Strike Factory

Been a bit obsessed the last few weeks with sport esp football, rugby and cricket and won't go into details. Instead choosing to discuss what I have been up to recently. Well the volunteering is going well and currently getting help at the job centre. My nephew Lucas has turned a year old, doesn't time fly. As mentioned in previous blog post I went to see a show in Balham, South London with former Eastenders star Shana Swash, which was fun despite initial mix up which meant I accidentally went to wrong show at wrong time but I got refunded and still attended Swash's Private Peaceful Show.

Will be seeing another show soon Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with my old fave, Carley Stenson at Wimbledon with plans to do a tour of the All England Club there on the same day exploring the Ball family Womble origins. So yes a bit of sport mentioned anyway off to watch football as I write and have a good weekend people.

Well its been a while but have been pretty busy the last 2 weeks or so, getting my new volunteering role at Nymans, in Handcross helping out at the house telling people about history of the place as well as the usual backroom helping out stuff plus mostly female volunteers to work with who are lovely friendly people. It is great to be involved with the National Trust, which former career advisor Avi at Shaw Trust suggested a few weeks ago and I thank him for this oppertunity.

The weekend was mixed emotions as I took part in the REMF Jacobs Walk from Shoreham Tollbridge to Worthing United FC with about 250 people in memory of Jacob Schilt and Matthew Grimstone (2 Worthing United victims) and the other victims of the Shoreham Air Show Crash on Saturday. There was a moving emotional minute silence at the bridge at the start before the 4 mile walk, going via Shoreham Airport, part of the A27 footpath (not the airshow crash site), via streets in Lancing and Sompting before arriving at Worthing United FCs ground. On the walk was nice to meet the Eaton family also taking part which the charity is named after family member Robert Eaton who sadly perished in the 9/11 attacks. It was a friendly walk that was a bit quicker than some thought with bigger attendance and over £11,000 raised. Afterwards we made our way to the Amex Stadium where there was a moving pre match tribute which got me teary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RwZ8aBmAhY

Then there was the football which saw Brighton win again and remain top of the table. Overall a mixed emotional weekend and thoughts with the family and friends of crash victims.

Well it's been an up and down emotional roller coaster of the last week. Firstly there was the tragedy of the Shoreham Airshow crash last week. I was making my way to the Amex Stadium, looking forward to sun, drinks and cheering up after slightly miserable week, when I heard the sad news of events. The kickoff for Brighton Vs Blackburn was sensibly delayed by 15 minutes due to these events. Though the Albion won, and had good evening of drinks with friends the feeling around Amex Stadium and Brighton was subdued generally.

I waited until I got home to Strike Towers to read full details. It was a sad day and weekend for Sussex and events of the Shoreham Airshow crash made national news headlines around England and UK being nations biggest airshow tragedy since Farnborough in 1952. Thoughts are with victims family and friends, and I will be doing the REMF Jacob Schilt sponsored walk between Shoreham and Worthing in memory of Jacob and other victims on 12th September. Donations to REMF can be done via this link www.justgiving.com/JacobsREMFwalk 

In other news hoping to start volunteering at Nymans Gardens soon. Plus for the time being deciding to take a break from Oxfam Crawley, though one day will be back to help the good people there again like I have done since 2009. 

Finally the US Open tennis starts on Monday and Brighton are top of Championship League. :)