I am very pleased to announce that the RED CROSS fund raising party on SUNDAY 5TH OF MAY will have a BEACH PARTY THEME!
HUZZAH!
This will take place at the HARE in Loddington from 3pm to 6 pm. I love a good beach!
There will be a fantastic PORK ROAST and a BARBIE and MUSIC. I have held a few Beach Parties. My most famous one was one Boxing Day when I had a NZ Christmas Beach Party. Everyone had to wear shorts. Everyone did and it was -7! We have had snow today so hopefully the weather will clear up by May! Jersey has has had snow and blizzards today so that will help the water temperature!
If you are interested in the party please contact me.
Another good training week last week. I have now passed 250,000 metres for the year, well ahead of the comparable time last year. A new record this year perhaps?
Rock on kids.
Lake Windermere
Monday, 11 March 2013
Saturday, 2 March 2013
ST.ANDREW'S HEALTHCARE
I am delighted to announce that St Andrew's Healthcare will be supporting me on my 2013 swims around Jersey and across the Channel.
St Andrew’s Healthcare is a unique national charity delivering better care, better outcomes and better lives for people with mental ill-health, developmental disability or brain injury. As part of their 175th anniversary celebration and to mark their success, St Andrew’s wants to give something back to other charities. So during 2013, St Andrew’s will be helping its staff and patients at their Northampton site to raise money for the British Red Cross: Northamptonshire President’s Appeal. As part of this wider campaign, they have also agreed to sponsor me in my training and swimming throughout this year.
St Andrew’s Healthcare is a unique national charity delivering better care, better outcomes and better lives for people with mental ill-health, developmental disability or brain injury. As part of their 175th anniversary celebration and to mark their success, St Andrew’s wants to give something back to other charities. So during 2013, St Andrew’s will be helping its staff and patients at their Northampton site to raise money for the British Red Cross: Northamptonshire President’s Appeal. As part of this wider campaign, they have also agreed to sponsor me in my training and swimming throughout this year.
St Andrew’s Healthcare is the UK’s largest mental healthcare charity, the UK’s only charitable teaching hospital and the country’s largest charitable provider of services to the NHS. This year, St Andrew’s will be marking its 175th anniversary as pioneers and leaders of an established and experienced not for profit provider. As part of this celebration and the desire to support other charities helping vulnerable people, staff and patients at St Andrew’s Northampton will be supporting the British Red Cross: Northamptonshire President’s Appeal. The appeal will help to purchase a specially adapted vehicle costing around £34,000, and will provide emotional and practical support to people in Northamptonshire who suffer damage to their homes following a fire, flood or a similar incident.
Throughout the course of the year, St Andrew’s Northampton staff and patients will undertake a range of fundraising activities, starting with the charity’s directors and staff undertaking a 418 ft Ultimate Abseil on 27 April. In addition, there will be sporting challenges, bake sales and various other activities that staff and patients want to do to support this worthy cause.
It’s great for me to have the opportunity to come into contact with patients and staff at St Andrew’s Northampton, and have a sponsor who knows the value of being a charity too.
Did you know?
St Andrew’s and the Red Cross have a common aim to support vulnerable people, but another strong connection is Northamptonshire. St Andrew’s Healthcare was founded in Northampton in 1838, whilst the founder of the British Red Cross Society, Robert James Loyd-Lindsay, had strong links with the county as he married the daughter of Lord Overstone, a former Baron of Northamptonshire.
I have had another good training week. This month I will be focusing on a lot of speed work in the pool before venturing back out into the cold.
Rock on!
Friday, 22 February 2013
RED CROSS PARTY TIME!
This is an early warning about a party!
As you are probably aware, I am swimming this year for the Red Cross here in Northamptonshire to raise funds for a new support vehicle and for community based First Aid courses. I am very pleased to bring you the news that there will be a party and fund raising event at The Hare in Loddington on the afternoon of Sunday 5th May.
This is the Sunday before the May Day holiday. Details to follow. Unfortunately for me, the Monday is a normal school day for me in the boarding school world. Lucky I have (nearly) stopped drinking!
As it has been half term, I have had a massive training week and will reach close to 50,000 metres by Sunday. That has meant over 15 hours in the water over 5 swims. Nuts.
It is still amazing to see where people read this from around the world. A lot from Eastern Europe. I was told it is stunningly gorgeous women looking for a husband. Sorry, I am too tired.
Rock. Turn it up!
As you are probably aware, I am swimming this year for the Red Cross here in Northamptonshire to raise funds for a new support vehicle and for community based First Aid courses. I am very pleased to bring you the news that there will be a party and fund raising event at The Hare in Loddington on the afternoon of Sunday 5th May.
This is the Sunday before the May Day holiday. Details to follow. Unfortunately for me, the Monday is a normal school day for me in the boarding school world. Lucky I have (nearly) stopped drinking!
As it has been half term, I have had a massive training week and will reach close to 50,000 metres by Sunday. That has meant over 15 hours in the water over 5 swims. Nuts.
It is still amazing to see where people read this from around the world. A lot from Eastern Europe. I was told it is stunningly gorgeous women looking for a husband. Sorry, I am too tired.
Rock. Turn it up!
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Kia Ora Bro!
I spoke to my brother Peter in Auckland this morning. They are having a great summer, we are having a rubbish winter. Discuss.
My training is really going well. I am getting in around 25,000 metres a week at the moment, averaging 5000 metres a swim. I have already covered 145,000 metres this year. I am working hard to improve my stroke ( no, the swimming one) and feel that I am swimming in a more efficient style. I will have a big week this week as we are on half term. Lizzie was on half term last week and spent the time with Kate, Doug and Tabby in Virginia. She is back to work straight off the plane. She may be grumpy this week children.
I can't believe how good my new swimming MP3 player is. I had one of the original Speedo Aquabeat and this new generation is just so, so much better. Out of interest I have loaded up tracks from 100 rock guitar heroes CD. Now dear reader this is weird. Right in the middle of Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Chris Rea etc comes "Do you like Pinna Colada?" How does that happen? I also have New Zealand Classics, The Guess Who live, Peter Gabriel live, Mumford and Sons and Seth Lakeman. I am going to load more this weekend although there aren't any kids from school to help me so it could end in tears.
My first swim of the season around Jersey is looming, only 3 and a half months away. I can't wait.
The heart of rock and roll is still beating.
My training is really going well. I am getting in around 25,000 metres a week at the moment, averaging 5000 metres a swim. I have already covered 145,000 metres this year. I am working hard to improve my stroke ( no, the swimming one) and feel that I am swimming in a more efficient style. I will have a big week this week as we are on half term. Lizzie was on half term last week and spent the time with Kate, Doug and Tabby in Virginia. She is back to work straight off the plane. She may be grumpy this week children.
I can't believe how good my new swimming MP3 player is. I had one of the original Speedo Aquabeat and this new generation is just so, so much better. Out of interest I have loaded up tracks from 100 rock guitar heroes CD. Now dear reader this is weird. Right in the middle of Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Chris Rea etc comes "Do you like Pinna Colada?" How does that happen? I also have New Zealand Classics, The Guess Who live, Peter Gabriel live, Mumford and Sons and Seth Lakeman. I am going to load more this weekend although there aren't any kids from school to help me so it could end in tears.
My first swim of the season around Jersey is looming, only 3 and a half months away. I can't wait.
The heart of rock and roll is still beating.
Saturday, 26 January 2013
IT'SNOW FUN
As you may be aware, I hate snow. I can't imagine why people would want to go away and have a holiday in it. Hopefully it will go away today.
Training is really going well. Last January I covered just over 60,000 metres, already I have done 85,000 with 4 big swims planned before the end of the month. I am focusing on much longer swims at the moment, minimum 5,000 metres. I will do more speed work in February although I am doing 3.27 kilometres per hour compared to 2.99 this time last year. Interestingly (well to me anyway) that I have already spent the equivalent of one whole day in the pool having swum for 24 hours 26 minutes thus far! My pool hours have been transformed by my new Merlin MP3 player. WOW, rock and roll as I swim baby. I can highly recommend it ( any sponsorship gratefully accepted Mr. Merlin ) as it is far better quality than my old one. Thank you Santa!
With round Jersey and the Channel this year, I am looking at 2014 swims. Europe to Africa or Ireland to Scotland are possibilities. These are already pretty well booked. Mad people.
Swam to Sweet Home Alabama this morning. Legend.
Training is really going well. Last January I covered just over 60,000 metres, already I have done 85,000 with 4 big swims planned before the end of the month. I am focusing on much longer swims at the moment, minimum 5,000 metres. I will do more speed work in February although I am doing 3.27 kilometres per hour compared to 2.99 this time last year. Interestingly (well to me anyway) that I have already spent the equivalent of one whole day in the pool having swum for 24 hours 26 minutes thus far! My pool hours have been transformed by my new Merlin MP3 player. WOW, rock and roll as I swim baby. I can highly recommend it ( any sponsorship gratefully accepted Mr. Merlin ) as it is far better quality than my old one. Thank you Santa!
With round Jersey and the Channel this year, I am looking at 2014 swims. Europe to Africa or Ireland to Scotland are possibilities. These are already pretty well booked. Mad people.
Swam to Sweet Home Alabama this morning. Legend.
Monday, 14 January 2013
A New Year Begins
Hope you have all made your New Year resolutions and are sticking to them. Once again I have promised not to go out with super models. It has worked for me every year of my life so far!
I have had a very busy start to the year as I have had a busy time visiting the USA, Suffolk and Cornwall. I managed to get some big swims in and now that I am back to work at school, I have upped the intensity of my training. With Jersey and the Channel looming I am swimming longer for each session. Last week I got 10 hours in the pool covering over 30K. It won't always be like that with work commitments but I should get in at least 4 good swims a week.
Snow today. I hate it.
I have had a very busy start to the year as I have had a busy time visiting the USA, Suffolk and Cornwall. I managed to get some big swims in and now that I am back to work at school, I have upped the intensity of my training. With Jersey and the Channel looming I am swimming longer for each session. Last week I got 10 hours in the pool covering over 30K. It won't always be like that with work commitments but I should get in at least 4 good swims a week.
Snow today. I hate it.
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
The Year That Was
Manahau to all.
2012 has gone and with it many hours in the water for yours truly. In fact 342 of them to be exact, plus 25 minutes! That equates to over 14 full days of swimming.
Lizzie and I spent Christmas in the USA with Kate, Doug and Tabitha so as well as having a wonderful time, I managed to get plenty of swimming in. I won't bore you again about how wonderful their facilities are, suffice to say that it is a pleasure to be able to swim in your own lane in a dedicated swimming pool and not fight for space with head up breaststrokers or kids playing tag and getting in your face. Is it any wonder that the US win the most swimming medals?
After passing the magic million metres on the 12th of December, I added another 53,000 to finish with a total of 1053 Kilometres for the year. There is a purpose for this dear reader as I am swimming around Jersey on the 22nd June and across the Channel at the end of August. These are 2 tough, long swims to do within weeks of each other, so the hours I have trained in the last 12 months have given me a solid base of fitness for the coming year.
I started the year with a 6000 metre swim this morning so here I go again!
Mumford and Sons Live at the Red Rocks. Check it out!
2012 has gone and with it many hours in the water for yours truly. In fact 342 of them to be exact, plus 25 minutes! That equates to over 14 full days of swimming.
Lizzie and I spent Christmas in the USA with Kate, Doug and Tabitha so as well as having a wonderful time, I managed to get plenty of swimming in. I won't bore you again about how wonderful their facilities are, suffice to say that it is a pleasure to be able to swim in your own lane in a dedicated swimming pool and not fight for space with head up breaststrokers or kids playing tag and getting in your face. Is it any wonder that the US win the most swimming medals?
After passing the magic million metres on the 12th of December, I added another 53,000 to finish with a total of 1053 Kilometres for the year. There is a purpose for this dear reader as I am swimming around Jersey on the 22nd June and across the Channel at the end of August. These are 2 tough, long swims to do within weeks of each other, so the hours I have trained in the last 12 months have given me a solid base of fitness for the coming year.
I started the year with a 6000 metre swim this morning so here I go again!
Mumford and Sons Live at the Red Rocks. Check it out!
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Setting off. 7am. Only 13 and a half hours to go!