Hurraaahhhh! Lily has a new cousin, and Kate and I have a new nephew. Following on from Helen Haygarth’s birth four(ish) weeks ago, Sally and Simon Rowlands (Sally,s Kate’s sister and Kate’s my wife) had Olly Will Rowlands this morning. Olly’s a strange name, in that it’s a creative spelling of Ollie. We thought they’d go for something traditional, but it was a double-bluff. Welcome to the world, little Olly. Pics to follow, no doubt….

As this is turning into a bit of diary, I thought I’d stick down some of my fell running results from the last few months:

08 09 2005: Hades Hill Race (Whitworth): 4th (out of 86) – 34:41

10 08 2005: Pilgrims Cross fell race: 5th (out of 75ish) – 41:42

26 07 2005: Roseberry Topping race: 6th (out of 72) – 12:43

16 07 2005: Ingleborough fell race: 23rd (out of 206) – 55:42

14 07 2005: Bull Hill fell race: 7th (out of 108) – 39:24

03 07 2005: Settle Hills Race: 23rd (out of 106) – 57:26

15 06 2005: Two Towers fell race: 21st (out of 103) – 39:01

24 04 2005: Three Peaks Race: 51st (out of 374) – 3:54:40

….my friend James brought a tear to my eye with this testimonial on this site to our lovely friend Abigail.
My great friend Abi had so much life and love about her and she shared that so freely and effortlessly with all that knew her.. I ran the London Marathon last year in memory of such a lovely person and a real friend. Running a marathon is a fairly painful experience but it pales into insignificance alongside the suffering endured by Abi, her family and her friends so I ran and raised money for AICR in the hope that I might be able to help prevent other people having to go through this ordeal. We all miss her and we will always remember her.

James

Happy at the moment, not just because my life is generally ace, but because of:

1. Bils – he’s just got a promotion after about 12 years of working at the same grade;
2. Richard Hannaford and Liz have just have a baby called Isobel;
3. Liz Thompson and Alan have just had a baby called Edie;
4. I just can’t stop singing this, which means I must be in a good mood;
5. I’m off work tomorrow and doing some manly things like chainsawing in the garden.

Aaaaghhghh…. Bike racing, eh? You work so hard and sometimes it pays of, sometimes it doesn’t. Rode the Clitheroe criteriums last night – part of the national series – fantastic atmosphere and course. I managed to scrape 8th place in the supporting race. 54 starters. I could so easily have slipped off the front with what turned out to be the winning move, but I’m not sure I’d have had the power to stay with them anyway – there was a nasty climb each 1km lap, so hitting that every minute and a half really took it out of my legs. I’ve lost 10lbs in the last two months but I can tell i could do with shedding a bit more if I want to compete on the hills. Piccie of me slightly obscured leading the chasers through at the bell.

I should add, in the interest of editorial balance, that I made a total fcuk up of a corner early on (trying to fight my way through from stupidly allowing myself to start at the back of the field) and nearly took five people down – as it was I didn’t, but I owed them all big apologies. Humble pie eaten and savoured.

We’re doing loads of work on our house at the moment, and although I know that nobody reads this, it’s worth getting this off my chest, as it helps me:
Don’t use this lot to do your work, unless you want appalling communications, and absolutely no sense of urgency at all. Having said that, they’re doing an okay job… it’s not like we’ve had to call lawyers in and I know that kind of thing happens alot, but these people (and, I dare say, many other builders) seem to think it’s okay to take thousands of pounds from you without making any effort to explain what on earth’s going on. Five months and we’re just about up to first floor level. Tsssk.

Lily and I had a great day out at Hawkstone Park in Shropshire on Saturday watching the UK round of the world Trials Championship. At the age of 2 yrs 10 months, it was her first trial, and what a way to start…
Results, photos etc. are here. Fantastic day out and reminiscent of my own childhood.

I just find this so amazing. Simple but very very compelling. Use your mouse. Superb.

I did my first road race (well, Crit, which is sort of a road race but not quite… it is on roads, put it that way) for four years on 23rd July and did a monster of a ride. Broke away half way through the race, won the prime, then was joined by two others, and the victory went to my team mate James. Great evening – big bunch of flowers and a few quid. (that’s me on the right!)

Photos found on peer-to-peer software – zillions of the things.

“The world seems like a smaller place after finding all these photos and posting the ones that are worthwhile. I can see so many of the same emotions and situations that i’ve experienced over the years, unique to each person but similar and instantly recognizable. I’ve filtered through 1000’s and 1000’s of photos of everyday life and not so everyday life to find the ones that make up the archives here. Hopefully the pictures as worthwhile to view as they have been to find“.

I’m not sure whether I should be advertising booze, especially vodka, but these made me giggle. The down under sense of humour makes me chuckle because they think we don’t get it. Laughed out loud at these ads…
Gay
Story of 42 below
Britain
(Needs latest version of Flash and turn the sound up).