Early Starts, Hundreds of Archers, Several Stormtroopers and Ghostbusters

Midnight – some one walks past the window whistling Star Wars Darth Vader evil tune thingymabob.

2am – “What time is?..oh it’s cool, I haven’t overslept.”

Dreaming.

2.30am – Mr Blue Sky by ELO moves quickly into the night. Two minutes later my wrist watch blasts into life.

I’M AWAKE DAMMIT!

2.35am – M83, track 6 – Year One, One UFO. The final alarm to shake me from the covers.

Listening in the night I can hear voices rattling around the buildings, from drunkards coming home…or even going out perhaps.

A quick shower wakes what life of me I can with only three hours sleep. I would have had more if I didn’t decide to stay at my friends so long, but I had fun so I’m not too bothered.

Breakfast follows whilst listening to Sambassadeur – Subtle Changes on Spotify.

I made some attempt at lunch grabbed my bag and left for City Space where, five of us would be transported down to Telford for the BUCS (British Universities and College Sport) archery competition.

4 hours and twenty or so minutes later after listening to The Frames and Brian Setzer, we arrived on the dot of half 8, other members of our team who had gone down the day before and had signed us in so we went straight in to set-up.

The hall was buzzing with excitement, anticipation, nervousness and the noise the of the speakers when they weren’t in use… We were in the Telford International Centre, one of several industrial sized halls, where the soap in the bathroom smelt wonderful and the size of the cubicle doors were twice the size of me at-least, (I’m 6ft-ish).

The hall had just short of fifty bosses (archery targets), that’s 4 people to a boss so that’s 200 approx’ archers. But even though the hall was huge it was still a close, almost shoulder to shoulder, environment. But I didn’t mind, it makes you more inclined to get to know as many people as possible.

Amongst that 200 people are faces I recognised, that person from NEUAL who beat me, and that other one who I beat, that archer from BUTC last year who I gave my number to, and then there was those famous student archer who won BUCS and BUTC last year, I’d recognize them anywhere, then lastly there’s Huddersfield, our friends who just recently (that we know of) created a warm up dance to one of Shakiras songs. Such a great bunch of people. But this was only one-third of the student archer population. The other two-thirds came later in the day, one after the other. So that’s 600 archers approx’ to come and go through this great event.

But archers weren’t the only character present at the Telford International Centre. Whilst stood waiting for my turn to shoot, I glanced round to the entrance to the building to see a Stormtrooper stroll by, clearly his day off from attempting to kill Jedi’s. But wait there was Darth Vader, the man himself but who’s he with? He’s having a chat with four guys who look like they’re out ghost hunting, of all things…

BEEP

Back to the real world dear boy, time to shoot some arrows.

I had an awful shoot throughout the competition, part way through, my left arm (the one that holds my bow) decided to fall asleep…of all things… It turned out to had been caused by arm guard being strapped too tight, cutting off circulation to my hand.

I enjoyed my day, meeting new people, chatting to old friends, but I did not do well at the Archery. I came 151st…how bad is that?! I’ve come 5th, 2nd, 3rd, 9th in various comps before. I’ve even come last, the other year, when I only scored 12 points out of 600 or 300, I can’t remember which (it was outside, it was cold, wet and windy, I was wearing shorts and it was my first time shooting outdoors…)

Sorry… I forgot about the Stormtroopers. Of course. Next door was the MCM Expo, a comic fair to you and me, where cosplay was high on the list (dressing up like characters from books, films, comics, animes, mangas etc.) Well actually next door was the food hall, where both archers, Star Wars characters, the Ghost Busters, Hello Kitty Cat thing, girls in very little clothing from animes written by sex crazed Japanese artists and people from things I’ve never heard of before, sat together and ate food, or got pestered by people wanting to have a photograph with them:

You don’t need me to tell you who they are, except for the people in the blue hoodies, they’re my friends. I’m the one in the orange hat.

In the hall next to that was the actual fair. We had a chat with the guy in charge, who said he didn’t expect so many people to turn up, as they struggled to convince higher powers to hold one at the Centre, who didn’t expect people to turn up, particularly not in the thousands. But It was a huge success.

We didn’t have time to stay around and join in the fun, or the money to do so. We were hanging about watching people go by, after the competition, for us, had finished. I looked around to find the main entrance to the Expo, and spied upon a large queue, I thought that had to be it. On further inspection this large queue of some fifty people were waiting to use the tiny little cash point.

What a day ay?

By the way this was a couple of months ago, I’ve just taken so long to blog. So much blogging going on at: thebestcaramelslice.wordpress.com my other blog.

 

The Elf, the Duck, the Dog and the Bear

I took my footsteps for a walk today, sometimes they led, but most of the time they followed.

It appears parts of the UK are being hit by snow, however my part of the UK can’t muster up much snow, only sharp small pieces of ice.

I sat in my room watching, what was originally snow, gently fly about in the wind. I decided to go out, I guess I was hoping for it to remain snow and then settle pleasantly for me to trudge through.

I had wrapped myself up quite well, but it limited some of my movement and visibility which could have been the reason that I almost got hit by a car. I jogged out of the way of the huge silver beast and jumped heavily onto the pavement, some old guy left sympathetically in my direction, I acknowledged him and kept going. Then on I kept my head up. (Walk tall and proud.)

I followed a road that I had only ever been down on a bus. On seeing a hill I decided to head towards it. I’m quite fond of hills. Soon I got distracted by a park, and ventured inside to explore.

The hill turned out to be part of the park, Barnes Park, to be precise, which also included a play area, pond/stream, water fountain (turned off over winter), band stand and playing field.

Amongst the trees and patches of grass are gardens and paths that lead through the landscape. One area features some beautiful wood carvings in trees that were cut down/dug up during the renovation of the park.

These images show some of the sculptures:

Soon after, I was led to the pond, frozen almost, apart from where the small fountains kept the surface moving. Ducks sat around on the ice and in the water. I barely disturbed them as I approached, yet they would not eat a strangers bread until they had moved on.

There was a lot of open spaces and winding paths through and up the hills and so the wind rushed along them, and I walked into that force. Ice pelted at my face. A jogger and a Dalmatian ran by. I would have liked to had been jogging, would have warmed me up well, my thumb began to freeze as I gripped my camera.

One of the best things walking round that park on this particularly day was the noise of the precipitation. Not like rain, nor hail, but close. Not a pitter-patter, but a rapping kind of noise, like ball bearings upon glass, created though, by the ‘snow’ falling upon the leaves and the branches.

Throughout the rest of the park I didn’t used my camera so I could keep my hands warm, the ice fall had also quickened so I headed home and via a shortcut too, which I hadn’t taken before, but knew of its existence, and it led me home.

The last photograph I took was on my shortcut, of a piece of interesting graffiti that caught my eye (it was bright orange after all).

 

Not glad to be back

Living in a room which is 2 and a bit meters one way and 3m the other, a room that I use as a bedroom, living room, dining room, walk in closet, parlour, bathroom cupboard and study is not my idea of a great place to be, or great place to come back to.

There is only one (or two) great benefit(s), I can put my feet up and have a mug of PG Tips and put some music on to relax.

Yesterday myself and six others set off from the city (Sunderland) in a mini bus to seek out the University of Keele sports hall some 190 miles away. It was a cold morning and myself, being a bit of an idiot, wore a pair of Converse shoes. I did so because they are a comfortable pair of shoes to stand indoors in, and we would be doing a fair bit of standing. The only problem with it being cold, it feels like your walking down the street in socks and sandals.

<– My grubby, wornout Converse All Star Shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were heading out to attend the North East University Archery League competition (NEUAL), hosted then by Keele, shooting against them and Sheffield in our third competition of the NEUAL events.

The bus ride took 4 hours with a short stop at Wetherby Services, no Archery trip down south is complete without stopping at Wetherby.

<– Image here, of my quiver with my Che Guevara pin and some medals on the side, my arm-guard, finger sling (green shoelace), belt and my custom-made hat, with my name and the name of my bow (Alexis) on.

Archery competitions are great (so much better than golf competitions – although they both tend to be done at the same temperature, Keele’s sports hall was freezing). We arrive, set-up our bow, put on our quiver and get out 4 or 5 arrows, put on an arm guard and then warm up and wait for a judge to call us all together for a welcome, rules and ‘have fun’ talk.

You usually at NEUAL shoot two at a time in a group of 4 (sometimes 6 or 2), shooting three arrows, the others are spares, because things can happen when your on the shooting line, where you will need another arrow. For example my nock (bit that clips the arrow to the bowstring) broke and at full draw my arrow fell to floor, which is actually quite frightening.

The NEUAL competitions are great places to meet people from Universities, usually your age, doing something that you love, so you have plenty to talk about. There has never been a competition that I havent enjoyed, even my first ever comp’, where I was really nervous, was very enjoyable. What’s also good is that you see a lot of faces and throughout your Uni years you will see them again at other competitions, and it’s easy to go over and say hello. It really brings sports teams and universities together.

My next competition is in two weeks and I couldn’t be more excited.

Here’s a link to our website (made by me (and Weebly)) : http://uosarchery.weebly.com/next-competitions.html link will open in a new tab so you can keep on reading.

The trouble is competitions go fast, you get there and its slow as you’re waiting to get going, then when you do, before you know it, your lunch is gone, you flask of horrible tea is empty (still drinkable mind you), you’ve shot 66 arrows, had plenty of exercise walking back and forth, laughed at you and your friends failure to add up (I say friend, he was the guy I met shooting on my boss (targets) from Keele Uni’. Matt, nice guy, studying Maths  ), thrown you finger tab uncontrollably at people several times and asked ‘how you doing?’ to each of your group, then your on your way home.

Which the journey takes longer due to an overturned van on the motorway, where the 4 lanes are put down to 2 and everyone slows down for a gander.

Then you do arrive home, satisfied with a grand day out, wished you were still in Keele but glad you can make a decent cuppa.

 

Escape Magazine

http://issuu.com/bearmagrills/docs/escape/1

Above is the link to a magazine I threw together over Christmas, it features articles I have written and photographs I have taken.

The magazine is called Escape (from the city) and it looks towards adventures and places I have visited throughout 2011.

I thought about blogging about the articles inside the mag, but then I thought ‘I didn’t make the mag for no one to read, plus it would leave me time to write about current adventures, not ones that happened 10 months ago.

I’d really appreciate it if you would have a read, or a flick through at the least.

Thanks,

Bear

 

Morning Moonlight

Every other morning I get up and go for a run. My route has always varied ever since I began some two months ago, but they go in more or less the same direction; head south-west, go south-east, followed by north and home.

My alarm has gone off at various times. Originally I set the beast for 6:20, giving myself 10 minutes to get ready and stretch, in order to set off at half six. About a week ago I woke before my alarm at 6am, and I arose and off I went, this early time made me decide to push myself further for longer.

I refered to my alarm clock as a beast, because frankly not many people like the sound of their alarm clock. whether it’s a bell, a chime or a ring they all sound the same so early in the morning. I did however set my phone to play a song for an alarm, and I began waking up to The Rolling Stones’ Paint It Black, which got really irritating so I swapped to More than a Feeling by Boston. Eventually though, I settled for Diner by Martin Sexton, A very jolly song which makes you want to get up and dance, sway and tap your foot.

Although now pleased with something good to arise to I still struggled to really find that motivation to pull the sheets back and swing my legs out. Fortunately my phone plays the alarm from quiet to full volume, so if I placed my phone on yon side of room, I would have to get up to shut the thing up.

The main reasons I get up early and go for a run are, well, simply to get fit and frankly lead a better life. Plus it feels really good to go outside before most people are up, when the air is cool and fresh and see the stars or the moon, to say ‘hello’ to a dog walker or two, and then get back feeling great. One of the things I do when out running st sing in my head or out loud, in order to keep me going. On one occasion I scared the life out of one early morning guy as I shot round a corner singing The Calling by Yes.

I try and plan my life and infact my whole life is actually pinned up on the wall:

Going clockwise from top left. a) This is approximately 18 ways to lead a simpler life. I found the list on another WordPress account which I modified for myself. Two of the key points are ‘Go to bed early’ and ‘Get up early’.

b) This is a daily set-up, which is basically a list of things to do in my day, which includes Arise, Meditate, Breathing exercises, Reading and Cycling. I created the list after realising that I should do something exciting one year, and I planned to do the Lands End to John O’Groats in 2013. This list would hopefully help prepare for it.

c) This is the notice of what to do in case of a fire, and living in student accommodation, where as I type right now, one of the flat dwellers has decided to burn their eggs in a pan with no water…

d) This is a piece of paper indicating when the heating comes on and when there is hot water in the showers. There is no heating when I wake at 6am, this adds to one of the things stopping me from getting out from under the warm sheets.

I’d recommended to anyone wanting to have a better life, to get up early and embrace the morning. In fact the other day I ignored my alarm and got up at half 11am. I hated that, I lost half the day, had breakfast at lunch time, Dinner at 3pm and tea at 7pm, to me, that’s really bad. I also felt rough throughout the day with a raging head ache. Biggest mistake ever.

Below is one lovely place I cycled to late one Sunday morning. Sundays are brilliant for getting up early as the city is quiet. Religiously it’s the day of rest, but not for me, I get out and see the world in its beauty.

 

Introduction

I am a man.

Around my neck is a homemade necklace, made from driftwood and an old pair of headphones.

My hair is big and untamed.

I recently shaved but I appear to have missed two hairs on the left side of my chin.

This is blog about my adventures, the people I meet, the animals I greet and the photographs I take.

I am a man.

Who is willing to lay face down in the dirt to get a great photograph, or climb a tree to capture the sunset/rise.

I always wear a watch on my left wrist and a British Heart Foundation band on my right.

Penultimately, I make wine from the berries of the Earth that I tread upon. And this years batch tasted gooood!

Lastly my name is Bear Magrills, given the name in relation to Bear Grylls, but this is not him.

This blog is the adventures of Bear Magrills