tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81678271463050453202024-03-13T03:13:45.483+00:00The Sensory PlaygroundDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-50572220968328989652011-01-21T15:14:00.004+00:002011-01-21T15:22:54.309+00:00Thaw? I Should Thay Tho!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TTmjXNrGU5I/AAAAAAAABTg/q4dB-tK43oI/s1600/cold.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564658433795707794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TTmjXNrGU5I/AAAAAAAABTg/q4dB-tK43oI/s400/cold.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bitterly cold ride today. 20mls at a sedate 17.5mph. Back through Skelton on Ure and the pain of thawing feet out in a hot bath. Sitting at my desk I'm glad to be home with a hot coffee, but where are the biscuits?Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-78219778958995866212011-01-18T14:38:00.000+00:002011-01-18T15:30:41.108+00:00Another New MeThe past couple of days of fine weather have seen me haring round the countryside trying to dislodge some of the accumulated Christmas blubber, but to no avail. You'd think after two whole days I'd be able to see a difference wouldn't you? Anyway - very dissapointing!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563538455552203122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TTWov5lqGXI/AAAAAAAABTQ/-ZfiJ1by8tc/s400/fat2.jpg" border="0" /><br />Oh, and Hi to Lynne who I met on the road today (literally!) Thanks for your encouragement and kind words.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-36806704332238630782011-01-16T13:52:00.000+00:002011-01-18T14:29:12.088+00:00New Year, New Bike, New Me!The icy weather has kept me off the bike for some time and the ever decreasing time slots between eating and drinking over Christmas and the new year have meant that I've also neglected the gym so that now I find my beloved (Ha ha) lycra is stretched to breaking point.<br />On the up side I do have a shiny new bike; a Scott CR1 Pro. It has a featherlight, carbon monocoque frame and forks, weighing about 7 kilos and an incredibly slick Shimano Ultegra drive train which makes it very fast. Unfortunately my rickety old body can't keep up with it which means the bike arrives home from a ride ten minutes before I come hobbling and spluttering through the door. Anyway here she is in all her waspish glory: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563529729654920930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TTWgz_FoFuI/AAAAAAAABTA/iPk7z8DmDUU/s400/Photo691.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Thought you might like a closer look at what is laughingly called a saddle!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TTWbgAg-HlI/AAAAAAAABS4/IgwBfTH2Zwc/s1600/Photo686.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563523888882523730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TTWbgAg-HlI/AAAAAAAABS4/IgwBfTH2Zwc/s400/Photo686.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-12994889592725538652010-09-28T16:14:00.000+01:002010-09-28T16:18:03.076+01:0024hr Ride<div>Sadly, Martin my cycling partner had to drop out of the ride at the last minute due to pressure of work. The ride has been postponed until March and I have a new partner Damien (below) and support crew organised.....Bring it on!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TKIG_BuqPwI/AAAAAAAABQU/NciDcgeU8Y0/s1600/cycling+for+autism3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521983772975316738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 393px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TKIG_BuqPwI/AAAAAAAABQU/NciDcgeU8Y0/s400/cycling+for+autism3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-76659665774178670112010-08-19T16:11:00.000+01:002010-08-19T16:23:49.912+01:00The New Challenge:<span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">How far can David cycle in just 24 hrs?</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TG1LXaPQiHI/AAAAAAAABM8/FfSTqqWJ6ZE/s1600/aad.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507140784896378994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TG1LXaPQiHI/AAAAAAAABM8/FfSTqqWJ6ZE/s400/aad.jpg" border="0" /></a> David and friend Martin Lewin of Kudu Bikes in Hawes are setting off at the end of September to cycle non stop for 24 hrs. They will be aiming for the south coast of England. Please sponsor if you can at <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/davidstead">www.justgiving.com/davidstead</a><br /><div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-5092743503680588902010-07-28T10:32:00.000+01:002010-07-28T10:44:00.790+01:00BBC Community Heroes<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TE_5t9Sh2EI/AAAAAAAABLU/o-9vGUJcQdg/s1600/Photo503.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498888237984372802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TE_5t9Sh2EI/AAAAAAAABLU/o-9vGUJcQdg/s400/Photo503.jpg" border="0" /></a> Many thanks to the children of the Education Village for nominating me for the BBC Community Heroes award. I collected it at a ceremony on Saturday and as well as the children I'd like to thank all those who helped with the Vienna ride; in particular Phil and Jenny my support crew, Martin at Kudu Bikes in Hawes and of course Becky, my constant support.<br /><div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-41419079558021535182010-07-06T13:26:00.000+01:002010-07-06T14:20:22.700+01:00BBC Community Heroes ProjectI was invited into school last week to be interviewed by the children about the ride to Vienna and the sensory playground for the BBC Community Heroes Project . We had a great time and the children did a fantastic job of the filming and interview so a big thank you to Robyn, Courtney, David and of course, Joan.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Below: David films the soft play area, Courtney at the newsdesk and Robyn tries out the slide.</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDMkXSwLO5I/AAAAAAAABKM/GwRxfqzQoiI/s1600/Photo457.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490772353284258706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDMkXSwLO5I/AAAAAAAABKM/GwRxfqzQoiI/s400/Photo457.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDMkW8q_HiI/AAAAAAAABKE/zNHcXCpB1J0/s1600/Photo471.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490772347356913186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDMkW8q_HiI/AAAAAAAABKE/zNHcXCpB1J0/s400/Photo471.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDMlCzBWuNI/AAAAAAAABKU/kQ9E3kVbHDs/s1600/Photo461.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490773100680624338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDMlCzBWuNI/AAAAAAAABKU/kQ9E3kVbHDs/s400/Photo461.jpg" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-71573909478322746432010-06-08T12:18:00.000+01:002010-07-08T12:33:33.685+01:00Progress<div><br /><br /><div>Since my last post we have been working hard on the playground and have now added a soft play area (our most costly single item at around £3,000), which has made a fantastic difference to the children's play. We have also added a trampoline, balancing pole, safety fencing and seating areas.<br /><br />The play area is used daily by many children who would otherwise have had to play indoors or under constant supervision outside. Thank you so much to those who have helped with donations and support.............David<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDW3WHD7_4I/AAAAAAAABKk/3GJA-lWRB5E/s1600/Photo480.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491496911128756098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDW3WHD7_4I/AAAAAAAABKk/3GJA-lWRB5E/s400/Photo480.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDW3WnB7MRI/AAAAAAAABKs/WnzO6moK7ME/s1600/Photo467.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491496919710249234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/TDW3WnB7MRI/AAAAAAAABKs/WnzO6moK7ME/s400/Photo467.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-52167889141309814732009-06-13T14:29:00.000+01:002009-06-13T14:46:26.350+01:00Into Action<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjOrGGeTYeI/AAAAAAAABBE/R-Uaw0DBOWY/s1600-h/slide.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346805303924187618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjOrGGeTYeI/AAAAAAAABBE/R-Uaw0DBOWY/s400/slide.jpg" border="0" /></a> We may not have quite finished but the kids are playing on the slide already! The sense of achievement that I'd expected when I completed the ride and didn't get has been realised now that the children are actually benefiting from the effort.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjOp951X38I/AAAAAAAABA8/QuOipI-IMGQ/s1600-h/Photo055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346804063580708802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjOp951X38I/AAAAAAAABA8/QuOipI-IMGQ/s400/Photo055.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjOtaIB6PYI/AAAAAAAABBM/yVp0HZVwqrQ/s1600-h/Photo051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346807846962609538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjOtaIB6PYI/AAAAAAAABBM/yVp0HZVwqrQ/s400/Photo051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-60934554351201921872009-06-10T19:09:00.001+01:002009-06-11T10:19:17.216+01:00Joe and Kieran Crack On.<div><div>We had another visit from the <strong>Infantry Training Centre</strong> at Catterick today: Joe came back and brought Kieran with him. Together we managed to finish the Climbing frame/slide, built the swing, and did a good deal of work on the fence. Without them the work would take so much longer and their presence helps to keep <em>me</em> motivated so thanks again guys.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345765054068036930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si_4_lxsFUI/AAAAAAAABAE/xClgjO45YgA/s400/Photo044.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Phase 1 of the fence is almost completed at last. It is a long job, though oddly therapeutic. It could almost be pleasurable but for the fact that most of the skin has been removed from my fingers! The top of the fence will be trimmed into a kind of wave pattern in order to introduce some curves into what otherwise can be an unremittingly linear space.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345767827965008850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si_7hDWQ29I/AAAAAAAABAM/EjVXdov97uc/s400/Photo043.jpg" border="0" /></div>Joe and Kieran assembling the double swing.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345993927435241410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjDJJxgsR8I/AAAAAAAABAU/UNHbTwhivtw/s400/Photo042.jpg" border="0" /> C'mon lads, you can't play in there, There's work to do.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345996532162712642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SjDLhY4HVEI/AAAAAAAABAc/7Lk5gX-ecvw/s400/Photo040.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-65698852036501799492009-06-10T18:53:00.000+01:002009-06-11T10:26:44.761+01:00An Afternoon Out.We took the children to Adventure Toys near Northallerton to get a double swing and let them have a run around and play.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Kieran played:</strong></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345760444653607682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si_0zSXpmwI/AAAAAAAAA_k/7atp2MkSwPU/s400/Photo033.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Lewis played:</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345761032644138466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si_1VgzhFeI/AAAAAAAAA_s/9ffaR_6hrTU/s400/Photo032.jpg" border="0" /></p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Josh played:</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345761464362503698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si_1upFMjhI/AAAAAAAAA_0/_spip-fsWcM/s400/Photo034.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">And <em>SUE</em> played!</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345761811841813794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si_2C3iuDSI/AAAAAAAAA_8/RRCP_WdSzYE/s400/Photo036.jpg" border="0" />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-8093342452087994312009-06-08T18:02:00.000+01:002009-06-08T18:41:51.944+01:00It's What Friends Are For<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si1Kdt2UqYI/AAAAAAAAA_c/OgBdDY7sS6c/s1600-h/SP_A0383.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345010207142750594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Si1Kdt2UqYI/AAAAAAAAA_c/OgBdDY7sS6c/s400/SP_A0383.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">My ‘friend’ Geordie Taylor has suggested to me that in order to raise more money for the sensory playground, he and I should do the </span><a href="http://www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bob Graham Round</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> in September. I initially agreed thinking that it was a cycle ride. Now I find it is a fell run over 72 miles with 27,000 feet of ascent (that’s just a bit less than Everest) taking in 42 of the highest peaks in the Lake District and all this must be completed in 24 hours!</span><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">He said today that September might be too soon..... <strong>Geordie, if I waited for the next ice age it would still be too soon!!</strong></span></div></div></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-22471906281813745152009-06-04T16:12:00.000+01:002009-06-07T18:40:32.553+01:00More Time Needed!<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Sifl73a5OUI/AAAAAAAAA9M/9XNtuIO0QLw/s1600-h/army.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343492299550177602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Sifl73a5OUI/AAAAAAAAA9M/9XNtuIO0QLw/s400/army.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well as you can see, we didn't manage to complete the fence in a day; there is a hell of a lot of it! But what we did manage looks great doesn't it?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SifkcqB8urI/AAAAAAAAA88/ouFVkpQ-y9E/s1600-h/fence.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343490663868316338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SifkcqB8urI/AAAAAAAAA88/ouFVkpQ-y9E/s400/fence.JPG" border="0" /></a> Similarly, though everyone worked hard we ran out of time on the climbing frame/slide. Also i<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Siv7Kb6VHII/AAAAAAAAA-8/G1zymWL_-u4/s1600-h/Photo029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344641539514899586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Siv7Kb6VHII/AAAAAAAAA-8/G1zymWL_-u4/s320/Photo029.jpg" border="0" /></a>t came with a few bits missing but fear not: all will be finished in the next few days and then we'll get on with the next stage.<br /><br /><div></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-32362052822427717932009-06-02T22:01:00.000+01:002009-06-08T09:45:54.916+01:00P.T. Corps Chores.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Sie1RqlGOUI/AAAAAAAAA8s/EJrc53joxGw/s1600-h/Photo018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343438797990672706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Sie1RqlGOUI/AAAAAAAAA8s/EJrc53joxGw/s400/Photo018.jpg" border="0" /></a> On a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bakingly</span> hot Tuesday morning work <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">finally</span> gets under way. W.O.2 'Geordie' Taylor of the <strong>Infantry Training Centre</strong> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Catterick</span>, who was such a great help during the training period for my ride last year brought along four lads from the garrison to help. Becky gave them a brief tour of the unit and they met the children. As an outsider it's impossible not to be affected<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWUe7D2ckI/AAAAAAAAA8c/lgcvUaCoXTI/s1600-h/Photo028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342839791915790914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWUe7D2ckI/AAAAAAAAA8c/lgcvUaCoXTI/s320/Photo028.jpg" border="0" /></a> by the hope and possibilities of the the children's lives and I think everyone made the project their own, even if only for the day.<br />Geordie, Mann, V<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ak</span> and myself started on the 'prison yard' fence whilst Rob and Tony tackled the playhouse/climbing frame/slide. I couldn't help noticing that there was rather a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tooing</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">froeing</span> of female staff going on whilst the lads were at work but I imagine that this was the norm in a busy school day.<br />Although there is still a lot to do, weaving willow into the fence has already made a huge difference to the feel of the space and as we introduce more organic materials we should be able to create a much more natural area for the children's outdoor play and learning.<br />I hope the lads from the army take away not only a sense of achievement from their day's work here but also a feeling of belonging in some part to a community. I think the forces recognise that they can be isolated from the communities in which they find themselves and that integrating with civilian life can only be of benefit in the long run. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWUR18HTWI/AAAAAAAAA8U/Da8lj6JoAo8/s1600-h/Photo026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342839567202864482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWUR18HTWI/AAAAAAAAA8U/Da8lj6JoAo8/s320/Photo026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, I enjoyed working with them very much, they have a great 'can do' attitude and you've only to point them at a job and it gets done. I hope they enjoyed their day too.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWUEw7X64I/AAAAAAAAA8M/X7z5MPwYNXo/s1600-h/Photo019.jpg"></a> <div><br /></div><div>I'd also like to thank Lt Col. A.G. Smith, who very kindly allowed the lads to come and help. </div><div><br /></div><div><strong>I owe you a beer lads - see you in Catterick!</strong> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Sie2GAgHEjI/AAAAAAAAA80/G0DlGXdGIrs/s1600-h/Photo022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343439697228534322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/Sie2GAgHEjI/AAAAAAAAA80/G0DlGXdGIrs/s200/Photo022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWTjuMYJHI/AAAAAAAAA8E/ofWBUYxv5Hw/s1600-h/Photo018.jpg"></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-60883467827350293912009-05-30T20:06:00.000+01:002009-06-07T12:44:09.590+01:00AT LAST!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWFMgieGrI/AAAAAAAAA70/KUos8Be6dOE/s1600-h/SP_A0622.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342822982884399794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWFMgieGrI/AAAAAAAAA70/KUos8Be6dOE/s320/SP_A0622.jpg" border="0" /></a>A whole year has past since my cycle to Vienna and at last we’re about to start work on the sensory garden. The Education Village as a building is a great concept with many successful aspects: it has light and air and I like the way it brings the outside, inside. What it does not do however, is take the inside outside; in other words there is little provision for learning and play outside its walls.<br />Some of the outside spaces are defiantly ugly and utilitarian and the aim of this project is to bring life and soul to these places. There is no doubt that environment has a huge role to play in stimulating imagination, on learning, on the very experience of life, particularly in young children so our aim is to provide a space that will grow and change organically. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SibASM-BR5I/AAAAAAAAA8k/wQd4zVHre_A/s1600-h/Photo010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343169426873206674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SibASM-BR5I/AAAAAAAAA8k/wQd4zVHre_A/s320/Photo010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So we start, and one of the first tasks is to tackle this hideous fence that at the moment separates main stream children from special needs - the feeling is more of the prison yard than of a school. The whole area has been planted in that 'corporate' way that reminds you - had you ever seen one - of the approaches to a trading estate in Milton Keynes. The plan is to put a gate in the fence so that all primary children can access all aspects of the garden/playground.<br />We'd decided that rather than replace the whole thing it would be simpler (ha ha) to weave the fence with Willow and to that end Michael Coghlan (a close friend and considerable supporter of our fundraising efforts) and I went to see Murray Carter in Markington. Murray, a farmer, conservationist, lecturer and one of the worlds experts on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomass">biomass</a> production, grows willow commercially and was kind enough to offer us as much as we could possibly need to weave the fence.<br /><br /><strong>Murray (right) and Michael help to load the van (Kindly loaned by Mark of <a href="http://www.greatnorthernwine.co.uk/">Great Northern Wine</a>) with what seems like enough willow to stretch from Darlington to Vienna and the project has begun.</strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342826484087253890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiWIYTiR64I/AAAAAAAAA78/JBlEX0IRkEw/s400/Photo007.jpg" border="0" />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167827146305045320.post-38760452249163224812009-05-07T12:21:00.000+01:002009-06-07T12:45:10.844+01:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiujBg1PPUI/AAAAAAAAA-c/awPUGQ29fvI/s1600-h/post+pic+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344544629193653570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_urTsJ4020vA/SiujBg1PPUI/AAAAAAAAA-c/awPUGQ29fvI/s400/post+pic+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last spring I cycled from the Education Village, Darlington to Vienna (birthplace of Hans Asperger) to raise money to build a sensory playground/garden for the autism unit at the village. Some friends from Devon (Phil and Jenny) were brave enough to join the project as support crew in their mobile home (Myfanwy) and we battled through rotten weather for almost three weeks arriving ahead of schedule on Friday 13th June 2008 having raised just over £10,000. The story of the ride is at <a href="http://www.viennacycle.blogspot.com/">http://www.viennacycle.blogspot.com/</a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">We are now about to begin work on the playground but we still need to raise more funds so I've no doubt I'll be getting on my bike again this year and if you are thinking of putting on an event for charity please consider donating to the sensory garden project.</span></strong></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345328927758195205noreply@blogger.com0