November 2016. Town v Country

Been having the conundrum of wether it's better to live out in the country or in town. It's played on my thoughts all my life. I'm probably a country boy at heart - that's where I started - but I've spent a fair proportion of my time in more urban environments.

It's a choice that raises its head every few years for us but more recently I've seen it preoccupy several others who are having to make that choice right now.

What makes the absolute choice of where's best to live becomes quite difficult as it is very easy to make the case for and against either.

Putting my country hat on, today was a great example of why it's a no-brainer to live out in the sticks. A simple bike ride on country lanes. Rode for about 45 mins, saw 1 car. Also saw a beautiful barn owl fly alongside me for a few seconds carrying its prey, seemingly winking at me as it diverted away.

What I didn't ride past though was any shop, pub, cafe, takeaway outlet etc. While that could be seen as a + it also means that you have to go that bit further just to make the ride/walk/run more sociable.

In the country you can go for months without seeing or hearing a police car. But is that because nothing happens? Supremely quiet nights and proper dark skies are a thing of beauty but the buzz of a town going about its business has more soul to it. 

Some small villages become quite incestuous where everyone knows everyone. You can't do anything without everyone knowing about it. Where we live now you can be fairly anonymous if you choose - but that's the same as it is in towns and cities right?

I have to admit I'd love to be able to walk to the local pub, pop to the shops, nip to the station and (best of all) walk to the beach. All that is on offer not far from here - but I know that I'd miss the peace and quiet, the space, the skies and the pleasure living in the countryside gives me/us just now. 

I guess if money were no object I'd have a foot in both camps but they may just confuse me even more.

November 13th 2016

Quick training (training hahaha) update

Well, to be fair, since getting my place confirmed I have bagged a few miles. Been quick and then slow on Parkruns but have managed a (very slow) 11.2 km run. So that is about half distance and there's still time on my side. 

The long run was last Tuesday morning and though I felt OK straight after, I think I've been aching ever since. 

Bit worried about a return of a stiffness in my back but hopefully that will ease off with more miles.

I've been a bit rubbish at eating/drinking smarter. I start the week with good intentions but usually end up feasting on lovely things all weekend. 

Here's to some good weather for evening runs.

October 2016

No post since June?

Sloppy

If this blogger is supposed to represent some sort of diarised record of what I've been up to then, well frankly, it isn't 

No excuses for keeping up with things. Truth is I have more spare time now than at any time BC (before children). Jen is 500 miles away in Yorkshire and Rosie is finding her own way as a young adult.  Dad duties are at an all time low. Not sure if that is something to be celebrated or to be sad about. Those that know me, know how much I've loved being about for my girls and I am suitably proud of how things are turning out for them. I may not be needed on such a regular basis but I will always be there, probably in the way.

Enough soppy tutt. I'll try and recall the summers highlights 

Bike rides, festivals, holidays, olympics, sunny days and swimming in the sea just about covers it.

A rather selfish highlight was seeing David Rodigan, in a tent,  in a storm,  in some woods at about 2am at Latitude. The whole festival was great but that topped things off. 

We had a lovely trip up the east coast to Northumberland and on to Edinburgh in August., quickly followed by a trip to Leeds to install Jen into Student House. Not sure I'll ever get used to the idea that she isn't here all the while.

Another highlight is that having got a modicum of fitness in my legs, following the Tour De Norfolk jaunt to Hunstanton and back in July, I have managed to keep the running going (touch wood). Taking things rather gently I have upped the regularity and distances covered each week. A Parkrun used to whack me out for a few days - now I can back that up with a midweek trot or two. Not noticed the lbs falling off yet but guilty pleasures snaffled from the fridge don't seem so naughty anymore.

Which is all just as well as (with encouragement from Ms G) I have thrown my hat and a few £££'s into the Cambridge Half Marathon next March. Most of my blogs over the next few months will probably be laced with training guff. How far, how fast, how long etc - so apologies in advance. I know there's a few hardened long distance runners in the family these days, but a half marathon is something I'll be very chuffed with and an excellent focus on my general health and fitness going forwards. My struggle will be the balance of getting the miles in while not forgetting just how nice beer, burgers, curry and wine is.

And then there's Christmas coming up. Good luck with that everyone

Jez

Oct 24

June 2016

April - May - June?

Either the year is flying by or I am being indifferent at keeping this blog as a diary. It's now more a collection of fading memories and a mist opportunity to put things down on record. I do think I have become more forgetful as I get (slightly) older, but I can't say it bothers me too much. 

So, Jez, what's been going on since March?

Things to report about

The girls, my dodgy arm, my dodgy football team, the dodgy weather, wondrous  journeys and plans for the future

Girls

Jen is already home fro Leeds and has a v.busy summer planned. 1st year went by in a flash but I think she's had a great time. Already had an abundance of new friends all over the place and is looking forwards to next term already - though that isn't till October. She's back at work at The RC and is puzzled as to why! Our biggest bonus this summer for Jenny is that she now has her own wheels. Welcome Martin the Micra (struth)

Rosie is now also gainfully employed at the brilliant Itteringham Village Shop. A lovely success story of a community working together to save its little store. She's pretty good on the coffee machine already! Year 8 is meandering to its summer end and (according to every teacher I spoke to at parents evening) Rosie us doing great. Obvious comparisons to the golden girl that went before are always mentioned but good old Rosie is clearly making her mark as not Jenny v2

DG is working, lots. I can't keep track of the hours she does but, I've tried tackling the issue at the highest office in the educational land she lives in. Ms Morgan was simply thrilled to know that teachers are working bonus hours for no pay/reward. When DG isn't working she's running, lots. An amazing training build up to a successful completion of the London Marathon. What a day that was. We are all so proud of her. Many more events have been scheduled and we've both taken the plunge and re-entered the ballot for places next year.

Arm update. It's good, but it's not right. Been doing the physio as directed and by and by I'm ok now. No problem working (at work of round home) until I over reach for something and then ouch. Still can't lift too much, struggle to fully swing a driver, throw a ball and - as I found out the other day in the sea, swim. 1st dip at the end of May! The water has been particularly cold this spring.

Football? Oh Nodge - so many chances to hang on in there but in the end they got what they deserved. Expecting lots of changes over the summer and we go again in the Championship. Mystic me says we loose in the playoffs next May. Rosie and I will be there most games whatever the weather and i am missing the games already. Got the Euros starting on Friday and despite missing out on going for tickets, I will be going abroad to watch the games, on tv, in Malaga with Jen.

Weather. Just had a week off (half term) and it's been rubbish weather. Cold, grey, misty rainy and even more greyness. Signs in the last day or so that things are picking up but May was a month to forget. The garden is way behind normal, it's been too cold for the sea and the beach hut and for biking so come on sun, make an appearance please.

Journeys . In truth, I can't remember too much toing and froing since March other than the Marathon w/end and a trip to Leeds to watch the test match and spend time with Jen before emptying her stuff from halls.  DG has been away both the last  2 weekends so will enjoy a bit of time back home now. I have the Malaga trip to look forwards to and a tour of the North East in the summer along with another visit to Edinburgh. 

So that's what I can recall just now. Loads of stuff probably already forgotten and loads of stuff I will think I should have recorded, but maybe I'll just have to file more regular reports ( yeah right)

March 22 2016

Springtime in Norfolk. Lots to look forwards to (at last). Been back in the saddle for a few weeks now, long enough to relearn synicism about work (and moan about how much there is to do, how little I get paid, how rubbish some things are etc etc). I've never had a problem with hard work - or at least hitting targets and high demands. I play a juggling game with getting everything done without compromising home life. That usually means very early starts and late finishes but with plenty of me time in the middle. Work is particularly busy though I am not out of the dodgy shoulder woods yet. I am still under professional advice to "take things easy" but, to be fair, I am able to do most things now - with a few adjustments. I am back Parkrunning and have even started out on the bike again. That will ramp up with this weekend's hour change. March has been a continually cold month. With a predictably wet Easter holiday to come and go soon, I reckon I can start setting myself bigger targets for biking longer and further. Not that I am wishing time away. Really looking forwards to a long weekend at home with the girls. No proper football to watch and Jenny is working lots but it will be the 4 of us on our own for most of the time. Had a wonderful houseful last weekend with racing and rugby to the fore so it is important that I put the girls 1st for a while. Then there's the big build up to DGs London Marathon. Can't begin to tell everyone just how proud, amazed, impressed with how she has done as she trains towards the big day. I'll write more when she comes home with her well earned medal.

January 27 2016

Soon time to return to work

Since my last game of football, 11 August 2015 and subsequent spell on the bench, it's getting close to my little life getting back to near normality.

What with social/health/media commitments up till next Wednesday, today is (hopefully) the last time that Mrs H asks me what I plan to do with my day and all I can do is shrug my shoulders (good and bad) and tell her that I don't really know. 

I hate (hate? dislike intensely) wasting time. Being creative within the limitations imposed on me has been very difficult. There's so much I'd like to do, need to do, have to do and as my shoulder slowly recovers, I am more able to do, that any down time is, to me, an opportunity missed. 

I know that when I look back on the past 6 months I'll wonder what the heck I did with all this time away from work. Truth is, specially before Christmas and before the op, I was genuinely not feeling well enough to consider more constructive ways of filling my days. Lack of sleep, constant pain and some whacky pain relief led to little motivation and while I really enjoyed lengthy, slow walks along the coast and round the countryside closer to home, it was hardly "challenging". Now , as I build myself back up from the operation and with a renewed spring in my step, I can look forwards to more fulfilling days - albeit at the behest of my paymasters.

I'm kind of assuming I'll be given the green light to resume making lovely maps when I see my physio and doctor in the next few days. Recovery from surgery has gone well though I still gave quite restricted movement and very little strength in my right arm. I keep getting the sense of 3 steps forwards/2 steps back. I can run but I can't ride my bike, I can drive my car but I can't swim, I can scratch my nose but not the top of my head. 

Given a choice, it's not been the career break I would have chosen. I think I could quite happily fulfill my time given good health, just enough money and lovely Norfolk without ever having to work again, but then again, I guess everyone could do that.