After seven months of trouble-free operation, the Garmin 305 Forerunner I've been using has died.
Absofuckinglutely typical. Right when I need it most, it's given up the ghost.
I set out on a session with Alex and Gayle this evening and it just locked up. Nothing would make it come back to life.
Fortunately Alex has one which I can borrow until I see what Garmin are going to do about this latest grief.
By my rough calculations, this is the sixth or seventh 305 I've had.
When it's working, it's a piece of technological wizardry. When it's not, well, it's not.
Stating the bleeding obvious, but.
For the record, we did the run using Gayle's 305. Two 1.5 mile efforts at less than 8mi, with 800m recoveries in between and a wee fast ending and a mile warm-up on both sides of the efforts.
Tuesday, June 26
Sunday, June 24
A key moment
Had a pleasant three-mile run after dropping off Sophie this evening.
However, it was memorable for the moment when I was going past the Alhambra chipper.
A bloke came out with a fish supper in one hand. He was birling his car key round the forefinger of his other hand and the key spun off and fell through the grates of a drain!
The odd thing was that he didn't seem that bothered. Ge just took out a mobile phone and rang someone.
I think I'd have been going mental! Each to their own.
However, it was memorable for the moment when I was going past the Alhambra chipper.
A bloke came out with a fish supper in one hand. He was birling his car key round the forefinger of his other hand and the key spun off and fell through the grates of a drain!
The odd thing was that he didn't seem that bothered. Ge just took out a mobile phone and rang someone.
I think I'd have been going mental! Each to their own.
Who's the mug?
I'm quite happy to be proved wrong but you tell me...
After my podiatry assessment, it was with some hesitation that I ordered a pair of Mizuno Wave Creation 8s from Greaves Sports in Glasgow.
Hesitation because I was, and remain, wary about running in neutral shoes. The added shock absorption in the heels may help my achilles but will the shoes themselves cause other problems such as aggravating my shins?
Anyway, the retail price of the Creations was £95. They rang last week to say they'd arrived so I went in yesterday to try them on. I was still undecided about whether or not to buy them and had planned to run on the treadmill for more than five minutes to see how they felt.
When I went into the shop, I noticed that they were selling the very same shoes - in sizes 8, 10 and 10.5 - for £70. They were tagged "Reduced from £95".
Now, call me tight (drum roll for the gags, thank you), but I immediately baulked at the idea of paying £95 for size 11.5s when the exact same shoe was reduced by £25 albeit in different sizes.
The lady assistant had "my" shoes out of the box and was lacing them up when I asked if I would have to pay £95 for them. I pointed out that the same shoe was reduced on the shelf and she told me yes, I would have to pay £95, because "they'd ordered them in for me".
At that point, I politely told her I'd just leave them - and walked out.
I'm fairly confident they'll go up for sale at £70 in the not too distant future. Fine, I hope someone gets a "bargain".
Just for the record, I had a quick look online and found the Creations on sale on one website at £70 plus a free rucksack.
I'm going to persevere with the Inspires for the time being and see how I get on.
I had a thoroughly good run with Mr Barr yesterday - Garrion Bridge, along the Clyde Walkway to Strathclyde Park. Exactly seven miles and a darned good time.
The only niggle I got was in the last mile when my achilles started to tighten up a bit. Both achilles were tight this morning when I got out of bed but they've eased off now.
Right, that's the running stream of consciousness purged for the time being. A "steady" three miles is on the cards later today.
After my podiatry assessment, it was with some hesitation that I ordered a pair of Mizuno Wave Creation 8s from Greaves Sports in Glasgow.
Hesitation because I was, and remain, wary about running in neutral shoes. The added shock absorption in the heels may help my achilles but will the shoes themselves cause other problems such as aggravating my shins?
Anyway, the retail price of the Creations was £95. They rang last week to say they'd arrived so I went in yesterday to try them on. I was still undecided about whether or not to buy them and had planned to run on the treadmill for more than five minutes to see how they felt.
When I went into the shop, I noticed that they were selling the very same shoes - in sizes 8, 10 and 10.5 - for £70. They were tagged "Reduced from £95".
Now, call me tight (drum roll for the gags, thank you), but I immediately baulked at the idea of paying £95 for size 11.5s when the exact same shoe was reduced by £25 albeit in different sizes.
The lady assistant had "my" shoes out of the box and was lacing them up when I asked if I would have to pay £95 for them. I pointed out that the same shoe was reduced on the shelf and she told me yes, I would have to pay £95, because "they'd ordered them in for me".
At that point, I politely told her I'd just leave them - and walked out.
I'm fairly confident they'll go up for sale at £70 in the not too distant future. Fine, I hope someone gets a "bargain".
Just for the record, I had a quick look online and found the Creations on sale on one website at £70 plus a free rucksack.
I'm going to persevere with the Inspires for the time being and see how I get on.
I had a thoroughly good run with Mr Barr yesterday - Garrion Bridge, along the Clyde Walkway to Strathclyde Park. Exactly seven miles and a darned good time.
The only niggle I got was in the last mile when my achilles started to tighten up a bit. Both achilles were tight this morning when I got out of bed but they've eased off now.
Right, that's the running stream of consciousness purged for the time being. A "steady" three miles is on the cards later today.
Friday, June 22
Pride O' The Clyde
I'm not sure if this shot with my Blackberry stands up to very close scrutiny when it's at its full size but I quite like it.
I'd gone across to the SECC, where the nearest cash machine is, and was coming back over the Bell's Bridge when I saw the waterbus coming toward me.
This boat goes from the city centre down river to Braehead, stopping at the Science Centre along the way. I went on it once with Sophie several years ago and since we've moved to Pacific Quay, many of my colleagues have been threatening to hop on for a jolly some day.
I well remember that it gives you a very different view of Glasgow compared to the one from dry land.
You can see how overcast it was in the picture - the thunder was starting to rumble in the distance and lightning wasn't far off.
I'd gone across to the SECC, where the nearest cash machine is, and was coming back over the Bell's Bridge when I saw the waterbus coming toward me.
This boat goes from the city centre down river to Braehead, stopping at the Science Centre along the way. I went on it once with Sophie several years ago and since we've moved to Pacific Quay, many of my colleagues have been threatening to hop on for a jolly some day.
I well remember that it gives you a very different view of Glasgow compared to the one from dry land.
You can see how overcast it was in the picture - the thunder was starting to rumble in the distance and lightning wasn't far off.
Wednesday, June 20
4 miles - soaked!
I know it's a bit narcissistic but I took this picture this morning, just after I'd done a little over four miles in absolutely torrential rain.
It doesn't really show just how wet I was. At one point, while going through Kelvingrove Park, I was in floodwater up to the middle of my calves.
It's not a pleasant sensation running with squelchy wet feet for a couple of miles.
It hadn't escaped my attention that tomorrow is the summer solstice - the longest day. And this was our weather!
Climate change has a lot to answer for, right enough. We'll be publishing "Scotland's Climate Change Calendar" on the website tomorrow in which we'll be showing unseasonal happenings across Scotland such as people eating ice cream in February etc.
Water aside, it was a very pleasant run at about 9.40mi, which was slightly faster than the schedule demanded but if I'd gone any slower I'd have been walking.
It doesn't really show just how wet I was. At one point, while going through Kelvingrove Park, I was in floodwater up to the middle of my calves.
It's not a pleasant sensation running with squelchy wet feet for a couple of miles.
It hadn't escaped my attention that tomorrow is the summer solstice - the longest day. And this was our weather!
Climate change has a lot to answer for, right enough. We'll be publishing "Scotland's Climate Change Calendar" on the website tomorrow in which we'll be showing unseasonal happenings across Scotland such as people eating ice cream in February etc.
Water aside, it was a very pleasant run at about 9.40mi, which was slightly faster than the schedule demanded but if I'd gone any slower I'd have been walking.
Monday, June 18
Zzzzzzz
Monday, 4.50am. Up and out the door.
Happily the stain has stayed on the fence.
Leaving the car in Queen St station car park is a bit of an issue.
I tried to find a spot which was in full view of the CCTV cameras but which wouldn't also run the risk of having a wing "dinged" by someone else's door.
Let's hope the fact that British Transport Police offices are in the car park is an added deterrent.
I'm sure my worries about the car being nicked will ease over time.
Happily the stain has stayed on the fence.
Leaving the car in Queen St station car park is a bit of an issue.
I tried to find a spot which was in full view of the CCTV cameras but which wouldn't also run the risk of having a wing "dinged" by someone else's door.
Let's hope the fact that British Transport Police offices are in the car park is an added deterrent.
I'm sure my worries about the car being nicked will ease over time.
Sunday, June 17
How people see weegies!
We took the new car (mine) to Bridge of Allan on Saturday afternoon.
A university friend of Fiona's had suggested we go to the Clive Ramsay deli, which we did. We emerged £25 lighter of pocket but with some very fine stuff.
Walking along the main street, I spotted this notice in a butcher's shop window.
It's not a great pic but the text is just about legible. It's quite a funny poem about Glasgow butchers. No rivalry there then!
What else to do on a wet Saturday afternoon with a new BMW but go for a spin so we carried on to Auchterarder then home.
I went for a run this morning with Alex in Lanark, a very pleasant meander around 4.7 miles of countryside. It all begins for real tomorrow with a slow three miles.
I dallied around blethering to Alex and Clare, putting off the moment when I knew I had to come home and start staining the fence.
My god, life's too short for such jobs. What a pain in the arse, even though I bought a pressure spray to do it.
Miggins was jumping in and out of the stain and Fiona and I were both covered with the bloody stuff.
We called it a day after doing the back fence. I don't think we could face any more.
Sadly it'll have to be done. Another day.
A university friend of Fiona's had suggested we go to the Clive Ramsay deli, which we did. We emerged £25 lighter of pocket but with some very fine stuff.
Walking along the main street, I spotted this notice in a butcher's shop window.
It's not a great pic but the text is just about legible. It's quite a funny poem about Glasgow butchers. No rivalry there then!
What else to do on a wet Saturday afternoon with a new BMW but go for a spin so we carried on to Auchterarder then home.
I went for a run this morning with Alex in Lanark, a very pleasant meander around 4.7 miles of countryside. It all begins for real tomorrow with a slow three miles.
I dallied around blethering to Alex and Clare, putting off the moment when I knew I had to come home and start staining the fence.
My god, life's too short for such jobs. What a pain in the arse, even though I bought a pressure spray to do it.
Miggins was jumping in and out of the stain and Fiona and I were both covered with the bloody stuff.
We called it a day after doing the back fence. I don't think we could face any more.
Sadly it'll have to be done. Another day.
Sophie's assembly
Full marks to Sophie's class for a really good assembly show. The theme was "choices" and they acted out two scenarios about being faced with dilemmas brought about by peer pressure - one was being offered drugs, the other stealing sweets from a shop.
The video clip is from the end of their show. The choice of song was a bit ironic, given that they'd been talking about drugs.
They had, of course, dropped the line: "I get high with a little help from my friends."
Saturday, June 16
Why we love the Germans
Me, materialistic? Well yes, a little bit.
But the arrival of the new car is more a reflection of where I've reached rather than "look at my really flash car and if you're lucky I'll tell you how much it cost".
Quite the reverse on the cost actually. I'd rather keep it a state secret.
Anyway, enough of the psycho-babble, what about the car itself?
Put simply, I'm blown away. It's better than I remember it from March.
After I collected it yesterday, I went out the M77 towards Ayr then crapped it driving into the centre of Glasgow. I was certain someone was going to rake the side of the car. Touch wood (not metal), it didn't happen.
The whole thing is a feat of engineering.
Five things stand out:
* The automatic engine cut out when stopped and in neutral takes a lot of getting used to. Everything goes very quiet and you have to trust that the engine will start again as soon as you depress the clutch. It does. I'm all for it as a fuel saver and a way to reduce carbon emissions
* Still on fuel efficiency, the dashboard display tells you which is the optimum gear to be in
* The digital radio brings a huge choice of listening into the car
* The USB port means the track info displays on the stereo, the sound is digital at source and the iPod charges at the same time
* I never thought I'd like cruise control but it's brilliant for motorway driving in clear traffic conditions.
I collected Fiona from work and we went over to Rosslyn Chapel for a candlelit Bach recital which will be on Radio 3 in September.
Pics here.
Shit weather but a great way to feel out the car.
Given that we were so near to Penicuick, we dropped in on Mhairi and her twa dugs. Her friend is also staying there until her house is ready.
Just as well we did because she had a present of cat food for our two and we'd run out so the mogs were fortunate to be fed this morning.
A quick jump back to Thursday - managed a nice wee run round Bellshill in the evening after coming back from Aberdeen.
Monday morning is a landmark moment. The first radio news goes live from PQ so I'll have a look in tomorrow so I can get in people's way.
Where am I first thing Monday? On the 5.55am train to Dundee for a university validation panel.
I've been asked to be an external specialist on the programme advisory panel for the MSc Interactive Media in Society: Writing Practice & Analysis.
Better go and do my homework on it!
But the arrival of the new car is more a reflection of where I've reached rather than "look at my really flash car and if you're lucky I'll tell you how much it cost".
Quite the reverse on the cost actually. I'd rather keep it a state secret.
Anyway, enough of the psycho-babble, what about the car itself?
Put simply, I'm blown away. It's better than I remember it from March.
After I collected it yesterday, I went out the M77 towards Ayr then crapped it driving into the centre of Glasgow. I was certain someone was going to rake the side of the car. Touch wood (not metal), it didn't happen.
The whole thing is a feat of engineering.
Five things stand out:
* The automatic engine cut out when stopped and in neutral takes a lot of getting used to. Everything goes very quiet and you have to trust that the engine will start again as soon as you depress the clutch. It does. I'm all for it as a fuel saver and a way to reduce carbon emissions
* Still on fuel efficiency, the dashboard display tells you which is the optimum gear to be in
* The digital radio brings a huge choice of listening into the car
* The USB port means the track info displays on the stereo, the sound is digital at source and the iPod charges at the same time
* I never thought I'd like cruise control but it's brilliant for motorway driving in clear traffic conditions.
I collected Fiona from work and we went over to Rosslyn Chapel for a candlelit Bach recital which will be on Radio 3 in September.
Pics here.
Shit weather but a great way to feel out the car.
Given that we were so near to Penicuick, we dropped in on Mhairi and her twa dugs. Her friend is also staying there until her house is ready.
Just as well we did because she had a present of cat food for our two and we'd run out so the mogs were fortunate to be fed this morning.
A quick jump back to Thursday - managed a nice wee run round Bellshill in the evening after coming back from Aberdeen.
Monday morning is a landmark moment. The first radio news goes live from PQ so I'll have a look in tomorrow so I can get in people's way.
Where am I first thing Monday? On the 5.55am train to Dundee for a university validation panel.
I've been asked to be an external specialist on the programme advisory panel for the MSc Interactive Media in Society: Writing Practice & Analysis.
Better go and do my homework on it!
Wednesday, June 13
Frozen gob
This afternoon was a bit of a run around because of a dentist's appointment in Byres Rd at 4.30pm.
It turned out that the tooth the dentist thought was the source of the pain wasn't the culprit after all.
Fine - apart from the way he found that out was by sticking something with a small and sharp point on it into the tooth behind, confirming it as the troublesome tooth.
Ouch!
Tomorrow's an early start, the 5.55am train to Aberdeen for a 9am meeting.
After that, one more sleep before Friday afternoon - Beeeeeemurrrrr time.
It turned out that the tooth the dentist thought was the source of the pain wasn't the culprit after all.
Fine - apart from the way he found that out was by sticking something with a small and sharp point on it into the tooth behind, confirming it as the troublesome tooth.
Ouch!
Tomorrow's an early start, the 5.55am train to Aberdeen for a 9am meeting.
After that, one more sleep before Friday afternoon - Beeeeeemurrrrr time.
Tuesday, June 12
Two in a row!
That's the first time for a while I've run on two consecutive days.
Yesterday morning's Pacific Quay-Kelvingrove Park outing (satellite image attached) was followed this evening by my now well-trodden route round Bellshill.
I took the longer of the two to clock up just under 5.5 miles. Thinking about it, it was also the first time in ages that I've run in the pissing rain.
Hmmm, I blame climate change.
And here's something else that hasn't happened for a while. Mrs C locked me out.
She'd gone shopping while I was out running but was held up by a friend's phone call, leaving me cooling my heels on the doorstep with no keys.
Nothing else for it. Into the garage and wrap up with my fishing jacket on as the neighbours pass by and look on quizically at me sitting with my feet up on a garden chair.
It was a great excuse for not paying the window cleaner when he came round. "Been sent to Coventry?" he asked. "No, locked out and all my money's inside. Sorry, can't pay you this week."
Given that the windows are normally more dirty after he's been to the house I'm not losing any sleep about not handing over the dosh.
I was back at Queen Margaret Drive this afternoon for the first time in what feels like ages.
I have no affection or loyalty to the place. Dirty, cramped, overheated and dilapidated.
Burn the joint I say.
Yesterday morning's Pacific Quay-Kelvingrove Park outing (satellite image attached) was followed this evening by my now well-trodden route round Bellshill.
I took the longer of the two to clock up just under 5.5 miles. Thinking about it, it was also the first time in ages that I've run in the pissing rain.
Hmmm, I blame climate change.
And here's something else that hasn't happened for a while. Mrs C locked me out.
She'd gone shopping while I was out running but was held up by a friend's phone call, leaving me cooling my heels on the doorstep with no keys.
Nothing else for it. Into the garage and wrap up with my fishing jacket on as the neighbours pass by and look on quizically at me sitting with my feet up on a garden chair.
It was a great excuse for not paying the window cleaner when he came round. "Been sent to Coventry?" he asked. "No, locked out and all my money's inside. Sorry, can't pay you this week."
Given that the windows are normally more dirty after he's been to the house I'm not losing any sleep about not handing over the dosh.
I was back at Queen Margaret Drive this afternoon for the first time in what feels like ages.
I have no affection or loyalty to the place. Dirty, cramped, overheated and dilapidated.
Burn the joint I say.
Monday, June 11
BBC blogger?
Someone asked me today why I rarely mention any detail about my work in this blog.
The short answer is that I'm not allowed to. The BBC has a policy on staff blogs (it has a policy on everything) and there are limits on what I can and can't write here.
Apart from that, it wouldn't be fair for staff in the department to read about things here which they should hear about more directly.
After all, that's what The Herald and The Scotsman are for. Well, it is, isn't it?
The short answer is that I'm not allowed to. The BBC has a policy on staff blogs (it has a policy on everything) and there are limits on what I can and can't write here.
Apart from that, it wouldn't be fair for staff in the department to read about things here which they should hear about more directly.
After all, that's what The Herald and The Scotsman are for. Well, it is, isn't it?
Sunny run
A bright Monday morning and a nice 4.3 mile trot from Pacific Quay up to and round Kelvingrove Park.
I wish I'd taken my camera with me to record the vast amounts of rubbish dumped in the park after the West End Festival at the weekend.
Bottles, cans and masses of other detritus. I can't believe how some people think it's okay just to discard such huge amounts of refuse!
I wish I'd taken my camera with me to record the vast amounts of rubbish dumped in the park after the West End Festival at the weekend.
Bottles, cans and masses of other detritus. I can't believe how some people think it's okay just to discard such huge amounts of refuse!
Sunday, June 10
The time is nigh
In one week's time, I'll take the first step on this year's path to the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday October 7.
I'm mostly glad that the schedule is now so close to starting because I'm determined to re-focus my commitment to running and all the benefits I know it brings to my everyday life.
I say "mostly" because part of me is quite anxious about the sheer level of time it will take up and how this will fit into the new world of Continuous News we're trying to create at Pacific Quay.
I also have a fear that I'll never regain the level of fitness I had around this time last year and that I won't be able to repeat the performances I saw in the races I did before the marathon in 2006 (I can't say I was pleased with my time on October 1 last year).
I've had a growing feeling that I should just focus on enjoying the training and getting into much more of a running routine. Forget the times and the performance, just do it!
The last few weeks have seen me do several runs - with no care about the time and only a passing interest in the distance. And they've been really pleasant, particularly the one the other morning from Pacific Quay up to and round Kelvingrove Park!
I'm a bit clearer now about what's been going on with my achilles tendon(s), having seen a podiatrist twice this week.
I wanted some advice about whether or not orthotics would help but he thinks not, at this stage anyhow.
In short, I'm a very heavy heel striker, as the Adidas Footscan system showed. I don't have a large range of motion in my left foot, which is pronated even before I take a step and all this is combining to give me the pain in my achilles.
He recommended the Mizuno Wave Creation 8 which is very cushioned in the heel because of the double wave plate.
Now, the interesting part is that this is a neutral shoe and I've always worn shoes which have an element of motion control in them.
The podiatrist had videoed me running earlier and it was immediately obvious that my left foot is pronating a hell of a lot more than my right when wearing my Mizuno Inspires.
The fascinating part came when I tried a pair of Creation 8s on the treadmill and was videoed from behind. I expected my left ankle to collapse inwards without the stability but quite the reverse. The inwards motion was much less and there was a distinct feeling of the heel strike being absorbed by the shoe.
That's partly the result of the heel base on the Creations being narrower than the Inspires, meaning that there's less "leverage" from the shoe. Or so the theory goes.
Anyway, the proof will be in the pudding (or the running). I've ordered a pair because they didn't have an 11.5 in stock and we'll see what happens.
All that running stuff aside, that nice man at Harry Fairbairn rang last week to say my new BMW is here! In Glasgow! Waiting for me!
The actual receipt date is still undecided but it might be within the next week or so. I saw a 335 model in Glasgow yesterday and it really is a fab looking machine.
It's quite hard to imagine having one of my own. I've never owned a car which is classed as a "sports car" and the thought is a little bit intimidating to be honest.
I think the other thing I'll be worried about is some wee ned bastard taking a key down the side of it as well as the general risk of it being nicked.
Still, that's what insurance is for.
I've also made myself a wee promise to keep this blog rather more up-to-date than it has been of late. The marathon training schedule is a good discipline because I'll use it to keep a track of how things go.
I'm mostly glad that the schedule is now so close to starting because I'm determined to re-focus my commitment to running and all the benefits I know it brings to my everyday life.
I say "mostly" because part of me is quite anxious about the sheer level of time it will take up and how this will fit into the new world of Continuous News we're trying to create at Pacific Quay.
I also have a fear that I'll never regain the level of fitness I had around this time last year and that I won't be able to repeat the performances I saw in the races I did before the marathon in 2006 (I can't say I was pleased with my time on October 1 last year).
I've had a growing feeling that I should just focus on enjoying the training and getting into much more of a running routine. Forget the times and the performance, just do it!
The last few weeks have seen me do several runs - with no care about the time and only a passing interest in the distance. And they've been really pleasant, particularly the one the other morning from Pacific Quay up to and round Kelvingrove Park!
I'm a bit clearer now about what's been going on with my achilles tendon(s), having seen a podiatrist twice this week.
I wanted some advice about whether or not orthotics would help but he thinks not, at this stage anyhow.
In short, I'm a very heavy heel striker, as the Adidas Footscan system showed. I don't have a large range of motion in my left foot, which is pronated even before I take a step and all this is combining to give me the pain in my achilles.
He recommended the Mizuno Wave Creation 8 which is very cushioned in the heel because of the double wave plate.
Now, the interesting part is that this is a neutral shoe and I've always worn shoes which have an element of motion control in them.
The podiatrist had videoed me running earlier and it was immediately obvious that my left foot is pronating a hell of a lot more than my right when wearing my Mizuno Inspires.
The fascinating part came when I tried a pair of Creation 8s on the treadmill and was videoed from behind. I expected my left ankle to collapse inwards without the stability but quite the reverse. The inwards motion was much less and there was a distinct feeling of the heel strike being absorbed by the shoe.
That's partly the result of the heel base on the Creations being narrower than the Inspires, meaning that there's less "leverage" from the shoe. Or so the theory goes.
Anyway, the proof will be in the pudding (or the running). I've ordered a pair because they didn't have an 11.5 in stock and we'll see what happens.
All that running stuff aside, that nice man at Harry Fairbairn rang last week to say my new BMW is here! In Glasgow! Waiting for me!
The actual receipt date is still undecided but it might be within the next week or so. I saw a 335 model in Glasgow yesterday and it really is a fab looking machine.
It's quite hard to imagine having one of my own. I've never owned a car which is classed as a "sports car" and the thought is a little bit intimidating to be honest.
I think the other thing I'll be worried about is some wee ned bastard taking a key down the side of it as well as the general risk of it being nicked.
Still, that's what insurance is for.
I've also made myself a wee promise to keep this blog rather more up-to-date than it has been of late. The marathon training schedule is a good discipline because I'll use it to keep a track of how things go.
Tuesday, June 5
Oh you bloody think so???
I'm sure I've written this in the past but in the words of Led Zeppelin: "It's been a long time..."
I've been having some problems in getting my Blackberry to work with flickr which would have allowed me to blog while on the move. Nae luck.
I've been thinking about setting up a different blog, one which does work from the Blackberry (it's not the Blackberry's fault, it's the browser which can't cope with flickr) but I like Blogger so what few entries I am currently posting can wait until I'm on the home PC.
Fiona insisted on taking this picture, which makes it look like I'm big mates with the felines. Appearances deceive.
Last night, mother ratbag refused to come in ... until she climbed onto the bedroom windowsill at 3am and yowled to be let in.
Then small ratbag decided to play cat football with a plastic toy on the kitchen floor, knocking it from one end to another and making a lot of noise in the process.
This was after I'd come back from London, the day after Fiona returned. We spent the weekend there enjoying the sun, food and drink. Maybe more details to follow at a later date.
Running has been very stop-start. More the former than the latter.
Work and painful achilles tendons have been the reason.
Having said that, the little running I have been doing has been enjoyable. No pressure, rarely wearing a watch and taking it very easy.
Marathon training is looming in two weeks' time so it all starts again there. I saw a podiatrist this evening and he reckons both my feet are pronated before I even start running so that when I do run, and I pronate anyway, that might be causing the pain.
He wants me to go on a treadmill on Saturday morning to video and freeze-frame my gait to see what's happening.
The very bad news? Orthotics would cost about £230. If I thought they'd stop the painful tendons and shins, it would be a small price to pay.
I've been having some problems in getting my Blackberry to work with flickr which would have allowed me to blog while on the move. Nae luck.
I've been thinking about setting up a different blog, one which does work from the Blackberry (it's not the Blackberry's fault, it's the browser which can't cope with flickr) but I like Blogger so what few entries I am currently posting can wait until I'm on the home PC.
Fiona insisted on taking this picture, which makes it look like I'm big mates with the felines. Appearances deceive.
Last night, mother ratbag refused to come in ... until she climbed onto the bedroom windowsill at 3am and yowled to be let in.
Then small ratbag decided to play cat football with a plastic toy on the kitchen floor, knocking it from one end to another and making a lot of noise in the process.
This was after I'd come back from London, the day after Fiona returned. We spent the weekend there enjoying the sun, food and drink. Maybe more details to follow at a later date.
Running has been very stop-start. More the former than the latter.
Work and painful achilles tendons have been the reason.
Having said that, the little running I have been doing has been enjoyable. No pressure, rarely wearing a watch and taking it very easy.
Marathon training is looming in two weeks' time so it all starts again there. I saw a podiatrist this evening and he reckons both my feet are pronated before I even start running so that when I do run, and I pronate anyway, that might be causing the pain.
He wants me to go on a treadmill on Saturday morning to video and freeze-frame my gait to see what's happening.
The very bad news? Orthotics would cost about £230. If I thought they'd stop the painful tendons and shins, it would be a small price to pay.
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Weebl and Bob - total quality!