13 November 2023

 1. What have I been up to since end of Aug?

2. What have the girls been up to?

3. What’s to look forwards to

1. So since my last post.....  I have now finished/retired again from working, totally! It was good - good for me - to work part time for the last 6 months. Brought structure to my time and a welcome boost to the bank account. As mentioned before, it was starting to really affect my back and it was clear I had to stop and (touch wood) my back has been pain free since finishing the intense ground work. The deliveries were fun but Cel at Forever Green clearly needed help to do what I was now not able to do. An unfortunate misplacement of an expensive order for plants made things awkward towards the end of my time there but still I am proud of what I did.

Now I am back to my 7 day long weekends, I am really enjoying having all these days to do pretty much what the heck I like. I’ve been walking miles and miles. Some old favourites are repeated (Felbrigg/Overstrand/Wells). My wobbly knees and ankles have been behaving and I’ve gone back to the odd short runs, including notching up 250 Parkruns, at last.  A sore shoulder has stopped cycling for about a month and sea swimming stopped at the end of October. 

Had a great couple of days with Simon and Richard in Winchester and an even better visit to Rosie in Cardiff in early October. The garden has slowed to a manageable level tough there’s always something to do. Had a couple of home wins recently too (not football), surprisingly quickly getting our tank emptied and also getting our hot water working again. Got a good stack of logs in for winter and there’s also a reasonable amount of oil to see us through  

The football had been very disappointing after the promising start to the season. Sadly seems likely that Mr Wagner may have to fall on his sword

2. The girls have been very busy. Jenny has just got back from her Far East adventure. She’s packed in loads in the last 3 months, all over Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia. I’ve collated her photos on to YouTube and will share a link on here when she says it’s ok. Tomorrow she goes back to work - that must be quite daunting - but she always knew it was going to happen. Rosie spent a few weeks working for The Welsh Govt in August before spending a few weeks in Portugal and then back to Uni for year3. She’s on her way back to Cardiff right now after spending the weekend here with us. It was lovely to see her.  Debsie is still recalling from a school trip to 10 Downing Street last week, including chatting to the PM, She’s now prepping for what may well be her last ever ofsted inspection over the next few days. She will be shattered

3. What’s to look forwards to?

Christmas - hope that the 4 of us will be together. 

Sophie’s wedding on 23/12. 

Jenny to visit next weekend with all her stories of where she’s been

Still got a lot of the football season, and I will turn 60 in January. Nothing too grand planned (January birthdays are rubbish), but I’m fully ready to embrace it. Not sure I will do the pink-trousers-in-Holt that most old hits round here do.

August 31st 2023

 another bunch of months have gone since posting on here - no surprise 

So what’s been going on since Easter? Strange how time seems to fly by on a day to day basis - summer has come and (after today) gone, in a flash, nut I’m scratching my head to recall what’s gone on.  It certainly hasn’t been a long hot summer, more a mix of cool dry spells then warm/wet/windy weeks. The garden is only just now barring fruit - toms- the grass is greener and longer than ever and the apple trees are sparse. 

Norwich’s season did peter out into a waste of time and money but this season has started ver6 well. Amazed that Luton have finally made it back to the Prem. The Ashes ended in a draw and women’s cricket has really taken off (went to an Ashes T20 with Jen and Billy)

I did indeed start working at the flower farm. Bloody hard work - it has caught up with me and buggered my back to the point where I can’t carry on, so from today I am a flower delivery guy only, for about 3hrs a week. I’ve struggled with various joint issues again, from sore knee to achy back and now a sore ankle again.will think of other money making scams soon.

Had a good few days in the Lakes with Simon Richard and Graham in May after a lovely Barningham 10k , kept up a modest amount of cycling and swam in the sea most days, so not all bad

Just back from a welcome blast of heat in Crete with DG. A very relaxing break on old ground.

Deb is running loads, prepping for Gt NthRun in 2 weeks, working all the hours at school, but maybe for not much longer. Rosie has been home from a May till last week, before working for Welsh Govt and now on her way to Portugal with Owen for a holiday before 3rd year at Cardiff starts. As for Jen? She is at last doing her gap break from work, currently heading for Chang Mai. An amazing 3 month adventure.

April 17th 2023

 2023 speeding past. Can't believe its mid April already.

So what's been going on since January?

Globally - still a needless war going on in Ukraine. Be interesting to hear from Bessingham's Ukrainian family, how their Easter trip to Kiev has gone and if they have any thoughts on going back.

Covid is barely mentioned anymore though I managed to test positive about 3 weeks ago. Had a stinky cold for a few days that keeps rearing its head, but I don't feel too bad.

Dear old Norwich are doing their best to avoid getting into the playoffs despite all the teams around them doing the same. I think it would be awful now if they were to get to play off final and promotion. It would be a bigger car crash than the previous 2 seasons in the Prem

Feb/March were difficult months in that winter seemed to drag. Endless cold dark days, lots of rain - no snow though. Great to have Rosie home for Easter and we had a lovely day with the girls in London earlier in March. DG and jenny have just come back from a Caribbean cruise with Chris and then Jen went off to run Manchester Marathon in about 4:30.

My biggest change is that I've decided to commit to something after all. I've taken on a part time job at Forever Green, helping produce flowers for local florists and delivering to  the good people of North Norfolk.

Other than Covid, health wise, keeping fingers crossed that all is well. The job will test knee. ankle and back but it will be good to earn a few quid again and the fresh air and sunshine will be welcome.  

January 27th 2023

 So

A whole year into retirement - a whole year and 2 days. Still getting asked very frequently "so how's retirement?" and despite the flippant "yeah it's great", there's not a straightforward answer.

I am loving it, don't miss work at all, have very few pangs to be out and about working again - very proud of what I did, still fond of lots of folk who I worked with, that are still there etc but to have time for me, lots of time, is wonderful.

I've thought about maybe dipping my toe into doing a bit of paid work to help things along at home (and maybe that will be necessary - and maybe the ideal opportunity will arise) but I already feel that I don't want to commit to any days away from my meanderings round here. I guess if I was kicking my heals and watching TV all day then working would be a far better use of my time, but daily fulfilment isn't a problem. Even through my 1st full winter of dark nights and cold days, there's been very little down time - despite rolling my ankle before Christmas and only just back up to walking without pain.

As the daylight increases each day, there's so much to be getting on with. I guess winter will still come back and bite me on the bum, but here's to brighter days

Quick update on family. Jen flies to KL today for a two week explore before a few months travelling later this year. Rosie is smashing Cardiff. Can't wait till DG and I go and visit in Feb 1/2 term

January 3rd 2023

 Well - my plan to revise this blog more often hasn't quite gone to plan, though the start of a new year is not a bad time to reflect on what I/we have been up to since last June

It's been a lovely Christmas and New Year. Intentionally quiet but having both girls home for a while was more than I could have wished for. Some of the usual festive events, some quiet days, a bit of running around, but nearly all exactly as desired. My annual "shopping" trip with Simon and Richard (and JB) changed to Borough Market area and was lovely - good old beer up. OS festive do felt a little flat despite now being on the other side and among the ex-OS lot. I'd been carrying a cold since October time and just not really feeling too festive - but good to catch up with some not seen since pre-pandemic years. I still feel part of the current OS Norfolk lot and plan to meet up with them reasonably regularly again. Rosie came home around 18th Dec and is still home till 9th Jan. She is very happy with her lot in Cardiff and Owen came to stay with us through the New Year. Jenny was home 22nd - 30th. Happy resting, knitting, running and swimming - we all did the Boxing day dip this year - brilliant. Me being a silly arse, sprained/twisted my ankle a couple of weeks ago so have hobbled painfully through till now. Will need another week or so to rest up and recover before running again. DG really embraced time away from work. Plenty of rest with added running, lots of football and happy to be with the girls. Throw in a visit from Jim and Hayley with nieces and partners and lovely Molly - then a day later Graham's lot for the day, it really has been a good way to end the year

I couldn't be more proud of my girls just now. Still sad (for me) that Jen and Jack went their own way but fully understand. Jenny is going to have the most amazing year this year with her travel plans along with loving being with some really good friends in Finsbury Park. At last she will be doing what she wants to do. Rosie has thrown herself into Uni life in Cardiff and clearly loves it there. Owen is a lovely lad, an absolute bonus on top of really enjoying living way out west, to the point she seems happy to make it her home when the studying is done. In my heart Jenny and Rosie will both be living near by here in North Norfolk but their path to happiness shouldn't rely on what their silly old dad wants and I support them 100% in whatever they choose to do

The football will hopefully drag them back to Norfolk occasionally, that and my amazing culinary skills, lovely coast and beautiful countryside. However, Norwich City aren't being very appealing just now. Currently on an awful run of form and awaiting a new manager to get things going again. DG loves having her own season ticket and we still love going to the games. I'm taking our Bessingham Ukrainian family to the match this weekend coming. Hope they don't mind! Sally has been hosting them at the other Barn Cottage.  A very noble thing to do for a lovely family, though I wish it wasn't necessary at all. I don't see an end in sight to the needless Russian attacks on Ukraine though maybe common sense will prevail and Violetta and the boys can be reunited with their dad later this year

My retirement is always the 1st thing anyone mentions when I see them - "how's retirement going?" - which is fair enough as I made the decision to go earlier than maybe I would have and while I haven't thrown myself into charity work or volunteering or other paid work, I am having a really enjoyable time. Those who know me will know that I'm not very good at lazing about, watching telly all day so try and fill my days with plenty of activity - be it round the house, wandering along the coast, photographing everything, cycling, swimming, cooking, occasionally running - and occasionally resting. I do feel fulfilled. I've helped some friends do some building work on their new house, I've helped our Ukrainian friends with school runs and the like and I went big on selling plants out front of Barn Cottage - plants raised in the polly tunnel (way too many tomato plants but who cares?). Raised around £300 for the DEC Ukraine appeal. Maybe this year I will take on a bit of paid work or do some voluntary stuff but I have enjoyed not committing to too much other than my weekly bike rides with Roger, Andrew and Philip

I did spend a lot of my summer on the beach in Comer - with temperatures rising to 40 it was the best place to be - and probably the only place where I truly relax. I've had a few folk say that they saw me there, but I was asleep. Lovely

So to 2023. A strange year in that no one seems to have any money - things are tighter round here than expected, hence the thought of maybe earning a few quid. The unknown of  how the Ukrain situation will end. A horrible uncaring government with a revolving door of PM's and other senior folk - that won't change till the next general election. A health service on its arse, lots of strikes and at the moment, warmer weather seems months away. DG and I will return to Crete in August. Last went there in about 1989. DG and Jen have a fancy Caribbean cruise planned before Jen sets off to who knows where. Rosie has taken to bargain trips abroad (Barcelona in 2 weeks time). I have little planned so far other than a trip to Cardiff and The Lakes but that will change, though if I have to spend every day round here, that will be just fine.

Hopefully my ankle will allow me to get back up to full speed again soon. I was doing ok for a while in December - did the Holkham Beach 5 mile run in an ok time. I may enter the Norwich 10k to give myself a target but it would be great to think I could run a lot more Parkruns this year than I managed in 2022. As ever at this new year time I think to myself that I really should loose some weight (weighed in at 15stone 5lbs this morning - about the same as I have been for 10 years or more), cut down on the booze a bit - dry Mondays may become dry Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays and eat more healthily (portion control Jeremy). Having written those things here may make me more likely to stick at them - so will report back on my next post.

That'll do for now. Time to take down the dec's

June 8th 2022

So, now a bit of time has passed and things have settled down, its time to tke stock of what "retirement" entails

Since my March update I have learnt that I'm not on an extended work break. My time is my time - I can really do what I want (within reason) and that feels great. Speaking with similarly long standing colleagues, the cynicism has become overwhelming and seems there's a lot of unhappy bunnies at the workplace just now. OS has lost it's way with how it treats it's staff and really isn't listening to those at the coal face.

I wrote to the CEO to explain my upset at not hearing ANYTHING official from them despite 37+ yrs there. A crappy apology and an acknowledgement that they could have handled things better was about it.

I really should let it go but I do feel sorry for so many friends that are in the difficult time of wanting to finish but maybe need another 2-3 yrs to get finances right.

Finance is starting to weigh on my mind as things move forward. Cost of everything is spiralling eg diesel now nearly £2/litre - was as low as about £1.10  during pandemic. My electric bill was nearly £200 last month and only £70 for same period last year. I'm not too proud or lazy or stubborn to have to go out and earn a few quid if needed though I'd like to think I shouldn't have to

My/our problems are in truth rather small compared to many who are struggling to get by and it's desperately sad that violence in central Europe seems to be ongoing with such a needless conflict affecting so many people. That on top of being governed by a lying useless buffoon makes the future a little bleak

But - summer's on the way (it's raining just now), the sea is warming up. Rosie is soon to be home for a few months and Jenny seems happy, which makes me happy. Malaga was a lovely trip even if the weather was bit rough. Can't see us having another lavish family hols for a while together but there's plenty of other good things on the calendar to look forwards to. DG will now be counting down the days to the end of term. Time will fly by no doubt and it won't seem too long till she's able to make the same decision that I did earlier this year

I'm spending many hours in the garden - my polytunnel - a surprisingly good purchase - has been great and we should soon be able to feed the whole district as long as they like tomatoes and chillies. The weekly rides, the sea swims, fishing, walking and still watching loads of football. I'm a lucky boy 

14.3.22 Getting into this retirement lark

About 7 weeks have gone by since I hung up my map case. Still feels like I’m on some sort of sabbatical though the thoughts of the daily grind are dissipating slowly. I’m truly not missing work at all - I thought I would, but the freedom to choose how I spend my time has been fantastically liberating. I have limits, particularly financial, but also not wanting to do too much without DG. She’s supported my decision to finish, every step of the way and though many have asked if I will be off travelling or buying motorbikes etc, I am more than happy to wait till we can go exploring together. I am also very happy pottering around here. Can’t wait for some warmer, sunnier days and get to the beach - that will be my extravagance for the time being.

I’ve managed to up my exercise regime - back running fairly regularly (4 consecutive Parkruns is a good sign), lots of walks and now with added cycling with my Bessingham chums - a lovely unexpected addition to my time.

Been great to have seen the girls over the last week or so. Rosie is home on a long weekend just now and Jenny was here last weekend. Jen starts her new career today and we are so proud of her. Not long till we are all together for a trip to Malaga and hopefully home for Easter. 

With the awful awful things going on in Ukraine just now, family and Norfolk and happiness and hope are so important. I wish the atrocities would end now - there's absolutely no need for the violence. Coming through two very worrying Covid years, straight into a dreadful war in Europe makes you wonder where it will all end.

Maybe the futility of this aggression will ultimately bring the world family closer together and compassion will win through  

Retirement. End of week 2

“So, how are you finding retirement?”

Heard this  so many times in the few short days since I finished. Not surprised -  and I guess I’d be asking the exact same thing. Truth is, I can’t really say yet. Still feels like I’ve taken a few days off to get stuff done around home. I’m rattling through jobs that I’ve been putting off for years but then there’s months and months of similar things to attend to that will keep me busy.

I noticed yesterday that, having decided that it was a gardening day, a couple of hours is more than enough. But then there was still time to go for a run, pop to the shops, read for a while....... just like a normal Sunday may have been. Time is what I wanted above all else and I reckon I’ve got that.

I’ve hardly thought about work at all. A little bit of guilt when wandering around Cromer on a bright morning when I’d probably be on a building site but not missing management directives, emails, Teams meets etc.

Be interesting to see how we manage financially now that everything is rocketing up. I’ve said to many folk that, if needed, I’ll happily go and earn a few £££, but I’d really rather not. Needs must.

January 21st 2022

 Another bright breezy Norfolk winters day. 

I’m officially on leave today but I am also now no longer a working man.  I ceremonially switched off my Dell pen tablet ( my workhorse) for the last time yesterday.

40 years work. Done.

If I count the days at Braggers Sports&Social club, where I started sorting bottles into crates at the age of 8 (20p/hour), that’s 50 years at work. Clearly working at OS has been my life. A very interesting job for a quintessentially British thing. Almost everyone I tell about what I do/did expresses an interest in our maps. It’s been a great way to earn £££ and from the get go, I never wanted to work indoors. A strangely solitary profession but wholly reliable on interacting with the great unwashed, I think it’s been perfect for me - happy to be busy on my own, happy to have the interface with people who, by and by, benefit from what I produce. Not many folk have every thing they create, everyday, published and bought.

Towards the end of my time at OS, I sensed I was becoming somewhat cynical of the way we were being managed. I strongly believe that this cynicism was born out of experience. Too many rubbish pay awards and an overall downgrade of work conditions for no apparent reason have tarnished the last few years. Maybe these thoughts have been enhanced by my departure. Without doubt I am immensely proud of my work and proud of OS maps and the rose tinted specs will get rosier as time passes.

A lifetime of friendships, a lifetime of getting by with some you’d rather not and a lifetime of measuring things. Strange what people do to earn a living.

 New Year. New me

How many good intentions have I had in the last 57 years?  Off to the physio this morning to look at a year long left shoulder injury. It’s kind of ok now - there’s permanent damage but now nearly pain free.  I’d love to be up and running again but have had a nagging foot injury since tripping up in October while surveying Overstrand cliffs. It’s another “flares up occasionally” injury which has kept me hobbling since Boxing Day.  Haven’t done a Parkrun since mid December. All 4 of us got a mild Covid setback - I’ve had a head cold since about 18th December.

Just a few working days left till I retire and Plan A is to get properly active. Mainly walking but hopefully running and biking a lot. Being about 2 stone lighter would probably help everything, specially my varied aching joints, so maybe shedding a few lbs should be plan B.  Having excess time on my hands and a bit of a hit on the finances will be an interesting incentive.

DG started back at school this morning. Martham is quite a trip from here and she’s doing what I used to do many years ago ie getting up really early to face a long drive to work. I reckon in my Harlow days, I’d be on the road about 6:15. 

Rosie took the long bus trip back to Cardiff yesterday. She’s had a mixed Christmas holiday.  Lots of work to do, covid, the odd social and lots of rest. She can sleep for England. So proud of her and the way she’s settled in to Uni life. Made some proper lifelong friends already.

We still have Jen home on her extended Christmas break. Since picking her up from Kings Avenue on 14th December, feeling lousy, she’s been able to carry on working from here. Her running has been brilliant. More, longer, faster runs. Clearly something she loves.  Even on the prom in Cromer last night with the waves overtopping.  Pleased she was able to spend some time with Jack in GY and see his new house.

We are all a bit peeved with Nodge at the moment. Another wasted season chasing the hope of being a Premier League team. Quickly becoming a nomad team - not good enough at this level, too good for the Championship. Not sure what I really want from them - I don’t ever expect that there’d be enough money for them to compete in the Prem, but it’s good fun winning a league every other year.

That’ll do for now. Got the excitement of our sceptic tank being emptied this morning. Oh the joys of Country Life.

 Jan 3rd 2022

Funny how you forget about the things you did. I was thinking of finding a suitable place to diarise what I get up to in the next few years and remembered that I'd occasionally add to these pages.

Can't believe that its been nearly 6 years since I posted anything. The main reason for picking this up again is that, in 22 days time, I retire from OS/Civil Service after 40 years (nearly 40 years), and will have a lot of spare time to do pretty much what the heck I like (within reason and £££ limits)

I'll write a bit about what's happened in the intervening years and what I have planed with my new found "man of leisure status" as time permits, but, simply finding this old blog has been like finding an old friend. I'll need to read some of the old posts to remind me of where I left things though I guess the headlines would be

Jenny graduated with a 1st at Leeds and now works/lives in that London

Rosie is in her 1st year in Cariff, dodging stringent Welsh lockdowns

DG is Deputy Head at Martham and I'm about to hang my hat up.

Still happily in Barn Cottage and no great rush to change that

We all succumbed to Covid over Christmas but none too poorly

Here's to a (hopefully) interesting few years ahead, with the occasional update here

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.

December 16th 2015

Sitting in the car park of Rosie's netball club on a ridiculously warm December evening. I was thinking back to Dads n Lads camping in early September where the evening must have been near to freezing with a bitter wind blowing. It's currently 14* ! Let it snow?

I'm on the cusp of having my shoulder operated on. Not particularly looking forwards to that but looking forwards to getting better as we move into 2016. I've never had an op, never been anesthetised. I'm guessing I'll be feeling pretty groggy over the Christmas holiday but I really need to get my brain and my heart back in gear. I've not been sat at home in front of the telly since Aug 11th when I made that glorious save (fell over when the full back bumped into me). Lack of sleep and lack of right armery has been my downfall. There's hardly a footpath within a 10 mile radius of home that I haven't walk along but it's all down time till I can lace up my trainers again or plug in my GPS kit at work. Really looking forwards to reintroducing my bum to my bike saddle too.

It's been tricky looking forwards to Christmas too, what with a visit to hospital between now and then. I've always loved knocking up the festive feast for the family but it is out of my hands this year so I'll have to embrace it and enjoy someone else doing all the work for a change. Having Jenny home to help Ms G on the pots and pans will be great. Jen came back from Leeds just a couple of days ago but has thrown herself into work. Money is the motivation for that as Uni life has obviously put a massive dent in her bank balance.

Tomorrow marks my annual "shopping trip" to London where I meet up with top lads Simon and Richard. My oldest work buddies.  We've been scouring the streets of London every year for 20+ Christmases and it always starts and ends in a pub. Fortunately all the presents have been bought, wrapped and placed under the tree already so I can wallow in beer all day!

It'll be my 1st Christmas since mum passed away. Above anyone I know, mum loved Christmas. She used to love it when we'd decend on her for lunch and she loved doing the cards, the shopping, the carols, the telly and decorating the place. Her last Christmas was awful for her and all of us. It was so sad she didn't get one last hurrah, but in truth she'd been too unwell to enjoy things as much for a number of years. I shall go and spend some time on the cliffs looking out to sea, where we laid some of her ashes, on Christmas morning and probably shed a tear or two.

Seasons greetings to the world, specially Jim and the Sawtry girls. Jim usually reads my whafflings here, which I mostly write in lieu of being bothered to write a diary and he's good enough to give me gentle positive nudges when things look a bit bleaker from my side of the keyboard.

2016, I'm coming to get you

November 29 2015

Crushed by the wheels of government

My shoulder injury continues to consume my thoughts and my time and my patience though as I write I am at a very important part of the story. 

I have been offered an operation to rectify things though that may not be till the end of Feb or maybe March or maybe not even then if the bed space gets critical and ops are pulled. The potential for this would mean not being able to do my job till late April - getting on for nine months since the injury happened on the playing fields of Gresham. How can this be? Well, in my mind it's simply a case of massive underfunding of a Public Health Service. I don't/can't blame the medics, doctors or nurses I've seen to date. Their hands are tied, their funding is negledgeable  for the tasks they are expected to perform and they are in an invidious position to offer anything better. 

This week I'm tasked to explore every possible avenue to expedite things. I've learnt to live with my incapacity rather well I think - to the point where, by day, I seem to be able to get on with day to day tasks, albeit in a spot of discomfort and not taking on anything too testing, but I still find the night time very uncomfortable. My fancy new fitness tracking device told me that in my sleep last night, I woke up 15 times. That can't be good.

While I've never been a renowned sleeper - I genuinely can't remember the last time I was still asleep past 7:30am - I am looking forwards to returning to comfortable nights sleeps again. 

There maybe some more positive outcome news in the next few days, but that's down to me and a little help from my friends. 

 Jez

Nov 16 2015

Interesting little chats with Rosie after the awful awful goings on in Paris on Friday. We've done religion, prospect of terrorists in London, prospects of terrorists landing on the beach in Sheringham and even all out WW3. I guess that, whoever is ultimately responsible for the cowardly attacks, is kind of hoping that such fears are being sewn in the minds of the western world. 

In truth I have no answers for Rosie, other than my genuine/foolish idea that everyone should get together for a game of cricket, have a nice cup of tea and have a chat about why we're not getting on so well. It's better than shooting innocent people or dropping bombs.

Not that I'd be on the cricket team just now. Hopefully I'll have some better news later this week about operations and the likely hood of actually going back to work.

Starting to get very frustrated about my inability to do things. I keep thinking that my days could be spent doing much more constructive "stuff", then I tweak my shoulder and realise most constructive things are out of the question. Eg - yesterday I got the leaf rake out to clear the front garden of next doors oak leaves and I simply can't do the job. Hardly the forefront of pushing the boundaries but it's damned annoying. I don't suppose my injury is any worse than it was in Aug but there's a cumulative lack of sleep and continual nagging pain that makes it feel like things have been getting slightly worse day by day.

Going to start getting the peloton together for next summers big ride in the next few days - that should give me a bit of a target to return to normal fitness!