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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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Football – RAF College Cranwell v German Air Force College

These pics recently came to light, of me playing football for RAF College Cranwell versus the German Air Force Officer College.

I can’t recall exactly when the game was played – it was certainly whilst I was on either EOT 1 or EOT 2, which would make it either ’92, ’93 or ’94. I played left wing. The game was, as far as I can recall, unremarkable. I think we may have won by a single goal, but I’m not sure.

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Major Tom – Peter Schilling


Track of the week 7/8/16

This track was used as the opening theme tune of Deutchsland 83 which I watched and enjoyed at the start of the year. A drama series following a young soldier from East Germany sent to spy in the West in the early eighties – a great piece of TV.

I’ve been re-watching Breaking Bad (another – even better- bit of TV) and there was a snippet of this track in it: Hank showed Walt & Walt Junior a dvd with Gale Boetticher (the chemist assigned to help Walt in the mega lab, who Jesse shot) singing this song and it firmly planted an ear worm in my head, hence it makes it’s appearance as this week’s track of the week.

You can see the whole of Gale’s karaoke version here:

 

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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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Westfield FC v Saltford FC

wesfield v saltford2nd game of the season (& career!) – another friendly between mid-Somerset sides Westfield FC  and Saltford FC (both 1st XIs).

Another baking hot day for a 2pm kick (not 2.30 as advertised.) Much more relaxed about the pre-match stuff than last week – now an experienced pro!

Game kicked off and instantly there was a bit more “chat” from the players – I think it was just trying it on, seeing what they would get from me (not a lot!), “In the back, ref” etc.  I’ve surprised myself a bit in that I’m not much of a “chatty” ref, just waving appeals away and getting on with the game, rather than into a discussion or explanation.  I think this is partly because often I genuinely have no idea what they are appealing for!  I put this down to one of two possible reasons:

  1. I’m missing something, and don’t have a good enough understanding of the game or its laws, or
  2. There is nothing and they are just appealing out of habit/hope, to try and influence my decision.

I reckon its a lot like teaching: deal with it (by telling them nothing given) and move on and they soon realise that its not going to work, forget about it and stop doing it themselves.

Westfield (red & black) took the lead on 8 minutes, Saltford equalising on 18.  Wesfield took the lead shortly before half time (43 Mins) to edge into half time with their noses in front, but on the whole a well balanced game.

Westfield started the second half briskly and four minutes after the restart netted another, their third and begun to show their dominance. In two minutes, around the twelve minute mark, the home team scored twice and the contest was effectively over.  Better organised and more comfortable on the ball they ran the show, scoring again in the 27th, 30th & 42nd minutes to win the game 8-1.

As the game wore on, tiredness begaun to creep in, along with frustration for the Salford side and a little tetchiness started to creep in. On the whole, though, a good game played in a good spirit and I think I managed it well. Would still like a little feedback, particularly on those niggles, nudges and knicks – think I’m getting most of them right, be would welcome an external, unbiased observer’s opinion. Physically I found it much less demanding – partly because I managed my positioning better (in my opinion!) less worried about the patrol path and more concerned with being in the position I needed to be to see what I needed to see.

Enjoyed it!

Match Stats

Westfiled FC 1st XI 8 Saltford FC 1st XI 1

Open Age friendly, 90 minutes

0 Yellows 0 Reds

Match fee: £30

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Safety Net – Shop Assistants


Track of the week 31/7/16
The Shop Assistants – I used to love their album that I had on cassette: jangly guitars and high energy female vocals.

Could have picked a number of tracks of that album to make this week’s selection, but this one just happened to pop up in my stream and so it makes the grade this week.

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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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A Little Respect – Wheatus


Track of the week 24/7/16
Most covers are not as good as the original – although I don’t think that is strictly true. The version you first hear tends to be the version you prefer.

But not in this case. I always liked Erasure, but that was a fairly lukewarm like – not bad, but not brilliant. Always happy to hear their tunes on the radio, but none of their tracks have made it on to my iPod: my indicator of true brilliance!

But I heard Wheatus’ cover of Respect as I was driving back from the tip and I was blown away. Love it.

Enjoy.

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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.