David Toney (Martial Artist)

08:18 pm by admin.

David Toney

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Ivan | 

David Toney is one of those guys who you see in the street and you really don’t give him a second glance. Average height and build, smartly dressed, clean cut just like a lot of guys out there.
Except he isn’t average. At the age of 16 he took up a martial art and that was just the beginning.
He progressed through his belts quickly and finally achieved his 1st Black Belt. Now David is the Chief Instructor for World Ju-Jitsu Federation Ireland (WJJFI). He has clubs all over Ireland and a team of dedicated Black Belts looking after them.
He is kept very busy with the day to day running of such a large organization but he still found time to publish a book.
JU-Jitsu
A Path For Beginners
So I decided to find out a bit more about what make him tick and why he is held in such high esteem by all his students.

Q. ” How long have you been doing Ju-Jitsu & what made you take up a Martial Art? “

A. ” I was 19 and hadn’t done much in the way of physical activity since I’d left school and wanted to find a way to keep fit. I wasn’t much into football or team sports and was looking for something that would give me something at the end of it. Four years of going to a gym would make me stronger but 4 years of a Martial Art would give me a Black Belt.

Q. “Why Ju-Jitsu? “

A. “I went to the wrong room!  I thought I was going to a Judo class but ended up in the Ju-Jitsu class next door. It was a crazy class and the coach was a complete nutter – an English guy called Roly Beattle. He threw me over his head in the first class and I thought my back was broken. For whatever reason, I couldn’t wait to go back the next week! “

Q. “How long did it take to reach your first Black belt and how did it feel? “

A. ” Four years. I transferred clubs and trained under several instructors. Through that time, the people I’d started with all fell by the wayside, but I just kept going. “

Q. ” When  and how did you become involved in the administration of the NI Ju-Jitsu Association? “

A. ” I started helping in classes 6 months into my training and running my own class after 18 months (something that is just not heard of nowadays!) I didn’t start doing the whole admin role until the year 2000. “

Q. ” When you actually started running the association did you think it would be as big as it is? “

A. ” When I started training there was about 200 people training and it was based mostly in Belfast. The big growth was when we introduced structured Coaching Programmes. This meant that everyone was treated well from day one in the organization and every instructor had a set of guidelines to work to. The organization mushroomed after that. “

Q. ” You have become well-known in the Martial Arts circles. Who would  you say has been your role model and why? “

A. ” I don’t really have one person who I could say was my role model and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out. I would say my big sister Linda and you in my early life. Most, but not all, of my coaches throughout the years and of course Prof Clark, the head of WJJF Worldwide. I read a lot and I would be inspired by a lot of leaders, both dead and alive. “

Q. ” Over the years can you think of any particular reason Ju-Jitsu has been so successful? “

A. ” We teach the basics well. The instructors work as a team and don’t let egos get in the way. Success is built one step at a time and it has taken us 25 years to get to this point. “

Q. ” What would you say are the benefits of learning a Martial Art & Ju-Jitsu in particular? “

A. ” For me it has been life-changing, but for most it is simply that you can train in a friendly environment and not only keep fit, but learn to defend yourself to a high standard. I don’t know of any other activity that gives you the confidence and fitness that training in a Martial Art does. Why Ju-Jitsu? I believe it has it all: kicks, punches, throws, locks and groundwork. “

Q. ” If Ju-Jitsu wasn’t your full-time vocation, what do you think you would be doing today? “

A. ” I don’t honestly know. I would like to be in the property game (although it’s probably not that great at the minute.) I like the thought of buying something and fixing it up. I enjoy the process of seeing something improve – much like I see my students improve in my classes. “

Q. “What do you do to relax? “

A. “My wife would say I don’t relax! I would walk my dogs, go for a meal with my wife and my step-daughter, or play some pool with my sons. “

Q. ” Finally David, what’s next? “

A. ” I have just finished the photo shoot for my second book and hope to have it out by Christmas. I am also working on some DVD’s. We have a number of new clubs opening and the day to day running of the organisation keeps me very busy. “

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Ryanair (The Caring Airline)

12:51 pm by admin.

 Ryanair The Caring Airline

Last week we had the good fortune to travel with Ryan-air to Bristol. What follows is an account of our experience with a bit about Belfast City Airport as well.
We arrived at the airport in plenty of time to check in so no prob so far. Then to my dismay I discovered that I had a Swiss army knife in my pocket.

I thought I had left it a home, obviously I hadn’t .  So we went to the Ryanair servis desk and asked them if they could keep it and I would collect it on my return, ” We don’t have the facility to do that” the polite lady said.
“OK” I thought I can understand that and on her suggestion I went to the lost property office who had the same answer but did suggest she could give me an envelope so I could post it to myself. Which I did as I thought it was a good idea.

While we were at the Ryan-air desk we showed the polite lady, and she was, we showed her our details which we had on a bit of paper as our printer was broken and she said “Just take it over to the check in it will be OK”.
Over to the check-in we trot,eager to get checked in and up for a cuppa before our flight. There was a young man in front of us who was having a bit of a problem with his baggage. He had brought two very small backpacks, which is contrary to the ‘one piece of hand luggage’ rule so they charged him £20 because of it.
He said he would pay CASH!!!!!!,how outdated. The nice trainee behind the desk told him sorry but they weren’t equipped to handle cash. “It’s all I have” he said, so the nice girl said OK but then charged him, I think it was 3% , making it MORE cash that they weren’t equipped to handle. Well I suppose ‘In for a penny’ lets face it the admin cost of taking cash must be horrendous.

At the same time there was another couple who had made a blunder by bring the wrong photo id and I dont’t know the whole story but they left the desk a cussin’ and a swearin’ ’cause it had just cost them £40.

Oh Oh it was our turn. WE approached the nice girl, who took one look at our details and told us we had to use the manual booking machine. “A machine” I thought, “Oh no”. So we stuck our details and to my surprise if was pretty trouble free. That was unil it came to the bit where it said we had to pay £80.
Linda was at the service desk before I could lift our bags of the floor. The polite lady said to go back the checkin desk it would be ok. We went back and it was ok as we had booked before May 21st. after which time you MUST check in on line or PAY more money.

Well, that was sorted ok so we joined the queue for security and spent the next twenty five mins going up and down the airport in a security snake, conga fashion, before being allowed through.
Coffee calling
No coffee, as the big flashy screen thingy said ‘Go straight to gate 7 for boarding right now Go! Go! no time to loose, hurry, run. We hurried and ran and got to the queue and stood in it for a further 25 mins ffs.

Eventually, we boarded and took our seats, quite comfy actually. The plane was delayed ’cause they had missed their slot but is was only for 10 mins so that was ok.
Up up and away, at last.
“Get me some water please” asked Linda
“Ok luv”
The nice flight attendants came along with the trolly, “One bottle of water and one of those small tubes of Pringles please” I asked “Certainly sir, here you are. That will be £5.20p please.”
 A bottle of Nestle` water, not special water, not water that will cure all ill’s just WATER, that was on sale in the airport for a quid and thats dear, cost £3

Spent a great week-end in Bristol with our family but we had to go home, so off to Bristol Airport.

Ok, so we go to the check-in.
You know whats coming don’t you.
Oh yea, nice girl at the check-in said “£40 please” , “No way I said” , so over to the service desk and the stern lady there said “If you don’t pay £40 you will not be alloed to board”
“But why? I said
“Because according to our records you elected to check in on line” said stern lady
“We didn’t” I said while biting my lip.
I asked to speak to someone else but all she did was call “The Help Line” , some help line all they did was help Ryanair to £40 of our money.

Apparently when we booked although we didn’t tick the box for on line booking, we didn’t tick the the airport box either so it defaults to the more money option. So when we turned up not having booked in on line we had to pay £40.

We paid then went to the desk with our little chitty to prove it. Two girls were in front of us and their case was 1kg overweight and the girl at the desk wanted £15 . So one of the girls took out a few pairs of sandals and a pair of hair thingys and the case was ok then, so no charge.
The same weight got on the plane it’s just that some of it was in her handbag.

We were next, but as we weree about the show the girl our chitty another guy came over a showed his chitty. Any way we got through and as we were walking by the service desk we nothice there 4/5 people waiting for their chittys. I wonder what they had done.

I think I will open a business printing chittys for Ryanair, could be a right little earner.

HAPPY FLYING

Posted in Belfast, Grumps | No Comments »

Recycle, where does it go?

12:22 pm by admin.

I have always wondered just what happens to our waste that we’re always told to recycle goes. So I decided the best person to ask is the one who is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the Recycling for Castlereagh District  Council. Sarah Turley.  Now I know and if you read this so will you.

Q.”Hi Sarah how are you keeping? “

A. “Fine thanks Ivan.”

Q.” Can you tell me what your position is with Castlereagh Council? “

A. “I am the Council’s Recycling & Environment Officer. “

Q . “Most people just chuck their waste into the appropriate bin blue, brown and black but can you tell me what they are for? “

A. “Householders in Castlereagh have a black, blue  & brown bin or a black, brown and kerbie box system for recycling depending on where they live.

The black bin is for general rubbish- materials that we cannot currently recycle, such as nappies and plastic packaging.

For recycling householders will have either a blue bin or kerbie box. These are for mixed-dry recyclables (MDR’s) such as paper, cardboard, food and drinks cans and plastic bottles.

The kerbie box system also accepts glass, aluminum foil, textiles and hand tools.

The brown bin is for ‘compostable’ materials such as garden waste, this includes, grass cuttings, twigs & branches, hedge cuttings, plants & shrubs.

Over the next few weeks the Council will be introducing food waste into the brown bin. This will include the collection of both cooked and uncooked food such as meat & bones, dairy, bread, fish, fruit & vegetables & tea & coffee grounds.

“ Q. “When the lorry comes to collect our wheelie bin what happens to the various colours, I mean how are they sorted out? “

A. ” The general rubbish the Council collects in the black bin is sent to landfill. Recyclables collected in the blue bin are transported to a sorting facility (Material Recovery Facility – MRF) at Bryson Recycling in Mallusk.  Here they undergo both manual and mechanical sorting before being baled for onward transportation to reprocessors.

The materials collected in the kerbie box are sorted at kerbside before being taken to Bryson Recycling at Mallusk, where they are baled for onward transportation to reprocesors.

The brown bin materials are collected in Council Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) and taken to a local composting facility. At present all garden waste is composted using windrows.

When food waste collections begin in December 2009 the brown bin waste will be composted by in-vessel composting. ”

Q. ” Is this handled by a private contractor or do the Council Handle it? “

A. “At present the Council collect the black, blue and brown bins from households.  Bryson Recycling is contracted by the Council to provide a kerbside collection service (kerbie box) to around 16,500 households.

Landfilled waste is taken to two private landfill sites – one at Mullaghglass, the other at Cottonmount.

Blue bin and kerbie box materials are taken to Bryson Recycling’s MRFat Mallusk.

Brown bin waste is taken to Natural World Products composting facility at Glenside, Belfast. ”

*Landfill, blue bin, brown bin and kerbie box contracts are awarded under contract.

Q “We all know that the garden waste goes for composting but what about the blue bin, it must be a hard job sorting out all the different materials? ”

A. “ With very specialised machinery the sorting process is much more efficient. Materials are sorted both by hand and machinery.

When blue bin materials are taken to the MRF, they are emptied into a warehouse. From here they are gradually fed on to a conveyor belt. The materials are then hand sorted and any contaminants contained in the load are removed such as plastic bags. Large pieces of cardboard are also removed at this stage.

The materials pass through various screens to separate 3 dimensional materials such as tins and plastic bottles from paper and card. The paper then passes through another hand sorting station where it is graded into high-grade news and pamphlets and lower grade mixed paper.

The aluminum cans and plastic bottles are separated using ‘an eddy current’; the current repels aluminium and attracts plastic bottles.

The end result of this sorting process is the collection of separate recycling materials: Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles & steel & aluminium cans. These are then passed through a bailer and stored ready for transportation to various recycling facilities.

The kerb side material is pre-sorted at site and therefore only needs to be placed on a conveyor and baled.

Q. ” I use the recycling centre a lot but where does all the stuff go after there? “

A. ” The Recycling centres at both Cregagh Road and Comber Road, Carryduff collect a large range of materials for recycling. These include:

Paper, cardboard, textiles, glass bottles, mobile phones, spectacles, batteries, aerosols, garden waste, paint, Waste Electronic Electric Equipment (WEEE), scrap metal, waxed coated cartons and the list goes on….

These items are sent on for recycling to various companies such as:

Aerosols are collected by ENVA- Northern Ireland, for metal recycling

Textiles are sent to the Salvation Army and Cookstown Textile recycling for textile recycling.

Glass and waxed coated cartons are collected by Glassdon Northern Ireland for recycling. “

Q ” What happens to the oil and batteries, they must be especially difficult? ”

A. ” Vegetable oils are collected by Agri- Energy and used to make bio-diesel.  Mineral oils are collected by ENVA and re-used. Both vehicle batteries and post consumer batteries are collected by ENVA, NI, where the plastics and metals are separated and recycled. “

Q ” Are there any plans to use any of the waste for power generation like come other cities in the UK mainland? ”

A. “Yes, the option of Energy from Waste (EfW) is included in the Council’s Waste Management Plan and also forms part of the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy. Please see http://www.arc21.org.uk/opencontent/?itemid=27&section=Residual+Waste+Project for more in-depth information on Energy from Waste. “

Q. ” What would you say to people who don’t think recycling is worth it? “

A ” Recycling is a ‘new’ behaviour for most people. It is sometimes difficult to encourage people to recycle but we are getting there. The recycling rate in Castlereagh Borough Council has been increasing steadily from 5% in 2002/3, to 38% in 2008/9 – with in-year quarterly highs of over 41%.

We try and work from the bottom up and teach children about recycling so ‘pester power’ can sometimes help to persuade parents to recycle.

But with regards to it being worth it, I would say absolutely.

Recycling not only diverts waste from landfill, reducing environmental damage caused by leachate and methane gas (produced by rotting waste), but also reduces the negative visual impact that landfills can have on the countryside.

It also provides jobs for the local market and produces revenue.

Recycling also saves energy for example: The energy saved in Recycling one can, produces enough energy to power your TV for 3 hours, it seems a waste to throw it into a landfill where it takes decades to degrade and is virtually useless.

Reduce, reuse, recycle is the message the Council tries to promote to schools and householders. Our waste is our responsibility.

We are moving away from landfill and therefore have to make use of our ‘waste’. We need to start thinking of our waste as a resource and therefore deal with it more effectively & efficiently.

Thank you Sarah, hopefully this will encourage more people to Recycle now that they can see it dosen’t just go to landfill.

Posted in Northern Ireland, Belfast, Environmental | No Comments »