Alan Gandy

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It would seem, according to an article on the BBC website – which carries the headline,

Qatar 2022 ‘whistleblower’ in corruption U-turn

It would seem that all is well within FIFA and always has been! So we can all forget how the dodgy dealings dominated the headlines recently, with evidence quoted from many reliable sources that things ‘haven’t been quite right’ for a while now.

The article continues…

The “whistleblower” behind a series of corruption allegations involving Fifa executive committee members and Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid has told the BBC she fabricated the claims. Phaedra Al Majid, a former international media officer for Qatar 2022, said she wanted to exact revenge after losing her campaign job. She decided to go public after she said her “lies had gone too far”.

Yeah right – we believe you! One has to wonder what it took to fix (pardon the pun) this one? Now for a quick game of spot the difference….

Not an excuse - it bloody hurts!

Having enrolled the help of personal trainer Mitch – I have to admit to not getting off to the best of starts! Partially my fault, partially plain old bad luck.

Having met Mitch initially about a month ago he set me a couple of relatively simple tasks, and asked me to keep a food diary. I met him again last week to be greeted by a smile as he handed me the food diary I’d sent him. He explained that he had marked the food diary with a note – containing words to the effect of “Normally I highlight the bad things my clients eat – in this case – to save time – I’ve marked yours with the good stuff”!

I have been a good with the walking though in the meantime, and have come to the conclusion that I am at least doing more mileage on foot than I have been by car since our firsts meeting. The dogs are loving it of course.

The upside of the food diary comment being that it shouldn’t be hard to impress  with at least some improvement by our next meeting. Despite the difficulties of my current lifestyle and movements, I can at least squeeze in a couple of salads for next time! Read the rest of this entry »

February 2011

People who read this site regularly will likely be aware of the walk I did from the north to the south of the island. From which I managed to raise a total of £1305.67 (including gift aid) via the Just Giving website, which has since been distributed to Niños del Tercer Mundo and the Rose Road Centre and is now being put to good use in support of both of their great works!

The first question I was asked after completing that walk was what next. At that time I hadn’t even thought about what next, I wasn’t even sure there would be a next time as the walk was just something I had wanted to do for my own reasons. Also at the time I got an email from our friend Geoff Holt who – to paraphrase – said to me “I bet you’ve got the bug now haven’t you”? It seems he was right. Raising the money for these extremely fantastic causes was perhaps one of the most satisfying things I have ever done.

Now I have a new plan. I’m not saying what exactly just yet for a several reasons – clearly I have to top what I did last time… Read the rest of this entry »

It's a stone you moron!

You’re with me when I sleep, you’re with me when I wake;
You’re with me in the daytime, and with me in the dark;
With me in the fields and with me in the park.

Not a care for what I say, and not a care for what I do;
You’d be still beside me, if I was a total twat.

Why the fcuk – would anyone want a bloody cat!

Finally it seems that the world’s most wanted man has got what’s been coming to him!

Sadly though, it’s far from an end to his brand of terrorism. In fact, if many in the press are to be believed there’s every likelihood that al-Qaeda may well pick up the pace of their activities in revenge.

Nevertheless, hats off to those who have finally achieved some justice for the thousands of innocent victims of Osama Bin Laden around the world.

Good riddance to one of the world’s most despicable and hateful men?

Is Gaddafi next? I certainly hope so…

The question I have been asked most since I completed the north to south walk in February is… What next?

The answer so far is that “I haven’t really thought about it”. Which isn’t strictly speaking true. The fact is, that despite the discomfort at the time it was one of the things on my mind. I didn’t then, and still haven’t come to any conclusions, but I have no doubt there will be a follow up at some time – exactly what I’m not sure yet – I’m currently mulling it over.

A couple of people have suggested I do the same in Fuerteventura (which is somewhat longer than Lanzarote), but I feel I’ve done the walking thing now and if I’m going to do something I fancy doing something different, and maybe more ambitious. I really don’t know what to do yet though.

I do have a couple of (frankly, vague so far) ideas – but I’m open to other suggestions. I’m looking for ideas for a new challenge if you have any? Read the rest of this entry »

The Just Giving page set up for the recent walk I did to raise money for, I happy to say, has topped at out just over £1300 for the two very deserving charities – Niños del Tercer Mundo and The Rose Road Centre.

I’m very proud to be associated with both of these charities and also planning on helping them both more in the future whenever I am able. Read the rest of this entry »

So it’s the Monday after the weekend before and I’m feeling so much better than I expected I would after walking the 70 plus kilometres from Orzola to the lighthouse at Playa Blanca. The blisters  healing quickly and hardly a twinge from my legs and back.

Just before setting off

As I’ve written before, the walk is something I’ve had in mind for some time. And I have to say, despite the blistered feet and inevitable aching legs I really, really enjoyed the experience. I wanted to take some time out, clear my head.

It was hard work to do – but incredibly rewarding. It’s given some perspective to life here, and highlighted to me some of the good (and bad) things. I’m not turning into a hippy or anything – so don’t worry I’ve not come out of it a changed man – it just adds some clarity.

Starting early and getting ready about 4am, I was carrying my stuff downstairs and nearly took a tumble missing a step on the corner where our staircase turns. I didn’t know if I should read it as a sign – was it a sign? Was it telling me I shouldn’t do this? Or was it that the very fact I had failed to tumble down the stairs a sign that I was meant to do it? Actually, as I’m not one for signs, I ignored it as such – the only thought that went through my head was “Sh*t, that was lucky, how would it look to everyone if I’d cried off with a twisted ankle or broken leg before I even start”! Read the rest of this entry »