MCLaren Duo in gud pace

F1 world champion Jenson Button again raised McLaren hopes ahead of the new season with a test-best performance at Jerez.

As team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished last week's four-day session at the southern Spain venue with the best time on the final day, so Button followed suit at the culmination of this week's programme.

Executing a series of short runs in the morning, the 30-year-old posted the quickest lap of the eight days of testing overall with a time of one minute and 18.871 seconds.

That proved to be just over four tenths of a second quicker than the previous best set by Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber on Friday, and 0.7secs ahead of Hamilton's hot lap from last week.

Button finished the day 0.243secs clear of Renault's Robert Kubica as the Pole concluded the running in the Jerez with the second-best lap over the two weeks.
Kamui Kobayashi and Vitantonio Liuzzi underlined the potential of the Sauber and Force India respectively as they finished third and fourth on the day, 0.317secs and 0.779secs adrift of Button.
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg was fifth, just over a second down, with team principal Ross Brawn happy so far with his team's progress.

"The past two weeks in Jerez have seen an intensive period of testing for the team," said Brawn.
"It is very pleasing to have ended the test programme with two days of very valuable dry running for Nico and Michael (Schumacher).
"Although the conditions haven't been ideal over the two tests, we have been able to make good progress on the set-up of the car and completed a number of our systems evaluations.

"We still have a great deal of work ahead of us in Barcelona next week, but overall we're looking in good shape for the start of the season."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, cheered on by a sizeable local crowd, was sixth in his Ferrari, followed by Jaime Alguersuari for Toro Rosso and then Webber, with Williams' Nico Hulkenberg ninth.

In the ongoing battle of the new teams, Virgin Racing again had the edge on Lotus Racing in terms of lap time, with Timo Glock a second quicker than Jarno Trulli on his maiden outing in the latter car.

But in terms of reliability, Lotus are comprehensively winning that fight as veteran Trulli managed a test-high for all the drivers with 141 laps.
In contrast, Glock was restricted to just 28 as a hydraulic issue that has dogged the team all week again compromised their running.

The teams conclude testing with a four-day run in Barcelona from Thursday through to Sunday of next week ahead of the opening grand prix in Bahrain on March 14.

Be a good friend of yourself

First thing which everyone must know is to be a good friend of ourself.Most people desire good company. They desire friends, people in whom they can trust and share commonalities with. Many of us are blessed to have great support networks as well as good friends, a blessing indeed. But, many of us have had our share of good and bad apples that fell from the tree. We've spent months, years and maybe seasons sharing our lives with people. The most important thing I learned through all of my experiences is that, everything happens for a reason.

People come into your lives for many reasons. Some to help you, others to learn from you, some to hold you back and others to push you forward. One must recognize that not all friends serve the same purpose. Some are just there to go to events with, some are there to study with, others are there to pray with and really talk about serious issues with, some are there to gossip, or go shopping with and some are there to build futures with. This is life, we cannot expect everyone to meet us at all the points of our needs.

One important thing I also learned is to be good friends with yourselves. Be the type of friend you dreamed to have. The type of friend that has all the qualities to make it with you to the mountaintops. We as women should not expect others to treat us in ways we cannot treat ourselves and those around us. For me conversing is great, always keeping in contact is a plus and being good to people tops the list. But, I am always selective and aware of those that I keep around me. I welcome all, but some get further than others for different reasons. I have a great support network and have been blessed to experience the good and bad of friendships.

In the end, one must be their own best friend and depend on God to supply you with your own support network and friends. And learn to appreciate those who open their lives and hearts out to you. Remember, while being a good friend to yourself, do not push people away. Remain open and willing to create, mend and build new relationships.

Good Morning

Let me love you for a while says the flower
And brighten up my smile with yours
Today the hen called you, still you sleepy dear
Or are the dreams shutting your eye lid doors?

Let me then wish you awhile says the bird
And assume you are unaware of my wait
You had promised me a kiss as my reward
Or someone's kiss in your dreams makes you late?

Let me cover you from the sun says the tree
Just enough to shade you, not feel its still night
Now even my leaves ape your hair, so curly
And tease a thousand ways to move you upright

The flowers, birds and trees are far and I'm near
And true, you sleep pretty wearing that smile
I can keep watching you like this dear,
But can you give a morning hug for a while?