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Cactus flower

Pic of the week 26/1/20

On Thursday I spotted that one of my cacti is flowering.

I must say, I’m rather proud. All three have thrived in the twenty one months they’ve been in my care, and this one is now sporting a small white flower.

In other news, I injured my already tweaked calf on Wednesday – whilst running the line (1st XI v Strode) there was a definite moment when I felt it go.  It continued to hurt on Thursday, so I cancelled my spinning. But silver linings and all that, I went swimming (instead of spinning) on Thursday and, as today was always a closed date anyway, I went for a swim this morning, notching up 60 lengths.

I saw this quote from Richard Feynman on Twitter, and I like it. A good philosophy for life:

Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn’t matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough!

 

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Frosty

Pic of the week 19/1/20

After seemingly endless wet, occasionally winding, and unseasonably warm weather, the last two days have been cold. Crisp, clear, cold, and its been wonderful.

This morning we woke to a thick covering of white frost, offset by the clean sharpness of blue skies. Definitely a day to lift the spirits.

I was due to referee today, but the game was called off before the end of the week due to the pitch being too wet. I do enjoy refereeing, but it did feel like a bonus  to have the morning off. I was going to go for a run, but I picked up a niggling calf injury last week and I was still noticing when refereeing yesterday’s 5th XI* game v Sherborne, so I decided to go for a swim instead.

And I’m so glad I did.

I didn’t swim much last year, I think I just fell out of the habit of going to the pool, and there was/is a danger that that would continue into this year.

It was a lot less busy than I’d feared this morning – a good handful in the water, but for most of the time I was able to have a lane to myself.  Was originally only going to do 30 lengths, then thought I could add another six. Then, if doing 36, you may as well do 40. Anyway, I ended up doing 50 lengths, really enjoyed it, it was quite calming and therapeutic – certainly more so than running seven or ten K.

Anyway, I’ve determined to swim more this year than last.

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A false dawn?

Pic of the week 12/1/20

Its not been a cold autumn & winter, but its been a wet one and its only mid January so there is still much bleak weather to come.

But I can’t help but sense Spring may be on its way. Its 4.30 pm as I type and its still not dark – what a difference that makes. And there are lots of bulbs poking their heads up already. Still a while ’til they’ll flower, but they provide a sense of hope, of better days to come. I often think it is these green shoots that are the main joy of the daffodil, rather than their yellow flowers (but I like them too.)

Its been a busy first week back at school, and I’m back in on dining room duty in 45 mins, so not a long post today. Sophie went back to Reading on Thursday, I received the report from my referee assessment last Saturday (all good – “above standard expected”) and the luxury of time is a distant and ever fading memory. I hope the week coming won’t be so busy for me (last week I had a pensions meeting and was involved in three interviews for the Director of Football) and I do like the rhythm and routine of school life, but I can’t help but feel the balance isn’t right: either full on (term time) or full off (holiday time.) Oh well, nothing I can do about that, so no point dwelling on it.

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2020

Pic of the week 5/1/20

A new month, a new year, a new decade has dawned.

I must do a “Goal, Aims and Targets” post, but a first, and pressing, need is to bring my weight back down to pre-Christmas levels. My festive indulgences have seen my weight climb to 13 stone 5 pounds + and I now need to swiftly address that. Each day on the scales since December 25th has seen the dial sticking stubbornly to that figure, although today, for the first time, suggested a hint of a move in the right direction.

Refereed my first couple of games of the season, including an observed/assessed game yesterday (Strode v Manor) which went well. Achieving/completing my promotion to level six will be one of my goals for the year.

Term starts back tomorrow – now it is nearly upon me, I’m quite keen for the routine to commence.

Although the rest of the family claim not to notice, I am starting the new year with a new hair style – gone is the quiff, I’m now swooping my hair in the other direction and slapping on some gel. I’m liking the results so far.

Aprendo espanol ahoy, lo disfruto.

Adios!

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2019 – A Year in Stats

Having graphed my stats for 2018 (see posts here and here) it was only right that I do the same for 2019, so here they are.

Having run a few more 10Ks this year, I’ve included that data in my charts:

I think the next two charts are informative, showing how my running time changes over the year:

(This year I’ve plotted my data by week rather than by day (for ease of data collection))

And my weight:

although interestingly my lowest weight doesn’t correlate directly with my quickest running times. Although, the 7K v Weight plot does, once again, show correlation between the two:

First job the new year – get that weight back down!