Day 1839 (09/01/2015)

Still getting over my man flu.

My wife is very much in the grab of her woman flu, which is as light-weight as it sounds. She really is milking it for all its worth, going to work and soldiering on like a true hero with a cold.

I am loving porridge with banana for breakfast.

And as it is Fridays and Kelly is still is here, then it's Friday Night is Burrito Night.

Yum Yum Yum.  

Day 1838 (08/01/2015)

I'm still getting over my man flu so couldn't go to the gym but managed a 15 minute swim.

In the evening I went to a help group for injury on duty police pensioners. It's a long story but due to the cut backs some police forces are doing all they can (not just legally) to reduce everyone pension payments.

It was an interesting but scary night, finding out what lengths the police are prepared to go to to save money, from a group of fairly powerless individuals who were all injured at work, in the service of the country. I knew some of those present and was amazed at how bad they were, far from the strong confident people I once worked with.

Hopefully by working together we should stop them from being illegal bullies.

Day 1837 (07/01/2015)

Last night was the works Christmas do at the 303 Diner in Honiton, which was nice.

We again made the mistake of having a starter, meaning that we were too full to enjoy the rest of the food.

But we struggled on anyway.

Today I had my Health MOT, I know that was good planning after last night but I am now at my lowest weight for about 3 years.

Apart from being far too fat with slightly high blood pressure (if my blood pressure was normal that wouldn't be right for such a fat man) everything else, like blood glucose and cholesterol was OK.

I explained what I am doing, cutting down on my food and my workout routine and it all seems to be OK.

Today has been a shockingly awful day in Paris with some ghastly killings of innocent people just doing their job.

But and there always is a but, we don't have any moral high ground left over any terrorists. All this killing is just wrong and is rarely justified; just because our is done by people in uniform or at the request of elected politicians makes no difference.

The French Government are no strangers to terrorist attacks; think back to the 1985 murderous attack on The Rainbow Warrior. The full story of how the French Government then financial forced New Zealand to release the terrorist / agents and how they were welcomed back in to France and promoted is as shocking as the attack.

As a nation the British and our NATO colleagues are no strangers to attacking journalists who say things we don't like. Think back to the 1999 attack on the Serbian TV Station during the Balkan War. Non-combatives murdered because they were getting in the way.

People like Tony Blair are War Criminals and should be dealt with appropriately.

Day 1836 (06/01/2015)

I'm slowly getting over the world worst cold & cough, its not man flu, it is a really bad illness. I shall have to miss the gym again today but will be back tomorrow as I am having my Body M.O.T.

The lovely Kelly counted the coins in the bottle last night.

I had been saving 1p's & 5p's for the last few years in this large empty bottle and was sure it would be around £100.

However most sane people, including my wife, thought it would be nearer £20 but in the end I was right, well nearly right, well OK I wasn't even nearest as it was about £45.

We put the odd coins back in the bottle, so have started collecting again but have decided to now included 20p's, so I'm confident that next time it will be near £100

Off on our works Christmas Do tonight.

Day 1835 (05/01/2015)

Feeling like utter  crap but had things to do, so sat at my desk dying from this awful flu.

It looks like I will be going to Abu Dhabi in a couple of weeks to run a training course. I desperately don't want to even though loads of people go there for holidays, I'm unlucky and things happen to me. If things happen in Europe then I'm confident I could look after myself or the government might try to help, but over there, well it's just so different.

If it wasn't for the money I wouldn't even looked into it but needs must.

Also after a few weeks of eating normally I'm starting the 5:2 diet this week. I think the idea is you eat normal but have all your meals at 5 to the hour.

Day 1833 & 1834 (03 & 04/01/2015)

I've got a bit of a cold & cough, so rather than annoying my wife in bed, by coughing all the time and keeping her awake, I got up early & had a Beechems lemon drink and started work in the early hours.

In the afternoon I went to the gym again but was weak when I started but still did the full routine but had no energy to go swimming.

Thomas wanted a curry but I felt so ill I had to force myself to eat it.

I know I'm a hero.

Then Saturday evening and all day Sunday was spent lying down dying of a really bad cold, worse than anyone has ever had before, since time begun.

Day 1832 (02/01/2015)

Slowly returning to normal after the Christmas & New Year break, doing a bit of work and will start updating my course and writing it as a distance learning package & book, well that's the long term goal anyway.

I went to the gym for my new routine and a short swim ads the pool was very busy.

Day 1831 (01/01/2015)

Well goodbye 2014 you were not the greatest of years.

Saying that we had a great time last night with Gary & Elaine.

I thought I would change my profile photos for Twitter, so I did a montage of the pictures of me & Richard Herring. 

Kelly thinks its too much but I don't always have a photograph taken with him.

New month, so a new picture of Kylie from my new calender.

My wife bought it so don't blame me.

Day 1830 (31/12/2014)

New Years Eve

Had a few emails to send, then get an overdue a hair cut.

And then I went to the gym, for my new session, 15 minutes on the bike, then did 2 lots of weights on my arms and 1 lot for my legs, doing, 15, then 10, then 5 repetitions. Then doing 15, then 10, then 5 repetitions of sit-ups with 10kg of extra weight. Then I did 10 minutes on the cross-trainer then 5 minutes on the running machine (which involved some running).

And then I did all the weights and sit-ups again. I was going to finish off with a swim but the pool was too busy.

Then off tonight to Gary & Elaine's to see in the New Year.

Day 1829 (30/12/2014)

Finishing some outstanding work and then relaxing.

My wife made some quite nice soup, cream of brussel spouts with garlic, cheese and ham croutons.

Tasted a lot better than it sounds.

Day 1828 (29/12/2014)

An icy cold start to the day.

Then a busy morning paying in a couple of cheques and buying some new trainers for the gym, as my old ones have broken.

Then off to give blood, for the first time for quite a few years.

Apparently 1 point of blood weighs around 1.2 lb's so even though I couldn't go to the gym today I still lost a bit of weight. Nowadays they make you drink 1/2 litre of cold water before and afterwards, so no tea & biscuits for me but I did have a jacobs orange club biscuit, my first in years, so it was a fair swap.

Then home and spent the day working on a newsletter to send out for work.

Day 1827 (28/12/2014)

Getting back to normal but lost all track of what day it actually is.

Used up some of the Christmas left overs making a curry today, which I thought was quite nice.

Getting back to work tomorrow although I have done a little bit over the last few days.

Day 1826 (27/12/2014)

Christmas seems to have flown by but we still seem to have a fridge full of food & drink and I have hardly touched the chocolates or nuts (admittedly for the month before Christmas I kept eating the nuts).

I went to the gym in the afternoon, for quite a full work-out and a swim.

It was knackering.

Then back for a quick bite to eat before we took Granma home. On the way back we drove thru Bristol to look at the Christmas lights which were very nice from College Green up Park Street and then into Clifton Village, which is really lovely nowadays.

Then back home to collapse on the couch and Christmas is officially over for another year.

Day 1825 (26/12/2014)

Boxing Day

I desperately needed my sleep last night after a busy but fun day. I think me and my wife could could sleep for a week.

After a relaxing morning we went round to my mum & dad's for the evening.

I think the below photograph proves my mum's kitchen is big enough as we were all able to get in there, albeit that it was a bit of a squeeze, so really she could do Christmas dinner there but I am happy to do it.

Thomas was at the football and joined us later.

Day 1824 (25/12/2014)

Christmas Day

Last night was hectic as it is every year and like every year I was saying that next year will be different, we will be more organised but I honestly mean it this time.

The dinner seemed OK but may have been a bit cool by the time we sat down.

Unfortunately Thomas was very well and didn't maker dinner but he came down at about 5 ish, and was then on good form when we were doing Christine's quiz.

A great time hopefully had by all as I know we enjoyed it but we have loads of food left.

And I had a great present from my wife.

I can't wait to the start of every month next year.

Day 1823 (24/12/2014)

Christmas Eve

Still really busy but I managed to go shopping at Tesco's for a few last minute things in the morning and then picked up the turkey at lunch time.

I had to go to Bristol for a meeting afterwards which again delayed the day and I still have two report as that need doing.

Kelly made a stew for dinner, which I thought was quite nice but she didn't think was that good.

Day 1822 (23/12/2014)

It appears to poor old sickly Thomas is very allergic to a few things.

I should say we didn't decide to scribble on his arm and stick things in him, that was the hospitals doing but now we know then hopefully we can change a few things and Thomas will be a bit better and have more energy.

I put some of the stuff in the storage unit today, so we have a little bit more room downstairs.

Went to the gym, possibly the last visit before Christmas as I am very busy tomorrow, possibly having to go to a meeting in the afternoon.

Day 1821 (22/12/2014)

I had so aimed to have a quiet few days build up to Christmas but I have taken on a massive enquiry which needs to be done and keeps growing and growing.

It will be something that makes the papers, well the financial sections anyway and is quite interesting but I would rather have the time off.

We received Kelly's gift a vegi box which is full of loads of lovely stuff.

It is true to say that I am an old grumpy git and I never feel Christmasy until after Christmas dinner when I 'm slightly pissed but I had a clementine, which was really nice and nearly put me in the mood for Christmas.

Another gym session in the evening.

Day 1819 & 1820 (20 & 21/12/2014)

The weekend is here and so is Kelly.

Picked my car up, which now looks a lot better

and smells lovely as they also gave it a valet.

The last few days have been manic doing urgent reports. I still have a few more things to do until I can relax for Christmas.

After the gym last night I am now at my lowest weight all year, actually my lowest weight for a number of years but still nowhere near where I should be or is where it is healthy to be, so lots more visits to the gym.

Lovely lamb dinner on Sunday.

Day 1818 (19/12/2014)

A really busy day as I replaced all the broken springs in the furniture, so hopefully our guests will be comfortable at Christmas.

This is technically manual labour and my hands are now hurting but it only took a couple of hours and probably saved me a few pounds by doing it myself.

Then I went shopping. The following is copied from my company Facebook account as I couldn't be bothered writing something fresh.

This year for Christmas rather than sending out bottles of booze to a few close clients & colleagues we instead decided to use the money to buy things for the local food bank.

I phoned them beforehand and they said that they really needed cans of meat, like tinned ham, spam and corned beef, so that's what we bought.

Whilst we are happy to help people less fortunate than ourselves it is a disgrace that there are people in this country that rely on food banks.

Our MP's should feel ashamed but I very much doubt any of them do or ever would. Tory, Labour, Lib-Dems, they are all the same and we do not support any political party but we do try to support various charitable groups and to help people when we can.

OK so the company paid and I use an accountant to make sure I only pay the tax I have to, so I am a complete hypocrite but I don't try to evade tax and it just seemed the right thing to do. Clearly its not because I am a nice guy, as I'm not, I'm the least nice person in my family but I am luckily in a position to do it.

Obviously the last paragraph wasn't on the Facebook page.

Then off to the gym, again.

Day 1817 (18/12/2014)

Early start and dropped my car off at the garage for them to repair the scratches from the other week.

Then doing an urgent and fairly complicated report trying to prove a connection between someone and a company, which hopefully I did in the end.

I have done a few enquiries lately where the scale of fraud is staggering; If it wasn't for the fact that these people have all been caught and face loosing it all and may be even doing time inside, then I would consider using my talents for the other side.

Then off to the gym at around 8 in the evening, where I did my new routine and even went for a swim, so didn't get back home until about 9:30pm and was knackered.

Day 1816 (17/12/2014)

Derby was very wet but it was an interesting day doing some training for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

Then a long drive home and an urgent report to start putting together.

Day 1815 (16/12/2014)

Very busy preparing for tomorrows presentation and then had to do an urgent job for someone, which meant no time to go to the gym and I will be arriving in Derby at about midnight.

Day 1814 (15/12/2014)

A busy day doing work and I went back to the gym for my routine of 15 minutes on the bike at level 8, then doing the weights, on reps of 15, then 10 and then 5.  Then sit-ups with additional 5kg of weight doing reps of f 15, then 10 and then 5. Then 10 minutes on the cross trainer and then 5 minutes on the running machine, which even involved some running. Then 15 minutes of swimming to finish of and to relax (slightly).

Last month I was planning on repairing the sofa and chairs in time for Christmas but I've left it far too late to get it done, so I'm going to have to do it myself; which is annoying and previously has been painful when I've nearly stabbed myself with the replacement springs.

It isn't me that breaks the springs, honestly, but there are two people in the house, who like clones of each other, both let themselves fall down on to the sofa and the chairs, which seems to have more of an effect than me sitting down slowly.

Hopefully I shall have some free days to do this and change the blown bulbs around the house before everyone comes over for Christmas.