Sunday 28th August 2011 to Saturday 3rd September 2011

Cycle2Works - 2/4

Saturday 3rd September 2011

Not much to report. Went to a group in Sale at the crack of dawn. Was there for 8:30 back early afternoon. Set up Halfords tent. We decided we no likey!

Friday 2nd September 2011

Ran up town and back. Was thinking about cycling to work again but massive cramp previous night made me think it time for a break! Details

Thursday 1st September 2011

Up early again. Bit of work, fetched papers, off to Belper, cycled in to work. Details.

Cycled back : details including car journey!!!

Wednesday 31st August 2011

Up early, did a bit of work. Got to Belper in the motor then cycled in rest of way. Have spent £80 on a parking permit that lets me park in any Blue Car Park in Amber Valley so am parking up halfway and cycling in the rest of the way. On the Boardman am only averaging a pitiful 12mph average but expect this will improve as get fitter again. Anyway spending the money on a permit means I've got to cycle in more to get me money back (sort of - by saving £2.30 on parking each time I need to cycle in three times a week for it to be cost-effective really!).

Details of inbound journey. Details of outbound journey from work.

Tuesday 30th august 2011

2.5 mile run to start the day off. Details

Monday 29th August 2011

Started off with a 3.5 mile run. Details . Golf at 12:30 over 16 holes. Details. Nothing else to report.

In Praise of Metro

I downloaded a free bit of software called Metro from http://nanika.net/Metro/

It sits on all sorts of platforms including Windows Mobile 6 which is what my phone runs on.

You tell it where you are for a given city and where you want to go and it works out the rest, start and endpoints can be underground stations or places of interest like Buckingham Palace. The cool thing is that it's an off-line app so no connection needed to run it. Was so impressed with I've made a donation on their homepage.

Sunday 28th August 2011

Woke up on London Hilton Metropole - am not sure whether it was a good deal or not really but it was what it was. A good location 100 yards from Edgware Road Underground so we were able to get anywhere we wanted in half an hour or so which was okay. After a big brekko we went up Knightsbridge as missus wanted to go to Harrod or "or Tenpound Stretcher" as I like to call it - as they can stretch anything to cost ten pounts including penny chews. Hey ho. Moneypit etc.etc. Then we went to Buck Pal and saw loads of emergency vehicle activity - ambulances and police cars but nowt mentioned in news so must have been a minor member of staff or something. After that we went on to Leicester Square and grabbed a bit to eat before heading to Oxford Street for more money haemorraging. Such is life. Late train back to Derby and we're home for midnight. Job done.

Sunday 21st August 2011 to Saturday 27th August 2011

Satruday 27th August 2011

Down to London at crack of dawn - first class on train from Derby - first class is a bit crap now all you get if a coffee and a bit of leg room for twenty quid or whatever it is. We then hit London and pottered about a bit getting brekko sorted. Then over to Leicester square got tickets for a show. Then over to Hotel and dumped backage - nice thing about big old Hiltons is they're all organised for that sort of thing do even though you can't check in you can dump stuff so you're not dragging it around all day. Then back to Leicester Square for potter around MandM world! Lunch, Jersey Boys show about Franki Valli and the Four Seasons (better than it sounds) and then back to Hotel evening meal and off to bed.

Friday 26th August 2011

May have done a bit of golf but don't think so - got stuff ready for trip to that London in the evening though.

Thursday 25th August 2011

Not much to report. Got up a bit late - chucking it down with rain. In work early for monthly XW meeting. More stuff. Did a bit of golf later one which went 6th - bogey, 7th - par, 8th - par, 13th - par (should have been a birdie), 14th - par, 15th - par, 16th - bogey, 17th - bogey, 3rd - bogey, 4th - bogey, 5th - bogey - so six over for ten holes which is okay - plenty of pars there. Details

Wednesday 24th August 2011

Got up early, got all me bike stuff ready, fetched papers, went to Belper. Rode into work on the Boardman. What was cool about this particular choice of tactic is that Severn Trent have decided to do something about the leak at Sawmills (couple of miles from Ambergate) traffic was backed up for miles so I just pottered along on the pavement - didn't barely see any traffic until got to the lights at the Excavator turn which was grand! Details Coming back twas a bit wet and had to do a couple of miles on pavement due to Severn Trent's exploits at Sawmills. Details

Tuesday 23rd August 2011

Ran up town and back for first time in what seems like ages. Average pace 10:33 which is a bit rubbish but considering the shape I'm in I'm not too bothered! Details After work took Phil to Uttoxeter to fetch his bike back. We left a gift for the legend that is Big Jim who has helped us no end in taking Phil's Ped to Stafford for us - Lord knows why we picked Stafford as being the place for peds but hey-ho! Anyway I followed Phil back for a while making sure he got over the iffy roundabouts in Uttoxeter then left him at Rocester as 40mph tops is a bit boring after a while. So was a bit hacked that he'd not got home forty minutes later. Boss kat sends me out to find out where he is - a wild stab in the dark led me to the farm where he'd stopped off as he saw the vets car, could have called us but he's not like that. When he got back he was quite chuffed that he'd done his first assisted caesarian (can't believe he's got my genes in him - you'd never catch me within five miles of an assisted caesarian!!!).

Monday 22nd August 2011

Walked up town and back first thing, then off to work.

Sunday 21st August 2011

Back in the office - getting rid of emails and doing some warehouse move-in stuff. Set up a few PCs etc. etc.

Sunday 13th August 2011 to Saturday 20th August 2011

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Saturday 20th August 2011

Came back to work to help out with Warehouse move - did some old school IT work, taking down PCs, carting about office furniture and stuff. All good fun.

Friday 19th August 2011

Not much to report, me and bosskat went up for a walk from Youlgreave(ish) up to the Lathkill Hotel at Over Haddon. It was beautiful if a bit of a slow walk! Details

Thursday 18th August 2011

Thursday 17th August 2011

Nowt to report!

Wednesday 17th August 2011

Took Phil to work. Went for a spin on the Boardman round Mappleton picking up papers and stuff on the way. Details. Bit of crap golf later on. Details Lucy went swimming with Hanna and Abby so I went up on me bike to watch em with me mum for a bit. Details

Tuesday 16th August 2011

Took Phil to work - his ped is making a racket. Have got to ring them back at 12:30 and ask for Jim to find out if they can pick it up. Took a load of tat to the recycling again.

Over to see me dad on his Birthday and then back home and a bit of golf practice. Details

Monday 15th August 2011

Missus gone to Bakewell Market, I'm at home with kids and the plumber doing his thing. Have had to move Humphrey the hamster as the angle grinding and miscellaneous drilling is making him shake!

Took a load of tat to the recycling and generally tidied the place up a bit outside. All good.

Went and did three miles of average golf. Steady enough in the main but had some gip on the 16th resulting in a triple bogey, think overall was thereabouts. Details

Sunday 14th August 2011

Plumber is coming Monday to put new downstairs loo and stuff in on Monday so spent day ripping tiles off wall. All done. Two ton of tile tat took to the recycling centre which was good.

Sunday 7th August 2011 to Saturday 13th August 2011

Saturday August 13th 2011

Drive back to sunny Ashbourne. Been a bit of a poor week all told. Such is life.

Friday August 12th 2011

Similiar sort of day to what we've been having all week - grey and miserable but at least the rain stopped. Did a bit of a walk to Llanfaethlu and back. Details. Bit of fishing later on.

Thursday 11th August 2011

Shot 89 round Holyhead Golf Course near Treaddur. Had been raining all day so didn't expect much and on first three holes we was wet but it dried up after that and was quate enjoyable at the end. Details

Tuesday 9th August 2011

Early start went to fish Hen Borth a location near Cemlyn, Anglesey. Here

Then went to Anglesey Show which was good fun sort of.

Monday 8th August 2011

am: Walk/run to Llanfathlu and back 4.2 miles, semi-hangover - as good as you could expect. Details

pm: Golf at Bull Bay golf course - £15 to tee off after 4pm. Shot 93 which included a ten on the second so all in all not bad and weather stayed dry enough. Details 6 miles plus which me dad didn't think it was but GPS never lies!!

Sunday 7th August 2011 to Saturday 20th August 2011

Have been away don't you know? Went to Wales and unfortunately it lived up to it's promise of being wet and windy so it did. Anyway did a lot of mooching, drinking and a bit of fishing - weedy and poor conditions made it a bit tricky to say the least also got a couple of rounds of golf with my uncle and father. Last year just played with my Uncle Mike and he beat me both times so there was a bit of unfinished business! Anyway, having difficulties uploading the stuff at the mo so in summary shot 93 round Bull Bay Golf Course beating all and sundry and then shot 89 at Holyhead again beating allcomers so good stuff! Did a couple of run/walks of 3 to 4 miles to Llanfaethlu and back on two days but generally weather wasn't becoming to such activities so did drinking instead!!

Sunday 31st July 2011 to Saturday 6th August 2011

Golf Analysis

I output the watch data from the golf last night and put it into a bit of software called GPS MapEdit (or something like that). The figures are a bit skewed by the fact that I hit five good drives off the fifth hole as the light was going but overall average was 231 yards with all of them going at least 200 yards which I'm happy with.

Friday 5th August 2011

Got up a bit late - 6:10am - last day at work for a bit so thought had better be in nice and early. Arrived at 8:12 to be sent to the gravel pit to park! "The gravel pit? at 8:12?" I said, don't you know who I am? anyway parked in the gravel pit. Before that though I had a bit of a spin on the bike which was okay. Details.

Thursday 4th August 2011

Was going to Cycle2Work however weather and a lack of mudguards on either of me good bikes dictated that it wasn't to be. So went a quick run up town and back in rain to get papers. Just sneaking under 10 minute miles still so not end of world even though I need to get my arse into gear weight wise. Details.

Went up the golf course to test out the driver with the callaway shaft cut down a wee bit - it worked a treat although didn't feel as solid as with the short shaft it did go nicely - cut the corner on the 18th, went over the bunker on the corner of the 1st, hit it as far down the fifth as I ever have, hit it past the little rise on the fourth - I hit six shots off the fifth to finish with five of which were within twenty yards of each other so I might just measure them see how far they went!

Details.

Wednesday 3rd August 2011

Just a spin up town to fetch papers on new bike. Details. Did a bit of work on the new driver project - it's now fitted to a Callaway System 50 firm shaft - if anything seems too bloomin long now! Did quite a bit this evening - went up to Halfords to fetch the leccy bike which has been in for repair. Still hate it. Never mind. Weeded and watered garden. Went up golf course at about 8:45 to try driver out - shaft broke on second hit - not good. So came back, cut the tip off and tried again. Will probably test out on Thursday.

Tuesday 2nd August 2011

Got up fairly early ran up town and back in a bit of a loop for 3.5 miles at just over 10 minute miles. Which I'm okay with. Details Burn leg held up well although a little bit stingy as I write this a couple of hours later...

Monday 1st August 2011

First week of August. Still got the dodgy burn and it's still weeping - got a follow-up appointment tonight. Road up town and back to fetch papers. Details Got to appointment about five minutes late but apparently there's 10 mins either side leeway when I rang to say I was running late.

Sunday 31st July 2011

Up right early. Off to pick me dad up. Then to Derby, catch train to Nottingham, walk to Trent Bridge for Test Match. After two days where both sides been bowled out in under 270 runs, England were to sit there all day losing five wickets but getting the score up to 441-6 at close of play. Was a top day out apart from seats being more than a bit uncomfortable - sun was shining, couldn't have beer due to driving but sneaked a pint at lunchtime which was probably a good thing looking at all the drunk toss pots there were round us. anyway a good day was had by all, back home for 7:30.

Sunday 24th July 2011 to Saturday 30th July 2011

Saturday 30th July 2011

Woke up dead early don't know why. Spangler Phil had gone to work at the crack of dawn bless him. Went and watered everything including neighbours hanging baskets as he's on holiday. Went out on bike to fetch papers which was okay as well. Details . Golf at 12:05 - set off brilliantly, par, birdie, then double bogey, double bogey, then par, then bogey then birdie, then another birdie, then a double bogie on the ninth for 22 points going out - all went a bit crap on the back nine with only 15 points and only two pars. Wierd game never mind. Details. Off to Trent Bridge for the test match tomorrow which should be fun. England have pulled back after Broad's hat trick, awesome stuff.

Friday 29th July 2011

Up fairly early, good. Phil off to work at 4:45 bless him. Didn't go and follow him to make sure he arrived this time. Good. Anyway, used the Boardman for it's intended purpose Cycle2Work and it performed admirably (if rather slower than the Giant). It's certainly comfier and lower geared than the Giant which is handier for hills and the bumps of sh*tty Derbyshire roads. Averaged 12mph overall, way slower! Details. Rode back from work 12.3mph average. Details

Thursday 28th July 2011

Could barely walk when got out of bed this morning. Have a follow-up appointment at the doctor's which will hopefully help. Went on a bit of a hill climb with the new Boardman, only four miles but by crikey it was tiring - was expecting to find a farm that sells haylage for my cousin but the directions given by Phil - turn right past Darley Moor were not as useful as they ought to have been. Details. Then I thought, if the leg can take that that it can take a bit of a golf walk so I went up the golf course as well. Hit it quite well - have made a driver out of an old Cleveland HiBore XL head and a really, really old Howson shaft (from way back when) - it's a little bit shorter than it should be but I've order a £3.50 extension rather than spend £30 on a new shaft (they seem to have got really expensive than they used to be). Details

Wednesday 27th July 2011 : Evening Updates

Reasons to be cheerful have two wheels generally...

Wednesday 28th July 2011

Forgot to mention that on Monday night I got branded by son's moped. So got an appointment with Nurse to have the burn looked at last night. Think it's infected so haven't been out running this morning. Been to Maccy D's though for breakfast that was belter! Such is life.

Tuesday 26th July 2011

Watched Phil set off for work at 4:45 on his lil moped. Asked him to text when he got there but he didn't so went out on bike to check he'd arrived. Never mind 7 miles on the bike to start off with. Details. When got back got changed and did three mile run at 9:55 pace. Details

Monday 25th July 2011

Tired but had to get up early so I did! Anyway got some work done early doors then ran the old five miler. Details. Got back from work; Phil has passed his CBT so can now ride his moped with impunity as long as rides it properly. Went out on bike to pay for some petrol for him. Details

Sunday 24th July 2011

Not much to report. Up at 4am to take Phil to work. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to as the young un is having his moped competency test thing tomorrow so next week he'll be able to take himself all being well!!! Donington Market at 10:30am - not overly impressed - got some bits and bobs but would normally pick up some magazine cheap but they didn't have nowt I wanted. Got some black spray paint for me driver project.

Sunday 17th July 2011 to Saturday 23rd July 2011

Saturday 23rd July 2011

Up at 4am to take Phil to work. Damn tired. Golf at 2:04 only did nine holes as that's what John fancied. Tried the driver out and it went really well - however compared the shaft to my usual driver and found it to be 2" short! Such is life. Am going to pull the shaft that's in it now and replace with a good one - it goes really well but could do with a full length shaft I reckon. Am also going to respray it. Am debating spraying it black white to make it look like one of them R11s you see the pros using in the open. Details.

Friday 22nd July 2011

Knackered from badmo last night - more tiring than you'd think so it is. So nothing on the cards at all. Have fitted an old driver shaft to the Cleveland driver project. We'll see how it works out.

Thursday 21st July 2011

Knackered but gotta keep goin. Got up about 6:10, got run up town and back. Details. Had brekko, went up to Royal Mail sorting office to pick up a driver head which cost me all of £8.49 and will be transformed into an awesome Cleveland Custom HiBore XL driver. Will be last Badminton of the current term tonight so daren't miss another then am going to get working on the driver project!

Wednesday 20th July 2011

Tired but gotta keep doin somethin. Got up at 6, got out for about 6:20 up town and back. Wierd thing was I saw someone (bloke I think) sat under a tree on the 6th at Ashbourne G.C. when I came back from town he was gone, very odd. Details Was in a meeting all day at work which was sort of interesting!! Then back home, up golf course about 8pm but as it was wednesday medal it was a bit of a pig to get on never mind it added up to getting on for another 3 miles! Details.

Tuesday 19th July 2011

My lad is sixteen today bless him. So up early to stick up pictures and balloons and stuff. Running a bit late but still ran up town and back. Details.

Monday 18th July 2011

Washed out again. Chucking it down when I got up unfortunately so drove up town and then walked from Leisure Centre. Fed up with this rubbish weather. Have got 3 groupon vouchers for Uttoxeter golf club to look forward to though so hopefully better weather is just around the corner. Bit of golf practice in the evening - wasn't bad all things considered! Details.

Sunday 17th July 2011

It's odd when someone totally controls a major but that's what Darren Clarke did today. It's unfair to say he had some lucky breaks, though he did. The reality of it can't be overlooked that he played supremely good golf and was the best in the field over four days. Even having the luxury of bogies at the last two holes should not take anything away from what was such a well deserved victory. Well done Dazza Clarke, you dazzled em today, fella!

Well up at 4am. Tinkered a bit more with Ashbourne Fly Fishing Club's website. Link Here.

Took Phil to work early doors. Fetched him back at 9:30. Fetched un healthy brekky from the Picnic Basket on Buxton Hill - highly recommended!!!

Lunchtime'ish thought it'd be good to wash cars while sun out. Didn't last long - see pic above!!!

So am watching Open from Sandwich - come on you Dazza Clarke!!

Sunday 10th July 2011 to Saturday 16th July 2011

Come on Clarkey!

Am hoping Darren Clarke's putter warms up tomorrow. He could be four shots or more better off if he'd been as good with the short stick as he was with his irons and woods. Still, if there's any justice Dazza will dazzle and hold onto his lead for another 18 holes. That would be a very welcome fairy tale ending!

Saturday 16th July 2010

Up at 4am. Took Phil to work. Listed a load of tat on Ebay. Our Andrew and Shona came. Lucy's Party. Loads of open golf. Went and did a bit of golf practice which was ace. Took driver out of the bad by accident and found out I was hitting the 3wood about the same distance anyway - how does that work??

Friday 15th July 2011

Was going to cycle in today but just mega tired when I got up and the missus has expectations so thought best to come in car. So did a tired walk/run thing. Details

Thursday 14th July 2011

Went to a nice group in Chelmsford last night. Stopped at a Premier Inn and then drove back up this morning. No exercise and am totally knackered now!! Never mind the golf's on the telly!

Wednesday 13th July 2011

Got up early doors, got stuff ready for driving down to Chelmsford this afternoon. Bit disappointed about this as it's my little girl's birthday but will make it up to her in due course! Did a v. tired walk/run this morning which is better than nowt! Details.

Tuesday 12th July 2011 continued.

Rode back to Belper from Work. Details. Got overtaken by a guy on a Boardman racer and a bunch of Cyclists although also overtook a commuter and a guy on a mountain bike still 4-2 defeat on overtaking terms! Had a bit of a walk with a 7-iron up the golf course that was okay.

Sad to hear of loss of BBC golf commentator Alex Hay at age of 77. He'll be greatly missed. He had an ace habit of giving players a great build-up only for them to go and cock it up. I remember him describing a south african player as being a genius at getting out of bunkers only for the player to leave it in the sand! Shame.

Tuesday 12th July 2011

Quick bit of a ride up town and back to get papers. Details. The drove to Belper, parked up and rode onto work for a total of about 13 miles so far today. Details.

Monday 11th July 2011

Bit of a run up town and back to start. Details. Into work in good time - going to cycle to work tomorrow. That's my plan. 7.5mile mini-bike ride to test FCR1 still in good shape. Put a bit of air in tyres and then off we went. Details. Then did some golf practice but forgot the watch as it was gettin a bit dark! Lucy gone to Duke's Barn bless her.

Sunday 10th July 2011

Start the day off with a proper hangover. Great Start. Helped the spangler major working on his many garden machinery items fitting a broken bonnet to a whopping sit-down mower that he later mowed the grass verges locally. Bit of golf practice later on.

Sunday 3rd July to Saturday 9th July 2011

Saturday 9th July 2011

Bit of a walk/run thing to start the day off. Golf at 12:50. Black tie do at the golf club afterwards which was interesting.

Friday 8th July 2011

Ten days to go on the 2011 cycle2work project. Walked up town and back as I legs are seriously tired from last night's badminton in which I was regularly whooped by the bleedin kids. Such is life. Bit of golf practice that was a bit rubbish.

Thursday 7th July 2011

Ran up town and back, three miles and steady.

Wednesday 6th July 2011

Ran up town and back for first time in a few days. Was okay if a bit slow. Dentists at 9am, hygenist at 9:40am, got to work for 11am. Got told off for it too. Such is life. Final performance tonight and then drums to pack away again.

Cycle2Work Time Again

Am liking the look of this boardman that'll mountain bike or commute. V Nice.

Tuesday 5th July 2011

Got to leave work early so came into work early to make an extra three quarters of an hour before I start.

Monday 4th July 2011

Walk up town and back as toes on left foot hurting. Details. Did the kids musical thing - hills are alive with the sound of music and a bit of drum racket. Did a few holes on the golf course which was better - started doing that thing where you pull your elbows together which improved things quite a bit. Still work to be done but am seeing an improvement - maybe the stress of Wentworth past is helping!

Sunday 3rd July 2011

Not much to report. Did a few holes of golf not bad at all. Got drums down to village hall for kids school musical thing. Got a change of handicap notice from golf club down to 17. Swines.

Sunday 26th June 2011 to Saturday 2nd July 2011

Saturday 2nd July 2011

Got up dead early. Watered the spud field. Went up town got Phil's provisional license application form and did that with him. Went played the medal at the golf club off the yellow tees and came back with a respectable 86 for a nett 68. Which was more than acceptable after the rubbish I did at Wentworth!!

Some Pics from Wentworth Wed 29th June 2011

First Tee

Every hole is treelined - See gps tracked image from Wednesdays' post.

!

Colleague Mike stalking the green like a tiger (without the spitting obviously - note car in background - three or four places where cars cross fairways).

How pretty is this course?

Very briefly (I'd imagine) I was holder of longest drive - only on account of being the only one to hit the fairway up to that point!!!

Mike takes a shot over the drink which he found on his first approach.

View from my hotel window!! Courtesy of Honda UK - finest car company in the world in my opinion!

Friday 1st July 2011

Absolutely cream crackered this morning. Walked/ran up town and back very slow but got back in time to water the spud field and what have you so all good there. Details

Thursday 30th June 2011

Tired - unloaded car, watered the spud field and then up town and back for a run and pick up the papers. Sub 10 minute miles was sort of impressive considering tiredness!! Details Badminton in the evening - somewhat rusty to start off with but played okay later. All good.

Wednesday 29th June 2011

20th Wedding Anniversary and I should be at home however, I'm at Wentworth on a freebie golf day in the most expensive (possibly) golf resort in the UK - £300 odd quid a round for the championship West Course, home of World Matchplay and the PGA events. So not in the best of books regarding that but such is life. Anyway it was a nice 8 mile plus walk with some poor golf thrown in. Managed to par the last with an audience playing an 8-iron over the water to about 6 feet from the hole. Details

Tuesday 28th June 2011

Am now officially panicing about golf has gone really bad. Have put two sets of clubs in car just in case! Might try both sets out at Wentworth. Anyway went up golf course at 5:30 and probably hit it just about as bad as I ever have. Such is life. Details. When got back I regripped the driver as the Karakal one seemed to be coming to pieces - think something to do with the solvent used to activate the adhesive but anyway it's replaced now.

Monday 27th June 2011

Bit of a run to start the week - very knackered. Details Went and did some more cak golf. Details

Sunday 26th June 2011

Walk up golf course, found a couple of balls had a few hits with the NVG2s. Was Ok need to decide what I'm going to be playing with at Wentworth on Wednesday. Details