Getting old

Us 40 year olds suffer from our health don't you know?!

I was back from Venice 2 days before getting a killer migraine.  It meant I was in bed all day Wednesday and most of Thursday.  Today I am just a bit bluuurrrgghh, but did some work all the same.  Aren't I good to my employer!?

I have just got back from the knee Consultant (though  I assume he has a far more interesting title) and he says that I do not have a torn cartilage or tendons, which is good news.  I appears that the fatty tissues in the knee are getting trapped in the moving parts and he suggested a steroid injection then and there which I immediately chickened out of.  So I need to take even more inflammatory pills and ice the knee for a couple of weeks.  If that doesn't work, it's needle time.  My mum has had it done and has just told me that it hurts - that didn't help.

Falling apart

Good news

The dentist saw me at short notice after 2 teeth crumbled to bits.

Bad news

I need 3 fillings and maybe root canal work and have wait a month to go through the pain.

Good news

I completed my first 10k run 2 weeks ago.

Bad news

I ****ed my knee up and had to see my doctor this week and he wants me to have an MRI scan.

Good news

I have private medical cover through my employer.

Bad news

There is a delay as I have to see a consultant before having the scan and the excess on the medical plan is £100.

Good news

My latest salary has gone up due to a reduction in my car tax after getting my new car.

Bad news

The excess payment wipes out the gain this month.

1:00.31

So I have achieved something today... my very first 10k race!

It was actually far more difficult that I thought it would be. Running in the morning is not something I enjoy and I had little energy despite boosting the Lucazade profits today. I was struggling (not helped by being unable to train due to shin splints for the past 2 weeks), but was doing a respectable speed until the 6km mark, my left knee gave way and was incredibly painful for the rest of the race. I am pleased with 1 hour, nil minutes and 31 seconds, but it would have been less had my knee not given up. I am still in a lot of pain as I type this and my leg no longer wants to bend.

The day started at 5.30am (yes, crazy time) with a quick breakfast and then off to the station to get a train into London as the race was in Regents Park. The mad thing was that there was supposed to be engineering on the rail line so we were expecting to have to get a bus, then a train, hence the early start. However, First Capital Connect had stated on it's website that the engineering had been postponed and an hourly service (rather than the usual 4-6 trains per hour) would run... but didn't mention what times the trains would run! Even more stupid is that National Rail Enquiries had no knowledge of this change!

Anyway, we made it to the park in plenty of time and after warming up, me and 200+ others ran 3 laps around the eastern end of this grand Royal park. Some were real athletes and were finishing as I started lap 3. I have no idea where I finished, but about a quarter finished after me.

For those runners who have done 10k, half marathons or even marathons who may scoff, let me remind you that I have never been fit in my life and this was the longest I have ever run! I have another race in May in St Albans and I therefore have a month to train, all subject to the knee healing of course.

For the record, the shin splints were fine. And finally, for those taking part in the next "5 on the fifth", there is now a Facebook group here.

Unanswered questions

Yesterday was not the best of days. Pete was placed "at risk of redundancy" by his short-term thinking employer and I received a speeding ticket. OK, Pete's bad news was worse than my self inflicted annoyance, but it does also feel like the shin splints are also back as I can hardly walk today!

I was in Edinburgh for a day this week and seeing the "head office engine" made me appreciate that I can do so much more within the company than I am currently doing. I need to talk to my boss I think, but need to be careful how I word it. The Scots moan about the weather (as we all do), but it always seems to be sunny when I am in Edinburgh.

Last night, I made a great pizza - including making the dough which wouldn't stop rising! It was enjoyed last night along with a bottle of red wine. We were watching the Simpsons and Marge is talking to Homer over a shortwave radio saying "hello... hello... is there anybody in there?" - which is the start of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" which I now cant get out of my head.

One last food comment... I am going to attempt making my first cheesecake today. Wish me luck.

Some unanswered questions on a dull Saturday morning:

Was the Daily Mail article about Stephen Gately homophobic, usual misinformed Daily Mail rubbish or just plain evil? More here
[Bloggers comment: the article, which I have read, seems to imply that only gay guys drink, smoke some drugs and have a 3some. Now, I am sure that the straights out there may have done 1 or 2 of those things!]

Was the balloon boy event a publicity stunt? It was strange, but when I saw the the little boy, he immediately reminded me of myself when I was his age - not that I ever hitched a ride on my Dad's balloon.

Why does every new Bon Jovi song sound like "Bon Jovi by numbers"? Is it just a loss of talent or just very lazy songwriting?

Something that has puzzled me for a while... what sort of person is interested in Z list celebs like Jade, Jordan and Kerry? Who buys the magazines and the books? I don't understand it at all.

Why do I have to wait until late December for my new car?!

The smell of autumn

I have been out and about over the past few days and there is a definate chill in the air and, despite the leaves still looking green, the smell of autumn is around us. It show's how evocative smell can be as I had flashbacks to my school days - returning to lessons after the long holiday and the anticipation of a new term. I can't say that my secondary school days were much fun, so these memory blasts are not that welcome!

It's been a wet and cold summer in the UK, with only short periods of sunshine. Now we are entering autumn and it's a season that can be very beautiful in England. I will aim to take a few pictures of the changing colours around the countryside this Autumn.

And for my North American readers... I will aim to take a few pictures of the changing colors around the countryside this Fall.

My legs are almost healed after the shin splints, so I will try a short relaxed jog this weekend if the weather is fine. I had wanted to do the big cycle ride along the canal into London (30+ miles), but Pete wasn't up for it. I may well go hunting for some running shoes as it's been difficult to find a good fit.

Talking of running, I found this truly amazing blog called Ryan Runs Europe featuring an (obviously mad) American running, yes running from Amsterdam to Athens over the summer!!! He has a proper site here that answers a few questions about the route (that he has been running for over 100 days) including the fact that he is carrying everything he needs on his back, has no money for a bed at night and is averaging 20 miles running a day!!!

And finally, you know what perks me up when I'm feeling a little blue? Ryan Phillippe... need I say more?





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