A long time

Its been ages since i wrote a blog post so thought I'd just say hello to those of you still about, hope you are all well.

Think not blogging is mainly to do with motivation than not having anything to write about as life has been hectic.

Weather as been good this summer seem to be spending lots of time either on the golf course playing badly or in the garden.

Been away three times so far this year (yes still got the travel bug), Barcelona, Slovenia and Kos plus a few good days out.
Got more trips planned having a few days in Scotland and also got a week in Madeira booked. Then later in the year over the pond to America.

Have been dating most of this year and its going well, we like a lot of the same things but not saying more at this stage.

Happy St Georges Day

Merry Christmas

Hope everyone has a great festive season and a fantastic 2014

Ouch

Was playing in a handicap doubles event at table tennis last night, its held in honour of a chap (Mike Hanley) who did lots of work for the game in this area and i knew him well. He sadly passed away with cancer about 5 years ago and we annually have this event to remember him.

Good turn out with 14 pairs of players competing from our small league, its played over the next 3 weeks with all playing all. Personally with my partner we broke even with two wins and two defeats but to be honest results really don't matter in events like this. Its more about having a good time and remembering an old friend.

Anyway in my first game of the night i went for a big shot, got my timing wrong and smashed my hand right on the corner of the table. My thumb took most of the impact leaving me with a nasty cut and a lot of swelling, its very difficult to grip anything this morning.

Yes "ouch" was close to the word i quoted at the time, it certainly hurt.

On another note its our Club christmas dinner tonight, looking forward to it think there is almost 30 of us going so should be a good atmosphere.

Christmas should I bother ?

Last year I went to Spain for almost two weeks over the festive period (christmas and new year) so I didn't bother putting my tree up. Ok its only a fibre optic one i keep in the loft but usually get it down so its on show when visitors come.

Now this year I'm only off away (to Chester) for Christmas (3 days) but am here the rest of the holiday period so am trying to decide whether I should get my tree down so its on display.

I've noticed that some people have their christmas stuff up already, way too early in my opinion its over 3 weeks away yet i always reckon about a week before. Need to get witing my cards though so they ready to send, think that'll be this week.

Never mind soon be Easter.

No Motivation no pressure

For as long as I care to remember I've played Pool in the local league on Monday nights, not the best player around but I've always done ok and if played more often like the serious players am sure would be up there with the top boys.
To be honest its always been a social thing, sort of an excuse to go out on a Monday but dont get me wrong i'm as competitive as anyone.
Anyway recently I feel that I'm not motivated to play think its due to a number of reasons maybe just done it too long but think its down to last season  when we were robbed of the league by the committee and it really narked me. Basically we finised level on points with our rivals but thought it won as we had lost less matches however a play off was ordered. On top of that our rivals during the season had 3 matches cancelled which clearly isn't allowed and they also didn't rearrange them within 21 days which is also in the rules, both offences should be points deductions.

Still I'm not going to let my team down so not saying I'm going to not turn up, just not as bothered.

But all that isn't the point of my post its the fact not been bothered can be an advantage, last night I played my singles in the individual knockouts was away from home on a strange table and really didn't care if I won or lost. That fact meant I played with no pressure and went for difficult shots when normally would play safe, it paid dividends and i cleared up both frames to record a 2-0 victory and move into the next round.
After it led me to thinking would I have won if I'd been motivated and not played with the same free spirit, suppose I'll never know.

Weight Loss & Fitness

As I stated yesterday I'm starting  new weight loss and fitness campaign as I've let things slip a bit this year.

I've also decided to start a new blog solely to report on my progress, I'll use this blog for other things that are happening.

You can use the link on the side bar to access my new weight loss and fitness blog, which can also be found here - http://micksweightlossandfitness.blogspot.co.uk/

Three Months

For a long time now I've not had the blog bug in fact its nearly 3 months since my last post but I know think its time to bo again.

So whats been happening during the last three months, what have you all missed ?

Well the highlight was probably my holiday to America, did a trip called "National Parks & Canyons, Mount Rushmore & Little Big Horn.

Obviously Mount Rushmore & LBH were two of the places we visited but many other fantastic sites along the way including Yellowstone (even saw a Grizzly), Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, etc to name but a few.

It was with a singles group, there was 28 of us and had a fantastic time despite a couple of major hiccups. Well the holiday was supposed to start in Denver, we were to fly via Atlanta, however not enough time was allowed between flights (thank you Delta) and 25 of us missed the connection, 8 were put on a later flight that night while the rest of us were put up in Atlanta.
As the tour were leaving Denver the following morning we arranged to be flown to Rapid City via a day in Minneapolis (lovely airport), however my luggage along with 5 others had been sent to Denver, luckily our comrades who caught the later flight took it off the carousel and reunited it with us in Rapid City.
That does raise a couple of security questions, first why was luggage allowed on a plane without the passener ? thought that was a total No with all airlines.
And why was somebody allowed to walk out of Denver airport with 6 suitcases that weren't their own ?

That was only the start, 2nd week coincided with the American Government spitting the dummy and shutting down meaning we couldn't visit some of the places planned. However our tour manager did a fantastic job in finding alternatives so credit due there.

Eventually we finished with two nights in Vegas.
Met some real nice people, sort of eight of us knocked around together and I'm sure we'll keep in touch.
You can see all my photos here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8308363@N02/sets/72157636575071433/

 Actually one of the group came over to my area last Saturday and we had a nice day in York, walked part of the Walls, visited the Castle museum, had a nice pub lunch, etc. Was a good day with a very nice lady, hopfully wont be long before we meet up again.

Have been planning ahead a bit, am off away to Chester at Christmas just three nights but should be a bit of a laugh.

Have already booked a couple of holidays for next year, in May am off to Slovenia for a week,half the week in the mountains andthe other half at the coast, should be great.

Ok its a year away but i'm back to America next November on another tour, this time starting in Chicago and travelling to New Orleans via St Louis and Memphis, sort of following the Mississippi.

Still thats only the start of my travel plans, more to follow I'm sure.

Moving on its about time I started looking at weight loss again, so decided I'll weigh in tomorrow and make a new start. Although I'm feeling quite fit at present i've nt been on the scales for a long timeand know i've put weight back on (holidays dont help). So here we go again.

Many other things I could write about but that'll do for now, more tomorrow.

Its certainly big

Been spending a bit of time in the garden and can't believe how tall some of my Gladioli have grown, check this monster out 6'6" and still growing.

Gardening

Been doing a few things in the garden but this time of the year you really have to keep on top. Here are a few photos of my garden taken today :-

 

 

1. A Yorkshireman must have white roses

 

 

2. Not all are White

 

3. A few plants alongside my drive, bit of a mix

 

4. My garden is mainly lawn and borders.

 

5. This is the bottom of my garden, was overgrown a year ago but getting in shape now

 

6. One of the new rose plants i put in this year, first to flower.

 

7. This is one thats been in awhile now, think I've gt about 18 now.

Samaria Gorge

Not posted for awhile, two reasons really, not really felt motivated to blog and also spent two weeks in sunny Crete and wasn't online.

 

One of the highlights of the trip is I tested myself by walking the Samaria Gorge, its one of the longest in europe 16km long. Sounds nothing but it starts 1200metres above sea level n the white mountains and ends at the coast, the terrain is tough with loose rocks and many places you can slip.

 

Their are some very steep downhill sections which really test you knees and calf muscles. Add to that steaming hot tempretures it was no easy trip. Most people take around 6 hours+ to complete and was quite chuffed I did it in less than 5 hours.

 

Here are some photos from the Gorge :-

 

 

 

This was very nice at the end of the trek.

Really enjoyed the trip, here are the rest of my photos (including more from the Gorge) :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8308363@N02/sets/72157634406852706/

Tits and things

Its awhile since I posted and to be honest I'm just not inspired to post at the moment, think all us bloggers have periods like this.

Anyway just to keep any readers up to date here are a few things.

Better start with the "Tits" part of the post, well I'm really pleased it looks like a family of Blue Tits are nesting in my bird box, first time for 6 or 7 years so really pleased. On top of that there are a family of robins nesting somewhere close its actually quite nice watching them all feed and go through their daily activities.

So on to me and I've been busy in the garden last couple of weeks and even though i say it myself its looking good, spring flowers are about finished now but have put in loads of summer plants and it'll be a sea of colour.

I'm back on a weight loss campaign, its planned between holidays. I've put a little on since I stopped working on it and of course the Italy holiday didn't help.
My next trip is to Crete and I started 2 weeks ago just cutting Bread & Sweet stuff out of my diet for now.
Been at it 2 weeks and although not weighed am starting to feel the difference so am sure its working. My intention is to keep it going until i go to Crete then will decide future plans after that.
I'd already cut back significantly on m beer intake and only drink on special occasions (even stopped on Pool match nights, actually go in car now so only have soft drinks). Did go out last Friday to a local Italian for our Table Tennis Clubend of season meal, about 20 of us went. Was really nice had the homemade soup for a starter followed by fillet steak, no pudding though, stayed strong.

Have a couple of things coming up where I'll have a drink, meeting a friend for lunch on friday to catch up then early June another lunch with someone from my holiday who is in he area so gonna meet up. Yes its a lady but don't read anything into that just a friend i met on holiday, one of a group of us that got on well.

Talking holidays I've really enjoyed these organised group trips and have another touring holiday planned for sept/oct but I'm getting the feeling I want to do something solo again, maybe a city break where i've to find my own way around. Fancy either Berlin or Madrid so watch this space, probably its the adventurer in me.

I actually like planning these trips myself, not same someone doing it all for you (although made some great friends), probably a mix of holidays is the way to go.

One thing I want to do is plan a big fly/drive in America, got a couple of ideas but wouldn't do it totally solo, need to talk one or two people into joining me on that one.

Italy Photos

Here is a link to my Italy Photos :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8308363@N02/sets/72157633441210068/detail/

Back Home

I've just had a week away in Italy, had a great time and the weather was very hot and sunny. Actually got back late Sunday and have been catching up with a few jobs especially in the Garden.

Went to the Cilento Coast and stayed in a small fishing village a couple of hours south of Naples, the hotel was great and the food really good (thought i was a taster for master chief, lol).
The area is very unspoilt and not really touristy although did a few day trips to more well known places such as Amalfi.

Need to get back on track with the weight loss, think I've put some back on but thats what holidays are for, must admit the home made ice cream was to die for.

Will post a link to my photos when i get them downloaded.

Away again this weekend, off to Wolverhampton to play in the National Table Tennis Championships (Veterans), I'm entered in the over 40's and over 50's and seen the draw and have tough games in saturdays qualifying.
Depends on timing whether i have to withdraw from one of the events Sunday as I'm fitting the trip in with a meet up with some relations for lunch, its more important (long story).

Its that time of Year

HAPPY ST GEORGE'S DAY

Getting Slack

Got to admit I'm getting a bit slack with writing blog posts, dont seem to have much to write about nowadays.

Did go away over the easter period, just in this country, sort of touring about in this country with a old friend. Was good to get away but very cold, still enjoyed it.

Had a couple of dates recently but nothing come of either, lets just say not suitable.

Have a coulple of "singles" holidays planned this year, one to Italy and one to Crete so maybe best I keep myself single for next few month, lol.

Considering changing my car this year, its 8 years old now and I've normally changed well before now. Saying that its running well sopert of me says keep it, maybe I'll look around in the summer.

Decided I gonna start playing Golf again, bought some new golf shoes so committed now, just gotta join the golf club, lol.

The ongoing issue I've previously mentioned (but cant post about as only a very few close friends know about it) as moved forward big style, lets just say May is a big month.

Played table tennis for Yorkshire at weekend, hurt my back in first match but although it been sore not done any major damage. My own fault for not warming up properly. Got a local league match (our last of the season) tonight but still gonna practice because playin in the Veterans National Championships in Wolverhampton in May.

Thats all for now folks.

progress

Made big progress on a long standing issue yesterday, quite excited.

Where is Spring

Well thursday was officially the first day of Spring but somebody forgot to tell the weather, its freezing and snow is causing avoc around the country.
Still it got to get better soon, hasn't it ?.

Got to be up at 4am to drive to the airport, reckon it'll be cold then.

Dates of Destiny

Busy couple of days ahead on the sporting front that can be described "Dates of Destiny".

Tomorrow I'll be playing in the local table tennis championships and aiming to win the Open singles for the 11th time (first time in 1984). Didn't play in them last year so be nice to get the title back. Sure I'm not getting any younger but its only a small league and not the highest level I play so have got every chance of victory.
To be honest the local league is possibly as weak as its been certainly I can't remember it been weaker but maybe some young pretender can give me a run for my money, who knows.
Also it would be good to take the veterans and the doubles aswell.

Monday we've got our last Pool match and have a real shot of winning the league, we are top by a narrow margin but 3 other teams are still in with a shout. We have a hard match compared with our rivals and I feel we need a 8-2 win to be sure but 7-3 would probably do.
Going to be a nervy night for all the teams, could be a matter of which team deals with the pressure best.
Its great it been so competitive and going to the wire, could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th.

We didn't own a Ipad

Feeling a bit nostalgic today (well it is my birthday) and thinking back to my youth, probably the best time of my life. I wish I could turn the clock back to a time before technology took over our lives, had more fun then

Great Video to remind those who had their youth in the 70's & 80's, brings back the memories.