1012.19 LIVING WITH ME

As anyone who has known me for any length of time or used to read this blog some time ago will know, my wife, Morticia, has had a long standing illness which challenges us every day. A few years ago she had open heart surgery and we hoped that once recovered things would return to normal. Unfortunatly this has not been the case and after years of testing and visits to doctors and clinics, this year, we finally got a clear diagnosis of CFS/ME. I'm not going to go into what that is here, if you want to know then feel free to Google it.

We struggle through day to day and as her primary carer I can meet most of her immediate needs. Where I fail is in the looking after the house and garden, getting those little jobs done etc. Don't get me wrong, our house is clean, it's just cluttered with things that really could do with sorting out. With my time filled with work then the needs of the kids and Morticia I rarely get time to do anything else. When I do get downtime I need it to rest and use it to either relax or explore a creative outlet. My cycling is confined to commuting or extended commutes, no leisure rides for me.

Don't misunderstand me, I wouldn't swap anything and I'll do anything for my Morticia and my children. Sometimes it all gets on top of me but I don't have a channel I can express that through. Friends are great but surely they're getting bored of hearing about my problems.

There is a small light at the end of the tunnel. Last week we finally managed to get to see the CFS/ME service for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. It was an experience to finally speak to a health professional who understood. I have high hopes for our future, and hope that together we can manage this and get on with our life together.

1012.07 PUBLIC TRANSPORT

This week I have been late for work everyday because of major fail in public transport.

The heavy covering of snow has been followed up with record low temperatures, some places getting as low as -20 C. All main roads and the majority of side roads have been gritted so buses are running pretty much a full service.

Buses running late or missing are not a way of encouraging the public to adopt mass transit for their commute, what's the point if you can rely on it to get you into work. I'm lucky since my supervisors are understanding about my predicament. I would use the car but it's a real pain to get it off our road since it never get's gritted (I live on a cul-de-sac) and the couple of times I've ventured out with the car I've needed assistance from neighbours.

With the winter weather set to continue for the rest of the year at least I forsee more logistical misery. I for one can't wait for the big thaw so I can get back on my bike*.

*Some may ask why I'm not cycling, after all there are plenty out there who are. Well that's their choice, I've assessed the risk and decided that I don't want to put myself in unnessesary danger, after all it only takes one patch of ice!

1012.02 SNOWED IN

On Tuesday the snow really moved in on us and the next day it was our turn to be on the news. My overtime was cancelled that day as we all decided it would be best to attempt to get home. Because of the weather I'm using public transport and so I went out into the blizzard to assess my options. I ended up catching a bus travelling down Prince of Wales Road which, considering it's a main dual carriageway, was an 'ice rink'. The bus managed to get me to the Arena in Attercliffe but from there I had to walk the rest of the way home since all the other buses had been taken off.

Yesterday was more of the same with a covering of about a foot of snow and main roads inaccessable to most traffic. All public transport (except trams) were cancelled. I was told by my supervisor to make my way to a more local office to work for the day. Two others from our team did the same.

Today I decided I was getting into work whatever. Luckily most main roads were accessable and buses were being run along them.

More snow is forecast as everyone struggles to get around. At this point there is an average of 2 feet covering in most places. My road at home is completely cut off (vehicularly speaking) and I've very little chance of getting my car out.

1011.28 SNOW

Today we returned from the south to find the land covered with the white fluffy stuff. Since there was no snow down south (save an overnight dusting that quickly melted) I was surprised and the fact.

More is forcast this week, let's see if it can really snow!

1011.27 ST NEOTS

Once again I find myself a Northerner in the south as I return to St Neots to pick up my wife who is down here visiting and bring her home.

I've been a visitor to this little town very few people I know have even heard of for the last few years now. It's the home of my Mother in Law and her partner and we probably visit 3-4 times a year. I'm starting to gain a familiarity with the place and if you excuse all the southerners that infest it, it's quite a nice place.

The shopping centre is adequate with little in the way of major outlets, still I do enjoy a rumage through the charity shops in the town before a bite in the cafe.

I have yet to sample local beers there and I would like to cycle the area but I have little doubt that will happen in due course.

1010.29 MOVEMBER

A few of the guys at work have decided to lend their top lips to men's heath charities and do that most gentlemanly of pursuits, that is grow a moustache. We have a team and you can follow our efforts here on my blog. The challenge is simple grow the best 'mo' you can in 30 days and get sponsored for it.

This is what 'MOVEMBER' is all about...

If you want to donate please visit http://bit.ly/8ZUVMp

Visit my Mo Space at http://uk.movember.com/mospace/770552/

1010.25 WEEKEND RESTBITE

It's been a rough week for me with a nasty bought of manflu that made work really difficult. I even took Wednesday off to sleep off the effects. Whilst it was welcome it didn't quite do the trick.

I've been looking forward to visiting my Mother-in-law down in St Neots this weekend, kind of like a short break. This break is coming to an end and whilst I'm feeling lots better today has been a somber affair with the death in the early hours of my Mother-in-law's best friend.

1010.20 SPENDING REVIEW

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm no lover of the Tories. I watched Thatcher destroy the community I grew up in. The North has taken years to get back up on it's feet only to be knocked on it's arse again by Cameron and his Tory boy sidekick.

I sat and watched George Osborne deliver his 'smoke and mirrors' presentation waiting to see how far he was going to cut my department. Watching it turned my stomach and yet the information he passed was so vague that lots of public sector workers are still in the dark.

It appears that my job is safe at least for the next couple of years. The future for the whole country is in doubt now but what is clear is that while Osbourne says we are all in it together, it's apparent that some are more in it than others.

1010.16 DEAD GIRL

This week they pulled a dead girl out of the canal at the bottom of my street. I didn't know who she was, I've heard different things about her but it doesn't change the fact that she's been murdered. It's never good but it's really shocking when it's in your own community.

1010.15 LOSE THE FAITH

Since I got back from our holiday my cycling has been pretty much just the daily commute. Pleasure rides are getting fewer and fewer. Part of the reason being that the bike needs some tweeks and adjustments, things that mean taking the bike off the rode for a few days. I only have the one bike so I can't afford to be without it, I'm waiting for Cycle to Work to start (scheduled by the end of the year) so that I can take the old one off the road.

Over the last few weeks the ride has become a chore, I've found myself considering my options for the commute which I never thought I'd ever do.

Maybe it's the bike, it's riding like a dog and since returning from holiday (and after seeing those cyclists riding in Wales) I've longed for a decent road bike and the only way I have of funding that dream is through work.

The Cycle to Work scheme has been a battle at work which has had it's ups and downs. We finally got an agreement to start a new scheme (but not a timescale) last month.

I don't know why after so many years I feel like this, my cycling dreams are turning stale.