Day 905 (18/06/2012)

Catch up on the blog and our holiday in Madeira. We flew from Bristol on Easy Jet which was OK but there are never any perks with them.

When we arrived it was quite warm but no blazing hot sun and we thought we were in for a mixed week weather wise. Our initial view of the hotel, The Pestana Carlton, was quite good and on the whole it was a quite a nice place but could have done with Channel 4 on the telly and free wifi in the rooms. The pool area was lovely and we had a nice room, with a view from the balcony out onto the ocean.

There was a model of the hotel which had the "Tracey Island" feel about it but either there were no disasters this week or there were no hidden rocket ships. 

The first night we eat close by and had some nice food. I had the fish skewer thing whilst my wife went for the fish in a curry sauce with a banana, which appears to be a local delicacy.

We also started the week of liquor coffee's (cointreau not whiskey), which seemed to come with a straw, which was actually quite a good idea, as you didn't burn your lips on the hot coffee, just your tongue.

Day 903 & 904 (16 & 17/06/2012)

The weekend is here and I have to finish off all of my work and then start packing for our holiday on Monday.

The broadband is great, my emails take no time at all to send & receive, even with large files attached.

Update - Saturday 15:45 - Just checking the weather for Madeira, thought this was supposed to be a summer holiday abroad not like one in the UK.

Think I might take an umbrella with me (b******s).

Update - Sunday 10:30 - Went to The Worlds End pub last night, (our second home without washing-up) lovely New York style steak and a mini triffle.

Still a few things to do before we are ready for our holiday.

Day 902 (15/06/2012)

Had the new fibre optic broadband fitted today.

WOW F**KING WOW.

The only problem is that there is an 85GB p/month limit, which quite frankly we could use in a few days, with us all watching tv programmes & stuff.

Quite confident that I should have all of my work done by the end of Saturday with just a few emails to send on Sunday, then no computer for a week, which is already leaving my feeling ill and shaky.

Day 901 (14/06/2012)

So much work but so little time before our holiday.

Missing the gym as just too busy.

Unbelievable bad weather again.

Day 900 (13/06/2012)

Gave a talk at my old HQ today which went quite well but my mouth really does get the better of me at times. I should take these things more serious but I can't.

Needless to say most people laughed at the right points and I think they understood the message.

Don't worry the room was full during the talk but I couldn't take a photo with the people in it.

We have had new cheque books arrive today but it appears that owning to an admin error my name has become part of our address the bank used, so my name no longer appears on the cheques of our joint account. Either that or my wife has finally had enough and I'm no longer on the joint account.

Day 899 (12/06/2012)

Today was like turning the clock back 10yrs going out to do a bit of surveillance, apart from I was just checking on a house rather than a person, which is just as well as I could probably catch a house but would have trouble catching up with a person.

Here's one of my photo's.

It will mean nothing to anyone but there is a very nice house nearby which is worth around £1million.

Got tied up with some things so didn't get back till later in the afternoon so didn't get chance to go to the gym. Tomorrow I'm giving a talk near Bristol so might be busy then as well.  

Day 898 (11/06/2012)

A day doing paperwork and admin as opposed to doing paid work.

Booked the car parking at the airport for next weeks holiday and really looking forward to it now. I was getting a bit worried as a few people had said that Madeira wasn't that nice but I've read a few nice things about the hotel on Trip Advisor. OK it doesn't win awards for its food but there are lots of nice restaurants nearby.

I went to the gym with my wife this afternoon. I might not be able to go tomorrow as I'm having to pop out of the office for a few hours to visit a property, ask some questions of the neighbours & take some photos for a client. I've not done that for ages and I'm only doing it to be helpful to a prestigious client (well that and the money I'm charging them).

Day 896 & 897 (09 & 10/06/2012)

The weekend is here and in between showers I managed to get out and cut the grass which had grown really long since its last cut, making it quite a chore to do.

I have a few things to do but am supposed to be going out tonight to see Mica Paris with my wife.

Update - Sunday - 09:30 - Well Mica Paris was brilliant, a great voice and very engaging with the audience. It was just a shame that there weren't that many of us there to see & listen to her.

Even Kelly enjoyed it and she was working.

It was a bit of a rush before going to the show, so I ordered a quick salad.

OK fair enough it came with some chicken and pitta bread and may have been Greek in origin but basically it was a salad.

Day 895 (08/06/2012)

It is still so damn wet & windy. It is supposed to be June but feels & looks a lot more like November.

I went to the gym again today. Only 4 times in total this week but we did have two Bank Holidays. I have decided what my first goal is and also what my second goal is but I'm not sharing them with you. It will no doubt take more than a year to achieve and I will probably have to work a lot harder at using a hell of a lot more calories than I consume but seeing as it took me 20yrs to get this way then 20months might be a suitable time frame, if not quite a bit longer.

Only a week until our holiday, which I am really looking forward to, even though since booking it several people have slagged of Madeira to us.

Day 894 (07/06/2012)

Golly I think I may have moved to Asia and arrived during the monsoon season. It isn't just wet its very f**king wet.

Went to the gym again today and getting into a routine but it is taking time out of my day which means I am having to work later of an evening, which is a pain as I want to finish by 9pm every night but I'm still here at 111pm lately.

Day 893 (06/06/2012)

Back to work, playing catch up again. It so quickly build ups.

Must go to the gym later.

As well as it being the anniversary of D-Day it is also the anniversary of my passing out parade.

No doubt when I'm at the gym later it will feel a lot more than 26yrs ago that I was reasonably fit. It doesn't feel that long ago but a current photo would look so different, as they are a lot more paramilitary now. This time has now gone.

I'm in the middle row, fourth in from the left. I remember quite a few of the faces but have only spoken to one or two of them within the last dozen or so years.

It was a fairly strange time. For me a fairly easy & drink fueled time.

Day 892 (05/06/2012)

Good party last night, nothing to do with the jubilee.

Then just took the day off to recharge my batteries.

Day 891 (04/06/2012)

Busy day.

Got to do some more things in the garden, go to the gym and then have a family party this evening.

Everyone else will be celebrating the Royal Jubilee I shall be using it as a party to celebrate the brave efforts of Guy Fawkes, if only.

Come on Al Qaeda, couldn't you find someone who could operate a remote control boat, do you have no ambition. It's hard to support a has been, I will be stopping my monthly direct debit to them and support a donkey charity instead.

Update - 17:45 - Knackered from the gym.

Made a herb garden thing and then planted some herb things.

I'm not really keen on any DIY but quite pleased with my handy work.

Now for a party (when my wife is ready).

Day 889 & 890 (02 & 03/06/2012)

No gym today, giving my body a chance to recover. I had planned to spend all day in the garden, clearing up and setting things out but I had to wait for my wife. We eventually got out and ended up buying a few things I hadn't intended to and definitely a couple of things I didn't want but she wanted them and as always I gave into her again.

I don't think we are any longer going for the minimalist look.

Now the trees have been cut back I was able to clean the patio.

I do like jet washing things, it came up quite well.

I was then going to start putting some things together but the rain came down, which put an end to it. The rain got quite heavy, which is a pain, I just hope its nice tomorrow night for Elton John.

Update - Sunday - Started to tidy and set up things in the garden, would have done more but it was raining.

Then in the evening we went off to see Elton John with my wife and Mum & Dad for the open air concert at the Cricket Ground. After a wonderful dry & hot week, it poured with rain for about an hour. The sort of heavy rain coming straight down that you can not shelter from. We were all soaked thru.

We had quite good seats, apart from the lack of cover. Elton was great and so were the support, 2 Cellos.

Day 888 (01/06/2012)

Where is the year going, it's June already, how did that happen.

Went to the gym first thing this morning and felt hungry and knackered ever since.

So this week I have gone to the gym 5 times and spent 45minutes on the tread machine (it would be a running machine but I walk and don't run), 45minutes on a bicycle, 45minutes on the cross-trainer, lifted loads of weights and swam 50 lengths of the pool.

Will have the weekend off but going again on Monday.

So much work in at the moment but must spend most of the weekend sorting out the garden.

Today's photo of a young & slim me, taken on a very hot day practicing for the Ten Tors, walking across Dartmoor in 1984

So much easier than the actual Ten Tors when I spent over an hour lying on a medical bed on the Saturday night having my feet covered in medical tape to keep the skin together for the walk on the Sunday. I think I walked for at least a few hours just crying with the pain. The thought of stopping or saying no was never an option (don't ask).

When we finished as a team we got our medals from some general. I'm in the middle in the below photo.

After we finished I sat down and was holding my taped up feet as the pain was still so intense, then the ligaments went in one of my legs and I couldn't walk at all.
 

I had to sit in a bath for a few hours to try to get the sticky medical tape off. Obviously it took most of the skin with it and I think it took another three months before all of my nails grew back on my toes.

Oh the good old days. They weren't, they were crap in so many ways but I do have a few good memories.

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.