A WEE PROBLEM!

I had my medical for my swims this week. The urine sample proved to be a big problem!

As I am advancing in years I tend to forget things and on Tuesday my sample was due at the medical centre.
Well dear reader, I got up and did what a man needs to do. It was only after I had finished that I remembered that I had to fill the little bottle. Do you think I could. I was dry as a urinal in a convent.
8 litres of water later I managed to produce a pathetic dribble. Fortunately this was enough to be tested. Needless to say that I couldn't stop for the rest of the day.

Interestingly (well to me anyway) I had a medical on exactly the same day last year and I am 4 kgs lighter this year. All my vitals were also much better. If I get any fitter I will have to inform the authorities.

Another good week on the training front. I have done 417,000 metres already this year, all at a much faster pace than last year's swims.

One week to go before the BEACH BBQ. This will be a great event. Get your tickets from the HARE at LODDINGTON or contact me.

There is a great rock song. Cold as Ice. This describes the water at the moment. Brings tears to your eyes.

Keep the faith.

Photo Shoot

This photo was taken at St Andrews and shows the old vehicle that will be replaced with funds raised by my 2 swims and other activites undertaken by many people this year.

The week that was!

Well, I am safely back in town from the USA. We had a great time with Doug, Kate and Tabby and I got 11 days of superb swimming in.

I flew back overnight on the night before my birthday. Quite surreal really. When did my birthday actually start? US time, BST, or did I celebrate the day on NZ time as theoretically my birthday should be on the day before in the northern hemisphere. ( work it out if you find this comment strange). Anyway, I was so tired I virtually forgot that it was my birthday!

On Thursday I was at ST. Andrews (see my blog a few weeks ago for information)  where I participated in a health forum and had some photos taken with the current Red Cross support vehicle. My Jersey and Channel swims are to raise funds to purchase a new purpose built vehicle to replace the present one which is getting long in the tooth.

Looking forward to the 5th of MAY and the BEACH PARTY. Do come if you can, especially all you Russian girls who regularly view this site!

The Heart of Rock and Roll is still beating.

USA again!

Well, here I am once again in the home of the brave and land of the free.

Lizzie and I are having are great time with Doug, Kate and Tabitha.  The Easter egg hunt was a hoot although I was devastated to find out that I couldn't take part. Fun is wasted on children.

I have had some great swims. I won't harp on how good the pools are over here, but they are! It is such a pleasure to swim for 2 hours in a public pool and never have to share a lane.

The BEACH BBQ on the 5th of MAY is shaping up well as there will be not 1, but 2 bands on the day.    Tickets from the HARE or contact me.

Well, dear readers, must fly as we are all off to the petting zoo this afternoon. It is a beautiful sunny day although the wind is a little cool but nothing like the UK at the moment. 21C in a few days. Ha Ha.

There is a lady who is sure all that glitters is gold.

2000 VIEWS

I have had trouble getting my words of wisdom up as the blog had gone wobbly!

Good news, I'm back. It is still amazing for me to see how many people read my wisdom. 2016 people have visited  the site this year. Thank you for your support.

Tickets for the RED CROSS BEACH BBQ on SUNDAY 5th MAY are now available. Contact me or the HARE at LODDINGTON.

This will be a hoot. Be there if you can.

 Training has gone slowly this week as lot of school stuff on. I broke up for Easter today so plenty of big swims coming up here and in the US. Ideally I want to get outside as the Jersey swim is looming. Poxy snow is forecast again this weekend and the river is too high and fast to jump in yet.

Must dash, holiday to attend to!

For those about to rock, I salute you.

BEACH PARTY!

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.

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 175^th 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 175^th 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!