This week has been a rather unexpected (but welcome) change of pace – and quite out of the blue I have seen my circumstances totally change. Back in my very first post (here), way back in February 2016 I had a plan. I’d decided that I’d leave my job and that I’d spend a year … More Davey and the holy grail
Atomic Blonde is an awesome movie. I’m just going to get that out of the way from the word go. If you like your action slick and stylish with a pumping, and totally authentic soundtrack that completely evokes memories of the period (1989) then this is the film for you. I went to see it late last … More Grasshoppers and Atomic Blondes
Although I didn’t get upset about last Saturday’s unexpected weight gain I’ve been trying really hard to focus over the last seven days on forward momentum – and making each day one that I consider to be positive so that I can turn things around. Although a well rounded ‘positive’ day is also an emotionally … More Sweet Sixteen Stone
Fundamentally this week for me has been about forward progress, challenging some thought patterns about what I need from life and focusing on self improvement. I’ve felt like I’m at something of a pivotal point in my personal ‘journey’ (I rather dislike that word if I’m honest but rarely know what to substitute it with) … More Slow mo me
One of the things that I’ve sometimes found difficult with my weight loss progress is how to judge success. It’s a really malleable and ethereal concept at times – and I’m continually struck by how small and unexpected things often mean much much more than the massive ones. Last week I (very unexpectedly) put weight ON … More No limits
Today was supposed to be more inclusive of gradients and hills – and I was originally planning another exploration of the hills and tracks around Ilmington – however at 5am I was awoken by the hammering rain outside my window. Fields full of livestock don’t make for particularly good walking after a huge downpour – and you … More Wyken Slough nature walk
This morning I’ve been out with a couple of firm friends, who only met each other for the first time this today… Initially they were quite wary – but in no time at all after some introductions they were getting on famously. Probably bonded by their mutual love of bird watching Boris and Freckles seem … More Introducing friends
Although occasional insomnia sucks the catch-up sleep that follows it (at least in my case) is glorious. It’s now 6.25am on Sunday, the sun is coming up, birds are singing and I have about 11.5 hours of solid grade A shut eye under my belt. Honestly I feel like I could conquer the world! But … More Wardrobe malfunction
My usual Friday night insomnia has been more rampant than usual today/tonight/this morning or whatever it is now. I suppose that it’s Saturday (regardless of what my brain thinks) as I’m currently sitting outside Sainsburys waiting for it to open at 6.25am. I’ve been up all night faffing about – simultaneously too tired to do anything … More Fragrant butts
There are few more gratifying things in life than seeing the long term benefits of choices you’ve made come home to roost. Real, lasting change takes time to achieve and I honestly don’t believe that there are genuine quick fixes to anything – just continued perseverance in the right direction. The more you do the right … More Diabetes progress report
Today has the capacity to be a downbeat one – but honestly I don’t plan to let it get the better of me. I dislike dealing with officialdom at the best of times, and today is unfortunately one of those days where I have to. Although I often find that the reality of such encounters … More Transportation upgrade
One of the things that I’ve been pretty happy about after going up Snowdon last weekend is that instead of being completely destroyed like I’d expected to be the absolute opposite happened – and I’ve been full of beans. Although it may be attributable to further great progress with my weight loss – I’ve just … More Head in the Thorpe Clouds
It might be going to rain later on, but when I woke up this morning the weather report had changed slightly (it looked awful on yesterday’s advance forecast) and the worst didn’t seem to be arriving until after midday. Furthermore my bedroom was full of sunshine! I resolved to get up immediately and go for a … More Hero clothes
I did something I swore I would never do again yesterday. I’ve cautioned others against this behaviour in the past, so it’s only fair that I ‘fess up’ and be completely honest about falling off the wagon. I’ve been a very naughty boy. After I dropped my Dad off at the train station yesterday I … More Very naughty boy
As regular visitors (and subscribers) to this blog have probably noticed there has been a higher volume of posting than usual this week, and I heartily apologise if you’re getting sick of hearing from me. A few more introspective posts have left my drafts folder than normally would primarily because the last seven days have … More Au Revoir Supercoat!
It’s amazing how much power there is in a photo. Some of them seem almost translucent in their insignificance, and you can flick through them like decks of cards. The subjects that they contain mean absolutely nothing – but then you’ll see one that for no apparent reason contains a spark, which makes your heart … More It’s slowly getting easier
Boris is getting fitter. The poor little mite’s suffered quite a bit of late with some spinal pain and has been seeing a doggy therapist. With some physio he’s managed to progress from yelps of pain when moving to a noticeably more bouncy gait as he trotted around the park and today, as I walked … More Mint on saucer
There are lots of after effects when you do something negative in life – and over the years I’ve carried around more than my fair share of regret about lots of things I’ve done – or (more often) not done. Right up until the day she died my mother was trapped inside memories of her past, … More Snowdon epilogue
(We continue our adventures in Wales with the final part – number three) The evening after climbing Snowdon was unexpectedly painful. I’d expected my legs to hurt, but quite without warning when we got back to the hotel room after dinner something in my lower back went into a spasm and I was suddenly in … More Snowdonia part 3
(The story so far) Our intrepid hero was lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar hotel room listening to the gentle snoring of his friend on the mezzanine level above him and unable to sleep because he was very excited. He was about to climb a mountain. But not just any mountain – Snowdon!!! … More Snowdonia part 2
It’s 4.22am and I’m lying in the dark typing on my phone. The dim screen illuminates the pillow and sheet of my unfamiliar bed but little else of my surroundings. I should be asleep but I’m not. I’m really excited – and not for my usual reasons. Today is Saturday and I’m like a cat … More Snowdonia part 1
Something that I (shamefully) used to say to close friends and relatives was that I fully expected to die in the very near future, and that I was resigned to never reaching a pensionable age. The odds related to my weight seemed to support my often bleak approach to life and I was in retrospect … More Falling pianos
I’ve been in gentle exploration mode today – with the emphasis on stopping to look at things rather than clambering over stuff and moving quickly. Although I’d originally planned a return trip to Ilmington Downs today (original visit here) for some hill based cardio exercise I’m still being troubled by some stubborn blisters on my left … More Brandon Marsh
I’m just gonna go right out there and say it. War for the Planet of the Apes is a flipping awesome film. Its CGI is so accomplished that it’s often nigh on impossible to tell what’s real and what’s computer generated. The storyline is also superb and serves as a worthy bridge to the events of a … More Apes and eyeballs
Although I had a great win on the scales yesterday in the end (rather surprisingly) I found that my real moment of triumph came later on in a different non-scale victory that stood completely apart from my fifteen stone certificate. It’s odd as I reflect upon my feelings in Saturday’s post (link) that I started … More Penguin in a dell
I spoke too soon about the rain holding off yesterday. When I woke up this morning it was chucking it down – and the whole world looked damp and miserable. I know that this is a stark indicator of my potential mood for the day because on any other morning I’d look out of the … More Fifteen stone certificate
Despite the entire week threatening me with torrential downpours they have (mostly) failed to materialise. This is presumably because I am now the proud owner of some all weather outdoor waterproof trousers and a raincoat – and have been dying to deploy them to test whether or not they leak. On the one day that I … More To queue or not to queue
It seems a bit odd to me as I type it but somehow almost half a year has passed since I last visited Burton Dassett in February (link). Back then I was beginning to think of inclines and was already mentally leaning towards what I’d eventually need to be capable of when it came to climbing Snowdon … More Avon Dassett to Loo of the year 2005
Today started well. VERY well in fact. A knock at the door early on revealed a smiling UPS courier and a small package. Inside was a (quite unexpected) presentation box wrapped in cellophane. When I opened it I could scarcely have been happier with the contents! Instead of my old friend returning to my loving … More Draycote Water and fresh Apples
Boy it’s hot today – and as always in weather like this I’m the unofficial Warwickshire ambassador for moob and back sweat. I was talking to someone a while ago about something similar – and it’s incredible how people (such as myself) get paralysed by hangups that others don’t see as an issue. I (like this … More Soopertrousers!
