Three Peaks Challenge

I lost my sight yesterday for a while. My peripheral vision was okay, but the centre of my vision was all pixillated for some strange reason. It happened once before about four years ago...just before a stonking migraine. No headaches this time.

Everything was back to normal for the debate and football, both of which were a little disappointing.

We are off to do the Yorkshire three peaks now. Tomorrow is the walk, but we are meeting up with everyone and staying at Dub Cote Farm tonight.

I have to say I'm a tad worried about my ability to walk for 12 hours up and down hills...and rain is on the way.

Why did I agree to this?

Perhaps it won't be so bad!

Perhaps it will!

Perhaps next time I'll think before I commit myself.

Perhaps I'll stop complaining and resolve to have a good time!

Yeah!

I think I'll take comfort from this quote from Robert Brault...

"Failure would be a bad thing if it didn't reopen so many opportunities."


That's better! 


There is opportunity in them there hills.

A pretty decent day

They were hiding in the dark and huddled together as if such a cowardly and pathetic act would protect or save them. It was futile to resist. The attack was decisive and indiscriminate. Call me violent and callous but I don't think I'm alone when it comes to tearing them apart and taking particular pleasure in ripping their heads off.

Snap! At the exact time that I write 'ripping their heads off', Bev mentions someone on TV that has just ripped someone's head off. How about that! She wouldn't believe me and had to come to the computer to see for herself.

Such will always be the fate of Jelly Babies unfortunate enough to be in my possession. I must have polished off an entire generation today.

Amber took her 'Life in the UK' exam today. It was a 45 minute expensive 'rip-off' type of exercise that took her six minutes to complete even allowing time to read through and check mistakes. What if she failed...will they send her back to the States and leave her baby and husband here? I can understand the relevance of this exam for some, but not for an American who has married,  has a family and has worked and lived here this past few years. /she already had to pay a small fortune when she arrived and she will soon have to pay a small fortune to have the move 'rubber-stamped' and made permanent.

It raises the temperature in me when I place this type of struggle and anguish against illegal immigrants who pay nothing yet enjoy so much. Keep calm Ken, breathe deeply!

Anyway, I was determined to learn something new today and stay positive.

What did I learn? I learned that Danielle doesn't mind me calling her Dani. I learned that I can turn a 45 minute wait for a meal into a positive experience if I put my mind to it.  The meal was my reward for narrowly beating Bev over two games of bowling tonight. Three strikes in a row sealed her fate. I punched the air as if I'd scored the winning goal at the world Cup Final.

I also learned the Jose Mourinho really is special. I sat with MIL for 45 minutes to see Inter stave off Barcelona to reach the Champions League Final. Jose is a nutter but I can't help liking him at times. My MIL is a nutter but I can't help liking her at times too.

Now I have 45 minutes of relaxation before a much longer horizontal spell in that there bed upstairs which beckons me...it will be my final act of a pretty decent day.

Sorting

Danielle didn't arrive on time and I thought she'd had enough and decided to call it a day so to speak. I was beginning to think I overwhelmed her with work. As it happens she turned up and is fine.

I've spent the whole evening sorting photos out...all 8,250 of them. I think it was worth it even though the job isn't finished yet.

Time to have a break.

Home Sweet Home

I asked Kirsty if there was any news from last week. She said there wasn't. Then I found out the following...

• Scott is leaving the team
• We have a new starter
• We will receive a performance related bonus payment this year
• We'll get a pay rise for the first time in two years
• There are new processes in place from today

Now, I think that's quite a LOT of news from just Thursday and Friday.

Our new starter is Danielle. I spent the day training her and she's very sharp. I think she'll do well and deserves a break. She's had a bit of a tough time of late in terms of employment.

I'm  now the only male on the team. Outnumbered again!

Bird-watch...Greenfinch and Great-Tit on our feeder table this morning.

Starting to get excited about going to France...just over three weeks away.

Welcome back to Martin & Sarah who think there is nothing quite like England and being home again.

Unexpected pleasure

We were with Jon & Serene barely two minutes when we had surprise guests...Juli & Chris and the gang. Chris had read my blog and saw we were going to Leeds so they made the journey too from the Sunderland end. It's a 90 minutes drive either way.

Hi Hollie, can I borrow you a minute?

That's better! Bev usually tells me off.

Hi Juli, can I borrow you a minute?

Perhaps not.

Aimee and Emm playing...

Austin, Anna-Belle and Great Grandma

Austin and Danny relaxing...plus the better half of Jon.

Serene, due Wednesday...

Serene was telling us that she's been so sick during this pregnancy. She was driving recently and was unable to stop in time...it just all came out while driving and she had to carry on. How funny is that? Another time she was on a bus and hadn't anything to catch it in other than by cupping her scarf. That was even more funny.

So glad I'm a man. I've had some pretty spectacular vomits in my time though.

Storm clouds?

It was a big day at the 'Weathering the Storms of Life' exhibition. David and I took care of two workshops and we had good fun. It went well but it's tiring. I was wiped out for a while when I got home.

Next Saturday we are walking the three peaks in Yorkshire. That'll be even more tiring. These Saturday's soon get snapped up.

Tomorrow it will have been exactly a year since Martin ran the London Marathon. I hope the weather is as good because we are off to Leeds in the afternoon to see Austin and will probably end up in the garden.

Saw an adult goldfinch feeding in our garden this morning. I'm getting quite interested in birds (must be getting old).

I'm now thinking about the storms of life. For me there doesn't appear to be any on the horizon. Long may it continue to be the case, but if they do suddenly appear I hope I have the energy, friends, attitude and resources to cope with them.

Not the best of days but I'm not counting it as a day three.

My sister had her exotic holiday cancelled because of volcano dust so she had to settle for Scarborough instead (I think that's where she said she went). It was freezing cold and they have now arrived home to builders using their garden as they work on next doors house. She isn't too pleased.

She tells me that Tony Jeffries is fighting tonight (Sky Sports 9:00pm). Sarah has already left to get to Coventry in time. It'll be a tough fight...his toughest yet. I would have liked to have gone, but we are picking our car up. I also have preparation for tomorrow's class about 'Education and learning to weather the storms of life'. It's being shared with David...two x 45 minute classes.

She passed on some alarming news about the health of John, our brother.

Martin Skyped me again. It's raining in SLC and they're off to do some shooting.

Feeling mentally dull on this beautiful sunny day. I need an early night.

Enjoyed painting (see painting blog if interested).