The Adventures of Paddington Indifferent. That was my description of today. Some bits I felt I could almost run, others I had to walk, some were a struggle to even raise a jog. It started off so well. no aches, no pains and felt comfy to run. Stu and I were 'bimbling' away, chatting inanely and the yards and miles rolled by all the way to Hawkshead. It was nice to chat to someone, other than myself, who I cannot seem to get a coherent conversation from, and not notice th

Paddington Abroad Have to say I wish I was on holiday in France at the moment. The quads were 'crying out' for help this morning and the doubts about finishing today resurfaced. You sort of need a plan a, b, c and maybe even d for this event. In my opinion you can only look as far as the day you're on, there's a lot can happen over the course of a marathon. Quite a long time ago, I was lucky enough to work with Steve Winch, he was hard working, funny and the team loved him

Deliberate, definite, focussed. Except I'm not. For years I've tried to work out how to be more consistent, more on the level, less fluctuating in my efforts. It's still not something I've worked out, not for the lack of trying. Happy times, when I felt like I was part of something special, static moments of grateful existence, family holidays, special places of work (when everyone is with you), special efforts and rewards and, the Brathay 10in10. Looking back, each of tho

I love where I live. For the most part I like the people in the village. I'm lucky to have some fantastic neighbours and met some decent friends in this little piece of Yorkshire. Butt, (spelled on purpose like that), some people are real arsches (spelled deliberately like that). Why, for the love of everything that is holy, would you choose, to stick your hand in a plastic bag, pick up a ploppet or two of steaming dog dung, tie the bag and then, well then, just drop it w

Urghh! Aargh! Yukk! My daily chore, twice, sometimes three times a day. Who likes sticking their hand in a plastic bag and wrapping...

A few weeks ago, the teenager and I had a blow out. A real bluey. A shouting match, which neither won. About what? Well, on the...

Happy Belated 50th Birthday! What an event? I genuinely don't know whether to place an exclamation or question mark at the end of that sentence. What an unusual atmosphere, at least that's how I felt. It wasn't just the run but also the beginning and afters too. Admittedly I was a little out of sorts having followed my usual inimitable style of preparation for the event. This consisted of booking, on Monday (the week of the event), the overnight ferry to travel that Friday

Or 'Different Endings' What the hell am I doing? I thoroughly enjoy my new career and working for myself but what on earth am I putting myself out for? The idea was that I'd create the balance I never really had in hospitality (or is that looking back through tainted, murky glasses), for family, for work, for exercising and raising money for charity and maybe the occasional blog. What seems to be the case is waking up at daft o'clock to do lessons or work late to prepare s

Waiting in the village shop and I'm buying the odd bits and bobs, swiss-roll, cumin powder, a plunger and clothes pegs, you know, the usual, when in walks Mrs Hoity-Toity. You can tell she's well known at the local shop as she has 'an account'. Parked conveniently outside the front doors on the pavement, she is prepared for the weather. An ice-cold December wind whistles through the front door of the store, muddy, damp cardboard boxes adorn the walkways, but twinset and pe

Doesn't everybody have an Aunty Dot or at the very least know an Aunty Dot? I bet she got invited to the wedding? Most month's on waking...

Searching for human acknowledgement...

STEPS! It's time to begin, now count it in, 5, 6, 7, 8. No, no, no! Not those Steps. Hopefully, the thirteen colleagues I'm sharing...

When I decided to re-enter the 10in10, I was working full time as a self employed driving instructor. One of the ideas I had when I was...

Chatting to myself

For the last three years, the Children and I have visited the Georgian Theatre in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Each one of us looks...

Yet another example of how not to prepare for or even run a marathon. Sometimes, I shake my head and wonder when will I ever learn? ...

I'm famous again? Or rather not. You, could tell it was my ugly mug (at a distance) on BBC Wales. Able to find myself just because of...

Free 'health' check for my car today through the RAC, jolly nice of them, thought I. Dropped my car off at the garage and then took the...

The Yorkshire Marathon. What a brilliant turn out in the town and the villages. What fantastic organisation and support. Drumming...

Sitting in traffic this morning. Going nowhere fast. The car adjacent, big, white BMW, the driver, elegant, hair styled, suit pressed...