… my musings on, er, "stuff"
Track of the week 29/5/16
I’ve always liked this track – not that I ever feel under pressure: life’s too short. Whatever the problem, tomorrow morning the sun will rise and the world will turn;
Change what you can
But what you can’t leave it alone
Have the sense to know the difference between the two
… but that’s a Marvyn Gaye lyric from a different song (Change what you can) …
Saturday 28th May 2106 – Swam 2Km, 43 min 41 secs
Furthest I’ve ever swum. Back in July/August (2015) when I started swimming regularly, I would do 20, or perhaps 24, lengths. I since “upped the norm” (what a great phrase!) to 30 lengths (1 Km) and a couple of months ago (end of March) swam a mile (48 lengths) for the first time, and a mile has since become a regular distance when I’m on my own.
On Saturday, I was cruising through the water and, at around 30 lengths, decided to go for the 2K – sixty lengths. It wasn’t actually difficult, just keep on keeping on ’till you hit the goal. Rather chuffed with myself though.
Not sure what goals that leaves me: 3K – 90 lengths – is probably the next step, but that is a way off. Going from 48 (mile) to 60 (2k) lengths was not a big leap, 60 to 90 lengths is. Perhaps 72 lengths (1.5 miles) … now, that’s got me thinking.
Pic of the week 29/5/16
It’s been a big week that has seen Sophie’s GCSEs start in earnest, with two English exams, maths and a geography exam.
She’s worked hard – as her room testifies! – so I’m sure she’ll do well. She’s been taking it comfortably in her stride, a brief respite for half term now and then back for two more weeks. She finishes term even earlier than me this year!
Track of the week 22/5/16
Currently playing regularly on my “Cheese on Toast” playlist, I remember loving this when it first came out (reckon I’d have been about six?) – a Top of the Pops favourite.
A sad, but uplifting song with a hint of whimsy:
We had joy had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach
I always thought that it was his lament and farewell as he was dying, but a quick check on Wikipedia shows that he’s still alive and kicking. And that’s good.
Pic of the week 22/5/16
This pic was taken on Tuesday 17th May and shows Sam nearly as tall as me!
He’s getting big, … and strong. I now have to use all my wiles and cunning to defeat him in a wrestling or pushing match, but defeat him I do!
Track of the week 15/5/16
This one’s due to the wonder that is YouTube.
Although a little frightening that it knows my tastes so well, I love the YouTube MyMix playlist – obviously it plays tracks you’ve watched before, but also throws in some vids that you haven’t watched, but thinks you might like.
And this is how I discovered this track. No idea of its discography, when it was released, genre etc., but I know I like it, so much so that it has made it onto my iPod as a purchased song and now elevated to the glory that is “Track of the Week.”
(A great running track, too. I like to have it kick in near the end of my run – about 2 k out.)
Pic of the week 15/5/16
So last week was removing the hedge, this week was laying the shed base.
I used the bag of sharp sand left by the builders in the front garden and mixed it in the ratio 8 parts sand to 1 part (white) cement – again left by the builders. This gave me a dry mix which I then spread on the area and added cheap paving slabs from B&Q on the top, tapping them down to get the level.
Gathered up some of the spare sand/cement mix and added some more cement which I brushed into the joints as pointing, Still have some of this mix in a bucket, should I need to add more pointing.
It’s all (pointing & base layer) not “gone off” – I’m presuming that the natural moisture in the grounds percolates through and causes it to set, although I don’t expect it to go rock hard. The area wont be subject to lots of traffic – just needs to provide a solid level base for the shed to go up (hopefully in half term) Plan is to get an 8×5 foot “pent” shed. Watch this space – I’m sure that that is a blog post waiting to happen!
(p.s. look at them Lilly-white legs! Don’t think they’ve ever been this white, certainly not in mid-May. Although its been warm & sunny for the last week, it has been a cool/cold spring and my legs only emerged a week ago. But the buns are looking firm and round!)
Track of the week 8/5/16
No back story, no particular reason why, just a great uplifting feel good song that you just have to sing along to, and that is enough to make the cut as this week’s track of the week.
Pic of the week 8/5/16
The sun has finally shone (shorts worn for the first time this year on Friday 6th May) and we decided to tackle the hedge along the fence, in preparation for the (new) shed to go there, allowing the removal of the summer house that sits in the prime sunshine spot.
There was quite a bit of hedge to get rid of – this pic doesn’t really do it justice, but it was big, overgrown and very, very prickly.
Chopped back, awaiting disposal.
Starting to look a lot tidier
… and the finished space. Didn’t have quite enough membrane so the corner will wait whilst I order some more. The it will be filled with sand (finally getting rid of the dumpy bag left by the builders at the front of the house) mixed with a bit of cement and topped with paving slabs, ready for a new shed (still to be ordered.)
Track of the week 1/5/16
Whitney’s original was always a bit too schmaltzy and saccharine, but I do like this “danced” up version of “I Will Always Love You” by Sarah Washington. Takes me back to my time in Germany, when I’d only just met Becky. I knew then, as I still do now, that I would always love her.
I like the sentiment and the lyrics:
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this I wish you love
What more could you wish for for someone?
And that is why it makes the cut as a track of the week.