THE AMAZING JOHN EVANS

`It was always my dream to be in the record books and I have always admired all the people who are....`       John Evans

John Evans has always had a good head for ideas.  You could say that his life has been a `balancing` act.

The 56-yr-old from Heanor, Derbyshire, UK, is a phenomenon.  A grizzled veteran of the world record breaking circuit.   The retired builder has a strange hobby, one that requires the carrying of anything and everything on his head. A telephone box, a Mini Cooper car, 10 beer barrels, a 14ft canoe with a bikini clad girl in it, 101 house bricks, a coffin.  And one Christmas, even a tree with all the trimmings !  You name it and John has tottered beneath it.

Although he didn`t realise it at the time,  John began his hobby when he was 18, while working as a brickie`s labourer.  `I started to carry the bricks on my head when I went up ladders,` he explains. ` I could carry twice as many bricks as anyone else, and before long I was carrying up to 24 bricks at a time.`

In December 1992,  John heard that one of his heroes, Geoff Capes, was doing a publicity show in Ripley, Derbyshire.  While in attendance, Geoff squeezed 24 bricks across his chest before they smashed to the floor. 

` I thought about what I used to do when I was a brickie, and wondered if I`d still be able to do it,`  says the father of two.  When he got home, to his amazement, he managed to balance 36 bricks on top of his head.   Since the, he`s gone on to claim 28 world records, including his latest record attempt which involved balancing 92 people on his head - that`s the equivalent of 5,180 kg ( 11,420 lbs) - in one hour!

Over the years John has thrown down the gauntlet, challenging anyone watching his act, offering £2,000 reward to anyone who can match any part of his performance.  To date no one has broken any of his records and, surprisingly, John has never broken his neck. ` I have never had an accident in all the while that I have been doing this.  I think I have something of a gift.`

His softly spoken manner belies his 6ft, 24 and a half stone frame, and he says that, although he enjoys the publicity, he tries to use it to good ends, raising more than £64,000 for charity.

JOHN`S WORLD RECORDS INCLUDE:

PINTS OF BEER

235 pints of beer balanced on his head.  November 2003

CANS OF COKE

428 cans of Coke (330ml cans) balanced on his head ( total weight: 175kg {385lbs}  November 2003

BALANCING PEOPLE

John balanced 92 people on his head in an hour.  July 2000 at the Motorcycle Show, Lowestoft, Suffolk.

HOUSE BRICKS

101 house bricks balanced on his head ( 189kg)  {416lbs},)  December 1997, National Lottery  TV show, BBC, UK.

 

                                                   

THE CASTLE AND THE PARK

This photo was taken today whilst we were walking Jake.  Windsor Castle is usually easier to see but being very overcast today this was the best Jim could do.  If you were to follow the path leading in the direction of the Castle, you would go over the motorway bridge (M4) and along the Jubilee river which is a man made river built as an overflow for the Thames in case of flooding.  It`s a lovely walk on a sunny day.  There is a great deal of ducks, moorhens and coots and other wildife.  We haven`t walked as far as the Castle yet with Jake as the weather isn`t up to it yet.   We walked today three quarters of the way up the path and then we turn left, following the path down to the rugby club, past the cricket and hockey club and try to stay out of the way of the motorcross !  At the back of the park there are a flock of parakeets, of all things.  They have lived in the wild here since at least the 1940`s when, at Shepperton Studios apparently released them into the wild after making a film that was about India, where they come from.  We don`t know how many there are here in Upton Court Park but in Shepperton there are hundreds now.  We always look to see how many are there and find it quite funny that they roost along with green woodpeckers, so maybe they have a slight identity crisis !  Enjoy the rest of Saturday. Bye for now.........

 

A STORY AS WET AS TEARS

 

Remember the princess who kissed a frog

so he became a prince ?  At first they danced

all weekend,  toasted each other in the morning

with coffee,  with champagne at night

and always with kisses.  Perhaps it was

in bed after the first year had ground

around she noticed he had become cold

with her.  She had to sleep

with heating pad and down comforter.

His manner grew increasing chilly

and damp when she entered a room.

He spent his time in water sports,

hydrophonics, working on his insect

 collection.

                Then in the third year

when she said to him one day, my dearest,

are you taking your vitamins daily,

you look quite green, he leaped

away from her.

                        Finally on their

 fifth anniversary she confronted him.

`My precious, don`t you love me

anymore?`  He replied `Rivet. Rivet`

Though courtship turns frogs into princes,

marriage turns them quietly back.

Marge Piercy

 

HAPPY SNOWDAYS !

I woke up this morning and the world had become beautiful.   Snow,  lots of fluffy white snow was silently falling down.  Not nasty wet snow, but drier fat flakes that look just like the Angels were having a pillow fight !  It lay settling on the ground until the sun shone through the clouds and it melted and dried up.  But it was so lovely while it lasted.   What is it that drives a middle aged woman to gaze out of her window like a fascinated child  waiting till the snow is deep enough to go out and build a snowman ?

   Yesterday, whilst watching a news report on the weather situation in the NE of England, the commentator made a passing remark about the disruption to schools, saying many had closed for the time being, but not all, in fact, one school in County Durham had actually suspended some pupils for throwing snowballs !   Ludicrous !

That`s when I was transported back to my childhood when everyone threw snowballs , going to school, during school and coming home again.  In fact, the bigger the snowballs the better.  We all laughed so much it hurt and that was the very best of times.  We even used to try to build snowmen but the were never very good so we would knock them down and throw the pieces of frozen snow all around.  NOT the sort of thing children are permitted to do in these day of political correctness.  Cruelty to snowmen I think they would call it.  We even used to make those giant snowballs by rolling one along the ground as it got bigger and bigger until it became too heavy to move.  Another thing we did which wouldn`t be allowed now ( I don`t blame them here though ! ) was making slides on the surface of the school playground.  They were lethal.  One child would start of by sliding on the ice , followed by another and then another until the slide was just like a sheet of glass.  I never got hurt and don`t remember anyone else doing so, but I`m sure they did  !   This would last until we went into school and then the caretaker would come out and destroy are carefully prepared slide by sprinkling sand and salt on it.  Nobody liked that caretaker in winter!

                        

 

                                               

HOSPITAL DAY

Today was `change of dressing` day.  I really thought I`d be free of the dressing altogether.   How wrong I was.  Not only has it been re-dressed ( albeit with a smaller bandage) but I`ve been ordered to rest it more often as I appear to have been doing too much.  They are right of course, but I have been very careful. I have now been told that I can only use my hand to do up buttons or zips, NOTHING else at all. I mustn`t even lift a plate !  I did ask if could start driving again and was told that my insurance company wouldn`t cover me at the moment.  So I`m stuck at home unless Jim is here to take me out.  In a week`s time I will be having physiotherapy on my arm but until then it`s rest which I am not at all good at.  This also means that I have to carry on typing with one hand though I have to say I`m quite good at it now.  Nothing will keep me from my computer and the journals !  Well for the time being that`s it.  Good night all and take care.

 

WEDNESDAY THINGS!

I felt like posting an amusing graphic so I had a look in my files and thought this one would do !  Today is so cold.  It keeps trying to snow but then it stops and then the whole process is repeated again and again.  I`ve tasken to wearing the hat that Kerry bought for Jim whilst in Chile.  Its like a skiing hat and very warm.  I do look a bit silly in it, but who cares ,as long as I`m warm I`d wear a hat with rabbit`s ears !  So the weather tomorrow is supposed to be much worse, we`ll see but I don`t think we, in the south of England will get any REAL snow, despite what the forcasters say.

Today I recieved a cheque from the HSA for £60.  They are rather like a medical insurance and they have paid out for my surgery.   Jim says I should have an operation every few months to keep the money coming in.  Knowing him he means it too !  WE get money back for both of us if we have hospital treatment, dental treatment, opticians etc.  With my medical history it`s been quite useful.

My arm`s been a bit sore today.  I think I`ve been doing a bit much around the house so I think the housework can wait.  Tomorrow it`s back to hospital to have the dressing changed and I hope it will be a smaller one than the present. This one is very bulky and has really started to irritate me now and I feel like taking it off myself.  But I`ll leave it to the experts.

 

ON A TIRED HOUSEWIFE

Here lies a poor woman who was always tired,

She lived in a house where help wasn`t hired:

Her last words on earth were: `Dear friends, I am going

To where there`s no cooking, or washing, or sewing,

For everything there is exact to my wishes,

For where they don`t eat there`s no washing of dishes.

I`ll be where loud anthems will always be ringing,

But having no voice I`ll be quit of the singing.

Don`t mourn for me now, don`t mourn for me never,

I`m going to do nothing for ever and ever.`

Anon

 

by Jessica

WHAT BREED OF CAT ARE YOU ?

You are a Ragdoll! You are known for your laid
back attitude. You are the ultimate in
low-maintenance. You'd rather hang out around
the house all day than seek adventure.

What breed of cat are you?

Try this quiz.  I got this from Sharon`s journal.  She is a Maine Coon.   As for me I`m a Rag Doll !
brought to you by Quizilla

MY FAMILY

This daguerratype photograph is my Great-Grandfather, his wife and her daughter and my Grandad and was taken some time between 1890-93.  The story of them is rather sketchy and I have to rely on what I`ve been told as opposed to any research. The gentleman on the right is Robert, my Great-Grandfather, the small boy Charles, my Grandfather.  The woman was married to my Great-Grandfather, of that there is no doubt.  But I have been told my my 90 yr old Aunt that she was NOT my Grandad`s mother. I haven`t seen my Aunt for a while and cannot confirm anymore details than I already have been told.  I gather that when Charles was about two years old his mother died.  Robert remarried and his wife, Ethel I think her name was, who I assume was a widow, brought up Charles as her own son, along with her daughter whose name I don`t know but for the purpose of this entry we`ll call Ellen.  I  think she was about 11yrs at the time.   

William was a in the sergeant in the Metropolitan Police in Dulwich,London before moving the family to Langley, Slough to take up the post of village policeman.  His strict, strait laced wife Ethel, lived a rather comfortable, but very religious life with her ready made family.  Ellen was a very spoilt child by all accounts and didn`t get on with Charles at all.   She never married and Charles totally despised her all his life.  She wasn`t very old when she died but my Aunt remembered her and said she was not a nice woman.  I know no more of William and Ethel only that she outlived her daughter and husband and was considered by my father and aunts and uncles to be an absolutely terrifying woman, even though she was barely five feet tall.

Charles went on to be very good at sports and art. He played football and cricket, and years later when he gave up playing he became a football referee.  He sold many of his water colours and a few pastels.  We have two of his works that were left to me.  They are signed and dated 1952 and 1950.  They are reproductions of John Constable`s work and have been examined by an art expert who told me that they are excellent.   Charles served in WW1 as a stretcher bearer in the Royal Army Medical Corps.  He was medically discharged in 1919 after seven years military service.

He married my grandmother and went on to have five childen including my own father.  He outlived my gran, remarried and died aged 89yrs in 1976.

 

 

 

I`M BACK !

                   

Hello !   I`m back, well I`ve not really been away,  I`ve just been reading journals and resting.  I did try putting backgrounds in my journal but I couldn`t concentrate and failed miserably.  But I will work at it.  My arm is still very stiff and sore but very much better than it was. My fingers aren`t swollen anymore and the tingling seems to be going from my hand but on the downside.  As I feel so much better I automatically start using my arm and thats when the pain starts up.  YOW ! the cut is on the tender inside of my arm and when those stitches pull it makes my eyes water.  So , I see AOL is still playing up.  I`m having to work harder at leaving comments as I keep getting error messages AND now the alerts are back, I`m sometimes getting , not only two from the same entry, but they are sent at different times.  How odd !

Jim is looking after me really well whilst decorating another room.  It`s like being married to Superman. No complaints here, but I won1t tell him or he`ll get a big head !

Yesterday, I ventured out for lunch with Jim wearing my trusty foam sling that looks enormous on me.  They ara all a standard size and I`m only 5`4".Anyway, we walked into the restaurant and as we walked to the table I noticed that many people were staring at me. " Do I have two heads ?"  I`m thinking ?   I decided to have the last laugh by sitting down and taking off the sling, smiling sweetly and putting it on the chair.  The nosey people went back to there lunches and it made me think.  Do people who have a disability have to put up with this all the time, everywhere they go ?  If so,  they must be so annoyed with it.  I didn`t like it and my sling is just temporary.  It`s funny how just at that moment I saw life from another perspective.  I`m off now to put some food in the oven for our tea.  Everything takes twice as long which is a nuisance but never mind things could be much worse.

                                                    

 

                           

                                                        

WOE IS ME !

This is just a short entry to say that I had my operation yesterday and all went well.  The problem is though, that I am a bit worse than I thought I would be and that typing with one hand whilst the other is in a huge foam sling is not the easiest thing to do !  So I`ll be reading journals and leaving comments but I doubt I`ll be doing much in the way of entries for a while at least.  Next Wednesday, my dresssing will be changed and hopefully I`ll be a bit more mobile.  So for the time being I have to rest a bit and forgive me if I don`t read your journals every day.  Bye for now !

 

KERRY AT BUTLINS

This photo of Kerry was taken  9yrs ago when she was just starting out and learning her craft at Butlins Somerwest World.  She was an Entertainer/Redcoat and not just an ordinary Redcoat !  They had their own hierarchy and the Entertainers got paid more, which was always a bone of contention amongst the other staff, who saw them as `stuck up` and `above themselves`.   Maybe they were, but this little band of singers and dancers had to work long hours to earn their money to gain their Equity cards.  She looks so happy and carefree in this photo.  Jim and I visited her there and we had a lovely time with friends who went down there with us.  It was September and the weather was really hot and we all got sunburned !

This was `Boogie Nights`, one of the daytime shows that the Red `Ents` team performed.  It was lots of fun. They used to do a different show everyday, sometimes 3 times daily, regardless of how they felt or who was watching , or not, as the case may be.  In this photo, Kerry is the in the middle, sitting on the guy on the floor !  Considering she is not a trained dancer she could always get through all the moves she was taught.  This was at the end of her final season at Minehead and her very last Butlins job. Next port of call..........  Tokyo, Japan !

 

 signature by Angel

VALENTINE FACTS,MYTHS AND LEGENDS

 

 

 

  Ancient Romans honoured the goddess Juno on February 14th.  Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses.  The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage.  The followuing day, February 15th, began the feast of Lupercalia. 

  In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be.  They would wear their names on their sleeves for a week.  To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

   Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine`s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor.  If she saw a sparrow she would marry a poor man and be very happy.  If she saw a goldfinch she would marry a millionaire.

   Some people said if you found a glove on the road on Valentine`s day, your future beloved would have the other missing glove.

   Some believed the first man`s name you read in the paper or hear will be the name of the man you marry.

   Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed .  Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind.  Count the seeds that remain on the stem, and that is the number of children you will have.

 

                                     

   The Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentius,  all of whom were martyred.

   One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.  When Emporer Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families,  he outlawd marriage for young men --  his crop of potential soldiers.  Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree and defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.  When Valentine`s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

   According to one legend,  Valentine actually sent the first `valentine` greeting himself.  While in prison he fell in love with a young girl  --  who may have been his jailer`s daughter  --  who visited him during his confinement.  Before his death , it is said he wrote her a letter, which he signed  `From your Valentine`, an expression that is still in use today.

 

            

 

   The United Sates, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France and Australia all celebrate Valentine` Day.

   Over 1 billion Valentine cards are sent in the USA alone every year.

   85 % of Valentine cards are purchased by women.

   Valentine`s Day and Mother`s Day are the biggest holiday for giving flowers.

   Men buy most of the millions of chocolates and bouquets of flowers given on Valentine`s Day.

   Married on Valentine`s day :  Diane Ladd, Sharon Stone,  Prince, Roseanne,  Jerry Garcia, Harold Robbins, Meg Ryan, Dennis Quaid and Elton John.