Swimming day 416 - Tuesday 31st January 2012

Twins unwell Monday so not only I was unable to grab a swim, but I ended up skiving from work and staying at home to help Sharon.  I probably ended up taking more calls and answering more emails yesterday on my day off that I would usually do at the office of course, however that’s the life; living the dream as they say!!

This morning, with just a 1 degree air, I was tempted to head to the beach as I’ve not been in the sea since Thursday and a few days out really makes it harder to get back in so I don’t want to leave it much longer.  However I also needed to get some proper swimming in, so as planned I headed to Falmer and was in the outside pool by 7am.  I was planning an hour, but after 40 minutes I was done; my shoulder is hurting again and probably needs some physio and I think that along with a general cold and bad throat made 40 minutes enough today.  I will be at the gym after work with Ross for an hour as well, so not exactly a lazy day. 

Tomorrow definitely back to the beach; brrrr that will be cold as the air temp is expected to hit zero tomorrow morning.

The big news on the Starr Trust is not something I can blog about at the moment, aprart from to say I had a monster of a plan about 2 years ago which is all truth was so outlandish that it was either a complete impossibility or at least 10 years away at the earliest.  However recent developments, very random ones, has taken me one step closer to making it a reality.  Only a small step, but a step nevertheless.  Sometimes dreams can come true is you believe enough; who knows!!!

Swimming day 415 - Friday 27th January 2012

 

How exactly is one able to function with zero sleep; the body and the mind are incredible really that they allow us to continue.  Last night, after banishing Sharon to the spare room to get some sleep, I was faced with all three children.  Asher from 10.30pm with a very bad ear, Mia at 11.45pm feeling hot and unwell and Jesse at midnight just to not be left out.  By 3am, having taken Asher back and forth to my bed, his bed on my floor, his bed back in his room and so on, eventually Sharon came and got him and took him downstairs.  Throughout this time Mia was kept awake by all the comings and goings and she in turn was keeping Jesse awake.  By the time I got up exhausted at 6.50am I had had exactly zero sleep!  I probably should have skipped exercise, but the guilt in me got me up and drove me to Falmer for an hour in the outside pool.  In truth the hour was only about 40 minutes in the end as I did spend some time simply standing in the water and yawning. 

The swim was legs only today; flippers and a float and just up and down and up and down and up and down and up and down and yawn yawn yawn yawn………….

At the office now getting ready for a very interesting Starr Trust meeting that could be the biggest single development in the Trust since we started; very exciting - just need to stop yawning as that would be frightfully rude!!  Then it’s back to the office for normal work, then off to the Gym for an hour with Ross (might cancel that if the yawning continues!!)

Please children tonight give us a break!!!

Swimming day 413 - Thursday 26th January 2012

I’m not truly sure what I though about todays swim.  It was one of those bitty swims (if you are a Little Britain fan I don’t mean that type of Bitty!)  It was a very low tide so there was no great height until you walked out a long long way, it was windy and raining which meant that there was wave after wave, the tide was pulling to the west but not at any massive speed and the temperature was cold at about 6.2 degrees, but not as cold as it has been.  So you couldn’t really swim much and just standing around was simply cold and wet.  That aside, I was with Little Bob, Mike, Big Bob, Martina and Shoichi; which meant I was surrounded by some good fun people.  So kind of hard to say it was a good or not good start. 

As the tide will no doubt be low again tomorrow I’ll instead head to the pool and get another couple of hours in there on my leg kicking and general stamina.  It will no doubt make me realise that today in fact was rather pleasureable!

Swimming day 413 - Wednesday 25th January 2012

This morning I used the outside pool at Flamer rather than the sea; really need to keep this pool swimming going even though I don’t much like it.  I was in the pool by 7am, all alone I should add, and swam for 90 minutes.  Over that time I was joined by maybe six people on and off, but basically I had the pool to myself – quite a treat.  I still find the outside pool a bit too warm at 20 degrees, but it’s way way better than the 28 degree inside pool!  I spent the first hour just on gentle lengths and then the last hour just on kicking up and down the pool.  Bloomin tiring to just kick for half an hour, especially that time of the morning having had little sleep, no food and no drink; but no-one said this would be easy!!

Tomorrow back in the sea for a short cold shocking more enjoyable start to the day!

Swimming day 412 - Tuesday 24th January 2012

A beautiful sea this morning; flat as a pancake with a gentleish tide pulling to the east.  Unfortunately it was bloomin cold at 5.2 degrees and it was raining that spitty cold rain that goes right into your skin. 

Bob and I did the same swim as yesterday, but lasted a whole minute longer at 14 minutes; who knows we might even make 15 minutes soon!!!

Afterwards I literally had to run as I had to be in London for an early meeting.  I got to the meeting thankfully on time, however took with me the chill from the morning and spent most of the meeting feeling rather colder than those I was meeting! 

This afternoon after work it’s in the gym for an hour, in the pool for half an hour and then an evening meal with the Governor of the Bank of England; seriously! I hope he picks up the tab!!!

Swimming day 411 - Monday 23rd January 2012

A nice weekend, lots of fun kiddie time and Sharon‘s concerts now done (she was fab of course!).

This morning (waking up in the spare room as ever!) it was dry and still out there, albeit dark and cold.  Down at the arch it was the usual magnificent seven and at last an unusually flat and calm sea.  Bog Bob and I headed out to the pier, under and back and then off to the groin the other side.  A total swim of 13 minutes, which in 5.2 degrees it pretty good going.  Apart form the extreme pain in my face for the first few minutes it was a good strong swim and a good start to the week. 

No more exercise today, but some strong gym, running, pool and sea this week for sure.

On the relay; the team have our first official meet on 7^th Feb which is great as the weeks will now start to fly by.

Swimming day 410 - Friday 20th January 2012

A short swim this morning; in fact not a swim at all, just a short soaking.  The wind was up once again which meant a trip to the girly beach.  Just the usual seven of us (seems to be that way at the moment).  Big Bob and Mike went straight in, but the time it took me to pull down my goggles and join them made a massive difference; the milliseconds was enough for the sea to produce some monsters again.  It never fails to amaze me that the sea can change its mood in a millisecond; I am sure in my youth I dated a few girls who did just the same.

As it was I was left standing on the beach with the others just trying to find a way in and not succeeding; however that didn’t keep me dry as the waves somehow kept finding me.  Every time I turned my back a wave came at me, it was almost like a game that the sea had invested – Rob’s the moving duck, le’s see if we can shoot him!

Having seen Bob and Mike safely exit the sea, it was a quick shower for me and then in the car and up to Middlesex for the long day of meetings.  Then back to Brighton for 5.30pm and straight to the gym for an hour with Ross, then half hour in the pool, then dash home for just after 7pm so Sharon can go out as she is rehearsing tonight. 

No rest for the very wicked it seems.