Wednesday 30 December 2015

Wedding anniversary

As with every other year J and I both forgot. Thankfully I remembered first around 3pm and so I carry the goodwill credits into the new year.

I have a tonne of admin and managed to get through a fair bit before heading to the gym downstairs at lunchtime. Instinctively I ramped up to 4 minute ks and left it at that for 40 minutes. Felt average but thank goodness the hammy was fine.

Then early evening I met J and Tommy on Regents Street, London is majestic this time of year. I literally cannot remember the last time it was just the three of us and was like being out with my mates. There was one funny episode when we all legged it to the bus stop just as the bus left only for us to peg it back again by the second stop on route back to Victoria. Tommy won the sprints on both occasions.

Tommy was 6 weeks old when we got married in 2003 and so seemed only right that it was just him again when we snuck in a couple of pints at the Shortlands Tavern on the way home.

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Back on it

Work today so ambled down to gym at lunch to try out the hammy. 4.48s for 65 minutes is where I settled, nothing quicker.  13ish ks. Thank god.

Monday 28 December 2015

Peckham

Stunning winters day with boys playing in shorts and tees. Go figure. Nipped into Bromley with younger two then Palace with the big Tom followed by Stevie's party in Peckham.

Palace were average today with injuries taking their toll and could only muster a 0 - 0 draw at home to Swansea. Gilt edged chances missed by Bamford and Zaha. They need to break the bank to keep Bolasie. No coincidence that no goals in last two games with him out injured. Incredible stat that our forwards have contributed the grand total of one goal and we are still 5th!

Day #8 of enforced rest.

Sunday 27 December 2015

Just the 6 of us

Jeff left today and we all just hung out. Proper family time.

Day #7 of imposed rest. Hammy is 30% better but not yet ready. Had some more acupuncture with my Chinese doctor.

The Force has been awakened

In true uncle Jeff form he surprised the boys with Star Wars tickets. It was bloody excellent.

Day #6 of imposed rest.

Christmas at mum and dads

Up real early for boys to smash open their pressies. Then straight back to bed. Rolled back out at midday.

Headed over to my mums and dads with my Sis, Paul, my Bro, Tirana all the grandchildren plus Tirana's mum and uncle Jeff. Jacqui's gynormous turkey was the best I have ever had. 

Nice day with extended family time. I am always super quiet over Christmas, always been like that. Day #5 of self imposed rest. Hammy fractionally better.

Thursday 24 December 2015

Christmas Eve

Took the whole family into the office so that they can see where I have been for the last 12 months and to prove that have not been making it up. For me it's always a nice way to close out the year.

Uncle J arrived this evening.

The hammy is still super sore and have left the strapping on. Hoping it's a 3 week thing and not anything more otherwise my April plans are dashed.

Boys are growing up.

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Injured

Hammy now too sore to walk. Not the Christmas pressie I was wanting. 

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Hitting the wall

Today was a case of accepting that I had nothing more to give. After a gruelling year I am officially worn out. Had planned to run home and test the gluet but am simply done for. I cannot ever remembering feeling so mentally and physically fatigued.  Physical fatigue is something I have been able to deal with but overlaying that with mental exhaustion is trying.

Nothing much of note today other than team lunch and more grenades to catch.

Need to take it easy over Christmas. Notwithstanding the general tightness on right side the gluet is much better thanks mostly to yesterday's massage.

It is rediculously mild in London:

Monday 21 December 2015

Down and out

Still busy at work and hammy still sore. Not a good combo in Christmas week. Next year I really must take this week off.

Got a massage at lunch. Feels a touch better but not in good spirits.

Let Father Christmas please being me a new bill of health.

* The 3 big boys at my mum and dads to see Cats in the West end. Just having Ryder is almost enjoyable :)

Sunday 20 December 2015

Right gluet (80k for week / 35 @4minks)

After all the boozing the body is creaking. I rolled out of bed to jog the block to meet Messi. I knew I was struggling after 400 meters. At 14k I even had to stop with the right gluet pinching my hammy. Managed 17ks in the end around Norman Park and no way near the 25 I was hoping for.

Got home and jumped in the car to Bromley to get me some acupuncture which has helped a little followed by 2 viscously hot baths.

Melissa and the kids (another old Manly family) said their farewells this afternoon. She has fighting spirit in a horribly tough situation. Admirable is an understatement.

Jacqui's cheesecake. Amazing.

Saturday 19 December 2015

Lottery

Decidedly groggy this morning. Ryder was at my mum and dads last night with his cousin Freddie (for Gruffalo concert) and the house seemed very quiet. Packed the boys off on their bikes and J and I went to grab coffee.
We stopped into see my old mate Latesh who told his unbelievable lottery story.

Last week one of his regular old boys came into the shop and whispered in his ear that 'he had cracked it' (he had the winning Lotto numbers). Latesh sent him home to recheck with his Mrs to be on the safe side. 2 hours later he came back and whispered again that 'he had cracked it!'. Latesh has seen this 80 year old gent every day for the best part of 40 years and for the last 20 years he has religiously bought his weekly lottery ticket. Then all of a sudden he disappears. 2 weeks go by and then today the National Lottery company came by and presented him with the winning certificate for his shop. Turns out the old bugger won £5.7m (about 200 million aussie using current rates!!). Latesh is still none the wiser if he is ok - and hopes he did not have a heart attack. 

Managed a hungover 10k in the late arvo and then as soon as I got home I checked the footie scores. The pre-game ritual of sticking Timmy's Stoke dvds in the bin worked!!!! 29 points after 17 games. Champions League here we come. 

And no better club to support evidenced by Pardew out drinking with the Palace fans after last week's win. Tell me where else does that happen? 

Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew

Friday 18 December 2015

Black eye Friday with Jeremy

They call this back eye Friday in the UK. When people bash each other ahead of Christmas.

Out with Jeremy. I have not caught up with him for months. Basically drank wheat beer after wheat beer in Covent Garden. Then stumbled out to get UBER home. I love fact that I have not seen this guy properly for months but because I have known him for 30+ years it does not matter. He is in a good space as always.

Managed 7k at lunch. 5k at 4minks then 2 @3.29.

Worn out from a truly crazy year on all fronts.

Pic from UBER on way home at 1am of family (incl boys the age of my lot) eating fried chicken.  Only in South London.

Thursday 17 December 2015

Crawling to Chrimbo

Standard day in office but found a window at 2.30 so legged it downstairs to the gym. I literally had 50 mins to get back to my desk so hammered out 5 x 3.38 ks and then 2 k jog followed by another 3k at 3.38s. Got back to my desk drenched. Left adductor still really tight but has loosened a little with stretching. I have been meaning to go see my Chinese needles man (acupuncturist) but had zero time.

* The ginger shots sorted my cold out. It is incredible stuff.
** Work is relentless.
*** Boys are hanging for Christmas. Jeff their uncle (J's kid bro) has bought us tickets for Star Wars on Boxing day. I am a little excited.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Left side

Left side still sore but ran at lunch. More sore than yesterday.  An easy 35 mins in 4.08s. Last night with the Letchfords before they leave for Switzerland in the morning. Ryder in morning.

Monday 14 December 2015

Double

Lunch 10ks at 3.45 and then ran the 17k home in 4.15s. Nigh on 27ks for the day at a clip just over 4 min ks. After my kop out yesterday it was my substitute long run.

Left hip and left side of groin a little tight.

Sunday 13 December 2015

Letchfords

Up late and then ran to Jack's game. It was the best he has played for a little while. Lots of dribbling and scored sweet free kick. But they lost 4.3. 11ks in 4.30s.

The Letchfords arrived in the afternoon from Australia, one of the Manly families where we lived in Sydney. Great to see them.

Saturday 12 December 2015

Super Saturday

Another huge day.
1. Park Run. @2 place in c.17.50. 2 very muddy sections. Pleased with that. Simon Fox who ran 240 at London last year was 10m in front.
2. Christmas shopping (and x4 haircuts for boys) with all 6 of us.
3. Palace vs Southampton with Lukie. Bolasie on fire. He is my favourite player by a country mile and was unplayable. He always plays with a smile on his face. Was a really nice afternoon with all of the Highfield school dads and boys (pic of boys below). Had a few beers in the season ticket holder bar 'Crystals' before game with Graham and the other dads. 
4. Mia's 40th family dinner at pizzeria with all siblings, mum and dad and all grandchildren. More beer and wine...
5. Jeremy's Christmas party in Peckham. Everything started getting a little hazy at midnight.

Exhausted.

Messi keen to run long in the morning. Will need to skip.