Saturday 20 June 2009

Lazy Sat all day

What a week 3 mornings in the gym, played golf, worked and then went on the Tenterden steam Railway Friday for a charity do. The charity was Dave Lee's children's charity always one I try and support given the chance.

Incidentally The Dave Lee Classic Amateur celebrity golf competition plays again this October the 4th which is a Sunday at The London Club near Brands Hatch http://www.londongolf.co.uk/. In fact "The European Golf Open" was recently played their so you may have seen some of the course on Television. The course is split into 2 18 hole courses designed by Jack Nicholas and will punish the golfer who doesn't hit a straight shot.

This day is a chance for the amateur golfer to sample as near to playing a pro competition as practical, there can be 8,000 people on the course on the day. From experience this is not a day to be wayward or to forget how to hit the ball. If you can imagine a par 3 green with 300 spectators literally sitting on the banks around it, then you can imagine how nerve racking it can be for the ordinary person.

If I remember correctly we have done 5 Dave Lee Classic days, enjoying the company of Jack Shepherd (Wycliffe) Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) Butch (Barron Nights) & John Pratt (ex Tottenham & England Footballer) twice. Poor John still not sure if he has recovered, what he'd done to deserve to play with us twice?

We have had some fantastically memorable days at this event and always had a good time. From the year where the following happened :
  1. A flock of birds flew across the road in front of the car on the way to the course (Chart Hills).
  2. A dog in the road
  3. I uttered the comment that with our luck we'd go round the next corner and a cow would be in the road and it was.
  4. A sign I said, I know where we'll start and what will happen I said.

We'll start on the 17th an island green surrounded by water as it was to be a shotgun start, everyone tee's off together but all on different holes. I bet I put my ball in the pond go to the drop zone and chip to 3 foot across the pond and sink the put for a 4 in total (not too bad).

We arrived checked in and sure enough we were off on the 17th, the ball went in the water and I chipped to 3 feet from the drop zone. I sank the put for a 4 and we had a good days golf but the power of thought is fantastic and sometimes spooky.

Another time one of my team members asked me to tell him the distance to the nearest ditch off the tee and to club him (not what you think). I suggested a 5 iron as he couldn't possibly put it into the ditch. However sure enough he hit a screamer which did indeed go in the ditch. He recovered the ball and hit his next shot into some trees on the right. The next question was what was in the trees. I explained it dropped down to a dried lake bed, he would find his ball but wouldn't have a good shot.

Team member was wearing white trousers,went into the trees muttering the ball would come out, get onto the green and he would get a point which it duly did. The ball flew out of the trees from off the lake bed and the Team member materialised covered head to toe in mud, dried lake bed was not so dried. Team morale for 2/3rds of the team went up. for 1/3rd went down and the crowds thought it was amusing as well.

Wondering what the next few weeks hold for the world as the events in Iran will effectively destabilise further the area. The regime in charge are desperately trying to hold onto power but I get the feel it is slowly slipping away from them. It's a shame that people have to die to achieve freedom for the many. A big thing on Twitter is to change your twitter picture green in support of the opposition parties in Iran, a small enough thing to do I hear you say, I'm not sure as I think I'd sooner donate to the humanitarian relief that will be needed if and when it all goes wrong.

Gordon Brown says he has had a bad week, wake up and smell the coffee Gordon, the people have been suffereing for years because of you. A bad week indeed I hope you have many more all centered around thinking what a wasted opportunity the last 12 years have been and how sad that at least something couldn't have been achieved.

Up early tomorrow to drive to Woodall Spa for a two day golf competition, the same one where I ended up last year being carted off the course due to knee ligament damage caused when my dog ran into the back of my right leg. I couldn't walk more than about 250 yds for nearly 3 months without anti inflammatries and even now if I overdo the gym I have to spend time taking it easy,hence the title of the blog today.

I woke up this morning which is always an advantage, could you imagine not waking up, don't go there. Knee was telling me it was 80 years old which was not good as the rest of me is only 5o and I've rested it and taken anti-inflammatries all day. Its finally settling down. I remember as a 10 year old thinking in 1969 that I'd be 20 in 1979 and 30 in 1989, come on you can do the sums.

In 2009 I'd be 50 but no one prepared me for bits that drop off and joints that ache.

Friday 19 June 2009

Here we are again another friday, have had several chuckles this week but the most embarassing was during a run on the treadmill weds morning. This i can assure is something akin to the sight of a Bull Elephant in full charge, with added wheezing.

Anyway to be blunt my belly had a terminal collission with the emergency stop button during a run at 8.5km per hour which resulted as you can imagine in an emergency stop and I now realise what the riders at Badmington horse trials must go through when their horse refuses a fence. I don't think im going over the top when i say that!

Deliberate lie of the week falls yet again to Gordon Brown who at least he is consistent about something. Speaking at the GMB conference he said that after the elections the Tories if in power would make 350,000 state employees redundant. It seems no one told him he'd already committed to do that himself in his latest spending proposals. D'oh

Down the gym gets worse as during an after Gym coffee, up walked someone from the golf club, who when asked how long he'd spent in the gym remarked not long but then he didn't need to.I like to think that after 6 months of purgatory trying to get fit, there would come a time when i wouldn't need to try hard and then I remember that anyone eating a piece of cake in the same room as me causes me to have a 3 pound weight gain per mouthful.

Formula 1 seems to be ending up in tears today with a lot of the teams electing to breakaway next season. It is a shame but Max Moseley and co do seem as though they could slide into the ruling Iran Government at a moments notice if they needed a job. This is absolute tosh as what is being said is that the teams must limit their spending in a sport where spending vs technology equals results and too much meddling spoils the end result for the fan.

I can't imagine Max Mosely saying to Sir Alex Ferguson for instance that you can spend £60 million on a new player or pay a paticular player wages of over £150,000 a week even though Football is the very sport that does need to reign in the spending.

On Football Stuart Pierce shows his fangs as U21 manager last night with his masterful mental handling of Theo Walcott, by using him as a sub he put the team first and inspired a display from them all which beat the tournament favourites Spain. I had Stuart Pierce down as a 2nd rate manager up to now, a sort of Tony Adams like character who was too nice to cut it whist deserving total support.

Its too early yet to proclaim Stuart Pierce a future England Manager however the FA definetely have got right the cross fertilisation of personel between the England management sides well done guys!

On the business front an interesting wek and I'm about to set off for The Hoodeners Horse for a meeting with 3 or 4 fellow Twitterers, what will I make of them and more importantly what will they make of the pub and me. Oh well not to worry must remember to clean teeth, smile a lot, not pick food up of plate with fingers when eating soup and not to pass wind in public.

The Mp's expenses scandal rumbles on and on, not sure any further good can come out of this, perhaps there is a dearth of news out there that is more interesting. However they don't deserve a £15k per annum pay rise, we must expect them to do the same trick with expenses again at some point int the future as soon as people forget.

Got to go now expect another update next week and hopefully there will be something different to talk about other than MP's Expenses!

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Reply from Perry Mayer City Pub Life

Tried to leave my twopenneth but it wouldn’t let me. Don’t know whether you want to add it.

Andy

Excellent article. It's taken me eight years to encourage licensees to a) get a website and b) keep their websites up to date. Our new challenge is to get them to join twitter without really knowing whether it works or not.

Us twitterers are pioneers my friend. You have already discovered that many followers in the Colorado Rockies and beyond are unlikely to pop in for a pint of Bombadier on Sunday afternoons so your tweets are wasted and the amount of followers are in danger of becoming an ego trip.

What we need are tools to purge them from our database in addition to finding those twitterers who are a) local or b) likely to add value.

I wonder how many posts these "Twits" - who claim to be following 30,000 other twits" - actually read.

I'm new to twitter and still learning but here is my strategy for what it's worth. (I'm twittering as a business not from a personal perspective). I am only interested in people who want pub and bar information, I don't care what they had for breakfast as I'm sure they don't care what I had either.

1. I have been using a number of tools to help me. tweetdeck. tweetspinner and buzzom to name just three.

2. I follow those that match my keywords and, from today, those that match my target location. example (pubs UK)

3. I unfollow those that do not follow me. I simply don't have time to go through their posts or profiles.

4. My "following" list is manageable and I can read the posts that interest me and will manually delete those that continually irritate or annoy.

Over time, maybe a year or more, I will keep my followers enthralled with up to date, interesting information and the bulk of those will, hopefully, be those who want to carry on receiving pub information and will RT to their followers. Those I am following have the same challenge, enthrall me, keep me interested or I click the unfollow button.

Thank for the post and good luck with your tweetmeet on Friday.

Perry

Perry Mayer
Managing Director
www.pubandbar-network.co.uk
www.citypublife.co.uk
0871 288 2458
07951 776 435
Skype id: citypublife
Skype phone: 0121 288 5486

Tuesday 16 June 2009

What did we do before Twitter?

Its official I'm now a twitterer and I'm not even sure the word exists? Lets face it if web2.0 is the millionth word in the English Language can any one tell me where Twitterer ranks?

The real question is what social purpose does Twitter fulfill and whats in it for all the individuals who Twitter on it?

Bulletin boards have been around for a good few years now and as such seem to have been restricted to groups of people interested in a specific thing like "Share Investment" or "Bell Ringing" although I wonder what the default sound of someone posting on a "Bell Ringing" Bulletin board would be? Perhaps the 1812 overture for hand bell ringers or even "Big Ben" doing the entry to "News at Ten" I have a strong suspicion I'd turn off the sound after a couple of minutes due to lack of novelty.

Twitter brings together diverse groups of people with different technological backgrounds and creates a forum through which they can meet and converse. Of course if someone if really not your type you can switch them off or Block Them. Daydreaming here of Wii console with Block button that expires some ones computer everytime they annoy you on Twitter. Not such a good idea, expect would need to replace my computer too often.

The different types of people on Twitter can join groups or "Twibes" but this doesn't really seem well thought as I'm then not sure what supposed to happen next with a Twibe is it meant to be a Facebook ripoff? Anyone think the designers of Twitter sat there one night and thought up the idea of Twibes over a couple of Beers.Perhaps I've missed the point?

On the subject of followers, whats the point of having a load of followers who live in brazil if they all speak a foreign language oops geordie is a foreign language isn't it "y i bouy". On the other hand I've always harboured a secret desire,steady, to learn to speak and be conversant in french, but google have solved that with instant translation pages French - English et cetera. So tell me recently when I used it why did it translate correctly every word but one. Naturally it was the word I didn't know.

Twitter is strange I swear I can detect the gulf in humanity across the age ranges and races of the world or am I like the people in the recent article about how people can't really, despite everything tell the emotions of their dogs? Apparently we impose human emotions on dogs that they don't really have, come on if you start from the basis that the dog has done something wrong you'll be right eventually.

That reminds me of two people, one whose Blog you are reading that used to sit in the Back Bar of a certain Sandgate Hostelry around the Millenium drinking Green King IPA swearing that the Millenium bug would cause a property crash and a recession. We drank a lot of IPA before that prediction came true!

However I digress, I admit to blocking Twitterers who have followed me but really don't seem to be a fit for my mentality. You may think that leaves me with few followers but hey only 2 people can play Chess at a time. I also block people for gratutious swearing so there.

As I Twitter as "Hoodenershorse" what is the point? It is purely and simply that I wanted to broaden the appeal of the business by reaching out to people socially active in the Ashford area and encourage them to come into the pub, trying the food, we cook mexican cuisine rather well even if i say so! In the few weeks since I started I've learnt a few things and had a lot of help from people who probably didn't know they were helping, thank you,thank you!

A quick mention here for Pub & Bar Network and Perry / Linda who have both been instrumental in us using Twitter as well as helping us to promote the Hoodeners Horse. Please follow the link http://tiny.cc/4w8Yx which should take you to the Hoodeners Horse on the Pub and Bar Network. Whilst your there why not look around lots of good locations/pubs to visit.

Friday coming the pub will entertain a few, as I have no idea how many, twitterers who I will endeavour to convert to devotee's, at lunchtime. I can feel a charm offensive coming up and may have to shower that day as a precaution.

FletchMcgull who if've got that wrong will probably never forgive me asked today, has anyone got business from Twitter and I'm not sure I can answer that but I can say this:
  • I'm connecting with some customers on a more personal basis and making sure the staff look after them.
  • The staff are therefore raising there standards re client handling.
  • I've achieved a more direct feedback from those people that are in contact through tweet with me.
  • As a result of Twitter the business will make contacts and grow.
  • Finally because of the connection through Twitter I hope its making the visit for the client more special due to ability to give direct feedback if something was right or wrong.

In life if we make other people's dreams come true somewhere sometime your own will flourish.

What did we do before Twitter? I can't remember.

Sunday 14 June 2009

Sunday morning marking time

Sunday is such a great day, but why do we always ask on monday where did the Weekend go? I naturally have some thoughts about that.
  • When we go out friday night, have too much to drink and wake up the next day, we find its monday and obviously the calender fairy has stolen 2 days.
  • Time as Einstein correctly described does not flow in a linear manner (on sticky ground did Einstein say that?) Therefore its obvious to me that at weekends time travels 2 or 3 times as fast.
  • Alternatively time during the week slows down and its only at weekends that times speeds back up.

What ever the answers simple, time runs faster at weekends when you've got nothing to do except look after yourself.

When Neil Kinnock was thrown out as Labour Leader we all thought we'd got rid of him and his wife Glenys, wrong people. It appears the chancer had seen that the Brussels Gravy train was worth more than being UK Prime Minister and that the money was over there to be had. Boy has he had the money over the years millions of it in fact and he and his wife have even claimed double housing expenses whilst living in the same house.

We now know that the expenses scandal has been going on for a long time and should henceforth be called by this Blog the "Kinnick Manouver!"

I blame my wife (for most things) no seriously when the boys were young she used to play games with them in the car, about which cars they could spot and new number plates. My eldest is a car nut in every way and if ever "Top Gear" need a new presenter I have first refusal over his management contract, I'm no fool I've seen what Clarkson is paid. So over a period I've found myself discovering Top Gear in a way I never thought I would it all helps that the presenters are overgrown kids.

James May article in The "Mail on Sunday" today, was more of an interview, about a person that comes over with a great deal of humour but also down to earth. If you get a chance to watch the three series on drink he has done with "Oz Clark" they often repeat on the Sateillite channels then do so. One series was made in America, another in Europe and the third in the UK.

Later in the year we have hired a cottage "up north" and during the UK series Oz & James featured a railway trip where 3 stations had buffets run by the same company each buffet featured up to 10 real ales and all were different. No problems with transport you just catch the train. I can see it now, monday morning on holiday, just going out dear I'll be back friday, no of course I won't be drinking.

The final comment on Mr May was something I'd like to qoute from the article which made me laugh and no telling what it will do to anyone reading this. " If you hit Oz Clarke with a cricket bat he would tell you something about the flavour of the wood as he went down!"

I see that the England team from 1966, you know the reserves have finally got medals overdue sadly. Everyone seems to have forgotten the people from 1066 and the "Battle of Hastings" who were never rewarded for their good deeds on the day, Ok so it may be a bit late for them but what about the last two survivors of the First World War who both have been honoured by the french.

It's so rare for the French to get it right that I'm sitting down typing this. So Henry Allingham and Harry Patch last two surviving British veterans from the "Great War" have not been honoured in the Queens Birthday Honours List, not much time to get this one right!

In recent years these 2 men with their quiet dignity have found themselves thrust more into the 21st century than they would have expected to be at 100years old +. I know there have been others that have carried the torch along the way, these two are left as the last reminders of a time in our History we must not forget!

They are regarded fondly I would suspect by most people in the country regardless of Race,Creed or Religion and at an age when they expected to be in a dark corner of a nursing home, seldom seeing the light of day, they find themselves Celebrities. Not for them the fleeting Celebrity of Big Brother with its constant exposure of "trash brittania!"

So that leaves the Question just who advises the Queen on the honours list hmmm?

All that leaves for this blog is to post a link to this 8min video on The Last Post ceremony at Ypres and a hope that you follow the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgEmeShjxpM

Friday 12 June 2009

Its been a while!

To be precise 7 days during which I haven't blogged. As in all things in life you have to take stock of what your doing and try to improve it from time to time. Note to self advoid going to pub 1 day a week and listen to self.

Up to a couple of weeks ago I had never dreamed I would write a blog, nor had it occoured to me someone might want to read it. So what makes an interesting blog?

For me the answer has to be something written from the heart which makes reading it easy but involves the reader and with all due respect to a number of people, not something which promises online millions if you sign up for the free(non-free) 3 minute course.

Most of my good blog ideas are fleeting and I must remember to get a notebook and write them down as my memory is not what it used to be. Alternatively i'm just not funny any longer if ever I was? Answers on a postcard to Johnathon Ross marked "Don't p off Andrew Sachs in future!"

On the subject of Johnathon Ross, good news this week as pay cuts all round at the Beeb means his next contract will be for less money £2.5 million less. Ronaldo I hope your reading this. My view of the Great Woss is that he should have been put out to grass and summarily sacked, if he comes on any medium now I turn over. My eldest son is more forgiving however and I must admit when the Woss lets the interviewees speak instead of thinking he is the star, he is not bad.

The real star of The Johnathon Ross show on the BBC has to be "The Piano" as in "Four Poofs and a Piano" seriously those guys are either very good actors or they are living a dream where they rub shoulders with top stars who the everyday person might idolise. Imagine the Job description "Sing Musical Entry for (star???)" try to be funny, pick up pay cheque. Long may it continue.

The government out thought me this week as whilst I predicted the conversation about Proportional Representation I didn't predict the minister going off message and admitting taxes would rise under Labour to pay the bill! Now there's a suprise. Hey look peeps we are in a mess and its wake up time soon, hope we have all got deep pockets.

Gordon Brown seen in rehearsals for Oliver the musical,Rowan Atkinsons needs an understudy as Fagin. " Got to pick a pocket or two boys!" You can imagine the music for yourself but with a scottish lilt and sucking of lower lip before telling next lie!

On the subject of money I try not to envy people who earn massive amounts of money because in an ordinary market phase where people are employed and not struggling, its all relative but I do find the Ronaldo issue a bit off.

The transfer fee for Ronaldo could buy all of the 63 teams in the top 3 divisions of non-league football or build a 40,000 seater football stadium. Just think what Gillingham FC could do with that? The weekly pay is stupendous and I liked the cartoon of Gordon Brown in the Times sitting on a football in football strip saying something about a £2 Trillion transfer fee. When though will the ordinary fan stop going through the turnstiles funding this Roman orgy of extravigant spending.

Another recurring theme this week has been how good we are at football, come on Jermain Defoe scored twice against Andorra, lets get real they were part timers and we should have scored 10.

Finally taking a look around the world today I notice that despite everything else the Sky hasn't fallen in and Life goes on. Not a bad message to remember if and when things go wrong.

Friday 5 June 2009

Just A Jaunt

Yesterday saw the predictable quick day trip to France & Belgium which gave some relief to the never ending tales of woe that materialise in England via the press daily. The sun shone, well mostly but it was a bit windy and so when sittiing outsine in the sun it was important to get the right position or end up with a sore neck.

P&O deserve a mention as we went over from Dover on "The Pride of Dover" and enjoyed breakfast in Langhams restaurant onboard, which whilst still not packed due to the recession seems to be seeing a recovery in trade. Porridge, Toast and a cooked breakfast meant I walked on the boat and waddled off at least 2 stone heavier. It was then agreed that perhaps lunch could be postponed until another day and the next meal of the day wopuld be an early supper. I thought just as well.

On arrival to Calais we headed for Adres, just outside Calais 10mins, first of all where a friend has a wine shop called "The Wine Collection". Guy "Twitters" very occassionaly under the name "Boursots_Wine" and to see his website and offers visit this address http://www.boursot.co.uk/offers.html, if in the Calais region always worth a pop in to see whats new. I sampled a lovely Minervois yesterday at the bargain price of £1.90 a bottle.

All too quickly our visit came to an end and laden with wine and sober, I'm sure you understand we set off to Adinkerke in Belgium and Tobacco Alley the cheapest place to buy Cigarettes around. As a non-smoker in a car full of smokers I felt distinctly out of place but was able to grab a couple of pints of Stella to make up for this as the others were buying cigarettes.

The prices in Tobacco road seem to be exactly the same so not much shopping around to do.

Find a place go there and use it again if you feel comfortable. When there recently we have gone to The Pub between the garage and the roundabout , they give tokens for a free coffee or beer with every purchase. I keep meaning to try the breakfast there as well.

Time to move on and a visit to Ypres was in store, as one of the occupants of the car had not seen the Menin gate it was decided to make a detour round Ypres to enter the town through the gate. The Menin gate is alwaysa moving experience as it lists tens of thousands of 1st world war soldiers whose last resting place has never been found. Each night at 8pm a ceremony takes place to commemerate the fallen with the "Last Post" being played, not a dry eye in the house and very atmospheric.

The whole town goes into hyperdrive around armistice day November 11th each year and the hotels are booked several years in advance around this date.

In february when we last visited the area all was very depressed but people are out spending money in the sunshine again and the local economy is recovering still far too expensive for me personally. The upside however is that people are daytripping to Kent from the region as we are so cheap in comparison, whether this will continue as the pound recovers against the Euro its difficult to say! Petrol is much more expensive but diesal looks to be cheaper so be aware of this if going over and intending to fill the tank.

Whilst sitting in the Vivaldi restaurant http://www.restaurant-vivaldi.be/uk/main.htm in the main square in Ypres I spied someone who looked familiar and was suprised to see Richard and Carol who I know, sitting just four tables away, a long way to go to bump into someone you know but it is a small world. They'd spent the last four days in Ypres after a car rally and had one day to go before coming home.

You always know when you've started to outstay your welcome in a Restaurant because a Reserved sign goes onto the table and the Bill turns up. After a while we made our way back to Calais by way of a diversion for roadworks which left us tight on time to catch our ferry, however just making it we headed for club class (extra £12 a head each) and home.

As my fellow travellers were both driving and had to refuse their champagne it was only right that I assisted them with its disposal (Hic) and so to bed!

Wednesday 3 June 2009

Down the gym

Late this morning, why is it this week going to the Gym is causing me such problems ah yes younger wsd (Working Sheep Dog) went on walkabout but luckily responded to my calls and gave away where she and our Border Collie were getting through the hedge when they decide to re-enact the film "The Great Escape". Have you ever seen a dog ride a motorcycle like Steve McQueen?

As I was rounding the last roundabout a text arrived declaring my cup of Tea was getting cold, as I previously explained can't do fitness without at least 2 cups of Tea inside me, I'm sure its an age thing.

The current theme this morning is the Question someone should ask of Gordon Brown, "Mr Brown who is that behind you?" and when he says "No-one" the reply would be "Exactly". So when the bloodbath of elections tomorrow is over who will be left standing in the labour party to don the mantle of PM? Will they also claim no General Election will be needed.

Lets take a quick look at the tricks the ruling party of this country could pull to keep power.

  1. They could naturalise all illegal immigrants in the UK over night giving them the vote and hoping that they vote for the party that gave them citizenship.
  2. In a last ditch attempt to advoid wipe out at the next election, they could bring in proportional representation something the Liberals have been clamouring foryears for!
  3. How about a national coalition for these troubled times with the Liberal Democrats with Vince Cable as PM and anybody else who will sit down round the table as long as they aren't Conservatives.
  4. Finally if all else fails how about a coup on the basis that it would be unfair to the Labour party if their collective snouts were to be removed so roughly from the troughs before they have made enough money.

I had a discussion some weeks ago after a fitness session where i said that "Call me Dave" Cameron should try the "David Davies" manouver and tell his Mp's to resign on mass and try and force an election, now it seems that the Liberal Democrats are touting the idea around although I can't see them doing anything but losing seats if they dare try. Even Richard Littlejohn of the Mail was yesterday putting the same idea around, I'm starting to wonder if the guy on the next table when we put the world to rights with a notebook is working for the Daily Mail or The Sun?

So that just left the football world to put right Stevie Gerrard finally confirmed yesterday all the years of being the only world class Liverpool player has, has gone to his head, when he declared thatLiverpool should re-sign Michael Owen who incidentally I do feel sorry for, as I hate to think what it must be like to be so good and have injury after injury, steal it away from you. I'd like to think I'd have repayed some of my wages as a forfeit for not being able to play often enough.

Premiership clubs please take note if you want a slow player who can't play anywhere on the pitch cost £120,000 a week and who will be available due to injuries, a smattering of times over a 3 year period for cameo last 15 minutes where he will not get out of breath or make a blind bit of difference to the result please call me!

Tuesday 2 June 2009

Dieting A personal Journal

A little background information :

  • Every ten years or so during my life I have had to lose weight and dispense with the excesses of the previous decade.
  • I have reached the 50 milestone heavier than ever
  • Weight is harder to shift as you get older (fact)
  • The less mobile you are the less mobile you become.
  • The heavier and older you get the more issue's like blood pressure and things like diabetes raise their head. ( I don't have Diabetes)

Going forward this leaves me say 7 stone overweight, 50 years old, with a mental age of 14 ( perhaps i should reread the Diary of Adrian Mole again I might understand it now i've matured.) In addition because of the weight I was feeling lethargic and lacked enthusiasm, oh and I should mention that I have a policy of never leaving a bottle of wine opened with some in it!.

Not a good picture that one, overweight 50 year old with a drink problem who makes the royal family ( TV show) look positvely active and well groomed.

The situation started to resolve itself last december when someone who I regard as a good friend suggested going to the gym together for 3 months to try and improve our respective fitness levels, so we set off early Monday, Wednesday & Friday each week for our torture experience and the result is we both 6 months down the line are substantially fitter and hooked.

The real problem is that obviously the last decades excesses were cumalative and are proving hard to shift. Fat it seems converts to muscle before you lose weight and ive now got a lot more muscle. I had more chins than a chinese telephone directory although some of those chins seemed to have been cut off and are no longer visible. Ive got a Thinner face in case you didn't get the Joke. I've probably lost 3/4 of a stone and can take most things in my stride.

In the afternoons when I needed a nap I now continue through most things and am back to working 12 hour days when last year I could only manage 3 hours. Thats a hell of a turnaround and I'd like to think so but I haven't got time to rest on my laurels, incidentally I only started to weigh myself in kilo's so I wouldn't understand how heavy I was.

  1. When I look in the mirror I see a thin person and I must focus my mind on becoming the person I want to be.
  2. Intake should be balanced against calorie expenditure very difficult to do unless you actively try hard.
  3. If you must have 3 meals then do so but cut the food across 3 meals to be the equivilent of what you'd normally eat in 2 as a first step.
  4. Learn to be hungry but don't be a slave to it, find something to do to occupy yourself rather than eat.
  5. Walk the dog more often if not the dog get a lead for the cat,hamster whatever but become more active slowly at first, if you are really unfit find a suitable program to offer support.
  6. Remember cutting down intake by itself works slowly, doing more exercise speed up weight loss

These are really just notes to self on the things I've discovered re weight loss in the last 6 months when I've really had to think about it. I eat and drink normally no fad diets for me but do try and reduce portions and say no to alcohol more often and sooner.

Righto just off for something to eat, well to stare at something to eat and perchance to drool.

Monday 1 June 2009

Down the gym

After yesterdays little foray into the world of blogging I decided to plan out how to approach today and guess what, nothing went to plan. The game plan was to go to the gym this morning talk through the stories of the day, see what I had an opinion on and comment accordingly.

Well to start with my golfing buddy who I attend the gym with texted me at 10:45 last night(sunday) to say meetings in morning had to be in gym by 7am, no tea before hand and off to work for 8:30am. Now this may seem hurried to you but to me it was like running a marathon, not even sure if my alarm clock has a place on it for 06:30am but it does 06:35, so i set off and even remembered to get dressed first.

Arrived at gym body clock all over the place and system protesting, that i should even try to do a session on the treadmill before I'd had 2 cups of tea at the very least, one needs to work the alcohol out of one's system first don't you know. It didn't go well, if Jo Brand had been on the treadmill next to me I would have made her look sleek and fast. Eventually the torture was over and with the temperature in the gym causing me to sweat whilst watching other people workout I headed for the showers.

Most mornings i get to read perhaps 3 papers but today only The Sun so todays opinions may be slightly biased. The conversation over tea after the gym centered around Ancelotti for Chelsea Manager or was it Abramovitch for Pope I can't quite remember.

However I did get to see some of the Brown (PM unelected) interview on one of the news Channels please please Labour don't get rid of him he is a positive benefit for all the other parties, this morning only 3 muckups that I noticed as follow:
  1. He claimed to be shocked by the expenses of nearly 620 elected MP's who have milked the system for years, so once again we hear it was someone else, but he is the man who can put it right. Get real Mr Brown if you didn't know about it, your not fit to be Prime Minister in the first instance.
  2. That he would not call an election until he had solved the recession and budget deficit, not call me an old fool if you will but I thought he had to call an election by the start of may 2010. Whats he going to do this time ignore everyone again and refuse to go to the country?
  3. Finally he seems to regard the BNP as a target of opportunity for the European Elections and I can't help wondering if this is because he can't score points anymore off, of the other main parties i.e. Conservatives, UKIP & Liberal Democrats. For heavens sake he seems to be saying that he is fighting for 4th place against the BNP in the local and eurpeaan elections is this the man to lead the country?

Nearly enough said just wanted to say I hope Subo gets better soon and is allowed to go back to her old life without being thrust into the public domain which painfully or so it would appear she may not be able to cope with.