...In Abu Dhabi, click on the link http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1Q49dcbfcbf158a907.cde Then go to page 4 of the magazine..

...then click on the bit 'video highlights' and watch the short video

Let me knw what you think?

Izzie x

Christmas and New Year went so fast this year...been doing some radio shows on County Sound Radio which has been fun, I'm enjoying doing radio again, there's something quite liberating about writing a show producing it and driving the desk all by yourself, I've got some more show's coming up at the end of the month. Been doing lots of personal training this month as you'd probably guess with people's January good intentions for getting fit.

I have jumped on board with this new company who do fitness downloads for your i-pod, it’s like having your own personal trainer telling you what to do in a work out in the gym or outside when running. It’s for all different levels whether you are a beginner or advanced there is something for everyone. I am one of the personal trainers for the company and have written a few of the shows, I think it’s a fantastic idea and the company will go far, make sure you check out the web-site  

 

 

Just got back from doing the final of the Redbull air races in Perth WA, was beautiful weather and a very close competition which made for some exciting racin, click on the link to find out what happened...

I've also got a new web-site which I'd love to know what you think, email me when you've had a look

http://www.izzieknolles.net/

Finally thanks for all your emails and comments i'm sorry I haven't accepted all the friend requests but it seems to always say its not working when I try it, perhaps they will have it up and running again soon. Off to Antigua to review a Spa next week, looking forward to some sun ;)

Last night I presented for Sky Sports at the first ever Free Running championships, at the Round House in Cambden in London. There were 2000 spectators and even though tickets sold out people were queuing around the block for it. The atmosphere was electric and the level of talent from the athletes was just sensational. There were 23 competitiors from 17 different countries world wide. My co presenter was Andy Goldstein, with comentator Dave Croft who does Formular 1, will let you know when it goes to air. In the mean time check out my latest  podcast from the Redbull airraces, this was me in Budapest two weeks ago..click on the link and enjoy

I went to my cousins wedding at the weekend, it was so amazing, it means so much more when it is someone you love getting married and seeing them so happy made me feel so happy! After a 12 hour day of drinking I had a rather sore head on Saturday but I had to go to work. BT are sponsoring the Isle of White Festival this year and they were looking for a new unsigned band to follow in the foot steps of rock legends with a coveted spot on the main stage. They took thousands of entrants online and whittled it down to 10. An expert panel of judges including James from Star Sailor, and some top record label dudes judged the competition at the top of the BT tower on Sat afternoon and I was presenting the event. It’s amazing what adrenalin can do, I managed to do a good job under pressure and ended up talking to the owner of the Isle of white festival about presenting at the event too.Bonus! Doing my personal training course over the next two weeks, i'm really excited.

As you can see from the pictures I have just got back from the San Diego Redbull Air Races. I am a real country bumpkin but I did love San Diego as a city, great weather, very fit healthy, Americans (I know a contradiction in terms, but seriously beautiful people out here!). They have a wonderful 'can do' attitude  that is contagious but unfortunately due to their insistent sycophantic dribble I could never live here, id miss the British  stoicism far too much but will visit again if not for the shopping when the pound is so strong against the dollar! Id love you to have a listen to my show that i recorded whilst out there...click on this and be prepared to be wowed!! :)

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/audio/2008/may/05/red.bull.air.race

 

I’ve just had the most amazing holiday abroad for minimal money too, in my opinion, to one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, especially if  beaches flick your switch as much as they do for me,. Recently cheapflights.com was having a sale so on a whim my boyfriend and I booked return flights to Faor Portugal for a week. We had no accommodation, just organized car rental. For me this is the best way to travel, just you and the open road, pleasing yourselves as to where your head will rest for the night and what adventures you will encounter. So day one we cruised from Faro (the airport in the Algarve) straight into the mountains to a restaurant called Paradise of the mountains (see pictures for Portuguese translation).  I forgot to mention, from the age of one up to the age of 15 we did family holidays to Portugal once a year, sometimes twice and this restaurant was one that we visited religiously and if you look at the views in the picture you’ll see why. The afternoon was spent on a beach just outside of Lagos. On day two we visited Harvey’s and my ‘best beach’ from the myriad we visited over the holiday; Beliche. Its just past Sargres on the way to Cabo de Vicente (the most south westerly point of Europe…another amazing view). You have to climb down a load of steps to get there, the water is freezing and it’s not that big, but by god is it beautiful. We walked round the first bay and had the second bay to ourselves. We ventured into the sea, be careful of the rips and 30ft wave! That night we drove to a picturesque fishing village of Salema where we spent the next two nights in some random old Portuguese  mans geet style shed. Beaches we visited from there on in that are vast deserted and beautiful are BORDEIRA and ARRIFANA, literally, with exception to a few surfers in the water and the odd nudist walking on by we were alone in 28degree Celsius sun, why more people don’t holiday in Portugal at this time I don’t know but I’m glad they don’t! They beaches vary from the small sheltered coves to broad endless stretches of sea washed sand. Equally the sea bed near to the beach can vary from a comfortable shallow shelve to a more sudden drop! In general, the rule is that as you travel from east to west along the coast, the beaches become more subject to seasonal currents. We drove up the west coast, and then inland along wonderful winding roads escalating up and down various mountain faces until we reached the secluded village of Monchique. If you get a chance visit the lake at Santa Clara, its stunning but the village is a bit like something out of ’The Hills have Eyes’!. The last two days we cruised over to Spain to stay with my cousin Abbie who lives in a little village called Conil. Surfing was fun and food was awesome ( Portuguese menu is pretty much the same wherever you go….grilled meat and fish) so was nice to have a change!

Abu Dhabi

 

The thing I love about travelling the world is that we are all so different and until you really experience another country you can’t begin to understand this. I think education is important but I think the kind of education you get from travelling is invaluable and no book or tutor can teach you life lessons…

As you can see from the pictures I have just got back from Abu Dhabi where I was covering the opening to the season of the Redbull air races 2008. If you click on this link you can hear my program, I would love to know what you think?

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/audio/2008/apr/14/red.bull.air.race

 

I am so much more confidant around the horses now, we have built up a trust and mutual respect and I am not scared of them anymore, its amazing, I was terrified this time last month, just goes to show what time and practise can do.

 

I have had some more excellent rated articles on the lifestyle pages, please click and have a read, I love getting your feedback emails, thanks especially to Connor ‘Liverpool Fan’ for his detailed analysis, was great to read.

 

http://style.uk.msn.com/getfit/asktheexpert/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7910221

http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/mindbodysoul/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8045324

 

 

I am off to Portugal on another trip in a few days and then after that San Diego, which I am especially looking forward, as I have not been there, any tips or hints on where to go would be welcomed.

 

One other bit of news is that I have started a personal training course; I am doing all the theory from home and the practical at a gym in south London in June, hopefully by the end of June I will pass my exams and will be qualified to teach. I love fitness and feeling healthy and all I want to do is share that love with others, sounds cheesy but its true, if you look good you feel good hey…! Going to dash, more news soon J

I have landed a couple more presenting jobs too which I am dead chuffed about, especially as you couldn't get more opposite ends of the spectrum. One is for Setanta Sports, doing a live basketball show next Thursday and the other is a technology show for the BBC, I really do LOVE the variety of the jobs that I do. Will keep you posted of dates and times of when they are shown but in the mean time click on these links for my Life Style articles...

http://style.uk.msn.com/getfit/sportandexercise/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7728063

http://style.uk.msn.com/getfit/sportandexercise/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7478745

http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/treatmentroom/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7703064

 

Saw Rambo at the cinema and loved it, was a bit violent but great viewing, not too long either. I also saw There Will Be Blood which I enjoyed too, a very random ending but compelling all the same, I walked out quite shocked...see it and you'll know what I mean. Can't wait for the clocks to change at the end of this month, bring on the light evenings where I can cycle and run with my buddy's after work. Thanks again for all your emails, I love to read them so keep them coming...x

So I went to see Cloverfield at the cinema during the week and I have to say that once again I was disappointed...it was a Blair Witch cross Godzilla cross rubbishy american teeny whingy film. The first half hour was slowand annoying then there was ooooooa big monster, a few, very few jumpy moments and oooo the big monster again. Oh and they all died. just kidding.....or did they?? It was ok but there was way too much hype around it i was expectingmore. It was good in that it did'nt drag on, after the 35 minutes of adverts and trailers preceeding it, it only lasted 70 minutes which is knowing when to stop, take note Peter Jackson! Id love to hear what you thought of it?

If any of you are London based I am going to be in Leicester Square this Sunday presenting at the Premiere of Ben 10. I will be the compare, the loud one you can hear all round the square and I'll be interviewing  Lee Majors, Haley Ramm and Graham Phillips plus the director Alex Winter aka Bill from Bill and Ted, so if you are there give me a shout and a wave. There'll be loads of freebies and giveaways and a chanceto meet the stars, so if you're at a lose end get down there for 12 in the arvo. Hope to see ya there

First thing I have to mention is Heath Ledger, what a terrible shock and a shame and just a bl*ody waste of life, for some reason it really affected and saddened me. I don’t believe it was suicide as the press would have you believe, I just think it’s a tragic accident.

Last weekend I went to the cinema and saw Sweeny Todd, I was really looking forward to seeing Johnny Depp out of his pirates role. I have to say I was a little disappointed. It was good but not great. Maybe that’s my fault as my expectations were too high but I found it predictable and a little dull. I wish Johnny Depp would do a role that wasn’t quirky and odd. If you look at Edward scissor hands, sleepy hollow, pirates, he’s always going for the weirdo, why not try a romantic role or an action hero or a comedy role? Don’t get me wrong he is excellent at what he does and I am a huge fan I’d just like to see something different from him.

Right time for No Country for Old Men… I saw it this week at the cinema and oh my it was brilliant. It was one of those where yo are on the edge of your seat, stomach muscles clenched, wishing you could relax and breath for just a second. Anton Chigurh is EXCELLENT as a killing machine with no comprehension for what human life means. I had nightmares for two days after seeing it but have no regrets, I just have an overactive imagination!   

I watched What’s eating Gilbert grape on DVD on Sunday, Leonardo Di Caprio is amazing in this film a a backward young boy, very convincing. I’m off on another trip this weekend to Ireland to try out a new spa hotel that’s opened up, will post pictures when back. In the mean time check out my article on the lifestyle pages. Loving all your messages, keep them coming in…

Izzie x  

http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/mindbodysoul/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7261223

 

Thanks for checking out my new pictures and emailing me about them, I went to Marbella for some guaranteed sun and to check out an excellent spa at the Marbella Club Hotel. It was a lovely weekend with my boyfriend post Xmas and New Year andthe Spa was of an excellent standard. I have written up a review on the Lifestyle pages if anyone wants to take a look.

I have to say I am in shock that Atonement won best film at the Golden Globes ...I absolutely love my period dramas (been watching sense and sensibility religiously these past 3 weeks-excellent!) but when I saw Atonement in the cinema I was bitterly disappointed and with all the other brilliant releases from last year I can't believe it has won...what a shambles. Right rant over. Today I woke up and I am having problems moving any of my muscles! Yesterday I went for an induction/ introduction to kettle bells. I don't know if you have heard about them, they have been around for years but they are back in fashion now. I am writing an article up this week for the lifestyle pages on how kettle bells are good for women (not to bulk up and build muscle but to tone up and shed fat quicker then many other forms of training, they also give a good cardio training if you train with them correctly. I am being given some kettle bells and a DVD to test this theory, so i will keep you posted, I hope I don't end up like a body builder; it will look ridiculous on my 5 2" petite frame!! Will post the link to the article when it is up in the mean time take a look at this link for more info on them...http://www.londonkettlebells.com/

 

Firstly I would like to say Happy New year to all of you that sent me messages, so many to reply to so I thought the best way was to say it on here. Secondly I would like to thank all of you that have got in touch to say they're missing my movie shows; I am missing doing them too. In answer to the questions, I won't be starting back in January; I am taking a break from the movie side of things for a while, although as lots of you have kindly asked, I will still write up my recommendations for you. I am still part of the MSN team, currently doing some write ups on the lifestyle pages but as I said I'll still be commenting on here too (it’s a New Years resolution to blog more often!).

So back to the nitty gritty, if any of you haven't seen the Golden Compass yet I strongly recommend it, I read the book; Northern Lights, which I loved and was sure that the film would not do it justice but it pulled it off. Lyra is cast brilliantly and scarily is exactly as I imagined her. I am a little upset that they have left out some big chunks from the book but there was a lot to fit in and if they had tried to fit it all in it could have ended up being an epic like Lord of the Rings which for me was protracted beyond my concentration bandwidths! Another tip would be to NOT see Enchanted the latest Disney movie. It was so boring I really wanted to walk out of the cinema, something I have only done once in my life! The trailer looks hilarious but they are the best bits from the film and the rest really doesn’t entertain, lacks the usual Disney wit and double entendres with syrupy sickly sweet characters that leave you shifting nervously in your seat for wanting a place to vomit from them. Harsh? Maybe. Fair? Definitely.

After my adventures far and wide last year I had such a relaxing break over Xmas and New Year that I am now ready to bounce back and set off on more travels. I am off to Marbella, Spain tomorrow and the Bratislava, Slovakia in two weeks, will keep you posted with pics and accounts. In the mean time thanks again, for all your messages about the movie shows, keep then coming in and I'll do my best to reply.

I have say I had a rather odd weekend. I was supposed to be going over to Switzerland to see some friends to snow board and hang out and on Friday about 3 hours before my flight was due to take off I got a text message....yes a text message from BA saying my flight had been cancelled, apologies, with a number to ring. After being on hold for over an hour and a half, I was slightly irate as you can imagine so I went online to manage my booking only to be given two options, rebook or get a refund. I spoke to my friend Lou who I was going with and we both wanted to still go so I looked at the next available flight 7.15 am the next morning. Lou picked me up at 5am and we trundled to Gatwick (luckily not too far from my house) only to be told when we got there that the new flight had been cancelled too....outrageous!! I had steam coming out of my ears, not even a text message warning this time round...Bloody BA, customer service is shocking, and no personal service whatsoever! Right rant over, I did manage to have a lovely weekend at home despite BA ruining my holiday.

 

It was one of those weekends where you have nothing planned (as i was supposed to be in Switz) so you have nothing to do except vegg on the sofa and read the weekend papers, I don't get to do it very often and it was pure bliss!

 

I also managed to fit in a cinema trip and a DVD.

 

The cinema trip was to see American Gangster which was very good. Denzel Washington’s performance was nothing short of spectacular...Russell Crowe’s, very good. Denzel acted with such emotion, such conviction, such power that without him I don't think the movie would be that good. He deserves and Oscar for this performance and I recommend EVERYONE go see it purely for him!! I also saw The Painted Veil on DVD which was brilliant too. It was a slow build full of intense emotions where silence speaks volumes. A beautiful love story and very believable. My boyfriend fell asleep watching it but for all you ladies, a great chick flick with substance.  

 

So I have just got back from Australia, I know I know I have only just been to NZ, it came up at the last minute and I jumped at the chance. So whilst on the plane I had some more movie indulgent time and watched Live Free or Die Hard, The Simpson’s movie and Chaos.

So first off Die Hard: it’s a great action movie and if you just take it for what it is then you will love it. John MclClane back to his superhero status again, kickin everyone's ass in order to save the world and his daughter...you gotta love it! My fave quote from the movie that just sums it up is...

Matt Farrell: You just killed a helicopter with a car!
John McClane: I was out of bullets.

 

The Simpson’s movie was good too, not amazing but just like an extended version of a half hour TV show. As usual Homer messes up and tries (badly) to put things right in his usual endearing manor. If you are not already a fan of the  Simpson’s then wouldn’t bother with this one but if you are it is great for watching with a hangover when your brain can't cope with anything complicated...much like the man homer!

 

Chaos, now the action scenes were no where near as good as Live Free or Die Hard but I enjoyed it a lot and it had a good few twists and explosions in it. It helps that I fancy Ryan Philippe but it is also a credible movie...honest gov!!

I got this out on DVD on Sunday night and was thoroughly impressed. It’s based on the memoirs of Nelson Mandela's prison guard and tells the story about the relationship between James Gregory (the Guard) and nelson Mandela the book's accuracy was denied by Mandela's long-time friend, the late Anthony Sampson. Sampson accused James Gregory, who died of cancer in 2003, was of lying and violating Mandela's privacy in his work Mandela: the Authorised Biography. Sampson said that Gregory had rarely spoken to Mandela, but censored the letters sent to the prisoner and used this information to fabricate a close relationship with him. Sampson also claimed that other warders suspected Gregory of spying for the government, and that Mandela considered suing Gregory. That said, the film is exceptionally moving and has the viewer hooked the whole way through, Id definitely recommend this one for a lazy Sunday nights viewing.

Here’s one of Mandela’s famous quotes:

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

Right I have been a bit off the radar recently as I have been in NZ presenting the cocktail world cup which was oodles of fun I can tell you. On my way out to NZ and my way back I watched tonnes of films on the plane including

Surf's up- brilliant, I am a surfer but I don't think you necessarily need to be one to appreciate this movie, it’s very funny! I know I know there have been a tonne of penguin movies made in the last few years but this is definitely work a trip to blockbusters for a giggle.

Fantastic four: Rise of the silver surfer- Not so good, I mean it was perfectly watch able and I didn't turn it off half way through but it was nothing to write home about. It was the same old Scooby doo hero's save the planet, baddie turns good and we all live happily ever after in our harmonious planet-yawn! It got better with the more wine I drunk on the plane though so maybe after a night on the tiles you might want to stick it on.

Mr Brooks- now I watched this purely based on the fact that Brooks is my boyfriend’s surname, I'm just glad he's not like the character in the film. I thought this was a gripping film; Costner is believable and scary too. There wasn’t much of a storyline but the film doesn't drag on it is quite short ensuring that you are kept in suspense the whole way through...bit of a weird ending but I enjoyed it.

The Flying Scotsman - Now I loved this movie and I have to say there were tears on my part...yes I was drunk by this point but still it was a very moving documentary on Graeme Obree the cyclist. I am a cyclist myself so empathised with how full on his training must have been. Jonny lee Millar fits the role like a glove and gives a fantastic performance I say this is a must see if you are vaguely interested in cycling.

So that was my plane movies, since I have been back I have seen Atonement too. Now as you know I am a sucker for period dramas and I LOVE Keira Knightly and James Mac Avoy so surely I should have been onto a winner?! This was awful I thought, slow predictable and boring, I’m not sure that I didn't close my eyes for 10 minutes during it. Sorry folks but I’d steer clear of that one.

I really want to see Michael Clayton so that’s next on my list along with Stardust...I’ll let you know!! Bye for now

Izzie x

 

I haven't seen Tell No One yet, I am seeing it tonight at my local cinema, they are having French Thursdays throughout September, brilliant as I love French films. So I saw 1408 last week instead, it was soooooooooooooo jumpy. I haven't been that scared for a long time. The first hour of the film is excellent; however the last half hour kinda doesn't know how to end. It's good but it seems that it went off the rails a bit to me, losing its way just slightly. Still I highly recommend you go and see it and take with you a pillow to hide behind!!!

Spiderman 3 is coming out on DVD very soon and to celebrate the launch I went along to circus space in London to try my hand at spidey skills. They’d built a huge spider’s web out of climbing rope that I got to tangle myself up in climbing all around it which was awesome fun and great for toning the arms. I then had a goon the trapeze; it was great fun and gave me a massive appreciation for those in the circus that do such high tricks!! Finally I got to see what its like being 10ft tall walking around on some stilts...a lot easier to balance then I thought but I should imagine the consequences of falling would not be pretty, all in all a great day. You can do a degree in circus training these days and at circus space you can do fun days as for a party, hen or stag do, cool think I will definitely be going back to have a go on that trapeze, check out my pictures!

I decided to have a bit of a DVD session over the weekend and watched Number 23 with Jim Carrey and Alpha Dog.

Number 23 was surprisingly good, a little bit predictable in parts but as someone who is not a big fan of Jim Carrey I thought he did a sterling job. Its basically about a family guy who picks up a book from a second hand book shop, the book is called 'number 23'. Jim starts seeing uncanny resemblances between the charaters life in the book and his own....there are a few twists and turns and is a little spooky in places...a very freakish dog and lots of mathmatics. Over all a very pallatable watch.

So on to Alpha Dog...Justin Timberlake's debut movie offering based on a true story about (rich) kid gangs in America.....what a load of sh*te. Really, there was no story line, the charaters sucked, it was basically...party, drugs, teenage fumbling, party, drugs, teenage fumbling, party, drungs....you get the gist. Wouldn't see it again, wouldn't recommend it.

So this Thursday I am off to see something I have been wanting to see for a looooong time: Ne Le Dis A Personne - Tell No One