KZSm4xVnJ4OUt1f01UgQvpn_HihBMF8ghgFZxpXRZ1rrFgGt6s3l_2gbZxHm0/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyjweYPhPbmn7g7FHQFWl6-7tEST0joad0qPmDJ6L_KsjdXsZCGuDeibfRHj80_jUne77-Ewi0u35Qd5KZSm4xVnJ4OUt1f01UgQvpn_HihBMF8ghgFZxpXRZ1rrFgGt6s3l_2gbZxHm0/s1600/untitled.png" /></a>RIP Nelson Mandela. <br />
18th July 1918 - 5th of December 2013<br />
Spread your wings, fly high and free. Lost but never forgotten, a hero that will truly be missed.<br />
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<br />
"Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement."- Nelson Mandela<br />
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Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-30559630258477624992013-10-14T12:51:00.001-07:002013-10-14T12:51:12.403-07:00Susie Wolff, Next Female Formula One Driver?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrO-fqZ9pq2BX9jTFRphWPJDXX2EmFALHTR6G-S9vzwopPRko15InqE32jpUQIsvMBCtBAJteXoSI-yKb1rtAn3KsmofrXpzoiFM-8PjYJ4U7eiAgdB7viay3EV4-jMlUk_9TFAm02ZWd/s1600/susie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrO-fqZ9pq2BX9jTFRphWPJDXX2EmFALHTR6G-S9vzwopPRko15InqE32jpUQIsvMBCtBAJteXoSI-yKb1rtAn3KsmofrXpzoiFM-8PjYJ4U7eiAgdB7viay3EV4-jMlUk_9TFAm02ZWd/s1600/susie.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a female Formula One fan I am sick of hearing comments,
usually from men, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about female racing
drivers, that they are not strong enough, that they shouldn’t be allowed to
race, that female drivers cause too many accidents on track, but the comment
that annoys me the most has to be: “No woman will ever drive in modern F1”
WHAT??? WHY NOT?? We can driver just as well as the men!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Susie Wolff is a Scottish racing driver. She has progressed
through the ranks of motorsport, starting off in karting, then moving up to
Formula Renault and Formula Three before moving to the DTM to compete for Mercedes-Benz.
In 2012, she was signed by the Williams Formula One team to work as a
development driver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1996 she was named British Woman Kart Racing Driver of the
year. In 1997, she competed in a number of different karting categories and
came out on top in a number of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs4KrrvlB_duf0I_R-YbAmBme93LBZWwydF_DT_6CV7NWshEA8GkloQ2DdazveJ0UF0fpBFLjJY_eV4QSqeQBerlOoJXndvoe1Dd5bcrM8hvXaFooZGsuZB3RDuQnZyBPnTb3aEIJRu1x/s1600/sw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs4KrrvlB_duf0I_R-YbAmBme93LBZWwydF_DT_6CV7NWshEA8GkloQ2DdazveJ0UF0fpBFLjJY_eV4QSqeQBerlOoJXndvoe1Dd5bcrM8hvXaFooZGsuZB3RDuQnZyBPnTb3aEIJRu1x/s1600/sw.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2001 Wolff made the step up from kart racing to
single-seater racing. Her first experience was in the 2001 Formula Renault
Winter Series, in which she raced for the Motaworld Racing team. In 2004 she
competed in her third season in the Formula Renault UK Championship, this time
racing for the Comtec Racing team and she finished 5th overall in the
championship with 3 podium finishes during the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For 2005, Wolff made the step up to the British Formula
Three Championship to race for the Alan Docking Racing team in the Championship
Class, but her season was disrupted by an ankle injury sustained during the
winter. She also made a one-off appearance in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at
Brands Hatch in June.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vaW_qdtySqKfTSiwaJnjHpCOTG6gcoTETTXSeaO2cPgRH3PSJJAiOOHbJgwM9p2knACcd49Bv7gCmdYGwBAbcGeqeNAVAQU7DBy8EUwAwUJSqDVB_DJ86efHdXEVa5ASCwCjRTjr1PbP/s1600/woolff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vaW_qdtySqKfTSiwaJnjHpCOTG6gcoTETTXSeaO2cPgRH3PSJJAiOOHbJgwM9p2knACcd49Bv7gCmdYGwBAbcGeqeNAVAQU7DBy8EUwAwUJSqDVB_DJ86efHdXEVa5ASCwCjRTjr1PbP/s1600/woolff.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2006 Wolff made the big step up to compete in the DTM,
the German Touring Car series, one of the biggest Touring Car championships in
the world. In her debut season she achieved a best finish of 9th overall in the
final round of the season at the Hockenheimring. She remained in DTM until
2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After leaving DTM Susie became a development driver for the
Williams Formula One team. And last summer Wolff got to drive in the Young
Drivers test. She later stated: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A lot
of people were waiting for me to fail when I did the Young Driver Test at
Silverstone last summer. They suspected I wouldn’t be strong enough to drive
more than 10 laps or that I would be three seconds off the pace of my
team-mate.” But Susie tested for 89 laps and was only nine-tenths of a second
slower than team mate Pastor Maldonado, who had won the Barcelona Gran Prix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lg5oKh7UN-ndniUGVejEPOT8BBhf-9kjJxWVIucE2VgXlDm_MJk_6Qa4i1jD6o1VUr9Sf8bwf2FM_yNgo862l5Iu1asSWHFZvCFlq6PeIg3Wzgp0PKYPXw20Qpx4zGhDZR8bVVL2zkpF/s1600/wolff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lg5oKh7UN-ndniUGVejEPOT8BBhf-9kjJxWVIucE2VgXlDm_MJk_6Qa4i1jD6o1VUr9Sf8bwf2FM_yNgo862l5Iu1asSWHFZvCFlq6PeIg3Wzgp0PKYPXw20Qpx4zGhDZR8bVVL2zkpF/s1600/wolff.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So why can’t Susie Wolff drive in Formula One in the future?
She’s already proven that she’s a great driver; she’s fast, determined and a
real racer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has the world really gone
back to the medieval frame of mind that women should be in the kitchen?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These female racers
are an inspiration for young girl who dream of racing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, females will always get stick for racing,
but people need to realise that that won’t make them give up, they will
continue following their dream just like any other human being! And why shouldn’t
they? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbDfo4zfCce5oEAaJ1rlzLbcNsWQNE0Ft-bD5Lm4lwsLrsgzfwX_eMDJryRNUrwKuFxY_D3PiRzvSncl0qQiABDfHOCX3j3XCsY63u0pkPuxKNXtDEXxcIv245S-tbqqdhddXvduuRi5X/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbDfo4zfCce5oEAaJ1rlzLbcNsWQNE0Ft-bD5Lm4lwsLrsgzfwX_eMDJryRNUrwKuFxY_D3PiRzvSncl0qQiABDfHOCX3j3XCsY63u0pkPuxKNXtDEXxcIv245S-tbqqdhddXvduuRi5X/s320/images.jpg" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People are very quick to judge drivers, especially female
drivers; “Oh, she hasn’t achieved a podium finish yet” No maybe she hasn’t but
you all seem to forget to mention that she has beat however many cars it is
that particular race, all driven by males, to the finish line, so no she wasn’t
on the podium but she didn’t finish last. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the near future a woman will be back in Formula One, achieving
that dream shared by thousands of little girls. And my money is on Susie Wolff.
You show them girl! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrO-fqZ9pq2BX9jTFRphWPJDXX2EmFALHTR6G-S9vzwopPRko15InqE32jpUQIsvMBCtBAJteXoSI-yKb1rtAn3KsmofrXpzoiFM-8PjYJ4U7eiAgdB7viay3EV4-jMlUk_9TFAm02ZWd/s1600/susie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbDfo4zfCce5oEAaJ1rlzLbcNsWQNE0Ft-bD5Lm4lwsLrsgzfwX_eMDJryRNUrwKuFxY_D3PiRzvSncl0qQiABDfHOCX3j3XCsY63u0pkPuxKNXtDEXxcIv245S-tbqqdhddXvduuRi5X/s1600/images.jpg" style="left: 594.4px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 908.6px;" width="96" />Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-57134933155389746632013-10-11T04:55:00.002-07:002013-10-11T04:55:42.196-07:00A tribute to María De Villota<strong>María de Villota Comba</strong> (13 January 1980 – 11 October 2013) was a Spanish racing driver. She was the daughter of former Formula One driver Emilio de Villota, and sister of Emilio de Villota, Jr.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH24chCV7x5sUon6LUnqHQ16NGrYm7OaxIoftPV5szw8UXLkgl84JrVK04wBUUaMQQubzdWssU200rfIy-gBLB1re4bUCzGjzk-e7lO03e8xzwsyW82rgbd9ZGcukHivFhwVEpvZ__psQ/s1600/1383975_665993420097553_1618963331_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH24chCV7x5sUon6LUnqHQ16NGrYm7OaxIoftPV5szw8UXLkgl84JrVK04wBUUaMQQubzdWssU200rfIy-gBLB1re4bUCzGjzk-e7lO03e8xzwsyW82rgbd9ZGcukHivFhwVEpvZ__psQ/s200/1383975_665993420097553_1618963331_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>De Villota was born in Madrid. She competed in numerous racing series, including the World Touring Car Championship and ADAC Procar Series. In 2005 she also competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race. <br />
<br />
On 18 August 2011, the Lotus Renault GP team confirmed reports that de Villota had made her Formula One test debut in a Renault R29 at the Paul Ricard Circuit, and that her management was in talks to secure her a test driver seat in the future.<br />
On 7 March 2012, it was announced that María de Villota had joined Marussia F1 Team as a test driver, with the opportunity to sample Formula One machinery later in the year.<br />
<sup></sup><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUfI3N5M33-JsYG9q8M_xsl_GYgg1LnGzAUnp0y20bmJ8IHm3TLGemWjg88hYzOsq0hRcRii16SDhl43ouGGI27VKhM-bGpqUhB9eWuhqFyqPkoV5UyvFCNFAqtrxuteLxol6ZPl2HlF-/s1600/Villota.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUfI3N5M33-JsYG9q8M_xsl_GYgg1LnGzAUnp0y20bmJ8IHm3TLGemWjg88hYzOsq0hRcRii16SDhl43ouGGI27VKhM-bGpqUhB9eWuhqFyqPkoV5UyvFCNFAqtrxuteLxol6ZPl2HlF-/s200/Villota.png" width="200" /></a>At approximately 09:30 on 3 July 2012, de Villota was involved in a testing accident at Duxford Aerodrome whilst carrying out straight-line testing for Marussia; her first time in the car. Her car collided with a stationary truck at the end of a test run, it took paramedics over an hour to remove her from the wrecked car. The motoring world along with millions of fans held their breath waiting to hear news about María's well being. The next day we were all informed that María was stable but had lost her right eye, but she still remained upbeat, even joking with doctors about the lose of her eye; "Tell me doctor, do you need both your hand to preform an operation? Well I need both my eyes to race, so you better fix it"<br />
After 17 days in hospital she returned to her home in Spain to help recover from her neurological damage. Over the next few months the millions of fans cheered her on, sent her messages of support and motivation. Then last October she made her first public appearance since the accident and left us all gobsmacked. She looked beautiful, she had this new vision of life, an true inspiration. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtPF3Xbndb684inRKV7ooauELa_Hin213CVTXwqYfj_dv1F6FhwNoXfwIguD0FO09zt7gHQNwf1iUgDniyDXKC_9QChqGVz6iHTrqo5o6ZXPfWwWbyyoDLLAL93TfFHEAz-WpwluQ-7OJ/s1600/BWSsHryCMAARbZK.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtPF3Xbndb684inRKV7ooauELa_Hin213CVTXwqYfj_dv1F6FhwNoXfwIguD0FO09zt7gHQNwf1iUgDniyDXKC_9QChqGVz6iHTrqo5o6ZXPfWwWbyyoDLLAL93TfFHEAz-WpwluQ-7OJ/s200/BWSsHryCMAARbZK.png" width="200" /></a>At the beginning of this Formula One season María teamed up with Spanish Aterna3 and before every race gave us a lesson on car safety not only F1 but road cars, her mission was to save as many lives as possible. <br />
<br />
Today, the 11th of October, we were all shocked by the tragic news that Villota's body had been found in her hotel room. <br />
The whole racing community, drivers and fans, come together to send prayer and condolences to her family.<br />
<br />
R.I.P María de Villota, A true smile, a true racer, a true inspiration and a true zest for life. Gone but never forgotten. A little piece of blue sky by day and the brightest star at night. <br />
<br />
<br />
<sup></sup><br />
<sup></sup>Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-11596389172775609952013-10-05T06:28:00.003-07:002013-10-05T06:28:36.216-07:00One extra Chromosome, No difference!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence
of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is typically associated
with physical growth delays, a particular set of facial characteristics and a mild
degree of intellectual disability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8jfYuEQEk1tlCdeOFTe0yOhOEobYeEauP3e5WV8XxuqbpqywS5nlNx1gb2YlqevdZDfsLwW7Ox5K_wzNTynKLB3PE60WQKs5hRoSbagjjyKhusstpqGjt6UehgG1F6y-6VXMkjD-8_uv/s1600/DS+awarness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8jfYuEQEk1tlCdeOFTe0yOhOEobYeEauP3e5WV8XxuqbpqywS5nlNx1gb2YlqevdZDfsLwW7Ox5K_wzNTynKLB3PE60WQKs5hRoSbagjjyKhusstpqGjt6UehgG1F6y-6VXMkjD-8_uv/s320/DS+awarness.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Down syndrome is named after John Langdon Down, the British
physician who described the syndrome in 1866. It <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can be identified in a new-born by direct
observation or in a fetus by prenatal screening. Sadly nearly 93% of pregnancies
with this diagnosis are terminated. But why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaZjUBVfNjZf1DB1EQ32pHrg6ClELOEzU8SpYyeVbcoyezBY01SLiDsGRwrhTGnj2TLEC1U_e5wr1-fR-IG41XPhubLstdyLRsXbUwVghYvDtTvyfiewsPpZIXcNZfnLIYfH0QO8g9XYu/s1600/DownSyndrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaZjUBVfNjZf1DB1EQ32pHrg6ClELOEzU8SpYyeVbcoyezBY01SLiDsGRwrhTGnj2TLEC1U_e5wr1-fR-IG41XPhubLstdyLRsXbUwVghYvDtTvyfiewsPpZIXcNZfnLIYfH0QO8g9XYu/s200/DownSyndrome.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first time I had any contact with Down syndrome was when
I was 7 years old, in my first year of Junior School, I remember the whole year
like it was yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my first day I
got sat next a boy called Aaron and he happened to have Downs,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but to be perfectly honest I didn’t know he
was any different to me or the rest of my classmates. Yes he went to a main
stream school and why shouldn’t he? Aaron was better at maths then the whole
class, he could read and write just as well as the rest of us, to me he was
just the same as everyone else. Over the next few weeks we became good friends.
But no everyone saw him like I did, older boys would laugh at him and call him
names and I didn’t understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
just before Christmas break, when I came out of school and my mum asked if I
had a good day I blurted out “Some boys were calling Aaron names” She told me
that Aaron's mum was telling her about it while they were waiting for the bell
to ring. I asked her “why? It makes me sad”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>mum explained to me that Aaron was a little different from the other
kids and when I asked her what she meant she replied “Don’t you think he looks
a bit different from everyone else?” I stopped to think before replying “But we
ALL look different, NONE of us look the same…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without another word mum hugged me, no words needed to be exchanged, she
knew I understood. So from then on Aaron and I were inseparable, we were best
friends, I stood up for him and he stood up for me. He taught me that we are
all the same. He laughed, spoke, cried, joked and had moody days just like the
rest of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt2_1XhWq9Zcs3hH2BX7HR8knAjmq3y0k2RUzCdoRp6Atzw8RQ6mjFGinalUT3so0ZZ_oAuea8FOvgpKdcTVzIpVe9egnSU122hWA9LfBpJPeBbFdbnRK1Q1bbEmLLtqWxfOuqArxeor3/s1600/Downs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt2_1XhWq9Zcs3hH2BX7HR8knAjmq3y0k2RUzCdoRp6Atzw8RQ6mjFGinalUT3so0ZZ_oAuea8FOvgpKdcTVzIpVe9egnSU122hWA9LfBpJPeBbFdbnRK1Q1bbEmLLtqWxfOuqArxeor3/s1600/Downs.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Society’s attitude towards Down syndrome is starting to
change, and it’s for the better, we are starting to see the world through their
eyes. Society doesn’t put them down as much, we no longer have the “they are
doomed” or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ Poor kid, won’t do very
well in life” attitude,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>words that used
to make my blood boil, It drove me mad, why did society insist on giving these
children such negative labels? Why couldn’t they see that they are beautiful
individuals, capable of doing like the rest of us, yes maybe with a bit more
help, but if they are determined to do something they are capable of reaching
their goal. These kids aren’t stupid, they are highly intelligent! But like I
said that is starting to change, just the other day I was in the town and I saw
a beautiful little girl with Downs walking around wearing a T-shirt that said:
KEEP CALM, IT’S JUST AND EXTRA CHROMOSOME!” She was so proud of her T-shirt, I
just wanted to hug her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another amazing example of how much people with Down
syndrome can achieve is a gorgeous little girl named Natty, she reminded me of
how much someone can achieve and how life will smile back if you smile at it.
Natty is main streamed and loves to write, she is also a model, has been on TV,
gossip magazines and in fashion catalogues! Its amazing how this one little
girl can be such an inspiration to so many! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A special thank you to Aaron and Natty for reminding me that
Beauty comes in many shape and sizes and to never give up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also thank you to everyone reading, and guys just remember
apart form that tiny extra chromosome they are exactly the same as the rest of
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<br />
</div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-968224081576183912013-09-10T04:44:00.000-07:002013-09-10T04:44:10.275-07:00Will To Live
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is Suicide Awareness day
and the fact is Suicide isn’t a joke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.000.000 people commit suicide
every year, 750.000 more attempt suicide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1 in 5 teenagers has thought about suicide, about 1 in 6 teenagers have
made plans for suicide, and more than 1 in 12 teenagers have attempted suicide
in the last year. As many as 8 out of 10 teenagers who have committed suicide
tried to ask for help in some way before actually committing suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">80% of these people suffer major depression;
most of them show no sign of it. They walk the hallways wearing a mask they
call a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A person commits suicide every 40
seconds. Every 41 seconds a person is left to try and make sense of what
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a minute to think of the person you love
the most or even the person sitting next to you this very moment, really
think..... Tomorrow you get the terrible news; He or She has just taken their
own life. Your heart drops, smashing into a million pieces when it hits the floor;
you are left with just one question: "WHY?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you can't go back and ask, what's done is
done. It leaves your heart with a scar knowing you could have saved them, you
could have helped them. It leaves you wondering how could you have not seen how
much they were hurting. This person you loved and thought you knew so well,
gone. How could they hide their pain so well?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwnVsFJOIL5oalsPGYHqomt5q1myGOIiXwDO7-4o5Fv6I9-S7QyD3yp7j9Fszz2aig-GoPw4K50sXExHl0pwhN05JsmkGyWiDCBHnyAZhXv3wGxjf5uVREGfclw1S9sGhjZV8jSd33-SB/s1600/will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwnVsFJOIL5oalsPGYHqomt5q1myGOIiXwDO7-4o5Fv6I9-S7QyD3yp7j9Fszz2aig-GoPw4K50sXExHl0pwhN05JsmkGyWiDCBHnyAZhXv3wGxjf5uVREGfclw1S9sGhjZV8jSd33-SB/s1600/will.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BUT I’m NOT here to talk about
facts today Im here to talk about the Will To Live foundation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoevR7_6cCTf2BN3gpayASS2cQXop0bHK98f2mGcdnpKb1Q15dzQJE3gtsX_B3t19MatbvV6nf0aBMUrfiWCWkuSvLCdIg7ThmHRgle1-oA6CunIwerHTRLGID27fbrWY6aP0P1aCrndI4/s1600/365e75633bf5368befa3727d85e29f0d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoevR7_6cCTf2BN3gpayASS2cQXop0bHK98f2mGcdnpKb1Q15dzQJE3gtsX_B3t19MatbvV6nf0aBMUrfiWCWkuSvLCdIg7ThmHRgle1-oA6CunIwerHTRLGID27fbrWY6aP0P1aCrndI4/s1600/365e75633bf5368befa3727d85e29f0d.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A foundation set up by the
Trautweins, after their 15 year old son and my first ever friend, Will
committed suicide October 15<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 2010. It’s a place where young teens
can go to get help, where they can explain how difficult life can be. They get
to share their personal experiences of suicide with others. These young adults
become more than friends, they become “Life TeamMates”, they help each other
through the day, on and off the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt16eGbMgQtZgE2oyZXpyXqShSGmWOjaxpNkTKY9rnSdzxNaSJfzbyMQFfVV72K67UP_XACaNXcH8hdRyqXe-cxIadbfxrNczv1POz5zwzqF9NWPAvTRSAxXNv5JUUmIbeQFh0Naj3Br6Q/s1600/banner-club-members2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt16eGbMgQtZgE2oyZXpyXqShSGmWOjaxpNkTKY9rnSdzxNaSJfzbyMQFfVV72K67UP_XACaNXcH8hdRyqXe-cxIadbfxrNczv1POz5zwzqF9NWPAvTRSAxXNv5JUUmIbeQFh0Naj3Br6Q/s320/banner-club-members2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The WTL have yearly 5k runs/walks to raise money for their
foundation, to keep these kids away from danger. Mr Trautwein goes into sports
clubs and meetings to spread the message, to raise awareness about Teen
Suicide. He teaches these teens to NEVER give up, that you can’t quit. When you
have a bad day there is ALWAYS someone there, even if that day you feel like
there isn’t. That as Life TeamMates we all need to listen a little better and
to be more open when explaining how we feel, that we don’t have to be scared,
ashamed or embarrassed to say “I NEED HELP” there’s nothing wrong with
admitting you’re struggling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their job
is to help spread the WTL message to as many countries as possible!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCez2wRGM59Vq-6bUnLhuJdTrrRVGwb0AoEQrpK1D9i7zfVfFuwgs0Jp0nKZEPDojnHkORp0cdOkUFidvrFzTUtNbgNfj9XcXQGwJvoW_Dp9TpTCqJNZSyHKWYU3FAhTpooXqrHUOY_1uc/s1600/838d71faa5bcf20120fbaedd34a56594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCez2wRGM59Vq-6bUnLhuJdTrrRVGwb0AoEQrpK1D9i7zfVfFuwgs0Jp0nKZEPDojnHkORp0cdOkUFidvrFzTUtNbgNfj9XcXQGwJvoW_Dp9TpTCqJNZSyHKWYU3FAhTpooXqrHUOY_1uc/s320/838d71faa5bcf20120fbaedd34a56594.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They also have a WTL Lacrosse(who finished runners up in
2012) and baseball team for kids ages 10 to 18 wearing uniforms with the WTL
logo on them, proudly explaining the ‘Life TeamMates’ message and the importance
of loving your team mates on and off the field. To let teens know they are not
alone, there’s always someone there willing to listen and help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ39Ks0WvgR3WlkQPULG1DYyQpJcElaPl2ygXP9yJI08EgBYEIytMdOV_BS1z3ZU7QdzlvEODSJeyr2NPLHi15oZETjaAdtNGbJIr8Xv3MwZUgRpgYu9_ES2CCbAQYz4FVEdG-fSDhCWt/s1600/wtl-lacrosse-jersey-backs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ39Ks0WvgR3WlkQPULG1DYyQpJcElaPl2ygXP9yJI08EgBYEIytMdOV_BS1z3ZU7QdzlvEODSJeyr2NPLHi15oZETjaAdtNGbJIr8Xv3MwZUgRpgYu9_ES2CCbAQYz4FVEdG-fSDhCWt/s320/wtl-lacrosse-jersey-backs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The motto of the Will-To-Live Foundation: “FOR THE KIDS, THROUGH
THE KIDS, BY THE KIDS,” The motto of Life TeamMates: “LOVE YA MAN!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRnAhySySKbi6AUi0E_oHXYi0gs4laGBVJzIQb8_Se9dR60q3tnocnSv3hWqku8IdgBZyU6Ar6L7xE6hx6BlgC86GzhyphenhyphenAOY-O1SDLUxxwt54yvMhx_O20ZGBsFcwlLgxqRxygshpMSrsU/s1600/433016139_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRnAhySySKbi6AUi0E_oHXYi0gs4laGBVJzIQb8_Se9dR60q3tnocnSv3hWqku8IdgBZyU6Ar6L7xE6hx6BlgC86GzhyphenhyphenAOY-O1SDLUxxwt54yvMhx_O20ZGBsFcwlLgxqRxygshpMSrsU/s320/433016139_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>MR TRAUTWEIN AND
THE FOUNDATION, ENCOURAGES THESE KIDS TO REACH OUT TO EACH OTHER. HE TEACHES
THEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS TEENAGERS, THEY HAVE ALREADY MET SOME OF THE GREATEST
FRIENDS OF THEIR LIVES – THEIR LIFE TEAMMATES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>IF THEY CAN RECOGNIZE THAT FACT, THAN PERHAPS THEY’LL BE MORE READY TO
REACH OUT TO THESE LIFE TEAMMATES WHEN IN NEED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>EVERYONE AGREES, IT’S ALWAYS EASIER TO TALK TO A CLOSE FRIEND – SO THE
WTL FOUNDATION PROMOTES THIS CONCEPT OF TEACHING KIDS TO BE THERE FOR EACH
OTHER. THE FOUNDATION ALSO WORKS HARD TO TEACH PARENTS AND ADULTS TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE TEENAGERS TODAY ARE GENERALLY LIVING IN A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WORLD -
YES MORE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST, BUT WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES COME GREAT PRESSURES
THAT THEIR PARENTS FACED AT AN OLDER AGE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>THE FOUNDATION FEELS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO HEAR THEIR PARENTS AGREE
THAT "LIFE IS HARD" FOR KIDS TODAY - BUT TOGETHER THEY ARE STRONGER.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Together we CAN put a stop to Teen Suicide!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love Ya Man!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-87164464965758161642013-06-01T07:27:00.001-07:002013-06-01T07:27:55.855-07:00College: A Roller Coaster of a Lifetime.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four years....FOUR...That's 38 months, 1090 days, 7630 hours, 4 summers, 4 Easters, 4 Christmases 16 lessons, 167 exams, 23 different teachers and 111 different classmates.... But I'm finally out of there!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot has happened in four years, there have been ups and many downs. I've lost friends, some who I will never see again without even having the chance to say goodbye, others, we have had stupid fights and now we don't talk. I've battled eating disorders, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, bullying and abuse...But guess what? I made it, I made it through the dark tunnel and am now out the other side.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And along the way I made new friends, I've laughed, I've cried: I've won, I've lost; I've been happy, I've been sad; I've been helped, I've been hurt; I've helped, I've been let down; But most of all I've lived and I've learnt valuable lessons, all of which I will carry with me until the end of my journey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four years, going into the same building, sitting through the same lessons, some you rather enjoy, others were bearable, then you have those you could have done without and dreaded. A bit like the teachers, you had 3 or 4 that cared and then 19 others who couldn't give a damn, who would constantly tell you they don't care if you pass or fail cause they get paid the same. No pride in their job what so ever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Classmates... Wow, what a bunch of misfits we were and it seemed to get worse every year!! As the weeks went on I found it harder to trust people: Everyone was at each others throats, picking on one an another, the fights and arguments were constant. There were HUGE clashes of opinion, so I learnt to keep my mouth shout, keep my opinion to myself and only trust a handful of friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The teachers at my old school weren't very helpful when I asked about college; their answers was always "Don't do it, you're not clever enough and you'll just embarrass yourself". That made me more determined to not only go to college but to pass and prove to them I'm not stupid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went into college not having a clue what I was getting myself into. Ending up way out of my depth, fighting demons in my head, voices telling me I was never going to be good enough. I slowly got the hang of it. I taught myself how to get through those days where you could so easily give up, to refuse to lose and to keep going , it didn't matter if I wasn't the best, the prettiest, the most clever or the skinniest. I just had to keep moving forward, I just had to survive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">College is like a marathon, if you go in thinking it's a 100m sprint you won't reach the finish line. But if you pace yourself, taking it one day at a time, one lesson at a time you'll be able to reach that finish line, you'll be exhausted but you'll get there. After four years of shire pressure and stress I've finally finished my marathon and I'm proud of what I've managed to achieve and overcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I've been set free, let out into the big wide world. I still have lots of vital lessons to learn but everyday I'm that one step closer. How do I sum up the last four years? A ROLLER COASTER OF A LIFETIME!! One that's made me a stronger person, One with a happy ending. </span><br />
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Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-68767143562939995982013-05-01T09:03:00.000-07:002013-05-01T09:03:01.784-07:00Dear Ayrton...
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Ayrton,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtP4ZDUKF4JBYsIL_RfNj5XkAtjo5gneRVYXShXmwKU2m5-DUjBtLbE-PvJh8QkIPVEcDovjR1ZLgIlDjyVwsOMsFuD0iKaJA4GiItmDD2DxvR-L3ogmdGuBXJ87CdEtKVxoky6GmluYy/s1600/BEdOL0OCEAAkwlQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtP4ZDUKF4JBYsIL_RfNj5XkAtjo5gneRVYXShXmwKU2m5-DUjBtLbE-PvJh8QkIPVEcDovjR1ZLgIlDjyVwsOMsFuD0iKaJA4GiItmDD2DxvR-L3ogmdGuBXJ87CdEtKVxoky6GmluYy/s200/BEdOL0OCEAAkwlQ.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never had the chance to appreciate
you racing skills as I was very young when your life was tragically taken away
from you. My dad talked about you a lot while I was growing up and when I was
old enough to appreciate your driving<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he
showed me videos of your racing and I could see why you are one of his favourite
drivers of all time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You were so competitive and cruel on the track but so kind and caring at the same time, off the track. You were the first one there if someone had crashes to try and help them and after the crashes you would go back to that spot and see how you could prevent it from happening again. You could drive in conditions that other driver just couldn't. You are the 'Rain Master'. At the same time you were a very controversial driver, always wanting to be perfect, having the fastest lap, pole and race win. Sometimes you pushed yourself too hard, Monaco 1988 jumps to mind and then the Japanese Grand prix in 1990 when you took out Prost to win the championship, these actions made some people dislike you, but you won over the hearts of millions.</span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg072_3Ct6eRPnbYXnpUAssH8_Q_plQJXWDHtJ6ApDE7DhNWAA3pOf6ftQ1dMBKDX5mNMZn1aQjqFBmgzvdF6evfsISyGkELcEsis9B75umXDnad8eZvMbTmP9xdFI3bvzHHa678kUoGLzN/s1600/BAg3GN6CMAA_9mZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg072_3Ct6eRPnbYXnpUAssH8_Q_plQJXWDHtJ6ApDE7DhNWAA3pOf6ftQ1dMBKDX5mNMZn1aQjqFBmgzvdF6evfsISyGkELcEsis9B75umXDnad8eZvMbTmP9xdFI3bvzHHa678kUoGLzN/s200/BAg3GN6CMAA_9mZ.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are two things that you said
that will stick with me forever, both in 1993. The first one is: “If you no
longer go for a gap you are no longer a racing driver”. And the second: “ If
you think I´m fast wait to you see my nephew Bruno “ and I think if people give
him a chance he will be!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two things were always very close to your heart: Your faith in God and your beloved Brazil. You famously quoted 'When God is on your side everything becomes clearer' and 'Nothing will separate me from God' two quotes you truly believed in. Then we come to Brazil, your beloved Brazil, your home country and you own people, you gave them so much hope and so much to look forward to on weekends, you gave them something to live for.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO_w_b2MmwNg4sNhKWnczQxbzht3ZvkjYSC_6LVNlitXBA5aq063aS2taiqYYXWkRLP0N_wndzl_8ISeXc679sCUqOvXps27PGtz006SDQKO24LFyr2rcRiOSzpIVvmVVFjXg_a9QxKk8/s1600/Ayrton-Senna-ayrton-senna-29940512-1131-707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO_w_b2MmwNg4sNhKWnczQxbzht3ZvkjYSC_6LVNlitXBA5aq063aS2taiqYYXWkRLP0N_wndzl_8ISeXc679sCUqOvXps27PGtz006SDQKO24LFyr2rcRiOSzpIVvmVVFjXg_a9QxKk8/s200/Ayrton-Senna-ayrton-senna-29940512-1131-707.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Racing these days isn't the same, before it was more about driver skill, now a days it's more about which team has the best mechanics and designers, it's become to easy and races are becoming more boring. I much prefer to watch an old classic race, they are more entertaining and they are <em>real</em> men racing. Racing changed a lot since you went, noting is the same now. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say We miss your racing but most of all, we miss you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for all the excitement and enjoyment you gave us week after week, year after year. You will be forever missed and loved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love from and entire nation of Formula One supporters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">'Because in a split second, it's gone'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-10466399114042271202013-04-07T07:02:00.001-07:002013-04-07T07:02:09.032-07:00Small and Insignificant steps for some, huge steps for others!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.Eating<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something as normal as eating can be a huge milestone to
some. Being told you’re fat is hard to hear, being told every day is harder. It
becomes worse when you believe it. You become very self-conscious and cut down
on food. Yep, simple as that, you eat the minimum you can survive on, the
people who surround you don’t tend to notice as quick. I know, because I did
it, weight just falls off. But that’s not the hard bit, the hard bit is, once
they notice, coming to terms with eating again. Your body has come so used to eating
so little… You have to retrain it to eat properly again. It takes a while and
it’s hard, the sigh and smell of food makes you feel ill, but you battle on. Something
as simple as ‘If you eat all your dinner, you can have ice-cream for pudding’
works, Yes its very childish but it works. And slowly you begin to eat normally
again. Eating, an insignificant step for some, a huge step for others.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.Accepting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Learning to accept that not everything and everyone will be
what we think they are. We are all different. There are people that I sometimes
want to kill, because they drive me insane, but I’d kill for them all the
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because you are nice to
someone and respect their feeling and choices in life doesn’t mean under any
circumstance that they’d do the same for you. They might constantly put you
down and make you think that you are not good enough. You need to accept that
you cannot control what they say, think, how they are or their personalities. It’s
out of your hands. The only person you can control is yourself, accept that. As
for others, well you have two choices: Accept them as they are or walk away and
don’t look back. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.Asking for help<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m not very good at asking for help, okay, I never asked
for help, up until a few weeks ago. Always been to damn proud and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stubborn. Never fully trusted someone enough
to feel safe enough to let them in, so I just bottled everything up. It’s so
hard to gain someone’s trust and yet so easy to break it. Trust is gained over
time, it’s not something that happens instantly, it’s a very valuable trait. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently I learned that it’s ok to admit you are struggling,
it’s ok to cry and it’s ok to ask for help, because I am only human. Out of all
the people, that you’ve helped through the years with their problems, it’s very
sad to see that only a hand full are willing to help you. But there is always
someone there, ALWAYS. Old friend or a new friend, they’re there and they’ll
help if you ask. Asking for help an easy step for many an very difficult step
for others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.Public places<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every been in a public place, like a super market, the park,
class or a restaurant a felt like the whole place is getting smaller and the
noise gets louder? Well with anxiety and panic attacks you feel like that. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, we CAN’T help it… No, we CAN’T snap out of it…No, we DON’T
do it for attention, because trust me it isn’t fun! No, we DON’T enjoy causing
a scene. No, we DON’T like everyone staring at us, but we CAN’T help it. Our
brain makes us react like we are being attacked, like we are in danger. Yes, we
try to stay as calm as possible…Yes, we try our best not to freak out. But no,
we CAN’T promise to stop the drama before it starts….We CAN’T promise to breathe
deeply. But we CAN promise we will try our best. So next time you see someone
having a panic attack in a supermarket or in class, DON’T judge and stare,
either walk away and carry on with what you were doing or gently ask if you can
help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Not beating yourself up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There will always be someone out there who is better than
you, prettier, more beautiful, more intelligent, taller, skinnier, with a nicer
personality… just better, more perfect than you will ever be. So what? You are
you, there is a reason you are the way you are. We weren’t put on this earth to
compete with people’s looks and personality, we are here to be the best version
we can be of ourselves. You’re not beautiful? So what, you probably have an
amazing personality. Everyone is different, some of us are crazy, some on us are
more uptight, more stressful, get ourselves more worked up and more irritated,
so what? The most important thing is that we are being ourselves and pretending
to be someone we are not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t beat yourself
up, you are how you are for a reason, don’t fight that reason. You’ll always be
someone’s reason to smile, don’t take that away from them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
We are only human, we all make mistakes, we are all different. If you don't know a person or their story then don't judge them, they are battling something huge you know absolutely nothing about, the last thing they need are your horrible remarks.Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-89864208897732139602013-03-28T09:29:00.002-07:002013-03-28T09:29:42.394-07:00Is Danica Patrick good enough to race with the big boys?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V1r9M9WdcMD4tR5Sw90vyjqP-E3XBPy355Mv8B69IUf6fL3qBrJJPP-nDZ_VpwT5qGbbr4vbBKPGsqqsBPIKmDGfG0uxFJgdBXRcaiCDNxgQ4j6-EVUT0JqZ6qsGxneXO5n8XLlQ2ODL/s1600/i.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V1r9M9WdcMD4tR5Sw90vyjqP-E3XBPy355Mv8B69IUf6fL3qBrJJPP-nDZ_VpwT5qGbbr4vbBKPGsqqsBPIKmDGfG0uxFJgdBXRcaiCDNxgQ4j6-EVUT0JqZ6qsGxneXO5n8XLlQ2ODL/s200/i.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Danica Patrick, American auto racing driver and model, is
the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. The
only woman to win a race in the IndyCar Series, where she competed from 2005
until 2011, and holds the highest finish (third place) by a woman at the Indianapolis
500. In 2012 she competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and occasionally in
the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. On May 29, 2005, Patrick became the fourth woman
to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and as of 2012 Patrick joins Guthrie as one
of only two women to have competed in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona
500.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On July 2, 2005, Patrick won her first pole position, on
August 13, 2005, she won her second pole at Kentucky Speedway, although this
time, rain prematurely ended qualifying and position was determined by speeds
achieved during practice. She took a third pole at Chicagoland Speedway which
tied her with Tomas Scheckter's record for number of pole positions earned in a
rookie season. In 2005, Patrick finished 12th in the IndyCar Series
championship, with 325 points. She was named Rookie of the Year for both the
2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LKqzuk3j6UviNNPg9FRpxg2fPdYPEjBwRySCn5Xs_r0h_wh5VG6QXIYlZP0bi-K0xi_cY_SelnXIALggu3tX73RbsR-BMB9eQH8jrMKtDNmo7VtYQm9OEqsZgCQ_DE6kz5tpE45BycRZ/s1600/ujrtuyjr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LKqzuk3j6UviNNPg9FRpxg2fPdYPEjBwRySCn5Xs_r0h_wh5VG6QXIYlZP0bi-K0xi_cY_SelnXIALggu3tX73RbsR-BMB9eQH8jrMKtDNmo7VtYQm9OEqsZgCQ_DE6kz5tpE45BycRZ/s320/ujrtuyjr.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2006 she finished<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>9th place in the IndyCar Series Championship point standings, besting
her 12th place points finish as a rookie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In November, the March of Dimes awarded her the title of Sportswoman of
the Year in celebration of her dedication and success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the 2007 season as a whole, Patrick scored her first
three career podium finishes. She also scored her career best championship
points finish of 7th with 424 points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the 2008 IndyCar Series season she finished <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in sixth place — the highest championship
finish among American drivers for the 2008 season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On May 24<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 2009 Patrick raced at the
Indianapolis 500. She finished third behind winner Helio Castroneves and
second-place Dan Wheldon. The highest ever finish for a female racer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the 2010 season, Patrick set the Indycar Series
record for consecutive races finished running, having finished every race of
the season as well as all but the first race of the 2009 season, for a total of
33 races.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the end of the 2011 season Patrick announced that she
would no longer be driving <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indy Cars <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and would focus her full attention to driving
in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfGz_aHfLOohP7YVW6qhTLoDw4z-OzMz899czOsN43K9mxQe44Hw0Wa0BI-I0bWJbAvkgbV9TG8Cs8yPpX-FbThyphenhyphenAAkAZ2GBwnOmkgBSvxoN0kdbLu_Pk9PpbgOPVCKBHUmM1YQo-kndw/s1600/Danica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfGz_aHfLOohP7YVW6qhTLoDw4z-OzMz899czOsN43K9mxQe44Hw0Wa0BI-I0bWJbAvkgbV9TG8Cs8yPpX-FbThyphenhyphenAAkAZ2GBwnOmkgBSvxoN0kdbLu_Pk9PpbgOPVCKBHUmM1YQo-kndw/s1600/Danica.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the 2013 season, Danica drives the number #10
GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and
a limited Nationwide Series schedule for Turner Motorsports. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Danica became the fastest pole qualifier to
qualify since 1990 for the Daytona 500 and the first female NASCAR driver to
win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole, which was also done at Daytona.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But is she good enough to race with the big boys?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bernie Ecclestone has famously stated, aimed at Danica
Patrick, “that women shouldn’t be racing with men and should be dressed in
white like all the other domestic appliances". He then went on to say,
earlier this year, that he would love for Danica to join Formula One.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know I’ll get a lot of stick for this, but I believe that,
if Danica wished, she’d be a very good Formula One driver; she has showed in
the past that she knows how to drive and has great skills. She is a great
driver, but gets a lot of stick for being female. Always being told that she
shouldn’t be racing or she’ll never be good enough because she’s female. She’s
an inspiration to all young girls who are following their dreams of becoming
racers! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People need to get into their head that female drivers are
just as good as male! And some of these girl racers have more balls than the
men!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-68520500929911368462013-02-17T13:15:00.001-08:002013-02-17T13:15:23.146-08:00The Value Of SmileI found this poem about smiling and I wanted to share it with you guys :)<br />
<br />
The Value Of Smile<br />
<br />
Smiling is infectious,<br />
You catch it like the flu,<br />
When someone smiled at me today,<br />
I started smiling too!<br />
<br />
I walked around the corner<br />
And someone saw my grin,<br />
When he smiled too I realised,<br />
I'd passed it on to him.<br />
<br />
I thought about this smile of mine,<br />
And realised what it's worth,<br />
A single smile started by me,<br />
Could travel round the earth!<br />
<br />
So if you feel your smile begin,<br />
Don't leave it undetected,<br />
Let's start an epidemic now,<br />
And get the world infected!<br />
<br />
~Unknown~<br />
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-49899823856405352442013-01-26T04:01:00.000-08:002013-01-26T04:01:13.579-08:00Who will be the 6th female Formula One driver?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the history of Formula One there have only ever been 5
female drivers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegClCQdKeYOdy7QU0tgPXbwWSw2dDl8xff1XczphjwD2mIFfDCZ-GBVvztUFwnqcuWmxm8aydm5WgVztW6NSuNTzRrVIUkh7m4PXVAkK4zUuQMmUeUwpc0MbMNoU5hAPdk6IXQz2FHbFF/s1600/Maria+Teresa+de+Filippis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegClCQdKeYOdy7QU0tgPXbwWSw2dDl8xff1XczphjwD2mIFfDCZ-GBVvztUFwnqcuWmxm8aydm5WgVztW6NSuNTzRrVIUkh7m4PXVAkK4zUuQMmUeUwpc0MbMNoU5hAPdk6IXQz2FHbFF/s200/Maria+Teresa+de+Filippis.jpg" width="155" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maria Teresa de Filippis born the 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
of November<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1926 in Italy. Filippis was
the first ever woman to race in Formula One. She took part in 5 races in 1958
but failed to score any championship points. She then went on to succeed in
other series. She only managed to finish 1 F1 race, Belgium 1958. In 1979 she
joined the International Club of Former Formula One Grand Prix Drivers where
she became president in 1997. She also founded the Maserati Club in 2004 where
she became Chairman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnGY-gpIyqxEgheribSlSK_7SdD5FPcsEqc8YiIk3i_qUefAXVgLYdLAEsRqpOwLf61O2h2l87afc5zt2tMhwld6T3y8kbZDwnHRWKn6OhbRXukM46OV3SV8NuVqPmhibJooh1uygzecx/s1600/lombardi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnGY-gpIyqxEgheribSlSK_7SdD5FPcsEqc8YiIk3i_qUefAXVgLYdLAEsRqpOwLf61O2h2l87afc5zt2tMhwld6T3y8kbZDwnHRWKn6OhbRXukM46OV3SV8NuVqPmhibJooh1uygzecx/s200/lombardi.jpg" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lella Lombardi (26<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th </span></sup>of March 1941- 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>
March 1992) another Italian born female racer, who raced for one whole season
with Brabham. Lombardi is the only female F1 driver to ever score championship
points. She received points at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, were half point
were awarded as the race distance was shortened. Before F1 she has performed
well in Formula 3 and Formula 500, in the early 70’s. After her F1 carer she
races sports cars with successful results. In 1992 she lost her battle with
cancer, age 50.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMP2Tn49kOP4SqTZM735HP_8f55VGdXcZ_jxXEMY3FrFx-RR4an_BUU-jFPnpGv8n37r5CdZlaCDBtLHxm-yNRaagCFvQ0mlm7dAlvt1mWG1hyphenhyphenUa1DrKfNAdVywVWzFJilOIlfIP8OqEk/s1600/Divina+Galica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMP2Tn49kOP4SqTZM735HP_8f55VGdXcZ_jxXEMY3FrFx-RR4an_BUU-jFPnpGv8n37r5CdZlaCDBtLHxm-yNRaagCFvQ0mlm7dAlvt1mWG1hyphenhyphenUa1DrKfNAdVywVWzFJilOIlfIP8OqEk/s200/Divina+Galica.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Divina Galica born in England on the 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
of August 1944. As well as being the only British female F1 driver she is also
the only racing driver who has competed in F1 as well as the Olympics. In 1964
she competed in the Innsbruck winter Olympics in Down Hill skiing and Slalom,
she was Captain of both female teams and finished in the top 10 in both events.
She would return to compete in the Olympics after her driving carer, taking
part in the Speed skating of the 1992 Great British winter Olympics. <br />
Galica got<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the chance to race in F1 when
Hesketh Racing offered he the opportunity to replace Rupert Keegan in 1978. She
took part in 3 race weekends but failed to qualify on all 3 occasions. She then
decided to take a shot at British Formula One Series in which between 1978 and
1980 she took part in 6 races, with one podium finish and 22 career points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEGHjDTzKwNRDSRLTVAsu9VND40q1mmbgJZnf-u6-gRMEU3x_wrxhjpkbZ702Y7dZwLAg80GWX_03cWNBXfhC4ttY2V9vfwzGscoTQj0QPBuMyAwA-ZhAbYXWGBrHyl9Pjuc0Vndw5g2N/s1600/Korolevy_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEGHjDTzKwNRDSRLTVAsu9VND40q1mmbgJZnf-u6-gRMEU3x_wrxhjpkbZ702Y7dZwLAg80GWX_03cWNBXfhC4ttY2V9vfwzGscoTQj0QPBuMyAwA-ZhAbYXWGBrHyl9Pjuc0Vndw5g2N/s320/Korolevy_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Desiré Wilson born in South Africa on the 26<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
of November 1953. She entered the Formula One world championship in 1980 with
non-works Williams FW07, she took part in one race weekend but failed to
qualify with in the 107% rule. She later took part in the South African GP as a
one off deal with Tyrrell Racing, she qualified 16<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> and after a bad
start she made her way back up through the field in the very wet conditions.
But when letting the leader past, she touched the wall and damaged her car and
forcing her to retire. After her short F1 career she competed in Indianapolis
500 in 1982, Le Mans 24 and American Open-Wheel racing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj2axOIS-LZe-lpglo_lqCAV0so-EgW86FJFdI11nATlyWkK3_FAmPAQ-JkWB9PfCai7H-1V2i_KC0qvVlINKEaL_Fq35QhUcsk0dy5OO37MSXVvUdQ-Yk4RtaCQL9Y014NLm3CUtLcui/s1600/giovanna-amati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj2axOIS-LZe-lpglo_lqCAV0so-EgW86FJFdI11nATlyWkK3_FAmPAQ-JkWB9PfCai7H-1V2i_KC0qvVlINKEaL_Fq35QhUcsk0dy5OO37MSXVvUdQ-Yk4RtaCQL9Y014NLm3CUtLcui/s1600/giovanna-amati.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Giovanna
Amati, born the 20<sup>th</sup> of July 1959 in Italy. Giovanna is best known
for being the last woman to enter a Formula One race. In 1978, at the age of 19
she was kidnapped and kept in a wooden cage for 75 days where she was
physically and mentally abused. Her kidnapper was later sentenced to jail for
18 years but managed to escape in 1985 and remained a fugitive until his re-arrest
in 2010.<br />
She began her racing professionally in the Formula Abarth in 1981, wining several
times before moving up to Formula 3 in 1986, where she continued to win. Amati
signed a contract in 1992 with Brabham, an announcement that brought the team
publicity. She took place in 3 races weekends but failed to qualify for every
race. She was then sacked and replaced by Damon Hill. Amati then went on to win
the 1993 Woman’s European Championship in the Porsche Super Cup. From 1994 to
1996 she raced in the Ferrari Challenge, where she had consistency and many
wins. In 1999, she was placed 3<sup>rd</sup> over all in the Sports Racing
World Cup Class Championship.</strong></span></o:p></span></div>
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So, these are the only 5 female F1 drivers in history. In this sport dominated by men, who will be the next brave girl to show them we can race as well?</div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121057263131556288.post-83636763377831070282013-01-24T07:41:00.000-08:002013-01-24T07:41:29.407-08:00A Friend With Autism, No Different...<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few months ago I met a amazing young boy called Luca; he
has become one of my best friends, he is always there if you need help, he has
a heart of gold, so kind, understanding and he doesn’t judge you, he also has Asperger’s
Autism. When I found out I had to write an essay on Asperger’s I asked him if
he was willing to help and I was delighted when he said yes. I learned loads
from him. And would like to share some of it with you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Autism is a disorder of neural development that starts in
infancy or childhood. These kids/ people just want to be treated as equal to
everyone else. Sometimes they feel insecure because they think that others are
intolerant of their condition and therefore have difficulties socialising, they
feel like they are constantly being bought down by society and by others their
age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some individuals with Asperger’s may display intense interests;
they collect volumes of detailed information on a narrow topic, without having
an understanding of the broader topic. For example: An Autistic child may
memorise camera model numbers without having any interest in photography. These
interests may change and become more unusual and more narrowly focused. These
intense interests are sometime combined with restricted and repetitive patterns
in behaviour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meltdowns/breakdowns are almost inevitable, no matter what
the age, because their senses, especially hearing, sight and smell are heightened.
Which makes loud noises become very distressing, they can become very panicked.
It’s almost as distressing as a change of or in a routine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Schools have special units to help autistic kids; but is this
a help or a hindrance? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some say it helps
them because they teach other kids about Autism. While others think that by
doing this it’s shouting out to the world that they have an issue, it makes
some kids feel very uncomfortable, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
feel like aliens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luca has taught me a lot, he has an amazing outlook on life,
it is an absolute joy talking to him and an honour getting to know him and in
my eyes he is no different to any of my other friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A massive thank you to Luca, who helped me to understand.
Love you! :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellen Foordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805005029992002783noreply@blogger.com0