Tuesday 30 December 2014
Friday 26 December 2014
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Old friends
It's this time of year I start thinking of old friends.
Of course, a few old drinking / school / college buddies that I regularly swap e-mails with, but also those I rarely see or have lost contact with:
My old mate John Williams and his mates (main blog picture, climbing Stac Pollaidh), who whisked me off on a mad weekend to Assynt.
June, who I met in my first job at S. Davall & Sons, Perivale. A caring no nonsense soul who looked after me while I learned the ropes.
Martin Hooper, who introduced me to the world of long distance walking (backpacking) with the Pennine Way and the Tour De Mont Blanc. I also met him at my first job: We used to get each other's mail.
Pauline (and Ken) who I met on the about Pennine Way whilst I soldiered on with a damaged knee. (We got to worry about the hygiene of some of the bunk houses we stayed at; there were times when Pauline was a day behind me. When she caught me up she remarked that she could always tell which bed I'd stayed in because of the lingering smell of my knee medication!)
John moved to the West country and I lost his address.
June I saw two years ago at Christmas. It was her first Christmas without her husband. She wasn't looking forward to it.
Martin could be anywhere! He married a Scottish lass and moved to Stirling.
Pauline and I still exchange Christmas cards and it was she who sent me these photos.
There are others. Richard who bought a chapel in Norfolk and his partner Sandy are but two.
I suppose it's impractical to keep close contact with everyone. To use an analogy, while bobbing about in the sea of life some friends only stop to visit before sailing on. Others come and stay for the duration. My partner was one of those that initially just came to visit but then, fortunately for me, came back for the duration!
I'll stop now, I'm beginning to feel a bit unwell...
Of course, a few old drinking / school / college buddies that I regularly swap e-mails with, but also those I rarely see or have lost contact with:
My old mate John Williams and his mates (main blog picture, climbing Stac Pollaidh), who whisked me off on a mad weekend to Assynt.
June, who I met in my first job at S. Davall & Sons, Perivale. A caring no nonsense soul who looked after me while I learned the ropes.
Martin Hooper, who introduced me to the world of long distance walking (backpacking) with the Pennine Way and the Tour De Mont Blanc. I also met him at my first job: We used to get each other's mail.
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| Martin, two friends and yours truly, Derbyshire 1987 |
Pauline (and Ken) who I met on the about Pennine Way whilst I soldiered on with a damaged knee. (We got to worry about the hygiene of some of the bunk houses we stayed at; there were times when Pauline was a day behind me. When she caught me up she remarked that she could always tell which bed I'd stayed in because of the lingering smell of my knee medication!)
 |
| A bad snap of Pauline. |
John moved to the West country and I lost his address.
June I saw two years ago at Christmas. It was her first Christmas without her husband. She wasn't looking forward to it.
Martin could be anywhere! He married a Scottish lass and moved to Stirling.
Pauline and I still exchange Christmas cards and it was she who sent me these photos.
There are others. Richard who bought a chapel in Norfolk and his partner Sandy are but two.
I suppose it's impractical to keep close contact with everyone. To use an analogy, while bobbing about in the sea of life some friends only stop to visit before sailing on. Others come and stay for the duration. My partner was one of those that initially just came to visit but then, fortunately for me, came back for the duration!
I'll stop now, I'm beginning to feel a bit unwell...
Sunday 7 December 2014
Tuesday 2 December 2014
The Passing Time
David passed his 3rd Dan Saturday. We were invited to sit in and watch the black belt lesson afterwards, something out of the norm I think: We were the only non karate people there.
He's stunningly quick and precise. He was easily the equal of his fellow sparing partner who was demonstrating for his 4th Dan.
It doesn't seem that long ago he started, but it's ten years!
As far as his personal development is concerned, I think his decision to take up karate has had the most profound effect. The self discipline and determination he has learned, combined with his natural drive and enthusiasm is reflected in everything he does.
It's strange, his brother Young Alex doesn't seem need the framework. He has a natural inertia which propels him. 'Still waters' is the phrase that comes to mind.
I.A.S.K.
He's stunningly quick and precise. He was easily the equal of his fellow sparing partner who was demonstrating for his 4th Dan.
It doesn't seem that long ago he started, but it's ten years!
As far as his personal development is concerned, I think his decision to take up karate has had the most profound effect. The self discipline and determination he has learned, combined with his natural drive and enthusiasm is reflected in everything he does.
It's strange, his brother Young Alex doesn't seem need the framework. He has a natural inertia which propels him. 'Still waters' is the phrase that comes to mind.
I.A.S.K.
Sunday 23 November 2014
Wednesday 19 November 2014
Leg testing days 3 & 4
A week and a half ago I cycled about 3.9 miles around my neighbourhood and started the first on a program of muscle strengthening exercises from here..
Not much to write about, cloudy with a touch of muscle pain.
Sunday I took a 5.6 mile jaunt through the woods to Merry Hill.
Happily, all that ached were my feet!
Overcast, sunny patches, lots of dogs, people and mud.
I took a road route half way around, mainly because I don't like retracing my steps, and came through the expensive part of Bushy.
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| Courtesy of Ordnance Survey Getamap |
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This week
Sunday I took a 5.6 mile jaunt through the woods to Merry Hill.
Happily, all that ached were my feet!
Overcast, sunny patches, lots of dogs, people and mud.
I took a road route half way around, mainly because I don't like retracing my steps, and came through the expensive part of Bushy.
Saturday 15 November 2014
Fond memories
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| 27 kilograms! + food! |
'The Ridgeway' was the first trip I took David on. He was only 10 years old. Bless. Must show his girlfriend...
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| Butter wouldn't melt... |
Wednesday 5 November 2014
On a bit of a mission
Mrs. Knee has found out our local council (Harrow) has decided to do away with funding for a lot of our local voluntary care services (MIND, Age Concern, Association for the Disabled, Citizens Advice Bureau, etc...).
These services do a lot to support the more vulnerable amongst us as well as taking a load off our strapped-for-cash NHS.
To this end Mrs. Knee has launched an on line petition with the aid of '38 degrees' to get the council to think again.
More details (and to sign) see here.
These services do a lot to support the more vulnerable amongst us as well as taking a load off our strapped-for-cash NHS.
To this end Mrs. Knee has launched an on line petition with the aid of '38 degrees' to get the council to think again.
More details (and to sign) see here.
Tuesday 28 October 2014
Leg testing day no. 2
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| Cloudy day |
Off to the woods.
Harrow Weald Common and Bentley Priory Open Space to be exact, about 4 miles. The route was a shortened version of the Bentley Priory circular walk. The views weren't much as it was quite hazy.
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| 500 year old oak |
Lots of people and their dogs about.
Saturday 25 October 2014
Leg testing day
Last Sunday I walked over Harrow Hill to test my leg.
Four weeks ago I pulled some back muscles, which pressed against the sciatic nerve. This in turn produced some had terrible muscle spasms in my leg so strong they damaged the muscles.
I found the leg pretty weak - quite worrying actually. I see I've some work to do before the Coast to coast next year.
Nice walk though..
Saturday 18 October 2014
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