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Affirmation – Savage Garden


Track of the week 26/11/17

Another spinning track, a regular feature of Jon’s Friday evening classes, normally towards the end – if we’re not warming down, it can’t be far away.

But after 40 minutes pedaling furiously in the saddle,one’s mind might not be as sharp as normal. This week I found myself really trying – but failing – to fathom some sort of meaning out of the opening line:

I believe the sun should never set upon an ornament

I just couldn’t work it out (although the it probably distracted me from the lactic acid induced pain in my thighs.)  I thought that it was, perhaps, in some way analogous to the sun never setting on the (old British) empire. Or, perhaps, the ornament was some sort of garden feature that should always be bathed in the beauty of sunlight.

I really couldn’t work it out, but now I can’t believe that I even thought it could make sense.

It transpires that it is argument, not ornament. And that makes sense, so much sense.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument

(But don’t get me started on the line:

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness

‘cos, surely, that can’t be right? But apparently it is.

… the key to your own happiness

now that make sense.)

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Discombobulation

The Cupboard of Doom

Pic of the week 26/11/17

When the family rock wobbles, the impact is felt throughout the household.

Last Sunday, all was well with the world. Becky was busy (as ever), and was putting things away in the cupboard in our room.

She stood up, and the world started spinning.

She was sick. Twice. And then slept for the rest of the day. And the next day. Vertigo, or Labyrinthitis , was the diagnosis of Dr Google. By Tuesday she was back at work, although worrying about moving her head to rapidly to cause a repeat.

And with Becky ill, the household didn’t quite fall apart, but it didn’t run with its normal smooth efficiency, particularly in the kitchen, although Sophie did a sterling job in taking over the catering responsibilities.

As Joni Mitchell sang in “Big Yellow Taxi”

That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone

Fortunately our rock didn’t roll away, and the wobble has stopped, earthquake avoided and life has returned to normal (aka wonderful.)

 

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Major Milestone

A day in the pool.
 
A major milestone crossed today as I clocked up 24 hours of swimming this year.
I shall be a long way off my target for the year of 150Km/ 4,500 lengths: notching up my 24th hour in the pool today means I have swum 1908 lengths or 63.6 Km (that’s 39.75 miles in old money.)
Will aim to get a few more lengths in before the end of the year.  Maybe 70K for the year might be a good revised target?
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Trees and leaves

Pic of the week 19/11/17

Perhaps it is a sign of getting old that you begin to appreciate such things.  Or perhaps its just that its taken me 48 years to realise that winter can be quite a long time and a few months of a bleak, barren landscape have nothing to commend them. Or perhaps this is just a “good year” for leaves.

Whatever the reason, I’ve been making a mental note to look at and enjoy the trees in all their splendour as their leaves turn a classic golden hue.  We’re now well into mid-November, and the trees at school are gamely hanging on to their foliage and producing a quite spectacular show. They’ll soon be devoid of leaves for a long time, so I’m making the most of them while I can.

I think I am getting old!

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Wondering Now – The Specials


Track of the week 12/11/17

Growing up, The Specials were my second favourite band, after The Jam.

Not sure that this is my favourite song of theirs, but is certainly good enough (if a little downbeat) to make it as track of the week.

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Nothing to report

Pic of the week

And so we’re now in the thick of it, routine rumbles on.  The weather is starting to turn colder, the nights are darker, a lull between the “two birthdays.”

Options evening at The Blue last Thursday for Sam – that is still to be decided: Blue or Strode. Looks like Maths & Chemistry are penciled in, to be joined by Physics if he stays at the Blue, Physics and Computer Science if its Strode.

Refereed a lot over the weekend – 110 minutes yesterday in a “three-way” between Millfield U16s, Newport County & Yeovil U15s; and Wessex and Wells City U15s today.  Really enjoyed all of them (although if I’m honest, the last 30 mins on Saturday was for me, perhaps, a physical mile too many).  Have a niggling tweak on my hamstring – did it last Sunday playing for the vets, aggrivated it playing 5-a-side on Tuesday, all good yesterday, but twinged it again in the first 5 mins of today’s game.  A little sore and irritating.

Nice pick above from our bedroom window of the Tor and a rainbow.

Not a lot else to say, the routine rumbles on …

 

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Age of Consent – New Order

Track of the week 5/11/17

I’d like to think that I’d thought long and hard about this week’s TotW before deciding on this, but no, it’s just one of those happy coincidences.

I’ve been listening to this a lot this week and resolved to make it track of the week when I realised there was a certain synergy, what with it being Sophie’s 18th Birthday weekend, and reaching the age of consent.

I love the high tempo and energy of this track.  I’ve never seen a video for it, but in my head throughout the song we watch someone running – from what and to where we don’t know, but just an ever changing vista as our running runs through fields, urban landscapes, the beach – ever where and nowhere.

Have bought the track on iTunes and have added it to my running playlist – where will it take me?

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18!

Pic of the week 5/11/17

It is hard to believe, but Sophie turned 18 yesterday.

Where did the years go?

For eighteen years she has brought us joy, happiness, pride, occasional worry(!), more joy and love.  I knew the day she was born that life would never be the same. I wasn’t wrong. The world was enriched on the 4th November 1999 when our little bundle of love arrived.

I can’t find the words to do her justice.  I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

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Match Report – Legends v Oakhill (away)

Maybe we need the lows to make the highs seem so good. Maybe it was wearing an unfamiliar kit that bought us out in a matching blue mood, or maybe, just maybe, we weren’t quite good enough, disciplined enough, fit enough.

Whatever the reasons, after a stunning start to the season, today was a frustrating return to losing ways. The first twenty minutes saw us survive a few scares, but also produce a few openings of our own. It was hard to see who would break the deadlock, although perhaps the writing was on the wall when Peabody was required to head an Oakhill corner off the line to keep the scores level. Moments later a misplaced pass 10 yards outside our box was seized, and struck sweetly, oh, so sweetly, by an Oakhill midfielder into the top corner. It was a retirement goal – if I ever get close to scoring a goal like that I shall hang up my boots and retire immediately: it ain’t ever going to get better than that.

Still in the game, the second half saw us push forward to seek a score and the chances came, the woodwork rattled, but our defence was left dangerously exposed and the hosts bagged another two goals, both following crosses from (their) right, to leave the final score an unflattering, and undeserved, three nil defeat.

Time moves on, frustrations fade, our squad continues to grow. A great turn out of 13 today, despite a number of injuries. A month to prepare for the toughest test of the season – an away trip to Street on December 3rd.

 

Final Score:

Oakhill 3 Millfield Legends 0