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. 

Boston - Day 7

Last day

Pissing down with rain

Saw kids off to school

Tucks was working but changed his meetings and took us to Wrentham retail park which I’ve been to so many times it seems!!

Got some shopping done. Pleasing.

Back to home and then out to dinner for burgers and last minute chat.

Back at house and kids turned up from school for last hour and Alison too.

Said goodbyes and Tucks drove us to airport

No problems. Gave me a Newport Shipyard cap as present. Very nice.

Everything through customs was easy.

Hour delay for plane though

Have had a fantastic break. Feels like we’ve done so much.

Flight was fine. Just over 5 hours which was so quick

Slept a bit and tired. Landed 7.15am in Heathrow. All good. Got the car. Home and to work!

Boston - Day 6

Hot day

Watched some of Grand Prix and then left at 8.30am to go back to central Boston where Tucks used to live for Grace to have tennis lessons

She was decent.

The others had a go and helped collect balls. Nice hour

Went for breakfast at Tatte’s and then SoWa craft market. Bloody expensive!!

Back to house to drop Hunter off and then off to orchard for apple picking

Impressive

Wandered round and picked apples. Nice ones too

Cider which no one but me liked

Stopped at Yoghurt Beach place for frozen yoghurt. Very nice then home

Beers. Wine. Grand Prix

Pizza

Chat

Bed

Boston - Day 5

Up and out early.

Drove down to Alison’s parents and met Dad.

Dropped girls off

Carried on to Newport, Rhode Island.

Watched rugby, Wales v Portugal in Irish pub. Enjoyable

Walked round

Then made our way to Black Pearl for lunch.

Boat show

Shopping. Helly Hansen. Not us.

Back to get girls. Very quick stop and then home.

Tucks a bit drunk and listening to music for rest of night. Watched Grand Prix qualifying in Singapore which brought back memories and was enjoyable to watch.

Then watched English PL football highlights before bed

Boston - Day 4

Tucks had day off.

He did some work and then we drove up north to NewburyPort. Nice town and wandered around.

Lunch and back again for kids and Hunter came over to babysit and we went out to Boston Centre and Newbury Street to a Greek Restaurant

Bit special. Very enjoyable

Drove back and beers and wine.

Boston - Day 3

Jumped on by the girls

Breakfast and walked them to bus stop

Caught up on emails. Lucky because I’d sold some Madness tickets in viagogo

Got train to South station today to explore the harbour area

Walk to Pleasure Bay. Hot

Along harbour

Pickle ball and beers at Harpoon brewery

Yankee lobster

Walked to aquarium

Jeff and Erin’s boat around bay with Tucks

Great fun.

Beers

Back to tucks for BBQ.

More drink

Boston - Day 2

Decent sleep although 5hrs ahead.

Downstairs to see the girls

Walked them to bus for school

Then train to Boston

Back Bay and Newbury Street to start.

Wandered around. Not looking for or at anything in particular.

Nice weather

Lots of walking

Donut for breakfast

Nice basket of seafood for lunch then rain!

Decided to come home

Got train back without hassle

Kids home

Kids put me in jail and did our makeup!!

Alison home and beers in kitchen chatting.

Out to Italian restaurant for dinner. Very nice.

Back home. Watched bit of tv

Bed. Tired as to us it was 3am!!

Boston - Day 1

Heathrow airport after dropping Bessie off at Charlottes.

No hassle and relaxed. Couple of beers in spoons and then flight

Watched two films and ate/drank as usual

40 mins through customs and picked up by Tucks

Home to his and straight to bed.

Cruise Diary - Day 7

Heavy heads all round. Up around 10.00am

Breakfast and then out on the sun deck. Bright hot sun for an hour or so and then cloudy and windy

Just relaxing all day. Lovely

Played cards.

Slept and ate

Meal in evening. Opal restaurant

Watched show in sky dome. Triboo

Cruise Diary - Day 6

Haugesund

Walk around to sculpture park

Shopping

Terrible cramp and slept for a few hours

Evening drinks

Gareth Gates meal in the limelight club

Very enjoyable

Monroe in sky dome

Dancing and singing

They loved it

Beach club bar. Shit awful comedian

Disco

Loads of dancing to requests

Drunk

2.00am finish

Everyone gets on so well together

Cruise Diary - Day 5

Didn’t have an early start today, thanks goodness.

Felt a bit rough, but not enough to ruin any time.

Breakfast about 9.30am and then waited in the library for everyone and then left the ship

We were at Hellesylt today and it’s a tiny UNESCO heritage site. Only 300 residents

We had a walk around and then found the netting place for the speedboat trip that we’d booked.

Got suited up and climbed aboard and then went out into the fjord, the driver was great and we went at a great speed. He’d stop every now and then explaining the terrain and whales etc. really interesting and very engaging bloke.

The scenery was breath-taking and there were waterfalls cascading down everywhere you looked. Just mesmerizing.

Absolutely worth every penny, it was such great fun for 50mins. Everyone really enjoyed it.

Back to harbor and Charlotte’s hangover kicked in so they went to bed and we did more exploring. Lovely water fall and not much else.

Back to the boat for food and rest. Slept for a while on deck and it gradually got colder and colder. We didn’t see sun today, just cloud cover the whole time.

As we left port and headed back to the North Sea you could feel the cold wind coming down through the glacier valley. Didn’t stay out much longer!!

Just pottered around killing time and then met up with kids to have dinner. Just stuck to buffet today. Didn’t feel too good and went and showered and changed. Having the buffet food showed the marked difference from the restaurants that we’ve been eating at. It was okay but not a patch on the others.

They all went to the spa session they had booked at 8.00pm and I wasn’t interested so had a couple of hours free time to myself. Just walked around the ship, bit of golf practice, cheese and biscuits and nice coffee in Brodies. Perfectly happy.

Silent disco. Wow

Food

Bed

Cruise Diary - Day 3

Arrived in Stavangar

Taxi to pulpit rock

Jack, Jodie, me and Tash

£100

Hike. Hard

4km

Cliffs. Mental

Busy

Didn’t like it much. Don't like the edge any more

Taxi back.

Wandered around town. Very nice.

Everyone else had done it because they’d stayed whilst we did the hike.

Caught up on the ship for food and then got clothes to sit in deck and look out over the twin

Slept a bit and then back to cabin and slept 20 more mins.

Got ready. Everyone a bit quiet and flagging. It was a late night last night.

Food in Italian restaurant

Take that show

Shit comedian

Coffee and cakes

Early night

Cruise Diary - Day 4.

Arrived at Olden

Waited public bus. Bit stressful

Briksdale glacier

Bus back

Camping sites

Amazing views

Not much to see other than outlet and souvenir shops so had a wander around those

Back to ship for some food

Adult area on the deck for a snooze

Cocktails and beers

Hot tub and people

On the shore waving us off for ages in the rain. Not quite the whole town that Tash suggested it would be, but it was a lovely gesture.

Got ready

Drinks in Crows Nest. Nice bar.

Lovely meal too

Off to the Limelight club with a decent live band and singer.

Second half we got up and danced.

Made it lively!!

When that finished at midnight went to usual bar that was empty with a disco.

So we made requests and got the dance floor busy, mostly!!

We were very drunk.

Finished about 2.00am.

Knackered.

Cruise Diary - Day 2

Decent sleep

Clocks went forward

Up and to breakfast.

Incredibly busy. Ate outside. Queues everywhere. Hard work

Outside and relaxed

Oil platforms we went past in the North Sea - didn't expect to see those - impressed

Relaxing all the time

Brodies for beer and watch England women’s World Cup match

Celebration night

Drunk

Cruise Diary - Day 1

 Drove down

Huge ship (Iona)

Nice cabins

So much food and elegance

This is going to be a good week!!

Croatia general diary

 

• Nice hotel

• Breakfast and evening meal

• Never sitting outside.for either

• Good food

• Plenty of drink

• Pool

• Sun beds early shift

• Late nights

• Not feeling well. Concerning

• Cards. Nomination Trumps

• Beach bar. Banned

• Thunder and rain storms

• Dubrovnik GOT

• Boat taxi. Soaked

• Netball and football tournaments for women

• Charity shield

• Bird saving

• Walk with lads. Bar at 11.00am

• Chocolate deliveries

• Table tennis

• Walk with Tash, swimming. Turtle

• Swimming in pool. 20 and 30 mins

• Sleeping

• Sunset drinks

• Supermarket savers