Tag Archives: england

My confession…

A lot of people, think it is a bit strange for me to support the German National Football team, rather than any other team which is much more popular over here in Malta; namely England and Italy. I do not know how many times I had to answer why I am a supporter of the German team….

Today, I will write it on my blog, and for a reason.
Today, it is his birthday. 

Back in 2002, while I was watching one of the World Cups that I Fußball WM Deutschland - Südkoreaactually vividly remember, I have spotted this really amazing goalkeeper. He conceded only one goal in the course of the cup until the final, in which the German team lost against Brazil with the score of 2-0. I was impressed by his skills and precision, and this is when football made sense to me. This is when I chose my team. I am writing about the one and only… Oliver Kahn.

Today, he is 45 years old.

Among the honours and awards along the years:

  • He was voted the Best player and Goalkeeper during the 2002 World Cup which is in my opinion very well deserved.
  • He has also been given the title for the World Goalkeeper of the Year in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
  • Others worth mentioning are four consecutive years (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) as UEFA Club Football Awards: Best Goal-keeper
  • Gaining third place in 2001 and 2002 in the Ballon d’Or.

In remembrance:

Tribute to Christopher Lee

I do not go ape-shit crazy over every famous legend, that passes away… But, Christopher Lee deserves a mention.

christopher leeWho is Christopher Lee?
– He is one of a kind.
He was born in 1922, in England and has died due to heart failure at the age of 93.
– He has been given credit for 281 acting jobs (movies and series).
– Out of all these films around 90% of the time he acted as a villain.
– He participated during World War II, where he served his country in the Royal Air Force and in British Intelligence.
– He is a very tall man; 1.96m.
– One of his movies is still to be released next year.

What is he mostly known for?
– Christopher Lee, is Saruman in Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit.
– Christopher Lee has portrayed three different characters in the Sherlock Holmes Series: Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft – Holmes and Sir Henry Baskerville.
– Christopher Lee has been Dracula several times.
– Christopher Lee is the voice of Count Dooku in Star Wars.
– Christopher Lee is also a singer and he has released his last mini-album at the age of 92.

Memories I will treasure forever:

From the Hobbit: The Battle of 5 Armies
Saruman: “Leave Sauron to me”



Christopher Lee singing “My Way”. Elvis’ cover version turned into heavy metal

Thoughts and Dreams

Last night I was going through my stuff and I came across the leaving card my ex colleagues in England gave me. I reread all the messages and it made think on what could have my life been like if I never left.

2015-04-22 09.17.23

I am still in love with all things British and sometimes I fear I have made a bad decision. I love being close to my family and friends but I miss the green, the nature, the events, the sense of peace and calm in my
stoke life that only that country seems to give me.

With all things going in my life.. especially the house and the cats it should totally feel like I’ve settled down. But truth be told, I wish I could be in two places at once. Or perhaps I can live some of my life here and some there.

But for that to happen I need to be rich or be in a situation were I can work from anywhere in the world and actually afford such comfort.

Now that I have put this on paper I hope that I can put this thought to rest; At least until two months time when I will be travelling to South Wales, London and possibly Kent. God I miss you!

Meet Halfy…

Halfy is what his friends call him. And there’s a whole story about why his nickname is this. Let’s start with a photo of this American guy.

halfy
Carlos ‘Halfy’ Rodriguez

Yes, the nickname is self-explanatory now that you have seen the photo. But guess what? He was not born this way. In fact, one night he was on drugs, and while he was driving he hit a pole, flew out of the window and landed on his head. He’s doing well, and until this day, he has not undergone any cosmetic surgery. It seems to me, that he likes his new look.

After reading this story, I was curious to read about other similar stories.

Meet Steve Gator, a twenty six year old guy from Essex (England) who had his skull crushed. He was attacked by two teenage thugs on his way home after work. Very unlucky. Unfortunately because of this incident, he is suffering from a lifelong disability.

steve_GatorITV_450x319
Steve Gator – Before & After

Another victim back in 2008, by the name of Alan Hind, twenty eight year old, also had an accident where he shattered his skull. It all happened when he fell approximately seven meters while working on his roof. On top of that he suffered from kidney damage and he turned deaf from his left ear. To this day he still suffers from trauma and memory loss.

Hou Guozhu; Chinese, at the age of eight, had a large portion of his head removed. He was a healthy boy just like his twin brother, but when he was three, in the year 2000, he started to suffer from periodic spasms of is left limb. His family traveled to all the local hospitals for help but this was not enough. Six years later his father afforded to take the boy to the Beijing Brain Institute were he was diagnosed with a rare inflammatory disease of the brain, know a Rasmussen Encephalitis. He underwent four operations, and for this treatment his family had to sell almost all their possessions, including the house. The father also turned to the media to help with donations. In 2011, the kid finally had the cosmetic surgery done; in which a titanium alloy plate was implanted.

hou-guozhu
Hou Guozhu – Before & After

These three victims as can be seen from the pictures to this article, have undergone cosmetic surgery.

Enjoy life, and make sure you don’t lose half of your head! 😉

Snowy London

snow london

Most of my friends who live in London, have accepted the fact that they won’t be seeing more than an inch of snow this winter, just like it has happened in the previous years. But not today… This morning, London woke up to a blanket of snow, and according to the weather forecast this is expected to last for a while longer. In fact the Siberian gales are bringing five days of sub-zero weather. The temperature is expected to drop at around -11 degrees celsius.

I think it would be beautiful to see the City of London covered in white… But since I cannot just buy a flight ticket and see it for myself photos will have to do….

snow house of parliament
The House of Parliament and the surroundings covered in snow
snow london hyde park
Swimmers taking a dip in Serpentine Lido, in London’s Hyde Park
snow london home of cricket
Home of Cricket is all white
snow stanmore station north west
Snowy Stanmore Station; North West of London

Main source for these beautiful photos… The Daily Mail