FAVOURITE PICTURE SERIES (12)

Clearing up some of my stuff last week I came across this photo, which was taken almost 10 years ago. These bunch of friends were my team mates from the St. John Rescue Corps of which I was a member of for quite a few years.

During my 25th birthday party, someone 'stole' my camera and took this picture, which came out reall well.

Some of the people in this picture I still am in contact with - Sharon, Louise, Pauline, others I see once in a blue moon, others have lost touch completely.

If any of you guys out there see this pic, please drop a line, would be nice to hear from you!

Malta Airshow - Sunday 23rd September 2007

Copyright Maria Vella-Galea 2007

The trouble with me.......feedback :)

The amount of feedback received on my post The trouble with me was quite impressive!

No I am not going to publish all the comments received, whether via this blog or through other channels.

In that posting I was referring to a particular person, not me nor any of those people who emailed or texted me about this blog.....so don't worry guys :)

Keep those messages coming, its nice to hear from you and receive your feedback

Wake up and smell the coffee

What a lovely smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is....whether its the first thing you smell in the morning or during the day its always a lovely smell.

This morning a very good friend of mine sent me this quote which in a nutshell is all about being positive even when we feel like throwing the towel!

Thanks Chris......

The trouble with me

On my way to a meeting this afternoon, I switched on my iPod and the first song I heard was Robbie Williams' song The Trouble with Me, the words I'm a basket case don't refer to me, just in case you were wondering but to someone else :)


You see the trouble with me
I'm a basket case
I don't think I can love, love, love

You see the trouble with you
Is your in love with me
What a strange thing to do
What a brave place to be

So we dive
On sunset strip
Our hearts so deep
I drown in it
And as it breaks
I swim through cracks
And leave with words
I can't take back

You see the trouble with me
Monkey see monkey do
There's no u in tomorrow
A better offer came through
You see the trouble with you
There's no trouble with you
So when you say that you love me
That stops me loving you

So she stays
On sunset strip
Our hearts so full
I drown in it
She's waiting for
My words to break
The one true love
I couldn't make

So she walks
That golden mile
Men will try
And catch her eye
We both know
What could have been
On sunset strip
Our broken dream

Faces of Tanzania

Copyright Ondre Camilleri Gaglione

This collage was compiled by my friend and fellow Kilimanjaro Challenger, Ondre Camilleri Gaglione.

Thanks Ondre for allowing me to place it on my blog!

The meaning of music

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.

Victor Hugo

Music is a language enabling the expression of thoughts or simple story telling but sometimes its not just about the melody or the lyrics.......

A song can bring a smile to my face.............
A song can bring tears to my eyes............
A song can give me the motivation to improve..........

Be it or mediocre or of high calibre, a song triggers off memories of specific instances, particular people or places.

Good memories, sad memories, happy memories or memories of a particular time and place.

FAVOURITE SONGS - Search for the Hero

Sometimes the river flows but nothing breathes.
A train arrives but never leaves.
It's a shame.
Oh life like love that walks out of the door.
Of being rich or being poor.
Such a shame.
But it's then, then that faith arrives.
To make you feel at least alive.
And that's why you should keep on aiming high.
Just seek yourself and you will shine
You've got to search for the hero inside yourself.
Search for the secrets you hide.
Search for the hero inside yourself.
Until you find the key to your life.
In this life long and hard though it may seem
Live it as you'd live a dream.
Aim so high.
Just keep the flame of truth burning bright.
The missing treasure you must find.
Because you and only you alone.
Can build a bridge across the stream.
Weave your spell in life's rich tapestry.
Your passport to a feel supreme.

FAVOURITE SONGS - Mad World

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Mad world

FAVOURITE SONGS - Overcome

even now the world is bleedin' but feelin' just fine all numb
in our castle where we're always free to choose never free enough
to find i wish somethin' would break cuz we're runnin' out of time

and i am overcome i am overcome holy water in my lungs i am overcome

these women in the street pullin' out their hair my master's
in the yard givin' light to the unaware this plastic little place
is just a step amongst the stairs

and i am overcome i am overcome baby holy water in my lungs i am overcome

so drive me out out to that open field turn the ignition off
and spin around your help is here but i'm parked in this open space
blockin' the gates of love

i am overcome i am overcome holy water in my lungs i am overcomed

beautiful drowning this beautiful drowning this holy water
this holy water is in my lungs

and i am overcome i am overcome i am overcome i am overcome

FAVOURITE PICTURE SERIES (11)

The picture above shows me going down a crevasse on Mount Rainier. This was part of the training we underwent during the weeklong expedition seminar.

Training involved abseiling into a deep crevasse and learning how to rescue a casualty

Of Mountains and Adventure

An article in the September edition of National Geographic Adventure magazine described how Mount Everest has become a 'mess' describing Everest Base Camp as the Ringling Brothers' circus due to the amount of tents being pitched up.

In his article A New Everest Mess, David Roberts asks the question: Should world's strongrest climbers should be forced to risk it all for a flagging few?

Taking a professional climber's perspective, keeping in mind that climbing Mount Everest isn't just about glory but also about sponsorships and business deals, one would say No! - why should I forgo glory and money to save some climber who is not prepared for such a challenge?

Taking an amateur climber and adventurous person's perspective I would wholeheartedly disagree - the mountains were created there for everyone and those willing to take a risk should be allowed to do so.

But then again the question is raised why should someone who is not fully prepared for such a challenge potentially risk other people's lives should a rescue/evacuation be necessary? The answer could be that even the best climbers have suffered injuries or altitude sickness - there is no guarantee towards the prevention of altitude sickness - it can hit anyone!

So although climbers attempting Everest should be fully aware of the dangers and do their utmost to prepare themselves for it there should not be any discrimination as to who should climb the highest mountain in the world.

The article probably hit home more than others due to the fact that a rescue effort was lead by Casey Grom, who guided me on Mount Rainier, Washington, three years ago. Casey was the lead guide in our expedition seminar and apart from inspiring confidence and awe showed extreme professionalism throughout the week we spent on the mountain.

Its an honour for me to say that I met him!

To read the full article visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/everest/everest-2007.html

FAVOURITE PICTURE SERIES (10)

Irente View Point, Lushoto, Tanzania - January 2007

A drop of almost 1,000metres lies below me.....definitely not for the faint hearted!

Snakes & Ladders

:) No, I am not referring to the popular board game but to Via Ferrata! - which literally translates into the Iron Route.

Routes found on mountains and rock faces are totally secured by hand rails, ladders, cables or life lines enabling people, with little or no climbing experience, to cross from one side of a mountain to another.

The picture below was taken in France, in August 2006 where I fulfilled my dream of experiencing a Via Ferrata. The route consisted mainly of ladders up the rock face but we also had to cross 'valleys', with drops of over 250 metres, by means of Tibetan Bridges and Aerial Ropeways.

Check-In

What on earth, you might be asking yourself, is this picture doing on my blog???

This picture was taken last Saturday at the port of Bari, where I attended an MTV Concert. Bari is the major seaport linking Italy to Albania, and hence this sign.

Three years ago I spent three months in Albania, working with Vodafone Albania on a marketing project there. Although a lot of people might think I am crazy, I do have some fond memories of that place and that sign spurred good memories, prompting me to take the picture.

Some photo subjects may seem insignificant or senseless to the reader out there.....to others it means alot