Feeling wonderful this morning only a little bit of altered sensation.  Heavy workshop would have been very successful if it wasn't for the fact my knee was hurting, reckon I twisted it a little yesterday.  So I avoided the treadmill, rowing machine and exercise bike.  Had a session on the BTE, first since August, and did the full range of upper body stuff with the swiss ball. Came home and spent 10 mins on the finger board, before doing some work.


Heard a rumour my picture may be in the new limestone guide thanks to Dave :-)

Karin and Dan off to Potato day this morning so after a little homework Lottie and I headed out for a walk over Longstone Edge. Navigation practise for Lottie in anticipation of her D of E expedition.   Chip butties in Outside at Curbar then an hour to spare before heading to Wirksworth for Maths, so went to catch the last of the daylight at the Trackside boulder.  A quick warm up and I fancied my chance on Trackside it had previously felt a soft touch problem one where once you had the knack it felt easy, but not today.  I ended up several times staring at the top but unable to remove a hand.  Still weak, not warmed up, too many chips, carrying an extra stone in weight, fading light. . .  lots of excuses but I'll have to return.

Amy's wedding in Buxton today.  Ceremony in the fairly cold 'hot house' of the Pavilion gardens followed by some nice food and lots of chocolate cake in the Paxton Suite.

Its a year since I had my stroke and feeling well this morning.  A bright and cold day, heavy workshop seemed to go well 5 mins air bike, 5 mins cross trainer,10mins treadmill, 5 mins rowing machine (1245m). swiss ball dumbbell fly, swiss ball dumbbell chest press, swiss ball dumbbell pull over, swiss ball dips.  Trip into town to buy cakes for the OT's then back to the workshop for my telephone appointment.  Not sure what to think as when I called, it was just to make an appointment to go and see a consultant!  So I had a letter to ring the hospital to make an appointment to make a phone call to make an appointment???  Anyway this was then followed by a good hour of Shiatsu, that was very relaxing.  Plans to go out for a meal in the evening were shelved as everyone else was too tired after a busy week.

Its been a difficult year but the support I've received from everyone when its mattered is what's stood out.  Thank you xxx

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests#petition

Morning and most of the afternoon in the office, missed getting home in time for the afternoon play but thanks to listen again I caught up with Robert McCrum's experience of having a stroke. I  had some reservations about listening, but hopefully like Robert I'll feel better after the 1st anniversary this Friday?

On a more cheerful note listened to this fab mix from the Kleptones of 70's West African music and watched some footage of a very strong youth

Morning in the office feeling tired so home for a nap then a little more work before Karin provides a Burns night supper of Haggis and Mash

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae let the Lord be thankit.

Our Haggis was veggie!

Heavy workshop this morning 5 mins air bike, 5 mins cross trainer, putty, swiss ball rotator cuff, 10mins treadmill, 5 mins rowing machine (1108m).  Home to do a little work and have rest before heading to the Royal Derby X-ray department for an ultrasound of my abdomen.  Nothing unusual spotted during the examination but I also have a telephone appointment with the Gastroentrologist on Friday, hopefully I'll get more reassurance on the likely causes of this stomach discomfort.

Plans to go for a bit of a walk are shelved as Lottie is starting with a cold, so its shopping and tidying followed by Point Break. 

Trip to Alter Rock with Lottie this morning, a little easy bouldering then a few routes.  It's been a
while since I've been climbing with Lottie but she was on fine form. Evening watching Legally blonde with Lottie on the sofa!

Woke up feeling fine considering the climbing and late night. Heavy workshop first thing 5 mins air bike, 5 mins cross trainer, 5 mins rowing machine (1201m), swiss ball dumbbell fly, swiss ball dumbbell chest press, swiss ball dumbbell pull over, swiss ball dips, swiss ball rotator cuff.  Followed by an hour of Shiatsu.

Quick trip to Darley to walk Peggy before calling in at the Connecting Derby office for work.

Morning in the office then home for an afternoon nap before heading out with Simon to Stanton Moor.  A really beautiful evening with an almost full moon and clear starry skies.  Checked out some of the new boulder problems.  Although it was a mixed bag of problems we looked at, it was good to be outside on such a nice evening and I was glad to find my head was able to cope with climbing even if my fingers still feel  weak and my skin soft.

Whole day in the office.
 Took Dan to kayaking this evening for a pool session where he was trying rolling.

Morning in the office, looks like we'll all be receiving 'at risk' letters in the near future!
Sunny afternoon and not feeling too bad so decide to walk Peggy as it looks as if I'll be in the office all day tomorrow.

Feeling better after a good nights sleep, Another successful heavy workshop - 5 mins air bike, 5 mins cross trainer, 5 mins rowing machine (1205m), swiss ball dumbbell fly, swiss ball dumbbell chest press, swiss ball dumbbell pull over, swiss ball dips, swiss ball rotator cuff, swiss ball kneeling roll outs. Then home for 10mins on the finger board.  Looks as if the weather is improving and its a full moon on Wednesday.

Feeling tired today and the weather was miserable so a day mostly spent on the sofa watching episodes of Dr Who.

Lottie back to Derby by train. Chatsworth with Dan, Ian and assorted dogs.  Then an evening watching Monsters v Aliens and Aliens in the Attic.

Morning at heavy workshop 5 mins air bike, 5 mins cross trainer, 5 mins rowing machine (1105m), swiss ball dumbbell fly, swiss ball dumbbell chest press, swiss ball dumbbell pull over, swiss ball dips, swiss ball rotator cuff.  Felt much better than I had done in quite a few months although my arms are aching a little.
Home for a rest but then a call to say Karin's mum had been knocked over and although she was ok Karin understandably wanted to pop down to Cardiff for the weekend. So a quick trip to Oakwood Cars to get the Picnic sorted so we had two cars available, then into the office to prepare for a meeting. Home by six. Evening in Ible for a couple of glasses of wine and Xmas Mk 6?
A long and busy day but feeling good, hope I've not overdone things.

Morning in the office then an afternoon taking it easy before a trip to the newish bouldering wall in Stoke, awesome!  Despite feeling weak I felt better than last week and as long as it wasn't too steep I seemed to be able to get up a good number of problems which was very satisfying.  Hopefully a few more trips to the wall some pull ups and a bit of finger boarding will result in some improvements over the next couple of months, but I'm keen to get out for some easy stuff if the opportunity arises.

More news regarding Andrew Lansley and Stroke rehab on the radio this morning, sounds as if I've been lucky with the care I've received.
Not feeling too bad today despite a long morning at work.

Dan came back from canoeing this evening with his Paddle Power Passport.

Morning in the office then afternoon working from home.  Andrew Lansley on Today programme this morning talking about the flu jab, missed it but listened again as it was mentioned he had a stroke resulting from a torn artery in 1992 which had effected his balance.

Heavy workshop this morning.  5 mins air bike, 5 mins putty, 5 mins steady rowing machine (1113m), swiss ball dumbbell fly, swiss ball dumbbell chest press, swiss ball dumbbell pull over, swiss ball dips, 10mins treadmill.  Feeling ok despite altered sensation but no stomach discomfort.

Work from home in the afternoon before a trip to see the GP with my filled in questionnaire.  He's much happier about my mood so no prescription for SSRI's but wants to see me on a regular basis for the next few months.  I'm also having an appointment made for a scan to check out my stomach discomfort and will be going to see a Gastroenterologist. Hopefully I'll get a clear diagnosis.

Early start to spend the morning on the beach at Ogmore delayed by abnormal load. Tide was in so fossil hunting on limestone pavements.

 Home with a car load of rocks!

Trip to Penarth today.  Quick walk on the beach with Peggy then a rather nice Italian meal with views across to Western-Super-Mare.  Dan and Karin then went on a alabaster and fossil hunt before we headed back to Cardiff for Christmas Mk3 or is it Mk4?

More snow again today :-)

No ill effects from last nights trip to the wall.  Heavy workshop in the morning, a chat and 5 mins on the air bike plus 10 mins on the treadmill.
Off to Cardiff this evening.

Morning in the office then an afternoon nap before heading to Alter Rock in the evening.  Not feeling wonderful but it was great to meet up with a few folk and to do a few easy boulder problems and routes.

Crap nights sleep due to stomach discomfort, then a morning in the office and work from home in the afternoon.

Jim Reeves – Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair) Heard this on the radio at the weekend which brought back memory's of my Dad.  This led to me looking up  Tommy Steele – Little White Bull which used to get played at my grandmas,  not sure its a song that would go down particularly well these days!

Back to school and work through snow flurries this morning which obscured the partial eclipse.  Worth catching up on Stargazing live

Over to Darley again for some more land boarding with Dan this time with Kade and Isaac.
Charlie Brookers Review of the Year on iplayer and Just William
before an early night as its back to work and school tomorrow.

Trip to Wingerworth for a lovely lunch at Chris and Mikes and another game of Rapidough.  Home in time to listen to the Archers and watch Lottie's new DVD, Inception.

Karin has a very early start heading down to Gatwick to collect the Cheale's after their Caribbean adventure.  Over for a couple of hours in the afternoon to wish Isaac a Happy Birthday and look at a few photos of Monserrat and tales of a rum based Christmas.