Day 1853 (23/01/2015)

The day started just before 2am, leaving home when it was -5 with the car already iced-up but by the time we got to the coach station it had warmed up to only -3.

Then it was on the coach and up to Heathrow, giving me the opportunity to sleep for a couple of hours on the journey.

We I got to Heathrow I had a few hours to kill but spent the time wisely by going to Gordon Ramsay's for a lovely smoked salmon & scrambled eggs.

The other reason for spending time at Gordon Ramsay's is that it means you can use their lovely toilets and I have now reached an age where I appreciate nice toilets. In fact, whilst others go away and look forward to sleeping in their own bed upon their return; for me when I've been away I often look forward to being able to sit on my own toilet.

The plane was comfortable but we were delayed for over an hour as the walkway was stuck and so we couldn't move until engineers arrived from the walkway company.

I slept on and off, in-between eating and drinking, it was chicken curry for lunch with a nice white wine.

I also watched a few films.

At Abu Dhabi there was a Gold Plated Porsche in the airport, truly the home of tasteless excess.

The hotel seems quite nice and my room is very nice.

But I was fairly tired when I arrived, so had a chicken burger delivered to my room, watched a few Richard herrings videos on YouTube then went to bed.

Day 1852 (22/01/2015)

Busy day getting everything ready for going away tonight.

Even allowing for the mad rush printing off stuff and doing every-ones certificate I had to get a new battery for my wife's car as it had failed to start during the cold weather.

I do like the service at Halfords, where you pay them a few pound to do the manual work we can't be bothered with nowadays.

The £10 it cost for fitting the new batter was money was well spent as it was so complicated at one time I had three members of staff trying to remove the plastic housing for the battery, whilst I watched a YouTube video on how to do it.

In the end it took about 30minutes and involved a few pinched fingers and small cuts.

Then I put my wife's car thru the car wash as the birds had been using it for target practice.

Day 1851 (21/01/2015)

Today I was in wintry Cheshire to give a talk to some people who have a really useful database that I recommend to people on my course.

It was OK but by the end my voice was giving out.

Then a very long drive home and a nap before preparing the material for Abu Dhabi.

Day 1850 (20/01/2015)

Still suffering from a cold and cough but getting better.

I am now really busy as I have to prepare to give a talk tomorrow and for the course in Abu Dhabi.

I got the details thru today of my flight and hotel. I had hoped for business class but just got premium economy, so not as luxurious but still quite nice, sitting in your own personal cinema for 7hrs being fed by a stewardess.

The hotel that they have booked me into that we are also holdingthe training looks very nice.

But as I will be there alone I wont enjoy it at all, honestly.

Day 1849 (19/01/2015)

The weekend was not quite as planned as my cold got worse and worse. I felt awful, going thru loads of tissues and taking lots of cough medicine and beechem's.

I didn't even get to go out for dinner with my wife and now it looks like I am defiantly going away at the end of the week to Abu Dhabi, so will miss her even more whilst I'm away. I can't wait to go away together in February for a few days in Cornwall, I know it wont be warm but it should still be really nice.

I met a friend today to find out about working in Abu Dhabi, it sounds like it should be mildly frustrating work wise but mostly relaxing, with little to do outside work time apart from sitting by the pool and having dinner.

Day 1847 & 1848 (17 & 18/01/2015)

My cold is awful and I am going through tissues like there is no tomorrow. I am even looking forward to being in the warmth of Abu Dhabi, so will be quite disappointed if it doesn't go ahead.

Lots to do this weekend but will try to take my wife out later to make up for the fact that I will be away for a week.

Day 1846 (16/01/2015)

An early freezing cold start, with a train journey to London. As it was booked quite late I couldn't even justify travelling first class, so I was sat in a horrible seat with lots of people near me but to be honest I had no-one sat next to me and I slept the whole way.

The day was quite full with two 3 hour presentation, with only a 30minute break in-between, for some staff in the Serious Fraud Office.

The presentations were well received and hopefully it might lead to some courses which pay better.

I had an hours wait at Paddington before my journey home, so as it was Friday Night, it was Burrito Night.

It was quite nice but obviously not as nice as Kelly's.

Home to a Beechems Lemon as my cold is in full flow.

Day 1845 (15/01/2015)

A very wet & windy day in Taunton, with me having to prepare for tomorrows presentation in London, next weeks presentation in Cheshire and next weeks course in Abu Dhabi. Plus I now have to submit a tender to do some training for an government agency later in the year.

I can't complain, especially after a fairly quiet year but I was looking forward to just a few presentation over the next few weeks.

I'm still just doing a swim & a steam but my cold has nearly completely gone so I will have to be back in the gym soon.

Day 1844 (14/01/2015)

Well today was much the same as yesterday.

Originally I had a fairly quiet couple of weeks coming up but it looks like Abu Dhabi is going ahead next week. As a compromise they are paying for and arranging the plane tickets and hotel, which will save me the trouble, I just hope they fly me business class and book a really nice room at the hotel.

I very much doubt the room will be anything less than perfect as the hotel is very nice and is where the golfers are staying for this weeks tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Also the weather at the moment is freezing a blowing a gale, so it will be a nice change.

I have had a look online and Abu Dhabi seems to have nice hotels, shopping malls  and restaurants but very little else, so I think my days will be half full of training and the rest lazying around the hotel before having a nice meal. It sounds great but actually it will be dull and boring as I won't be there with any family.

Day 1843 (13/01/2015)

Gave a talk in Bedford in the morning that was OK, then a long and boring drive back in very changeable weather.

I always feel very tired after this drive, which I have done every month over the last 5 or 6 months, so wasn't up to going to the gym later.

There is a possibility that I may be going to Abu Dhabi next week to do a course. I would rather not go anywhere near the Middle East and will have to delete a few Facebook Likes and a few Twitter Re-Tweets after last week, but the money is quite good and the hotel seems quite nice.

It is a golf resort with lots of fitness and spa facilities, so it could help my diet.

That's 480 in the local currency not £480.

Day 1842 (12/01/2015)

A wet Monday, which is a diet day, so started it with a lovely porridge & banana.

Then at lunchtime Kelly went back to Brighton. Missing her lots, it was great to have her home for a couple of weeks.

I went for a swim and steam then off to Bedford tonight.

Day 1840 & 1841 (10 & 11/01/2015)

The weekend is here and I've still not completely got over my man flu, so after doing some work I went for a 15 minute swim and spent some time in the steam room.

On the way back I had a craving for fish & chips, so thought I would treat myself to a small helping.

Honestly this was a small fish & chips.

On Sunday I made a lovely slow cooked roast lamb dinner.

It was so lovely I didn't have time to take a photograph of it cooked and on the plate.

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.