... On here!
My new home can be found at http://nicktb1.wordpress.com/
See you there!
Friday, 29 July 2011
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Halfway today
And I'm celebrating with a pictureriffic post!
So today I reached my second milestone. Run 160 High Street Stratford to Balls Pond Road. Exactly halfway through my 320 runs. Who'd have thunk it? it seems like only yesterday (In fact it was 98 days ago!) that I reached my first 80 and moaned my arse off about doing The Knowledge..! I'm still moaning but I'm a tad more optimistic now..
A couple of pictures taken over the last couple of days:
Amy Winehouse' house in Camden Square. I actually passed this twice this week:
Firstly the tragic (IMO) death of Amy Winehouse. I'm firmly in the camp that consists of upset fans. Not the camp of "She's a scumbag who deserved it". My thoughts on addiction are quite well known. In that yes, there are some scumbag addicts out there who would no doubt be scumbags with or without the drugs. IMO Amy Winehouse was a victim of an over zealous record company who were making millions off the back of her talent and should that talent come from drug use then hey, lets finance it. I could go on and on, but it's probably prudent that I leave it there. Suffice to say RIP and hopefully you ARE at peace.
Secondly, I went to Alexandra Palace today. Somewhere I'd never been and know little about. What an awesome building. I definitely need to read up about it's history in more detail.
Here's the mast that sends out TV pictures across one half of London:
And the view from underneath it:
To the left is Canary Wharf, and to the right, the city. You can just make out the shard going up. I love Looking at London like this. Just don't really care for it when I'm IN it!
Lastly, and certainly by no means least, a Frankie update.
She hit seven weeks last Friday and as you can see, she's growing well!
We are having some issues with her feeds, but fingers crossed, these will resolve themselves over time and the nappy count will go down!
All in all I'm pleased with my progress so far, and in time I hope to speed up with the runs. My target is to finish them by December. We shall see!
So today I reached my second milestone. Run 160 High Street Stratford to Balls Pond Road. Exactly halfway through my 320 runs. Who'd have thunk it? it seems like only yesterday (In fact it was 98 days ago!) that I reached my first 80 and moaned my arse off about doing The Knowledge..! I'm still moaning but I'm a tad more optimistic now..
A couple of pictures taken over the last couple of days:
Amy Winehouse' house in Camden Square. I actually passed this twice this week:
Firstly the tragic (IMO) death of Amy Winehouse. I'm firmly in the camp that consists of upset fans. Not the camp of "She's a scumbag who deserved it". My thoughts on addiction are quite well known. In that yes, there are some scumbag addicts out there who would no doubt be scumbags with or without the drugs. IMO Amy Winehouse was a victim of an over zealous record company who were making millions off the back of her talent and should that talent come from drug use then hey, lets finance it. I could go on and on, but it's probably prudent that I leave it there. Suffice to say RIP and hopefully you ARE at peace.
Secondly, I went to Alexandra Palace today. Somewhere I'd never been and know little about. What an awesome building. I definitely need to read up about it's history in more detail.
Here's the mast that sends out TV pictures across one half of London:
And the view from underneath it:
To the left is Canary Wharf, and to the right, the city. You can just make out the shard going up. I love Looking at London like this. Just don't really care for it when I'm IN it!
Lastly, and certainly by no means least, a Frankie update.
She hit seven weeks last Friday and as you can see, she's growing well!
We are having some issues with her feeds, but fingers crossed, these will resolve themselves over time and the nappy count will go down!
All in all I'm pleased with my progress so far, and in time I hope to speed up with the runs. My target is to finish them by December. We shall see!
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Changes
Time for an update methinks. My bloggage (!) has been erratic to say the least, but I'm sure I can be forgiven due to the amount of changes going on!
Frankie update:
She's found her voice well and truly... She likes to sing and snuffle especially for her Mum and Dad at around 2 in the morning. Now as much as I appreciate her entertaining me, some sleep woldn't go amiss! As for Carla, I actually think she's forgotten what a full night's sleep is. Her last one was circa 6 months ago! We have a small worry in that Frankie's right hand is clenched up a lot leading the doctor to recommend a visit to the physiotherapist. Of course I'M worried and Carla is taking it all in her stride as per normal.. No update pictures yet as I'm at work blogging this!
Knmowledge update:
I went for my self assesment exam at the Public Carriage Office yesterday. It was an eye opener... I was led to believe it would consist of 5 runs (which it did) and multiple choice questions (Which it didn't!) it actually consisted of 10 blank maps (See below) on which I had to find two points of interest and a road... Not an easy task! This is what the blank map looks like:
You then need to find the location of the two points and mark them on the map as well as a designated street.... No mean feat! I also managed to misinterpret the instructions form the examiner... So I "only" scored 20 % on the map test. Add this to the runs and I managed a pass of 60%. Not bad for a complete shocker of a start!
It does mean I need to reasses my thinking re The Knowledge though. I will be making some important descisions in the coming days.
No music today as my employers frown upon Youtube!
You may also see I have changed the layout of this blog. I'm currently looking at purchasing some webspace to fully customise my blog and to give me a decent domaib name (NickTB@) watch this space!
Frankie update:
She's found her voice well and truly... She likes to sing and snuffle especially for her Mum and Dad at around 2 in the morning. Now as much as I appreciate her entertaining me, some sleep woldn't go amiss! As for Carla, I actually think she's forgotten what a full night's sleep is. Her last one was circa 6 months ago! We have a small worry in that Frankie's right hand is clenched up a lot leading the doctor to recommend a visit to the physiotherapist. Of course I'M worried and Carla is taking it all in her stride as per normal.. No update pictures yet as I'm at work blogging this!
Knmowledge update:
I went for my self assesment exam at the Public Carriage Office yesterday. It was an eye opener... I was led to believe it would consist of 5 runs (which it did) and multiple choice questions (Which it didn't!) it actually consisted of 10 blank maps (See below) on which I had to find two points of interest and a road... Not an easy task! This is what the blank map looks like:
You then need to find the location of the two points and mark them on the map as well as a designated street.... No mean feat! I also managed to misinterpret the instructions form the examiner... So I "only" scored 20 % on the map test. Add this to the runs and I managed a pass of 60%. Not bad for a complete shocker of a start!
It does mean I need to reasses my thinking re The Knowledge though. I will be making some important descisions in the coming days.
No music today as my employers frown upon Youtube!
You may also see I have changed the layout of this blog. I'm currently looking at purchasing some webspace to fully customise my blog and to give me a decent domaib name (NickTB@) watch this space!
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Time for an update
There's been a bit going on!
Ok, Knowledge update. I have managed 6 runs in the last couple of weeks. Not much, but given the changes we have been undertaking acceptible I think. My only problem has been the calling over. When I get home, either I'm too tired or Carla is or Frankie is hungry.. I'm sure you get the picture! So I'm making a concerted effort to retain a semblance of normality to my life (And knowledge)
To this end I have taken the decision to leave TWC in the very near future. As it stands I would have left in January anyway to take care of Frankie while Carla returns to work, and I want to complete all 320 runs by January 2012 if possible. That way when the time comes, I will be pointing (Finding all of the points of interest and learning there whereabouts and committing that to memory. All 32,000 of them...!) 3 days per week and that in turn will see me start my appearances some time mid 2012. Currently I feel I will have wasted this summer by staying at TWC and working on the knowledge. All this is of course open to interpretation until I actually hand in my notice!
I also have my self assessment test booked with the public carriage office on July 22nd. This is purely a way to find out how the systenm works at the PCO and in no way has a bearing on my appearances or schedule on the knowledge. As it's a self assessment, you mark yourself, but it IS a good indicator as to how you're progressing.
So all in all a pretty busy time of upheaval (But in a good way)
Lastly, a couple of pictures of my girls. Well I couldn't really miss an opportunity could I??
Looking like Hitler's son!
A day out in Lakeside.. The only way is Essex stele!
Ok, Knowledge update. I have managed 6 runs in the last couple of weeks. Not much, but given the changes we have been undertaking acceptible I think. My only problem has been the calling over. When I get home, either I'm too tired or Carla is or Frankie is hungry.. I'm sure you get the picture! So I'm making a concerted effort to retain a semblance of normality to my life (And knowledge)
To this end I have taken the decision to leave TWC in the very near future. As it stands I would have left in January anyway to take care of Frankie while Carla returns to work, and I want to complete all 320 runs by January 2012 if possible. That way when the time comes, I will be pointing (Finding all of the points of interest and learning there whereabouts and committing that to memory. All 32,000 of them...!) 3 days per week and that in turn will see me start my appearances some time mid 2012. Currently I feel I will have wasted this summer by staying at TWC and working on the knowledge. All this is of course open to interpretation until I actually hand in my notice!
I also have my self assessment test booked with the public carriage office on July 22nd. This is purely a way to find out how the systenm works at the PCO and in no way has a bearing on my appearances or schedule on the knowledge. As it's a self assessment, you mark yourself, but it IS a good indicator as to how you're progressing.
So all in all a pretty busy time of upheaval (But in a good way)
Lastly, a couple of pictures of my girls. Well I couldn't really miss an opportunity could I??
Looking like Hitler's son!
A day out in Lakeside.. The only way is Essex stele!
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