Last of the season

In about twelve hours from now, twenty four Formula 1 cars will be burning up Interlagos race track, in Brazil, for the last race of the season.

The championships have already been decided a few races ago but somehow, F1 kind of needs Brazil. I love to watch the cars battling for position at this track and it can only get better if it's wet. (Just like a woman. (Thanks, Lou.))

Anyway, I've invited my best mate over to watch the last race. Reminds me of the time when we saw Lewis Hamilton win the 2008 title. Happy days.

It's been a while

I can't remember the last time I wrote something for this blog...
I'll have to sit down sometime soon and give this my full attention.

But not today ;)

Intermission

♫♪ ♩♬♫♪ ♩♬ ♫♪♩♬ ♫♪ ♩♬♫ ♪

Bollocks

Bollocks!

Rock n roll

Rock music should be played so loud that your ears bleed.

Proud

I hope you can read the newspaper text because I'm very proud of my mum (pictured on the right).


Both my mother and father were supposed to have retired to a small town down south but nothing seems to slow them down.

Home sweet home

It's been a long time coming but we finally moved into our new family home the weekend before last. It took the combined effort of family and friends to gather up all our possesions and relocate them a few streets away.

Everybody that could attend made a huge difference and all their help was truly appreciated. "Attend" makes it sound like a social function and even though there was work to be done, we all had a lot of fun. Same time next year? Not.

The boys finally have their own room. It's not massive, like our bedroom, but at least they have a space to call their own. And we can all enjoy the garden while the weather is still fine. It's great to be living on the ground floor again. No more stairs to climb with a mountain bike over my shoulder ever again. Two flights would leave us tired before we even entered our old home.

Anyway, we're all very happy here and settling in nicely. Updates as and when :)

Big Brother returns

As seems to be the case with my last few blogs, I'm writing about Big Brother a week or so after it returned to our screen.

But this time I did it on purpose. I wanted to give 5 (the channel that bought the show) a chance to get into it's own rythmn because even when it was on Channel 4, it took a little while for me to familiarise myself with each new set of housemates.


5's new Big Brother kicked off with "celebrities" entering the house. We have Kerry (Katona?), Darryn (mr paparazzi), Pamela (ex-the Hoff), Paddy (gypsy king), Amy (TOWIE), Bobby (model) and some others who escape me at present. Oh, and Jedward.

So far, so good.

As usual, in the first week, everbody is a nobody to me, with one or two exceptions, and it's not until the second week that I start to feel something for the housemates, whether it's pity or pleasure or who knows what?


In a few weeks, when the celebs have all been evicted, Big Brother proper shall begin, with the house being filled with regular housemates. I can hardly wait.

I (didn't) predict a riot

After a week of rioting, England is finally getting itself back on it's feet. It'll still take a long time to recover, though, as the country really took a savage beating over a prolonged period.




The majority of riots I've seen in the past have only lasted a few hours or a day or two at most and are usually confined to one or two localised areas. This was different.
It started, in Tottenham, as a protest to the death of a man, shot by police during an arrest gone bad and quickly became ground zero as, over the next couple of days, it spread across london to Enfield, Hackney, Lewisham, Ruislip etc.




And it became clear that London isn't a city that has exclusive rights to breed aggresive, sub-human thugs. It wasn't long before cities like Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool joined the fray.




I'm not going to try and rationlise any of their behaviour because I wasn't there. But, for a country dragging itself out of recession, this isn't going to help one bit.

Love is a losing game

It's been a week since the death of Amy Winehouse. It's a bloody shame because as I understand it, she was on the mend and writing a new album. Footage I've seen of her, on stage with her God daughter, Dionne Bromfield, at the roundhouse in Camden, show her to be full of life.


She even skips off when she's finished. Amy Winehouse. Skipping.

It's an absolute tragedy that such a shining talent has been taken from us before her time. Another victim/member of the 27 club, which includes such greats as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin, amongst others.


And like so many before, the cause of Amy's death remains a mystery. At the time of writing, she has had an autopsy (or post mortem) and her remains have been cremated, according to Jewish religion. Test results will take weeks to return and even then we still may never know why she died.


It's a crying shame. I'll miss you, Amy.

R u watching f1?

Five laps into the start of the German Grand Prix and I get a text. I thought I'd share the rest with you...

R u watching f1?

For sure

Can u keep me updated i'm working




Lewis overtook Webber at the start :))
Ham, web, vet, alo, ros, mas by lap 6

Fab. Ta

Possibility of rain at some point...

Lap 8, alo passes vet

Bloody ferraris are dangerous

Lap 9, perez pits

Lap 10 vet spins off track, keeps 4th

Lap 11 heid flies into gravel trying to pass buemi

Lap 12 mas takes ros for 5th.

Web & ham fighting for 1st v exciting. Alo closing them down. What a great race

Lap 14 web in pits

Lap 16 but fighting pet for 8th

But been a real disappointment this weekend

Lap 17 mas web ham alo pit action craziness going on mas still needs to pit




Mas pits

Lap 18 spots of rain on car camera lens

Very close top 3 web ham alo

How did web get in front?

During ham's pitstop. When he came out there were cars everywhere!

Lap 23 both mercs pass petrov for 7&8th

Lap 24 shumi spins into 11th

Web ham alo but mas vet ros sut...

Ur doing a great job its like watching it

Lap 25 but pits all wheels stay on ;)

Lmao

But in 8th

Lap 26 vet pit radio may have probs with brakes

Omg pls pls

Rubens out engine failure

Lap 29 but hunting sutil for 7th rain may be 30 mins away

Lap 31 web pits

Web rejoins in 3rd. Chandok spins off

Ham pits alo leads

Ham bullies Web for 2nd coming out of pits




Lap 33 alo pits...

Yeeeeeeessssss

Ham kills alo for 1st!!!!!!

Yahoo

Ham alo web mass vet ros but sut sut st shu kob

Lap 35 but passes ros for 6th at the 1st corner

Lap 36 button retires with hydrolics problem :(

Shame the germans r having such a shit day. Found a telly with the race on

Lap 37 ros pits

Hang on. Are you watching this now?

...Lap 39 ros fighting bob for 7th

Lap 40 ros passes kob

Liuzzi out

Lol. Yes 5 texts ago but dont stop ur analysis is better than the professionals

Ok :)

Lap 42 mas pits from 4th into 4th again

Vet v close behind

Lap 44 cold track temp affecting tyres and brakes

Ham alo web mas vet sut ros kob pet shu

Lap 46 shu & pet fighting for 9th

Untidy at final chicane

Lap 47 pet pits from 10th rejoins in 11th crucial tyre choice

Lap 49 vet fastest closing in on mas for 4th

Lap 51 ham alo web mad vet ros sut msc dir kob pet

Where did diresta come from?

Ham pits rejoins in 3rd

Lap 52 Ferrari in pits for alo

Alo doesn't pit

Lap 53 alo pits Crucial time for tyres

Ham passes alo. Web still needs to pit

Web can't get past mas. Gonna ruin his race

Sorry. I mean vet (not web)

So much going on can't keep up!

5 laps remaining web still has to pit

Lap 57 web pits. Ham leads from alo

Lap 58 ham Alo web mas vet sut ros msc kob pet per

Penultimate lap 59 mas & vet gonna have a pit stop race for 4th place

End of lap holding my breath...

And it's vet in the lead

Lap 60 ham cruises to victory yasaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!




Ham alo web vet mas sut everyone else was lapped or out

Web gives alo a ride back to the pits. Look familiar?




Thanks 4 that didnt get to see it to the end. Ur a champ

You're very welcome. It was quite hard to keep up at times. But fun ;)


Bear in mind, I'm doing my best to text while trying to enjoy the race so you will find a few mistakes. On the whole though, I'd have to say it was 98% accurate.

Shows what I know

In my last post I praised three rookie drivers, Paul di Resta, Paster Maldonado and Kamui Kobayashi, who had qualified their cars into the top ten for the British Grand Prix. Unfortunately, I had taken my eye off my favourite rookie of the year, Sergio Perez.




While Kobayashi was forced to retire due to an oil leak, di Resta and Maldonado both ended up being lapped by the end of the race. However, and I don't know how, Perez raced his Sauber to 7th place by the chequered flag and a tidy 6 points in the bank.
I won't take your eyes off him again.

Qualified rookies

The British Grand Prix qualifying session brought up a few surprises, due to light rain and a constantly changing track surface.

Congratulations to three rookies who drove their midfield cars to the front of the pack and into the top ten for Sunday's race.

Paul DiResta, Force India



Pastor Maldonado, Williams



Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber



6th, 7th and 8th, respectively. Well done, guys and good luck for the GP.

BRITISH Grand Prix 

The first Formula 1 Grand Prix took place at Silverstone in 1950, so it always feels a bit special when the F1 circus comes home to Blighty.


I'm keeping my fingers crossed that either Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton will keep Sebastian Vettel from the top step of the podium. So far, they are the only drivers to put a dent in the Red Bull driver's title hunt.


And it goes without saying that we'd all be over the moon to have a Brit win his home GP.

Summer weekends

Summer weekends are the best. It's the way the days seem to stretch almost into the middle of the night before it's tomorrow.


This is an average, read as glorious, view from my window, the sort I get most nights just as the sun is setting, around 9:00 or thereabouts. And because it's the weekend, I don't have to worry about tomorrow because IT'S SUNDAY!
Or Saturday if you're reading this on Friday.

V for Valencia

My last post was about how much Valencia had grown on me but after this weekend's race I might have to rethink my position on the current European Grand Prix.

I really didn't enjoy it all that much, if I'm to be honest. It was a pretty boring race with only the occasional battle for position, compared to this season's previous Grands Prix.

In fact, it was so bland, I'm not going to write any more.

Spain again

So, Formula 1 returns to Spain for a second time, three seasons running, since 2009.




Valencia is a new track to F1, created primarily in response to double world champion, Fernando Alonso's popularity in his home country.




I never really liked the circuit much. That was until I bought the most recent F1 PS3 game. Now, having seen it from the driver's eye view, I have a newfound respect for Spain's second Grand Prix.




With Sebastian Vettel on pole and team mate, Mark Webber alongside, it looks as though it'll be another Red Bull whitewash. Only the McLarens and Ferraris stand a chance of spoiling the party. Keep your fingers crossed.

#Glastonbury

It's Glastonbury weekend 2011. I went three years in a row during the 90's and each time was a different experience.




I worked for my ticket in Year One, getting up at silly o' clock and helping to clear the previous nights' rubbish. Forever will the smell of warm cider and beer invoke nostalgic feelings of my first time. I was also fed and watered.

There's nothing I like more than a lie-in, so I paid for a ticket for Year Two. This was the year everybody lived in my tent, I discovered the simple pleasures of going commando and spent my time dining on warm, freshly made doughnuts.

By Year Three, high ticket prices meant that I had no option but to jump the fence. I spent far too much time off my face and ended up burning my jeans to stay warm and eating food the stall holders legally had to dispose of.

High points and low, each year was equally enjoyable. I'd love to go again. You know what, I'll make a promise to myself, to return to Glastonbury. Wanna come?




Footnote:
There was also a HUGE amount of music going on just about everywhere. One of the more curious discoveries was the two stalls playing Drum N Bass and Jimi Hendrix next to each other(!)

Instagramagic

I'm having a fling with a newly found online photo sharing site that goes by the name of Instagram.


It's not that different from flickr, really but it's a bit more like Twitter.


I can also add instant effects to each photo I post, quickly and simply.


Each time I share a photo, I can post a link to other social network sites, such as twitter, facebook and flickr, etc.


I love a good sunset, I do.

Another fine mess

My memories of the Canadian GP are a fragmented mess. A bit like the race.


I liked seeing the teams all sharing a cuppa and a biscuit on the grid under umberellas ellas ellas...

Drive of the day goes to Nick Heidfeld who managed to steer his badly damaged car into a run-off area at turn 3 before flicking it around safely behind a safety barrier. Class.

It's such a mess because I was recording it to watch after my little one had gone to bed.

After 25 laps, most of which were held under the safety car, the race was red flagged. By the time they got going again, the GP was being broadcast on BBC2. So, 20 minutes of racing lost before I press record on the correct channel.

Did I mention that it was raining?


Suddenly fast forward and the track is drying on the racing line. Lots of pitstops. In fact, because of the rain coming and going like it did, drivers were coming in left, right and centre. And then going.

Jenson did a pretty good job of unintentionally dispatching two rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

And then, because the race over-ran the TV schedule (again), my recorder stopped recording (again, again). I didn't notice until I'd missed another dozen laps.

Considering all this and that more time was spent under safety car conditions than was actually spent racing, I didn't get to enjoy the Canadian Grand Prix. Pity, because it looked like a fantastic win for Jenson Button.

I missed you

My wife and son have been away visiting family for about a week and it's been very quiet here on my own.


I'm so glad they're back now. Yesterday, I found myself talking to myself!

Rookie recovery

My thoughts go out to Sergio Perez, my newest favouritest F1 rookie, who suffered a massive crash during qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. By all accounts, he is alive and well but I bet flying sideways into the wall has taken the wind out of his sails.


I was deeply troubled by Sergio's lack of movement immediately after the accident. I'm used to seeing drivers jump from their cars within moments of any crash, or throwing their steering wheels out of their prams if they're having a tantrum, but the minutes ticked by and still we waited.

Emergency vehicles, a medical car and an ambulance all turned up and surrounded Perez offering whatever assistance was needed, they do a good job in Monaco, and for a while I forgot all about Formula 1 and instead found myself hoping and praying that this young Mexican was going to be alright.

He won't be racing today but I don't think it'll be long before he's thrilling us back on track again.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery, Sergio. My thoughts are with you.

Bisy backson

I've been away from my blog for far too long. But I think I have a good excuse:
F1 2010 on the Playstation 3.

I thank you for your patience and apologise for the inconvenience. Normal service will resume shortly.

BBC's Turkish triumph

I know I should have posted something about the last Grand Prix, in China, especially as Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory, but there was so much on-track action that I felt unable to write anything that would do it justice.

I'm in the same position again this week but with the addition of my eldest son and best friend talking in each ear, almost from start to finish. I love them both but it makes it incredibly difficult to read the race strategies of each team. Luckily, I have Martin Brundle and David Coulthard to keep me informed.

The BBC1 team do a fantastic job with Formula 1. I grew into the sport when it was on ITV and only felt put out on the occasion that an ad break would disrupt an exciting battle (eg. Alonso and Schumacher at Imola in 2006(?)). But The Beeb have put on a stunning show, this season's efforts are even better than the last.

The royal wedding

It was bloody marvelous. Best wishes to William and Catherine. May they have a long, happy and loving marriage.
God save the queen.

The tweeting of the 500

Sleeps All Winter now has over 500 followers in Twitter, which isn't bad, I think you'll agree. He has many more than I do and I'm human. I think this just goes to show what a grrreat teddy he truly is.


Follow The Bear ;)

Poot

I can't get my Sleeps All Winter blog to post. Poot!

I feel good

I have that self satisfied feeling you get when you've done a bit of exercise and you're sitting on the sofa watching your favourite TV show (Dr Who, in this case).

It was only riding my bike home after work but put it all together and I'm feeling good.

Right. What's next?

The Malaysian Grand Prix

Vettel wins again!
Now you don't have to read the rest of this blogpost. Aren't I thoughtful? But if that's not enough...

It was a great start for Nick Heidfeld in the Renault Lotus as he launched himself into 2nd place from 6th on the grid. A place he would ultimately give up to McLaren's Jenson Button who had started in 4th. With Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull getting away from pole position cleanly and him controling the race until the finish, these drivers made it onto the podium.

Red Bull's 2nd(!) driver, Mark Webber, nearly got a taste of champagne but the race only has a finite number of laps before he ran out of opportunities.

According to the First Law of Italian Driving, what's behind is not important. I doubt if Ferrari saw it that way as both their drivers limped over the finish line in 5th and 6th places, fighting each other for a handful of points. Felipe Massa trumped Fernando Alonso on this occasion, which must have put a smile on the Brazillians face.

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, had started 10th but another stunning drive from this exciting Japanese racer, battling it out with Michael Schumacher's Mercedes over a considerable number of laps, got him up to 7th place ahead of the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton. The Brit had some trouble with his tyres toward the end of the Grand Prix before being hit by Alonso trying to make a move on him going into turn 3. Both cars needed to pit again, Fernando for a new nose, Lewis for fresh tyres.

The last two points paying positions went to Schumacher and Force India's Paul Di Resta

One final note.
Vitaly Petrov took his Renault Lotus for an adventure on the penultimate corner. I'm not sure what exactly happened at the time of writing but trying to get his car back on the track, it suddenly shot into the air, across the track and when it landed the onboard camera was showing that the steering wheel had come away from the rest of the car!

Drivers and Constructors Championships:

Malaysian GP qualifying

It goes Red Bull, McLaren, Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, Renault, Ferrari, Renault, Mercedes, Sauber.

And believe me, it's close at the sharp end of the grid. Now we wait until the Grand Prix, which starts at 9:00am, UK time.
Who wants to sleep in on Sunday, anyway? My boys certainly don't.

Thoughts before bed

I should have been asleep a while ago but I was watching Donnie Darko on TV. It's a great movie. It was also trending on Twitter so I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Anyway, those were my thoughts before bed. Goodnight.

The F1 2011 season starts here

It should have started a couple of weeks ago but what with one thing or another, today saw the first race of the Formula 1 world championship. To be honest, I always thought Australia should have hosted the first race because, for me, it always has. Just as Brazil should host the last race. (Abu Dhabi, grumble grumble. Even though it looks stunning, grumble)

I hadn't realised how much I missed the thrill of the race. The new rules, DRS, KERS and new tyres from Pirelli, have shaken things up a bit. The top teams, Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, etc, are all performing at full steam, though, so we still have the big guns fighting it out for points. Meanwhile, the smaller teams, Sauber, Lotus, HRT, etc, have been having their own problems. HRT didn't even get to start the race due to the 107% qualifying rule!

There was plenty of action in Melbourne, right from the moment the lights went out. Vettel had a clean getaway and led to the finish, Hamilton lost a place to Webber then regained it at the first corner and Alonso went wide, allowing three cars to pass him.
During the course of the Grand Prix, there were battles aplenty. Button passed Massa using an exit road, after being held up by the slower Brazilian for several laps, and got hit with a drive through penalty.
The Saubers of Kobayashi and Perez scythed their way through the field finishing 7th and 8th, Perez pitting only once for a tyre change, to everybody else's two and three stops.
Congratulations to Vitaly Petrov who made it onto the podium, finishing in 3rd place, driving in his 2nd season with Renault, now Renault-Lotus (don't ask).
And no safety car was deployed at any point in the race :)

With such a thrilling start to the season, I can hardly wait for the next race in Malaysia. And I'd like to make a small prediction for 2011. Keep an eye on Toro Rosso and Force India. That's all I'm saying. Just keep an eye.




Unfortunately, I have since learned that Sauber have been disqualified for a breach of the aero rules. It remains to be seen whether the team will appeal or not.