My Icon for the Commonwealth Games 2022 is the Raging Bull ...

 

It has become the focal point in Birmingham (UK!!) of our Commonwealth Games … where other sports also featured …

Commonwealth Games Seal -
The Friendly Games and most inclusive Games
 - para sportsmen and women also compete

Perhaps before I start this post I'd better explain where I'm coming from … I was a (hockey, tennis and eventually only squash) ball player – definitely not any other sport … especially running …

… but way back in the 'Ark' … I was fortunate enough to get a job working for the British Olympic Association as a clothing administrator (another no – no – clothes do not interest me) – but the lure of the Olympics definitely did … Munich 1972.

Munich Olympic Park - photo
taken in 2014

I've found my bumph on that era – so once Paris 2024 comes around I'll get my act into gear and see what's in the pile … and post some info … for example our Dickensian offices … wooden stair treads worn by 200 years of toil …

It was at this point I became interested in all sports and have been ever since … the nod back to the 1972 era will become obvious in my next post …

I enjoy watching as I can get about doing other things … while people swim, somersault, cycling, run rings round friends, bash balls about … today: move like lightning – my heart is still palpitating after watching the competitors play … way better than our day and in London and Johannesburg where we had some of the best squash players in the world at the club … I'm quite glad I lived through the slower pace of life!

Soweto Kinch - who played
at the Opening Ceremony; there
was a festival going on in and
around the Birmingham area

I wrote three comprehensive posts I 2014 on the Games held in Glasgow … so I won't belabour (a better word than bore!) you with much info here – the Birmingham Games came about, after Durban, South Africa pulled out and the UK accepted the Challenge – we compete as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Island, Guernsey Jersey and the Isle of Man – not combined under the UK/British banner.

These Commonwealth Games came very soon after the World Athletics Championships had been held at the new Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon … where only athletics was featured … following on in unseemly order due to the pandemic – the Commonwealth Games …

Concept of the new stadium and track
Eugene, Oregon

The new stadium falls under the remit of Oregon University … but I was interested in seeing the new design … also I'd never heard of Eugene as a centre of sporting achievement/excellence – I guess not living in the States allows for this omission of knowledge – not any more …

Showcasing Oregon's lumber in all
its glory - the Eugene concourse

So before another week disappears into the hot ether we're in (or I am in the south of England) – I'd better get this post finished and up … as we're into another sporting event in Munich … the European Championships …

Back to the Commonwealth Games - The Brummie Bull isn't really raging … he's a Steampunk 'concoction' for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony/(The Friendly and most inclusive Games – para-competitors too) … and has captured many a person's heart.

The not so (at this moment) Raging Bull

The Opening Ceremony gave us a ceremonial view of Birmingham from its humble beginnings as a Saxon settlement (mid 5^th century), to a market town in the 12^th century, until the 1700s came around …

The gathering place at the start of
the Jewellery Quarter - as it is today

… when the beating heart of the Industrial Revolution began in the 'Midlands' and Birmingham became the city of a thousand trades … including its Jewellery Quarter from the early 1900s …

Imaginery industrial heartland

… nearby over half a century ago … an emerging bard made his appearance ensuring that Stratford-on-Avon would remind us of our creative arts … which now includes a ten-day literature festival.

Creative image for the Raging Bull

Back to the red-eyed, steam-threatening bull as he made his entrance onto the Commonwealth Stage – a creative masterpiece …

… made from re-cycled aluminium tubing, foam and plastic – painted over to resemble metal and armour …

Mike Kelt - Chairman of the Special Effects
team at Artem Design Company

It took sixty workers over five months to create and was pulled into the Alexander Stadium by a gang of female chain-makers representing the Industrial Revolution … the chains were made from very high density foam machined on a computer controlled cutting machine.

Raging Bull arriving for the 
Opening Ceremony

What next for the Raging Bull – well he'd wilt when it rained again … so for now he can be outside … then as a home has been found – he can remain in Birmingham as a cultural icon – somewhere …

The copy-cat dog ...
empathising with
the Raging Bull!

This is long … but there is more – via the links (should you wish to visit) … and I'll elaborate (I hope more succinctly) in my next but one post – as WEP has caught up due next week.

William Blake - dark Satanic world

Life ticks on … I am so glad I live at the coast! Many of my verbs should be in the past tense … days have gone by! I've been somewhat overwhelmed with over commitment this year … so these idle days are helping … everything starts up again towards the end of the month …

The plays of William Shakespeare by
Sir John Gilbert 1849

My posts … Commonwealth Games three posts from August 2014 - the first is here ... they follow on ... 

Artem Special Effects and Innovative Solutions ...

Mike Kelt - c/o BBC talking about the innovative bull ... 

History and Culture of Birmingham ... an interesting overview of Birmingham and its surrounds ... 

Forbes - the new Hayward Field ... 

PS - Apologies for length ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Peace will Conquer War …

 

Decency to consider others' lives … as here – the Kviv Symphony Orchestra was allowed, by the Ministry of Culture, also the Ministry of Defence, to leave Ukraine in early 2022 …

Kviv Orchestra

… but most importantly with their families and children … this leadership from the Ukrainian government is extraordinary and so commendable - how that country is setting examples for the rest of the world.

The Queen in platinum colours -
looking happy

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend will be celebrated by many … those who've been through WW2 and other wars, and others like me who've known the Queen as our head of state for almost all my life …

She has been another exemplar of living life to the full, fairly, squarely and with honesty setting personal examples as well as maintaining moral standards …

Leek Town Council's -
very pretty, I thought, marketing ad

Peace is the bold, courageous and ultimate response to the notion that violence provides any viable solution for the conflicts of our world.

Where war destroys and tears apart ...

… Peace builds, strengthens and restores.

As the 21^st century continues – let us all do our best to bring humanity and compassion into our communities – and to ensure our progeny are here to guard this world for everyone's and everything of value's future.

We will be celebrating our Queen's life … while remembering all who have served us in many wars, as well as today remembering Ukraine …

To conclude I would like to copy a piece from Wikipedia on the Orchestra's chief conductor … Luke Gaggero:

He came to Ukraine as a performing percussionist around 2012, and was impressed by the quiet attention of the audience, listening like to a spiritual message ("geistige Botschaft").

Gaggero was born in Italy, studied in Germany, has taught in France, and has a vision of building Europe.

The orchestra has toured in Spain and the Netherlands. They have played at national occasions such as the 30th anniversary of independence in 2021. The orchestra has run an orchestra academy.

Here is a true European embracing all cultures and learning from them … then we have our Queen who has overseen the growth of diversity amongst her peoples … many countries which have requested to join the organisation: The Commonwealth of Nations ...

I wish everyone the best for the years ahead, particularly for us here in Europe who are not believing what we see happening in Ukraine, yet how their heads are held high and absolutely deserve the return of their country.

With thoughts to all around the world …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Preparedness and on the Couch with Denise Covey …

Timber ahoy! – last Friday  I had the ultimate example of preparedness … and how things might go wrong, or just get stuck for a while … and knowing that I might be ready to return to blogging realised I was not prepared.

Men getting prepared to chop the trees

Dark and Gloomy - the day was too ...
but the thickness of the trees gave us privacy

I am always thinking – ah! that could be great content for a blog post … wherever I go and whatever I do … the brain is triggered into contemplating … that could be a great example ... I could write about that, or at least incorporate it.  Trouble is I rarely settle to write … I ‘keep’ it safely locked away, or squirrel it away in various paper nests!

Denise's caption  header: Cafe Writer

I love the colours here

Denise’s Couch called to me to return on the day Queen Elizabeth II will become our longest-reigning monarch; as at today +/- 17.30 pm Greenwich Mean Time … the Queen will have surpassed Queen Victoria’s long reign of 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes on the throne!!  (63 years and 7 months to put it more simply!)

Was I prepared to return? … as these tree fellers were … no!  The Queen however had had some time to prepare … just over fourteen years from Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936: which must have been a huge shock … a stumbling block – which the family overcame.

She has served us with a willingness that few show … there will have been and will be many programmes on her reign and the Royal Family  - so I’ll just tell one snippet, which amused me …

The Winkle Club in Hastings is a famous charitable organisation formed in 1882 by Hastings fishermen to help the underprivileged families of Hastings Old Town.

Apart from some specially selected local residents, Winkle Club members have included a few very illustrious personalities such as Sir Winston Churchill, Neil Hamilton (American actor) and HRH Queen Elizabeth II (who became a member in 1951, when she was still Princess Elizabeth), who were/are honorary members.

A painting recording Churchill's Membership

Each Winkle Club Member (or ‘Winkler’) carries a winkle shell which they must produce when challenged to ‘Winkle Up’: failure to do so results in a fine which goes towards the local charities.

The Queen and Prince Philip both appear to be in rude health for an 89 year old, and a 94 year old … who still appear to be very much in love – as Victoria was with Albert, her Prince – so long may she reign.

The Winkle statue on Winkle Island -
a pavement area between the town
and seafarers

I am looking forward to being back and being involved again – it’s been helpful to have had this long break – but I enjoy the stimulation.

Denise’s Blog gives us great variety … on Australia, on Writing, on Travelling – she seems to spend a lot of time in the middle of the Pacific on amazing islands! – and on time in cafes … yet her passion is obviously cake, cake, cake and more cake … always tempting us to visit her Café … and couch, as I am today … telling a little of myself …

Trees down, with one lopped

Last Friday we had the Leylandii Cyprus trees cut down – they were pushing the paving up in the housing association flats opposite … and taking their light.  The second sycamore (the other came down 2 years ago) has been heavily lopped.  There was an old flowering diseased cherry that was cut off too!

The men turned up, laid out their gear, started with the cherry tree and demolished that … they then started on the Leylandii – which are prolific growers, and have never been thinned out …

Need for thinning

… these trees acquired a section in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 giving people affected with high hedges (often Leylandii) the power to have the trees or hedges taken out or severely reduced in size.

However the stumbling block occurred – the second of the three trees threatened to fall into next door – remedial action was needed.  Man up tree … from the bottom thinning as he went … it was somewhat time consuming – but led to being safely reduced to ground level.

Summer Pasta Salad

So we never know when those stumbling blocks of life may happen … cutting trees, calling on flat renters to watch bemused, wasting the day away … it all happened really quite quickly.

As I don’t own the place, so don’t have a say, what will be put in their place … is totally I should think unthought about.

I've had way too much fun being out and about!

Enough of that … the lady who is an honorary member of the Winkle Club will later on today celebrate an historic moment in the thousand years that Kings and Queens have reigned over us, while that elusive blogger will return to her writing ways.

I’ve missed you all … and look forward to being around – and thank Denise for waiting for her couch visit …



Let's eat cake together ... one of Denise's favourite - Toblerone Cake

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Commonwealth Games Creativity – part 3 of 3

I inadvertently titled this post Commonwealth Games Creativity because within this transmutational group we have been discussing how to ring some changes to our blogs …

Dragons who can read long posts!

I could start with 'there be dragons', or more appropriately this be long! …

At and after the London Olympics one of the calls to the populace has been “Get Inspired” … the Commonwealth utilised the same ideas … there was the sport, but there were festivals, art exhibitions; the city had museums, parks, buskers … lots of interesting ideas and places to keep all amused …

I’ll share some of the inspirational stories that came from the Games, along with a couple of other posts that have appeared on my radar …

I wrote about the Cultural Olympiad being held during the London Olympics in 2012 which gave an overview of the Olympics and the Greek Olympiad … reminding us that originally the Greek Olympics were the “Pentathlon of the Muses” … and why the cultural element is an essential addition to a sporting games.  Hence think beyond sport … and what else can be learnt …

“Get Inspired” is the slogan the BBC used at the Olympics and has continued on with other sporting events … however this article and particularly the title by-line made me sit up and realise it was so applicable to us …

“Maybe you’re great and you just don’t realise.  Maybe there’s a painter buried deep inside. A pianist? A pilot? A poet?” …. Stephen Way was a smokin’ and drinkin’ man – now he’s a marathon runner – and a good one … he’s also a healthy one … you can read his story here on the Get-Inspired post … he came 10^th in the Commonwealth Games marathon.

Note – the story-post could be used for our ‘get-on-with-it’ nudges … but it also highlights seven people who were late developers … it’s worth a read (I think) from many aspects.

Creativity was needed in a city that did not have an international athletics track and stadium … what to do? 

‘The Glasgow Solution’ – an out of the box thought … adapt one of the football stadia, where all the facilities were in situ … this solution is now being evaluated  as a way to deliver track and field sports events in other countries.

The surface was raised 1.9m (6’ 3”) on a bed of 6,000 structural steel stilts, flat-bedded, then covered with stone, followed by asphalt before the track and grass were laid … problem solved! 

Full article here Joseph Ash Galvanising write up …

Some views of the village can be seen here courtesy of “Insidethe Games” – sustainability was key for the organisers … some of the London Olympics fixtures and fittings were recycled …

Overcoming handicaps and rising to the occasion …

An article on para sports with the emphasis on the Commonwealth Games can be found here.

An iphone copy

The Scottish man of steel – Micky Yule lost his legs in Afghanistan … but he competed in the Power Lifting – he came fourth, but as he said … there are other fixtures ahead to keep him focused and positive … and help him through the operations he continues to need (after 45 already) …

Another local heroine – Erraid Davies (13), a bronze medal winner in the Para 100m breaststroke, is the youngest ever medal winner … she struggled to walk and started swimming to help her rare hip condition (Perthes Syndrome).

Erraid in action ...

Erraid had not told her class mates that she was competing in the Games ... 

... and she was so excited about going home to show her friends her medal.  She lives 25 miles from her nearest pool in the remote Shetland Isles.

Which country speaks Gilbertese?  And who decided to live away from home for 4 years to achieve his gold?  The answers are the tiny Pacific island of Kiribati and David Kataotau who achieved his country’s first gold in weightlifting’s 105 kg Group A.

So pleased!

Another Kiribati – the teenager Taoriba Biniati had never been in a boxing ring before arriving to fight in Scotland.  Her national boxing club consists of a punch bag hanging from a breadfruit tree … know what one of those looks likes – look left or right!

Breadfruit tree

She has a fascinating history … it’s really interesting and worth reading to find out how she lives and then grabs the chance when she had one.  Check out Biniati’s story hereand see a little of Kiribati.

Triathletes

Kenya’s Vincent Onyangi had never swum in open water before diving into Strathclyde Loch for the triathlon.  Twenty minutes later he was bobbing around doing breaststroke while the leaders were onto their bikes and away …

Weightlifters need shoes … Fred Oala, a 17 year old 56 kg weightlifter from Papua New Guinea had to borrow a pair of shoes from a Clyde-sider – a volunteer – after his own footwear disintegrated.

Papua New Guinea
(Indonesia border as shown, Australia's
Great Barrier Reef to the east of
the triangular Cape York Peninsula of
the state of Queensland

His shoes were owned by two people before him and had been held together with yellow tape … he achieved a national record of 118 kg in the clean and jerk.

YouTube – how about learning how to achieve gold via YouTube?  That’s what Julius Yego from Kenya did … to improve his technique in Javelin throwing …

Rwandan cyclist, Adrien Niyonshuti, rode in the time trial – he is a Rwanda genocide survivor.  The 27 year old lost six siblings during the mass murders of 1m people in the East African nation 20 years ago.

While Dieudonne Disi, taking part in the men’s marathon, witnessed the killing of his entire family aged 14 and ran 50 km to neighbouring Burundi to escape the atrocities.  He came in 18^th …

an iphone pic

To uplift us a little: Cook Island competitors celebrate victory in lawn bowls … just by chance did their wonderful hats improve their bowling rolls?   Had to include these two cheerful ladies – I love their hats!

I’ve never got my head round the biased balls they use in lawn bowls … but you have to admire a sport that’s been around for 800 years … and is a core sport of the Commonwealth Games.

There are core sports and optional sports – selected by the host nation – subject to approval by the CG Federation.  Some team sports are/can be included.

Netball in action

There was competition in 18 sports (with 22 medal events for the Para-Sports up for grabs) … do you know what each one involves … here’s the Wiki Commonwealth Games link to check out each one …

Athletics – core event  (+ para medals)

Badminton – core event

Boxing – core event

Cycling – optional  (+ para medals)

Diving – optional

Gymnastics (Artistic) – optional

Gymnastics (Rhythmic) – optional

Hockey – core

Judo – optional

Lawn bowls – core (+ para medals)

Netball – core  (women only)

Rugby Sevens – core  (men only)

Shooting – optional

Squash – core  (the sport I enjoyed and played a lot when I was in South Africa)

Swimming – core (+ para medals)

Table Tennis – optional

Triathlon – optional

Weightlifting – core (+ para medals for Power Lifting)

Wrestling – optional

 

Ladies' Squash Doubles -
a devlish game!

Other sports are recognised … but only so many can occur in each Games …

Some more trivia questions - which might lead to a post or two – or provide an opportunity for some extra geography lessons (for you) or for your children?!

 

I believe this is the flat world!   With the
Commonwealth areas in colour

Where are the 71 participating countries?  At least I’ve given you a clue:

Africa – Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia.

Americas – Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guyana, St Helena

Asia – Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka

Caribbean – Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks & Caicos Island

Europe – Cyprus, England, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Oceania – Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuata …

Check out the country venues …

Strathclyde Country Park 

Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails

Barry Buddon Shooting Centre near Carnoustie Golf Course …

Strathclyde Country Park

Find out more about Glasgow, and how it started life as a fishing village way back when, then exponentially grew during the Industrial Revolution – being famed for the Clyde River and shipbuilding –  and becoming the second city of Britain for much of its history.

Love the logo

Culturally it holds its own in a diverse range of interests … museums, art galleries, universities, the largest public reference library in Europe, theatre, opera, festivals and performing arts, exhibitions … and as we can see plenty of sports facilities …

Well if I’ve bored you … what will a smile do? = bring out the best in most of us, brighten others’ lives and give our endorphins a lift …

... this will make you smile (I’m nearly at the end?!) … where next? Here’s where … Denise Covey is waiting to welcome us on the GoldCoast in Australia?!

Denise is with Nas Dean at the moment .. no doubt they'll check in in due course ... they're brushing up on their writerly skills, and then the chatterly skills!

Norfolk Island - looks good to visit?

A few of the many admirable, heart-warming stories of overcoming adversity, or just performing above and beyond expectations …

… or reminding us there are other places on this earth where excellence can be found, and where sportsmen who do succeed, do not want glory per se, but want to give back to their homeland and to their peoples … improving their lives and offering hope for a new future.

A Tunnock Teacake - cut in half or perhaps
bitten in half .. but not by me: though I did see
some in Waitrose and might buy some for
 the Nursing Centre staff for the Bank Holiday

Humbleness more often than not prevailed in ‘the Friendly Games’ … ‘the Everyman Games’ …

I mentioned Steve Way the marathon man who ran his way out of smoking, obesity and from alcohol … then this mathematician caught my eye … and again is an inspirational story that caught my attention …

A cooked haggis ready to be
eaten - not sure how the
mathematician got the haggis!

From Wired.com “What it Takes to Win the World’s HighestComputer Science Honour” … it’s not about the Iranian lady recently recognised with the Nobel Prize … but the whole is applicable to those of us who wish to achieve … yeah he’s slightly cleverer … but this down-to-earth story is worth a read.

This is long … but we all need to think creatively and I hope some of you, many of you, can find some inspirational ideas here …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories