I finshed reading:

"The Golden Gate" by Alistair MacLean.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Goodbye California" by Alistair MacLean.

-Richard

The Library

A stony silence greets
All who enter within
The confines and labyrinths
Of mysteries to be unfurled.

The rows of books look down,
Watching and waiting
For a customer to grab and browse
To learn the secret within.

A girl sits in the corner typing
Confidential information
That only she know
But, one day her mystery will be revealed.

10th January 1995 - North Acton, London, England.

-Richard

Yesterday, finally, was the first game for the USL Division 1 Football team here in the triangle:- The Carolina RailHawks. The result was 1-1 draw with the Minnesota Thunders. Although there was not a win I thought it a very solid performance. For the first half they especially played well and I was pleasantly surprised with the performance. The weakness, in my opinion, was the forwards. Neither showed much movement or an ability to keep the ball, wheras I thought the midfield played very well. The lack of decision around the penalty box should come with time.

There was a very good atmosphere in the Stadium. I think a massive thanks should go to Jarrett who has done a fantastic job of organising the supporters club and section. It must have been a proud day for him to see all his work come to fruition.

Jenn and I also realised how much we missed going to games, and especially having a team we could go live to and be emotionally invested in. It's been a roller coaster few days for the "Football Fan" side of me with Hartlepool gaining promotion, but, bad news on the chances of the Quakes coming back and then the excitment of the opening night.

It's going to be a fun first season. Below is a photo that Jenn took of out inaugural game tickets and program, which I "borrowed" from her flickr account.


-Richard

Score Update:

International Cricket: South Africa beat England by 9 wickets. World Cup 2nd Round
England beat The West Indies by 1 wicket. World Cup 2nd Round. England finish the 2nd round in 5th place and therefore are eliminated.

Rugby Union: West Hartlepool 21 Sheffield Tigers 18. League North Two East. West finish the Season with a record of 14 wins and 8 losses for 28 points. They finish in third place 14 behind league Champions, Middlesbrough.
Raleigh 36 Doylestown 15. MARFU Division II quarter-final.
Raleigh 34 Brandywine 29. MARFU Division II semi-final.

Cricket: Durham beat Worcestershire by 241 runs. County Championship Division 1. Durham are in 3rd place in the table 2 points behind leaders Yorkshire and Sussex.

Football: Hartlepool United 1 Notts County 1. League 2. Hartlepool stay in 1st place 3 points ahead of Walsall.
Carolina RailHawks 1 Minnesota Thunder 1. USL Division 1. The RailHawks inaugurual game. The RailHawks are in 8th position in the League.

Rugby League: Bradford Bulls 52 Hull Kingston Rovers 22
Hull 22 Bradford Bulls 32. Superleague. Bradford move to 1st place in the table on points difference over Leeds Rhinos.


Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies 8 Houston Astros 5
Houston Astros 4 Florida Marlins 3
Houston Astros 6 Florida Marlins 1
Cincinatti Reds 2 Houston Astros 7
Cincinatti Reds 6 Houston Astros 8
Milwaukee Brewers 5 Houston Astros 6
Milwaulee Brewers 6 Houston Astros 4. The Astros move up to 2nd place in the National League Central Division 1/2 game behind division leaders, Milwaukee Brewers.

Basketball: Houston Rockets 123 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets 112
Houston Rockets 120 Phoenix Suns 117
Utah Jazz 101 Houston Rockets 91. The Rockets finish the regular season with a record of 53-30. The finish in 3rd place in the South West Division 14 1/2 games behind Champions, The Dallas Mavericks. They also clinch the 4th seed in the Western Conference play-offs.
Houston Rockets 84 Utah Jazz 75. Western Conferenc play-offs 1st round. The Rockets lead 1-0.

-Richard

I listened to:

"America: A prophecy, Op.19" composed by Thomas Ades and performed by Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano) with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Thomas Ades.
"The Fayrfax Carol", "Fool's Rhymes, Op 5" and "January Writ" all composed by Thomas Ades.
"Oh Thou, who didst with pitfall and with gin, Op.3a" composed by Thomas Ades and performed by Polpyphony conducted by Stephen Layton.
"The Lover in Winter" composed by Thomas Ades and performed by Robin Blake (countertenor) and Huw Watkins (piano)
"Life Story, op.8" performed by Claron McFaddon (soprano)
"Cardian Arrest" composed by Christopher Foreman and Cathal Smyth, arranged by Thomas Ades.
"Les Barricades Misterieuses" composed by Francois Couperin, translated by Thomas Ades perfomed by The Thomas Ades ensemble.
"Brahms, Op 21" composed by Thomas Ades and performed by Christopher Maltman (baritone) and The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Ades.

-Richard

Finished Reading:

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

-Richard

Score Update:

International Cricket: Australia beat England by 8 wickets. World Cup second round.
England beat Bangledesh by 4 wickets. World Cup second round.

Football: Hartlepool United 1 Accrington Stanley 0. League 2
Wycombe Wanderers 0 Hartlepool United 1. League 2. HARTLEPOOL ARE PROMOTED. They also stay in 1st place in the league. They lead 2nd place Walsall by 2 points.
Richmond Kickers 3 Carolina RailHawks 1. Pre-Season Friendly.
Duke Blue Devils 1 Carolina RailHawks 0. Pre-Season Friendly.

Rugby League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 24 Bradford Bulls 36. Superleague. Bradford move up 2nd place, 2 points behind league leaders, St. Helens.

Ice Hockey: Carolina Hurricanes 5 Florida Panthers 4. The Canes finish the Season with a record of 40-34-8 for a total of 88 points. They finish in 3rd place in the South East Division 9 points behind the Champions, Atlanta Thrashers.

Baseball: Houston Astros 5 St. Louis Cardinals 1
Houston Astros 1 St. Louis Cardinals 10
Chicago Cubs 3 Houston Astros 5
Chicago Cubs 2 Houston Astros 4
Philadelphia Phillies 6 Houston Astros 9. The Astros are 4-5 and in the 4th place in the National League Central Division 1 1/2 games behind Division Leaders, Cincinnati Reds.

Basketball: Sacramento Kings 106 Houston Rockets 112
Seattle Supersonics 90 Houston Rockets 95
Portland Trailblazers 95 Houston Rockets 99. The Rockets are 50-29 and stay in 3rd place in the South West Division, 15 games behind the Division Champions, The Dallas Mavericks.

-Richard

Why?

Why,
Can't a three year old girl
Go to buy an ice cream?
Why,
Can't a new born baby
Be safe in her mothers arms?
Even,
Lister (of Red Dwarf fame)
Has been done for rape.
And,
Football players
Are smashing in others faces.
How,
Can man survive
Without a care for morals?

13th July 1994 - Uxbridge, Middlesex, England.

-Richard

There has been a big to do this week about comments that the abrasive talk show host, Don Imus said about the Rutgers Female Basketball Team.

I have never liked him and, in the very few times I have caught him on the radio, found him offensive. This time he has crossed the line and in my opinion he should have been fired. However, what has really got me stoked up is the hypocrisy of many other players in this situation. NBC and CBS firing him, not because of what he said, but, because advertisers started to pull out. I wonder what would have happened if, and my still happen this revenue stream insisted he stayed. Of course he would.

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Arguable the two most racists and divisive persons in this country. Of course, they jumped on the bandwagon. Anything to get themselves precious exposure and dollars. If only, they jumped on the cause of everyone who needed help and had their rights violated. Oh, yes. That would cost money, not make money for them.

As long as people in positions of influence such as Imus, Jackson and Sharpton are allowed their tirades, and anger to control many minds they underlaying evil of discrimination will never be conquered and equality, true equality will never happen.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Heart of Midlothian" by Sir Walter Scott.

-Richard

With the MLS Season starting Saturday, with again, no Earthquakes I spent a centimental time looking at videos of the team. Below is a tribute video that put someone put together. Hopefully, the Quakes blue will once again grace the league.



-Richard

Now, that Hartlepool United's amazing 23 game unbeaten run, unfortuntately over (at the worst possible time of the Season). I can talk about some of the stats. Out of the 23 games an amazing 18 were victories. At one point they had 10 succesive wins, which is another club record and over 900 minutes without conceding a goal. Hopefully, they can re-group after the dissapointment of losing to Barnet and clinch promotion. Below is a video from You Tube which is from the most important win of the 18. The local derby against Darlington. The second goal from Eiffen Williams is a classic that would grace any league. Enjoy!!



-Richard

The next cats we fostered where nicknames the "tea" kittens. It had been a while before we had taken in new cats. Mainly this was because of taking care of Baby Boy was a full time occupation. These guys game into this week of July 19th 2005, just after Baby Boy died. In many ways it was healing experience after the loss of him, in being able to save some more guys. It was like a memorium to his life and what he taught us.

The first two were two little siamese guys: Assam (top left) and Ceylon (top right). Assam was the fist of the kittens to be adopted the week of August 9th 2005. However, a week later the family that adopted her called back and also wanted Ceylon as they decided that they did not want to seperate them. They are grown up and doing well in their home.

Typhoo (bottom left) was the next to go the week of September the 6th 2005, followed finally by Tetley (bottom right) who was adopted the week of Spetember 22nd 2005.

These little guys were a pleasure to foster and are all doing very well.

-Richard

Score Update:

International Cricket: England beat Ireland by 48 runs. World Cup Second Round
Sri Lanka beat England by 2 runs. World Cup Second Round

International Football: Andorra 0 England 3. European Championship Qualyfying Group E. England drop to 4th place.
USA 3 Ecuador 1. Friendly
USA 0 Guatalmala 0. Friendly

Rugby Union: Morpeth 25 West Hartlepool 29. League 2 North East. West stay in 3rd place.
Raleigh 46 Detroit 13. Friendly

Football: Hartlepool United 3 Chester City 0 League 2
Barnet 2 Hartlepool United 1 League 2. This ends Hartlepools record 23 game unbeaten run. They stay in 1st place in the league.
Carolina Railhawks 0 University of North Carolina Tarheels 1. Pre-Season Friendly
Carolina Railhawks 1 Charlotte Eagles 3. Pre-Season Friendly

Rugby League: Bradford Bulls 22 Catalan Dragons 29. Superleague.
Bradford Bulls 24 Castleford Tigers 16. Challenge Cup
Bradord Bulls 14 Leeds Rhinos 18. Superleague. Bradford fall to 3rd place.

Ice Hockey: Toronto Maple Leafs 6 Carolina Hurricanes 1
Philadelphia Flyers 5 Carolina Hurricanes 1
Carolina Hurricanes 2 Tampa Bay Lightening 4
Carolina Hurricanes 4 Florida Panthers 3
Tampa Bay Lightening 3 Carolina Hurricanes 2
Carolina Hurricanes 1 Atlanta Thrashers 4. The Canes stay in 3rd place in the South-East Division with 86 points, 9 points behind division Champions, Atlanta Thrashers. The Canes are eliminated from the play-offs.

Baseball: New York Mets 3 Houston Astros 11
Houston Astros 4 Atlanta Braves 6
Houston Astros 8 Cleveland Indians 7
New York Yankees 2 Houston Astros 12
Detroit Tigers 3 Houston Astros 1
Houston Astros 4 Kansas City Royals 2
Houston Astros 5 Kansas City Royals 3. All these games Spring Training
Houston Astros 2 Pittsburgh Pirates 4
Houston Astros 2 Pittsburgh Pirates 3
Houston Astros 4 Pittsburgh Pirates 5
Houston Astros 2 St. Louis Cardinals 4. The Astros are 0-4 and are in 6th place in the National League Central Divsion 3 games behind Division Leaders, The Cincinatti Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Basketball: New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets 106 Houston Rockets 94
Houston Rockets 106 Milwaukee Bucks 87
Los Angeles Clippers 87 Houston Rockets 92
Los Angeles Lakers 104 Houston Rockets 107
Houston Rockets 83 Utah Jazz 86
Houston Rockets 99 Golden State Warriers 110
Houston Rockets 78 Portland Trailblazers 85. The Rockets are 47-29, and still in 3rd place in the South West Division 15 1/2 games behind the Division Champions, Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets have qualified for the play-offs.

-Richard

Easter is always a very important time of the year for me. It makes me very angry in how todays culture the greatest event in the worlds history has been trivialised to almost a non-event. The Passion, Sacrifice and Resurrection of Christ is life changing, history changing and ultimely the event the whole axis of the world will revolve around.

For many years over this weekend, starting back in 1991 until just before we left England to move to the US in 1998 (infact in 1998 we had to leave a day early so we could go to the US Embassy in London to get my Visa) I went with David, my closest friend and many other friends to a Butlins Holiday Camp in the Lincolnshire town of Skegness. It is event called Spring Harvest, a meeting of about 8,000 Christians who get together to play, learn and Celebrate. It was always cold (except one year - pictured left at the Easter Sunday Morning Sunrise Service), it was always fun and above all it was always a time of Spiritual refreshment and growth. Many, many happy memories were had there. I was thinking about it last night during the Maundy Thursday service at Church and took a trip down memory lane. One of the best times was the last time I went when I was able to take Jenn with me. She had heard about the event many times over the years, but, as we spent our first year of married life in England she was able to come. She had a great time and had a chance to understand why it was so important and special to me. We hope one day to get the chance to go back again. The photo above is a group picture taken from that year just before we left.

The other really good Easter retreat I had was during a trip to Europe during a visit to France and Spain during the Easter of 1989. My best friend Louise, was in Pamplona, Spain during a Placement at University. During this visit I went with her Church to their Easter retreat at a small town called Alsasua. Despite not understanding a word of Spanish, just the fellowship with other Christians was enough to gain a blessing. Alsasua is in the Pyranees (above) so there was fantastic countryside as well as companionship. I even one the Church chess tournament whilst I was there. I also visit some other friends in Europe during that little Easter Vacation: Julie in Oviedo, Spain, Pauline in La Rochelle France (Right) and Jane in St. Nazaire, France. A great trip.

I guess this "favourite" place post ended up more in a favourite time of the year post. It is my favourite time of the year so is totally appropriate.

Remember the meaning of Easter, and especially today, Good Friday.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Ivan the Terrible" composed by Sergei Prokofiev performed by Liubov Sokolova (mezzo-soprano), Nikolai Putilin (baritone), The Chorus of the Kirov Opera and The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev.

-Richard

Polzeath

A relentless drive
As each wave builds,
Growing, growing
Reaching a crescendo
Of noise,
Of Power,
Of Majesty
Trying to destroy all in its way:-
Until a crash
Folowed by a cascading spray
Leads to its finale,
Its destruction.
But....
The sea tries again....

4th July 1994 - Polzeath, Cornwall, England.

This short poem was written whilst taking a holiday in Cornwall with my old flat mate, Jacqui and her family. Although I am not listing this as one of my favourite places or memories it still was a good time. I love the sea. Having been raised on the coast the sea is always a place I go to think and reflect. The power of Gods Creation that despite centuries of trying man has still failed to conquer.

-Richard

Polzeath

A relentless drive
As each wave builds,
Growing, growing
Reaching a crescendo
Of noise,
Of Power,
Of Majesty
Trying to destroy all in its way:-
Until a crash
Folowed by a cascading spray
Leads to its finale,
Its destruction.
But....
The sea tries again....

4th July 1994 - Polzeath, Cornwall, England.

This short poem was written whilst taking a holiday in Cornwall with my old flat mate, Jacqui and her family. Although I am not listing this as one of my favourite places or memories it still was a good time. I love the sea. Having been raised on the coast the sea is always a place I go to think and reflect. The power of Gods Creation that despite centuries of trying man as still failed to conquer.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Symphony No. 2" and "Symphony No.3 'The Camp Meeting'" composed by Charles Ives and performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton.
"General William Booth enter into Heaven" composed by Charles Ives and performed by Donnie Ray Albert (Baritone) and the Dallas Symphony Chorus directed by David R. Davidson and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton.

-Richard