Category: Pic of the week

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Race Day!

Pic of the week 5/5/19

Today was race day – Glastonbury 10K.

Cool (verging on cold), little or no wind, mix of sun and cloud.

Pleased with my run, still awaiting official “chip time”, but my wristwatch time was 47 mins 43 secs. My “phone time” was 46:34, but this called the 10K early by about 100 to 200 yards so an extra minute on that time would be about right.

Update: Official chip time 47 min 30 sec

Position 141 out of of 566 runners, 14 out of 46 Male 50 – 55 category

Enjoyed the race, enjoyed the event, pleased to achieved (smashed!) my fewer minutes than age in years challenge.

Have just looked back through some old logs for 10K times:

Sep 2005 S Mallet: 50.52

April 2006 Longleat 53.32

October 2007 Longleat 52.43

Oct 2009 S Mallett 55.53

Oct 2009 Longleat 57.20

May 2010 Wells 57.28

So a p.b by some margin!

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JTQ

Pic (vid!) of the week 29/4/19

By chance, on Friday, I picked up a copy of the local paper.

By chance I happened on a small ad detailing upcoming events at Strode Theatre.

Sunday night – James Taylor Quartet.

I couldn’t really believe it. A quick check showed tickets still available (plenty of them!)

Its rare that I disagree with Becky, but she describes JTQ as “elevator” music. She is wrong, so wrong. But it meant I was going alone.

One ticket for twenty quid – a bargain!

Parking up and walking to the venue, I did wonder if there was another event happening at the same time – a cinema screening, perhaps – because those walking towards the entrance did not strike me as the demographic of a typical JTQ fan.

They were a bit niche back in the day (only the coolest of us cool cats were into them) so I was surprised to find them in a sleepy Somerset town on a Sunday night.

Half an hour, the couple behind me left.

The lady in front of me sat with her hands over her ears for the whole two hour set.

But they were brilliant. Foot stompingly brilliant.

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The Specials

Pic of the week 21/4/19

It’s hard to think that it was 40 odd years ago that I discovered – and fell in love with – The Specials.

Youth and time is a funny thing – I though that they were around for a significant time as I was growing up, but looking through their history, their lifespan was short lived, only being at the height from ’79 before splitting in ’81.

Their second album “More Specials” was released in October 1980 – and it was this album that cemented my love affair with them, and in ’81 they released “Ghost Town” and then they split.

So really I only knew them for about 18 months, but what an influential 18 months. I loved everything they produced, and I also discovered (but never owned) material from their first album “The Specials”. I loved the music, I loved the look and as a boy growing up in deepest, whitest Somerset I loved their message of inclusion and dissatisfaction with a failing political and social climate. Not only, did they shape my music for life, I think they also had a strong part to play in developing my belief systems.

Last night Beck and I went to see them at Exeter (Great Hall.)

They were fantastic.

I loved it and seeing them has re-ignited my love of their music, it all its wonderful variety.

A great night.

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Easter hols

Pic of the week 14/9/19

And so the Easter hols roll on. The weather could be better, but it could be worse.

On the whole it has been dry and we’ve seen some sun, but sometimes, like today, it has been cold. Still, in weather forecaster parlance, there has been some usable weather that has seen me potter in the garden for a bit, sit in the garden for a bit, snooze in the garden a bit …

On Friday, Sam and I went for a walk along the Poldens, but this time we went West instead of East, parking at the YHA car park and then walking along the ridge to the windmill and back. A walk of about an hour or so, with some good views back across Street and to the Tor (above) or looking South across the levels.

On Thursday I tackled the hedge giving it a good trim and getting it back into shape.

It was all going so well until I cut through the cable of the strimmer. No drama, no disaster, no loud bang – it just stopped working. Am a bit annoyed with myself as I am normally quite H&S conscious. Not this time.

Anyway, 30 minutes of repairs later and I was back in action.

Becky & Sophie have been to Cornwall for the weekend for Auntie Avril’s 80th birthday – photo montage below. Looks cold & blowy, but the sea a perfect greeney blue, it would have been nice to see the sea.

Meanwhile, I’ve been busy refereeing this week – line on Monday (Floodlight U18 ), middles Thursday (Y&DL), Saturday (JPL U15) and Sunday (Bridgwater League) including a red on Thursday (dissent x 2) – my first non-school cherry.

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Doc Martens

Pic of the week 7/4/19

I love ’em.

On Thursday we went to Bath to buy my birthday D.M.s.

B, S & S all preferred the standard D.M. shoe, but I’ve had my heart set on a pair of loafers for some time.

I tried the shoe, liked them, but not as much as the loafer, so the only question was which colour, and yellow stitching or not.

I settled for black, with the traditional yellow D.M. stitching. It was the right choice, they are a  thing of beauty, I think they will come to define me.

I shall say it again, I love them.

(And, as a bonus pic, here is a picture of the lady I love who bought them for me.)

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50!

Pic of the week 31/3/19

Thursday was a big day, on Thursday I turned 50!

When one looks back, that’s a mighty long time, but I tend to look forward, not back …!

I was very lucky to receive lots of lovely gifts: A pair of DM shoes (still to be selected and bought), a coastering session with Sam, books, socks, chocolate, a print of “The Specials” (who we go and see in three weeks), a cool T shirt …

And a lovely surprise to find Sophie home from uni a day early.

I had great day.

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Throw those curtains wide …

Pic of the week 24/3/19

A beautiful day today – the sun shone and hope filled the soul.

But a busy day – 8K run in the morning, then House matches & dining room duty in the afternoon, so not really a day off.

But I did enjoy the sunshine.

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Green shoots

Pic of the week 17/3/19

Had the first sense of spring today – not warm, windy, but blue skies, interspersed with clouds scudding their way across the expanse. Referee-ing this morning I wasn’t cold for once, and enjoyed the sensation of being outside.

At home, in the garden, green shoots are appearing (raspberries, Hydrangeas etc.) the alliums have come up and a few daffodils are flowering. My reports are written and one can begin to sense the end (of term!) is, if not nigh, at least hoving into view on the horizon.

Home alone this afternoon – Becky & Sam both at work – I’ve filled the house with music and danced like no one was watching (which, unless we have very nosey neighbours, I hope was the case!)

Even collecting Sam this evening (OK, so a tad earlier -7.05 – than normal) it wasn’t pitch black going to and from Glastonbury.

A real sense that a corner has been turned (which, rather neatly, makes the pic of the week of a corner flag at Cossington somewhat relevant!)

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Completing the set

Pic of the week 10/3/19

We’ve been waiting for some time, but last Sunday it was announced that Scouting for Girls would be playing at the Cheese and Grain, Frome, in July, and on Wednesday I snagged myself some tickets – looking forward to it, I feel now we’ve completed the set for gigs this year (but will happily add others to the list)

So, my line up is this:

  • The Specials 20th April
  • Take That (& don’t forget the support, Rick Astley!)  28th May
  • Paul Young 25th June
  • Scouting for Girls 12th July
  • New Order 18th July
  • Lisa Stansfield 25th October

With all the above to look forward, it has made today’s howling gale that much easier top endure!

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Welcome, March!

Pic of the week 3/3/19

Didn’t post last week – the day ended up running away with me, and now we are in March, always a great month!

The middle pic above is a montage of the month of February, which ended with some beautiful weather, fantastic sunshine and unseasonable temperatures. All that has since changed and we’re currently being battered by Storm Freya. Not to bad, a bit blowy, a bit rainy (on and off) and typical temperatures for the time of year.

Last Sunday, I had my first game on a new league Bridgwater and District Sunday League, and I had another game today – the first of my promotion season! So far, I’ve enjoyed both games – today’s, featuring the top team in Div 1, was a good standard, last week (a Div 2 clash) was more traditional Sunday league fare, but with a 10.30 kick off, I’m quite liking doing the Sunday mornings.

Other news – current problems with BT internet email, hopefully will be resolved soon …