I feel the ache.
It’s like a shadow inside of me.
My mind questions.
It’s as if an enigma wrapped around my soul.
The nervous worry.
It’s an endless shadowing movement walking beside me.
Wobbling legs beneath me.
I feel I’m sliding uphill on ice facing downhill.
Not quite right inside.
As if I am a carpet grip with no carpet.
Every doubt exaggerated.
There’s a shadow, and I feel it’ll claim me.
You can’t ever imagine how it feels.
You really can’t.
The worry that shakes the ground beneath your feet;
the storm brewing and paperwork left unfilled.
You have been settled, untroubled by these challenges, unaware of the steps we have yet taken.
You sigh and carry on regardless.
“You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream” – C.S. Lewis
More sleep. More mentoring. More books. More sharing. More new foods. More daring. More paths, yet to be walked. More caring. More cycle rides. More riding. More hugs. More talking. More cuddles. More sliding. More cups of tea. More creating. More cosiness. More time writing. More sunsets. More bearing. More starry skies. More drawing. More laughter. More reassuring. More dog walks. More cooking. More dreams. More learning. More trips away. More cleaning. More togetherness. More feeling. More fun. More dreaming. More devotion. More gleaming. More love. More, more, more.
More than this.
First Official MCFC Supporters Club in Mainland China 中国内地首家曼城官方认证球迷会 [00164]
Our contact details: (feel free to drop us a line… 欢迎联络, 给我们留言…)
WeChat/Weibo: ShenzhenBlues / Twitter: Shenzhen_Blues / www.shenzhenblues.cn / contactus@shenzhenblues.cn / Facebook: SZblues
(你可以躺在床上看比赛/ Watch the game in your bed)
现在来点完全不同的东西吧… AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…
加我们项目负责成员的微信. Wechat : our team members who can assist you
1深圳曼城球迷会将会继续分享全中国曼城球迷的各种照片和故事。它不仅是一个展现深圳球迷，更是展现世界所有球迷风采的同好基地。
Shenzhen Blues will share any photos and stories from City fans throughout China. It is a fanzine for all our fans and not just those in Shenzhen.
请分享我们深圳曼城球迷会的官方微信公众号或为它点赞。
Please like and share our official wechat account.
我们在尽力用中英双语呈现出更多信息
We try to have translated materials in English and/or Chinese.
也一定会有过去和现在的各种相关照片
There are always photographs from the past and present.
重要的信息会在这个群里发布，也会有其他部分相关信息
Important information is shared through this channel. There are often other little bits of interest too.
您也可以通过订阅的方式获取第一手的资料，欢迎各位订阅。
You can submit articles, photos or materials too. Please feel free to do so.
球迷会名称/Club name: / 球迷会联系方式/Club contacts:
微博或其他社交媒体链接/Weibo or social media links: / 微信账号/Wechat account:
关于我们/About us: / 最后，请分享一些照片。/Finally, please share some photos.
衷心感谢你们/THANK YOU KINDLY. 爱与和平。Peace and love.
First Official MCFC Supporters Club in Mainland China 中国内地首家曼城官方认证球迷会 [00164]
Shenzhen was the location for the Blues friendly against Borussia Dortmund, which allowed supporters in the region to enjoy much more than the live matchday experience.
The tour was the perfect opportunity for the Club to connect with their Chinese fans and to celebrate this the Shenzhen Blues hosted a special event at their base – McCawley’s Irish Pub.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Angelino, Willy Caballero and Jason Denayer were the guests of honour as they took part in a Q&A and signing session.
The event carried extra significance as the Hong Kong and Melbourne branches were also in attendance as well as participants from City Football Schools’ project in Shenzhen, which made for a memorable coming together of City fans around the world.
With the Capital One Cup on display, supporters had a rare opportunity to capture a selfie with the famous trophy, while our Hong Kong branch’s support was recognised as they were presented with a commemorative plaque from Club Ambassador and City legend, Mike Summerbee.
Our Melbourne branch were an ever present during pre-season, and for member Wade Whitwell, the Shenzhen event topped off an incredible trip following the Blues. He said: “Shenzhen was a highlight of the pre-season tour for me. The great atmosphere in McCawley’s and sharing time with other Australians, the Hong Kong branch, the Shenzhen Blues and those from Manchester City made the trip to China so worthwhile.”
Similarly, Martin NG, the Hong Kong Branch Secretary, was delighted to have the opportunity to meet his City heroes.
“I feel very happy and proud to have taken part in this event and it was great to meet the players, who were all very nice”, he added.
You can see all the action from the event on Inside City 201.
See more: BlueMoon Forum (City China and SZBs post)
球迷会名称/Club name: 西安曼城球迷会 Xi’an Manchester City fans Association Club
球迷会联系方式/Club contacts: 阿圭罗的小媳妇儿 [Aguero’s Wife]
微博或其他社交媒体链接/Weibo or social media links: 西安曼城球迷会（微博名）
微信账号/Wechat account: 西安曼城球迷会（公众号）
关于我们/About us: 古称长安。长安城作为古代第一个人口破百万的国际化大都市，北濒渭河，南依秦岭，八水润长安。在这座古老的城市里，住着一群有着蓝色信仰的人们，这群人的存在给这座城市注入了新的活力，这就是我们——西安曼城球迷会。
不论你是土生土长的西安人，还是身在西安的异乡人，亦或是远在他乡的西安乡党，只要你信仰蓝月，我们都向你敞开怀抱。
Xi’an, is an ancient town, once known as Chang’an. Xi’an was one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals.
Xi’an is the original starting point of the Silk Road. Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army is based here. Bordered to the north by the Weihe River, the southern Qinling Mountains and known for 8 rivers, the city has great diversity and history. The sky blue and white faith of City reached Xi’an in modern times and adds vitality to a City mostly know for its great food and castle walls. Whether you are a native to Xi’an, or a visitor to Xi’an, Xi’an’s OSC opens their arms to meet you and your love for the Blue Moon. No reds allowed.
Expect to eat: Roujiamo Chinese Hamburger (肉夹馍); Liangpi (凉皮); Paomo Mutton, beef, and Bread Pieces in Soup (羊肉泡馍); Biang Biang Noodles (油泼扯面); Jinggao Steamed rice cake stuffed with honey dates and black beans (甑糕).
Expect to see: Fortifications of Xi’an & Xi’an City Wall (西安城墙); Xi’an Bell Tower (西安钟楼); the Drum Tower of Xi’an (西安鼓楼); Mount Li (骊山); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Qin Shi Huang) (秦始皇陵); Terracotta Army (兵马俑); Shaanxi Galaxy (陕西银河); Shaanxi Guoli F.C. (陕西国力); Shaanxi Renhe Commercial Chanba F.C. (陕西人和商业浐灞); Shaanxi Dongsheng (陕西东盛); Xi’an Evening News (西安晚报); Qinqiang opera (乱弹).
Did you know? Arthur Gostick Shorrock [from Blackburn, Lancashire, England] and Moir Duncan founded the Sianfu Mission in 1892.
U.K. Twin cities & Towns: Edinburgh, Bury St. Edmunds & Birmingham
爱与和平/Peace and love
WHERE DO WE MEET? We have a junior club – and we have the more senior options. Sometimes we gather at Irene’s Bar (Dongguan); Murray’s Irish Pub (Dongcheng, Dongguan) & road trips to join the Shenzhen Blues, Huizhou Blues or Guangzhou Blues. Actually, there’re just two of us for now.
WHEN DO WE MEET? Please contact acton28 on WeChat.
WHO ARE WE? Perhaps the smallest collective of Manchester City fans in China, so far.
WHY HAVE A CITY O.S.C. IN DONGUAN? Dongguan is a massive City of around 10 million people and is dominated by basketball, however football is growing. The aim of Dongguan Eastlands is to raise attention of Manchester City and football in general. At the end of the day, build it and they will come. There is no harm in trying. Like Manchester’s past, this city of Dongguan is industrial. Busy worker bees are everywhere.
WHEN WERE WE FOUNDED? On hold. Membership problems.
NOT COMING SOON
Official WeChat: 曼城足球俱乐部 mcfcofficial / Official website: http://www.mancity.com / https://cn.mancity.com/
All my people, right here, right now, d’ya know what I mean?
Thursday’s wander (9.5 miles/15.5km) preceded Friday’s wandering (9 miles/15km). Both started beyond 1pm in the afternoon. Both ended as dusk passed to dark. Each walk connected to former mining sites.
Arriving at Shaw and Crompton by Metrolink, the walk led past The Morning Star public house on Grains Road. Passing The Black Ladd public house and the King’s Arms, the path once again ended up on Grains Road, by Bishops Park golf range. Turning onto a sodden mud track off Ship Lane, the aimed point of the walk entered near-sight. Here, towering over Bishops Park, a stone monument offered views to at least four counties.
Being stood at Oldham’s highest point, it didn’t take much to meander down to the source of the River Medlock. Vast quantities of water bubbled out of a gap barely bigger than a shoebox. Panda, the dog, lapped up the freshwater and hopped amongst the boggy grassland above. My boots were tested well. With that, further steps were taken.
Heading back toward The Black Ladd pub, via farm pathways and a selection of Lancashire’s finest mud. At Dog Hill Lane, the Buckstones Road led to Shore Edge Methodist Church and up a track to Brushes Clough Reservoir. A muddy yet serine picturesque place. Following the pathways around a quarry and skirting Crompton Moor, the pathway looped over Old Brook. Pingot Quarry Waterfall was the icing on a cake after a decent afternoon’s rambling. Naturally, surrounded by mud.
After a delightful waterfall came the walk back to the Metrolink stop at Shaw and Crompton. Full circle. The next day, the Metrolink start would be Eccles. The finale at the Trafford Centre Metrolink terminal. The lengthy wander through Monton passed more coffee shops than I have digits on my hands. After passing Monton Unitarian Church, it was possible to hop onto the Roe Green Loopline cycle and footpath.
The former Tyldesley Loopline railway line passes through Worsley Station. It runs almost parallel, although distancing from, to the Bridgewater Canal. The Dukes Drive green looked flooded from a saturated Folly Brook, sat beneath the raised embankments of the pathway. The pleasant path followed a straight and even course, ideal for cycling, rambling and dogwalkers alike.
At first instance of signage for Old Warke Dam, a left turn led up to a large lake underneath an old house and magical woodlands stretching up and over to Worlsey Delph. Here, like yesterday’s quarry in Crompton, evidence of mining stretched around the cold damp rocks. Worsley, as documented by the excellent Martin Zero, amongst many, is a feature-filled landscape draped in architecture and modern wonder. The Bridgwater Canal, the Alphabet Bridge, and countless old buildings spoil visitors for sights of sites. The canal pointed the remainder of the walk toward the Barton Swing Bridge at Trafford and over the Manchester Ship Canal. A stone’s throw from a place to hop on the Metrolink at the Trafford Centre.
With drier shoes than yesterday, a brew and feet up time were essential. For Panda, bacon sizzlers and some moist and meaty dog food. For Saturday, Mossley… maybe.
Bedrock Learning, review to date:
Functions well, clear and well laid out. Accessible.
Follows a pathway/block system.
Loads fast and smoothly.
Good feedback from users in China, U.S.A. and other teachers in the U.K. Data apparently clear and concise.
Confidence boosting.
Competitive grouping of students possible.
Runs on e-devices. Accessible in school and at home.
Looking at it from a student’s point of view:
Bedrock doesn’t appear to have a feedback function following an activity. It appears to give points and not correct errors.
It uses many technical terms and the language could be more simpler at times.
Accepts simpler words in some scenarios, but rejects other suitable words.
Functionality:
Can’t change students in and out.
Users:
Public reviews appear worrying, although many are written by students.
Alternatives:
Lexonik.
Others to explore & review:
Literacy Company
Flex, Advance and Cloud available (“rapidly improve reading, vocabulary, spelling and comprehension”)
U.K. standardised assessment for pre- and post-testing.
Lexonic Vocabulary online-based training & school-wide or subject specific.
Lexonic Leap supports English as an Additional Language learners
Peer to peer/tutor to learner style (Flex)
1:4 (Advance)
Lexonic Develop is independent learning, with face-to-face and pre-recorded materials
Lexonic Grammar is mostly online, with a broad range of materials
Excellent feedback online.
I have downloaded numeroud pieces to review.
LexiaUK (trial requested)
Rapid Plus (currently in our library) & Catch Up Literacy (reading through the guide booklet)
Webinars online
Pathways to Read programme for primary schools (KS2) only.
Why are you suited to teach your subjects or age group?
I am inspired to apply for targeted literacy courses for a plethora of reasons. The biggest reason is that I really want to be a qualified and successful educator. I understand through this course and my employer that I could be in the right place that this leap is made.
The personal qualities that would make me a good teacher are as follows. Throughout the years, I have developed excellent communication and interpersonal skills. I have honed and proven I have a range of planning, organisation, and time-management skills. Many colleagues, parents, and friends have noted that I have the ability to enthuse and motivate pupils. I utilise my imagination, creativity and a sense of humour to engage and inform. I use listening skills and the ability to reflect on my own teaching practice to evaluate and refresh my methods periodically. I am confident in my ability to teach and inspire.
I have a decade of experience ranging from English and cultural consultation, across a broad age range of students (early years, primary and secondary) to delivering International Baccalaureate, and also football and sports coaching on a voluntary basis whilst in China. Since returning to the UK in late 2022, I have sought and obtained a role that allows me to work in UK education.
My understanding of the demands and rewards of teaching are that to be a successful school teacher, you must have a passion to inspire young minds alongside a commitment to ensure that every child achieves their potential. A teacher must open doors to progression and empower students to reach their potential and opportunity. I understand that teaching involves far more than the curriculum. Educators must assess (to set standards), record pupils’ development, ensure that pupils are safe and that all child protection and safeguarding measures are followed, as well as provide feedback to parents and carers on a pupil’s progress. Like the diversity of school life, I must encourage and maintain inclusion and education as a place for all. The reward of progression and opportunity to develop motivates me to thrive towards education and harmony.
There are fixed and flexible opportunities that I could contribute to a school outside of the classroom through clubs, extra-curricular activities, whilst sourcing resources and supporting the school community or colleagues in the delivery of other specialist area. Should opportunity arise then I would like to organise and take part in school events, outings and activities.
My thoughts on children’s well-being are that the world is complicated. The tapestry of challenges and opportunities needs unthreading to allow students the opportunity to access and understand. Mindfulness and curiosity should be protected to allow the UK education system to blossom. Globally, many nations and education systems look to the UK for guidance, experience, and innovation. I desire to be part of this system by assessing, delivering, tracking, and measuring my own success and setting an example to others by using this methodlogy to deliver education at a high quality.
How do we master the theory and put it to practice? Can’t let the search for answers distract us.
Those educated guesses, insights accumulated; control learned to halt ourselves frustrated.
Who will believe in our ways forward?
Guide from the sea, our lost raft, shoreward.
Daring do.
Boldness brought about by fate;
The chutzpah of the moment, raging inflate.
Determination by the bucketload;
Jaw strutting out, standing proud and bold.
Destiny unknown, holding your nerve;
Fearlessness to catch the serve at every swerve.
With courage and dauntlessness;
Batting away fear with dabs of recklessness.
Petty safe ground abound and found;
Hopes and dreams sound around yet downed.
Compliance of darkness swept aside, under a mound;
Chasing away gloomy twilight, each and every black hound.
From Rochdale Town centre, passing the statue of Gracie Fields, the roads wound towards an abandoned asbestos factory, and here Panda and I skirted well wide of contaminated lands of Spotland. The so-called Spodden Valley asbestos controversy has scarred the 75-acre site. We didn’t go looking. Instead, we joined a sodden pathway along the River Spodden, heading toward Healey Dell.
Coupled with thoughts and a ball for throwing to make Panda chase, I hunkered down in the drizzling rain.I thought on how about in 2024, I must do something more human. Talk to the lonely. Comfort the desperate. Don’t be a knobhead. Think of others. Bless many, no matter their beliefs. Make the here and now matter. Improve tomorrow. Hug more. Push away negative people, paranoid eejits and fools. Surround yourself with passion, positivity, and vibes. Be kind. With the latter in mind, I threw the ball for Panda.
The river pathway crossed a road, with a higher path leading to a great viaduct, which I assume was once on the Rochdale to Bacup branch line. Passing over a rain-filled view, the bridge led to the old Whitworth station and the ruins of a stone rubbing mill. All soggy and damp. The pathway, more like a steam, carried on to the lower reaches of Whitworth village. Walking up Cown Park Way South, turning left on Tong End, the road led up to the Cown Reservoir.
This sprawling waterlogged body of a reservoir sat beneath crags and a wide valley. Up the valley, north-east, would be the source of the Spodden. At Fairies Chapel, with a cave carved by a waterfall and apparently a fill desk and writing area. The weather didn’t allow a push on to that location. Instead, a loop of the reservoir and a perusal of James Treacle Sanderson‘s memorial. The champion runner lived from 1837-1905 and appeared to be a local character of note.
James Treacle Sanderson dashed up and down the 440 yards of the Eastern shore. Panda and I squelched along as I chatted to various dogwalkers, and Panda sniffed a bottom or ten. A custard slice, a Christmas gift from Dad, made a good snack. Panda ate some dog treats, and we motored back to Rochdale in driving rains. On returning to Healey Dell, we looked at the viaduct from beneath, with Panda leaving a message for other dogs. The Healey Dell heritage centre had long closed, and daylight vanished. We headed into Rochdale Town to catch a Metrolink tram back to Manchester. A good ten and a half miles of wandering (16.8km) albeit on an afternoon of pouring rain.
AGAINST THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC - ACTON28.BLOG 