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.

1010.14 DEVIL

Builds up to very little. Very short.

The Captain's Movie Review in 7 Words.

5/7

1009.04 AN APOLOGY

I know there hasn't been an update on my blog for a while and for this I appologize. I do have loads of notes and jottings ready to compile into entries but I haven't had the chance to sort it out recently. I have a couple of illustrations which are holding me up. Hopefully I'll have it all up in the next seven days.

1008.31 THE FINAL BILL

Today saw the end of the long running Police drama, "The Bill".

This programme was a 'must see' for me at one time, especially when it was in it's 30 minute episode, bi-weekly and later tri-weekly format. It had a great influence on me, made me want to take a job helping and protecting the public. I even toyed with the idea of joining the force as a Police Officer.

It lost it's edge when the Brookside boss took over as Executive Producer and tried to 'soap it up'. Although it regained it's direction later it never fully returned to it's previous position.

Lately, ITV tried to make it more edgy with a later time slot and darker storylines, this was the final nail in it's coffin.

Although I lost interest some years ago (perhaps because of the changes), after hundreds of episodes including 2 live ones, I am sorry to see it go and will mourn it's passing.

1008.30 LAST HOLI-DAY

Since returning from holiday I've aimed for a little quality time with my family. This has involved sitting in the house with Morticia and the kids. Sometimes this has been good but as with all families it can be disastrous.

On the whole it's been a good week but I have to say that I'm ready to go back to work...

1008.27 HAIR OF THE DRAGON

Every year when I go to Wales I always bring home a few Welsh ales. This year I didn't manage to get to a local beer off so I had to rely on the local Tescos (which wasn't too local). Managed to get plenty though...

1008.15 CEI NEWYDD VII

DAY ONE:

We arrived after an uneventful but enjoyable trip, travelling on a Sunday made quite a difference to the traffic levels meaning getting through Manchester was a doddle. We arrived at the Hotel Penwig just after midday, it was like waking from a dream to find that the grey humdrum of real life was a nasty nightmare and that the quiet relaxed tranquility of Cei Newydd was real life.

I was very tired on arrival but the long drive as always was worth it. Mike, the Manager, recognised us straight away and greeted us all with his usual friendly welcome. The cottage would be a home for the next 8 nights.

The area has a poor mobile signal with no signal in cottage at all. There is something quite liberating about it, almost like holidays when I was a kid when you had absolutely no contact with anyone except for a postcard to friends and family. There were spots of signal and a few WiFi hotspots to keep me in the 21st century.

DAY TWO:

0824 - We enjoyed an early night last night after a couple of pints of Brains (the best Welsh ale). I awoke early and managed to catch the sun rising over the sea (I did go back to sleep). It's time now to get up and get ready for breakfast.

The first full day gave us glorious sunshine which meant that we spent the day on the beach with loads of swimming in the sea.

DAY THREE:

The weather was a little poor today so we decided to have a trip inland. I decided I wanted to seek out Llanddui Brieffi, made famous on the TV show, 'Little Britain' (you know, the only gay in the village). It was just a sleepy little village with a pub and Post Office and apart from stopping for a small photo opportunity we decided to drive on to Tregaron.

Tregaron was home to a little museum which used to be the town school house. It was there we were served tea and Welsh cakes by a couple of old ladies. It is a lovely little town and a wonderful day.

Later back in Cei Newydd the annual Regatta in full swing as we drank in the Penwig following a nice meal in the Dolou Inn.

DAY FOUR:

A lazy day in the town, the sun was glorious this afternoon with an enjoyable sit out on the front terrace of the Penwig.

DAY FIVE:

A little overcast but this didn't get in the way of a trip to the beach and another swim in the sea.

DAY SIX:

0945 - I'm out on the streets of Cei Newydd. The quiet is only interrupted by the odd vehicle passing by.

It's grey and drizzle fills the air. This doesn't get in way of the beauty of the place. It was a better afternoon, good food and plenty of Brains bitter / SA continues my enjoyment.

A visit to the Seahorse Inn and a small beer festival were essential this afternoon.

DAY SEVEN:

We spent the morning on the beach. It did rain a little but didn't deter us from the sea. Despite the rain it stayed really warm.

At 1620 went to see the arrival of the Great Tour cycle challenge with Daly Thompson arrive in New Quay. Unfortunately he decided to miss the finish point and go straight to the Inn the team were planning on staying in. To say I was very disappointed would be an understatement.

Lots of beer tonight in the Penwig and the Seahorse. Harlz, my eldest daughter, was mistaken for my girlfriend and a local lifeguard (because she was wearing a New Quay Lifeguard top) by a bloke in the Seahorse. Either he was pissed or thought I was some sort of pervert (maybe both?).

DAY EIGHT:

Today is our last full day and it's a glorious sunny day. A trip out on the boat was order of the day.

We opted for the shorter 1 hour trip and wasn't disappointed. Dolphins put on quite a show for us (and again later that evening as we watched from the pier).

We had booked a Sunday lunch earlier in the week at the Wellington Inn after enjoying the same last year, safe to say we weren't disappointed. Later we walked along the beach right across the bay. we walked to a place we'd never been in the years we've been coming to this place. We discovered a place across the bay that no doubt we'll revisit many times in the future.

Later the same evening dolphins, including a mother with a calf wowed onlookers on the pier, afterwards it was back to the Penwig for the last few drinks.

DAY NINE:

0838 - All packed up ready for last breakfast before departure. No rush time for bit of shopping for last minute souvenirs.

After saying goodbye to Mike and Chris and all the staff at the Penwig we left around 1230.

Initially we drove in the wrong direction (intentionally) so we could visit the Tescos in Cardigan. We stocked up with nibbles for the journey and some Welsh ales for me. We then set off through Wales along the coast road to Aberystwyth then saying goodbye to the sea as we headed inland through Snowdonia National Park towards North Wales and England.

We've already booked in for next year, can't see me ever tiring of this place.

1008.01 HAPPY YORKSHIRE DAY

To celebrate Yorkshire Day I took my family out for a meal to The Crown in Matlock. Ok, so I know that Matlock is in Derbyshire but it's the gesture that counts right?

You can't beat a good pub lunch, for me you can keep your restaurants and fancy dining, Burger and a Beer for a fiver? How do you get better than that?

1007.24 SHEFFIELD BY NIGHT

For the first time in ages I went down to Sheffield for a night out. I have to say either Sheffield has become too much for me or it has become a wank night out. I much prefer Rotherham for a night out (not that I go out much). Maybe Sheffield has moved on, I unfortunately haven't.

*SUPPLIMENTAL*

I wrote the above words upon returning home from a night out with old friends Mr C and Shuffle. While the sentiment still stands (in that I tend to have a better night out in Rotherham than Sheffield these days) I did enjoy meeting up and catching up on old times. I guess all the old places we used to go to have gone and there is no point of reference to our youth and the nights out we used to have back in the late 80s and early nineties.

1007.24 MOT TIME

The most stressful time for any car owner (and I am an owner but not really a driver since Morticia has the car most of the time) is the annual MOT. It's the waiting, the not knowing how much you're gonna have to spend to keep the car on the road for another year. Luckily for me my car passed this morning just wanting a headlight bulb which they fitted for free.

1007.22 COURSE WORK

Most of this week I have been on a course at the Fire Service training centre (nothing to to with fires, just classroom space my organisation sometimes use). Initially I was questioning why I'd been sent on the course as I felt it was aimed more at supervisors level. Most of it was over my head and out of my remit. Later on into the course it's usefulness became apparent and I began to contribute to the discussions. When I call it a course it was actually an 'improvement event' designed to look at the inherent problems of a specific system and getting working more efficiently. The group became very close and efficient and we quickly solved the problem put before us.

The facilities provided by the Fire Brigade were far superior to the training facilities we normally get in house. I hope the next course I get sent on is here.