Feb 12
28
Doesn’t time fly!!!
Looking back, it is about Ten months since I last posted on this blog and a lot has happened since then..
The last blog post was about cycling 50 miles for the Dougie Mac hospice, this for me was a great achievement… however, watch this space because that time of year is fast approaching and I might even attempt the 110 miles this year!
In April of last year I decided to start learning how to play the guitar, I consider myself a frustrated musician, always wanted to play an instrument, but never really got around to it, more on this in a later post…
From the guitar, I have developed a keen interest in the Ukulele, I am sure that you will hear a lot more about this!
I will leave it there for now, but will try to be more active with blogging moving forward, certainly where the instruments are concerned.
May 11
26
50 Years & 50 Miles
In the year that I am 50 years old I decided to complete a 50 Mile charity cycle ride. As a lot of people will know, I have been attending the gym for some years now and have more recently taken up cycling and spinning, three mornings per week spinning. Feeling that my fitness level had improved considerably, I decided that I would undertake the Dougie Mac 50 miler, a ride that takes in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire.
Setting out from the Michelin Athletic Club on a windy, Sunday morning at 7:30 is not really my idea of fun, but it is all in a good cause and I am proud to say that I completed the ride in 3:15 which considering the conditions, wind blowing me back up the hills that I was cycling down, I am really pleased with as I was expecting it to take closer to 4 hours.
Many thanks to all of the people who had faith in me and sponsored me, I have managed to raise in excess of £200 which I know will be put to good use.
UPDATE: I have now collected all of the sponsor money and it totals £261. Many thanks to all who sponsored and supported me.
Feb 11
22
Writing Course
In a bid to enhance my portfolio of skills, I have signed up for an article writing course with the Writers Bureau.
My interest for writing came from the development of this blog which was created originally on the Blogger platform and was to provide a daily diary for friends and family back home while I was on my first cruise.
Since that time, I have added other content, mainly of holidays, switched from the Blogger format to WordPress and self hosted the blog.
I have four years to complete the course and hope to update this blog with my progress, good or otherwise!
At the moment I am reading through the first three of twenty modules and generally finding my way around the FAQ’s and the student forum.
My goal is to create content that I am able to submit to the many newspapers, free and paid along with the myriad of magazines that are available, both home and abroad.
Wish me luck and I hope to report back very soon.
Jan 11
2
Maiden Voyage
Well……………… not quite maiden, I did go to work on it on Wednesday! I decided to go for a ride towards Cheshire to give the bike, and myself, a fair try. From home, I headed towards Kidsgrove, achieving 35 mph down Kidsgrove bank!
Turning onto the A34 towards Congleton, I was faced with a mixture of steady climbs and fast straights. I have to say that the new bike rides like a dream with a gear change as smooth as silk. The run into Congleton took just about 40 minutes, quite different from my last ride to Congleton which was on a much heavier bike.
For a change of scenery, I decided to ride back through Biddulph which seemed to present more climbs and reduced my average speed from 14.5 mph to 13 mph. I had exited Biddulph before I took my first stop, after just over one hours cycling, and then only because my feet were cold! By the time I reached home, I had covered a distance of 19.5 miles in one hour 25 minutes, stats that I am more than pleased with, but a target for me to now beat.
Just hoping that the weather is dry tomorrow to enable me to go out again.
Dec 10
28
Taken delivery of my new cycle
So………………. Christmas is now over and it is time to start planning the year ahead with my continued fitness drive at the forefront. With this in mind, I have decided to do some road cycling this year and while I love riding my Hybrid bike along the canals to pubs various! I would like to put in some serious miles this year and even enter into a couple of charity rides if possible.
Enter my new purchase, A Specialized Secteur. I have been looking for a road bike for a short while now and have today had a rush of blood to the head!
I have only just arrived home with it and rode around the estate for a short while and already I can see that I am going to enjoy riding this bike, it is so light compared to my Hybrid bike. While purchasing the bike, I added a few extras, lights, computer, SPD pedals, bottle holder and bottle and a helmet, so now I am all ready to take to the road, and can’t wait.
I will try to update the blog a little more regular this year with the main focus I feel, being on the cycling, weather permitting!
Oct 10
23
Sitting in a park in Lisbon
Arrived in Lisbon this morning sun is shining and hot. This will be a short post as I am updating from my iPhone on free wifi.
Currently sitting drinking coffee looking over Lisbon having got to the viewpoint via a very old tram, that is shaped at about 33 degrees.
The View is amazing (iPhone app will not let me add a photo)
Leaving Lisbon at 4 and making for Vigo in Spain. Will post more from there.
Oct 10
21
Quick update from sea
Just for the doubters out there, I went to the gym this morning and did my normal 16K cycle along with some free weights!
The gym is much better on the Dream than on the Celebration, all of the equipment is Technogym the same as in the gym at home which is just as well because all of the buttons and instructions are in Spanish so I am able to set the machines from memory!
Oct 10
20
Barcelona by bike
Woke up to a beautiful day, having had a great night’s sleep, raring to get on the bike and see Barcelona by bike!
Polly was a little apprehensive about riding around Barcelona but was also looking forward to the challenge; at least I think that is what she said!
Out on the bikes complete with helmet and drinks, I have to say that I was surprised at the quality of the bikes, aluminium frames, very light, I feel a purchase coming on when I return home!
It has to be said that this is a great way to see a city, not having to sit on a coach in the blazing sun but able to cover more ground than walking. I have been to Barcelona a number of times and have seen more by cycling around than ever before.
We started off by cycling along the port front to the marina just by the world trade centre. I had not realised that there were such beautiful beaches in Barcelona! We then made our way up to the famous Gaudi cathedral passing through some really interesting places where we were able to stop and take photos. You may remember from a post from a previous cruise that the last time we were at the Gaudi cathedral, we got soaked to the skin when the heavens opened! Thankfully, no repeat this time, the weather remained stunning all day
Next, we made our way to the famous Las Ramblas, now walking around Las Ramblas is one thing but trying to cycle was something else, this place is so busy. We took a break for lunch on Las Ramblas and took time to see some of the places that we particularly like.
Up to now, the cycling had all been on the flat, however, that was about to change, we were about to make our way up to the Olympic stadium which hosted the Olympics in 1992. The cycle up to the stadium started to take its toll in the heat of the day. I did not find it too bad put Polly and one of the other girls found it a little harder and had to push some of the way but we were kind and kept stopping and waiting for them!
Once at the top of the hill, before arriving at the stadium, we cycled through the park to take in some of the views over the city and it was instantly agreed by all that the views were well worth the pain of all that uphill cycling was worth it! The Olympic stadium was equally as impressive.
All that was left now was the ride back to the ship which was all downhill. In total, we covered an amazing 18 miles and I am very proud of Polly as she really was apprehensive prior to leaving.
The evening saw us have a well earned five course meal and several glasses of wine!
Tomorrow we are at sea, so possibly won’t have a lot to report, and Friday we will be in Gibraltar so will post again from there.
Oct 10
19
Arrival in Palma
It is finally time for our holiday and not a day too soon, the planned cruise on the Thomson Dream. First of all, I would like to thank all of our friends who saw the Watchdog program on the issues surrounding the Dream and kept it to themselves until we had arrived. I too had seen the footage on the internet and arrived with some apprehension!
We need not have worried; the Dream is an excellent vessel and shows no signs of the issues described on the TV program.
The flight from Birmingham was perfect with us landing 30 Mins earlier than planned, only one hour 35 mins in the air, which is some going! The same can be said for the transfer, from touching down, to being on-board, just over one hour.
The day in Palma was spent mainly on-board and as some of you will be aware, me working to solve the email issues back at the office.
Not too much more to tell about today other than to say that we are looking forward to the day in Barcelona, a place that we have been to before, however, this time we plan to see Barcelona from a different perspective, we have booked two cycles and are going to cycle around the city and up to the Olympic stadium, which we are really looking forward to and it will be classed as my exercise for the day and allow me a little extra food and alcohol!!!!
Watch this space for news of the cycling!
Sep 10
21
we’re off again……
Well, it has been sometime since I have posted on this blog, the main reason being that nothing too exciting has been happening in life unless you call re-shaping the entire rear garden exciting!!
A cruise is booked for 19th October where we will fly out to Palma to board the newest ship in the Thompson fleet, The Dream. This is an eight night cruise taking in Barcelona, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Vigo, Cherbourg and docking in Harwich.
Again, I will be doing my best to update the blog as often as possible with the more interesting features of the cruise.
So……. Don’t forget, come back on or after the 19th October!
