1808.29 MY HAPPY PLACE ...NOW WITH ADDED SEA MONSTER

There are few that understand what I'm talking about when I talk about my happy place. I have come to believe that there is a place for everyone in this planet and it will resonate at the same frequency as the person - you know when you've truly found it. Don't get it? You've yet to  find yours, some people are lucky enough to live in theirs. I'm not that lucky - yet!

1808.23 MY POSTCARD FROM CEI NEWYDD

Bore da! It's time for my annual post card from my holiday in my beloved New Quay on the Welsh coast. I'll be brief since I don't want to waste too much time...

1808.17 CAR TETRIS

Ultimately the most stressful part of the lead up to any holiday is the packing and preparation before setting off, at least it is for my good lady wife - Morticia. She panics about all aspects of the process, I guess I get it easy but I've always had the attitude that if it's not sorted then don't worry.

1808.12 HEATWAVE

If there's one thing most people will remember about 2018 it will be the record breaking heatwave and it would be remiss of me to mention it. I've chosen to use this current hiatus in the soaring temperatures to mention it.

1808.06 SUDS LAW

As a cyclist I take a lot of showers. I'm lucky to have the use of shower facilities at work for when I commute by bike (which is practically every time). There's no bin in the shower room at work so I've been stacking spent shower gel bottles on the bench. What's concerning is the amount of bottles I seem to get through, this has got me thinking...

1807.28 TOUR DE FRANCE

In a summer that's been obsessed by the football World Cup I finally get my little oasis of pleasure with the best sporting spectacle of the year - The Tour de France, the world's biggest bike race.

1807.05 HAPPY BIRTHDAY NHS

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A British Institution, often maligned and taken for granted, this week this pillar of our society turned 70. I thought I'd look how this amazing organisation has touched my life.

1807.03 NINETEEN YEARS MANACLED

Nineteen years ago this very day Morticia, for reasons only known to her, agreed to marry me.

1806.29 YOU SHALL GO TO THE BALL

Proms are a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, a product of the American influence of TV and films. Prior to 2000 you might be lucky to have a bit of a school disco to mark the end of your school life. I didn't get anything - I remember just walking out of school after my last exam, never to return.

Both my daughters have had the privilege of the prom experience.

1806.25 FOOTY OVERLOAD

You'd have to have been living in a cave to realise that there is a little football tournament going on known as the World Cup.

1806.21 HOW DO YOU CARRY YOURS?

Most people who commute by bike have to carry some sort of luggage with them. Be it a change of clothes, a uniform, sandwiches or even tools and equipment there's always 'stuff' that needs to come with you.

1806.15 LEAVER

I left school 31 years ago. I remember it well. There was no fanfare, no prom (we didn't have such things back then) no gathering or inspirational speeches - I just finished my last exam and walked out the door never to return.

1806.05 THE WEIGHT

Time is a commodity I don't have loads of at the moment. When I do get a precious moment I am so tired I don't feel like doing anything.

1806.02 PINK MEANS A TRIPLE

The first of the Grand Tours is the Giro d'Italia, basically the Tour of Italy. I love bike racing and especially love the spectacle of the Grand Tours. This year's though proved to be the biggest spectacle I've ever seen.

1805.15 WORK IS WORKING

A few of years ago my position at work was put 'at risk'. Then came the dismantling of my department and the merging with another. We were at risk for about a year and the ensuing turmoil saw my place of work closed and everyone 'shoehorned' into another location.