As the song used to go at Pleasure Island when I worked at Fabulous Walt Disney World...
"Out with the old, in with the new,
Pleasures untold are waiting for you,
Don't miss a chance, your long overdue,
Out with the old, in with the new".
As World News looks at the celebrations as the clock strikes the hour of midnight and the old year is seen off and we welcome 2011 and the whole year ahead. I always think its one of the most wonderful things about Human beings. We as a species celebrate certain things, Birthdays, New Years and follow traditions of many centuries gone past.
How the years seem to have flown. It doesnt seem that long ago that we were all lining the River Thames to say goodbye to 1999 and welcome the new Millenium.
So as we prepare to celebrate the new year may I wish you all a very Happy New Year and may 2011 only bring you love, health & happiness.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Goodbye Ugly Betty
Watching Ugly Betty, the last episode ever really bought back some amazing memories. As Betty celebrated her final party it reminded me of how I felt back in 1995 having found out that soon I would be moving to Orlando, selected to work as a Walt Disney World International Program cultural representitive.
My love for Disney and the magic of it all had no more faded than has my fondness and love of the friends I made there. We were not just cast members, my arrival year had their own magic.
So excited to receive cards from around the globe from old Disney friends and even more excited to be going to Jersey next year to Nick's 40th Birthday. Christine, who arrived in Orlando in my arrivals group and I are my oldest of Disney Friends. She was always dear to me and the fact she is flying in to London before we go to Jersey will make the whole trip even more magical. 2 dear friends for some 16 years reuniting to go not just on a trip, but a magical trip. For it will not be just us two away but potentially the whole Disney Gang. I so hope others will make it. How I would die to see Kiyomi again, David & Claudia, Ali, Shirley, Tracey and Serge to name but a few. It will most certainly be something to look forward to once the Christmas decor comes down and the grey and gloom return.
TWo more days till Christmas eve and I am as excited as ever. Maybe its because I still believe in magic, in pixie dust or maybe its just because I believe that everyones dreams should always come true. Merry Christmas one and all.
My love for Disney and the magic of it all had no more faded than has my fondness and love of the friends I made there. We were not just cast members, my arrival year had their own magic.
So excited to receive cards from around the globe from old Disney friends and even more excited to be going to Jersey next year to Nick's 40th Birthday. Christine, who arrived in Orlando in my arrivals group and I are my oldest of Disney Friends. She was always dear to me and the fact she is flying in to London before we go to Jersey will make the whole trip even more magical. 2 dear friends for some 16 years reuniting to go not just on a trip, but a magical trip. For it will not be just us two away but potentially the whole Disney Gang. I so hope others will make it. How I would die to see Kiyomi again, David & Claudia, Ali, Shirley, Tracey and Serge to name but a few. It will most certainly be something to look forward to once the Christmas decor comes down and the grey and gloom return.
TWo more days till Christmas eve and I am as excited as ever. Maybe its because I still believe in magic, in pixie dust or maybe its just because I believe that everyones dreams should always come true. Merry Christmas one and all.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Mr Smiley? Must be the WDW touch!
A couple of times in the last seven days people have said to me, you are always smiling! Am I? Well I can't really help that but it seems it's a defining feature I have. I was told today its how people recognise me! I guess it must come from my Disney Days where we had to smile all day long. You cant ever pay someone to smile and for it to feel warm and genuine. But at Disney we smilled for we were happy. They dont call Disney World the Happiest place on Earth for no reason.
We smiled for we wanted to smile! Because we were chosen to do that and that for sure made us smile.
I just found it brouhht me a smile to hear it was how they recognised me. There could be worse characteristics eh?
We smiled for we wanted to smile! Because we were chosen to do that and that for sure made us smile.
I just found it brouhht me a smile to hear it was how they recognised me. There could be worse characteristics eh?
Monday, December 13, 2010
Spinning Instructor Certification
When my boss first said he was thinking of becoming a Spinning Instructor I thought, that sounds like fun. I have afterall always enjoyed excercise classes and love the fact that you get a full 45 minute workout with the all the fun of group participation. Its certainly much easier to do a class than to spend 45 minutes, self motivated, on all the cardio machines.
So at the time it seemed quite normal to say to Ian, If you do it, I'll do it with you.
Having read the pre-course homework (Excercise Phyiology), the weekend course rapidly came around. It didn't help that just days earlier I had a fairly nasty fall and was somewhat grazed and bruised.
Arriving at 9AM, Saturday Morning at the Virgin Health Club, Broadgate, was quite unnerving. I met up with Ian and we went in together.
The group was made up of 23 students, most of whom were either Personal Trainers or existing excerise to music instructors. I think Ian and I felt a bit like fish out of water and was dreading them asking the group, what do you do for a living? That said it seemed we knew a fair bit and that the pre course work that was required for non fitness industry participants gave us a heads up and ready to partake.
I have to confess, as the course started and our instructor, Sandro, stated he would be assessing us all and has on occasion had to fail a number of participants. I actually said to myself, I was there for the fun of it and to learn how to do it. Its not like I have a club to potentially teach in.
After 4 lectures, 3 classes and some group excercises we had to take the bull by the horn and teach a group and believe it or not, we both passed :-).
There is an amazing sense of self achievement when you set your mind to something and go out and get it. Especially when the goal seems so hard to achieve. 48 Hours later and a lot of sweat I have my certification.
Amazingly, on coming home I discovered that our residents Gym has just bought six Spinning bikes for the new extension! Now at least I can go over to the gym and practice with my Ipod. Amazing how fate turns out sometimes eh?
So at the time it seemed quite normal to say to Ian, If you do it, I'll do it with you.
Having read the pre-course homework (Excercise Phyiology), the weekend course rapidly came around. It didn't help that just days earlier I had a fairly nasty fall and was somewhat grazed and bruised.
Arriving at 9AM, Saturday Morning at the Virgin Health Club, Broadgate, was quite unnerving. I met up with Ian and we went in together.
The group was made up of 23 students, most of whom were either Personal Trainers or existing excerise to music instructors. I think Ian and I felt a bit like fish out of water and was dreading them asking the group, what do you do for a living? That said it seemed we knew a fair bit and that the pre course work that was required for non fitness industry participants gave us a heads up and ready to partake.
I have to confess, as the course started and our instructor, Sandro, stated he would be assessing us all and has on occasion had to fail a number of participants. I actually said to myself, I was there for the fun of it and to learn how to do it. Its not like I have a club to potentially teach in.
After 4 lectures, 3 classes and some group excercises we had to take the bull by the horn and teach a group and believe it or not, we both passed :-).
There is an amazing sense of self achievement when you set your mind to something and go out and get it. Especially when the goal seems so hard to achieve. 48 Hours later and a lot of sweat I have my certification.
Amazingly, on coming home I discovered that our residents Gym has just bought six Spinning bikes for the new extension! Now at least I can go over to the gym and practice with my Ipod. Amazing how fate turns out sometimes eh?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Gay mens chorus Christmas show
Every year for at least the last eight years, Emily, Gill, Lisa and I have gone to watch the Gay Mens Chorus (GMC), for their annual Christmas concert. Infact Emily and I have attended many more.
This year it was Friday 10th December and I booked the tickets for us all as my birthday gift to the girls.
We arranged to meet at Sloane Square Brazzerie at 1800, which meant I had to leave my works Chritsmas meal an hour early. But that wasnt a problem.
Standing, reading my paper one the circle line I could not believe it when who boarded at Monument and stood immediately next to? Emily of course. The funny thing is, I have done that with Emily at least 3 times. Last year, post watching the GMC concert her parents got on the tube and stood immediately next to us! Fate, I guess!
Poor Gil texted us just after we arrived at the bar and said she had turned ill and so was heading home. Was so sad not too see her. But on the plus, lisa, Emily & I had fun! Somehow it only feels Christmas now after this lovely christmas show. It was, of course, fabulous. Heading home quickly afterwards as needed to wake early for my "Spinning" instuctor course! More to follow on just that subject...
This year it was Friday 10th December and I booked the tickets for us all as my birthday gift to the girls.
We arranged to meet at Sloane Square Brazzerie at 1800, which meant I had to leave my works Chritsmas meal an hour early. But that wasnt a problem.
Standing, reading my paper one the circle line I could not believe it when who boarded at Monument and stood immediately next to? Emily of course. The funny thing is, I have done that with Emily at least 3 times. Last year, post watching the GMC concert her parents got on the tube and stood immediately next to us! Fate, I guess!
Poor Gil texted us just after we arrived at the bar and said she had turned ill and so was heading home. Was so sad not too see her. But on the plus, lisa, Emily & I had fun! Somehow it only feels Christmas now after this lovely christmas show. It was, of course, fabulous. Heading home quickly afterwards as needed to wake early for my "Spinning" instuctor course! More to follow on just that subject...
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