One to scare the kids with

A week of not shaving, love it!!

Christmas catch up

Still getting used to this blogging lark, not posted for a few days due to the Christmas festivities. We have had a great family Christmas, the picture on the left is the girls at 7am on Christmas day showing there excited faces just before the presents were opened. They really day amaze me how quick they can get through opening presents, highlight for me was the look on my eldests face when she unwrapped a prezzie to reveal an iron, it wasn't it was an ipod wrapped up in the box but her face was brill.

Lucky enough to have two fantastic Christmas dinners, one at the outlaws on the big day and then a second helping at my Sisters on Boxing day.

My favourite present was the FIFA 10 football game for my Xbox 360, now if only i could play it life would be perfect!

On the running front i have managed to get out a few times but the snow and ice has caused problems. Time to start the big marathon training now, planned my schedule yesterday, bought some new trainers, set up my sponsorship page (Click here to sponsor me), now all i need is the will power and energy for 16 weeks of training.

Bring back the Muppetts

Couldn't sleep as kept tossing and turning thinking about all the stuff i had to at work today, don't you just hate that. Anyway was doing a bit of surfing, but it was dark so i went on the Internet instead, too early for a joke? No seriously i came across this clip of The Muppet's on the Internet and as well as it being very funny it made me remember what a truly awesome programme this was. We should start a campaign to bring it back because it was brilliant, when you consider all the rubbish kids watch now, I am looking at you Hannah Montanna and the rest of your Disney gang, it truly was genuine family entertainment at it's best.

Following on from my last blog major disappointment at the gym as they had double booked the classes so i wasn't able to my first spin class, 6 mile run after work tonight.

Tuesday night is club night

After a crappy day at work, well it wasn't that bad, there is nothing better than a nice run. Tuesday night is when i go for a run with my club Rodillian Runners, this is a small friendly club of varying ages of about 20 people. Tonight we went for a 5 1/2 mile run, we must like quite a sight, about 10 of us tonight all running close together in high vis running gear in the freezing cold, you can't beat it. Next week is our Christmas handicap, a 3mile race in fancy dress followed by a buffet and beer!!
Tomorrow i have booked my first ever Spin class at my Gym, that should be fun!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....

Well it's that time of year again, good will and peace to all me and all that rubbish.
Yesterday was our annual Christmas shopping trip when we try and get as many of the kids pressies as possible, Leeds was this years venue. By the end of the day, or indeed weekend as the shopping had spilled over to Sunday, I was well and truly whacked, and I have still not finished the buying for the kids or even started to buy for the Wife.
If you think about it we work hard all year, and especially this year balancing the budgets has been very hard for all parents, then run around like idiots for two or three weeks trying to get everything on our little angels list for Santa. This is all planned and carried out like a military campaign leaving you absolutely shattered by the time the day arrives, and who gets the credit for all this effort? Some complete stranger who only works one day of the year (clearly spending the rest of his time eating) and dresses in a red suit!

Another thing, why does at least one of my girls manage to request that years impossible gift to find, last years gem was Guess Who Extra, between me and my sales team we most have searched every toy store in England and still had no joy!

After all this stress i have calmed myself down by going for a nice 8 mile run in the cold and wind, you can't beat it, with only my tunes and Gary (my Garmin 405 GPS super sportswatch) for company i plodded along and the world suddenly seemed a nicer and more calmer place.

Ok stress levels starting to drop, as i blog this i am watching my soccer team (just for you Americans) Tottenham beating Everton (currently 2-0) whilst my wife and kids are putting up the Christmas tree and decorations.

Ho Ho Ho!

Highs and lows..

After two weeks sat on the injured step i finally got my marathon training started today, 6 miles in the pouring rain with no pain and life could not be better. The thrill of running and the time it gives you to think can not be beaten, and to anyone who says they can't, you can. Followed by a lovely muscle easing swim at old Duncan Banatynes gym and i was happy as a pig in mud.
I then spent the afternoon in with the kids writing Christmas cards, doing our lists for Santa and generally planning for the big guy visiting with his bulging sack, Adults add your own punch line.
A lovely Sunday that couldn't get better, and then came the low, Whilst my wife was in the bath i was sneaking a few mins on the Xbox (if you have not tried it Modern Warfare 2 is awesome) when my youngest shouted from the kitchen there is water coming from the ceiling. To cut a long and painful (and probably very costly) story short the pipe under the bath had burst sending water through the ceiling which then hit and blew up the fridge!!!
Cue a Monday spent calling plumber, insurance company and sorting out a new fridge - on top of this i have a major new project starting at work tomorrow, oh the joys of being a Father!

Brownie night

Thursday night is Brownie night, it's when i rush home through the lovely Leeds traffic to get to Brownie HQ for 6 where i pick my wife up (she has just dropped off at the Brownies) and then return an hour later to pick up said Brownie. I was a little late tonight, mainly due to the fact the traffic coming out of Leeds did not recognise that i was on a mission to Brownie HQ and they needed to part like the Red Sea for Moses. My wife rang to say she would start walking back, i suggested that i wouldn't be long and that on current timing would probably catch up near the Vine Tree pub.
On arriving (not by chance) just outside the pub and it was suggested we catch a quick drink and before returning to collect our little Brownie. Why is it as parents when you visit the pub you feel like you are naughty, sneaking a quick drink before you are found out. After a hard day in the office the pint of Becks Vier was like heaven, and then the entertainment began. Two grown men, clearly a little drunk, in a near deserted pub "offering" each other "outside" whilst having a very loud drunken argument. This was very amusing and completely childish, before you get the imagine of young larger louts, these were grown men in business suits!!
Before you know it time to collect little Brownie and then return home to get snuggled up for the night in front of the TV, how blooming cold is it today!
Later dudes, anybodt there yet??