Author: gsvalentine

About gsvalentine

I am a 44-year-old guy, who lives in Melton Mowbray, in the East Midlands, England. I was born in Lancashire, England, during September 1979. Most people don’t believe me that I was born in England due to my strong Scottish accent. My star sign is Libra. I am 5’9” tall, 30″ waist, with blonde hair, which is sometimes short, sometimes long. I have light brown eyes. Which most people think are very sexy. I just don’t see it, myself.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 15/02/2014

The Last Leg | 21-02-2014 (YouView app screenshot)Walking Through History (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 15th February 2014)

Tony Robinson sets off on his most curious walk yet, across the ancient and turbulent kingdom of Northumbria. In the seventh century, at the height of the Dark Ages, the rule of Northumbria stretched from Edinburgh to York: a mighty power in post-Roman Britain. But this was a land where a battle was raging for the souls of the people. Over five days, from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island off the coast of Northumberland, Tony is on the trail of one of Northumbria’s greatest sons: Saint Cuthbert. Through the Tweed Valley and across the Cheviot Hills, it’s a journey through a murky history laden with myth. But by investigating the communities, power bases and landscape of seventh-century Northumbria, Tony aims to understand the pagan land in which Cuthbert spread his simple brand of Celtic Christianity.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th February 2014)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. When a young woman with Down’s syndrome is discovered pregnant, sinister circumstances are assumed. Meanwhile, as the nuns organise celebrations for Sister Evangelina’s jubilee, Nonnatus House greets new midwife Patsy. Elsewhere, Timothy Turner takes his first steps without his callipers.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th February 2014)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May demonstrate their love for compact, small-engined cars with a trip to the Ukraine. With Clarkson in a Volkswagen Up, Hammond in a Ford Fiesta and May in a Dacia Sandero the trio zoom around the Crimean Peninsula absorbing some local history, visiting an old Soviet submarine pen and enjoying their manoeuvrable, economical cars to the full. Unfortunately, their carefree time is curtailed when they are challenged to a vast drive, heading north across one of the largest countries in Europe, and they must take any steps necessary to fight the immense boredom of a long car journey. Eventually, the three arrive in Kiev only to receive one final and truly fearsome challenge.

A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 17th February 2014)

Series in which Griff Rhys Jones explores some of the most beautiful and enchanting parts of his native land. Inspecting the remains of the now forgotten Aust Ferry, once the gateway into Wales, Griff stumbles upon his challenge – to learn and perform the Welsh National Anthem. After a terrifying attempt to walk the suspension cable of the Severn Bridge and a less stressful saunter along the remains of Offa’s Dyke, Griff heads deep into the principality, determined to pick up some of the Welsh language. After perfecting his pronunciation of Llanelli, he paddles up the River Wye to Tintern, a prime destination for tourists 200 years ago. Having by now practised the tune and words of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Griff just needs somewhere to perform. Then an encounter with the leader of a local handbell ringing group leads to a surprising solution.

The Street (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Monday 17th February 2014)

Documentary charting a year in the lives of the people who work, live and play on Sauchiehall Street, one of Scotland’s most famous and iconic shopping and party destinations. In this first programme, Savoy Centre manager Jim faces a mutiny after he decides to implement a new plan, chef Nick puts a trainee through the mill, and the steet pastors mop up the aftermath of a busy weekend’s partying.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 18th February 201)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. When a birdwatcher is discovered murdered in the Saint-Marie jungle, the team have a particularly puzzling conundrum to solve. Is the traditionally quiet and calm world of birdwatching more cut-throat than it appears?

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 19th February 2014)

School-based drama. George is left in charge of the school while Christine is away – but can he handle the pressure when Maggie, Audrey and the pupils stage a spectacular protest in a bid to stop Lula being deported?

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 19th February 2014)

George Clarke revisits Keith and Sheena McIntyre to see if their struggles have paid off. They fought through terrible weather conditions, and a challenge to integrate with the local community, in order to restore a stunning but isolated Telford church. Using an inheritance from his late father, artist Keith McIntyre and his wife Sheena bought this listed, Thomas Telford designed church in the remote island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Keith and Sheena’s dream of converting the church into a holiday home and artist’s studio faced extreme weather conditions and the challenge of keeping the neighbors onside, while trying to project manage the build from 400 miles way. A year later, George Clarke returns to find out if they’ve managed to transform the church into a working artist’s studio, what life is like in the new community, and to see if they’ve been successful in winning a prestigious Royal Institute of Architects award.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 21st February 2014)

The award-winning gang show continues live on Friday nights with a joyful, offbeat take on the week. Returning as host is 2013 British Comedy Award winner Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. The trio are joined by Claudia Winkleman in this show to take a look at the weird and wonderful talking points of the week including the stories and highlights from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.The show also includes the regular feature: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

This guy loves Valentine’s Day t-shirt

For this years Valentine’s Day at work. We have been asked to wear something red or pink. No way, anyone would get me wearing pink. So I went on eBay and found this great t-shirt :). Oh and you may have noticed, I’ve had my cut hair!

This guy loves Valentine's Day t-shirt

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 08/02/2014

The Culture Show | 10-02-2014 (YouView app screenshot)Walking Through History (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 8th February 2014)

Tony Robinson visits Liverpool and Lancashire for a towpath exploration of grand industrial engineering along the majestic Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Setting off from Liverpool, Tony takes a three-day walk inland to Wigan, tracing the story of the canal’s chaotic construction and its dramatic impact on the development of Lancashire. Today the canal cuts a peaceful, winding route, linking rural farmlands with lost epicentres of the industrial northwest. From the mid-1750s, the population of Liverpool multiplied 20 times in barely a century, helped in no small part by its new canal: a vital link to the coal, factories and labour supply of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 9th February 2014)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. Jenny’s life is turned upside down when Alec has a terrible accident. Sister Winifred helps a holocaust survivor bury the past and Shelagh decides to join the local choir.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 9th February 2014)

Motoring magazine. The series continues with a jam-packed show featuring Italian sports cars, military manoeuvres and a trip to Belgium. Richard Hammond is on the shores of Lake Como testing the exciting new Alfa Romeo 4C, a mid-engined machine from one of the world’s most beloved sports car makers. Hammond’s enjoyment of the super-lightweight, 237 horsepower beauty is brought to a halt by the arrival of Jeremy Clarkson on a quad bike, demanding a race to the far end of the vast lake. Elsewhere in the programme, Clarkson is in the genteel surroundings of Bruge and at the rather less sedate Spa Grand Prix track in order to test a thrilling new breed of hybrid hypercar: the stunning, 904 horsepower McLaren P1. Meanwhile, James May is at the vast Camp Bastion in Afghanistan looking at the incredible efforts behind the army’s largest vehicle redeployment since the Second World War. Finally, actor Tom Hiddleston, tries his hand out on the track as the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones (ITV /HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 10th February 2014)

Series in which Griff Rhys Jones explores some of the most beautiful and enchanting parts of his native land. In a lighthouse on the northernmost tip of the Welsh mainland, Griff discovers that his Conwy challenge is to find a Welsh dresser. Catching the bus into the nearby seaside resort of Llandudno, he realises that it is probably the last place on earth to find antique Welsh furniture. Hitching a lift into farming country, he finds a village antique shop – but it hasn’t seen a dresser in years. Griff then turns his attention to the plight of thirsty oak trees, the extraordinary age of a dangerous yew tree and the abundance hereabouts of one of the tallest trees in the world – the Douglas fir. Back on the coast, while traipsing around the battlements of Conwy Castle, Griff spots something familiar in a shop window – is he in luck?

The Culture Show (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Monday 10th February 2014)

An evaulation of the contribution on Lego to archicture, and its continuing influence. The Lego Movie (released 14 February) is the latest big-budget incarnation of one of the world’s most popular toys. Yet Lego is more than a global brand. Tom Dyckhoff explores its relationship with architecture, and argues that it has changed the way we think about buildings. Lego’s plastic yellow bricks were launched in the 50s, and resonated with new visions of rebuilding society – with ethical, imaginative children’s play at its heart.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 11th February 2014)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. DI Goodman and his team are drawn into the world of politics when Saint-Marie’s commerce minister is discovered dead. Out of the blue, Camille’s father turns out to have a link to the victim and she is forced to confront the fact that her dad could be the murderer.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00p0m to 9:00pm | Wednesday 12th February 2014)

School-based drama. Gabriella wreaks havoc when she suspects Nikki and Hector of having an affair. Kevin is preparing for his university bursary interview, but when he collapses it sends shockwaves through the school.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 12th February 2014)

Furniture maker Jamie Brown has big ideas about turning a colossal and historic 15,000 square foot RAF bunker from World War II into his new home. However, with the Nottinghamshire bunker totally encased in earth, with no natural light, and the back section submerged in water, Jamie’s wife, who is about to have their first baby, isn’t so sure. With its fascinating history and jaw-dropping engineering, George helps Jamie tackle this huge undertaking and discovers the important role it played in the blitz.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 14th February 2014)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Friday nights with a joyful, offbeat take on the week. Returning as host is 2013 British Comedy Award winner Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. The trio take a look at the weird and wonderful talking points of the week including the stories and highlights from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Each week, Adam, Josh and Alex are joined by a live studio audience and a weekly special celebrity guest. The show also sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

Winter Olympics theme night @ the dogs

On Friday 21st February, where I work is having a theme night for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. I will be wearing my ‘Some People are Gay. Get Over It!’ t-shirt but the new Russian version. Which I ordered yesterday. I feel as a gay man, I have to do my bit for the gay people living in Russia.

Below is photo of myself wearing the English version of the t-shirt. You can order both the English and Russian version’s at web.stonewall.org.uk/public/shop/default.aspx.

January 2014 cycling statistics

Here are my cycling statistics for January 2014. I ended up doing 466.9 miles this month. Making it the most miles, I have ever done in any January! Means I am already, 288.6 miles up on on this time last year :).

Here is the data from January 2014:-

  • Total cycles: 18.
  • Total Distance: 466.93 miles.
  • Total Time: 40:57:57 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 11.4 mph.
  • Max Time: 4:30:30 (h:m:s).
  • Max Speed: 31.6 mph.
  • Avg Distance: 25.94 miles.
  • Max Distance: 51.15 miles | First 50 mile cycle of 2014.

Data from: Garmin Connect.

Here are my favourite cycling photos from the month

dsc02634dsc02733Wetsuit cyclingWetsuit cyclingOut cycling

Scotland just became the 17th country in the world to legalise equal marriage!!

A bill which allows same-sex weddings to take place in Scotland has been passed by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs voted by 105 to 18 in favour of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.

Well done Scotland!!!

equality-network-scotland-17

Image from : www.facebook.com/EqualityNetwork/

Added a National Cycle Network sub section

I have just added a National Cycle Network sub section to my website. Where I will post photos from the section’s of the National Cycle Network that I use!

So far I have posted photos from: NCR 7, NCR 12, NCR 15, NCR 63, NCR 64 and NCR 74.

Please all check out the new section at www.gordon-valentine.com/cycling/national-cycle-network/ and let me know what you think of it so far :).

Russia where it’s thought only 1% of gay people dare comeout!

If you live in the UK. Please all watch this documentary on Channel 4Hunted (YouView app screenshot) called “Hunted” it’s on between 10:00pm and 11:00pm this Wednesday (5th February 2014).

On the eve of the Sochi Winter Olympics, Russia is officially welcoming gay athletes and spectators. But in a country where it’s thought only 1% of gay people dare to live completely openly, it appears to be a hollow gesture. This Dispatches film – directed by Ben Steele and presented Liz MacKean – has gained unique access to the vigilante gangs that target gay men and women. This extraordinary film depicts a country troubled by disturbing violence and distressing intimidation. Six months after the Russian parliament unanimously passed a law to protect children from ‘non-traditional’ relationships, this film explores the terror that gay people in Russia are calling ‘hunting season’.

Website statistics for January 2014

Below are the main website statistics for January 2014.

  • Unique visitors: 8,311.
  • Bandwidth: 7.22 GB.
  • Browsers: IE (11.1%), Firefox (38%), Chrome (17.7%), Safari (13.9%), Opera (6.7%).
  • Operating Systems: Windows (67.2%), Macintosh (20.5%), Others (4.9%), Linux (7.2%).
  • Most viewed blog entry: First Lycra skinsuit photos of 2014 (224 views | Posted: 02/01/2014).
  • Most viewed photo: Myself driving the Mallard (1,137 views | Taken 08/11/2013).

Data from AWStats.