29 Jan - 4 Feb: Looking forward to a long w/e with Stoker

Thu - Stoker arrived at 5:45am. Back to Villa and for her to catch up on sleep, but she needs to get up for 3pm for her pedicure and haircut.  Very windy and dusty out our way. Trader Vics books for the evening, sat outside even though it was windy.
Wed - Spin/'pump' with See.  It felt tough at the time, but very quickly recovered so I couldn't have really pushed myself.

Tue - Choir
Mon -  Feels like Sunday as the actual Sunday was a blur of travelling and sitting in a meeting room trying to keep up with what was being said.  Went to spin/abs with Walid, it wasn't too hard but I sweated enough to make it look so.  Why can't I do press ups? (yes I know, too much weight to lift).

Sun - Up at 4:45 to go to Dubai to attend a due diligence meeting with the Gulf Fund.  In a conference room all day, just dashed to and from airport back to Bahrain at about 8pm.  This is not a jet set life.
Sat -  Relaxed start, bacon and eggs.  Weather was so nice I had to go out, so cyled over to Dilly to get a library book, then up past Marina West development to Budiaya 'beach', just 24km.  But I do have spin tonight.  Tomorrow is a business trip to Dubai to see a potential investment in an IT company.
Fri - 100km in just over 4 hours saddle time (avg 24.3kph)!! Had set alarm for 5:45, but it was still dark.  Decided to shift myself, so got up at 6 and was on road at 6:15.  Cols start but soon warmed up.  Riffa Fort, then down to Zallaq, Camel roundbout and then along to end of road till signs got too 'prohibited'.  Passed 2 groups of Wheelers coming back but decided not to turn to join them as they were looking too  fast.  That was 45km.  Drank gatorade and ate dates.  Back to AlAreen, up to Banyan Tree with hill no probs.  Down past water park to Fuds for breakfast, 69km.  Back to AlAreen, Zallaq and through villages (via Hamala for a toilet stop) to villa for 99.7 so poddled up road to make it 100.2km.  Knees and inner thighs are feeling it, but could have continued.  The weather made it - clear sky, sun and NO WIND.  It was still.  That makes all the difference.  Would have been a great day for going out on the boat diving but as the engines are kaput then cycling it is.

22 - 28 Jan: Back in the groove, sort of

Thu - In early for meeting.  Did nothing in evening.

Wed - Legs achey and wobbley, must be from the spin class!.  'Misery' dinner/theatre at Dilly tonight.

Tue - Choir tonight.
Mon - Spin/abs with Walid in evening.  Had a few minutes beforehand so did some Bodydoctor upper exercises.  Hadn't been for 2 months, so it was a bit of a shock to the system.  But it felt good.  Then popped into Diving at the Dilly to see what thoughts there were on the lack of an engine for the boat - its costing 3,500BD to repair and a new pair costs 11,000BD.  This is a bummer as I wanted to have a few dives now the weather was nice.  They are waiting to hear what the Dilmun committee have to say, if they will pay for a new pair then diving trip charges will have to go up, it would still be a bargain through.

Sun - Recovery day!
Sat - Short morning ride with Seana and group, Awali to Riffa Fort and then Golf club coffee.  Just 24km.  A nice way to loosen up after yesterday.
Fri - Right, decided to have a cycle, even though the wind was strengthening from the north.  Left about 8:30.  Awali then Riffa Golf Cafe for breakfast.  Down into desert, up soap box hill (the Wheelers call it this, I don't know why), then cut off road (over a ditch, i wouldn't do this again) to join the Dhurat highway.  Down to Bridge 3.  It was all going well and smooth,  too well.  Turned back across oil field and into the headwind.  Ground along with the wind noise blowing in my ears.  Dusty.  Stopped off for a cuppa at Richard's, then back via Hamad Town.  80km in all.  Felt tired but in a nice way, and pleased I survived the wind back.

15 - 22 Jan: Home alone

Thur - Still no exercise

Wed -  Still no exercise.
Tues - Slept too late for gym/swim in morning.  Chair at night - Mozart Requiem for 20 March in Bahrain and Verdi Requiem in Dubai on 26 March.
Mon - Got ready for a spin class, gear i the car, only to find its full and they aren't taken a waitlist.  I am not going to turn up in case there are no shows.  So lets see if I manage to get to the compound gym instead.
Well I did, just.  15 min row then 15 min weights.  Its a start!  Felt pool - it was cool but not too cold for swimming.  Lets see if I manage to have a swim in the morning.  Off to Dilmun Diving now.
Sun -  Doss day.  Stayed a bit later at work to start to create an impression that I actually do work there.  Got Skype working on Asus notebook with webcam.  Fiddled with Sony ereader which didn't like having been totally discharged but its now started again.

Sat - Decided I had to start afresh (5kg put on over UK break).  Cycled 58km down to Al Jazyrer beach.  SE wind so it was a brezze coming back.  Caught some youngster Bahraini cyclists by F1 and they drafted me, so I had to appear nonchelant and keep up 38kph for a while till I pulled over at Costa's for a coffee.  Didn't feel too tired.  Used new workstand and cleaned bike, I wonder if it will go faster?  Decided I had done enough exercise so didn't go to Ritz spin.

Fri - Relaxing day.   Managed a short tandem to Hamala Beach Resort with Stoker.  Go karting with Investorp staff outing in evening at F1 circuit (I was rubbish, I could have cycled faster), then dinner round at Seana's.  Took Stoker to airport for her 1am flight.

18 Dec - 14 Jan: Shovelling snow in UK

Xmas and NY fun in Chorleywood, Woburn Sands and Norfolk.
Back to Bahrain on 9 Jan