Author: Jeff

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Swimming 2016

swimming-pool-At the start of the year, I challenged myself to swim the channel. Not, of course, in the sea, in one go – that would be far too cold/difficult/dangerous/unachievable (and a whole host of other reasons), but over the course of the year in Strode Pool. I calculated I would need to swim 960 lengths, and I achieved this goal by mid March.

Today I completed my 6,000th length, which equates to 200km, and I’m rather proud of that. A knee injury in January forced me off the road and into the pool more, and no plumbing in February half term meant that I visited the pool every day to keep clean – swimming was a useful by product – but there have been other times when the going has got tough: the latter half of November, for example, found me somewhat of a stranger to the water (reports, refereeing, life, getting in the way).

The start of my Christmas holidays saw me needing to get in another 436 lengths – a significant number, but one that could be done. So I’ve put in a few big swims since then – 3 x 72’s, 2 x 60’s, 1 x 48 and 2 x 30’s to hit my goal today, with eight extra lengths for  good measure!

With “odd” opening times for lanes next week (between Christmas & New Year) today may have been my last swim of the year, so the stats for 2016 are:

Lengths: 6008

Distance: 200.27 Km

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Your love keeps lifting me (higher and higher) – Jackie Wilson


Track of the week 18/12/16

Another great foot stomper that impels you to get up and get moving. I defy you to sit perfectly still for  2 mins 51 seconds whilsrt this track plays.

I had to check through my tracks of the week – I’m amazed that I haven’t featured this before, Northern Soul at its sugary finest.

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Gathering of the clan

Pic of the week 18/12/16

Last night, Saturday 17 December 16, we descended, en masse, to Ask in Wells to  gather together and celebrate Christmas.

It was a lovely evening of great food, fine wine (or so I’m told – my Diet Coke certainly passed the taste test) and fab company.

Sam was delighted to get confirmation that he is now officially the second tallest in the family and he is eagerly eyeing up my crown – still a couple of centimeters to go, but maybe this time next year …

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Ceremony – New Order


Track of the week 11/12/16
The first New Order single – and possibly the best? Could argue that, but this has to be up there with the best of them.

A marked transition from Joy Division – it was originally a Joy Division track, but New Order’s was so much better. I often think of those celebrity pop quizzes where they ask a either or question: Manchester or London, Coffee or Tea etc. If asked the question Joy Division or New Order my answer would be an unswerving New Order.

To me they are cleaner, more polished, less edgy – and I think I like that because it sums me up. Not to say Joy Division aren’t brilliant – Atmosphere is a beautiful piece of music – but for me, New Order are streets ahead, the album Ceremony deserves to be listened to.

Enjoy.

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Its beginning to look a lot like …

Pic of the week 11/12/16

Christmas is coming! Still seems some time away to me, but is a mere two weeks away.

The house is in a very different state from this time last year, looking forward to our first proper Christmas in #79.

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Match Report

A challenging game, that could have got nasty about 35 mins into the second half, but I worked hard to keep my match control and establish myself as the boss.

Should have booked yellow (away) 10 for a bad foul outside the box after circa 25 minutes, but I let him work me, by delaying coming over, then being all apologetic etc. and I didn’t give the card. Should have, lesson learned.

Bit high tempo after the cards for about 5 mins, but I worked hard to bring the temperature back down.

Pen was a definite, but not deliberate, penalty. I was in a good position to see it and, other than the two players involved, and perhaps the keeper, I was closest to the play (it stemmed from a break away), all aiding my credibility in giving the decision.

Really enjoyed the challenge – and mastery – of the game.

Match Stats

Ashcott A 3 Millborne Port A 4

Open Age, Yeovil & District League, Division 2

2 Yellows 0 Reds 1 Pen

Match fee: £25

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I’m Doing Fine Now – The Pasadenas


Track of the week 4/12/16

These boys were – and still are – the coolest dudes out there. They have the clothes, the moves, the look.

This track wasn’t such a big hit for them back in the day – “Riding on a Train” and “Tribute” were there big hits, and it is well worth checking out those videos, if only for the dance routines. Although we probably wouldn’t have aired the thought at the time, I suspect that me and my crew in the late eighties really wanted to be these cats.

I’m doing fine now is a (Mowtown?) cover, a great song that still gets me on to my feet today, to indulge in a bit of dad dancing.

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Two years, one DJ, three stone

Pic(s) of the week 4/12/16

Last night was the Upper Sixth Ball so it was time to once again don my DJ and head off to the glittering lights (in, of course, an entirely supervisory capacity.)

And the pics above neatly chart my weight loss journey – the DJ and shirt is the same, the first pic is in December ’14, then December ’15, with this year, December ’16, on the right, during which time I have lost 3 stone.

I’m rather proud of that, I feel a lot better, I’m a whole lot fitter than I was (probably for the last twenty year) and look a lot better – lean and chiselled, if a little worn, rather than soft and “comfortable”.

What I find really amazing, though, is if you take the 3 stone loss and turn it into a percentage: I’ve lost 20% of me in two years. One fifth of me has gone, just no longer exists!

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Always on my mind – The Pet Shop Boys


Track of the week 27/11/16

A comfy sofa and an episode of “Narcos” beckons to end the weekend, so not much time to wax lyrical about this track, so I shan’t. Worthy of track of the week … or should I have picked the original, you decide …

 

bonus track of the week

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Busy, busy, busy

me on sofa (1024x1024)Pic of the week 27/11/16

Its busy, busy, busy at Peabody Towers at the moment – me with reports, Becky with black Friday orders, and two days supply at WCJS on Thursday & Friday, Sophie working at Hallmark cards in Clarks Village and Sam all loved up and spending his time with his girlfriend, so not much time to think about this post, just whap up a photo of me on the sofa watching Narcos. (Note the co-ordinating socks & headphones!)

Oh, and to add to the rich mix that is the variety of life, on Tuesday morning the boiler packed in and stopped giving us hot water. Three smelly days, one diverter valve and £300 later its working again.

Two weeks to the end of term – light has been glimpsed at the end of the tunnel.