Kauto Star at Haydock Park
Video I shot at Haydock whilst braving the wind and rain to see the greatest race horse of recent times. What a win it was!
James Ridgway's Photo and Other Bits Blog
I live in Wolverhampton, UK and I'm married with two small children.
I'm a teacher of RE & Philosophy and Head of Year 8 at Ounsdale High School in Wombourne, Staffs.
My spare time is spent doing many many things - see my website!
Grand Palace @ Lingfield 21/11/09
Grand Palace will be running at Lingfield Park on Saturday afternoon. Vince Slattery rides and hopefully the van won't break down on the way.
UPDATE 22/11/09: He came 7th. The trainer said that it was an improved run, he stayed on strong until the last furlong. I haven't seen it yet as I was up at Haydock but I was hoping for better.
Filed under //
Horse Racing
Grand Palace didn't make it to Southwell!
Unfortunately GP and stablemate Thewinnatakesitall didn't reach Southwell yesterday because the horse box broke down, so they spent the afternoon at the side of the road instead. To be honest this probably suited GP. However, he has been entered into a 6f handicap at Lingfield Park on Saturday, we will find out if he has got into that race tomorrow.
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Horse Racing
Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off today @ 19.28 GMT as STS-129 #NASA
via nasa.gov
Awaiting the Mission ~ Space shuttle Atlantis is seen on Launch Pad 39a of the NASA Kennedy Space Center shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 2:28p.m. EST on the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009.
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Space
Grand Palace @ Southwell 17/11
GP runs in the 12.20 at Southwell tomorrow. He is expected to improve on his last run at Kempton, where it seems he couldn't be bothered. Vince Slattery rides.
Filed under //
Horse Racing
A-Ha and Muse
Over the last two weeks I have been to the NIA twice, firstly to see A- Ha and secondly to see Muse. Oddly my expectation of which would be better turned out to be the complete opposite in reality. I agreed to go and see A-Ha whilst very, very drunk. Once I had sobred up I felt that I had made a grave error and I kept this view right up until they started to perform. Then I changed my mind. A-Ha completely suprised me and as they rattled through their (extensive) back catalogue, 90% of which I had never heard before. Their synth pop danciness (is that a word?) made me tap my toes and nod along. Their set was visually captivating and highly enjoyable, even if Morten Harket looked like he wanted to be somewhere else most of the time.
Then, a week later at a much busier NIA, we have Muse. Intially they lived up to my expectations. Everyone says that they are great live and although I'm not a great fan of their music I like their stuff enough to hear it live. However, as their set progressed they played it safe and stuck to their crowd pleasing guitar and drum heavy rock, which is not them at their best. They were not helped by a bit of a naff set and crap sound. There was little sign of their excellent new album, but the hardcore fans didn't seem bothered. I was. I got bored. They are not as good live as the likes of the Killers, Radiohead or U2 unless they just had an off night.
So A-Ha suprisingly wins the Ridgway subjective best gig award for November.
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Gigs n' Music
Leo in Wolverhampton's new water feature =>
Apparently the Tory/Lib City council are going to switch the fountains off over the winter for fear of getting done by people who slip over on the ice it creates. Then why not put salt down? That would corrode the internal workings they say. I'm glad my council tax went on a fountain that only works for half the year!
