Running 2012 – Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon from the Other Side

Some people may know that I was in charge of the marshals at this event yesterday. It’s tough being a frustrated (non)-runner, especially as I had an entry, paid for back when I was optimistic enough to think this would be a short-term injury layoff. However, apart from a brief moment of tearfulness as I…

Theatre/Food 2011 – Playboy of the Western World, Baltic, London…

Saturday, 21st August 2011 -Old Vic Theatre, Baltic, London I NEVER win anything. Never. That said, after 51 years where the only thing I ever won was a set of spoons (don’t ask) this last 12 months I’ve been having far more success. £100 there, a Waitrose Christmas cake here, tickets for the Ideal Home…

Wildlife 2011 – Luck in Photography

Sometimes, just now and again, you get a really great photo when you’re not expecting to. As a frustrated sidelined runner, I’ve been spending a lot of my Saturday mornings photographing my local parkrun (Milton Keynes in fact) which has the advantage of being staged round Willen Lakes. These give the lie to the picture…

Travel 2011 – Macau, Hong Kong, Days 10 and 11

Monday 21st November Considering the lateness of the night before, I was surprised to wake up around 08:00, and even more surprised that I actually felt well enough to have breakfast. Lynne refused to move so I went alone, wondering if the rest of the party would make it or not. They did and we…

Travel 2011 – Macau, Day 8

Sunday November 20th Sunday morning was not funny. The alarm went off far too early and I dragged my somewhat reluctant self to Melco, arriving there just after 07:00 only to find that the 07:15 start was actually an 07:30 start and that actually by the time the track was clear, it was really an…

Travel 2011 – Macau, Day 6

Friday 18th November Again the day was mostly taken up with the motor racing, which won’t of course come as the slightest surprise to anyone who knows me. This time we were out at Sao Francisco at the”green house”2, a house that was bought by the government to stop development there. In its time it’s…

Travel 2011 – Macau, Day 5

Thursday 17th November Thursday wasn’t too early a start for anybody – unless theoretically the 45th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was any concern of yours. I say theoretically because it was very quickly obvious that whatever practice and qualifying sessions were going to happen, the bikes would not be among them. The sheer amount of…

Travel 2011 – Macau, Day 3

Tuesday November 15th Another good night’s sleep and I was starting to feel altogether more human – amazing! Who knew the best way to avoid jetlag was to stay awake for 37 hours straight then switch to local time immediately on arrival?! Anyway we opted for a trip over to Coloane this time, just to…

Travel 2011 – Macau, Day 2

Monday November 14th Monday morning wasn’t anywhere near as painful as it could have been for some odd reason and when the alarm went off at 9 am we both got up cheerfully enough and wandered down to breakfast. The IFT breakfast’s are not the biggest spread you’ll ever find but – and this is…