Running on empty

Thats my car not me, the fuel gauge is down on the red so I'm not taking it out of the garage unless absolutely necessary. I'd fill it up but because there is a threat (i said threat, nothing certain) that the tanker drivers may go on strike so the whole contry as gone into panic mode and the queue's at the petrol stations are a joke.
Well I'm not queueing, anyway on priniple those of us that can manage without our cars should let those who need their vehicles for work get some fuel.
The queue at my local fill up actually shut the main road into town, a lot of sad people about i think, apparently petrol sales nationally are up by 173%, and even if their is a strike 5 days notice will be given.

Sadly was planning go to the footie tomoz but unless common sense prevails(or all the panickers have finished) i wont be able to go, still will check maybe tonight or in the morning in the hope it isn't like the last two days.

Weigh in Wednesday - A Draw is a result

Story so far :-

Its been two weeks since I weighed in due to my holiday and I'm delighted to report I haven't gained, not lost either but I did expect to gain so I'm calling it a result.

Start Weight (4th Jan)      - 225lb
11th Jan                          -  223lb
18th Jan                          - 221lb
25th Jan                          -  218lb
1st Feb                            - 217lb
8th Feb                            - 217lb
15th Feb                          - 216lb
22nd Feb                         - 215lb
29th Feb                          - 212lb
7th Mar                           - 211lb
14th Mar                         - 210lb
28th Mar                         - 210lb

Weather has been great here which as allowed me to get on top of my gardening, its always good to get jobs done it seems to unclutter your life.
Also had someone doing a few maintenance jobs for me and I've a decorator coming next week so slowly getting my home ship shape.

Feeling good with a new enthusiasm now my knee injury is finally on the mend, I feel its really been dragging me down. Had a good walk this morning then a hour in the garden, playing TT tonight so keeping busy.

Thinking of going to the footie on Saturday haven't been for ages, its getting to the win or bust stage of the season and Leeds are at home to Watford and a win is essential to give us a chance of getting to the play offs.

Updates

Went to Docs yesterday and he gave my knee a examination and thinks I've strained my ligaments, says it could take a few weeks butshould improve. If it flares up i've to take anti-inflammetry tablets and steady exercise is ok just got to avoid twisting and explosive movements. Walking is good but not running at this stage.
To be honest its actually best its been for a long time today so hopfully if i'm careful will mend sooner rather than later. Happy it looks like i could avoid surgery.

Got my Lisbon photos downaded if anyone interested :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8308363@N02/sets/72157629298831802/detail/

Did I mention got through in both my singles and doubles at Pool last night, singles was pleasing as it was against a good player at his venue. Awaiting draw for next round, could be interesting cos a few from our pub got through so reckon some will draw each other.

Back Home Older & wiser (and in pain)

I'm now back from my Lisbon "Birthday" trip and have got to admit although I had a good time its not a City I'll be returning to. Its been on my "to do" list a long time but the city itself was a dissapointment, one of the worst I've been to.

Yes its got a few historic areas and buildings but they are quite often covered in graffiti, litter lines the streets in many areas it is so run down.

I'd only been in the city for a few hours and felt I'd been mugged twice, first got charged 24euro for my tax from the airport the hotel receptionist told me it should have been no more than 15euro (was actually 11euro on my return).
Then I went for a meal at a restaurant close to the hotel that had been recomended (trying to avoid the beggars lining the streets). It was average (sort of posh greasy spoon) and I thought a nice touch when they put bread, cheese and other nibbles on my table while I waited for my order.
However when the bill came they charged me for all the stuff I'd touched apparently this is the normal in Lisbon, all restaurants do it, soon learnt to only touch what you want to eat.

On a plus side visited some nice places (usually outside the city), Oriente which you can do on the subway is a nice modern area, great shopping centre and waterfront.
Also visited the pituresque mountain village of Sintra, expected the train ride to be through nice mountain scenary but it was 40 minutes of seeing slum after slum and I'm not joking. However it is a nice place when you eventually arrive just a pity it was the only rainy day.
Another day I took another train to the coastal resort of Cascais, now my advice to anyone visiting the area is to stay here and take a train to just visit Lisbon.

One thing thats good value is public transport a day pass is 5euro and allows you on all subway, buses and trams within the city limits. However this comes with a warning to watch out for pickpockets, they are everywhere. Although didn't get caught out myself did have two experiences, first visiting a market on the tram an portugeese lady spotted one with his hand in another ladies bag and warned us to watch out as more than one gang were working the market.
Also a elderly german couple staying at my hotel lost everything (money & cards) on the subway, luckily it was their last day but neither the german embassy or the hotel would help them get to the airport. They were distraught so I gave them some money for their taxi, didn't want anything for it but the lady insisted on taking my address and said she'll pay me back.

Will download photos later.
Thats enough on Lisbon for now but i will mention my birthday, was pleased to get 4 cards (3 more than expected, lol) and loads of messages.

Starting to worry about my knee, it keeps flaring up and giving me grief think i done a bit of damage. Plan to go back to Docs this week although it was the other knee i origionally injured (thats fine now) I've a aweful feeling this is more serious. Ok maybe jumping the gun but I'm thinking it may need a operation, will see.

Weigh in Wednesday - Ready for Holiday

Posting from my accomodation before I fly to Lisbon tomorrow and am pleased to anounce another pound lost. As I'll be away next week it'll be 2 weeks to my next weigh in, lets see what damage the holiday does.

Story so far :-

Start Weight (4th Jan)      - 225lb
11th Jan                          -  223lb
18th Jan                          - 221lb
25th Jan                          -  218lb
1st Feb                            - 217lb
8th Feb                            - 217lb
15th Feb                          - 216lb
22nd Feb                         - 215lb
29th Feb                          - 212lb
7th Mar                           - 211lb
14th Mar                          -210lb

As I said earlier I visited Janes parents onroute which was great to see them and her brother took a couple of hours off work to come and see me. Really good catting to them all.
Before I got to their house I called at the cemetery to leave some flowers at Janes grave. I spent just under an hour there, got quite emotional just sat on a seat nearby nd thought about the time we had together, loads of memories came flooding back. Really pleased I went its something I needed to do.

End of a Generation

Just heard the sad news this morning that my Uncle Stan as passed away, ok he was in his 90's so had a good innings. However its sad because he's the last of a generation thats all my aunties and uncles gone.

He was my Dads older brother actually lived in Hull most of his life, back in his working days he ran a barge when thats how goods were transported in this country.

Along with my Dad he was one of (i think) about 10  kids, spanning something like a 40 year age gap, i didn't ever meet some of the older ones and think at least one died as a child, I knew 7 of them.
Mum was youngest of 4 and the last to go from her side.

Obviously its over to my generation now, i've loads of cousins but to be fair most are older than me, some by quite a lot, in fact some of their kids are nearer my age.

Life goes on.

RIP

Mixed Emotions

Looking forward to going to Lisbon this week, never seem to lose my thirst for adventure and travel, just love discovering new places and meeting new people.

Still I'm very nervous not about the holiday but the fact I'm going down to Winchester Wednesday to visit Janes parents and spend some time at her grave. Its something I feel I need to do but I'm actually scared about what effect it will have on me as my emotions are pretty shot at the moment. Its certainly gonna bring back a lot of happy memories which in turn will create sadness I'm sure. Loved her a lot think she did me and I really think if she was still here it would have been a lifelong partnership. Can't believe its coming up to 3 years, life really does kick you sometimes.
To be fair emotionally I've been much improved of late the ups have been beating the downs so hope I can deal with it.

Happy Birthday

For the 2nd day running my post title as the word "happy" in it, thats gotta be a good thing.

Ok its not my birthday just yet, not while 21st but I'll be in Lisbon then. However I have recieved my first birthday card (prob my only one, lol) from my cousin. Its very early I know but she knows I'm away and she sends me one every year without fail.

Its actually a sad story, the reason she sends it to me is because I share my birthday with a child (aged 2 or 3) she lost many years ago and of course never forgets that date.

Happy Days

On top of the obvious (loss of parents, relationship breakup, etc) one of the reasons I've struggled to get out of depressed mode is the fact I've had a knee injury and been in pain everytime i've done any physical activity since november. Limiting what I can do as made me frustrated, not even been able to walk far without suffering but now reckon i can.

Its been improving slowly and for the first time last night I played a hard TT match and suffered no after effects, could sleep without pain killers, it felt good this morning. I've only been playing matches and missing training which i really enjoy but after my holiday i'm confident I'll be up for it again.

Went in the garden today planting loads of bulbs, spent a lot of time kneeling and i certainly couldn't do that a couple of weeks ago. Again no after effects it feels great hopefully i can no increase my physical activity.

Happy Days are back

Weigh in Wednesday - First Mile "Stone"

Happy that I've hit the first milestone of my current weight loss campaign as you can see below toda I weighed in at 211lb which is 14lb lost since the start of the year and we all know 14lb is 1stone. I reckon its a good time to hit a target with my holiday comng up, hopefully i can maintain in Lisbon although its holiday and normally i put on weight.
In my favour the City is apparently quite hilly so walking could be hard work so possibly I wont do much damage.
Still its more about fitness and my knee seems to be clearing up so I'm hoping to up the exercise which can only be a good thing.

Story so far :-

Start Weight (4th Jan)      - 225lb
11th Jan                          -  223lb
18th Jan                          - 221lb
25th Jan                          -  218lb
1st Feb                            - 217lb
8th Feb                            - 217lb
15th Feb                          - 216lb
22nd Feb                         - 215lb
29th Feb                          - 212lb
7th Mar                           - 211lb

In the S**t

Panic job yesterday the flush on my toilet failed so had to call the local plumber. He's been this morning and replaced the faulty part and its now back working. Was having to use a bucket of water to flush the system so pleased I don't need to do that no more.

Had a Pool match last night well at least I thought I had but we all turned up and the opposition didn't at their own venue. It was a cup match and apparently the landlord hadn't passed the draw onto his players. He was very apologetic so we stayed and had a few games and credit to him he even put a few sandwichs on for us.

Lovely sunny day here should really have done some gardening. Had a walk to the cemetery to water the plants on Mum & Dads grave. Never thought I'd be one for visiting so much, really surprised myself. Bumped into one of my cousins on way back so had a good chat.

One thing I've been thinking about lately is whether I should stay here cos its a bit two big with quite a bit of garden. I'm not the keenest of gardeners but am getting on top and making it low maintenance, don't mind some cos its good to get outside. I've been consdering an apartment but think I'm pulling towards staying here at least a couple more years, its a good area and I cant fault the neighbours.

Its Getting Better

Its getting better, thats my knee I'm talking about, still swollen but nowhere near the pain levels I mentioned in yesterdays post. Was able to sleep well last night, but not surprising as i was shattered from lack of sleep the previous nights.

Its proved good that I've had a free weekend been able to give it chance to rest, no danger of aggravating it in the garden its been raining buckets today. Took the opportunity to strat sorting stuff out for my holiday ok its still a week and half away but it only to do once.

This week I've got a Pool team match tomorrow its in the cup competition against a team I've not played before. Got a TT match thursday, lost to one of the opponents first half so got revenge mission.

Made a stew yesterday, used loads of veg along with the meat, Carrots, potato, swede, parsnip, onion, mushroom, etc. Had it for dinner yesterday and lunch today and still enough left for 2 more meals, just needs warming, its good even though i admit it myself, lol.

Frustrated

Must admit I'm really frustrated ant the moment due to a persistant knee problem, I twisted my left knee back in November which took quite awhile to mend and is now feeling great. However its my right knee giving me a lot of grief, its very swollen and painful and think its gout related.
Think I set it off by over compensating the origional injury it keeps improving but then I seem to aggravate it and have bad days. Last couple of days have been really bad, think I mde it worse when gardening, can't even get comfy in bed and haven't had much sleep so real grumpy.
I know from experience it'll clear up anytime you just cant tell, hate taking the anti inflammetry pills cos they make me feel crap.

Got some bad news the other day one of my cousins is in hospital and isnt expected to pull through, although quite sad its self inflicted with drink and cigs, shes been on a downhill path quite awhile now.

As I said earlier got out in the garden trimmed a hedge, did some weeding and gave the lawn its first cut of 2012, seems spring is very early this year. Actually enjoyed been outside cos been very depressed of late, I know I've not been myself but it was good to be in the fresh air have a chat with a few neighbours.

Gonna have some paint work done, hate painting so had a friend from TT who is in the trade have a look, he's gonna do it for me. Also have a little conservitory which the wood is rotting and one of the neighbours who is a joiner is gonna rebuild for me in the summer.

In fact I'm getting a few jobs planned, thinking I'm gonna stay here for the time been, have been onsdering moving to somewhere small but its such a good area and the loals are great.

When I die

Well I'm not planning to die just yet (not for many years I hope) but I need to Plan and rewrite my Will which is currently kept at the local solicitors. However it isn't worth the paper its written on because with no other close family everthing goes to my parents and they are no longer with us.
So if anything happens to me the governmnt ill get everything and I don't want that to happen.

So I've been giving it a lot of thought who to leave my money & possesions to and its not a easy decision of course it can change. Trouble is when I change my will it costs money so really need to be certain when I do rewrite it.
Ok we're not talking millions here but I've some money in the bank and own my home which as a bit of value.

Someone mentioned leaving to charity but not sure I want to do that so been thinking about family & friends. Although got loads of cousins there are not too many I'm that close to, dont hear from most of them to be honest. Saying thats not all of them there are some I would definately want to include for sure.

Again when I start thinking friends you realise how most are actually aquantences and very few are that close.

Anyway so far I've come up with a list of 3 definate relatives (with 4 more I'm considering) and 2 definate friends with 2 other possibilities. My current thoughts are to just split everything evenly between those i decide on but maybe some are derserving of a larger slice than others.

Gee knew i should have got married and had kids it would be so much easier, lol.

Of course this is now and can change, never know who may come into my life and I'll change if and when that happens. Probably something I still need to give a bit more thought to but needs addressing sooner rather than later.

This isn't a request for volunteers, lol

Another interesting question, Do you tell those included ?
My thoughts especially where family are concerned is that it is a bad idea cos if others find out it may cause resentment.