BP Better, not well in night

19:30 11 Miles on bike in Rain
In total have done 11 miles on bike today. Did 3 miles very slowly with daughter Lucy in the afternoon average 5.9mph! and then did a sausage run as I call them to pick up Morrison's low-fat smart-choice sausages as they shop there and we don't. The sausage run by comparison had an average of 13.7mph over 8 miles which isn't bad but it was a little quicker than normal partly because it bucketing down with rain on the way back!! Still it was pretty quick for me over 8 miles.

15:15 Halved at Golf
We played John Bromage and Andy Pearson today. We were getting soundly thrashed to start with but managed to drag it back to all square on the fifteenth after they made a bit of cock-up with the maths. I won the 16th so we went 1-up with two to play. I played the 17 perfect for two shots but put third into bunker and we ended up losing it. John put his tee shot on the 18th into the water so had to play it well. So really belted a driver over the pond on the corner then hit a real solid 7-iron about fifteen feet past hole to put a bit of pressure on Andy (. Andy put his about twenty feet past so putted first. He left his about 2.5 feet wide of the hole. Mine was about 6" and was conceded so rather magnaminously we conceded his and settled for a half. It was as much as we deserved really, John was pretty rough with either man-flu or real flu definitely not himself. Anway we got a half and didn't lost so that's alright. Craight Murphy and his partner lined up for next week at same time.

8:35 Loading up the Golf Bag
Off to play golf in about fifteen minutes time. This is what I put into the bag now for refreshment. 2 stimulant drinks which are of the diet variety so no probs there, two bananas and three apples. Note: No chocolate as there would have been at one time! Had two slices of granary toast for breakfast for a change as only have two Optifit yogurts left!




07:15
Went to bed early to catch up on some zzzs, ended up having raging stomach pains and sickness. I think this is down to consumption of peanuts as had the same thing on boxing day (albeit drank a load of alcohol too on that day, as Liverpool had stolen points off Derby through poor refereeing). Anyway, am going to avoid peanuts going forward - only had them as we've got loads of stuff hanging around from Christmas and I hate seeing things go to waste.

B.P 140/83, pulse 61, a little bit better, still work to be done.

Have got golf at 9.15 so am going to get ready for that and try and enjoy it this week!

End of Christmas

20:10 Times Health Club

I always enjoy the Saturday Times and since started getting a bit healthier have been reading the 'Body and Soul' supplement. Well, Times are launching a get healthy online thing so I've signed up to see what it does (as you do!). No Slimming World group in there so I had to set one of those up as well. Not to worry it looks sort of interesting although I must admit it has similarities to the Nicquitin Stop Smoking website thing I did back last July which I didn't stick with very long - although have not touched cigarettes for over six months so it might be viewed as being very successful!!! http://www.timeshealth.co.uk/42_37_0.html


14:00 Is the answer in a book somewhere?
Have just been looking at http://www.whsmiths.co.uk/ as I've been given some vouchers to spend there for my birthday. Am amazed at the sheer quantity of books on how to lose weight - there's dozens and dozens. However, can't help mentioning that since I've been on Food Optimising and the exercise trip and lost four stone I don't think I've finished more than two books (that's two books in 11 months) and can't even name those so it might be less or even none at all. The answer is to seek help from them that knows - http://www.slimming-world.com/
and as one of those books says "get off your a**e and lose weight" which I'm taking to mean "get into exercise" - in my view it helps!

13:40 Support for the NHS, Royal Mail and UK in General...
Mentioned yesterday that I'd had the retinopathy screening at St Oswalds Hospital, Ashbourne and that I'd now have to wait to hear from Derby City Hospital as to the results. Well, in these days of everyone slagging the NHS off I've received a letter back from the NHS that says my eye photographs are satisfactory and that I'll be invited back next year for another. Bloody quick that - pictures in laptop early Friday morning, looked at in Derby sometime Friday and then letter in post before end of day. Top marks to Royal Mail who've got that letter delivered in under a day. God we're good at stuff in this country!! Wonder why we're always moaning about stuff?




Garmin Training Center printout

9:30 Bike Goal Done

Did 7 miles on old Giant this morning to complete the bike stats. On the image above it looks like there's only 56.45 miles but that doesn't include the 14 miles on 02/01/08 when the pesky GPS decided it had no battery charge in it.


08:00 End of Christmas

Cripes, it's flown by this year but have been notified that I'm taking the outside lights down today so that's the end of that for another year. Got up really late this morning at 8am. Blood pressure is 130/88/59 still higher than I'd like it.

The inside of your eye!

10:00pm Bike Squad
Been watching something on ITV tonight with Mark Addy in it called Bike Squad. Sort of all the bad coppers in the station get dumped into a new initiative doomed to failure whereby they're policing the streets on bikes. Funny thing about it is that I can see meself in the Mark Addy character at least somewhere over the last 11 months i.e. overweight, can't get up hills etc. etc! Anyway they got these ace Specialized front-suspension bikes and helmet mounted cameras the jammy beggars have, I wonder if it's there for a bit of thought provocation - with congestion the way it is in cities maybe there's a place for the bobby on a bike again?



Maxine Peake (Shameless) and Mark Addy (Full Monty) in ITVs Bike Squad




Messing With New Camera!

The folks at Slimming World bought me an awesome Canon Ixus 75 camera for my fortieth, unfortunately the weather's not been fit to get a good picture since it arrived. But when it is it'll be brilliant it's got face recognition and all sorts of ace features. Watch this space there'll be cracking stuff at some point!!


Took this picture coming down hill from St Oswalds Hospital in Ashbourne. On a nice day it'd look good!


Me and John in the Ashbourne News Telegraph this week.

We got our picture in the local stunner while we were top of Winter Golf League but last week's defeat means it's now factually incorrect. Still there's always this week to get back on track again!!!

9:35 Back home - ran from up town in my new Asics Gel Running shoes which are the business let me tell you. Big breakfast and then am taking kids out somewhere!

8:15 Was at Hospital waiting, walked up in about 25 minutes or so. Had the retinopathy screening which doesn't take too long. Bit of an eye test so they can gauge how strong your eyes are, then in go the nasty stingy drops, then you wait another fifteen, twenty minutes for your pupils to dilate fully. Then you come back in, sit you chin on a rest and they take two pictures of each eye with you looking hard right for first one and hard left for second one. The resulting pictures are then downloaded onto a laptop in under a minute. Fantastic pictures but they wouldn't let me take a copy on a memory stick the meanies. Apparently, I can get em but I've got to ask in writing. I'd love em

6:45 Did 7 miles on old Giant - hadn't got a lot of time before had to go to Hospital for retinopathy screening thing.

6:10 Got up late as was working late on some notes from work. B.p a bit better 132/86 62 pulse.

Happy New Year! Not 40 anymore

Not 40 Anymore
Happy New Year to one and all. Am well pleased now that I'm not 40 anymore. Forty and a day is much better than being forty for sure. Am starting to get on with the goals from today, am not going to be touching the booze from here on in. Shudder to think how many units I've had over the Xmas period but it stops now. Good news is that now am past the 40 thing the blood pressure has come down 145/83 this morning which is much better. Almost back to normal.

Exercise might be a slight issue for a day or two as have managed to bash two of me toes on the door jamb last night fetching P.J.'s p.j.s from upstairs. Probably have to settle for a big walk or something. Hopefully me mum and dad will bring over me cycling kit that I left over at Darley on Sunday.

You know I mentioned getting the old band in the same room for the first time in a good old while. Well here's the proof. Have posted a picture from back in the days we were doing the businessas well for reference!! It's a funny old thing with bands - you always hear the stories about musicians falling out like Roger Waters and Pink Floyd, the Eagles and what have you yet with the bands I've been lucky to be involved with it's quite the opposite and they have ties that don't easily get broken. Top guys Amethyst, the Mighty Big Lix were and are always brilliant fun to be around, Bad Reputation just the same. Rock on eh!



Amethyst 2007 - l-r Steve,Ed,Mesen, Roj, Jon

Amethyst in 1983ish?? l-r Ed, Jon,Mesen, Steve, Roj.



Farewell Mr Howard
Sad to hear that Steve Howard is going to Leicester City. He's a great ambassador for Derby County and set a great example to others at the club. Shame that he'll probably be remembered for the missed penalty against Blackburn the other day. Anyway, hope he does okay for Leicester (not a big fan of the foxes) he certainly worked hard for us.

Review of 2007 Post

Review of 2007 Post
My 40th year on the planet has been one of the best in many ways. Technically I think I’m fittest, thinnest, strongest I’ve ever been which has to be good. Enough waffle though here’s my good and bad list:-

Positives

Weight
Addressed my weight problem a bit. Since 19th February lost in excess of 4 stones and then some. Discovered that didn’t have to be massively overweight and that I can manage weight if I choose to. It took a question from Slimming World m.d. Caryl Richards to turn me round but if she hadn’t been as ace as she is I’d almost certainly be in excess of 19 stone coming up to 40 rather than under fifteen which I am at the minute. There’s still work to be done to be sure, but at least I now know it’s possible. Thank you muchly Slimming World and especially to all the folks in the group – they know who they are and they’re all bloody brilliant.

Tell you what I really like most about weight loss though –the extremes of comments from the “Didn’t recognise you”s to one on bonfire night up Ashbourne from one of Janette’s mates that was “F**kin ell, I know you said he’d lost weight”. Not dazzling repartee admittedly but the way she said it you know it was meant and it’s the kind of re-affirming stuff which I do need because I still look in the mirror and know there’s plenty of distance to go yet….

Exercise
Discovered exercise in a big way – never would have dreamed of running 10 miles back in February. Now it’s no big deal. Even enjoy gym to an extent. What more can you say. Still find it hard to get going some days. Don’t know why that is. Once am on road it’s no problem and I really enjoy it but getting going can be a problem?

Cycling
Discovered cycling big style this year! Since April have done over 3351 miles on various bikes and there’s some mileage not even accounted for on hols in Spain. Have a top road bike on order which if it ever arrives will account for more miles still next year!

Mallorca
Had best time in Mallorca. Was lucky to borrow a pair of bikes from Margaret while in Spain and it was just the most fun have had there. Saw beautiful scenery at my own pace – Calvia, Santa Ponsa, Illetes, all over the shop and even though it was August it wasn’t too hot to get out there. Great fun, highly recommended.

Not Smoking
Stopped Smoking. Wow! – not as hard as I expected. Have almost stopped moaning about it. Anyway it’s been almost six months since I stopped and am almost over thinking about it!!! Just a quick word on the stopping smoking I used the Nicquitin Patches for about five weeks and it worked for me, especially coupled with the government making it really hard work to be able to smoke in any degree of comfort.

Derby County in Premier League
Derby County – rocked briefly. Against all odds we got promoted and was at Wembley to see Billy Davies’ black and white army see off a better equipped West Brom side.

Bit of the old Magic
Played drums a couple of times in a hastily put together combo with two of the management team at work Alan (Information Systems) and David (Financial Director) and had a blast. We did a bit of a stint on the last day with four songs in the Conference Room at work and the drum sound was absolutely magic – tons of natural bottom end. Loved it.


Negatives
Not a great deal but there be some:

Lack of Reading
I don’t know whether I can blame the increase in exercise for it entirely but am just not getting any reading done. Have started loads of books but not really finished many this year. Weird. I used to do a book a week?

Derby County in Premier League
We can’t hack it, we got here on a wing and a prayer and we’re just don’t have the strength in depth. Am hoping we don’t spend tons in January and regret it. We will be one of the strongest sides in the Championship next season with an excellent chance of bouncing straight back up.


Things I like in 2007

My Chemical Romance – although have discovered it a bit late, the Black Parade album has been a staple on the Ipod this year – just an all round brilliant record (in my view).

Food Optimising – Slimming World eating plan that’s added years to my life expectancy – if you want to lose/maintain weight and eat loads do Food Optimising.

Heaven and Hell – Sabbath with Dio, wish I’d gone to see them but have had them in Ipod, particularly when was in Spain and most enjoyable it’s been to hear them again.

Russell Brand – Russ, Matt and Mr G’s podcasts have got me through many a happy gym session. Highly recommended if a wee bit quirky. Pin pin.

Ipod Shuffle – has been a top tool and has helped no end on long runs and rides.

Garmin Edge – has made keeping my cycle stats so much easier. Great piece of kit that I’m using about 30% of it’s functionality!

Things I don’t like

Governments taking away people’s civil liberties. Yes, you Mr Brown.

Hills, they’re rubbish apart from coming down the other side of em which is okay.

The wind and rain – severely gets in the way of outdoor exercise.
The demon booze – somewhere on me there’s a little label that says “Instant Idiot – Just add alcohol” – am going to cut out the alcohol except on special occasions next year so the label won’t apply.

Must not drink at parties...

I must not drink at parties
I must not drink at parties
I must not drink at parties
I must not drink at parties
I must not drink at parties

Blimey, had a surprise (sort of) party yesterday. I sort of knew it was coming as I wasn't allowed to go to the Derby vs Blackburn match which means I saw precisely zero of the Derby matches over Chrismtas but hey-ho, at least I didn't see them lose.

Me mum, dad, Aunty Joan, Uncle Michael, Janette and the kids (and probably loads of other folks knowing how our family works) put on a brilliant do with awesome food and more than enough entertainment supplied by the mighty Big Lix, thanks Guys you rock mightily!!

Even managed to do a couple of tunes meself before getting ever so slightly massively drunk. Rip's kit fully rocks with just the best double pedal and brill sounding drums. Great to see all the folks there - we even had all of Amethyst in the same room which I reckon is the first time in more than ten years, 25 year ago almost to the day Roj, Ed and Steve got me hammered at the Northwood club before depositing me back at home, the things folks won't let you forget eh!!

Good stuff and Eddy Brid even did a song with the band which was well cool, he ain't lost it. No end of other folks there from work, bands, family and what have - utterly bamboozled was I and mighty pleased to see one and all. Thanks massively to all involved you're all so much better than I deserve!!

Apologies to anyone who I gave stick to about supporting Newcastle -when you support Derby you have to find someone in a similiar pickle with relegation looming. So big apologies to the Derbyshire based contingent of the Toon Army, please forgive the mutterings of drunken rams fan - not like we know anything about football at the minute!

Now have to work out why I do the stupid drinking thing. Some sort of defense mechanism that makes me head hurt in a morning!!

Still am up early doors - think am going to have to go for a run as have left helmet 20 odd miles in a Darley Dale direction like a fool (cycled over there before the party yesterday!).

Run Update
Only ran up to paper shop and back about two and a half/three miles . Realised have got no GPS, no bag for carrying stuff in (like papers) ! Bugger

Tick Tock

Tick tock, two days til 40...
Time is counting away towards imminent 40-ness and if I'm honest am not overly happy about it. It's even affecting my blood pressure which has rocketed in the last 2 days, something over 90 yesterday and 146 over 100 this morning. Not happy at all.

On the plus side though have just read Robert Crampton's column in the times who is someone I've always had time for (no pun intended) and in his annual stats he's only done 2600 miles on his bike over the year. I know I've got at least 3200 in the bag (full stats to be updated for big Birthday post). So that's one up on Crampton. Only thing is that he does a lot of football so there is a balancing point. Anyway don't think I'd have compared my exertions to his at all 12 months ago so that's got to be good.

Am off to golf shortly, did a few miles on bike this morning but didn't get up til nearly 7am so not much time to put a lot of mileage is and am generally being lazy at the moment. Am going to have a mad rush come the new year. Have some new goals that are achievable if I work hard. And I can work hard. Wait for the big post.

Golf Update
First loss of the winter season to Max Lee and his partner Paul Harrison. They played well, I didn't even turn up really. Had a few pars going round but I also lost three balls on 8th, 9th and 12th and generally played absolutely crap which was a real shame cause John played really well for much of the round. Felt like a 28 handicap hacker out there today - it's this 40 thing I tell ya!

Cycling Update.
Have got 8 more miles to do to meet the 70 mile goal. Have got slow but comfy bike out and lubed the chain as it's not been on the road since before Xmas day but the bloomin rain has started pouring so am waiting for a gap and then am going to tick that one off for the week. Have done no running but did two good gym sessions. Am also doing loads of press-ups at home too. Generally am pleased on the exercise front if not on the golf front.



Cycling Update 2

Went out and did the eight miles. Was a right old pain as half the time was riding into a bloomin gale which I can tell you is damned hard work. Never mind it got the job done. So 1 goal out of three done.

No more booze for me! Weigh-in 44

No more booze - not never!!
Managed to get meself absolutely anihalated on the booze yesterday (hacked off that Liverpool managed to steal points away from us - particularly if Gerrard handballed prior to the goal) but made the mistake of not eating anything to go with it. Consequently was up till the small hours with chronic stomach cramps. So that's the end of the booze run for me - am getting back on the plan and back on the diet coke!

Managed a bit of a cycle this morning. Was testing my new bike lights out and they're darned bright if a bit heavy (sealed lead acid sort of thing).

Week 44 Weigh-in
Weighed in this week with a gain of 2.5lbs but am not overly surprised at that. All the alcohol, over-eating, chocolate and general lack of control means that it was almost inevitable. Anyway am 14st 11lbs which is down on a few weeks ago but is not what I want. Am going to go hard at it in the new year. Am going to do my big review post in a few days and set some new goals for 2008 as well. We'll see how committed I am then!! Just for reference total loss from starting point in February is currently bang on 4st - I never got to 4.5stone loss (got within half a pound) so in a way I'm not far off track, 6.5lbs off my best this year.

Gym Session

Didn't really want to go to gym deep down inside! However, forced meself to go and quite enjoyed it once I got going. Had to cop out after 2km on the treadmill - think I had the speed on too fast. Did solid 2.5km on rower which was jolly good in 10:39.9 but made myself do extra weights to make up for the rubbish running. Did 4 reps of 10 on the bicep curl and triceps pushdown. Am not really into weights so that should teach me a lesson!!

Happy Xmas

Happy Chrimbo !!
Did a 20 miler over to my parents today. Janette made it more fun by locking keys in boot of car but hey ho thats the way it goes! Green flag no doubt appreciated being called out to get it open for us!

Got Russell brand's book for Xmas which is making interesting reading also had his podcast in my ears for the ride over to Darley before he ran out and was replaced by a Hendrix compilation, can't get over how good Mitch Mitchell is in those tracks. Excellent stuff.

Solid 20 miler.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=4647120

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=4647120

Christmas Eve

Xmas Eve - Reduced Cycling
Got a very humble 7 miles done this morning but have got loads on at the moment so that's my excuse and am sticking to it!!

Big Review of 2007 Post on the Horizon
Have decided am going to do a big post on me birthday about all the good stuff in 2007. However, have been on scales this morning and am half a pound off 15 stone so need to get some focus in again - that's after four days of being in Xmas mode!! Xmas is cancelled - not really but am going to need to get some sort of focus. Am going to cycle over to my parents' tomorrow and if I think it's necessary will cycle back as well!

Top of the League again at t'golf Club
Ken Bainbridge and his partner lost last weekend so we're now at the top on our own. Good eh!


Good Gym Session
Did a good thrash in the gym today. Rich from design team was there and he's a bit faster than me on treadmills but I don't care he's probably getting on for ten years younger too. Still did 30 minutes at 10.7km/h for a total of 5.5km. Did 2500 metre on rower in 10:54 which was a bit slower than normal but am a bit tired!!! Did tricep push downs and bicep curls to finish on weights which was okay 3 reps of 12 each at setting of 9. All okay really.

Final Weigh
Before came home was 14st 10lbs which is 3.5lbs less than at start of day - I reckon weight evaporates off me during the day somehow? Wierd? (It's not going to the loo either before some smart-alec emails me).

All razzed out... but back to winning ways!

Went out on the razz last night intending to get thoroughly razzed up. However, it were busy and it were noisy and I got golf this morning so came home at 11 o'clock not really razzed at all!! Which is good - question is whether I'm doing this sub-consciously or making a conscious decision not to get hammered? Don't know but am happy not to have a hangover from hell this morning and was out on bike at 6am, am two miles short of my cycling goal but have done diddly running and only one gym session. Been a funny week leading up to Xmas break and with a nasty cold and the weather being so cruddy it's been hard to get going.

Back to the Attack!
Played Colin and Jim at winter league golf today, we played pretty good but not spectacular to secure a 6 and 4 win which was okey dokey. Job done 5.5 out of 6 so far which should keep us top of the league!

Friday and feeling forty!

Coming out the other side of the cold now. Did 6 miles this morning which would have been more but had loads to do. Have been rehearsing with David and Alan at work and today was our big gig! We had a p.a. system in and had a blast with 170 people in what was effectively a captive audience. Ha Ha the best sort. John and Sean compered the whole thing as smashie and nicey off the Harry Enfield show and it all went down a storm. Set list was Johnny B Goode, Caroline by the mighty Quo!, 500 Miles, our piece de resistance 'Come up and See me' with additional backing vox and moves from Lisa, Liz, Sharon and Rebecca who did a stunning job bless em - stars of the show.

However, there was also a birthday presentation for yours truly that involved video footage of me, David, Alan and Tony doing the full monty at a Slimming World Woman of the Year show about eight years ago or something like. Embarassment isn't exactly the right word it's more extreme than that but at least balanced a bit in the fact that it was a different me in a different time who was quite a bit bigger!!

Anyway no-one died in the process so everything's alright!

Thursday

Feel as ill as anything, only did four miles this morning, couldn't find me hat, me ears were freezing and me face literally aches.

On bright side lost another pound so things moving along in right direction. Total of 4st 2.5lbs, still about 3lbs on the top side of my lowest but I know what need to do to get things right. Struggling at the moment with this cold and Christmas but it'll be right soon and have had two weeks in the right direction.

Funny old day and a bit of justice

Funny old day at the office! First had to do a bit of a funny skit at a presentation of Christmas Presents to our Chairman and Founder and C.E.O. Was in best Tommy Cooper mode although only the Fez would have given you any hint of it!!!

Damn, I almost look thin in this picture!!

Bashing posh glass (but not really with a 2lb lump hammer)

Alan and Marie, top co-stars in this joint endeavour!

Telegraph Apology
A week or two ago I moaned about the Daily Telegraph printing a load of cobblers without checking their facts. Today they printed an apology - a bit late and they'll have knocked some folks' confidence in Slimming World for their lack of journalistic integrity and not doing any checking. But better late than never as they say, this was the apology they printed:

Slimming World

Last Updated: 2:56am GMT 17/12/2007

Our report (Nov 27) of Brenda Tolley's claims of unfair dismissal and age discrimination against Slimming World did not include either the company's response or the outcome. The company's managing director told the Reading employment tribunal that Mrs Tolley had tendered her resignation following a meeting to address concerns about her performance in developing team groups that were unrelated to her age or appearance. The tribunal dismissed Mrs Tolley's application on the basis that she was a self employed franchisee rather than an employee of the company and had not mentioned her grievance about age discrimination within a legally defined period. We apologise to Slimming World for not including these matters in our report. Slimming World has asked us to point out that they choose all staff for their compassion and ability to help others succeed in losing weight and that they do not practise discrimination of any kind.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/17/nslim117.xml

Friday post - Breathalysed?

Blimey have had a funny day. Did ten miles or so on bike this morning - couldn't really get going as it was a bit cold. I did a great session in the gym this evening notched the treadmill up a tenth to 11.3km.h for 25 minutes (sort of struggled a bit but still did it). Did 2500 metres on bike in just under 10mins 30secs which was nice.

And then it got wierd. Had a shower, set off for home, got pulled up and breathalysed!! Did you know you have a headlight out said the nice copper, I need to check the rest of your lights. Fair enugh I thought, then bad cop (who tells me his name is Matt when he decides I'm not George Best's old drinking buddy) say driving with a headlight is a road traffic offence and as such I can ask you to take a breathalyser test, which I'm going to. He then does the reading of my rights if you don't do the test you're nicked etc.etc. and then gets the breathalyser kit which as you'd expect comes up negative.

He finished off saying my name's matt and tell your mates we'll be stood in our big yellow coats pulling folks up all over Xmas so put the message about we're breathalysing people so don't even think about drinking and driving. Which was fair enough I suppose but it all kind of came over surreal.

Only happy when it rains??

Only happy when it rains??
I don't think so. Sick to me back teeth of rain. Golf cancelled, Lucy's rugby cancelled, have managed to put Xmas lights on tree outside during a brief respite but am not well-pleased at the minute.

Xmas Lights All Up
When got lights up I realised there weren't enough of em so went back to Uttoxeter and got anothe pack - 480 leds on tree outside - ace eh!

A Gap in the Weather
Seemed to be staying dryish this afternoon so went for a bit of a ride out on Slow but Comfy. Computer says 18 miles but it should be well over twenty, I couldn't be botherered to wait for the GPS to get its bearings so the start point is about a mile from home and there was a point when I rang Janette to say I'd be later than planned but then forgot to start the timer which makes it look like I rode in a dead straight line for about three miles which of course I didn't - went through Blore and down into Mappleton which was a nice nippy windy road - good fun but the start was all hills - check the elevation chart on the image below. Anway at least got out on the bike for a bit so am a bit happier now! Wish I'd took a camera with me as the view from above Blore was absolutely brilliant. Might have to do it again in a week or two and take a camera with me!

Above is route fed into BikeRouteToaster.com - an excellent tool

On motionbased.com it looks likes 18.3 miles because of not starting/stopping/starting timer properly.

Responsibilities of the press?

A couple of weeks ago Slimming World was in my view defamed by an ex-Consultant who took Slimming World to a tribunal saying the Company had been sizeist and ageist essentially. The Mail, Telegraph and metro picked up the story and printed it without doing any real amount of research. They then went to press with the article saying the 'tribunal continues' when as far as I can tell it had already been thrown out.

It's great to see that the matter is being reported factually now:
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200berkshireheadlines/tm_headline=slimming-world-tribunal-quashed&method=full&objectid=20179018&siteid=50102-name_page.html#story_continue

To say the company is sizeist when it's been employing me for nearly 17 years and I know I was seriously obese for 16+ of those years and to say the company is ageist when there are Consultants in their 70s (I believe that's right apologies if the two I'm thinking of aren't - not like I'm going to reveal their names anyway - a gentleman would never do that) is beyond preposterous. The company doesn't prescribe staff to be of a certain age or weight, never has. Slimmers don't care who is running a group as long as they get results and the support they need - size, age, colour, creed, height, weight should never come into it. And the fact is Slimming World's food optimising gets results and our Consultants and members give each other the support they need. If you don't believe it, try it, it worked for me...

Anyway the case was thrown out, no doubt it won't appear in the press so it's good to see it appearing on the Web.

Slacking on the exercise front

Slacking on the Exercise front...
Partly due to an extended meeting with the delightful Liz and charming Mr Chapman I didn't get to the gym last night as planned. And as it was hammering it down at 5:20 this morning I went back to bed and din't get up til 6:20, had a short walk from the leisure centre around town and that was it. So zero exercise thus far. Am going to get into Gym tonight and am also going to remeber to ring Lumbards up to check on progress with bikes - blimey did I ever cock-up putting both of them in for repair at the same time!!!

2nd Gym Session OK

Got best part of an hour done in gym - have upped the weights a bit and did 25 minutes at 10.5km/h on runner again. 8:34 on the rower - steady - must have been on something the other day!!!

Sunday Post - Weather to match the mood

Bloomin Weather
Been peeing it down with rain all night and no sign of it stopping yet. Had everything ready for a big run but am not setting out with rain bucketing down - not that daft yet. Am taking kids over to my mum and dads while Janette out shopping so I might just nip to gym for an hour so day's not a complete loss (from an exercise front).

Gutted about Derby
It sounded like Derby were giving it a real go yesterday with new manager Paul Jewell in charge so it's a bitter disappointment for them to lose in injury time after they'd had the better of the match at times (certainly sounded like we were running them ragged after the restart). Kind of seals our fate as that game was definitely a six pointer and now Sunderland have moved further away - we're beginning to lose touch with the rest of the league. Never mind only poxy Man Utd next week, three points in the bag!!

Monday Post - Back on the road - Video Nightmare

Sunday written off, Monday back on the program!
Well Sunday was a washout exercise wise - did some pressups but that was it. Weather was just too nasty for cycling or running as it was cold and wet - see pic of Brassington above taken out of car Window - brrrrrr. This week's weather's been given out as more of the same but a bit warmer - got fifteen miles done on bike this morning so am back on the program, am also going to make more of an effort this week on the Food Optimising front.

Video from Friday - "500 miles" by Proclaimers butchered to an inch of it's life by Alan, David and me good self!!






Some more Pics from Friday

Paul, Alan and David - Banned in concert - dig those music stands eh!!!

Yes - they're a bit scary but we don't half raise a good bit of money!!