Dear Mr Williams

I don’t tend to get emotional when someone famous dies, but this morning, as I was driving to work and I heard the sad sad news of Robin Williams passing, I had tears streaming down my eyes. So in memory of the wonderfully great Mr Williams, I thought I’d write him a letter.

Dear Mr Williams,

My first memory of you on my tv screen was channel 4’s re-runs on Mork and Mindy in the early 90s, I was very young and don’t really remember much of the show that well, but I was fascinated and envious that you could drink through your finger. This was one trait I wish I would develop as I grew up. I also felt a special connection with you from then, and my brother (Mark) said that our parents named us after you and Mindy, but changed a few letters (Mark and Mandy). My mother denies this, but she’s a secret sc-fi comedy geek, so I think it was on her subconscious mind.

From there your familiar face turned up in my favourite childhood movies throughout my life, your voice was a calming effect on children across the land, and your silliness created laughter throughout our household.

It didn’t phase me that you played a boy as Peter Pan  in Hook, even though you’re a good bit older than my Dad, you encapsulated the character of a boy so well. When we heard you as the Genie in Aladdin, we instantly fell in love with the Genie, that calming yet cheeky voice of a big blue man who lived in a lamp with the ultimate gifts – every childs (and adults) dream.  

Then you made my favourite movie EVER – Mrs. Doubtfire, I was 4/5 years old when this movie was released. Mum and Dad brought me the video and I would watch it every day after school, the video was knackered within a few months. However I'd still keep playing it, especially the scene where your dancing with the broomstick to "Dude looks like a lady." - this was the movie that made me fall in love with the comedy genre.

You continued to be part of the on-screen presents in my life, taking me through a world of emotions as I grew up. Crying in Jack,  jumping out my seat in Jumanji, covering the TV in green goo in Flubber, laughing in Patch Adams. You were there putting a smile on my face and others across the world through out.

I'm sad that your gone, though we never met and you never knew who I was, I always found comfort in you. I won't dwell on your details of your passing, as that was your own demons to battle.

Thank you for being part of the 'fun' of my childhood. You'll never be forgotten, and I'm going to make sure my future offspring definitely have you and your many characters as part of their childhood too.

I hope heaven is as magical as Never Never Land, as fun as Flubber, thrilling as Jumanji and that you do find a friend like Mindy there.

Nanu Nanu.

A big fan and admirer of your work.

I AM NOT A RUNNER!

I signed up for this half marathon in hope that it would get me out running frequently, moving more, losing weight, becoming the healthiest version of me. Plus a full marathon was lurking on my bucket list (emphasis on the word was). However last night, whilst running 5K around Florence Park in the sunshine I realised something.

 I AM NOT A RUNNER!

Many people could have told you that, from my PE primary school teacher, to my boyfriend and if you’re reading this and you know me, you probably knew that already.

Now 'rumming' a half marathon
is more my kind of thing

It took me until yesterday to realise this (better late than never), but I don’t particularly enjoy running. I want too, I always thought it would be cool to be a runner – I’ve always admire runners for various reasons. They’ve got a great physique, they can eat loads of carbs, they seem to easily run distances that I struggle to walk, plus they always seem so switched on and determined in life. So being a runner to me seemed to be the ultimate picture of health.  I’m not saying I don’t like exercise, I’m very happy in exercise classes or on the cross-trainer.

However what I do like about running is I am slowly improving and seeing progress, and that I have a challenge to work towards (have I mentioned that I’m running the Oxford half marathon?). I was hoping that along my journey that I would fall in love with running, and that by now I would be at the stage where running was just something I do 3-4 times a week and don’t even think about it, but I’m not there. I'm still pep talking myself into running on my drive home from work, finding excuses of why I shouldn't go, then reasons why I should. So far I've been good with getting out there and putting my left foot in front of my right with a bounce in my step. Though,with less than 10 weeks to go, I feel like I'm never going to get there to the 13.1 mile stage, but I'm determined, even if I have to walk / crawl across the finish line, I'll make it. 

I’m also running for the Williams Syndrome Foundation, a cause that is extremely close to my heart. Williams Syndrome does not get enough exposure or research into it, so the more we can do the better. Yesterday after completing my fourth kilometer and sweating buckets, wanting to give up, this is what got me through; the fact I’m doing this for the Williams Syndrome Foundation and for everyone and their families who are affected by it.

So whilst I’m not a runner, I’ll still keep running for the next 10 weeks and I will  run 13.1miles around Oxford (and collapse in a big heap at the end). If you would like to sponsor me and my team you can do by clicking here. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.

Machofest 2014

Saturday 26^th July 2014, saw the 5^th annual Machofest. For people who don’t quite know what Machofest is, or have never been I thought I’d give a brief explanation / FAQs

What is it?

It’s a big house (garden) party, that’s a little like a festival as we have live bands preforming.

Why is it called Machofest?

My family name is Machado, and its hosted by us Machado’s – Machafest doesn’t have the same ring to it, so we named is Machofest.

What kind of Bands preform there?

Any really – this year we had an urban rapper / singer - Mr Rootsy, Ben from Phats and Small and Du Bellows -a rock/indie band. We usually have a 60s / Beatles cover band, who really know how to get the party started, but they we’re having a Machofest break this year.

Is there a bar?
No – we ask everyone to bring a bottle, and we just put everything together, make some punch and drink till we can’t remember our names.

What about food?
My Mum and her brothers are the world’s greatest cook, so they make a tonne of awesome food for everyone.

Can we camp?

You can stay over (as in find a place to crash in the house) but we don’t let people put tents up, mainly because the garden isn’t that big.

Are your parents going to be there?

Yes, of course, it’s there house and our family party. Dad is the shot man and Mum is the feeder of chicken. Without them there would be no Machofest.

Sounds a bit crazy? Well it is, and new friends who come to it every year still can’t quite believe that we do it, but we do and we love it.

This year was amazing, the weather was glorious, and even though my google weather app said they're might be a 50% chance of rain, we didn't feel one drop. Surrounded by lovely family and friends, it was a good place to catch up with everyone who we don't get to see very often. The booze flowed, the punch was sweet and strong (that's what 64% rum does), the moves on the dance floor where questionable and the music was great. We had some of the best new acts popping up on the scene right now, and a little rewind to the old school with Phats and Small. We worked hard to put it all together, but we also partied hard and enjoyed it. 

I'd like to thank Mr Rootsy, for kicking off the party with a great session. Mr Rootsy preformed his new song Boyfriend, which I instantly fell in love with, having that sense of a new urban rap, with the familiar undertones of a slightly cheesy love song. Check it out on youtube - the video is awesome; click HERE for the link to his youtube channel.

Big shout out to Ben from Phats and Small for generally caring about all of us and asking 'what's wrong with you?' and waking the neighbours up. 

Thanks to DuBellows for rounding up the live acts with their calm, beatiful indie beats.

Without you all it would just be a house party entertained with my awful spotify list and bad DJ-ing skills, not a festival.

As I spent most of the night fairly intoxicated...I shall leave you with an array of photos of the night, to get a real feel of how the Machofest went.

Our youngest Machofest-goer, got caught with a bottle of Rum

Mark's two 'bosses' Mum and Vanessa

Family Oscars-Style Shots Selfie

PHOTO BOMB from Mr Rootsy

My Dad's proudest moment of me - SHOT GIRL!

Mum and Ben (Phats and Small) audition for a dental advert

Lots of Glamour

Even more Glamour here...

And then it was a little downhill from here....

Before Kraken....

'We've drunk so much Kraken, we can't feel our face'

Curly Girls

The Morning After