Monthly Archives: May 2011

Cycling in the city

Posted on by
Reply

If you’ve been to London recently or if you live here, then no doubt you would have seen all those bikes with the Barclays logo on them – also known as Boris Bikes – and the numerous docking stations dotted about town. It is a laudable effort towards many objectives. For tourist, it is a different way to move around town and see the sights; for locals, it is a greener mode of transport, which helps to keep you fit, too. Sadly though, the scheme is proving more popular to visitors than locals. But that could be because of many reasons, of which 3 are to be explored in this blog post.

Boris Bikes

Boris Bikes | image credit: Charlotte Gillhooly | used under CC

1. Unclear road markings

London is not a cycle-aware city like Amsterdam, Copenhagen or even Cambridge. Only some roads have been marked with cycle lanes so when there is a cyclist on the road, the drivers do not give them enough space – making it really scary! (for cyclist, I mean.)

2. Heavy focus on central London

Most of the people who work in London do not live in London. To date, the docking stations only go as far as Camden Town in the north, Whitechapel in the east, Kennington in the south and Olympia in the west. See map. This means that people will still need to take the local transport to hire a cycle and is likely not good value for money.

3. Oyster card not applicable

Those who travel frequently to London are likely to have an Oyster card – whether with travelcards or pay-as-you-go (PAYG). Unfortunately, you cannot use Oyster cards to hire a Boris Bike and thus making it an additional cost and hassle. Not sure if TFL is planning to implement the use of Oyster cards for cycling and if they don’t then they are missing a huge opportunity. How huge? According to its Wikipedia entry, on the subject of usage:

By June 2010 over 34 million cards have been issued of which around 7 million are in regular use. More than 80% of all tube journeys and more than 90% of all bus journeys use Oyster. Around 38% of all Tube journeys and 21% of all bus journeys are made using Oyster pay as you go.

Unlike

Week’s tweets for 2011-05-29

Posted on by
Reply
Unlike

Week’s tweets for 2011-05-22

Posted on by
Reply
  • Ice cream time. (@ Tooting Common) http://4sq.com/mbqwfI #
  • Off to hunt for ice cream. #
  • Haha! Seb doing the crazy frog. #F1 #bbcf1 #
  • The #bbcf1 is truly amazing as they have access to all these #F1 drivers, officials & pundits. #
  • Good to see @MBrundleF1 on the #bbcf1 forum. #F1 #
  • Poor Seb. Looks like he's been cornered by the #bbcf1 team with @jakehumphreyf1. #F1 #
  • No word yet for @aussiegrit and Algesuari. #F1 #
  • McLaren drivers reprimanded. No penalty. #F1 #
  • Wish it was that easy. RT @ecemartelino: Don't you wish that only those who deserve to become parents will succeed in having children? #
  • "Ya ba da ba dee. Ring di di ding ding!" > Vettel celebrating his #F1 win in Barcelona. #
  • First Ferrari retirement for this season. #F1 #
  • Such a nice start @InsideFerrari but now… *sigh* #F1 #
  • Radio to Hamilton: "Blue button please." Was he pressing the incorrect button? #F1 #
  • LOL! RT @f1grid: Red Bull to Vettel: "Hamilton is within range." Prepare to deploy laser death ray. #F1 #
  • The race between Alonso and Webber is quite nerve-wrecking! #F1 #tweet5000 #
  • Please stop going to the wobbly cameras, @bbcf1! I'm getting seasick. #F1 #
  • That was beautiful, Alonso! #F1 #
  • #F1 on BBC now! It's race Sunday! #
  • 6 tweets away (excluding this one) from making 5000! Morning everyone! #
  • Tardis melted! #DrWho #
  • Judges are feisty tonight. #SYTYCD #
  • Bit disappointed with the lack of classic hold of the Viennese waltz. #SYTYCD #
  • Matt is my favourite on #SYTYCD #
  • The dances at the start of the series were a lot better. #SYTYCD RT @CraigRevHorwood: What is happening to the world of dance????? BBC??? #
  • Katrina's my favourite on #SYTYCD #
  • Spicy! #SYTYCD #
  • Ooohh, the Barrowman is on #SYTYCD !! #
  • "We do not cease to play because we grow old. We grow old because we cease to play." – George Bernard Shaw. #
  • Oh dear, Massa's position for Q3 is in danger. #F1 #
  • It's like that "sh** my dad says"! RT @mcmercslr: Brundles quotes are quality #f1 #
  • You're not alone, DC. Re: wobbly camera on #F1 car. #
  • Really? Why? #F1 RT @insideferrari: Both drivers are running on soft tyres again #
  • Q2 begins. #F1 #
  • RT @charlie74: I feel the frustration with @rubarrichello #F1 >> meant that I feel his pain. #
  • I feel the frustration with @rubarrichello #F1 #
  • Q1 done. Schumi on top. #F1 #
  • #F1 Spanish GP qualy 1 commences. #
  • Barcelona GP now on @bbcf1 #F1 #
  • Morning all. So, what's been happening? #
  • I'm at DST House (DST House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton) http://4sq.com/ipR8qy #
  • Friday! #nuffsaid #
  • There is a censored version? 8-0 RT @mashable: Say hello to the iPad's uncensored Playboy Magazine – http://on.mash.to/keSPc7 #
  • #AngryBirds Rio update on Android today. #
  • Billy Joel is the background music to my domesticity (is there such a term?) #
  • Ack! I've just smothered a suicidal insect on my cheek. #
  • Woo-hoo! RT @1danpatterson: Mock the week to return on 9th June. #
  • I'm at DST House (DST House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton) http://4sq.com/iRnq3O #
  • What about Felipe? #F1 RT @InsideFerrari: Alonso and Ferrari together until 2016 http://bit.ly/lpI6fI #
  • Don't you really hate it when you miss your train by a mere minute? (@ Streatham Hill Railway Station (SRH)) http://4sq.com/lLPq8T #
  • Feeling absolutely drained of motivation to do anything including cleaning the flat. #
  • Just killing time before meeting at 10am (@ Reading Railway Station (RDG) w/ 4 others) http://4sq.com/ih8mVn #
  • Seriously Vodafone, I'm just on the other side of Clapham Junction & my phone is only picking up 'G'. #
  • Early. #nuffsaid (@ Streatham Hill Railway Station (SRH)) http://4sq.com/isePD5 #
  • I'm loving these brioche I got from the co-op. They come with free vegetable seeds. In a packet. Not mixed with the brioche. #
  • How do you know when it's time to buy a new kettle? #
  • Morning all. Early start for me today. #
  • Woohoo! #BorisBikes on @TheGadgetShow. #
  • RT @spottedbylocals: What features would you like to see in the new version of our iPhone apps? http://bit.ly/m7LDOt #
  • If you think women should wear skirts in badminton, contact @Radio__Michael. #
  • Passer-by pushes suicidal man off bridge. Can't say I blame the pusher. http://ow.ly/4Vo0S #
  • Been itching to buy new tango shoes but I haven't been going much so can't justify the cost! #
  • Bomb alert in central London. Be vigilant, tweeps! http://ow.ly/4VnaU #
  • True. It detaches from the thingie that plugs onto the mains. RT @lesanto: @charlie74 @gowercottage it'll be part of the charger, usually… #
  • Just checked my account, no monies have been taken yet for my @London2012 ticket application. #London2012 #
  • I'm at DST House (DST House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton) http://4sq.com/kru7OM #
  • RT @ChoirsRUs: RT @SarahJoyMiller_: Inspiring article about several ways singing is beneficial. http://bit.ly/lneiF2 #
  • Trains delayed again. (@ Streatham Hill Railway Station (SRH)) http://4sq.com/m91LUA #
Unlike

Week’s tweets for 2011-05-15

Posted on by
Reply
  • Time to let go of Seesmic from my Android. #
  • Loving the shake to refresh on Tweetcaster. #
  • Ireland, pick up the phone. Her Majesty the Queen is not happy. She's coming to collect. #Eurovision #
  • Jedward has beat Blue. And next year, it will be hosted by Azerbaijan. #Eurovision #
  • Seriously, Ireland… where's the love? #Eurovision #
  • Woohoo! #Eurovision RT @loopyluce78: We love Bulgaria! #
  • Sheesh. RT @GarethW_1: Well, Andy Murray's lost. Back to #Eurovision ! #
  • Hey if UK wins, it's both Olympics & #Eurovision next year! C'mon Europe! #
  • Serbia. Yeah, baby, yeah. #Eurovision #
  • Is anybody watching the singing? I'm impressed with the sand artist. #Eurovision #
  • Go Spain. Vamos! The first non-English song. #Eurovision #
  • LOL! RT @Queen_UK: You owe one £3billion Iceland. One hasn't forgotten. #eurovision #
  • All @spottedbylocals countries represented in #Eurovision #
  • Austria… is she singing in English? #Eurovision #
  • Romania…It's John Barrowman! #Eurovision #
  • Anytime now the Teletubbies are going to appear in the performance from Switzerland! #Eurovision #
  • Oohh, Italy. Love the jazzy swing. #Eurovision #
  • France…he's got a good voice. Shame he was out-of-tune at the start. #Eurovision #
  • Oohh… glow-in-the-dark jackets. Me wants one! #Eurovision #
  • Russia… he looks too old for a High School Musical theme. #Eurovision #
  • This singer from Greece looks like the bloke from Channel 4's T4. #Eurovision #
  • Those trousers are tight. #Eurovision #
  • Rockefeller is NYC. Why is the London Eye in the background? #Eurovision #
  • Oh this is the Zac Effron look-alike. #Eurovision #
  • #Eurovision has become bearable because of all of you lovely tweeps! #
  • Jedward sound like backing vocals. #Eurovision #
  • Jedward's next to this one from Hungary. Watch out! #Eurovision #
  • My Twitter timeline is almost filled with #Eurovision #
  • Ready to watch #Eurovision Campest thing on the planet but totally hilarious. #
  • W00t! RT @CaptainGrammar: And here we go… #eurovision #
  • Andrea Corr looks tiny! #nationallottery #
  • Jessie J is just impressive. #
  • Big kudos to @neilhimself! Fab #DrWho episode! #
  • It's an open-top tardis! #DrWho #
  • This #DrWho episode is doing my head in. #
  • RT @DHL66: nice to know all Tardis are women #drwho #
  • #DrWho gets weirder and weirder each episode. Love it! #
  • Trying out Tweetcaster on Android. Seems okay but the ads are annoying. Worth paying for ad free version? Not sure. #
  • #Eurovision and #SaturdayKitchen – a combination I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. #
  • RT @DeathStarPR: He has a beard, he doesn't say much and he created the universe. No, not God. Happy birthday George Lucas! #StarWars #
  • Indeed. LOL! RT @GaryDayEllison: There is a Eurovision expert? #BBC #
  • Don Carluccio & Gennaro on the Saturday Kitchen. Italian chefs. #
  • When is the HTC Desire on Vodafone getting an Android update? #
  • If @twitter is overloaded then how come I can tweet? #
  • Crappy 3G signal from Vodafone today. #
  • I'm at The Grove Pub (Grove Road, Kingston upon Thames) http://4sq.com/iVqUhV #
  • Been a while since I did #ff so here goes. @PaulKinvig @Trace_berr @Dons3 @wisdomlondon – all excellent conversationalists! #
  • I'm at Streatham Hill Railway Station (SRH) (Streatham Hill, London) http://4sq.com/ma6Cb1 #
  • What's on telly tonight? #
  • Had my right hand checked by GP. He suggested an x-ray for good measure to see that there is no fracture. All well but still painful. #
  • I'm at DST House (DST House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton) http://4sq.com/iOKBnw #
  • Good morning. #
  • Night cap. (@ The Victoria) http://4sq.com/kg6zmG #
  • Food! (@ Maya) http://4sq.com/m84GfF #
  • I'm at Surbiton Flyer Pub & Kitchen (84 Victoria Road, Surbiton) http://4sq.com/jBGfum #
  • RT @choirsrus: Looking for men who like to sing to join Choirs R Us free taster session in Barnet 23 May. Register now at http://ow.ly/4RXHx #
  • That's a good thing, no? RT @wisdomlondon: Nearly half of teens still not aware of Facebook Places and Foursquare http://bit.ly/iu0nNo #
  • I'm at Streatham Hill Railway Station (SRH) (Streatham Hill, London) http://4sq.com/kb4iWQ #
  • I injured my right hand. Gripped tight on the handle bars of the staircase as I was about to fall. #
  • I'm at Cooperative (Streatham Hill, Lambeth) http://4sq.com/jZt9Zo #
  • Everytime I see an email from @London2012 I get giddy. Hoping I'd get the tickets I applied for, even if its just for the Opening Ceremony. #
  • New staircase on platform 15/16 now open. (@ Clapham Junction Railway Station (CLJ) w/ 4 others) http://4sq.com/mHffW9 #
  • Back after a week away. (@ DST House) http://4sq.com/kgVxRy #
  • Back to real life, back to work. Sigh. #
  • Good luck!!! RT @garethmalone: Wish me luck. http://fb.me/sCG8Eoyx #
  • Took an extra day off work to recover from all the fake eyelashes and sequins during the weekend. Had a fab time but now need to deto… #
Unlike

Weekend of glitter, sequins and false eyelashes

Posted on by
Reply

In a previous post, I mentioned that I had joined London City Singers, an all-women barbershop harmony chorus in central London. The chorus is affiliated with Sweet Adelines International in the Quartet of Nations (Region 31). Last weekend (06-08 May), the region held its annual convention in Birmingham and it was an explosion of glitter, sequins and sparkle!

It was my first convention and to say I was amazed is an understatement. I was totally in awe. Women from all ages and walks of life singing in unison in resounding harmony in the hairspray-filled air of the Symphony Hall.

SAI Region 31 Convention 2011 | Competing quartets

SAI Region 31 Convention 2011 | Competing quartets

Full colour spectrum

Not only was it a celebration of a cappella sound but also a feast of colours with costumes in bright pinks, reds, turquoises, blues, and greens, which are definitely unmissable even through the thickest of false eyelashes and mascara. Costumes ranged from the black trousers with colourful and sparkly top to the evening gowns. There were even some choruses who spend up to £150 per person on the costume alone!

The stage face

I personally have never put on such amount of make-up in my life. And the hair had got to be BIG, a la Maggie Simpson big. To achieve this, I had to use a Bumpit (c’mon Google it!) to get the height. Truly, we could have put drag queens to shame that day. And then there’s the false eyelashes. Wow! If you weren’t wearing one, you’d feel left out (like this person).

All in good fun

The camaraderie and sisterhood are very admirable, especially when it is a competition. But this attribute totally lives up to the Sweet Adelines’ promise of gaining and having friends for life. Once you become a Sweet Adeline, you are a Sweet Adeline for a loooong time. There are some who have been members for decades. One of the judges had been a member since 1974! It’s like a sorority but without the pledge week (maybe convention WAS the equivalent, who knows).

Hopefully the videos of the winning performances will be posted by the respective quartets and choruses on the internet soon. When they do, I shall write about it. Meantime, here are the results:

Quartets Contest
5th place: Fortuity
4th place: The Late Show
3rd place: Echo
2nd place: Storm
Champion: Finesse

Chorus Competition

  • A (small) catgegory: Rhapsody UK (3rd), Vocal Dimension (2nd), Viva Acappella (Champions)
  • AA (mid-size) category: Spinnaker (3rd), Fying High (2nd) and Heartbeat UK (Champions)
  • Overall winners: DaleDiva (5th), Heartbeat UK (4th), Aberdeen Chorus (3rd), Phoenix (2nd) and Forth Valley (Champions)
Unlike

Week’s tweets for 2011-05-08

Posted on by
Reply
  • At home. At last. #
  • Thanks, Birmingham. On my way back to the big smoke now. #
  • Good to see that the #Ferrari boys are in the points. Forza! #F1 #
  • Pepsi sucks. #
  • Ack! Virgin pendolino teains. #
  • Last day in Birmingham. Can't wait to get back home. #
  • Had a mini Ben & Jerry's party in our hotel room. I sneaked down to the lobby in my pj's to get them! #
  • #sweetadelines #region31 convention 2011 is over. Great singing, ladies! Truly a celebration of #barbershop & #acappella See you next year. #
  • The stage at the Birmingham Symphony Hall is surreal. #sweetadelines #
  • Soon to go on stage. #sweetadelines #
  • In an hour or so, I'll be on the Birmingham Symphony Hall stage. Nervous but more excited. #sweetadelines #region31 #
  • My 1st #sweetadelines barbershop convention. Thoughts so far, WOW! #region31 #
  • Lunching with the girls. (@ Pizza Express) http://4sq.com/kx79hm #
  • Ready for #sweetadelines Region 31 convention! (@ Symphony Hall) http://4sq.com/me6oXD #
  • A celebration of all-female a cappella singing in Birmingham this weekend. Tickets available at the box office of the Symphony Hall. … #
  • Full English breakfast to carry me throughout the day… well, until lunch time, at least. #
  • First day of Region 31 Quartet of Nations – Sweet Adelines International convention. Quartets contest today at Symphony Hall. #sweeta .. #
  • Nice one. RT @charliesaidthat: If yesterday was May the 4th (be with you). Does that make today Revenge of the 5th? #
  • C'mon battery, charge faster! I want to start playing with my new compact camera. #
  • Now at my 2nd hotel for this week. Also bought me a new Canon Ixus. Yeay! #
  • Dinner for tonight. (@ Nando's) http://4sq.com/kZn1yV #
  • Any #sweetadelines #region31 already in Birmingham? Fancy a drink or two? #
  • Free WiFi from the Apple Store. Sweet. (@ Bullring Shopping Centre w/ 4 others) http://4sq.com/kETXmy #
  • Conference done. I'm now on @LCSchorus duties for the rest of the week. #sweetadelines #
  • All packed and ready to move to another hotel. #
  • Last day of BSA Conference. (@ International Convention Centre) http://4sq.com/mRZ2eA #
  • Just realised that it's the Turkey GP this weekend and I won't be able to see it on telly. Will be following the #F1 tweets though. #
  • w00t! w00t! RT @lcschorus: T minus 1 day till #Region31 2011 Convention! #sweetadelines #
  • Morning tweeps. Packing my stuff to move out from this not-so-great hotel. #
  • Are the votes #AVreferendum going to be counted and the result declared under #firstpastthepost #
  • I applied for postal voting for the #AVreferendum but I got nothing from my council so I guess I'm not voting then. #yestoAV #
  • RT @vocaldimensionc @charlie74 Announcement: @SAIRegion31 Will be tweeting our regional contest this weekend in the Symphony Hall! #
  • Everything on the menu looks so good! (@ Piccolino) http://4sq.com/iRTZqR #
  • May the fourth be with you. #
  • Just stuffed my face with profiteroles and mango sherbet mousse. Yum! #
  • Got here quite early but at least I don't need to rush. (@ International Convention Centre) http://4sq.com/j607qa #
  • I'm at Copthorne Hotel (Paradise Circus, Birmingham) http://4sq.com/kUpnZy #
  • Woo-hoo! RT @fcbarcelona: Game over. Barça 1 Real Madrid 1. Barça reach the Champions League Final. #fcblive #
  • Sweet. Free WiFi at the Virgin 1st class lounge. #
  • Waiting for my train to Birmingham. (@ Virgin 1st Class Lounge) http://4sq.com/iCs5rb #
  • Off to Birmingham later. #
  • Packing for 2 events in Birmingham 1 for work, 1 for 'leisure'. I'm the advance party for @LCSchorus for #sweetadelines region 31 convention #
  • OBL buried at sea. Scene of Megatron being dumped into sea in the 1st Transformers film come to mind. #
  • News of Bin Laden's death a relief but more of a concern. Still need to be vigilant. Perhaps more than ever. #
  • Frosting Design FAIL Frosting Design FAIL – http://pulsene.ws/1tv0J >> cupcake, anyone? #
  • RT @BBCBreaking: Osama Bin Laden is dead, says US #
Unlike