Bike Wheels

At the end of August I ordered some new wheels for Tom's Uni bike (technically its a track bike) after someone reversed over his old wheels!

The website said that delivery would be around 14 days.  So, here we are 30 days later wondering where the wheels are.  After various emails (which they have not replied to) I gave them a call only to get a tirade of abuse.

And I'm the customer?

They are promised for the end of the week - but they can't guarantee that.  Apparently it only takes about an hour to build a wheel!

So we wait.

Trent Lock

For a long time Rotherham Explorer Scouts have visited the water activity centre at Trent Lock near Long Eaton.  Over the years the numbers who have attended has varied, the weather has varied and the water level has varied.

But what has always been consistant is that we have a great time and get wet.  This is even when we find ourselves having to negotiate with the instructors as to what we can do.

Sadly this year the weir was out of bounds but still had a great time.

Raft Building

Canadian Canoe Balancing

Great Yorkshire Run

A 10K race is an odd animal.  If you talk to someone who has run lots of marathons then they look on 10K runners as people who can't run proper distances.  If you talk to the average "man in the street" about running 6.25 miles then they will look at you in horror.

Its an odd distance.

The night before I was due to run the GYR someone told me that if their sister beat me then they would mock me mercilessly!  Consider that I am 50 and his sister was in her 20s, then the seriousness with which I was approaching it.  My reply? "Tell your sister to talk to me when she has run over a hundred 10Ks".

I have run, probably 150+ 10Ks.  For years that was all I ran.  I did them as training runs every month for many a year before I discovered half marathons.  Still they have a place in my heart.

I love 10Ks - they are (for me) straight forward, have a good distance and are easy to pace (good day = 5 minutes per km, bad day - 6 minutes per km).

Today it was a lovely 56 minutes and a bit of shapnel.

Thanks to Michael Greenhough for the pace in the first bit and to Jane who I followed to the end!

Sunflower

For many years we have had a bird feeder in the garden and the users of it have established a pecking order (no pun intended).  Basically this involves the tits clinging on and pecking away whilst the pigeons stand around at the bottom collecting all the seeds that have fallen.  The result of this is that we have a lot of fat pigeons who just stumble around waiting for their next feed!

This summer we have had a pleasant accident resulting from this process as a sunflower seed has managed to plant itself in one of the cracks in the patio.  The result is a magnificent flower - an accident, yes.  But a pleasant one.

Great North Run

I've done the GNR for many years and every year I am asked the question "How many half marathons have you run?"  Its a perfectly reasonable question but I cannot answer it with any degree of accuracy.

How many marathons?  That's a much easier one, I think, four Londons and one Edinburgh (much preferring the Scottish one)....I'm sure its only four Londons although I may be wrong!

But back to the Halfs as they are much more fun - I have done the GNR for about 16 years and for many years did the Sheffield, York, Leeds and Clowne every year plus any others I could find - Chesterfield being one that I did for a few years before it was merged with a terrific ten miler.  A few years ago, when running Clowne, someone ahead of me was wearing a "One Hundred Halfs" t shirt - sadly my lack of logging means that I am unsure how close I am, or for that matter if I have past it.  I'll probably wait a few years and then declare one my hundreth and start counting from there.

Anyhow, the GNR last weekend was a cracking time - it has now settled into a wonderful routine. Friday night travel up to stay with friends, have a drink, catch up and set the world to rights.  Saturday go into Newcastle for the Junior Run and the City Games, go to the Pitcher & Piano for a drink then back to Great Lumley for great food and a drink.  Sunday get dropped off at Heworth - catch train into Newcastle - run to South Shields then meet up with everyone in the pub at Marsden.  Runs like a well oiled machine.  Many thanks to the Mulroys for putting us up (and putting up with us) over the years - even lending us the house when they were away!

And before you ask I could not even speculate on how many 10kms I've run as for any years I tried to run one a month just so it made me train!

Thanks to Michael for the picture - you appear to be the only one who ever gets pictures of me.

eBay

Don't you just love eBay.  In preperation for the new camera arriving I thought it a good idea if I bought a battery pack.  A bit of research and I found a lovely one which also included a car charger and a remote control.  Paid the money and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Out of the blue I got an email informing me that it had been returned to them as they could not deliver it - replied to say that no, we hadn't moved.

And waited.

And waited.

Several ranty emails later and it arrived today  - posted from Bristol.  I could have walked there and picked it up in that time.

Oddly, a week after the above was ordered I ordered a waterproof cover from Australia.  That arrived in a couple of days.

Bird Table

Sadly our bird table is getting a little long in the tooth (ok, its going rotten) but the roof on it has a lovely look to it.

Post BBQ

I started at Oakwood Comprehensive School on 2nd September 1975 and it was great to have some others from the Class of 1980 at the BBQ last night.  What does seem strange is that 30+ years ago I remember going to parties at the Mulroys, as the years passed there were more youngsters and less adults.  Last night I think that the balance was starting to tip for the Bacon BBQs.

Special mention to some people who weren't with us yesterday; the McDermotts and the Devilles, both of whom were celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversaries.

The double rainbow (thanks to Wilko for the Physics talk explain how it happens).

Mrs & Mr Fatgazbo!  After the rain!

Steve Davis - one of the original Class of 1980.

Day Two of Being Fifty

Don't worry folks I have no intention of doing a post a day for the rest of however long.  Just thought I'd post up a couple of pictures that I took with the new camera.  The have no real significance other than I thought I'd post them "out there".

First day's teaching went ok - full timetable today (including a twilight session) followed by a full day tomorrow so its hitting the ground running.

Couple of friends popped round this evening - good to catch up.

Flowers in the back garden

Pete looking puzzled

Still Life!

Day One of Being Fifty

The day has come - its seems odd to consider that yesterday I could tick the box for "under 50" and yet today I can be subjected to mailings from SAGA.  On the plus side someone has pointed out that I might be able to get cheaper car insurance.

Back at school today and, just to cheer me up, my ex-boss emailed all staff to let them know it was my birthday.  Fortunately didn't get a mention in assembly.

As ever I was up and off before anyone else in the house was really awake enough to wish me happy birthday so presents etc had to wait until I got home.

Nice bag from youngest son and camera lens from mum - Helen bought me a very nice camera (a Nikon D300s).  Its approximately five years since I first asked after one so its good to finally get there!

Oh yes, must also mention that my old classroom was demolished over the summer - now its just a good view.