The weather was crap over the weekend. I spent Saturday doing absolutely nothing but sit on my bed and read books. Although, unusually for me, I was aware of my lack of physical activity and ate accordingly.
Sunday wasn't much better although I did make it to the gym. However when I went to Morrisons to get supplies, a box of donuts for 80p unaccountably appeared in my basket, goodness knows how. I also weighed myself as I kept forgetting - 13 stone 7. Last time I weighed myself I was about 14 stone 2, which was about two months ago. Not bad. Hope I can keep it up.
Went running after work. Did some laps of the track with 6 minute runs. Felt a bit better this time, although my left calf was playing up - think I didn't stretch it as much as my right one. It was also nice and cool, much prefer it to the sun where you get too hot.
Picked up the 206 as well. I was quite worried about how it would feel to drive after the Accord, but it's fine. The ride is a bit bouncy in comparison, but not too bad. The engine is pretty torquey though, and it feels surprisingly nippy for a little 1.4 diesel. Fortunately I adapted back to a manual gearbox straight away, which is good.
I know it needs a service though, so I'm going to get that booked in ASAP. It does have a couple of quirks - it has automatic headlights, but the sensor seems to be a little flaky, so they come on pretty much all the time, but it can be overridden. Good thing it doesn't have the automatic wipers.
The stereo is the standard Peugeot one - a CD player. I'd actually have preferred a tape deck so I could use the iPod adapter from the Accord. I found a blank CD and made up a new compilation - it actually felt quite nice to go through my music and have 20 or so carefully selected tracks instead of having a full iPods worth. The speakers are pretty good too, pleasantly surprised by that. I haven't worked out how to fold the seats down though to try out the bike, need to figure that out. It might be a case of both wheels off, but we'll see.
Monday 24 June 2013
Friday 21 June 2013
Infinite
I had booked half a day flexi leave today to look at cars, which became pointless after I saw the 206 last night, but I decided I might as well use up some flexi anyway.
Stopped off at Morrisons and picked up some food and came home. I watched a bit of a DVD and then sat down and had another go at finishing BioShock Infinite. I got it done after a couple of goes and got to see the ending. It left me rather stunned and with that feeling you get after finishing a really good book, kind of sad that you can't read any more of it. Very good game. Somehow I managed to get to play it without knowing anything at all about it - I barely even realised it had been released, so I think that really helped with the experience. I want to go back and play the first BioShock now and then perhaps give BioShock 2 another go, as I never really got into it.
Not picking up the 206 tomorrow after all, as they have found it needs a new shock absorber and they can't get one for tomorrow, so should be getting it on Monday. I was hoping to do a bike ride with Andy this evening but the Accord's boot seems to be permanently locked now, and my usual fix of spraying WD40 into the handle hasn't worked. Oh well. The weather looks to be shit this weekend anyway so I'm planning on going to the gym.
Stopped off at Morrisons and picked up some food and came home. I watched a bit of a DVD and then sat down and had another go at finishing BioShock Infinite. I got it done after a couple of goes and got to see the ending. It left me rather stunned and with that feeling you get after finishing a really good book, kind of sad that you can't read any more of it. Very good game. Somehow I managed to get to play it without knowing anything at all about it - I barely even realised it had been released, so I think that really helped with the experience. I want to go back and play the first BioShock now and then perhaps give BioShock 2 another go, as I never really got into it.
Not picking up the 206 tomorrow after all, as they have found it needs a new shock absorber and they can't get one for tomorrow, so should be getting it on Monday. I was hoping to do a bike ride with Andy this evening but the Accord's boot seems to be permanently locked now, and my usual fix of spraying WD40 into the handle hasn't worked. Oh well. The weather looks to be shit this weekend anyway so I'm planning on going to the gym.
Thursday 20 June 2013
Week of fun
Last weekend was good. Went for a bike ride with Andy, which was his first outing on a loaned road bike. He pretty much left me behind the whole time, since it is so much easier to ride than his mountain bike. I was having an off day and really struggled, and had to walk up some hills because my knee was playing up. By the end of it though, my knee was OK. After the ride though, no time to relax as we had to go to Vicky's birthday meal in Rhyl, which was in a really good Italian place. It was a nice evening.
Sunday consisted of playing BioShock Infinite. I thought I was near the end, but there was a whole lot more do to, and then there was a massive fight that I couldn't get past. So I had to turn it off and do something else before I smashed the controller.
Monday was down to Denbigh for a running session, however we all got roped into joining the intermediate group for games, which was a little surreal and like being back in school. Only Andy managed to avoid it. Afterward Em and I did a couple of laps and did fine.
Tuesday was DnD, which was entertaining. Sarah couldn't make it but we had a massive battle anyway, and once again my character threw himself into the fight, taking shitloads of damage but coming out of it with a smile (grimace) on his face.
Wednesday was the running class again. It was hard this time - run for five minutes, walk for two and a half. It was quite hard, but rather than feeling tired, my calves were killing me for some reason. I did start to get a little bit of a stitch, but it didn't last, which was good.
Tonight was badminton. We went to Steve's for a BBQ, but Rob and Em couldn't make it so there was an excess of food. Despite this, Steve and I both played quite well at badminton and had some good games.
In the last week I've been looking at cars, as the Accord is ridiculous on fuel, and I made the discovery that it's using quite a lot of oil. I don't think it's leaking it so it must be burning it off, although I haven't noticed any excessive smoke. Anyway, I saw a 2000 Astra 1.8 CDX at a local garage on Ebay, so I left work a bit early to take a look. The engine was a bit big but it was top of the range with lots of equipment. However when I came look at it, it didn't grab me, even though it was in nice condition. Also I'd read that the tax was £270 a year because of the date it was registered.
However, next to it was a 2002 Peugeot 206 1.4 HDi, which looked OK and I know someone in work who has one and loves it. I had a go in it and it was fine, so I've put a deposit down and will pick it up on Saturday. The 1.4 diesel is good for 60mpg and tax is £30 a year. The only thing is getting my bike in it, but I reckon it'll go in with the front wheel off and the passenger seat forward.
I'll have to get the insurance to overlap so I can take the Accord to the auction. I will miss the Accord though. It's a nice big car that wafts along and is really comfortable, but while I can afford to run it, I'd rather not be spending quite so much on petrol each week.
Not much else to report.
Sunday consisted of playing BioShock Infinite. I thought I was near the end, but there was a whole lot more do to, and then there was a massive fight that I couldn't get past. So I had to turn it off and do something else before I smashed the controller.
Monday was down to Denbigh for a running session, however we all got roped into joining the intermediate group for games, which was a little surreal and like being back in school. Only Andy managed to avoid it. Afterward Em and I did a couple of laps and did fine.
Tuesday was DnD, which was entertaining. Sarah couldn't make it but we had a massive battle anyway, and once again my character threw himself into the fight, taking shitloads of damage but coming out of it with a smile (grimace) on his face.
Wednesday was the running class again. It was hard this time - run for five minutes, walk for two and a half. It was quite hard, but rather than feeling tired, my calves were killing me for some reason. I did start to get a little bit of a stitch, but it didn't last, which was good.
Tonight was badminton. We went to Steve's for a BBQ, but Rob and Em couldn't make it so there was an excess of food. Despite this, Steve and I both played quite well at badminton and had some good games.
In the last week I've been looking at cars, as the Accord is ridiculous on fuel, and I made the discovery that it's using quite a lot of oil. I don't think it's leaking it so it must be burning it off, although I haven't noticed any excessive smoke. Anyway, I saw a 2000 Astra 1.8 CDX at a local garage on Ebay, so I left work a bit early to take a look. The engine was a bit big but it was top of the range with lots of equipment. However when I came look at it, it didn't grab me, even though it was in nice condition. Also I'd read that the tax was £270 a year because of the date it was registered.
However, next to it was a 2002 Peugeot 206 1.4 HDi, which looked OK and I know someone in work who has one and loves it. I had a go in it and it was fine, so I've put a deposit down and will pick it up on Saturday. The 1.4 diesel is good for 60mpg and tax is £30 a year. The only thing is getting my bike in it, but I reckon it'll go in with the front wheel off and the passenger seat forward.
I'll have to get the insurance to overlap so I can take the Accord to the auction. I will miss the Accord though. It's a nice big car that wafts along and is really comfortable, but while I can afford to run it, I'd rather not be spending quite so much on petrol each week.
Not much else to report.
Thursday 13 June 2013
State of mind
Last week wasn't too bad. My knee remained troublesome until Saturday.
On Friday I worked from home in the morning and then went to my Dad's in the afternoon for his birthday. We went out for a meal at the Pen y Bryn in Colwyn Bay, which was good, and then hung out for the afternoon.
On Sunday my knee felt better enough to go for a bike ride with Andy, although we went on a flat route. It was the first time I rode properly with the SPDs and it was pretty good. I only forgot to unclip right at the end of the ride and I remembered just in time.
On Monday I did the initial session of the beginner's running course with Andy, which was very hard. I sort of assumed that because I was doing OK with the bike and at the gym, that I would be OK with running, but I wasn't. I got a really bad stich and my calves hurt. Last night it was the next session, which was again hard, but the instructor gave me some tips on reducing the stitch and said that people who cycle a lot quite often have calf problems when they start running because the foot is much more stationary on a bike. Anyway it looks like I'm doing the 5k in August, which is a scary prospect.
Today was the first badminton in quite some time, with the new floor. It was fun, but I couldn't get around the court anywhere near as fast as I could before. I think the different exercise hasn't helped, but hopefully should get back into it soon.
On the weekend it's a bike ride with Andy and then a meal for Vicky's birthday. Not sure about Sunday yet. Hopefully going to go to the gym after work tomorrow.
Not much else to report. Played most of BioShock Infinite over last weekend while I was resting my knee, and it was very good. Not much left to go so I'm looking forward to seeing how it winds up. I also forgot to mention that recently I picked up a battered but working 3DS XL. The original 3DS was too small - it makes so much more sense as the XL. I've been playing Luigi's Mansion 2 off and on, which is good fun. Still ploughing through A Clash of Kings, which is a good read. I want to reread some of the Culture books though, sadly Iain Banks has died.
The Xbox One looks to be a giant fiasco already - when the time comes I think everyone I know is going to look at the PS4 instead. Given what Microsoft has done to turn the 360 into an advertising box I was already dubious about it's successor.
Feel like I need a holiday. Work is getting me down. I'd love to book a trip to Berlin in the summer to see the city in the sunshine, but I need to sort out a new car come next payday so I can't really afford it. I suppose I could look into going somewhere in the UK, but these days there doesn't seem to be any point in suggesting a group holiday unless it's all couples, and going by myself is a depressing prospect.
On Friday I worked from home in the morning and then went to my Dad's in the afternoon for his birthday. We went out for a meal at the Pen y Bryn in Colwyn Bay, which was good, and then hung out for the afternoon.
On Sunday my knee felt better enough to go for a bike ride with Andy, although we went on a flat route. It was the first time I rode properly with the SPDs and it was pretty good. I only forgot to unclip right at the end of the ride and I remembered just in time.
On Monday I did the initial session of the beginner's running course with Andy, which was very hard. I sort of assumed that because I was doing OK with the bike and at the gym, that I would be OK with running, but I wasn't. I got a really bad stich and my calves hurt. Last night it was the next session, which was again hard, but the instructor gave me some tips on reducing the stitch and said that people who cycle a lot quite often have calf problems when they start running because the foot is much more stationary on a bike. Anyway it looks like I'm doing the 5k in August, which is a scary prospect.
Today was the first badminton in quite some time, with the new floor. It was fun, but I couldn't get around the court anywhere near as fast as I could before. I think the different exercise hasn't helped, but hopefully should get back into it soon.
On the weekend it's a bike ride with Andy and then a meal for Vicky's birthday. Not sure about Sunday yet. Hopefully going to go to the gym after work tomorrow.
Not much else to report. Played most of BioShock Infinite over last weekend while I was resting my knee, and it was very good. Not much left to go so I'm looking forward to seeing how it winds up. I also forgot to mention that recently I picked up a battered but working 3DS XL. The original 3DS was too small - it makes so much more sense as the XL. I've been playing Luigi's Mansion 2 off and on, which is good fun. Still ploughing through A Clash of Kings, which is a good read. I want to reread some of the Culture books though, sadly Iain Banks has died.
The Xbox One looks to be a giant fiasco already - when the time comes I think everyone I know is going to look at the PS4 instead. Given what Microsoft has done to turn the 360 into an advertising box I was already dubious about it's successor.
Feel like I need a holiday. Work is getting me down. I'd love to book a trip to Berlin in the summer to see the city in the sunshine, but I need to sort out a new car come next payday so I can't really afford it. I suppose I could look into going somewhere in the UK, but these days there doesn't seem to be any point in suggesting a group holiday unless it's all couples, and going by myself is a depressing prospect.
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Mega ouchy
No DnD last night due to Rob being busy with the ongoing family visit.
Tonight was the first session of a running class that builds up to the Vale of Clwyd 5k in August. I was quite looking forward to it and really hoping that my knee would be up to. It felt quite painful last night but not too bad today - more stiff than painful. Anyway, I got home and decided to jog from the car to the front door to see how that felt.
This backfired dramatically and led to an hour and a half of intense pain and barely being able to walk. It's settled down again now but is still far from being right. It was that bad I even decided I coudln't drive into town to use the arm bike in the gym and do some upper body work, which would have been better than nothing.
It's just mega frustrating not being able to exercise properly when I've just got into it sort of properly. Bah. Ironically I googled my symptoms and it came back with Runner's Knee. Ha.
Oh well. I've been trying to take my inability to exercise properly into account when eating, with varying success.
I decided to take the custom double neck bass apart and put it on Ebay as I don't use it and I'd rather have the memories and photos. So far the body has got 40 watchers and a bid already, although I think the necks will fetch more. I'm also in two minds about my 6-string bass. It needs new strings and the wiring is fucked. I'm tempted to pick up an EMG 45HZ pickup for it and rewire it with passive electronics and then put new strings on it. Or I could just flog it for parts. I don't know...
Tonight was the first session of a running class that builds up to the Vale of Clwyd 5k in August. I was quite looking forward to it and really hoping that my knee would be up to. It felt quite painful last night but not too bad today - more stiff than painful. Anyway, I got home and decided to jog from the car to the front door to see how that felt.
This backfired dramatically and led to an hour and a half of intense pain and barely being able to walk. It's settled down again now but is still far from being right. It was that bad I even decided I coudln't drive into town to use the arm bike in the gym and do some upper body work, which would have been better than nothing.
It's just mega frustrating not being able to exercise properly when I've just got into it sort of properly. Bah. Ironically I googled my symptoms and it came back with Runner's Knee. Ha.
Oh well. I've been trying to take my inability to exercise properly into account when eating, with varying success.
I decided to take the custom double neck bass apart and put it on Ebay as I don't use it and I'd rather have the memories and photos. So far the body has got 40 watchers and a bid already, although I think the necks will fetch more. I'm also in two minds about my 6-string bass. It needs new strings and the wiring is fucked. I'm tempted to pick up an EMG 45HZ pickup for it and rewire it with passive electronics and then put new strings on it. Or I could just flog it for parts. I don't know...
Monday 3 June 2013
Still ouchy
Knee was better today but I went to the gym again after work. I didn't do anything that involved leg work, did quite a lot on the arm bike thing and then some weights but when I got home I had to go and sort the water pump out again so I don't think that helped. I think it is on the mend though.
Work was meh, shuffling data round on tapes again and had to stay a bit late to help with the AS/400.
Yesterday I spent the day at my Dad's. I took my road bike over and we fitted the SPD pedals to it and then I had a gentle pootle along the prom to see how they were. It took a while to get the hang of clipping in, but once they are, it feels quite nice. The shoes have the nice silver cleats that detach in multiple ways but I'm sure I'll forget at some point. Oh well.
Had another go at the crispy honey chilli chicken recipe I tried a couple of weeks ago. It came out very well except this time I managed to make the sauce rather too solid. Still tasted good though.
Work was meh, shuffling data round on tapes again and had to stay a bit late to help with the AS/400.
Yesterday I spent the day at my Dad's. I took my road bike over and we fitted the SPD pedals to it and then I had a gentle pootle along the prom to see how they were. It took a while to get the hang of clipping in, but once they are, it feels quite nice. The shoes have the nice silver cleats that detach in multiple ways but I'm sure I'll forget at some point. Oh well.
Had another go at the crispy honey chilli chicken recipe I tried a couple of weeks ago. It came out very well except this time I managed to make the sauce rather too solid. Still tasted good though.
Saturday 1 June 2013
Ouchy knee
DnD was good fun on Tuesday. The weather was horrible though, so Sarah decided to stay at home in Wrexham and not risk the journey to Denbigh, and joined us via Skype. It's not the first time we've played DnD via Skype and it worked really well.
On Wednesday and Thursday went to the gym. Wednesday was OK but Thursday was a mistake as I'd had some warning twinges from my right knee, and by Friday evening it was really painful. It would have been helpful if I could have stayed in and rested it but it was the leaving meal with people from work for the guy who I replaced. It was a good meal in the Denbigh Radhuni. The others went out for drinks afterward but I came home.
No bike ride today, which I was gutted about since I was looking forward to it, and it would have helped work off the meal last night. Andy and Rob G went out though and went on a variation of the route we did last week with more hills, however it was very steep and they found it a complete killer. I stayed in and rested my knee which has been feeling a bit better after being very painful this morning. It was a pretty nice day too, which made it worse.
Not much else to report. I've been playing a couple of games on the 3DS. The original 3DS wasn't great in my opinion, too small and awkward, but I spotted a cheap 3DS XL and decided to give it a go. The graphics are a bit more pixelly because of the larger screens, but it makes so much more sense as a bigger machine. I started out playing Monster Hunter Ultimate, which was OK but not really my kind of game, and so I've been playing Luigi's Mansion 2, which is really good fun. I vaguely remember playing the original on the GameCube, which was a long time ago.
On Wednesday and Thursday went to the gym. Wednesday was OK but Thursday was a mistake as I'd had some warning twinges from my right knee, and by Friday evening it was really painful. It would have been helpful if I could have stayed in and rested it but it was the leaving meal with people from work for the guy who I replaced. It was a good meal in the Denbigh Radhuni. The others went out for drinks afterward but I came home.
No bike ride today, which I was gutted about since I was looking forward to it, and it would have helped work off the meal last night. Andy and Rob G went out though and went on a variation of the route we did last week with more hills, however it was very steep and they found it a complete killer. I stayed in and rested my knee which has been feeling a bit better after being very painful this morning. It was a pretty nice day too, which made it worse.
Not much else to report. I've been playing a couple of games on the 3DS. The original 3DS wasn't great in my opinion, too small and awkward, but I spotted a cheap 3DS XL and decided to give it a go. The graphics are a bit more pixelly because of the larger screens, but it makes so much more sense as a bigger machine. I started out playing Monster Hunter Ultimate, which was OK but not really my kind of game, and so I've been playing Luigi's Mansion 2, which is really good fun. I vaguely remember playing the original on the GameCube, which was a long time ago.
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