Living in Hampshire, the closest indoor track to me is in Camberley and is run by Team Sport, who own and run several venues, mainly across the south of England. The venue at Camberley is excellent as far as Karting venues go; it is clean, well lit, spacious and run by a very friendly and professional team. A big plus for Camberley is the café they have, it’s away from the track so you can shut yourself away from the noise and sit with a drink or something to eat. Great if you’re with a group and not actually Karting.

A few weeks back a large group of us decided to try out an ‘Unlimited’ night at Team Sports Southampton track. An unlimited night involves a 5pm arrival at the venue. You are then placed into groups of 10, with a maximum of 5 groups or 50 people. You then take turns at having 10 minute slots of track time. Group 1 and then group 2 etc. Once all groups have had their slot it starts again and keeps rotating until 10:30pm. You normally end up with 60 minutes plus Karting. Most of us have attended these events at Camberley so know what to expect. Unfortunately due to a variety of reasons, the evening didn’t go as we had hoped and we left at the end of the night feeling very disappointed, me more so as I had arranged it and we had a few first time Karters with us.

Although I am not normally one to complain, I did contact Team Sport and credit where credit is due, they were extremely quick to act and offered to rectify the issue. They arranged for us to visit the Camberley venue (more local too us) for an evening of Karting that would give us exclusive use of the track – the novice Karters were still feeling a bit intimidated by the whole experience, so by only having people they know around them, it should make it a bit more enjoyable.

On our arrival at the venue, we quickly realised that the event type that been had arranged for us wouldn’t be suitable as some people had not been able to make it, so there were less of us than planned. Darren, the manager running the track that night was quick to suggest an alternative event type that would give us more track time and be just as much fun. He also allowed for breaks and extra track slots to allow the less confident members of our group to kart without the pressure of us faster drivers around them.

Eventually we agreed on 10 minute practice, 10 minute qualifying followed by a 45 minute race. It was an excellent evening and thoroughly enjoyed by EVERYONE, even the less competitive were scrutinising each other’s lap times after each session. The race itself was action packed, fast and a lot of fun. Topping the evening off was a trophy presentation to the winning three drivers. Note worthy was a certain Matt Hamilton setting a new fastest customer lap time of 24.99 seconds only .200 of the lap record. Not bad for his first visit!

We all had a fantastic evening and I am sure there are some very sore aching arms today. Massive thank you to Team Sport, for organising this event and too Darren and the team at Team Sport Camberley for looking after us so well.

In 1999 I was fortunate enough to spend 3 months in Australia. I visited a good friend for a few weeks before, heading off to backpack up the East coast and to visit the Northern Territory.

Whilst on my travels I met up with a pair of young ladies from Holland and a guy from Switzerland called Thomas. We travelled together for a while before Thomas headed off in a different direction, leaving me with the two girls from Holland. Sadly I cannot remember their names, which is shocking as I ‘backpacked’ with them for about 3-4 weeks.

On our way back down the east coast we stopped in Airlie Beach, Queensland, as the girls wanted to see the Whitsunday Islands. As luck would have it, some friends of mine from Newquay, England were also in town that night and I headed out for a few beers with them that evening.

Now, anyone who has been to Oz will know the beer is a little weaker than it is here in the UK and you can actually drink quite a lot of it. In fact that night I managed 12 pints… in 3 hours. At the end of the evening I headed back to our dorm at the hostel, the girls were still out with their friends, so feeling slightly inebriated I hit the sack. That’s where it all went wrong…

I don’t know when I woke up, but it was dark and the beer I had drunk before I went to bed was still having an effect on my legs – I was quite drunk and BUSTING for a pee. I clambered out of bed, walked into the bathroom, I didn’t bother to turn the lights on as I didn’t want to wake the girls. So in a way only a man can do, I put one hand on the wall to steady myself and opened the flood gates.

Before you read on, please don’t judge me, this is and was a one off event that I still cringe at… Suddenly, mid flow, the toilet screams! I mean it actually let out a yelp and shoved me backwards – still peeing. Then the light went on. Despite my drunken state even I knew what I had done… The toilet I thought was there was actually 10 feet to my left and I was using one of the poor girls from Holland as a substitute. The rest is a bit of a blur, I was ejected from the room onto the balcony and the door locked behind me. Still busting I found a nearby bush, then returned to the balcony and passed out on the sun lounger.

When I woke up, the sun was up and the door was unlocked. The poor girl was asleep, I think in my sleeping bag – mind its sketchy due to hangover at the time. Her things in a pile on the floor – wet. I quickly dressed and took all the items to be cleaned and pressed.

I was mortified with what I had done and 2 hours later I walked back to the hostel, head down, tail between legs with a bagged of dry cleaned clothes and a sleeping bag. Coming the other way were the two Dutch girls. As I approached them, the handed me some money I had lent them – without saying a word, took the bag from me and walk the way I had just come. Hmmm

When I got to the room, my bag had been packed and was waiting for me outside the room. So I guess we were done travelling! That was the last time I saw them.

I have set up a facebook group, which I need people to join and share for me. Why set up this group 12 years later? I never got to apologise to the girl from Holland, I would like to be able to do that now and maybe she’ll be able have a laugh without actually wanting to harm me!

PLEASE could you share the group with your friends, even if they don’t know anyone from Holland they may have a friend who does. I will try and find more photos to aid the search.

THANKS!

Did I volunteer or was I approached, if the latter how did they find me?

I was approached twice to take part in Secret Millionaire. The first time I refused as I don’t really consider myself to be the ‘M’ word. I was called again about 6 months later after an article appeared about my business partner and I in Director Magazine.

Why did I take part in the program?

When I was initially approached to take part in the program I was looking forward to helping those less fortunate than myself. I come from a relatively poor background and I now enjoy many of the things that come from being a successful businessman. I have always been bought up to share with others and help others wherever possible. Little did I know that the Secret Millionaire would take me on a journey that would see me take as much out of the experience as the people I met.

Where you worried about it being too personal?

When I agreed to do the program I was very worried about how personal it would be. I knew that my past and more importantly my father would ‘come out in the wash’. My main concern right from the start was that program remained respectful to his memory. Despite the things that he did, he is still a father, son, brother & uncle to many of my family.

The program makers assured me that they wouldn’t do anything that could be misunderstood by the viewer. I think you’ll agree that they dealt with it beautifully.

Did you ever stop and wonder how other people might think of you watching this?

When we had finished filming back in March 2010 I hadn’t really given any thought to how I would be perceived by others when the program actually went out. As the summer came and went I almost forgot I had done it, if it were not for the constant contact I had had with the people I had met, I am sure it would have started to feel like a distance memory.

When I received the transmission date and the PR machine of Channel 4 started to move, I really did start to worry and as a result my anxiety started to kick back in. The week before the program went out was probably the worst and required a visit to my hypnotherapist to help ‘get my mind straight again’.

As the day approached I came to the conclusion that there was no point worrying about it, as what’s done is done and short of taking down Channel 4 there was nothing I could do about it.

How much could you decide who to meet and what to investigate?

Without realising, I indirectly selected the charities I supported before even filming began. I think it’s excellent how we (Secret Millionaires) are hooked up with causes that our close to our hearts, we just get pointed in the right general direction.

We have a bunch of projects chosen for us that relate to or are somehow connected to our lives. We are not obliged to give gifts to all those we meet. The amounts and who we give too are entirely our own choices.

What effect has the whole experience had on you?

For many years I have suffered from acute anxiety, which I managed to hide very well and if it wasn’t for the weight loss it causes, people would be none the wiser. Since the program has been shown I have had hundreds of people contact me suffering with the very same condition. Like me, most of these people had thought that they were alone and that no-one understood how they felt and what they have to go through as anxiety sufferers.

In my experience talking through things generally helps ease the anxiety attacks. Often the cause is a memory so deeply set in your own sub-conscious mind, you don’t even know what sets the anxiety off. It can be very debilitating if left untreated. Once I discovered I was physically not sick and that the anxiety attacks were ‘in my head’. I tried many forms of counselling and therapy to try and ‘feel normal’ again. After nearly 9 years of not knowing what was wrong with me I was able to finally beat the anxiety back enough to ‘live’ more normally.

The whole experience has probably helped others as much as me to realise there is help and support out there, you just have to ask your GP for it.

During filming did you want to admit at any point who you really were?

Honestly yes. I had such a strong cover story – it was very believable, that I was constantly ‘acting’. Even when the cameras aren’t rolling you need to keep that persona up and so I was forever snapping pictures, talking photography and telling people what a crappy job I had.

Bernie asked me one day where I was staying during my stay in Manchester. I nearly said “Some shit hole in…” I told her that was bedding down in a posh 5* in Manchester City centre, that even had Egyptian cotton bed sheets. Every time I saw her she asked how nice the hotel was. I did enjoy playing along with that little story.

As the days went by and I became more and more tired, emotionally, mentally and physically I just wanted to say, you know what I am off, I have had enough. The only thing that stopped me was that I realised I wouldn’t only be letting myself down, I would be letting down the people I had come to help.

What was the most rewarding experience of them all?

I don’t like to choose a favourite moment or experience, but I was very touched by the generosity of Oscar, the love of Bernie for her son & Talbot House and the Mustard Tree for all the effort they put in to helping so many people in so many different ways – myself being one of those people.

Spending the afternoon with Geoff, Bernie’s son was one of the funniest afternoons of the whole 9 days. I was feeling quite down by this point and he made me laugh – a lot.

Would you do it again?

If I thought I could get away with it I would. Might have to negotiate better digs though.  For anyone out there who is thinking of applying to take part in the Secret Millionaire, it is THE hardest thing I have ever done and also one of the most rewarding for me personally. I know us Secret Millionaires get a bit of bad press, as some only take part for the PR they can get out of it. However, think about doing it for you as well as the people you are going to meet. You will find it so much more rewarding.

Sorry if this annoys those who have me loaded in to their RSS feedreaders, pointless post I know, but if I don’t write this I will NEVER get around to writing anything, you know how it is

Chris

When they approached me last year I told them that I was in the habit of clearing my balance each month – saves interest, so based on this the advisor recommended the Virgin Atlantic Black Card. It has a higher interest rate an annual fee of £115. The benefit being that I would receive 2 virgin miles for every pound I spend, or 4 miles for each pound when I use the card to buy Virgin Atlantic flights. Being a regular flyer with Virgin it meant I could add miles monthly to my Flying Club membership. These ‘miles’ can ultimately be used to book Virgin flights with ala Air Miles.

So you can imagine my shock when I try to book a flight only for the card to decline. So I call MBNA and ask what the problem is as I know I have just cleared the balance a week earlier.  It turns out my credit limit had been reduced and I was under investigation for ‘breaking the terms of the card’ – overuse! I mean come on, I never go over my limit, I pay promptly each month and I get told off for using the card too much.

As well as overuse, there also seem to be a problem with a single transaction from a couple of months ago, which went through my travel company website.  I was told that using the card for business wasn’t allowed. Fair cop, no problem, please take the Virgin Miles off my account, but it seems they don’t do that, they just restrict your use of the card via the limit to stop you spending so much.

Without going into too much detail I closed the account as I was so incensed. Looks like I have to go back to collecting British Airways Air Miles again, pfft. You’d think in this current climate the banks and financial groups would be happy to take your money off of you.

To add insult to injury, I am not allowed the 85,000 miles I racked up and paid for.

However, recently it has come to light that we have, what has been named as, a ’Stealth Brew Maker’. A stealth brew maker or SBM, is someone who quietly makes them self a cuppa and then sits back down again, citing that they are too busy to make everyone else a drink, but when one is offered to them by another equally busy person they always accept the offer of a cuppa, even though they have no intention of returning the favour.

The SBM will always argue that they are too busy to make everyone a drink and why should they, its not part of their job. Whereas the Non-SBM will argue that they are just as busy as the SBM, yet they still take the time to lovingly craft their fellow office dwellers hot refreshment.

Now I can see both sides of the argument here. SBM is probably genuinely busy and wants to crack on with their work and Non-SBM – being the team player – appreciates everyone is busy, but if they scratch someone elses back i.e. make them a drink, then they will prob return the favour and scratch theirs.

Now just yesterday I was speaking to someone in the office and they had quite clearly just carried out a successful SBM run, as they had a tea in front of them and a guilty grin on their face. The argument this time, was ‘There was only enough milk for two. They had obviously forgotten the fully stocked kitchen not 100 yards from our office.  Wait a minute there was enough for two teas? They had made a drink for their counterpart! Now we see a further progression of the SBM roll. ‘Group Stealth Brew Making’ or GSBM. Now part of me is thinking, this isn’t soo bad and it continues to mutate then we will eventually go full circle and be back to making everyone else a brew!

The only thing I am expecting to see now is the Anti-GSBM workers to rear their heads as they work against the SBM and the members of the GSBM and make their own drinks. Does this make the Anti-GSBM just another bunch of GSBM… ? I am confused and now my head hurts.

With the kids off nursery on Monday morning I decided to have look and see what was about to buy, so that I had something for ‘next time’ it snowed. Bearing in mind that the press were reporting that 65% of the UK’s work force had taken the day off I didn’t think I would see anything I ordered until at least late this week or early next.

Quick search on the big ‘G’ bought me to Tobaggans.co.uk. The site boosts selling high quality laminated Beechwood wooden tobaggans loving handmade by Bavarian coach builders. These looked like the ticket and at £85 I was thought it was fairly reasonable. So I bought one! woo.

This morning, 23 hours after I placed my order citylink rang the door bell with my new toy! Brilliant service, despite the snow it arrived 3 days earlier than stated on their website. So hats off to these guys and see you on the slopes!

A common response by our female counterparts to our cries of ‘Man Flu’, is ‘Well you don’t have to give birth’. Which I appreciate, however the average labour time is 10-12 hours, whereas Man Flu symptoms can last anywhere from 3 days to over a week! Suddenly labour doesn’t seem like such a bad proposition does it ladies?

So next time your man says he has the flu coming, just imagine what it would feel like to be in labour for over a week and show the guy some love, before it brings him to his knees and help ease his suffering. You would if you loved him.

Jokes where originally added to Crackers around the 1930′s. Before then they contained love poems or more recently motto’s. The love poems were to accompany the sweets/bon bons that originally went inside the cracker when Tom Smith invented them in the 1850′s.

Here are a selection of the best/worse jokes from the last few days.

Q: Where should a dressmaker build her house?

A: On the outskirts.

Q: What did the duck say when hee had finished shopping?

A: Put it on my bill please.

Q: What did the window say to the door?

A: What are you squeaking about, I’m the one with the pain.

Q: How do snails keep their shells shiney?

A: They use snail varnish.

Q: What do you get if you cross a skeleton and a detective?

A: Sherlock Bones.

Q: Why don’t ducks tell jokes when they are flying?

A: Because they would quack up.

Another was asking “Should you squeeze the tea bag?”. Now personally it depends on how long the tea bag has been left to stand in the mug ‘brewing’ If it’s only been in there a couple of minutes then yes, but don’t squeeze the living crap out of it, otherwise it will taste bitter and horrible. Now, if you have accidentally left the tea standing for more than a few minutes with the tea bag in, then I avoid squeezing the bag. I just lift it out and then stir the tea. If it still looks over-stewed, then you might be just aswel making a new one.

A favourite of mine today which backs up my earlier post is “Why is tea darker if you put the milk in after the tea bag?”. Answer – the tea has been burnt by the boiling hot water and without the pre-added milk to protect it you have a cup of burnt brown yucky tea. That’s the honest scientific reason. I have not made that up!

On the subject of how long to leave the tea bag in I had “How long to leave tea bag in hot water?”. Well, if you do insist on putting the milk in last then I suggest no more than 1-2 minutes if the water is boiling hot. If you are adding the milk before the water then you will need 2-3 minutes maybe a minute or two more if you like it stronger.

The last one I am going to bring up has hit my target keywords right on the money. “The correct way to make a cup of tea“. I am not going to preach but Tea Bag, Milk, Hot Water – in that order