The Mad Runner

Where Did My Mojo Go?

2013-05-20T21:08:00.001+01:00

I need to train. I used to be quite good. Not great. Can't claim that but I was half okay. I want to think I will go and get slapped at tomorrow's LCL race in Chepstow. Whether I get thrashed would not be in question. What will be in question is whether I can motivate myself to rise from the sofa and go run. I am so without mojo these days. Long gone are the days I got home from work, donned my kit and headed out. I want it back....

Confidence Boost On Black Hill

2013-05-18T16:59:00.001+01:00

In the end I decided to stay on the east of the Black Mountains today. In fact, I started so far east I set out from England - I packed my passport just in case I was stopped at the border! I parked up in the Black Hill car park. I've never run over Black Hill so thought I tick it off today. With sun block applied - yes, I actually needed sun block! In fact the weather was pretty darn tooting fantastic. There was a bit of wind - not coming from me, I hasten to add - and a few clouds but I was pretty sure it wasn't going to rain. T-shirt it was then...

For the first twenty minutes I struggled to get going. It was pretty much straight into climb and that's never the easiest. I took my time and admired the views - they were worth admiring. By the time I reached the trig it had flattened out and from there across to Hay Bluff I started to find a reasonable pace - I even managed to claim a top spot Strava, knocking the great Tom Gibb off top spot! (I'm guessing he was probably walking backwards while carrying a 40lb pack). In fact I claimed top spot on all seven climbs today - so I'm guessing it's not a popular route for runners...

It was on that section I realised something was up but not in a bad way. I'm pretty sure the Big Black Mountains Challenge must have been going down because there were hundreds of people out there and several official looking check points manned - and in some cases, womanned - by the Longtown Mountain Rescue. It appeared to be a different route to the one I followed when I did it a few years ago.

So I continued along. Over Twmpa and Rhos Dirion. I forgot how annoying that boggy bit across to Chwarel y fan is. Wasn't as bad as it could have been though - I'm thankful for small mercies. I continued along the ridge to Bal Mawr before dropping down to Llanthony and confirming my Big Black Mountains Challenge suspicions. If I'd have known I might well have done it although it would possibly have been a few miles too far at this stage on the knife edge that is my training for the Welsh 1000s.

As I the climb back up to Offa's Dyke I began to blow a little. The couple of kilometres along the top back northwards wasn't so pacey as before. Eventually it was time to head cross country, due north, and down into the Olchan Valley to pick up the footpath that would take me back to the van. The final climb out of the valley pretty much finished me off but I have to say the footpath was very well way-marked, top marks Mr Land-Owner.

The total tally was 31km and 1,100m of ascent completed in a thoroughly pleasing 3 hours and 45 minutes. Before I set out I was thinking it would take me between four and a half and five so I'm really pleased. I certainly didn't push like I was racing but neither was it a pootle. I tried pretty hard. All in all my confidence is boosted ahead of the Welsh 1000s. I'm now thoroughly convinced I can do myself justice. I'm not going to win but I'm reasonably confident that I can a) complete it and b) not claim the wooden spoon. Happy days...

Decisions, decisions

2013-05-17T18:50:00.001+01:00

Where to run tomorrow? The Brecons forecast has improved - a lot - from that predicted mid-week. It almost looks like it could be a nice day - but I don't want to say it in case Karma kicks me where it hurts..

I had half a thought of heading to Snowdonia tonight but I feel pretty tired. By the time I'd got there, and then run wherever the heck I would have run and then driven back home I think I'd have been finished. I've decided it will be far more sensible to go for a long run in the Brecons tomorrow instead. I'm thinking over to the far west. I have an inkling that the big P will be a mite busy tomorrow if the forecast holds. Alternatively I might travel closer to home and run along Offa's Dyke on the eastern side of the Black Mountains. That would save me two hours of driving. Decisions, decisions...

Sailed Through

2013-05-16T19:44:00.001+01:00

Back on four wheels again without issue - result. So, having fought my way through the traffic I finally got to the garage, checked the old banger in and took to foot. Having completely failed to prepare for the run to work, my sack was full - snigger. I refer, of course, to my running ruck-sack which was jammed with everything I needed for the day. I even needed to pack my PPE for the days site visits. It probably weighed in at around 7lb's. Not a lot but enough.

The run itself was uneventful and not especially fast but pleasant. Probably just about normal I reckon. It was a funny day at work. Mostly meetings but it was all surprising tiring. The return was a minute and a half quicker but it felt laboured throughout.

MOT Time

2013-05-15T20:20:00.001+01:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. That expensive time when mysteriously all those little light bulbs on you car break... Happily for me the ABS fault light that lit up on Saturday and remained throughout Sunday and Monday has gone back put again. I say happily, do I still have the ABS fault but the light has burnt out or did it cure itself? I don't know but if the ABS doesn't kick in I can always do it old school style by pumping - ooh er misses - the break pedal...

Anyway, that's all beside the side - where did that phrase come from anyway? Tomorrow I shall be double running from the garage to work and then back again at the end of play. Hopefully the c'eed will pass muster...

Despite The Rain...

2013-05-14T20:43:00.001+01:00

...we didn't get too wet. Yes, Martin and I finally managed to be in the office at the same time and got out there and ran. The view out of the window had looked grim all morning but there wasn't the faintest hint we wouldn't go do it. When the time came we just got out there and got wet. It wasn't really raining that hard - it was just that rain that gets you wet, drizzle, I believe they call it.

Our speed wasn't amazing and despite trying to stride out my stride length got shorter through the run. We ran the Malago loop today, fearing Dundry would be too much for us to handle. I felt slow and by the finish felt even slower but despite it feeling so laboured we were around in a fairly reasonably time. Not the fastest but, at 30:52, it was far from the slowest. I think I've dipped inside 30 minutes just once before so I can't really grumble about today's showing on the 7.2km course.

And So To Another Week

2013-05-13T21:19:00.001+01:00

Rain, heavy down pours, gusting winds. Yes, it's not really what I was expecting for May. Even by British standards this year is looking like a poor one. I am intending to get soaked tomorrow, out on the lunch run but it'll be good to go run it. Haven't done Dundry for a while. Tonight I couldn't be arsed. I finally got home just before eight and having started out sub six, that was enough for me. I'm really rather looking forward to get soaked tomorrow....

Well That Went Alright

2013-05-11T14:36:00.003+01:00

Not brilliant but definitely better that total pants. I do, of course, refer to the Mallards Pike orienteering today. I got myself over to Brierly ahead of time and ran the 6km across to Russell's Enclosure - oooh, matron. Then after a brief chat - as you do - it was time to head out into the wild green yonder.

I only made one bad error today. There was slight mitigation but we'll some to that in a minute. Once or twice I got my bearings a bit confused, hitting the wrong path while emerging from the undergrowth but after recourse to the compass I got myself back on the right track, so to speak - more haste less speed, or something like that. The rain didn't help either, made reading the map tricky but it was only a brief shower and my glasses soon dried.

So as I said, the only really disappointing control was number three. I didn't know the symbol - a fallen tree root clump thing, cross in a circle - that's the my excuse. Some might say that's no excuse and that would be fair comment. Rest I assured a cross in a circle is now firmly ensconced in my memory banks. By itself I might have found it but coupled with a poor route choice meant I ended up running far to far. Hitting the path, followed by a loss of sense for a few seconds before I eventually took a bearing and found the damn thing. Have to say it was fairly school boy but after that things picked up.

With my newly acquired skill of locating fallen trump stump thingies, I made solid progress around the rest of the course. Eventually finishing in 1:04. I'll take that - to be fair, I don't have a lot of choice, they don't let you upgrade after you'ved finished.

Any then, after another little chat it was time to return from when I came and as I set off after a few minutes the heavens opened and I was drenched in seconds - doh. And now, safely back all that's left to do is put the feet up and relax. Happy day.

alas for the squiggle top right...

A Plan

2013-05-10T20:18:00.001+01:00

I've decided the weather is going to be rubbish - fact. So I've decided I'm going...... orienteering - but with my normal twist. I'm going to park up five or so miles away and run there and back with a spot of pootling around the forest like a headless chicken in the middle. Should be fun - if a little wet. And from the sound of the rain bashing down on the conservatory it's going to be very wet underfoot at best.

Had a few details of the Welsh 3000's come through on email tonight. It's a 5am start!!!! Yes, FIVE and AM!!!!! I suppose at 35 miles and loads of ascent - 15,000 feet - I probably need to start at that time to get round in the daylight. Happy day. Really looking forward to it now. I feel so up for it - ooh err misses, haven't had one of those for a while - I almost feel like entering Ennerdale for the middle week between the 1000s and 3000s....

That Was All Very Damp...

2013-05-09T20:20:00.001+01:00

Oh I enjoyed that - not. Drizzle. The kind of drizzle that gets you wet right through to your very soul. Have to admit I cut it short and headed indoors for half an hour on the bike. Isn't it great now autumn starts in May and lasts until November.

The big decision though, is how will the weather be on the weekend? Will it be pants? In which case I'll be orienteering at Mallards Pike on Saturday. Will it be half decent? Then I'll be off to the Brecons unless Sunday looks better and then I'll be back orienteering and visiting the beacons on Sunday. Or will it be decent? In which case I could well be tempted back to North Wales. There's a lot of pressure riding on the MET Office's competency for this weekend.....

What Training?

2013-05-08T21:27:00.001+01:00

Been a rubbish couple of days on the training front. The long weekend, long forgotten. No enthusiasm for it tonight. Ho hum. Tomorrow I shall be stealing myself to a) get home at a reasonable time and b) be arsed for training. Going to be a tough call. Oh, the highs and lows of training - or lack of it. I need to advertise for a running buddy near home...

It Can't Be True...

2013-05-06T14:22:00.000+01:00

I spent the morning, wait for it, 'pottering' in the garden. Oh god, shoot me. Shoot me now. Has it come to this? To be fair I had to stay in for the Autoglass man to come and replace my windscreen so I busied myself tending the grounds - also know as the garden.

First off I finished prepping the second raised bed and then set about planting the red barons - cool veg name. Can you guess what colour them onions are going to be? Then I sat in the sunshine watching the bees bumble around in this big yellow planty thing wot they seem to really like. It was good to see a fair number of honey bees along with the bumblebees. The humble honey bee is currently having the fight of its life and if we don't watch out we'll lose them. Rest assured there's no pesticides happening on my watch. Almost got me thinking about trying bee keeping... but no, I can see that would be a step too far. Still, I'm happy to do my bit to keep the bee numbers up by sowing some wild flower seeds. All in all it was surprising how much time I lost doing not a lot. Anyway, the Autoglass man came and went so I'm now back roadworthy.

Yellow plant that the bees like...

So after a spot of gardening it was into the kitchen for a spot of pickling - spicy red cabbage. Followed by some baking - a crusty herb loaf and then some prepping for tonight's feast, paella. Oh and then I went for a run in Flaxley wood.

Back from the run and showered - oh how I needed the shower. Sweaty bastard doesn't quite do it justice. Despite the heat of the day fading it was still damn sticky out there. The paella wasn't too bad either. I didn't use quite enough saffron for the quantity of stock so it didn't go particularly yellow but for a first crack it tasted okay. Job done. Time to relax before the rat race resumes tomorrow morning...

Lazy Dayz

2013-05-05T19:50:00.001+01:00

Been chilling in the mid-summer like day. First thing I headed into the garden to cut the grass - after the obligatory cup of super strength black coffee of course - but then you know that by now. The only worrying thing about that - not the coffee - is the fact that we are now into May and that was the first of the year! And as Rod Stewart well knows, - yep, we all know where this is going - the first cut is the deepest... da dum dum, ching. Still, May? First cut of the lawn? I say lawn, really it's just scraggy grass with lots of weeds, dandelions, primroses, weeds, nettles, weeds. May? It's worry.

Next up was digging the second of my two raised beds. The first is well on the way, the potato plants are almost ready to be re-covered again. There are worrying loads though. Think I might have over done it on the tatties front. After a hour breaking my back digging up the grass, pulling stones and in some cases bricks! I was finally ready to fill with fresh compost. Need another trip to the garden centre tomorrow to get a few more bags and then I'll be ready to plant out my onions - ooh, matron.

Then it was into the conservatory to tend the herbs, chillies and tomatoes. I split the cherries - ssh, no, stop it - and transferred half of the tomatoes to a couple of hanging baskets! Yes, this year I'm trying some Tumbling Tom in hanging baskets. All being well I will be giving away tomatoes left,right and centre. So far everything is looking good.

My hamstring is feeling much improved but I decided to give it an extra day. No point in risking things at this stage. So after chilling in the sunshine out front, watching the birds flutter in the trees and the bees pollinate my black currents - ooh, err. I finished off the day by sowing a wild flower mix in the front garden. I like the wild look. I've planted up a mix of typical countryside wild flowers from cowslip to buttercups. Just need to keep the birds fed so they don't go pecking at my seeds - no comment. Well that's me done. Pip pip.

Confession Time

2013-05-04T19:31:00.001+01:00

No Grib Goch for me today. In fact, no running at all. The howling gales rocked the van from side to side all night - ssh, no, stop it, that's sadly the only thing that makes the van rock from side to side. Then from the early hours before dawn the rains came and then came some more. I arose at six feeling tired. One look out the van and I wasn't pleased. Yesterday's view was just rain and fog. There was no sign of the mountain. To be fair, that in itself would probably have put me off. The forecast said sunshine by midday but it wasn't really in the plan to stay up there that long. It was only once I stepped out of the van for the early morning call of nature that I realised my left hamstring wasn't feeling too good. Coupled with the cold and rain there was no way I was heading into the hills to get myself injured. I would have happily walked the route in the dry but I wasn't prepared to put myself through that in the cold, cold rain. I decided to take the drive home and save myself for another day...

I still need that Crib Goch recce though and maybe another crack at Glyder Fach and Tryfan. I fiddled around yesterday and I'm happy I know better the direct lines over those two bad boys but I'd be happier proving it. I'm happy with the rest of the route. The Carnedds section, from what I reccied, seemed fairly straight forward - famous last words. Taking a silver lining from today, I've learnt that I can fit in the drive up and back and two long runs over two days so even if I'm not able to book the Thursday and Friday off I can still get back to the mountains on the weekend of 18th/19th May. If I can take the holiday then I can possibly squeeze in the Cadir Idris race on the Saturday on the way home...

Overall, I'm happy with how things have gone. I feel pretty optimistic that I can give a reasonable showing in the Welsh one and three thousands now. Another couple of decent runs and I'll be there.The hamstring doesn't feel too bad right now. I can still feel a twinge but it isn't too bad and I reckon with a good day tomorrow I might be fit to have a pootle at the Devauden 10K on Bank Holiday Monday.

Not One For Those With A Fear Of Heights

2013-05-03T16:24:00.001+01:00

Namely me!

But I'm jumping ahead. After a hearty camping breakfast favourite, (veggie) sausage, egg and beans and a strong black cafetiere coffee, I set off back into the mountains. I knew pretty much from the gun that I was going to have to walk most of the route today. There wasn't going to be any pushing the pace. I could feel yesterday's mileage coming back to haunt me. With a proper route planned for tomorrow I had no choice than to give myself a chance of recovery and spend the day as a pure recce.

The first section from the road to the unnamed lake at the start of Y Gribin was a bit rubbish. I think I need to go again and head further up the road before I cut onto the hill. Once onto Gribin the wind started to really pick up, and with it the temperature dropped - what a difference a day makes. Towards the end of Gribin things started to get interesting. I wasn't expecting the Spanish inquisition, err, I mean a scramble! If there was a path I missed it.

Did I tell you I don't like heights? I was shitting myself as I climbed. Looking down - as you do - I don't reckon you'd be feeling too food if you slipped. Finally I broke the summit and could relax a little.

From there I pootled over to Glyder Fawr before a swift 180 and back towards Glyder Fach. The route to G Fach isn't the most simple. It's not that difficult it's just that there are lots of sub-tracks tempting off piste. All good practice though and I shall make a better job in the race.

The drop down from G Fach was via the scree to the right of Bristly Ridge - that's out of bounds in the race (3000s). From the saddle the fun really began.

After following the path to Tryfan for a stretch before long it turned time to climb. With the wind whistling through the urals it was time once again for a spot of cacking it. On the very summit I thought the wind was going to do for me - but it didn't. And then it was time to drop off to the west before turning north down the steeeeeep scree slope - shortest distance to the road. Looking up from the road it looked too steep so I thought I'd try it. As it turned out wasn't that bad really.

So in today's route was just over 9km with close to 1000m of ascent - but it took me long enough! All systems go for Crib Goch tomorrow.....

Cracking Recce

2013-05-02T17:36:00.001+01:00

Cracking day. The sun shon like it had a point to prove. Dare I say it, it was almost too much for me but I'd applied factor 50 and had a tank full of water - not to mention some cheese sarnies for lunch. It was very nearly perfect.

The early morning drive up here went without issue other than the odd slow moving lorry or two. And as I'd made such good progress I decided to call into a cafe for breaky. A massive scone with oodles of jam and even more clotted cream -oh the waist line. Washed down with a decent cup of strong black coffee.

Anyway, I finally arrived at Llyn Ogwen and after about half an hour of kit selection I was off...

I followed the way marked path just north of the lake at the eastern end that follows Afon Lloer before reaching Ffynnon Lloer I turned west for a spot of scrambling before it becomes more of a path to Pen yr Ole Wen. I made surprisingly good time considering I really wasn't pushing. Sure I was out pacing the walkers but there wasn't any hands on legs hill climbing going on.

From there it got runnable. The uppy downy ridge run past Carnedd Fach and Dafydd was fantastic. Again I didn't flog myself. The drop from Dafydd was rough in places but runnable.

Two thirds of the way to Carnedd Llwelyn I turned west off the ridge to contour at about 950m towards Yr Elen and my cheese sarnie. Yes Yr Elen was the chosen one. I managed to pick a little extra height but overall I had a pretty good nav.

After consuming lunch and having had a little dabble on Facebook it was time to get going again. I returned back down from YE the same way I'd gone up but eventually took the path to Llwelyn.

From there I had a simple out and back section to Carnedd Gwellian and with it views of the start of the 1000s race to the northwest and northeast the end of the 3000s. Nothing of any major worry there.

Then it was back to Llwelyn and the eastern descent down past Ffynnon Llugwy and a couple miles of road running. All in a flipping successful recce. I don't feel that tired and I was much quicker than I expected considering how easy I took things. In all I took just over four hours for the 23km with 1300m of ascent. Happy with that.

It's the Glyders and Tryfan tomorrow...

All Set

2013-05-01T19:42:00.001+01:00

But I've decided to travel up at first light tomorrow. It would all have been a bit busy. I'm packed though. Just took longer than I thought it would - practically moved the contents of the house into the van - doh. All that's left to do now is grab a few things out of the fridge when I head off in the morning. Tomorrow's route should only take me five, steady hours - even allowing for an extended lunch atop one of the summits - just made the cheese sarnie - I'll struggle to be out there six hours. That gives me plenty of time for the drive up. I won't be rushing - Vera doesn't do rushing.

For those with no life you'll be able to track my progress in the mountains in real time (subject to phone reception and the software working, not tried this one before) here:- One Touch Location.

Well that's it for now, all's left to do is to hit the sack early and get my head down...

And That's A Wrap

2013-04-30T18:48:00.001+01:00

Pre-flight checks are in progress. The larder is stocked. The forecast looks as good as it can do at this range so it's looking good for launch sometime tomorrow evening and the 3 hour plus drive - boo. After that it'll just be a question of the running... To which, I have been busy planning and the schedule looks something like this....

Day 1, a recce to the north of Ogwen over a section of the Carnedds. I'll be aiming to head up to Pen yr Ole Wen over Carnedd Dafydd then to Yr Elen following the 3000s route, back to Carnedd Llewelyn and then over to Carnedd Gwenllian before cutting back and down to the west so it's not a complete out and back as that would just be too boring. In all I reckon it's about 23km with about 1,300m of ascent.

Day 1 (clockwise from Ogwen)

I've a much shorter route planned for Day 2 to give me a bit of recovery. This one is going to follow the 1000s route up to Glyder Fawr before following the 3000s route over and down Tryfan. I reckon it'll only be 8km but with 900m it certainly won't be a jog in the park. I will take my time though and note the features. It's not like I'll have anyway else to be. In fact I will need to take my time as I've saved the best till last.

Day 2 (anti-clockwise)

The final delight, day 3, is a trek up the pyg track, missing Snowdon and heading over Crib Goch to recce the 3000s descent down to the road. I'm not going to head all the way to Nant Peris as the route up to Elidir Fawr and round to Y Garn is pretty straight forward. Once down on the road it'll be back up to Gylder Fawr and Fach before heading back down once more. In all I reckon that one will be around 21km with an impressive 1,800m of ascent.

Day 3 (clockwise from Pen y Gwryd Hotel)

None of my recce's are going to be ultra massive in distance but I have a feeling I'm going to be more than tired enough all the same. At this stage it's about getting three decent training sessions. Taking a look at the lie of the land and not getting injured or too knackered such that I can't complete the three days. And if I do stick with the plan I will still have covered some 52km and 4,000m of ascent - or for those yearning for the return of Imperialism, that's 32 miles and 13,000 feet of ascent. Oh, I can feel my legs aching already...

Almost Confirmed

2013-04-29T17:24:00.001+01:00

Just waiting on the final confirmation and then I'll be all booked off from Thursday. Toot toot. All being well I'll be hitting the road with Vera for short trip up to North Wales for a pootle around a few sections of the Welsh 1000s and 3000s routes. There are a few sections I need to acquaint myself with. Down from Crib Goch to Nant Peris for the 3000s definitely needs a looksey. Could also do with a look at Tryfan and Y Gribin. Come to think of it I've only ventured into the Carnedds once before... um, that's quite a lot to fit into a few days - especially factoring in not risking any one run being too long.

Managed some training tonight but I feel tired and want to rest up a little before the extended weekend. Need to look out some good places to park up overnight. Cue google maps and street-view. Oh, and I didn't get my marching orders this morning so I guess the MD didn't mind being accidentally called 'trouble'...

Aye, Aye, Here Comes Trouble...

2013-04-28T17:34:00.001+01:00

Yes, that's not the best phrase to say to the MD! Well that's kind of exactly what I did last night during a visit to the gents - soft of. I was of course talking to someone else and as I finished washing my hands I turned towards the drier with the words '... comes trouble' still hanging in the air... Cue the MD entering the gents and we pretty much met face to face with those words seemingly still reverberating - doh.

Despite that it was a good night. Me and my borrowed partner in crime for the night - that sounds a bit wrong - danced the night away till around 2am. She wasn't showing many signs of the recent knee surgery. Hope there are no repercussions for her in a day or two.

Anyway, it's always interesting at a Work Do to see who gets smashed. You see people in a completely different light and there were definitely a few people who were a little the worse for wear by the end of the evening. For once I wasn't amongst them. And we won't mention Eye of the Tiger.... Happy day. Back to the humdrum tomorrow...

Well I Mucked That Up

2013-04-27T13:37:00.001+01:00

That's what happens when you stop to answer a text when you're out for a run. As you do, I stopped the watch - you can guess what's coming - answered the text.... and yes, started running again without starting the watch - doh. Well that put an end to the Strava. What made it all the worse was that I went up to May Hill pretty strongly - truth. As I pushed the last little bit, starting to feel sick, I looked down at the watch. Eh, why's it show 1.5km? Should be close to 5km, ehh? Arrrrrgh, it ain't clocking. Bugger. I was feeling the buzz for once as I put in close to max effort on the climb. My thoughts filled with wondering how high up the leader board I would place. How big my VAM would be - ssh, no, stop it. And in the end I will never know. School boy error. Taking a positive from the debacle, I have no choice but to go run the route again - with the clock running next time.

Well despite mucking up the timing it was still a pretty good ten miles with an estimate of around 2,000 feet of ascent. The last three miles were flatish on the road so I could try and hold my form and push the pace. Apart from one un-runnable section of climb up an overgrown, disused public footpath, it was a pretty good new route to add to the arsenal.

All's left to do now is shower, comb the locks, don the DJ, head down to Bristol and then PARTY...

I Will Go To The Ball

2013-04-26T20:08:00.001+01:00

Just need to work out what to run tomorrow. Don't think I can risk travelling across for the Cribyn. It would just add that extra bit of stress I can do without. The timings aren't off the scale but that extra bit of pressure of getting back, cleaned up and down to Bristol would detract from the enjoyment of the race. No, I think I need to stay local and forego the mountains. In my heart - I do have one - I know I need more time in the hills but equally I want a top night out without the rushing around to get there. Guess I'll make do with a route through the forest. Maybe I won't even get too drunk so I can get in a decent run on Sunday somewhere. Gonna be a Ballroom Blitz tomorrow night...

I've Got Newts!

2013-04-24T19:42:00.001+01:00

Sssh, no, stop it. As you do of an evening, I was pootling around in the garden, checking for signs of growth from the potatoes, listening to the birds chirp and the sheep mooch - the sheep being in the field not the garden. I didst espy a smooth newt in the pond. The living mass of frog spawn drew my attention before spotting the newt sat amidst their sprawling mass. Ooh, I feel like David Bellamy. My chillies are off and growing, the tomatoes firing up, the only disappointment is the thyme and rosemary. They look a bit feeble. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Maybe they'll come on in a few more days. The sage, parsley, basil and coriander, though, are looking good.

Back to reality. What a day. The long day turned out not so long after all - RESULT. Everything, for once - possibly a one time only special offer but I hopefully not - went corkingly and by three o'clock we were done. Oh the joyous occasion. This day shall go down in the history books. It will be a day remembered across the generations. The story of which will last forever. After the universe has long faded the memory of this day will remain amidst the star dust. Maybe not....

Over Clocked

2013-04-23T19:58:00.001+01:00

What was supposed to be final preparation for 'the long day' tomorrow and home for tea into a 'not quite as long as the long day but not that far off really day'. I did finally make it home but not so soon as I could catch the final showing of Neighbours on 5* - damn, did I say that out loud? Doh. Anyway, we finally got things sorted and ready for the go. Tomorrow is going to be a pain - not to mention, long - but needs must. At least it's payday and the money goes in the bank first thing so even if it all goes tits up that can't take that away from me. Let battle commence and 07:30 tomorrow [bugle sounds].....

Couldn't Be Arsed Tonight

2013-04-22T21:13:00.001+01:00

My legs don't feel as achy as last Monday. They're still sore, just not as sore as last week. Is that a good thing? I don't know but I do know I'm too slow. Too old. Getting older by the day and unless I fight back I'll just be getting slower by the second. Guess there comes a time where the line in the sand has to be drawn. Do I live to work or do I work to live?

Think I'm decided I need to head north next week. Going to book it in for Thursday the 2nd and then head up to Snowdonia for a few days reccing the Welsh one and three thousands (change of units from metric to imperial there). Oooh, I might even fall off Crib Goch! In fact, when/if I get there, I'll be planning on it - to the north west-ish down to Llyn Glas.