Merry Christmas Everybody!

This is the view from our bedroom window. Pretty isn't it? Not that cold really. I wish all friends and visitors a merry Christmas. Hope you all get what you wish for and have a fun time. I will be back in Manchester and thusly online before the new year, all being well with the traffic. All the best xxx

HIV/AIDS now and then............

A fantastic article about HIV including a video with a well known researcher

http://ow.ly/HvMP

World AIDS Day

I'm wearing my red ribbon with pride today I hope you are too;)

http://www.avert.org/world-aids-day.htm

Whilst scientists grow even closer to finding a vaccine for this disease funding is always important. Please consider helping unfortunate families and their children by making a donation today to The Rutger Hauer Starfish foundation. They and I appreciate it. 

To make a donation and find out about all the good things they do, please visit their page.

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/index.php

Thank you very much and have a nice day xxx

Still miss you Freddie xxx

I have always been a huge Queen fan. My earliest memory is that of 'Another one Bites the Dust' being the latest single and me as a kid walking around the bungalow singing this at the top of my voice! Today I solemnly and fondly think about their legendary front Man Freddie Mercury who died on 24th November 1991 of AIDS related bronchopneumonia. This is just one day after revealing to the world that he was suffering from this disease :( Freddie or Farrokh Bulsara was born in Zanzibar in 1946. So if he were alive today that would make him 63 and I bet he would still be as handsome. When he was 17 his family moved to Feltham in Middlesex.

In 1996 a statue of Freddie was erected in Montreux Switzerland, which is where Queen have their recording studio. A few more have been since then too I think. The Palace Theatre here in Manchester has a golden coloured statue of Freddie on the canopy above the entrance. That was put there back in march this year when Queen's Musical We Will Rock You came to town. I think other lucky city theatres also have one ;) Today a new memorial plaque, a star is being unveiled in Freddies's home town of Feltham, the ceremony being attended by the rest of Queen. I can't wait to see that statue and to find out how the day went.  This blog of mine came about as an attempt at cataloguing all the fundraising/funruns I have done since 2002 for my favourite AIDS charity. This is something close to my heart thanks mainly to you Freddie, though of course like all of your fans I wish you were still here. I still have a hard time listening to the last songs/singles you recorded. Queen still rock and rule! I love you and miss you, you will always rock me. RIP. Much love Sarah xxx
   

Myself and the rather lovely chap Isaac who ran the CBBC proceedings.

My festival pix ;D

Me overseeing The Darwin Tree of Life event at The Manchester Museum. I was there all day. Can you spot me? ;D I rather think I've posted these pix in the wrong order but frankly I can't be bothered to redo it lol

its over!

My very first (although the third) Mancunian festival. I met and worked with some lovely people and had a fantastic time. I shall miss it and remember it fondly. Now I'm looking forward to the xmas do on the 8th of December when we can get together and recall the fun times as well as being allowed to look at the Da Vinci interactive exhibition lol. Here is a link to the festival blog so you can see what we all got up to plus the next post will be of my pix. Enjoy!

http://manchestersciencefestival.blogspot.com/

and not forgetting of course all the lovely photo's courtesy of Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mcrscifest/pool/

xxx

and not forgetting........

.........of course that 2009 has been a wonderful year for science ;D
Regarding my previous post, I would love it if you had any thoughts, comments. Please satay tuned for further updates too. I am now participating in the Schools volunteer programme in the city centre on wednesday. This basically means helping out eg ushering kids in the right direction, helping to set up stalls etc. I shall be in the Printworks all day doing this if anyone wants to pop in and say hello.

xxx

Manchester Science Festival 09

This is exciting to me though totally unconnected to the theme of this blog, its 'blog fodder' though so here goes ;) I am now officially a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ambassador for Manchester! As such this means I will be participating in the Manchester Science Festival which takes place 24th Oct-1st Nov. That is to say it begins next saturday......The festival has a fabulous website and blog where you can find out about all the amazing events taking place. They are aimed at kids, adults and families and are free though some may require pre-booking. Here is the link to the website to find out much more.

http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/

One of the events is about robots and one such robot 'Robothespian' will be on tv tonight channel4 5pm on The Paul O'Grady Show.

The main aim of this event is to show children how fun and interesting science really is and on the lead up to the festival some events have also been taking place. I was involved in one yesterday. I spent the whole day in Stockport Science busking. It was great fun and it seemed to take no effort on our part to attract people to our tables. Local radio station Key 103 were there helping promote the festival and I thought we may get to do a podcast but they had more than enough, 12 within the first hour from enthusiastic kids! ;) It really was nice seeing them excited. I shall be doing this all again this coming thursday at Manchester Piccadilly train station so if you're in the area, please come and say hello ;)

Hugs Sarah xxx

PS........

You can follow me on twitter at @SarahScientist, but not if you want to sell me something lol

xxx

Happily........

.......I recieved an email from Starfish yesterday confirming they have recieved the funds. Happy day!
They will be keeping me posted about their latest project involving kids in Africa. I can't wait to hear all about that! I think the money I/we raised is going to help this project ;) Can't wait to read the news on the Starfish Website. They recieved 179 euros in the end too.

I shall keep on adding entries here, of relevance obviously but if anything else comes up which I think may be of interest or is of interest to me then I shall be back!

Have a great weekend all and please to leave a comment if you feel the faintest of urges ;)

xxx

Good news!

Dear sadly neglected blog........

At last again I have something to say, and its great news. I have just handed over the fundraising money to Starfish and it is £160 in total, (202 euros). Well done us and a heartfelt thank you from the bottom of my heart to all my lovely sponsors. It will soon be time for me to register again for next years race. Take care,

Hugs Minty xxx

Webpage update!

Over at the Starfish Association website that is, bless and love them xxx

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/fundraisingrun.php

I shall be back when I've collected all sponsorship to give you the grand total.

Take care,

Hugs Sarah xxx

photos

post run reporting

Oh my gosh what a day, so much to say it was fantastic! It was predicted to be the perfect weather for the run today, light cloudy with sunny spells. Wrong,very wrong as anyone who was there or watched on tv can confirm! It was very windy and thus cold. Opera singer Russell watson was there to run but first of all he inspired us with his singing. It was amazing, truly lovely. Moved us all. That certainly encouraged to enjoy the warm up and the run. I was wearing a pair of black fairy wings and this year does seem to have been the year for wings! There were plenty of them. In fact plenty of costumes this year. Fifi would have loved it and been envious E.g. snow white and the 7 dwarfs. She was alone when I saw her and I wondered if there were any dwarves lol. I bumped into them later and they told me the snow white I'd seen was the fake one Also there were some smurfs, 2 banana's, Cruella de'ville and I found myself running next to a purple octopus. I think I want a good costume for next year. A Starfish of course. If anyone here can make me one or knows someone who could and would be willing please get in touch. I'd really appreciate it. So I was enjoying the run and then it started to drizzle, I can live with that. Then the heavens opened and I mean flood gates. It was teeming for the rest of the run but you know what, I didn't care, not a jot. Made no difference. Living in Manchester one has a tendency to become waterproof! I was still enthused and raring to go. I'm lovin' it. Yes you've guessed it though, once the run was over with the sun decided to come out ppfffttt......I can safely say we all had fun running for all the causes close to our hearts. Afterwards more pix were taken and we were offered complimentary waffles, apples and jelly beans and as many bottles of energy drinks as we could hold haha. Whereas last yeer I didn't feel too well, this year I'm dandy. Just aching thighs. I came home looking forward to a steaming hot bath which I enjoyed and my thighs are still aching but I'm sure they'll feel worse tomorrow. No big deal really. Mission accomplished, happy and proud. Thank you to all my darling sponsors, love you and I'm still open for late comers who want to help. Lets do it all again next year, those poor babes need cots and heaters amongst other things. Lots of love to all XXX

Thats it then!

My training is all over, had my last jog yesterday. Oh well. I shall be having an early night and hopefully plenty of sleep. Really, looking forward to it though can't guarantee that I will report in tomorrow. There will be photos! Not to late to sponsor me. Take care,

Hugs Sarah xxx

A week to go!

I just can't believe it already. I am as committed as ever and really excited. Plus I have been out for a jog today around the block as usual. The weather is nippy but pleasant. I enjoyed it even more because I found my mp3 player which has Enya and Dido on it. Heaven to the ears ;) Must get some new earphones for it though!

Hugs XXX

Let us eat cake (and lots of it)

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy 40th birthday toooo meeeee....!

Yes today it is that day. It had to come, I'm okay with it. I am having a no exercise day though and am happy that this day falls on a weekend so I can celebrate it with my beloved. Last sunday he was 50 and I baked him a beautiful chocolate cake as you can see. When asked if he would be returning the favour he said 'how?' But we did have a lie in with plenty of coffee and then a bought chocolate gateau appeared. Here you can see a pic of both cakes. We are having a relaxing day together although some pc time has been allowed lol, We have consumed much coffee and cake and as predicted I feel no different! I am looking forward to this evening when we go out for a meal to my favourite indian restaurant.

Happy weekend one and all. Hugs Sarah xxx

wow

only 9 days to go! I can't believe it. I rounded off today with a nice 90 minute swim. A few kids seemed like they might annoy me but under the watchful eye of their mum, in the end didn't. Bless em. xxx

May I present.......

Tulips from my inlaws garden and bluebells from ours. Such a lovely bank holiday saturday. My beloved and I have been for a brisk 3 mile walk to the shops and back. He will be 50 tomorrow. We bought a lovely raspberry pavlova to feast upon. Nom, nom nom! xxx

its here!

My BUPA information pack. Predictably I'm in the 'pink wave' as always but my race number has an extra digit. This year I am, 30092. Now you can look out for me ;¬) I have enjoyed a lovely evening 90 minute swim today. Feeling positive and excited about the run and I shall go for a run tomorrow, hopefully it won't be raining but that could be good practice. In any case, have a nice weekend darlings.

only 3 weeks

to go until the big day! I have not been too well this passed week so therefore my apologies for not posting. In some ways I wish I had made this blog busier and talked about other things but I didn't really want to go off topic. I have had an email confirming that my 'race package' is on its way to me. At least then I will know this years number xxx

Speaking of YouTube.......

Yesterday we had a walk to the wonderful Manchester Museum to see the Lindow Man. We have been there before but didn't know about the vivatarium (if thats how you spell it). I was armed with my digital camera. As luck would have it I was able to capture a green tree monitor in motion at the very moment I pointed my camera at it. I have uploaded this my first ever vid to YT. Many apologies for the naff commentary and indeed that there is any sound on there at all. I haven't done too many mpegs with my digital camera and tend to forget. Call this an experiment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLQbczBTTTE&feature=channel_page

Hope you enjoy it anyhoo xxx

Oooh I have slacked off..

..abit haven't I? Blogging that is. I hope everyone is enjoying a great easter weekend and that your weather is as pleasant and sunny as it is here for us. I have continued my runs and went on one today. A very tiring but lovely run around the block for 30 minutes. One really enjoys a shower afterwards. You all know why I'm doing this but for anyone who is a fan of Blade Runner I have a treat for you. It helps if as I do you enjoy Red Dwarf as well. They have made a new 3 part series which is now available on YouTube and is an excellent parody of Blade Runner. It gets going in part two IMHO.
xxx

Nothing finer.......

.......than a 90 minute swim after work to build up an appetite and put you in a good mood for the weekend. Oh yeah heres proof I met and had lunch with Mr Hauer in 2002 xxx

My favourite big cat

After a bit of a lie in and a hearty breakfast I have had my dose of 30 minute jogging on a pleasant but crisp sunday. I think its time for another photo lol. I'm more of a dog person than a cat person but I do like big cats. My favourite big cat is the cheetah ;¬) If only I could run as fast as this! I really admire the beauty and grace of these creatures. xxx

What do you think of the countdown clock?

Well last evening I had a long and pleasant swim. When I got there though I thought it wasn't going to happen. There was a mini queue and 2 boys told me they were in the process of cleaning the pool out as someone had puked in it. Nice (not!) We didn't need to wait long though. Hope everyone had a Happy St Pats day. I think I prefer swimming in the evening even though you risk it being busier. At least the water is warm ;¬)

Happy Pi day everyone!

And what a pleasant sunny sunday for jogging! Its so much more enjoyable once you know the ironing is over with and there will be a coffee waiting for you when you get home. xxx

Apparently.......

at the start of the run this year the legendary Russell Watson will be singing to inspire us as we run. As he's never sang to 33000 people before hes asking for (sensible) suggestions LOL. Anyone got any idea's? xxx

A very pleasant and sunny afternoon....I went for a 30 minute jog which was fine but I think I will most certainly benefit from another session in the gym. I am coughing a wee bit and feel like I have been smoking 50 a day lol. Never touched a ciggie in my life. On a sad note I think this will be the last race for my current and first ever pair of running shoes. The soles are removing themselves from the main part of the shoe. Still I can't complain, they have been good friends and seen me through 7 runs so far since 2002. I'm confident they will see me through this one. In the meantime though I have bought a cheap pair of trainers to do my training in. They are doing well. Hugs Sarah xxx

rewarding......

.......myself with a lovely chicken curry after a vigorous 90 minute afternoon swim xxx

What a day. A great day for training. I have had a long and very enjoyable 90 minute swim this aftenoon. I'm now feeling trim and looking forward to a good jog tomorrow. Time to relax and read now I think............xxx

Sad news........

......personally that is. My one remaining grandparent passed away on monday. She went in her sleep which I guess is how we all want to go. Thus I haven't done much by the way of training this week.

Take care, xxx

Happy Valentines Day! ;¬)

I'm afraid I've been lazy today re:exercising but I think I'm allowed a day off. Although after a long lie-in, we had a nice long stroll to the shops, bought stuff for tonites meal and some suitable beers. I am making good old spag bol. Always a favourite. Theres a rather nice ginger cake I baked lastnight too. I'm sure other people will be doing things much more exiting. Eh? Carry on Loving..............xxx

There is nothing like....

........a good lunchtime jog! And mine was nothing like one. Yes it was, I'm only joking ;¬) I'm surprised how much I enjoyed it really. I jogged to the PO first to post a letter lol then carried running around the block for 30 minutes. The air is crisp and chilly (no snow or frost) the sky is blue and the sun is peeping out and smiling on the UK today. So a good positve exercising day I think. I love this blogging business, it will be a pity it will slow down after the fun run in May. Of course I intend to keep it. Its amazing how encouraging and motivating it is making me feel just reading other runners blogs. I am so pleased I decided to do this heehee. Of course I can't go for a run without thinking of Starfish* and why I am doing this and that makes me both happy and excited. A huge thank you of appreciation to my fellow bloggers who are following me xxx

Weather...

.......scuppered my training plans for today. Honest! I had planned to go out for a nice long invigorating jog around the block this afternoon. Just as I was about to though I thought it felt abit more chillier than usual. I brushed back the curtain and saw that it was snowing. Lovely but noooooooooo........I want to go out and run :¬( Anyway I managed to improvise by running up and down stairs X number of times ;¬) Just as good I feel but would have been wise to do warm ups first LOL. xxx

Still.....

..training and it is still going well. In terms of my motivation and enthusiams at any rate lol. I was up bright and early this morning for a long and vigorous swim. I really enjoyed it and have been in a positive happy mood all day. I've baked a lovely chocolate and vanilla marble cake. I think next time I want to make one of these I will experiment and see what a chocolate and strawberry marble cake looks and tastes like. The snow has all gone now and if not mistaken I think we could be in for more soon. Fine by me ;¬) Hope we all have a happy weekend xxx

Oh how strange........

For the passed few days I have had trouble accessing my own blog even though my password has been correct. Weird. Rest assured that I haven't been resting ;¬) I have enjoyed early morning vigorous swims and tiring myself out at the gym. Todays exciting news is that its snowing! Well its exciting to me I love snow as I've never seen enough of it. Here is the promised photo of my local leisure centre where all this training is taking place.

Many happy returns

Happy 65th birthday to Mr Rutger Hauer! and many many more, nothing but warm and good wishes from me to thee...xxx

Old chemistry sets

Wow, chem sets older than 'Thomas Salter'. I never knew they existed. It would've been interesting to own one of these ye olde ones.

Yesterday...

...The Rutger Hauer Starfish Association very kindly and sweetly updated the webpage they have for me on their site informing the (interested) world about this years race xxx I am hoping now thats sponsors are going to flood in, every pound/dollar/whatever counts....one needs to stay optimistic. I've been so busy today with work etc that I haven't had time to go to the gym. I shall make up for that tomorrow. So far 2 attempts at photographing my leisure centre where it all happens have failed lol. I'll also see what I can do about that. Hugs xxx

Any ideas?

What a gorgeous sunny day it has been...well mostly and I have enjoyed if that is the word lol a rigorous hour in the gym which flew by and certainly gave me a good work out ;¬) My reward was then baking some scrumptious chocolate cupcakes which won't last long ;¬) The weather is now stormy and shall be so again tomorrow by all accounts.
Also contemplating on what to buy Rutger for his impending birthday. I've already selected my run t-shirt for this year. No don't ask, I need to keep somethings a mystery huh?
Take care xxx

Full up!

Apparently BUPA Manchester Run have now reached their entrant limit and so are closed for registration. So it has taken 6 days to get 33,000 runners! I can't exactly recall but I think it was also this fast last year. A matter of days. You have to get in quick or miss out. Also Starfish have put a link to mysite/this blog on their 'Our Friends' section. Bless them what a great honour, hope I live up to that ;¬) Love em xxx

Training....

I enjoyed a nice hour long swim today also chatting with sociable fellow waterlovers. Certainly perks one up for the day although it makes me hungry too. Great excuse to graze all day. Makes me feel full of life and energy. Did I mention I love swimming? ;¬) I actually feel like I am in training, but of course I am!
xxx

Important information

I've had a gentle gym session in a somewhat cold gym today. I think a swim is in order tomorrow. There now only 122 days until this race so that means only 121 training days left. It sounds like a lot when I view it like that ;¬)
Okay comrades here is the important stuff, hope you are listening. For the passed 3 years Starfish have very kindly and beautifully displayed a webpage for me on their website. All funds I have raised have been used to help 'The Tanzania Project'. You can read all about it by clicking on this link

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/fundraisingrun.php

Essentially the money is being used to buy urgently needed cots and heaters to make life more bearable for HIV+ newborn babies. So sad poor, poor things. As it is they are 3 to a cot but I believe this situation is slowly improving. Also a couple of years a go they moved to new premises. A good job too I have to admit to being alarmed and saddened at the condition of the old hospital, on its outside anyway. I guess its the inside that counts.

Take care xxx

Its official!

I've made a start so now it official I'm in training LOL. Its been a cold day but I did an hours worth in the gym this afternoon, a busy gym with more equipment and new equipment. It gets abit confusing as they keep swaping the gear around. The beauty of my local leisure centre is that it is opposite my flat. Very convienient for dragging myself out of bed and having an early bird swim ;¬) I have a photo of it on my pc which I was going to post but can't for the life of me find it at the moment. Btw tonight if you have a clear sky you have the chance to take a lovely photograph. Tonight the moon is going to be the biggest it will be all year apparently. I wonder if people are going to be checking this by taking a photo every month and comparing it. ;¬) I tried to take a pic lastnight but though it was a pretty night there was too much cloud cover. If I manage it this evening I shall post pic of that instead xxx

I love this

probable contents

I suppose this blog will get fairly boring if I just drop in and say yep had a swim this morning or did 2 hours in the gym this afternoon. So I shall do as other bloggers do and digress from time to time and add photo's, and tell you what else I might be up to. Also I love the word 'blog roll' ;¬) As I'm a scientist I'm afraid most of the blogs I read are chemistry or science related. I have to confess I've never even read a running one. Better put that right.
xxx

WELCOME

Hello there and welcome! I am very happy to have you reading me. Whilst I am an experienced and addicted blog reader this is my very first blog so please bear with me. I hope you will stay around and enjoy this blog as its aim is for a very important cause. I am now officially registered into the 2009 Bupa Greater Manchester 10k run which takes place on Sunday 17th May 2009 and will also be televised by the BBC. I guess the purpose of this blog is twofold, following my journey as I train and also to promote my favourite AIDS charity The Rutger Hauer Starfish Association and its goals. See my website for more details

http://sarahstracks.webplus.net

All feedback and comments are very very welcome and I am of course now accepting sponsorship. Please support us and encouragement me. Its not easy being athletically challenged LOL.

happy 2009 xxx