Orienteering - Cleeve Hill

Saturday 16th May 2015

I was hesitant about orienteering as I had already jogged round my first park run the same morning, but I haven't orienteering much this year, and it was only at Cleeve Hill.  Of course, once there I was very glad I had gone.

Parking and assembly was in a new field, right on the edge of the common.  There weren't many there when I arived so no hassle and no queues to start.  I walked and occasionally jogged around the green course.  The planning was good, crossing the quarries three times and avoiding the more open golf course.  In particular there was a difficult route choice to make between controls 3 and 4.  I was surprised to leave Gary Wakerley leaving control 4, and see him as he was approaching control 6 and I was en-route to 9.  I kept checking my map to see if I had missed a control.  Also a tall fit runner who started a minute in front of me passed me three times towards the finish, the final time commenting "I can run, but I can't navigate".

The weather was beautiful; plenty of sun, and the gorse was all in bloom.  Lovely.

 

  

 

Results

19th out of 41 starters (2 dnf).

16:01 mins/km (but remember, it is Cleeve Hill, ie. open)

Park Run

Saturday 16th May 2015

I have wanted to try a park run for more than a year, but my heart attack last August didn't help.  However, I have worked my way slowly through the Couch to 5K program, repeating most weeks twice if not three times, and at last I thought I was ready for it.  And a beautiful sunny day it was as well.

I made a point of starting right at the back, and started slowly.  Looking at the splits of Strava, I was pleased to see that each Km was just slightly faster than the previous one.  I thought I was going to avoid being lapped, but the first finisher crossed the line exactly at the same instant that I started the second lap.  I felt fine all the way round, not having to walk at all, and even overtaking one or two people, and was very pleased to have achieved the 5K.  I was 114 out of 140 finishers, so not quite at the back.

Results

Splits

Strava Segment

Looking at the Strava segment I see I was 111/125, a typical results for all my Strava segments.  But I was pleased to see that Mary holds the female record.

The Couch to 5K program worked well, and Catherine, John, Mary & Rachel are all my running inspiration.  Thank you. 

Evesham Audax - The Clapper

Sunday 10th May

I had hoped to be fit enough to do the  "Every Time A Bell Rings" 112K audax, but I didn't think I was up to it, and was quite happy with the shorter 55K "Clapper".  Both these events were in aid of the Evesham Bell Tower appeal, hence the names.  Both events started and finished at the Ferry Cafe, so not far to go to start at all.  As with audax events, there were only about a dozen people on the short course, it is just too short for real cyclists.  I covered the distance in a couple of minutes less than than 3 hours.  The first back took about 2:45 I think.  I was really happy to be able to cover the distance

Mary visiting for the weekend.

M and I have had a good weekend.  Last week we picked up Rachel from York for the Easter holiday and this weekend Mary visited.  John also came over.


Friday 20th March 2015

I took the Friday off as I have some leave to use up.  Rachel and I walked up to Broadway Tower, going up the tower (a season ticket is very good value) then having tea at the cafe.

Mary came over in the evening, and it was good to eat to together.


Saturday 22nd March

Mary ran in the inaugural Evesham Park Run, finishing 2nd female in 21:07.  It was fun to watch her.  There were far more people running than I expected.

In the afternoon Rhys came over, just in time to see the second half of the Welsh Italy match in the six nations, with Wales going from 13:12 to 61:20, but unfortunately not quite enough to beat Ireland.  We then walked up to Broadway Tower again, and having yet another tea at the cafe.

In the evening we watched the film Divergence.


Sunday 23rd March

We all went to Coughton Court, where we had a picnic, then a walk round the grounds and a visit to the house.  Rhys went home from there.  Mary went back on the train late afternoon, and John in the early evening.

 

Orienteering Training - Crickley Hill

This was a training (formerly informal) event on a warm but grey february day.  I hesitiated about going (there is so much rattling that I should do at home), but of course once I was taking part, I enjoyed it.  This was the first time I have been here I think.  I trotted parts of it, feeling fitter than I have done for a while.  No results of course, as it is only a training event.

Mrs K Funeral

Film - The Theory of Everything

New Year - Llanberis

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve

I worked briefly in the morning.  The bosses made a very brief visit to our hidden lab, pausing only long enough to kiss Jo (the one female engineer), then rushing out, saying as they did so that we didn't need to stay any longer.  It was only 9:30.  We all looked at each other, then carried on working for another hour and a half.

I took M to her six week checkup on her hip.  Everything is fine.  It is amazing she has improved in six weeks.

John picked up Mary from Cheltenham station, but there was a bit of a mix up and she ended up waiting at the station for an hour.  It was lovely to have her back.

I cooked enchiladas as quickly as possible, as Mary wanted to go out to meet her friends.  I had a short walk for exercise, then went to bed at 11PM, as I feel a little rough with the pressure at the moment.  We didn't go to church.

Christmas Day.

It was a lovely day, and I really enjoyed having the family around.

There wasn't much time to open presents before church.  As usual we attended the 10AM service.  Quite by chance Andrew Spurr quoted statistics on poverty, from the report that Mary had produced from her work at the DWP a few weeks ago.  Mary mentioned this to him as we left.

Catherine rushed down from Chester, joining us just before lunch.  

We had a lightish lunch of brie and bacon baguettes (Rachel'

s suggestion), then headed out for a walk up to Broadway Tower.  The weather was brilliant, though cold and it was an excellent walk.  It was good to have M walking with us again.

Back home we opened the rest of the presents, then had the evening meal of lasagna.  Again it was lovely to sit together at the table and talk. 


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Orienteering Training - Woodchester

Saturday 6th December 2014

I dropped M off at Moreton Hill, then went to the training event (used to be called informal) at Woodchester.  They have changed the format slightly with more emphasis on beginners and training, and less on just another event.  I did a middle distance green course, which was fun.  The idea was to have plenty of changes in direction and to stimulate fast approach and exit form controls.  It was certainly a lit of orienteering in a short space.

I managed to loose the SportIdent printout, and the are no published results.

For once I recorded my route with Strava, and tried to plot it with QuickRoute, but it wasn't very accurate and I needed to correct virtually every control.  I will try that again sometime.

Return To Normality - Three Month Checkup

Wednesday 3rd December

I took today off as leave, leaving home at 8:02 to travel via the A44 to Worcester Royal Hospital.  I was lucky and found a space in the fourth row of the main car park, but struggled to reverse in.....  No, it no good, I can't manage to write an email such as mum would write.

Suffice to say, I had my three month appointment with the cardiac consultant this morning.  First blood pressure, weight and ECG taken.  I then saw the consultant (Dr Trevelian).  His view is that everything is okay.  Blood pressure on the right side (Dr Serenyi thinks it is a hint high), medication okay, no problems showing up on ECG, statins low.  Risk factors heading in the right direction.

I asked my usual question exercise, and his response was I should be able to build up to at least what I was doing before, but build up is the key phrase.  I discussed mountain marathons to give him an idea of what I might want to do, and he thought that come next year, that would be okay if I build up to it slowly.  Don't worry, I can think of plenty of reasons for not doing a mountain marathon next year, though a short audax cycle might be nice.

I went for a cycle ride, Honeybourne route, 17.2km in 50 minutes, the furthest I have ridden since my heart attack.  It was a wonderful sunny day.  I then went to the rehab gym in the afternoon, then had a brief solo bouldering session on the indoor wall to see how I got on - okay but hard work.  At least it elicited a response from some in the rehab gym as they walked past.  Very tired now, and as always (and is common in new heart attack patients), I worry if I have done too much. 

Return To Normality - Painswick Night Orienteering

Saturday 29th November

I felt that today I took another step towards normality after my heart attack (13 weeks ago) and attended an orienteering event; the night O at Painswick Beacon.  I had hesitated, and I think M was somewhat annoyed as I couldn't decide what to do today; when to visit her mother and whether we should go to the Tantantara concert at All Saints.  In the end the orienteering won of course.

M and I to Stonehouse where M visited her mother and I had a walk in Standish Wood.  It was a lovely sunny day.


We then drove to Painswick Beacon for the night event. M sat in the car and read (thank you M).  I started early, a little before the official start, my thinking being that if I had any problems at least there would be people about.  I had no problems and loved it.  I didn't go very far, 11 controls, but found myself jogging on some sections, which came as a surprise.  I was so happy to be back. 

My actual route wasn't as neat as shown.  I tried to go from control 230 to 212, but missed it and in relocation found myself nearer to control 218, so got 212 on the way back instead.  Control 208 was missing the Sports Ident. I should have paid more attention to the time as I could have fitted in control 202 which I know from experience has a stunning nite time view of Gloucester.  And I realise that not everybody shares my view that night orienteering defines normality. 

Workshop - The Power Of Spiritual Practice

Saturday 22nd November 2014

I have long wanted to attend some of Kate Bird's meditation workshops, but it has been difficult to find the time.  When I was on the All Saints Church finance committee (which met on Saturday morning), these often clashed with the workshop, and even if they didn't then it was hard to fit it in with taking M to her mothers.  However I have now stepped down from the PCC and finance committee, partly with the aim that I would do less, and partly with the aim that I should spend time doing what I need to to do.

Kate runs workshops under her "Being Centered" title, this one on "The Power of Spiritual Practice".  The underlying principles are that we should all

Connect with something higher/greater than ourselves

Reflect on our progress, development and behavior

Be of service

To help with these aims she encourages us to take time to meditate.  This quietens the noise that the mind generates and opens us to reflection.

The course was full, with ten participants, some of whom had traveled quite some distance (Devon, London).  There was several exercises during the day, including  a guided meditation and a quiet time for thinking alone.  Both of these were very helpful for me.  The solo time was particularly useful as we didn't have to assume a set position and follow a set practice but instead could choose from a number of ideas for quieting the left brain while letting the creative brain have some space. 

Interspersed with these exercises was discussion, both in pairs and as a group. 

The day was all that I had hoped for, and I look forward to further opportunities. 

Loves Labours Lost, RSC

Friday 21st November 2014


I had an enjoyable night sitting behind a pillar and watching half of Loves Labour's Lost.  Well, it was very cheap, only £14.50 for one of the top theaters. 

 The RSC have paired Loves Labour's Lost with Much Ado About Nothing (which could also be know as Loves Labour's Won), with the same cast in both plays.  Unfortunately, due to late booking (I only booked three months ago), I saw them in the wrong order, but that didn't matter much.  I sat in the stalls, and despite the restricted vision seat, though it was good to be up close and on a level with the actors.

 

Cast and Creatives

Sam Alexander - King of Navarre
Peter Basham - Gamekeeper
William Belchambers - Longaville
Edward Bennett - Berowne
Nick Haverson - Costard
John Hodgkinson - Don Armado
David Horovitch - Holofernes
Tunji Kasim - Dumaine
Sophie Khan Levy - Housemaid
Oliver Lynes - Footman
Emma Manton - Jaquenetta
Chris McCalphy - Dull
Frances McNamee - Maria
Peter McGovern - Moth
Chris Nayak - Footman
Jamie Newall - Boyet
Roderick Smith - Marcadé
Flora Spencer-Longhurst - Katharine
Michelle Terry - Rosaline
Harry Waller - Gamekeeper
Thomas Wheatley - Sir Nathaniel
Leah Whitaker - Princess of France
Director – Christopher Luscombe
Designer – Simon Higlett
Lighting – Oliver Fenwick
Music – Nigel Hess
Sound – Jeremy Dunn
Movement - Jenny Arnold

M's Hip Operation. Day 3. Saturday

I took advantage of a quiet house to sleep late, and I needed it with all the running around the past few days.  Perhaps I am still not up to full strength after my heart attack.  Anyway I was phoned at 10AM by M, to say she could come out this afternoon once her drugs had arrived form the pharmacy.  Good news  However when I mentioned that I was still in bed, she thought I was joking, so I didn't push it.

I drove over to pick M up at 3PM.  She was looking  a lot better, and was much more mobile.  I pushed her in a wheelchair over to the car park.  There was a little bit of fiddling at the car as I had to pull out of a space and block the car park access to give her enough room to get in, then park again while I took the wheelchair back.

I am really amazed at modern healthcare and the NHS, both the technology and the skills of all levels of the staff.  Just the fact that such a major operation can be carried out is wonderful, but that M is up and walking within three days, and the pain mostly controlled really means that we risk underplaying it and taking it for granted since it no longer requires a long stay in hospital. 

It was good to have M back home.

The evening and night were a little bit troublesome, as though she wants to asset her independence.  I tried to give her space but at one point I found M trying to carry an 8 foot plank upstairs, and since she can't walk without crutches, this was proving difficult.  She wanted to put up a shelf in Mary's bedroom to hold her medicines.

Marcus Brigstocke

I had two tickets to see Marcus Brigstocke at Evesham Arts Centre, but of course M wasn't available so I went on my own.  The worst part of being on your own is waiting for the doors to open.  Everybody else in part of a couple of group.  There is just me standing around on my own.

Marcus presented a stand-up routine, very little of his usual radio four political satire.  He covered his earlier life, the weight problem that he used to have, then loosing weight and becoming a dancer (really?) then working on an oil rig.  To prove the point, his set ended with a solo dance routine.  I enjoyed it, and it certainly went down well with everybody else.

I walked to and from the Arts Centre, so a useful hours exercise as well. 

M's Hip Operation. Day 2. Friday

M has made much progress since last night.   I went to see her again today, somewhat earlier than yesterday, arriving while the ward was still in full day mode.  M was being encouraged by the occupational therapists to do a lap of the six bed ward with a zimmer frame. It was lovely to see her up and about, compared with last night when she was still in pain.  Once she passed the test on the frame, she was then taught ho to use crutches.  She says it still hurts, but only when she tries to move, not when she is sitting still, so good progress since yesterday, and I guess it won't be long till she is home.

She told me how it took ages to find the doctor yesterday, and she didn't get the morphine injection until about midnight, but it worked well and she slept.  

By 5PM, M was starting to feel sleepy, and I wondered if I had outstayed my welcome.  As I left she was fussing that she couldn't tidy up the area around her bed as she couldn't bend over.

I am now off to see Marcus Brigstock at the Arts Center tonight.  A treat for a radio 4 listener

Film - Before I Go to Sleep

This is my last week working fully half time after my heart attack.  I took M in to hospital for her hip operation for 7AM, then worked 4.25 hours.  Since I had a fully free afternoon I went to the Regal to see "Before I Go To Sleep".  I remember reading the book a couple of years ago - I was working in Italy for a week, and stayed up too late each night to get it read. 

The film was (as usual) not quite a s good as the book, but certainly worth a 2.

A word about my rating scale.

5.  Top ten read/watched.  Be careful awarding a 5, as when you do, that's it.  Game over.  And you can't downgrade a score to make more room.
4.  Top 100
3.  Very good, but not quite reaching the top 100.
2.  The standard score, and nothing to be ashamed of.  A 2 was worth the time to read/watch.
1.  Poor.  No real necessity to finish.
0.  So far only two books (out of a thosand plus books have been worth a 0, and neither was finished)

Spoilers.

It was interesting to see Colin Firth play a true baddy.  The ending was a little different to how I remember the book, but that is probably just my faulty memory.  All films seems to have to have a fight scene, and that spoilt it a little for me.  For the first few seconds, the substitution of a camera for a journal to record her life was a dissapointment, but I soon got used to it and it was fine.

And just as an aside, there is a scene set at Greenwich, when the camera pulls up to see the anticipated view; which was very nicely filmed.