I'm sat here quite happy with myself because I've just found that I've made one of my goals. A few few months ago those that read my blog will remember I said I was setting myself targets at TT at National level to get in the top 100 in the Veterans (over 40's) and the top 30 in the over 50's.
At the time I was ranked 149 at Veterans and didn't have a over 50 ranking. Still haven't got a over 50 ranking but hoping to be on the next list. However my joy is based on my Veterans position which now stands at No90, well inside my target.
I'm a realist and think it will be hard to stay this high at present because I'm more likely to lose to people below me than beat those above me so I'm opting out of the next couple of tournaments. I am actually playing in the veterans National League next week and may have some county matches oming up which are all ranking competitions so I'll see how they go.
I know to improve further I need to get my fitness level and get much faster around the court, reckon if I can push the weight loss it'll help significantly.
Talking of weight loss I mentioned in my last post I'm trying to lose a few pounds before my next holiday (3 weeks to go now). Well I think its going great I've stuck with my eating plan (ok had a small piece of chocolate sunday that I shouldn't) and I'm sure its working. I did go out to Pool last night and had a few beers but thats allowed as my reward night. Not sure how much I've lost as my scales are broken but tried my Black Jeans on last night and although tightish I could get away with wearing them. Last time I tried them they were far too tight to wear in fact quite painful, hoping they'll be comfort fit by my holiday, thats the aim anyway.
My normal jeans I'm wearing are sarting to feel slack which is another good indiation.
I know my holiday will possibly destroy all this hard work but I'll kick back into my plan on my return.
Did I mention I'm not ageing, lol.
Seriously I had to change my driving licence cos its 10 years old so had my photo taken. When I compared my old photo with the new one they were identical, I asked a few people to say which is the oldest and they couldn't tell.
Of course I'll tell you I'm staying young but I'm sure others will tell you I was a old git 10 years ago.
On a sad note I'm off to North Wales on Friday to a funeral, my cousins husband died of cancer he was just in his 60's, real nice bloke aswell.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Monday 25 October 2010
Budapest
Here are a selection of photos from my Budapest adventure :-
If interested you can see all the photos from my trip here :-
If interested you can see all the photos from my trip here :-
Tuesday 19 October 2010
4 weeks and counting
Four weeks today and I'll be on my way to Andulucia in Spain for my next holiday. This time its a organised trip its actually a singles holiday and if its half as good as my summer trip to Americas Golden West with the same company it'll be great.
Maybe I'll meet a nice lady who knows, thought I had on the America trip but things didn't quite work out, right person wrong time but thats life I suppose. Apparently this trip is fully booked (45 of us I believe) and the ratio of ladies to men is 5 to 1 so could be interesting.
Whatever I hoping for some winter sun although I'm not one for sitting by a pool or on a beach reckon there will be some chill out time in that situation. Thats why I reckon I should make a 4 week effort to shed a few pounds beore I go, gotta look my best, lol.
Ok not gonna produce miracles but a little improvement wont go a miss, so from today its healthy eating and exercise for the next 4 weeks.
At the end of the day thats the real secret of weight loss and we are all responsible to ourselves.
The plan is to cut out any snacks, biscuits and sweets I occasionally indulge in and also spend more time active on my feet, I've drawn up a list of jobs need doing around the house and in the garden hich should cut back "sat on backside" time.
Two TV programmes this week highlighted the two areas concerned (diet and exercise), the first news item was about the overweight Orangutan that somebody had kept as a pet. Apparently they fed it on sweets and biscuits and its twice the weight it should be and suffering the related health issues. Its been brought to this country and put on a strict diet (mainly fruit) and is improving.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9100000/newsid_9102500/9102553.stm
The 2nd a documentry was about the 45 stone virgin, apparently a 31 year old was weighing that much and a fitness coach read about his situation and decided to help. So with the help of a strict exercise regime he avoided surgery and silly diets to shed his weight.
http://tv.sky.com/45-stone-virgin-review
Makes you think what can be achieved.
So can't sit here on this computor, gotta get moving but I will update on what I'm doing.
Maybe I'll meet a nice lady who knows, thought I had on the America trip but things didn't quite work out, right person wrong time but thats life I suppose. Apparently this trip is fully booked (45 of us I believe) and the ratio of ladies to men is 5 to 1 so could be interesting.
Whatever I hoping for some winter sun although I'm not one for sitting by a pool or on a beach reckon there will be some chill out time in that situation. Thats why I reckon I should make a 4 week effort to shed a few pounds beore I go, gotta look my best, lol.
Ok not gonna produce miracles but a little improvement wont go a miss, so from today its healthy eating and exercise for the next 4 weeks.
At the end of the day thats the real secret of weight loss and we are all responsible to ourselves.
The plan is to cut out any snacks, biscuits and sweets I occasionally indulge in and also spend more time active on my feet, I've drawn up a list of jobs need doing around the house and in the garden hich should cut back "sat on backside" time.
Two TV programmes this week highlighted the two areas concerned (diet and exercise), the first news item was about the overweight Orangutan that somebody had kept as a pet. Apparently they fed it on sweets and biscuits and its twice the weight it should be and suffering the related health issues. Its been brought to this country and put on a strict diet (mainly fruit) and is improving.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9100000/newsid_9102500/9102553.stm
The 2nd a documentry was about the 45 stone virgin, apparently a 31 year old was weighing that much and a fitness coach read about his situation and decided to help. So with the help of a strict exercise regime he avoided surgery and silly diets to shed his weight.
http://tv.sky.com/45-stone-virgin-review
Makes you think what can be achieved.
So can't sit here on this computor, gotta get moving but I will update on what I'm doing.
Wednesday 13 October 2010
The Good and bad of Budapest.
Well I'm back from my trip to Budapest so I've a bit to write (well the bits I can remember anyway).
On the day of my flight I drove down to Luton Airport and was pleased I didn't encounter too many problems especially considering it was through the morning rush hour. Anyway I actually arrived before check in opened so got a breakfast.
Eventually its on to the flight, I was travelling with budget airline "Easy Jet" and its a bit of a cattle stampede to get the best seat, I ended up in the middle of 3 and trust me they don't do them in adult sizes.
On arrival I wasn't sure the best way to get to my hotel, sort of wanted to use local transport but in a strange country that speaks a different language I thought best to get a taxi. When I arrived at my hotel it was just a entrance with a canopy over the door in dark quiet street, I tried the door it was locked so I rang the bell and it was automatically unlocked from someone watching me on camera. I was actually shocked when I opened door to enter a passage, it was scruffy, dirty and gave me the impression of some homeless hostel.
The sign sent me to the left to a lift and staircase where the sign told me the reception was on the 1st floor so up I went. Was pleased on arrival to find the 1st floor just the opposite of the entrance, nice, clean, tidy, just what I expected from some reviews I'd read. In fact the hotel only operated from this level up, much to my relief and was a nice place. The staff I must say were very good made you feel welcome and all spoke perfect English.
The breakfast was also nice well presented and tasty.
My only real complaint about the hotel is that the so called double glazing didn't keep street noise out and it was difficult getting my beauty sleep, especially as road works were been done outside very close to the hotel.
So my opinion of Budapest, well it could be a beautiful city it as great architecture but is somewhat spoilt by the graffite everywhere giving it a rough/dirty feel. In fact my hotel experience was mirrored everywhere the outside of many buildings gave a totally different impression of what was inside, that included many bars, restaurants and cafes. Of course the real touristy spots where kept tidy outside but to find the better places you needed to explore some of the dark and dingy streets and alleys. Found some fantastic places with just a entrance or down in some cellar, real friendly people as well.
The streets I'm describing looked so rough if it had been in a English City I wouldn't have ventured down but Budapest is a very friendly place, it is safe in my opinion.
Ok as always I had one iffy incident, one night I'd been out for a meal and a few beers and decided to stop in a Pool room to see iff the locals wanted a few lessons (lol). I'd been there awhile when a couple befriended me, they were from Brazil and Sweden and we just got chatting.
Anyway I went to the toilet came back and finished my beer and said goodbye. Well luckily I left, my hotel was only a couple of minutes away and I must have feel asleep straight away, just flaked out. I awoke about 3 hours laters with a splitting headache and am convinced they had spiked my drink, ok maybe I'd just had one too many but I seriously don't think I had, it wasn't a normal feeling you get with too much booze. I flushed myself out with water and was ok by morning.
Don't know where to start on Hungarian Food, actually enjoyed it although most of the time I hadn't a clue what I was ordering, in fact on 3 occasions I'm sure I ended up with something different to my order reckon some of the chefs just wanted to give everyone their daily specials. Food and drink was cheap so I ended up with a load of forints left which I exchanged to Euros for my upcoming Spanish holiday next month.
I loved public transport, subway, trams, buses all interlinked and I got a 7 day pass for around £15 which was superb value. They were really regular never waited more than 5 minutes. Strangely you could get on and not get your tickets checking which initially made me wonder if many people didn't pay. However soon found the answer, every so often ticket checkers (I called them the Gestapo) invaded a tram, anyone without a ticket paid a on the spot fine and if they couldn't where marched off to nearest cash point. Think most people paid.
As I said earlier there are some fantastic buildings, the Parliment and the castle are as good as you see anywhere. Of course the City straddles one of the worlds great rivers "The Danube" with a number of bridge crossings.
On my first morning I climbed the Gellert Hill that gives the best views, its the highest point and believe me going up tests your lungs, as for coming down it sorted my knees out.
Other things I visited was Heroes Square, which is there equivellant of Trafalgar square, also Margarit Island which is a big park in the middle of the river.
Also went to the "House of Terror" which is in the building that both the Nazi and Communist secret police used while occupying the city, told the stories of the torture and murder that went on during those regimes.
Must also mention I took the pilgimage to the "Peoples Stadium" (Ferec Puskas Stadium as its now known), why you may ask. Well thats simple in 1968 Leeds United won their first European Trophy (Inter Cities Fairs Cup) on this ground against local side Ferenchvaros. Its not had much modernisation since and is a bit scruffy by todays standards but to a Leeds fan a place where history took place.
Ok I've gone and bought myself a Ferenchvaros footie shirt as a souvener, just had to do it, got bloody XL though and its still tight, obviously don't make Hungarians in the same sizes as us Brits. So reckon thats my new motivation to lose weight.
I'll post some photos soon.
On the day of my flight I drove down to Luton Airport and was pleased I didn't encounter too many problems especially considering it was through the morning rush hour. Anyway I actually arrived before check in opened so got a breakfast.
Eventually its on to the flight, I was travelling with budget airline "Easy Jet" and its a bit of a cattle stampede to get the best seat, I ended up in the middle of 3 and trust me they don't do them in adult sizes.
On arrival I wasn't sure the best way to get to my hotel, sort of wanted to use local transport but in a strange country that speaks a different language I thought best to get a taxi. When I arrived at my hotel it was just a entrance with a canopy over the door in dark quiet street, I tried the door it was locked so I rang the bell and it was automatically unlocked from someone watching me on camera. I was actually shocked when I opened door to enter a passage, it was scruffy, dirty and gave me the impression of some homeless hostel.
The sign sent me to the left to a lift and staircase where the sign told me the reception was on the 1st floor so up I went. Was pleased on arrival to find the 1st floor just the opposite of the entrance, nice, clean, tidy, just what I expected from some reviews I'd read. In fact the hotel only operated from this level up, much to my relief and was a nice place. The staff I must say were very good made you feel welcome and all spoke perfect English.
The breakfast was also nice well presented and tasty.
My only real complaint about the hotel is that the so called double glazing didn't keep street noise out and it was difficult getting my beauty sleep, especially as road works were been done outside very close to the hotel.
So my opinion of Budapest, well it could be a beautiful city it as great architecture but is somewhat spoilt by the graffite everywhere giving it a rough/dirty feel. In fact my hotel experience was mirrored everywhere the outside of many buildings gave a totally different impression of what was inside, that included many bars, restaurants and cafes. Of course the real touristy spots where kept tidy outside but to find the better places you needed to explore some of the dark and dingy streets and alleys. Found some fantastic places with just a entrance or down in some cellar, real friendly people as well.
The streets I'm describing looked so rough if it had been in a English City I wouldn't have ventured down but Budapest is a very friendly place, it is safe in my opinion.
Ok as always I had one iffy incident, one night I'd been out for a meal and a few beers and decided to stop in a Pool room to see iff the locals wanted a few lessons (lol). I'd been there awhile when a couple befriended me, they were from Brazil and Sweden and we just got chatting.
Anyway I went to the toilet came back and finished my beer and said goodbye. Well luckily I left, my hotel was only a couple of minutes away and I must have feel asleep straight away, just flaked out. I awoke about 3 hours laters with a splitting headache and am convinced they had spiked my drink, ok maybe I'd just had one too many but I seriously don't think I had, it wasn't a normal feeling you get with too much booze. I flushed myself out with water and was ok by morning.
Don't know where to start on Hungarian Food, actually enjoyed it although most of the time I hadn't a clue what I was ordering, in fact on 3 occasions I'm sure I ended up with something different to my order reckon some of the chefs just wanted to give everyone their daily specials. Food and drink was cheap so I ended up with a load of forints left which I exchanged to Euros for my upcoming Spanish holiday next month.
I loved public transport, subway, trams, buses all interlinked and I got a 7 day pass for around £15 which was superb value. They were really regular never waited more than 5 minutes. Strangely you could get on and not get your tickets checking which initially made me wonder if many people didn't pay. However soon found the answer, every so often ticket checkers (I called them the Gestapo) invaded a tram, anyone without a ticket paid a on the spot fine and if they couldn't where marched off to nearest cash point. Think most people paid.
As I said earlier there are some fantastic buildings, the Parliment and the castle are as good as you see anywhere. Of course the City straddles one of the worlds great rivers "The Danube" with a number of bridge crossings.
On my first morning I climbed the Gellert Hill that gives the best views, its the highest point and believe me going up tests your lungs, as for coming down it sorted my knees out.
Other things I visited was Heroes Square, which is there equivellant of Trafalgar square, also Margarit Island which is a big park in the middle of the river.
Also went to the "House of Terror" which is in the building that both the Nazi and Communist secret police used while occupying the city, told the stories of the torture and murder that went on during those regimes.
Must also mention I took the pilgimage to the "Peoples Stadium" (Ferec Puskas Stadium as its now known), why you may ask. Well thats simple in 1968 Leeds United won their first European Trophy (Inter Cities Fairs Cup) on this ground against local side Ferenchvaros. Its not had much modernisation since and is a bit scruffy by todays standards but to a Leeds fan a place where history took place.
Ok I've gone and bought myself a Ferenchvaros footie shirt as a souvener, just had to do it, got bloody XL though and its still tight, obviously don't make Hungarians in the same sizes as us Brits. So reckon thats my new motivation to lose weight.
I'll post some photos soon.
Monday 4 October 2010
Sad Bastards
Just been reading about the imminent terrorist threat and the fact Al Queda are supposedly planning Mumbai style attacks to tourist sites around europe to try and kill as many civillians as possible.
Of course I'm concerned because I'm on my travels on Wednesday to Budapest and sure I'll be visiting touristy areas. I know the chances of getting caught up in something is slim but thats by the way these sad bastards are just sick and want exterminating when caught.
How on earth can anyone in the name of religion come up with these plans is unbelievable just makes you wonder what kind of world we live in.
Of course I like many people will not change my travel plans because we can't let the extremists win.
Of course I'm concerned because I'm on my travels on Wednesday to Budapest and sure I'll be visiting touristy areas. I know the chances of getting caught up in something is slim but thats by the way these sad bastards are just sick and want exterminating when caught.
How on earth can anyone in the name of religion come up with these plans is unbelievable just makes you wonder what kind of world we live in.
Of course I like many people will not change my travel plans because we can't let the extremists win.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)