Category: Pic of the week

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Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury TorPic of the week 14/8/16

Each morning, I fling open the shutters of my bedroom and gaze out at Glastonbury Tor, standing proud in the distance. The pic above was taken by Becky at 5.45am this morning before we set off for Cheddar and a car boot sale.

Yesterday, I decided to run up the Tor. Donned my kit and set off. It was almost exactly 4k to the bottom of the Tor – a fairly easy cruise, followed by a tough slog up to the top. I reckon I ran one third of the way up to the Tor (off and on), walking the rest.

After a brief moment to gather my breath & take in the view, I set off back down the hill. Halfway down, the 5th k kicked in, 4-5 k taking 9 mins something. Going back down the Tor was not that quick – despite the slope and gravity’s helping hand it was slower than running on the level.

Back on the level, I carried on home, running each k at an ace over 5 mins (annoyingly, my Fitbit didn’t load the splits), the run finishing at 9.72 km after 55.06 mins. (Regret a little not carrying on to make it a full 10k).   My route can be seen below:

Tor run routeWas a little (pleasantly) surprised as to how I took the whole run in my stride (pun intended), both the run itself and after effects which I would describe as minimal.

Have set myself two challenges:

  1. To run the Tor run at least once every holiday (including half terms)
  2. To run all the way up the Tor by the end of 2017.

 

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Birthday Boy!

Birthday boy! (1024x1024)Pic of the week 7/8/16

Sam’s 14th Birthday and my how he has grown. The pic on the right shows him today, towering over his mother, the pic on left was from last summer.  This year he has grown from boy to man. (Still not quite my height – but only a couple of cms shorter than me.)

For his birthday he was more than happy with a clutch of X-Box games and a wad of hard cash!

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Refereeing

Ref kitPic of the week 31/7/16

Ref’ed my first non-school game yesterday: Purnells Reserves v Chilcompton, a pre-season OA (Open Age = adults) friendly.

It was a hot day and I discovered that refereeing for 90 minutes is hard work: no resting when the ball gets hoofed up field, as ref you must keep up with play at all times. I’m glad I am as fit as I am now – I think it would be a struggle if not.

Enjoyed it, game went well, no major dramas, neither my parentage nor eyesight was called into question and other than a few inevitable “questions” from disgruntled players the game passed off without incident.  Purnells (Orange) won 2-1. Chilcompton (yellow) were the better side, and played some very nice football in the middle of the park, but lacked any real cutting edge and didn’t really often look like scoring.

Their (‘compton) goal (the opening of the game) came in the 11th minute from a free kick on the edge of the area (I think possibly the first free kick I’d given.) There were no complaints about that free kick, but a couple of defenders felt there should have been a foul (to them) immediately before. But I have no idea what they are talking of, and, I think, were just trying it on. Goal was a bit soft – shot, keeper got hands to it, but didn’t hold it (should have done) and it deflected into the net.  Can’t really remember too much about the game, but I enjoyed it.

My take away’s from the game:

  1. Positioning. Tried to keep to the Lazy S patrol path, right back to right back, as taught in the course, but this conflicted with the need to be within (say) about 10m of play. In the end, I kept hearing the advice of one of the course tutors who suggested positioning yourself like a sweeper, just behind the player(s) with the ball. This seemed to work a lot better (for me) than the Lazy S patrol path (although I did try to keep the active CAR in sight as well.)
  2. Backing in, niggles and nibbles: not 100% sure I’m getting these right. I.e. when defender has ball under control near his penalty area, loan striker is harassing him, how much do you let go, when do you blow etc? When I have someone to come and watch me, I’ll ask them to focus on this aspect of my game.
  3. I had to work hard to re-establish my concentration at the start of the second half. It was a hot day, a big drink and rest at half time was welcome, but took a few minutes to regain my focus in the second half – one to be aware of for the future.
  4. 90 minutes is a long time both physically and mentally. Its not like when you play and you have a breather when the ball is up the other end of the pitch. You’re working for the full 90.
  5. I was surprised how little I blew my whistle. Probably more to do with both teams playing in a positive manner, than me, but I’m not complaining.
  6. A summer in flip-flops, cheap black socks & a hard pitch don’t mix! I’ve now got a whacking big blister on my big toe. Part of my match fee will be going on a pair of cushioned socks!

Match Stats

Purnell Reserves 2 v Chilcompton 1

Open Age Friendly, 90 mins

0 Yellows, 0 Reds

Match fee: £30

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Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor (722x717)Pic of the week 24/7/16

On Friday evening (22 July) at circa 7pm, Sam, Becky & I went up Glastonbury Tor. (Sophie didn’t come: wasn’t feeling too well/exercise/dogs – select excuse as you see fit!)

After a lovely sunny rain, their was the odd spit of rain as we set off but, following my leadership (insistence!) we persevered, albeit Becky with umbrella as we approached the foot of the Tor.

But the rain stopped as we began our ascent and we were rewarded with far reaching views, across as far as to Bridgwater Bay – I was surprised to be able to make out the two square blocks of Hinkley Point power station.

A pleasant way to spend an hour of a summer’s evening, to be reminded of what a beautiful part of the world we live. Couldn’t pick out our house, though, from the top of the Tor.

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Smashed it!

splits 17 July 17Pic of the week 17/7/16

Personal bests? Smashed them all today. Ran the 7k run today for the first time since my knee injury in January, and, boy, did I boss it.

Have been running the 6K Tor View run a lot recently, which I think is actually tougher than the 7K run due to the whacking great hill in the middle. The 7K run is essentially flat.

It was still, and humid and warm this morning and I set of at a cruise – not aiming to go particularly fast or slow, just to run. But have been feeling fit of late and the first 2Ks clocked in easily. However, it was when the time for the 4thK came in at 18 mins something that I realised that I could be looking at a sub 24 minute 5K and so I kept up the pace, hitting 5k in 23:39. Was on the flat, just kept going still to hit 6K at 28:23 and, by the time I hit the hill at the end of 7K I’d done enough to get a 7K time of 33:29.

Am impressed with those times – will struggle to beat them, I think, but proud of being sub 24/29/34 for 5, 6 & 7K.

Route 17 july 16

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Take That

Take That (722x721)Pick of the week 10/7/16

Went to BST to see Take That in Hyde Park on Saturday.

A long day, left early, parked in Osterly tube station (easy – do so again), went into “town” before heading to Hyde Park.

Hung out in a field with my (beautiful) wife for eight hours until the main event – and they were fab!

Don’t get the whole “festival thing” (and this was festival lite) – lots of sitting around in a field waiting (at least the weather was OK!), I think there is an element of Emperor’s new clothes about festivals, but was worth it for the main event.  Take That were brilliant (would have expected nothing less).  Would do it again, but would arrive until later in the day.

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Prom Queen!

Prom Queen (1024x1024)Pic of the week 3/7/16

Hard to believe it, but Sophie has finished Year 11 and Thursday was her leavers’ assembly and then Prom Night in the evening.

Where have all the years gone? I still remember my little girl toddling around Crewkerne, and here she is now all (nearly) grown up having finished her GCSEs.

One very proud Dad.

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Brexit

BrexitPic of the week 26/7/16

Woke with a little anticipation on Friday morning and headed downstairs to check the referendum result, fully expecting a vote to Remain.

I was staggered, stunned and somewhat frightened to see that we’d voted to leave by 52% to 48%.

I was surprised by the result and also a little surprised by my reaction and how much doom and gloom it has filled me with since.

In the run up to the referendum I’d flipped and flopped between in and out and, if I’m honest, for some time I was an “outer”, although I think I secretly hoped that if I voted out the country would vote to remain.

About 10 days before the referendum, my thoughts crystallised and I become a convinced remainer. Although it pained me that voting to stay in the EU would give some legitimacy to the bloated and corrupt bureaucracy that is the EU, this couldn’t negate the positives of the EU (freedom of movement, the EU is about the only institution big enough and capable of taking on corporate giants like Microsoft & Google etc.) and, at the end of the day, the UK has (had?) the 5th biggest economy in the world and why would you do anything to jeopardize that?

I was quite surprised with my strength of feeling as I put my “X” in the box to Remain, having fully realised that it was the best course of action. And to discover, on Friday, we’d voted out has left me fearful for the future. Who knows how it will play out? Perhaps it will all work out for the best, perhaps the status quo will remain, but in the short (to medium) term, we’re in for one bumpy, bumpy ride. I feel quite angry towards my fellow brits who have allowed hype and fear of immigration to lead them to make the decision they have made. I really do think that most outers voted as a “two fingered salute” to the political classes without fully understanding what they have done. And the sad thing is is that it is those that voted out will proboably be those that suffer the most. They’ve been sold a pup by Farage, Johnson and Gove and we’ll end up paying the bill.

A sad day.

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Swarm!

SwarmPic of the week 12/6/16

Monday evening, circa 6.30pm. A beautiful summer’s evening and we were all sat out in the new space created by the removal of the summer house, kicking back and chillin’; enjoying each others company, listenting to the sounds of summer: bees buzzing, swallows swooping, bees buzzing, BEES BUZZING ….!

I looked up, and not a foot above my head was a swarm of bees! A calm (swift!) retreat to asses the situation!

Google revealed the names and numbers of some local bee keepers, one of whom kindly came over from Wookey, snipped the branch that the bees were clustered on, popped them in a wicker basket, covered them with a sheet and took them away to replenish his hives.

All rather exciting and informative.