Day 887 (31/05/2012)

Fourth day running at the gym, well four consecutive day at the gym as there was no actual running involved.

Feeling a bit fitter but still got a few pounds to lose until I'm this slim again.

Even if I get that slim I don't think I could look that young again. In fact if I get that slim I suspect I will be in hospital with a flesh eating disease.

I had forgot to say the other day during our induction visit to the gym when I pointed out to the instructor I had been fit and slim in the 1980's he replied that he wasn't born in the 1980's. I felt very old.

Anyway totally knackered now and looking forward to diner, it's burgers tonight.

Suddenly got loads of work in, some of it quite interesting.

Day 886 (30/05/2012)

Still lovely weather, I hope it stays like this until October but would settle for August.

Busy painting the garden fence today, well OK I'm having the fence painted, well treated anyway. I know its a fairly tatty fence but there seems little point in replacing all of the fence panels. I am going to cover them with some willow or bamboo covering at the weekend so they should all be looking nice then and at a fraction of the cost but mostly at a fraction of the inconvenience of having them all replaced.

At lunch time I shall be heading back to the gym for my third visit in three days.

Update - 21:45 - Went to the gym this afternoon for another full workout and 10 lengths of the pool. So it's not exactly the same as swimming the channel but it is still exhausting after 45 minutes in the gym.

My healthy afters tonight.

Unfortunately this card will be used again in a few weeks time.

Never mind, better luck next time mate.

Day 885 (29/05/2012)

Second day at the gym and we both did a full circuit and then I did 10 laps of the pool but more importantly we shared had Fish & Chips for dinner.

Honestly we are cutting down as we shared the meal and didn't have one each. Mind you I did order curry sauce.

Hopefully the weather will stay nice as we are seeing Elton John at the weekend.

Day 884 (28/05/2012)

The weather is still lovely.

Off to the gym later, I shall take it easy at first but aim to go several times a week and should soon be slim & fit. OK I am living in a fantasy world but I can dream.

Update - 21:30 - Well me & the wife went to the gym for our induction session this afternoon.

It started by being measured & weighed. I can not remember how short I was, I'm not fat just short as if I was about 9'6" tall I would in fact be the right weight, so I'm not fat just short.

My BMI was within the ideal bracket........... well it was if it was averaged out over two people and the other person was just a skeleton, so actually fat free.

So OK I have a bit of work to do but I will try to go a couple of times a week.

Anyway nice cafe at the gym.

Then home for tea & cake.

Day 882 & 883 (26 & 27/05/2012)

What a lovely hot weekend.

It started early with the gardener coming back to cut the large tree down and to trim back the ones that were over hanging from the park.

It is now a lot brighter in the garden and hopefully it will be a lot cleaner. The fence is being painted next week, then I can put the bamboo fencing panels up to make the old fence look a lot nice. Then we can get the flower bed and furniture sorted.

Within the next two weeks I will be sat out there enjoying a glass of wine and a burger.  

Doing some work now but hopefully will get some time to relax later.

Day 881 (25/05/2012)

Back home now and whilst the weather is good I'm getting the garden looking right, with the hedge being trimmed and the cutting back the trees overhanging and causing so much mess,

and cutting the grass.

OK the gardener was tidying the garden, I have work to do.

Update - 14:15 - Looking better already, still got the big tree to cut down but they are coming back later to do that, too hot now.

Day 880 (24/05/2012)

Lovely calamari starter last night.

Course went well and then a long drive home.

Day 879 (23/05/2012)

Another day on the course, which is gong quite well.

Going out tonight for an Italian meal, which will be nice. Looking forward to getting back home tomorrow night.

Day 878 (22/05/2012)

Well I had a nightmare drive up north yesterday, with first the M5 being closed in around Gloucester and then the M6 being closed north of Birmingham. It was nearly midnight when I arrived.

Seems the family enjoyed the Olympic Torch relay yesterday.

With Thomas getting on the telly with his cheesy p**s taking "best day of my life, ever" performance.

One of Thomas's photo's was even used on the home page of the Somerset County Cricket Club website.

First day of the course up north today, which went quite well but more importantly quite a nice lunch.

I have work to do this evening so no rest, looking forward to getting back home.

Day 877 (21/05/2012)

The Olympic Torch arrives in Taunton today so the town centre is closed off, there is bunting everywhere and everyone is happy. Bah Humbug, that's what I say, I was going to pop into town to pay some cheques in but now I can't. I'm driving up north as soon as the torch is within spitting distance.

I'm really not interested at all in all this forced celebration over a torch being taken round to the poor mugs that paid for a corner of London to be updated and for some politicians and royalty to get free tickets.

To be honest I'm not that interested in a load of chemist battling to get someone to run or cycle fast. Yes there are plenty of competitors that are not on drugs, they are in the sports that the telly will just pass over as an oddity. Tennis, Football and a few others should not even be in the Olympics.

Now let me get started on the Jubilee and the German family dictatorship that helps run this country. Actually I'm a bit busy so will save that for another week.

 

Day 875 & 876 (19 & 20/05/2012)

Up early on Saturday to do all the preparation for next weeks course in Preston.

I must also fill out a couple of application forms for things that must be in by the end of the week. annoying extra paper work.

Update - Saturday 21:30 - Busy day doing work stuff, mostly laminates. It is a little bit easier nowadays as I have made them double sided, so in numbers there are now only half the number to do but they take longer to do as they have to be folded right.

Thomas went out for an 8mile run with his mates this morning then spent the day in the pub watching West Ham get promotion to the Premier League and then watching the Champions League final. Kelly has gone to Bristol to see Darren (I know its Derren but it annoys Kelly when I call him Darren) Brown .

Me & my wife went out this afternoon for an hour or so then popped into The Madarin House for an all you can eat buffet on the way back.

This is one of my favorite places but thinking about the gym I limited myself, as you can see.

Day 874 (18/05/2012)

Doing my work and looking forward to my summer holiday, a week away with my wife in the sun in a months time. Until then work, work and more work.

Day 873 (17/05/2012)

Off to London today along with Thomas. I was giving a talk to some journalists at the Guardian and in exchange Thomas was getting to chat to their Head of Photography.

It was nice to be back in 1st class. I did think of letting Thomas sit in the back with the rabble but it was nice to have his company on the journey.

Saw a few sights in London (always a tourist). Funny coloured Barclays Bank and St Pancrass Station with the Post Office Tower in the distance.

The offices of the Guardian were very nice and the talk went really well.

Then time for Yo-Sushi before going home.

Passing the White Horse on the way (OK crap photo but we were traveling quite fast).

Home in time to do some work.

Day 872 (16/05/2012)

Big day for Thomas as he has his driving test today. As a parent I don't know which would be worst, him passing or failing.

I hope he passes so he is not upset but on the other hand I hope he stays safe, which will involve only being able to drive with my sat next to him.

It has been nice having my wife off work for a week, I did spend some time with her (don't listen to her) but she has gone back to work today, so getting back to normal, breakfast in my office.

Update - 13:00 - Damn Thomas came second but it was close, just one mishap at one set of lights. Well all the best people pass second time.

Day 871 (15/05/2012)

Thomas has got a copy of the local paper following the boxing event in Wales the other week, with quite a few of his photos used.

I created a long list of things to achieve this week & decided to have one every week but think clear out garage will still be on there next year. 

Day 870 (14/05/2012)

So my wife is now older than me, being 45 whilst I am still a youthful 44. We went to The River Cottage Canteen in Axminster for dinner on Sunday.

The crab starter was nice but the main meals weren't great. Shame as the food used to be really nice.

Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You, sing along.

Two strange things on Monday. First a scrap metal dealer was driving around the streets, like a modern day version of Steptoe & Son. They had a really annoying jingle playing over some crackly speakers.

The second strange thing was that I joined a gym and now I feel better already.

To be honest I joined the gym but due to being a bit busy at the moment I have arranged for my membership to start in two weeks time, when I will go in for my induction session.

Day 868 & 869 (12 & 13/05/2012)

Quick bit of shopping this morning but couldn't quite decide which birthday cake to get my wife for tomorrow.

Nice breakfast.

Have done enough work by around 3:00pm to take the rest of the weekend off as a birthday treat, that will teach her.

Day 867 (11/05/2012)

Busy day on a very long report which had to be in today.

I ordered pizza from our local Dominoes tonight, which I must admit is a fairly common occurrence but I thought it would save having to cook and wash up.

When I was ordering the pizza's, when the man read the order back he added coleslaw, which I do normally order but hadn't ordered tonight. I commented that had added the coleslaw but was grateful for him reminding me that I normally order it, so accepted it.

He then asked if I was paying by card or cash. I do usually pay by card but tonight as I had quite a bit of cash on me I said I would pay cash rather than by card.

When the pizza's (& coleslaw) arrived I went to pay but the delivery driver said it was OK as it had been paid for by credit card.

So the question is did I get tonight's dinner for free as the man on the phone had already hit the "paid by credit card" button when submitting my order or do they have my credit card details on file as a regular customer.

Day 866 (10/05/2012)

Nice breakfast and then home to catch up with work.

I had an idea last night, that if only we had gone to a book-makers in 1987 and put on a bet for a couple of 19yr olds from quite different families still being married all these years later then it would have paid for our stay and meal at the hotel and maybe paid our  mortgage as well.

Day 865 (09/05/2012)

25yrs of Mr & Mrs Smith.

It's hard to believe that it is 25yrs, it certainly doesn't seem that long but I can't remember not being together and am glad we got married when we did; although to be fair, as I always remind my wife, we could have been
married for 40minutes longer if she had been on time.

We went away to The Abode in Exeter for a night away and a nice meal.

Obviously we hadn't eaten since the wedding.