Ashbourne in the Peak District today

Jack is a bit down about his work so we agreed to go and meet him today. We were planning to go up to Manchester but he wasn’t keen on that so we compromised and met in Prak District for a walk, ended up being about 9.5miles in the end. 

Listened to Colin Fleet’s podcast interview and it was amusing, quite unpleasant in places as he gleefully recited stories about him shitting on slides or in suitcases, I got picked in his tram though so that was good. 

This one wasn’t up and down hills although we were very close to Stepping Stones which is where I met Lewis that time and we’ve been to before. I took us on a slight detour because I wasn’t reading the Komoot app properly, oops. 

We did walk up a steep hill that was off our route and glad we did so, it was a great view. Walking back we got very wet feet and dirty shoes, flooded ground everywhere but it was all worth it and took Jacks mind off his problems with work and such like. 

Had a mini changeover and then found a small local pub and had a lovely dinner (I had beef and beer pie which I’d been thinking about on the way up there!)

Said our goodbyes and made our way home. Got back without issues around 8.30pm and got sorted out. A lovely day and a good workout again. 

This Kili training is working really well, I feel like I am getting in better shape, looking thinner and losing weight. Might just be my imagination but that’s how I feel so that’s all good. 

ABBA Voyage

Great fun - honestly felt like they were there - the holograms were amazing

Back to Leicester Square for a meal in the evening that was lovely too

Such a fantastic day and night

Daily targets being met

So I've set myself a target of 10k steps every day and so far for all of October I've managed it - even tonight when it's absolutely pissing with rain outside I took Bess for a walk up to North Oxford - she wasn't very pleased about that and just stopped walking a number of times. 

Got back and dried off and sat here listening to the rain outside - Tash has gone on a yoga experience in Kew Gardens with Charlotte and Jodie as part of Charl's birthday present so that's nice. 

The target is good, it's making me go out in the morning and evenings to hit the number and very often I am breaking the numbers - which in theory shouldn't be too, too hard but it's still about 3-4 miles. Tash and I do some of it together but I am equally happy on my own because I have my music to keep me happy.

I've also downloaded a Calorie Counter app - we've been reducing food portions and careful of what we eat anyway but this gives me that extra focus and it's only been 3 days but it's interesting how little I do eat - but also with the exercise removing calories I've put on. 

Anyway, it's still early days - but 3 weeks in and I feel better for doing all this

Training for Kili is on-going - Malvern Hills

We've been training for 3 weeks now - started properly on 23rd November. We've done one long walk with John & Pauline which took us around Wytham and was good - this weekend we challenged ourselves a bit further and went to Malvern Hills

John drove at 7.00am and by 8.30am we were walking through the town and into the hills - not hill, definitely multiple!! John had a walking route on his phone which was good but we did have to stop a number of times throughout the time to get the right trail, had to turn back a few times too because the GPS highlighted us going the wrong way.

It's a combination of many hills there so there was loads of walking up them to get puffed out, quick enjoyment of the scenery, and then back down the other side. And the scenery was amazing - it was a lovely day with full sun and the views from the top were beautiful.

Quite a cold wind up there, we're definitely moving into Autumn/Winter now and we needed to wrap up, but at the same time, when out of the win and basking in the sunshine it was lovely.

We pushed ourselves and it was a very good workout - took about 5.5hrs in total and by the time we were in the car and had traveled about 5 miles Tash and I were fast asleep!

Went out into town in the evening for Buzz Fowler's birthday which was great seeing all the old faces from Sunday football. Got a bit drunk truth be told.

Ticking along

It’s been a long time since I’ve added a post to this diary and it’s a shame after I’ve had such a busy year of it. I’ll hopefully get some things added in the last few months of the year. We will see I guess. 

Work is tough. Isn’t it always? I’ve been working late today which to be fair I’ve avoided doing and I’ve done well to mostly keep it in check and out of my personal life and time and thoughts  in fact I’m not even going to mention it any more on this post. 

So for the last fortnight I’ve managed 10k steps every day. Not bad and I’m feeling fitter and bettter for doing so. We are both eating more healthily so it’s a win win all round. I don’t have the hunger pangs quite so much now as to begin with so hopefully my stomach is shrinking, although it doesn’t appear that way when I look in the mirror. Early days yet so will see again at the end of the month if there’s progress. We have to remind ourselves that we were on holiday for 6 weeks and we did lose weight but it’s a long process. 

Tomorrow I have my interview with Pick That Out the podcast that Lee Smith created. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve 7 pages of notes so see how much I can cram in. Nervous and excited in equal measures. 

This will do for now. Speak tomorrow.