That's right, just three full weekends to get out and make sure I'm fit enough for the Alzheimers fund raiser 500km in four days on a bike. Donations are going well, but there's a challenge now to hit my target before I head off on the 14th for Paris. See Just Giving for the details if you want to contribute to my cycle.
Yesterday was 65km in the saddle and the first long ride since our trip to Europe. Nuremberg, Prague, Berlin and Ieper for a very rounded, cultural expedition of castles, medieval street plans and a visit to the very sobering Menin gate where the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has a monument to the 55,000 soliders from the British Commonwealth who lost their lives during World War 1 and were never found.
Along the way was some very good food, good beer in the Czech Republic, good cakes in Dresden and Berlin and great breakfasts at the Guest House Union in Osthausen and the Hotel Ariane in the center of Ieper. Plenty of walking, our holidays do not generally involve time spent lying on the beach, so that helped keep the fitness levels up. Which was good; today I cycled to and from work again, another 40km on the bike, so I'm pretty certain that I can manage two days in a row!
Found a tremendous chocolate Artisan in the Grote Markt in Ieper; right next door to Leonidas. The Leonidas chocolates are reliable, but the ones from next door were exquisite - some of the best I've ever eaten.
Yesterday's trip took me out the A4 past Heathrow and onto the sleepy little village of Eton. I was quite taken with the sign on the gates by one of the playing fields "Boys must not/Use This Gate". I can imagine there's a challenge for "the boys" in using the caretakers gate to slip by on the way from a playing field as a "short cut" without getting caught. The village is quite stunning in character, and right beside the Thames. The way back took me past Slough, which is one large sprawling mass of office blocks, and back into Heathrow before heading home.
Definitely need some more stretching, I may have to invest in a rack just to loosen up some of my muscles. Either that or a masseuse with a meat tenderiser for a hand.
I received the room allocations for the trip - luckily I get to share with some complete random stranger for the 4 nights of the journey.
The last night is spent in Paris. I'm quite looking forward to a croissant in a Parisian cafe.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Summer in England - Today's the day
Such a rubbish summer here in the UK that there's now a group to Like on Facebook for that one sunny day in Blighty - today.
To be fair, it was a proper English summer day; slightly breezy, slightly overcast and temperatures in the low 20's centigrade. Perfect weather for cycling.
Only challenge on the way out, travelling west, was the wind blowing east. Total distance covered was 95km in just on 4 hours. You could fly to Iceland in this time, and I'm sure that your seat would still be comfortable at the end of the journey.
Today's journey was out to Uxbridge, then onto Gerrards Cross on the A40 and into High Wycombe. From there I went south towards Marlow, taking a detour towards Cookham, then Maidenhead to Slough, back to Uxbridge and then home.
High Wycombe was brilliant - 75 metre climb over 2km at an incline of 3.1%. Map My Ride were kind enough to rate this as a category 5 climb; I only have 4 of these on day 1 when we cycle to Dover. Average speed today was 24 km/h, and I'm able to maintain about 30 km/h on the flatter terrain. With just on two months until I spend four days in the saddle, I think I'm on track to be able to enjoy a day riding and not be totally knackered at the end of it.
I'd never heard of Cookham before, but it's a beautiful little town right on a section of the Thames where there's a chance of a billabong forming. Went past a pub called The Ferry, which has seating right by the river. Will book mark this for the next English Summer.
Even managed to get a little more tan-like color on my arms. Given that I'm quite pale and that my natural condition when exposed to the sun is to burn, I'm quite chuffed. May keep up this cycling lark after my charity ride, just so I can keep my arms from their natural pale state.
Capped the day off with a lovely grilled piece of lightly smoked salmon and a very Med style spread of sun dried tomatoes, artichokes and olives. Plus a very nice Cloudy Bay sauvingon blanc that I'd picked up at Waitrose. Perfect.
To be fair, it was a proper English summer day; slightly breezy, slightly overcast and temperatures in the low 20's centigrade. Perfect weather for cycling.
Only challenge on the way out, travelling west, was the wind blowing east. Total distance covered was 95km in just on 4 hours. You could fly to Iceland in this time, and I'm sure that your seat would still be comfortable at the end of the journey.
Today's journey was out to Uxbridge, then onto Gerrards Cross on the A40 and into High Wycombe. From there I went south towards Marlow, taking a detour towards Cookham, then Maidenhead to Slough, back to Uxbridge and then home.
High Wycombe was brilliant - 75 metre climb over 2km at an incline of 3.1%. Map My Ride were kind enough to rate this as a category 5 climb; I only have 4 of these on day 1 when we cycle to Dover. Average speed today was 24 km/h, and I'm able to maintain about 30 km/h on the flatter terrain. With just on two months until I spend four days in the saddle, I think I'm on track to be able to enjoy a day riding and not be totally knackered at the end of it.
I'd never heard of Cookham before, but it's a beautiful little town right on a section of the Thames where there's a chance of a billabong forming. Went past a pub called The Ferry, which has seating right by the river. Will book mark this for the next English Summer.
Even managed to get a little more tan-like color on my arms. Given that I'm quite pale and that my natural condition when exposed to the sun is to burn, I'm quite chuffed. May keep up this cycling lark after my charity ride, just so I can keep my arms from their natural pale state.
Capped the day off with a lovely grilled piece of lightly smoked salmon and a very Med style spread of sun dried tomatoes, artichokes and olives. Plus a very nice Cloudy Bay sauvingon blanc that I'd picked up at Waitrose. Perfect.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sunday morning - easy like
Cool, but warm and no breeze; perfect weather for cycling. Did 50km today in just under 2 hours, even though I took a wrong turn and ended up about 10 km east of where I thought I was going! At least I was doing an out-and-back circuit and not looking to meet someone in a given place.
Mad moment as I went under a railway bridge and past a large set of buildings thinking "I really don't recall any of this last time I was out here". When I checked out the map at home, I discovered a large set of lakes running parallel with my route, some of them look quite nice plus there's a couple of boat clubs. Will check these out in the car another time.
Definitely need to invest in another handle bar holder for the Blackberry. At least when I'm doing the charity run I'll be with 30 others and someone is bound to know where we're going - that and the marked trail might keep me on the right path.
I've been cycling regularly for three months now and don't feel daunted at the prospect of spending 5 hours a day on my bike. Commuting is easier, I'm able to keep in the low 30 k's on the flatter stretches, even when there's a strong head wind, and the quickest trip was 48 minutes door to door, including stopping for lights.
Fund raising is still going on; I'm just on a third of the way to my target with a couple of months to go. As I've now paid for the trip all I need to do is raise the remaining part of my target. If you're reading this and want to contribute, use the Just Giving link on the right. UK taxpayers can Gift Aid their donations, making your contribution more effective.
Mad moment as I went under a railway bridge and past a large set of buildings thinking "I really don't recall any of this last time I was out here". When I checked out the map at home, I discovered a large set of lakes running parallel with my route, some of them look quite nice plus there's a couple of boat clubs. Will check these out in the car another time.
Definitely need to invest in another handle bar holder for the Blackberry. At least when I'm doing the charity run I'll be with 30 others and someone is bound to know where we're going - that and the marked trail might keep me on the right path.
I've been cycling regularly for three months now and don't feel daunted at the prospect of spending 5 hours a day on my bike. Commuting is easier, I'm able to keep in the low 30 k's on the flatter stretches, even when there's a strong head wind, and the quickest trip was 48 minutes door to door, including stopping for lights.
Fund raising is still going on; I'm just on a third of the way to my target with a couple of months to go. As I've now paid for the trip all I need to do is raise the remaining part of my target. If you're reading this and want to contribute, use the Just Giving link on the right. UK taxpayers can Gift Aid their donations, making your contribution more effective.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Weather - it's outside the door
And when you're on a bike, you're in the middle of it. Monday night ride home, raining when I left work, raining when I reached the half way point, still raining when I arrived home. Everything was soaked, at least the rain hood for my back pack keeps the rain out.
That's another 21km chalked up in preparation for the trip to Paris. 40km for Monday, rest Tuesday, back on the bike Wednesday, 80km this week.
Day 1 ride, found a map showing how tough it's going to be getting out of Blighty. MapMyRide says there are 5 category 5 climbs on the route shown. This means great pain. Mostly because the west side of London doesn't have that many hills and gentle climbs just on 400 metres in length don't prepare you for the reality of this nastiness.
At least the northern parts of France are nice and flat!
That's another 21km chalked up in preparation for the trip to Paris. 40km for Monday, rest Tuesday, back on the bike Wednesday, 80km this week.
Day 1 ride, found a map showing how tough it's going to be getting out of Blighty. MapMyRide says there are 5 category 5 climbs on the route shown. This means great pain. Mostly because the west side of London doesn't have that many hills and gentle climbs just on 400 metres in length don't prepare you for the reality of this nastiness.
At least the northern parts of France are nice and flat!
Friday, June 17, 2011
And it rained, and it rained and it rained
Morning cycle to work, light breeze, slightly overcast but perfect weather for cycling. Not too hot, not too cold. Good run in and made it in plenty of time for an 8am kick off. 50 minutes, averaging around 24km/h, so good time and I'm pleased with the training so far.
Rain clouds rolled in this afternoon, getting darker and darker and feeling more like a winter's afternoon. Then I noticed the sheets of rain start to drift across the city scape. Yes, it's Summer in London.
Left work at half five and it was raining. An hour later, it was still raining. Soaked, but happy, I parked my bike in the garage and deposited my kit in the wet room. Hopefully it's dry tomorrow as I'd like to get out for a longer training ride early doors.
That's 3 commutes this week for 120km; happy with that as my times are starting to average out at around 52 minutes.
If you haven't done so already, drop by my fund raising link in the next panel to sponsor me.
Rain clouds rolled in this afternoon, getting darker and darker and feeling more like a winter's afternoon. Then I noticed the sheets of rain start to drift across the city scape. Yes, it's Summer in London.
Left work at half five and it was raining. An hour later, it was still raining. Soaked, but happy, I parked my bike in the garage and deposited my kit in the wet room. Hopefully it's dry tomorrow as I'd like to get out for a longer training ride early doors.
That's 3 commutes this week for 120km; happy with that as my times are starting to average out at around 52 minutes.
If you haven't done so already, drop by my fund raising link in the next panel to sponsor me.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
More Rain on the way
Fully recovered from my man flu. Hmm, not sure if men are ever fully recovered, it's just one long list of moans.
Start again.
Determining that I'm now well enough to resume cycling, I've done a couple of cycles this week and found it exhilarating after a week of slumming on London Underground stuffed into spaces that I can't stand up straight in.
The roads are getting busy now that the weather's improved. If I leave after 7:30am I run into hoards of fair weather cyclists clogging up the road ways. I'm often surprised that people cycle fully kitted out with suits or dresses that are clearly meant for the office; it's quite the fashion parade out there. For me, by the time I reach my office, I need a stretch and then a shower to cool down and get myself clean so I don't offend my colleagues.
http://www.mapmyride.com is fab for keeping track of my rides. Ok, the app for the Bberry is a little flaky and keeps uploading my rides as runs (who's mad enough to run 20km to and from work each day?) and doesn't take into account waiting time when calculating average speeds. But it is cheaper than getting a fancy Garmin device with built in HRM. I'm hoping this will be my father's day present. Dreaming again!
Quickest ride to work so far is 48 minutes - and that included stopping for traffic lights. I overtook one guy on a three wheeler on 3 occasions as he kept running the lights. Average speed through London is a shade under 25 km/h as it's difficult to get a good run without being stopped by lights.
This weekend will be another run out to Amersham. I'll pop the details up along with the map so you can see how I'm doing.
Please continue to sponsor my ride.
Start again.
Determining that I'm now well enough to resume cycling, I've done a couple of cycles this week and found it exhilarating after a week of slumming on London Underground stuffed into spaces that I can't stand up straight in.
The roads are getting busy now that the weather's improved. If I leave after 7:30am I run into hoards of fair weather cyclists clogging up the road ways. I'm often surprised that people cycle fully kitted out with suits or dresses that are clearly meant for the office; it's quite the fashion parade out there. For me, by the time I reach my office, I need a stretch and then a shower to cool down and get myself clean so I don't offend my colleagues.
http://www.mapmyride.com is fab for keeping track of my rides. Ok, the app for the Bberry is a little flaky and keeps uploading my rides as runs (who's mad enough to run 20km to and from work each day?) and doesn't take into account waiting time when calculating average speeds. But it is cheaper than getting a fancy Garmin device with built in HRM. I'm hoping this will be my father's day present. Dreaming again!
Quickest ride to work so far is 48 minutes - and that included stopping for traffic lights. I overtook one guy on a three wheeler on 3 occasions as he kept running the lights. Average speed through London is a shade under 25 km/h as it's difficult to get a good run without being stopped by lights.
This weekend will be another run out to Amersham. I'll pop the details up along with the map so you can see how I'm doing.
Please continue to sponsor my ride.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Man flu stops training
Struck down with sniveling cold symptoms. Blocked nose, headache and general lethargy. Sounds like business as usual for most blokes.
Did 35 km on Saturday thinking this would shift the problem. It didn't. So this week I've not cycled to work and feel distinctly rubbish.
Hopefully this represents just a minor blip in my training for the ride to Paris.
Did 75km out and back to Amersham the weekend before. Discovered you really do need those energy bars when you hit the wall around the hour mark.
Am now using Map My Ride via the Blackberry to record my training. It's easier than trying to note down times and distances via the computer on the bike. For some reason the app thinks I weigh 220kg. This is great for pretending I'm burning more calories than I'm eating. I like the altitude tracking on the site and there's lots of ideas for rides of the daily distance I'll be doing, so I'm finding it very helpful.
Did 35 km on Saturday thinking this would shift the problem. It didn't. So this week I've not cycled to work and feel distinctly rubbish.
Hopefully this represents just a minor blip in my training for the ride to Paris.
Did 75km out and back to Amersham the weekend before. Discovered you really do need those energy bars when you hit the wall around the hour mark.
Am now using Map My Ride via the Blackberry to record my training. It's easier than trying to note down times and distances via the computer on the bike. For some reason the app thinks I weigh 220kg. This is great for pretending I'm burning more calories than I'm eating. I like the altitude tracking on the site and there's lots of ideas for rides of the daily distance I'll be doing, so I'm finding it very helpful.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Eh by gum, it's windy out here today
On Sunday the wind picked up and started to blow our trees and pot plants around our garden. Cycling in through Green Park today and there's large amount of detris in the car parks along the Mall. Seriously big sticks as well - like big enough to buckle a wheel and cause an involuntary dismount if you ran over one extra large lump lying on the pavement. Lots of dried seeds and tree flotsam in the gutters too. We do need a big thunder storm to wash this rubbish away, and soon (maybe tonight, maybe).
Face mask is therefore a totally inspired decision. Not only does it keep the obvious rubbish out of my lungs, but I feel that I'm not sucking in so much of the car fumes that I'm oxygen poor by the time I reach my destination.
Coming home and the wind was even stronger; a couple of times it felt like I was about to be blown into the Thames!
That's another 40km chalked off this week - I'm aiming for three consecutive rides totalling 120km this week and then a weekend excursion of around 70km to get myself into the swing of being on the road.
Face mask is therefore a totally inspired decision. Not only does it keep the obvious rubbish out of my lungs, but I feel that I'm not sucking in so much of the car fumes that I'm oxygen poor by the time I reach my destination.
Coming home and the wind was even stronger; a couple of times it felt like I was about to be blown into the Thames!
That's another 40km chalked off this week - I'm aiming for three consecutive rides totalling 120km this week and then a weekend excursion of around 70km to get myself into the swing of being on the road.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
There and back again
This week, three days of 40km cycles and a pick up in my average pace. I'm still able to keep at 25 km/h as I head home into a stiff evening breeze blowing down the Thames and along the Embankment. It's been a struggle to get this basic level of fitness, six weeks of huffing up and puffing down hills. I feel this week is a real milestone in sorting out my fitness.
Total time out on Friday was just under 50 minutes - fully 5 minutes quicker than a month ago and this included having to stop for more than the usual number of traffic lights.
Next goal is to cycle up to Notting Hill Gate without dropping below 25 km/h; once I can do that I'm set. If I leave after atbout 7:15am there are plenty of trucks heading into the West End which means ducking and diving around parked food deliveries and drivers suddenly popping out into your path.
Hyde Park in the evening is getting dangerous; Boris Bikers are often like an escargatoire of snails. They move slowly in front of you, gently weaving back and forth as you approach them and sometimes veer directly into your path! They mostly travel two abreast so they can chat with their cycling partner. Pulling out to get round them is difficult, especially when someone is steaming down the hill towards you. With the other side of the path full of pedestrians, I often end up travelling at 10km/h while waiting for the traffic to subside.
Fundraising is going well; I've added the Just Giving widget to my home page and my preparations feel all the more worthwhile as your generours donations arrive. This really helps me get out of bed and get onto my bike!
Total time out on Friday was just under 50 minutes - fully 5 minutes quicker than a month ago and this included having to stop for more than the usual number of traffic lights.
Next goal is to cycle up to Notting Hill Gate without dropping below 25 km/h; once I can do that I'm set. If I leave after atbout 7:15am there are plenty of trucks heading into the West End which means ducking and diving around parked food deliveries and drivers suddenly popping out into your path.
Hyde Park in the evening is getting dangerous; Boris Bikers are often like an escargatoire of snails. They move slowly in front of you, gently weaving back and forth as you approach them and sometimes veer directly into your path! They mostly travel two abreast so they can chat with their cycling partner. Pulling out to get round them is difficult, especially when someone is steaming down the hill towards you. With the other side of the path full of pedestrians, I often end up travelling at 10km/h while waiting for the traffic to subside.
Fundraising is going well; I've added the Just Giving widget to my home page and my preparations feel all the more worthwhile as your generours donations arrive. This really helps me get out of bed and get onto my bike!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Hayfever
We could do with some rain around these parts. It's been windy and dry for April and May, meaning a load of bitesize flotsam from the flora and fauna is available to eat whenever you step outdoors.
After one ride home the other week, I decided a face mask was in order; I'd spent most of the evening coughing and spluttering whilst trying to clear out whatever had lodged itself in my lungs. Reminded me of the time we went to Morocco; lot's of dust everywhere and a well developed nagging cough.
Unfortunately come Friday evening and my eyes are sore and nose blocked - yes, it's hayfever big time. First bout ever for me and I was most unhappy about it. Half a box of tissues over the weekend and not sleeping properly. Deeply unimpressed, although I now have first hand sympathy for what the other half of the family suffer from.
Another 40km today. Good time this morning, though I suspect it was wind assisted given the head wind on the way home. Kept at around 30 km/h in the way in with a high cadence and my legs didn't feel rubbery by the time I arrived at work. Home leg was harder, it's also uphill most of the way, but I managed 25 km/h although there were a few tricky rises where I couldn't quite keep the pace up that I was looking for.
To keep me on track, I think of staying in front of the "voiture balai"; although no one chasing me it helps having a mental image of being swept up and out of the circuit if I can't match the pace I've set myself.
After one ride home the other week, I decided a face mask was in order; I'd spent most of the evening coughing and spluttering whilst trying to clear out whatever had lodged itself in my lungs. Reminded me of the time we went to Morocco; lot's of dust everywhere and a well developed nagging cough.
Unfortunately come Friday evening and my eyes are sore and nose blocked - yes, it's hayfever big time. First bout ever for me and I was most unhappy about it. Half a box of tissues over the weekend and not sleeping properly. Deeply unimpressed, although I now have first hand sympathy for what the other half of the family suffer from.
Another 40km today. Good time this morning, though I suspect it was wind assisted given the head wind on the way home. Kept at around 30 km/h in the way in with a high cadence and my legs didn't feel rubbery by the time I arrived at work. Home leg was harder, it's also uphill most of the way, but I managed 25 km/h although there were a few tricky rises where I couldn't quite keep the pace up that I was looking for.
To keep me on track, I think of staying in front of the "voiture balai"; although no one chasing me it helps having a mental image of being swept up and out of the circuit if I can't match the pace I've set myself.
Friday, May 13, 2011
4 days on a bicycle
My decision to spend 4 days travelling 500 km to raise money for the Alzheimers society seemed sensible enough. After all, you're only doing 125 km a day; an avergate 20km an hour means you should spend about 6 hours in the saddle and the rest of the day will be spent with long lunches and relaxing evenings from about 5pm.
I'd forgotten about the bit that requires you to be fit enough to spend this time sat on a very hard object. That's right, the training bit. The last couple of weeks I've managed 40km a day, 20km each way to work and back, three times a week. Good progress, I hope. In June I'm aiming to put in a couple of late evening rides that add about 20km to the homeward trip.
This week I needed a new rear tyre, the old one had covered about 1,000km so it was pretty thin by the time I dumped it in the bin at the bike shop. Amazingly, the journey home was much easier! Guess I better read more of my bicycle maintenance book before I head off.
If you want to sponsor me, go to my link at to donate to this worthy cause!
I'm paying for the trip myself, so all your donations go directly to the charity.
I'd forgotten about the bit that requires you to be fit enough to spend this time sat on a very hard object. That's right, the training bit. The last couple of weeks I've managed 40km a day, 20km each way to work and back, three times a week. Good progress, I hope. In June I'm aiming to put in a couple of late evening rides that add about 20km to the homeward trip.
This week I needed a new rear tyre, the old one had covered about 1,000km so it was pretty thin by the time I dumped it in the bin at the bike shop. Amazingly, the journey home was much easier! Guess I better read more of my bicycle maintenance book before I head off.
If you want to sponsor me, go to my link at to donate to this worthy cause!
I'm paying for the trip myself, so all your donations go directly to the charity.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Puddings, Precipitation and Pressure
All signs suggest England will win the current Ashes series. Australia failed to win a very one sided game in Cardiff and the momentum swung firmly England's way. Andrew Flintoff then destroyed he Aussies with the ball at Lords, leading the Poms to a win at the home of cricket in an Ashes game since 1934.
The odds of Australia staging a fighting comeback to draw the series are now fading with every run scored at Edgbaston by the English tail enders. The English batsmen have shown how to make runs in the conditions, aided by an Australian attack that seems to be baffled by how to bowl on a proper English pudding of a pitch. Unlike 2005 when Shane Warne and Brett Lee had enough skill between them, with bat and ball, to keep Australia in the hunt, the current attack lack the necessary experience and leadership to turn around their performance.
While rain tomorrow will mean that the current game is drawn, this time it will be the Australians taking comfort from the luck of nature. As the next test is up norf and more rain will fall, it's likely the players will return to London for the final test at the Oval with Australia needing to win to retain the Ashes. Normally England do well at this venue, though most of their tests are dead rubbers that they seem to shine in and prove they're capable of beating a team mentally preparing to board the plane home.
This puts the Australian captain Ricky Ponting in a fairly tight spot, and he's already shown that he doesn't enjoy being close to the fire. His pre-match response to England captain Andrew Strauss's baiting showed that poor little Ricky's sense of humour has escaped. When Strauss suggested that Australia had lost their aura, Ricky slugged back by pointing at the test match ranking and suggesting England never had an aura. Oh dear, descending to my dad is definitely bigger than yours and he'll come round and sort you out is how it sounded, standard school boy bully stuff, really just highlights that the aura is gone and that the captain doesn't like it up 'im.
Predecessors like Border, Taylor or Waugh might have suggested that given the current situation the observation has merit but that we'll see what happens on the field. They knew how to handle the mind games of the opposition with better grace.
Back on the field, as the Australian bowlers try to come to grips with another English pudding, their captain stands at first slip watching the pies being chucked down. His chewing gum is taking a pounding as his body language shifts between glares of disgust and folded arms of despair. He's not happy with the performances of those around him, yet helpless to understand how to change it. After all, he's the one player in the team who doesn't fall back on others for help, his batting performances since taking over show he's leading from the front and tryin t bring the others with him.
As England towards a lead of one hundred runs, Ricky needs to grab the reins and wheedle and cajole his players to perform at their best. He needs to have one hand on a young shoulder, letting people know what's expected of them and showing them his support. But this is not in his nature and the captaincy may not be his much longer.
The odds of Australia staging a fighting comeback to draw the series are now fading with every run scored at Edgbaston by the English tail enders. The English batsmen have shown how to make runs in the conditions, aided by an Australian attack that seems to be baffled by how to bowl on a proper English pudding of a pitch. Unlike 2005 when Shane Warne and Brett Lee had enough skill between them, with bat and ball, to keep Australia in the hunt, the current attack lack the necessary experience and leadership to turn around their performance.
While rain tomorrow will mean that the current game is drawn, this time it will be the Australians taking comfort from the luck of nature. As the next test is up norf and more rain will fall, it's likely the players will return to London for the final test at the Oval with Australia needing to win to retain the Ashes. Normally England do well at this venue, though most of their tests are dead rubbers that they seem to shine in and prove they're capable of beating a team mentally preparing to board the plane home.
This puts the Australian captain Ricky Ponting in a fairly tight spot, and he's already shown that he doesn't enjoy being close to the fire. His pre-match response to England captain Andrew Strauss's baiting showed that poor little Ricky's sense of humour has escaped. When Strauss suggested that Australia had lost their aura, Ricky slugged back by pointing at the test match ranking and suggesting England never had an aura. Oh dear, descending to my dad is definitely bigger than yours and he'll come round and sort you out is how it sounded, standard school boy bully stuff, really just highlights that the aura is gone and that the captain doesn't like it up 'im.
Predecessors like Border, Taylor or Waugh might have suggested that given the current situation the observation has merit but that we'll see what happens on the field. They knew how to handle the mind games of the opposition with better grace.
Back on the field, as the Australian bowlers try to come to grips with another English pudding, their captain stands at first slip watching the pies being chucked down. His chewing gum is taking a pounding as his body language shifts between glares of disgust and folded arms of despair. He's not happy with the performances of those around him, yet helpless to understand how to change it. After all, he's the one player in the team who doesn't fall back on others for help, his batting performances since taking over show he's leading from the front and tryin t bring the others with him.
As England towards a lead of one hundred runs, Ricky needs to grab the reins and wheedle and cajole his players to perform at their best. He needs to have one hand on a young shoulder, letting people know what's expected of them and showing them his support. But this is not in his nature and the captaincy may not be his much longer.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
We're doomed, well a bit anyway
Northern Rock is the Government's surrogate for lending money to revive the economy. They're going to up their lending by up to £14 billion or so in the next couple of years. The BBC report says that the new money will be a mix of new deposits, repaid loans AND GOVERNMENT MONEY.
Although the last part is, of course, my capitalisation (sic), it's a clear indication that the Brown administration is going to waste more money. Only a government would want to increase a mortgage portfolio at this time.
Ok, it's only a fraction of the £127.3 billion the UK Treasury will borrow this year but it's a bad signal for the market. At least we know it won't be the 100% loans, as dear old Gordon's decided this is a really bad things. But just how bad will it be when the Bank of England starts printing money & the government of Her Majesty of the United Kingdom chip in from the sidelines with a few more bob.
I say that HM Queen Elizabeth II should step in and appoint a caretaker government right now as the current lot have proven themselves to be utterly useless.
Although the last part is, of course, my capitalisation (sic), it's a clear indication that the Brown administration is going to waste more money. Only a government would want to increase a mortgage portfolio at this time.
Ok, it's only a fraction of the £127.3 billion the UK Treasury will borrow this year but it's a bad signal for the market. At least we know it won't be the 100% loans, as dear old Gordon's decided this is a really bad things. But just how bad will it be when the Bank of England starts printing money & the government of Her Majesty of the United Kingdom chip in from the sidelines with a few more bob.
I say that HM Queen Elizabeth II should step in and appoint a caretaker government right now as the current lot have proven themselves to be utterly useless.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The UK Needs more Public Holidays
Yesterday's dump of snow brought an impromptu day off to many in the South of England. Most of us enjoyed stomping around in 15 to 30 centimetres of soft, fresh snow, making the most of the unexpected day off. In the parks, people built snowmen, tobogganed down any available incline and marveled at the drifts of snow hanging on the tree branches.
Today as I trudged into work, albeit on an emptier than usual London Underground, the thought slid into my brain that here in the UK we could do with a couple more sanctioned days off. The English and Welsh get two days for Easter, the first and last Monday in May, another day in August, two more for Christmas and Boxing Day and one to celebrate Janus. A grand total of 8. Going back in time, at least on Wikipedia, we used to get 37 days (a mixed bag of religious observations), but I guess that back then we didn't have employment rights guaranteeing us time off.
In the other nations of the Union, Scotland get nine days while Northern Ireland get ten. Even the old USofA get ten days of public holidays. A quick troll through No. 10's website (note how prettily the party apartchiks use the BETA term to indicate this isn't really a live site, only it is because it's in the public domain and therefore "live" to everyone!) reveals how many petitions are out there for these extra days. Even two years ago, the BBC was in on the act.
To date, Government spin has suggested that additional days off celebrating national identities, like St George's day or St David's day, make it difficult to create an agenda that meets everyone's liking. I'd like to suggest that the Government has "done nothing" (a familiar phrase trotted out these last few months) to put forward one or two more days off for the "hard working families" in this country.
I guess that leaves us still in the "hard working" category with no additional benefits in sight. I wonder if el Gord will use his remaining days in power to gift us extra days off to enjoy his recession?
Oh dear.
Today as I trudged into work, albeit on an emptier than usual London Underground, the thought slid into my brain that here in the UK we could do with a couple more sanctioned days off. The English and Welsh get two days for Easter, the first and last Monday in May, another day in August, two more for Christmas and Boxing Day and one to celebrate Janus. A grand total of 8. Going back in time, at least on Wikipedia, we used to get 37 days (a mixed bag of religious observations), but I guess that back then we didn't have employment rights guaranteeing us time off.
In the other nations of the Union, Scotland get nine days while Northern Ireland get ten. Even the old USofA get ten days of public holidays. A quick troll through No. 10's website (note how prettily the party apartchiks use the BETA term to indicate this isn't really a live site, only it is because it's in the public domain and therefore "live" to everyone!) reveals how many petitions are out there for these extra days. Even two years ago, the BBC was in on the act.
To date, Government spin has suggested that additional days off celebrating national identities, like St George's day or St David's day, make it difficult to create an agenda that meets everyone's liking. I'd like to suggest that the Government has "done nothing" (a familiar phrase trotted out these last few months) to put forward one or two more days off for the "hard working families" in this country.
I guess that leaves us still in the "hard working" category with no additional benefits in sight. I wonder if el Gord will use his remaining days in power to gift us extra days off to enjoy his recession?
Oh dear.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Snow Time
As an unusual wintery weather pattern rolls across south east England it's reassuring to see the country grind to a halt once more. That's right, it's snowing again in London and it's considered to be the "worst" flurry since 1991, when I remember being in the office pretty much on my own as the permanent staff living in the commuter belt couldn't get to the office.
Today, I couldn't get into the office; according to our fabulous Mayor Boris we've had the right snow, just too much of it! It's a great economic conundrum for this country. After all, the number of days lost to "extreme" weather in the south is, on average, one or two days a year. So businesses and the government don't invest in costly infrastructure using the assumption that disruptive days don't come round very often. This seems the pragmatic option, the stoic British stiff upper lip and carry on regardless.
Mind you, the people of the south are also ill-prepared for such weather. When we were out for a walk today we wore hiking boots, ski-gloves, winter water-proof jackets, scarves and hats. Many of our neighbours were wandering around in sneakers or fashionable shoes not designed for the icy sludge on the footpaths. Quite a few of them stumbled and slid at the merest hint of an ice patch.
It's unlikely there'll be more snow tonight, such a shame. I've enjoyed the day at home throwing snow balls at my kids, taking photos of our yard covered in snow and popping to the supermarket to secure our food supplies for the day.
I consider this to be the best type of day; tomorrow we'll be back at work.
Today, I couldn't get into the office; according to our fabulous Mayor Boris we've had the right snow, just too much of it! It's a great economic conundrum for this country. After all, the number of days lost to "extreme" weather in the south is, on average, one or two days a year. So businesses and the government don't invest in costly infrastructure using the assumption that disruptive days don't come round very often. This seems the pragmatic option, the stoic British stiff upper lip and carry on regardless.
Mind you, the people of the south are also ill-prepared for such weather. When we were out for a walk today we wore hiking boots, ski-gloves, winter water-proof jackets, scarves and hats. Many of our neighbours were wandering around in sneakers or fashionable shoes not designed for the icy sludge on the footpaths. Quite a few of them stumbled and slid at the merest hint of an ice patch.
It's unlikely there'll be more snow tonight, such a shame. I've enjoyed the day at home throwing snow balls at my kids, taking photos of our yard covered in snow and popping to the supermarket to secure our food supplies for the day.
I consider this to be the best type of day; tomorrow we'll be back at work.
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