Seems Legit

By Mike Ashworth | November 2, 2011

From FedEx Global info@mail.rid.go.th

Dear Customer,

Your package which contains an ATM CARD worthy $900,000.00 (Nine Hundred thousand United States Dollars) and some documents has been returned to the FedEx office.

The reason of the return is - Incorrect delivery address of the package and the insurance of the parcel expired 30th of OCT. 2011.

You have to come to our FedEx head office in order to receive the packages.

Thank you for attention.
FedEx Global.

FedEx Courier Company. Registered in West Africa.

Phone : +234 703 304 2079

Topics: Arts and Entertainment | No Comments »

Movember: Sad News

By Mike Ashworth | November 1, 2011

Since writing the post yesterday about Movember, I’ve heard that Darren’s dad has passed away.

My thoughts are with his family.

Topics: Health | No Comments »

Movember

By Mike Ashworth | October 31, 2011

Project Moustache is underway. Today was my last day of having a fully shaven face for a month. Yep, that’s right, I’m growing a moustache! And it’s all for Movember.

Every November since 2004, the Movember movement has rallied moustache growers around the world to sprout facial hair and take to the web to fight cancer. The Movember movement was started in Melbourne, Australia, by a small group of guys determined to spark conversation and education of cancers that affect men.

News and photos of their moustache-growing movement spread throughout the web, rapidly transforming the campaign into an annual effort involving over 1.1 million “Mo Bros” and “Mo Sistas” across the globe.

I shall be part of Team Achieve which is headed up by my friend Darren Checkley whose dad is currently dying of prostate cancer.

You can sponsor me/our team of mo’s here.

My moustache inspiration (I draw the line at prison tattoos though!)

Topics: Health | No Comments »

Ridiculous Tips For A Miserable Sex Life

By Mike Ashworth | October 29, 2011

This creation is a parady of many womens magazines, Cosmo, Marie Claire and what have you……

It’s no wonder so many are confused about sex when some of the “advice” is just plain ridiculous.

Check out this link for a more detailed analysis of the articles in various magazines that masquerade as “advice”.

Topics: Arts and Entertainment, Society | No Comments »

The Karma Kitchen

By Mike Ashworth | October 28, 2011

Imagine a restaurant where you don’t pay for your meal, but instead pay for the meal of the people following you.

You may feel that this “pay it forward” generosity might not last very long, however that isn’t the case.

In a handful of cities of around the United States, the chain of generosity at the Karma Kitchen has gone on for close to 25,000 people, and is still going strong.

This video provides a thoughtful and hopeful portrait of how the gift economy can work.

Topics: Society | No Comments »

Michelle Is Fighting Back

By Mike Ashworth | October 20, 2011

Yesterday I wrote about Dewey Bozella, an American guy who was imprisoned for 26 years for a crime he did not commit, but he never gave up and serves as an inspiration to many.

Today I’m focussing on someone much closer to home.

At the age of 14 Michelle was raped at knifepoint. However, she was determined to not be seen as a “victim”, instead she has grabbed life by the scruff of the neck and said “come on, i’ve got things to do”.

I’ve met and trained with Michelle on a number of occassions and until I’d heard about the forthcoming film, I had absolutely no idea of what had happened to her at such a young age.

I feel that many of us, perhaps myself included, stereotype people who’ve had such events happen to them. Perhaps influenced by how much of the media portrays them, helpless, timid, lacking in confidence and self esteem, men haters etc.

I can tell you now that Michelle is taking any and all of these preconceptions that people may have of “victims” of rape and turning them on their head.

She is not prepared to let that event be the defining moment of her life.

Here is a video of Michelle talking about her life at one of Geoff Thompson’s Masterclasses in Coventry.

I’ve written about Geoff previously, (here and here), an amazing guy, who has also turned his life around. Abused when he was young, bullied, menial job in a factory, to becoming a BAFTA award winning writer, teacher and world renowned martial artist.

Film based on her life

“Counting Backwards” is a short film based on Michelle’s story. It is heartbreaking, beautiful and ultimately triumphant.

It describes how a young girl, her family and best friend struggle to deal with an awful and tragic event and follows the inevitable echoes that continue to ripple through the next generation.

This is a film about bravery, love and friendship between friends and family.

Geoff Thompson has created a powerful, shocking and deeply moving script which is being directed by Sean de Sparango, mutli award winning director including a Cannes Lion for his Anti-gun crime campaign.

Lucy Speed (Natalie Price in Eastenders, The Bill) plays Michelle in later life.

This is actress Kathryn Prescott (Emily Fitch in Skins) she plays the part of Kelly (Michelle’s daughter) in the film.

Here is a photo of Michelle with Kathryn Prescott

Interviews with michelle

You can read a couple of recent interviews with Michelle here and here.

Her Motivational Talk

Michelle will be taking about her life and experiences on the 11th November at the hilton Hotel in Coventry. You can find out more details about this event here.

Contact info

Michelle’s Facebook Page
Michelle on Twitter
Michelle’s Website
Geoff Thompson’s Website

Topics: Society | 1 Comment »

Never Give Up

By Mike Ashworth | October 19, 2011

Matthew McConaughey tells the story of this year’s Arthur Ashe Award for courage winner, Dewey Bozella.

Dewey Bozella was locked up for 26 years, for a crime he did not commit. This is a story about the triumph of human spirit and living proof of the saying “never give up”.

This is one man’s journey to reclaim his life, against all odds; a man fighting his biggest fight outside the boxing ring without any hatred or bitterness towards the system.

Dewey Bozella - courageous, persistent, human and finally…free.

What I love most about this story isn’t the fact he’s free, it’s the journey he undertook.

Whilst inside prison he came face-to-face with the guy who murdered his brother, and forgave him. He knew that it wasn’t his place to judge, although others had judged him. His time was precious and he made a conscious choice about how that time would be spent whilst inside.

He spent his days in the gym training his body, and his nights in the classroom, training his mind, earning batchelors and masters degree’s.

He made a difficult choice. Continuing to protest his innocence cost him any chance of parole. He vowed that he would never walk out of the prison without being a truly free man.

Eventually after much campaigning it was determined that he’d been locked up for something he did not do and he was released from prison, a free man, with his name cleared.

Since his release he also made a a choice to live for the “now”, not looking back with anger, bitterness or hatred, as so many do. He knows, he understands, that this would be wasting the precious time that he has left as a free man.

He has since gone on to win his first professional boxing match at the age of 52. Read story here.

I know you hear this statement all the time, but there’s a film in this story, and I hope it is treated with care and reflects this guy’s most amazing life.

Topics: Society | No Comments »