Thursday could be Vienna/Zurich or Manchester

This morning I am en route to Manchester from Vienna via Zurich. Currently sat in Star Bucks waiting for my flight. Again no real update on preparations with being away, however I have suddenly realised I still have quite a bit of kit to get, so need to get myself organised again.

At this stage I may be on holiday tomorrow, if so this could put a stop to my gym session, but would give me opportunity to go for a walk at some stage.

So plenty of list creating at the weekend so I can get myself organised.

Wednesday must be Vienna

So this morning I awoke in Vienna, after arriving late last night. Sun was shining, I am sure it looks very beautiful, unfortunately I am stuck in an office so I am not getting the benefit of this.

No gym facilities at the hotel, so I ended up with just a small number of press ups and sits up.....

Likewise no walking so not much to update there.

In terms of other progress, I have now filled out my Tanzania visa application, so must not pick some dates to get it processed.

What a weekend

So Saturday morning, despite the rain I set out to finish clearing the area for the shed/cabin - not sure what to call it. Fortunately most of the digging work was under the trees, so despite the heavy showers at times it was reasonably dry. So 6 hours later, with an short break for lunch, I was shattered....however it looked pretty good, perhaps a bit more levelling to do.

Sunday morning, and despite feeling somewhat drained from Saturday's workout, I got up and went for a walk - Wow really, yup boots on, rucksack on and off I went. I actually really enjoyed it, back to the free time to think, fresh air and beautiful views, all helped by the bright sunny day. So after a 3 hour hike, followed by a little lunch, I set to cutting down the branches that were going to be in the way of the shed. At times I think I looked more like a dirty monkey.....despite the ladders, clinging on to the tree trunks while sawing away at branches.

Some of these went on the skip, yes the one that is STILL on the drive, the majority I had to cut up and get rid of at the back of the garden.

Next was bringing the wood base into position, only to find that I can't measure properly, so needed another 3 feet of digging out. Great!

So after further efforts with the spade and shovel, a rake to level out the plot and we are ready for the paving slabs, which I need to get to the same level as the concrete base.

So by 5pm on Sunday night i could honestly say I had no energy left....and would be glad to be back in work!

I slept like a log last night, the alarm going off twice before I heard it, and then off to the gym. This definitely proved I had used my energy resources...struggled to do 20 minutes on the treadmill, doing my weights was showing me where all the stiff muscles were, and then I returned to 20 minutes on the cross trainer on hill mode, with a final 3 sets of sit ups.

I spent a lot longer in the shower easing my aching muscles......

This week I am going to be restricted to gym sessions, as I now have to go to Vienna, so unsure what chance I will get, probably in the end it will be Friday...

Will try to keep blogging however, especially as tonight I am going to see United's opening games against Newcastle, so hopefully I can brag about the great goals United score (meaning Man U, not Newcastle)

more tomorrow.....

Friday again

So another week over...... and still no walking !!!!

Did go back the to the gym this morning, treadmill, weights, cross trained, then 30 sit ups - ouch - that is the second set I have done this week and not finding them easy.

This low carb diet seems to be helping me loose weight (not that I was really trying to loose) but another couple of pounds off is less to carry up the big hill.

I am hoping the weather stays fine over the weekend so I can get on with the base for the shed/cabin, as hopefully they will have take the skip today.

I must also try and fit at least one walk in , even if a short one on Sunday.

Sorted train tickets out to London for the trip - need to get my visa sorted next.

Skip been and hopefully gone

When I arrived home last night, sat at the bottom of the drive was an empty skip, just waiting to be filled. Thus I abandoned the idea of a walk and after a quick change, proceeded to start filling it. At first view, I thought, well this skip is way to big for what I need, but after 1 hour 30 mins, I found it was full, although thankfully I didn't have anything else to put into it.

So all being well it will be collected today, I can then arrange for some paving slabs and sand to be delivered and a dry weekend should allow me to finish off the base.

Despite having quite a tight thigh muscle, I did go to the gym again this morning. At first I thought i may just go and swim, then try the massage pool and steam room, but routine kicked in and before I new it, I was on the treadmill running. However I took it easy and only did 2.5 miles, 20 minutes, then worked through on the rowing machine and cross trainer. I finished on with sit ups, which I really don't like, and find a struggle most of the time, but managed to get 30 in before I felt too many people may be watching me struggle to do simple sit ups!!!!

Tonight I am out, and tomorrow in Dublin so no opportunity for much in the way of training - my boots are in the utility room and an ever present reminder that they have not been out for a couple of weeks.......

So no doubt no update tomorrow, since I will be away without easy network access.

Weekend update

FORE!!!!!

Actually my weekend golf was better than I could have imagined, not a fantastic score, but only dropping 17 shots, especially when it was very wet at times, was pretty good. A few "duff" shots, and a few missed puts, but overall not bad. So not real training, but at least a decent walk.

Sunday I went for a short walk (yes Sue, not a long one!) from Hartley to Kirkby Stephen via the old railway, so a little stretch.

I did intend to go walking when I got home, however since the sun came out, I took the opportunity to get in some digging in the garden and made good progress on the base for the log cabin come shed. I am hoping the skip arrives today, so I can continue.

This morning I was back in the gym, a 3 mile run followed by weights and some cross training.

This week I will have to move gym sessions about a bit due to a trip to Dublin, but will also try and get a couple of walks in at night as well if I am not in the garden.

more tomorrow......

Crunchy it's Friday

Friday at last, and also I am taking half a day holiday today as well, so just working through to lunch.

So no gym this morning, feel a little guilty, but get a good walk in tomorrow, even if it is with a few golf sticks :-)

Next week I am only away the one day, so whilst I will have to reschedule my gym visits over all I should be able to get on with some walking as well.

So you all have a good weekend........

Thursday already

The remainder of my trip to Holland was uneventful, my flight was even early, so I was home by just after 6 pm, not managed that in a long time. An offer from Rob to go for a walk which I turned down, as dinner was going to be ready for 7.30. Rob how far did you get?

Today back to the gym did 3.5 miles in 30 mins on the treadmill, a few weights, rowed 1500m, then cross trained, so I feel well worked out. The vaccines effects seems to be disappearing other than glands under my arms that feel like I have stones under them.

Yesterday I got told I can get the Yellow Fever jab and certificate for £48, and I can go next week, so looks like more needles, however this appears to be the only fee I will pay, they were great at my local GP, a big up for Nurse Sue, who even has done my Rabies injection on prescription.

So I am now protected from monkey bites, and according to Sue the nurse, just in case I am stuck in the airport automatic doors with a dog!

As for Monday's injections I am now quite thankful for the tetanus booster, after the cat decided my hand looked like a mouse and tried to shred it with her claws...... lovely @*&***& cat.

So weekend away at my parents, which will involve a round of golf - that is walking isn't it............

 but probably not much more exercise...... so maybe a walk on Sunday evening when I get home......

Today must be Tuesday

So tonight I am in sunny Amsterdam.................

Fantastic I here you say......

Well it would be if I wasn't on my own, and I was somewhere near Amsterdam, where in fact I am in Amstelveen........

Yes my hotel is on the side of a busy road, a short walk to the Brother office, but rather a longer distance to the centre.  So tonight I am enjoying a steak with salad, the restaurant closed but they were very good and offered to make this for me, I am sat outside (in fact if you look closely at the photo you may see me), and I have to admit to enjoying a lager.

No training today, I wasn't up for 3 days in the gym on the run when I feel full of vaccine, which the nurse did advise would make me feel "off colour", in fact it did make something "off colour", but thankfully I could flush it away on several occasions........

So next training opportunity will be Thursday am.

I have had another possible sponsor lined up today, which is good, and I think I may have convinced a certain Yorkshire man to hold a collection at his party the same day we land in Tanzania. The more the better I say.

So my steak has arrived, I must go......


....my steak is still here, I am hopingit may get more tender than  my shoe by letting it rest.....


still resting.........

since when did a slice of pineapple suddenly become a side salad ?

ok I am having shoe leather and pineapple.....at least the lager is good!

Monday 2nd August

Weekend was not a great training one again. Did manage one gym session where I did a 5K run, and some cross training and cycling but no walking at all.

This morning however was a trip to the nurse.......So the odd vaccination/injection is recommended on a trip to Tanzania, actually by the time the nurse had finished telling me what she recommended I was feeling a bit feint!

Today she has booked me in for another 3 sessions over the coming weeks, but started gently with 5 today !!!!!!!! Wow do my arms ache now.

Note she strongly advised that I should have Rabies, as despite the low chance of a Monkey biting my rear (especially after 10 days up the mountain with no shower), I could end up like someone she knows who got stuck in the airport automatic doors with a dog, that proceeded to bite them........

So traveller be aware, dogs in airports are dangerous - more so than monkeys in trees - get your Rabies vaccination soon.

p.s. you still need to get to hospital within 24 hours or you die anyway!

more tomorrow.