Thu - Woke up at 4am, thinking what had I forgotten to pack? Nothing. But got up and checked in online. Went to Ritz gym before work for 1 hour cycling on a spin bike, worked up a good sweat and left feeling energised. Soon brought back to earth with filling in budgets at work. Blues show/buffet at Dilly tonight, then off to airport around 11:30.
Wed - Felt exhausted, must have been having to be sociable with my guests. Normal work day and in evening checked I had packed.
Tue - 20 mins swim. Took Pascale to lunch at Coco's then the famous Tree of Life and No 1 Oil Well experience. Then off to drop off at airport, and dash back to catch choir. Decided that I won't be able to perform in the concert due to not attending enough rehearsals.
Mon - Picked up Pascale and friend from airport in morning. Spin booked up so did solitary cycle at Ritz gym for an hour after work dinner with them at Trader Vics. We started outside, then it thundered and lightening and rained so we went inside. Very pleasant evening.
Sun - 6:30 at parking after bridge 1 on the Durrat highway to meet up with J, I and M from work. We then cycled to the coast to Al Dar to the end of the jetty, down to Durrat for a food stop at the Alosra there and to sit next to their 'beach' to eat it, then back to car. Wind variable, overcast yet hot. I felt good and powered back. 59km.
In the afternoon went to Saar Cinema to see Iron Man 2 (thats as exciting as it gets on a cloudy blustery day in Bahrain). A load of tosh, but it did keep me awake. The best bit was the trailer for Gladiator 2 aka Robin Hood with Russell Crowe reprising his Maximus role.
Sat - Feeling much better this morning. Up at 6:15 and over to Awali. R. was feeling too well, so we had a 20km recovery cycle round the desert to the Golf Club and a bacon and egg butty. Wind was the same as yesterday, cloudy and threatening rain. Spin/Abs tonight.
Fri - Full of good intentions, I had stated the night before I was going to do 100 miles. So up and out at 5:10. It was cloudy and spotty with rain. Riffa, Alba and down the highway to Durrat. Average speed 28kph due to tail wind. My back had a slow puncture which I pumped up twice but checking at Durrat I heard the valve stem was hissing and had come away from the rubber, so changed tube no probs. Then it got grim cycling back into the strong headwind it was also still cloudy and dusty (so not too hot). I was clearly not going to do 100miles as I was pushing hard with the legs all the time. Pulled into the Golf Club for a bacon butty (usual yummy) and recovery. Started well again down the highway to Zallaq, but that was just being fooled by it being downhill. Hamad Town was head down and push hard into the wind. T 112km in 51/2 hours. Now feeling absolutely knacked.
23 - 29 April: BtoB (Back to Bahrain)
Thu - Stayed latish as work to have a meeting with Y. Then went straight to Paul Entwistle's in Sar for a Wheelers party. Great braii and nice to chat to othe other and meet Paul's generationally extended family. However the chicken tikka massala made the next days ride interesting.
Wed - Good Spin/Pump with Walid. Tooth is like new, no issues, strange feelings or pain, so thats over.
Tue - No exercise. Had permanent crown put in to replace temporary one that has survived a week longer than it was supposed to due to the flight delay. Now I can bite on both side of my mouth, a strange feeling at first. Choir in evening. Am not finding African Sanctus uplifting, its not Mozart. With a month away for the France ride coming up, I don't think I will be up for the concert. Lets see.
Mon - easy 20 mins swim in morning. Spin/abs at Ritz was a good workout. Feeling in reasonable condition, shame about the weight not moving. Typed up some childhood diaries we found when clearing out Mum's flat. You can read them on the link on the right, and find out how I learnt to swim and ride a bike, how much Christopher was not well and skipping school, and how often it rained, especially on holiday in Wales. But looking back, it was idyllic very very mild 'Just William' (I was a real goodie at school).
Sun - BtoWork. Decided to stop being miserable, and accepted offer of dinner at Bapco Club with S&R and Lucy. Had a good time.
Sat - BA 10:50 flight BtoB. 6 hr flight on time. Weather breezy but not too hot. Villa looks clean. Miserable to be back alone
Fri - Stoker had a meeting at Mt Vernon in the morning, so I got the bike ready and we cycled to the Cafe at the Aquadrome for breakfast, as recommended by Stalker and P. It was awesome, a lovely setting (wooden cafe) and great food. We didn't cycle long enough to make up the calories though, but did deserve a hot tub.
http://www.thecafeinthepark.com/#
Stoker went doctoring again, then off to Cambridge in the afternoon to catch up with P&M and go with them to hear Montiverdi Vespers at Girton. A Magnificat performance with very strong voices seeming to be effortlessly generated.
Would have got back by 11:30 but J18 & J17 closed with no warning, so had to detour via J16 and Denham back. At least they were all working on the motorway with large mchine steaming away.
Wed - Good Spin/Pump with Walid. Tooth is like new, no issues, strange feelings or pain, so thats over.
Tue - No exercise. Had permanent crown put in to replace temporary one that has survived a week longer than it was supposed to due to the flight delay. Now I can bite on both side of my mouth, a strange feeling at first. Choir in evening. Am not finding African Sanctus uplifting, its not Mozart. With a month away for the France ride coming up, I don't think I will be up for the concert. Lets see.
Mon - easy 20 mins swim in morning. Spin/abs at Ritz was a good workout. Feeling in reasonable condition, shame about the weight not moving. Typed up some childhood diaries we found when clearing out Mum's flat. You can read them on the link on the right, and find out how I learnt to swim and ride a bike, how much Christopher was not well and skipping school, and how often it rained, especially on holiday in Wales. But looking back, it was idyllic very very mild 'Just William' (I was a real goodie at school).
Sun - BtoWork. Decided to stop being miserable, and accepted offer of dinner at Bapco Club with S&R and Lucy. Had a good time.
Sat - BA 10:50 flight BtoB. 6 hr flight on time. Weather breezy but not too hot. Villa looks clean. Miserable to be back alone
Fri - Stoker had a meeting at Mt Vernon in the morning, so I got the bike ready and we cycled to the Cafe at the Aquadrome for breakfast, as recommended by Stalker and P. It was awesome, a lovely setting (wooden cafe) and great food. We didn't cycle long enough to make up the calories though, but did deserve a hot tub.
http://www.thecafeinthepark.com/#
Stoker went doctoring again, then off to Cambridge in the afternoon to catch up with P&M and go with them to hear Montiverdi Vespers at Girton. A Magnificat performance with very strong voices seeming to be effortlessly generated.
Would have got back by 11:30 but J18 & J17 closed with no warning, so had to detour via J16 and Denham back. At least they were all working on the motorway with large mchine steaming away.
16 - 22 April: Grounded by ash
Thu - Train into work and walked. At lunchtime got bike and decided to train home rather than cycle all the way, I think I had done enough for the week. Played at home with new MacBook Pro and worked out how to embed Garmin Connect activities into this page (see below). Delightful meal with S & L, S & P, at The Coriander in Amersham. Fell asleep at 10pm after 2.5 pts of Kingfisher.
Wed - 1hr45mins cycle in. It seemed faster than yesterday, but wasn't. Wore less layers, temperature was just right. Felt great after it.
After work, Jon took for a tour round the FCO, fabulous. Then a lovely meal with whole family at La Barca in Lower Marsh. Messed around with tubes/trains on the way back, trying to beat waiting for the Chiltern line but ended up getting on it at Harrow.
Tue - Needing the exercise, decided to cycle to work. Left at 6:35. 38km in 1hr43mins, As last time, it was a cold start, but I was warmly kitted up. The ride really makes one feel alive. 2:hr12mins for 36km back, the ride through Moor Park is gorgeous with views over sunny Watford, not a cloud or a contrail in the sky, then straight into hot tub.
Mon - Working from home. 25 min cycle ride in afternoon around village and up a hill. That was enuff!
Sun - Tempted to lie in bed, but Stoker persuaded me to get on the tandem and cycle via Mill End to Cinnamon Square for a coffee and muffin. They have expanded into the shop next door, and its a really nice passagey warren to relax, and the coffee is excellent. Then we popped back in the car to pick up the cake for A's 18th. Onto Aspley Heath via Hemel station to collect the kiddies and roof downed in the BMW via A41 and LB bypass in glorious weather. Lunch at Paris House in grounds of Woburn Abbey. It has just been renovated and is an Alain Murtchison restaurant. Novel takes on presentation, not too nouvelle. Nice BA sent me a text to say my flight tomorrow was cancelled. Rebooked at earliest available via their website for next Saturday. Hot tub when we got back.
There is no escape from the Stalker, she spotted us going round the aquadrome roundabout on the tandem in the morning. Its getting more like The Prisoner everyday.
Sat - Domestic affairs in morning and round to Fairlawns to continue clearing up Mum's flat with Bro. Lunch on lawn outside in the sun. In late afternoon tandemed 15 miles to Coleshill and back round, stopping for tea at G&Cs. Amersham-Colehill hill wasn't too bad. Had pint on Common in lovely weather. England is rather pleasant sometimes. Hot tub when we got back.
Fri - Dawdled around Chorleywood. Stoker decided to go to gym in evening, and I got out the Dahon and cycled to William Penn and back for a quick spin. Hot ub when we got back.
Wed - 1hr45mins cycle in. It seemed faster than yesterday, but wasn't. Wore less layers, temperature was just right. Felt great after it.
After work, Jon took for a tour round the FCO, fabulous. Then a lovely meal with whole family at La Barca in Lower Marsh. Messed around with tubes/trains on the way back, trying to beat waiting for the Chiltern line but ended up getting on it at Harrow.
Tue - Needing the exercise, decided to cycle to work. Left at 6:35. 38km in 1hr43mins, As last time, it was a cold start, but I was warmly kitted up. The ride really makes one feel alive. 2:hr12mins for 36km back, the ride through Moor Park is gorgeous with views over sunny Watford, not a cloud or a contrail in the sky, then straight into hot tub.
Mon - Working from home. 25 min cycle ride in afternoon around village and up a hill. That was enuff!
Sun - Tempted to lie in bed, but Stoker persuaded me to get on the tandem and cycle via Mill End to Cinnamon Square for a coffee and muffin. They have expanded into the shop next door, and its a really nice passagey warren to relax, and the coffee is excellent. Then we popped back in the car to pick up the cake for A's 18th. Onto Aspley Heath via Hemel station to collect the kiddies and roof downed in the BMW via A41 and LB bypass in glorious weather. Lunch at Paris House in grounds of Woburn Abbey. It has just been renovated and is an Alain Murtchison restaurant. Novel takes on presentation, not too nouvelle. Nice BA sent me a text to say my flight tomorrow was cancelled. Rebooked at earliest available via their website for next Saturday. Hot tub when we got back.
There is no escape from the Stalker, she spotted us going round the aquadrome roundabout on the tandem in the morning. Its getting more like The Prisoner everyday.
Sat - Domestic affairs in morning and round to Fairlawns to continue clearing up Mum's flat with Bro. Lunch on lawn outside in the sun. In late afternoon tandemed 15 miles to Coleshill and back round, stopping for tea at G&Cs. Amersham-Colehill hill wasn't too bad. Had pint on Common in lovely weather. England is rather pleasant sometimes. Hot tub when we got back.
Fri - Dawdled around Chorleywood. Stoker decided to go to gym in evening, and I got out the Dahon and cycled to William Penn and back for a quick spin. Hot ub when we got back.
9 - 15 Apr: Olympic Tri Bike leg + Home
Thu - Train and walked into work as going to ballet tonight. Very nice walking through London to Mayfair. Went to Canary Wharf for a meeting at 2. Stopped off at Canada Water and did some Decathalon cycle shopping on way back, walked from Waterloo to Covent Garden to meet family for dinner at Sappori, then ballet. Home on 11:27 train.
Wed - Overcast and dismal. Train and Brompton into work today. Dinner at The Gate with Stalker and partners.
Tue - I am mad. Out at 6:20 to cycle into work. It started off cold so I wrapped up. Missed a turn in Oxhey and added 1/2 mle to the route, but it all went well to Stanmore, then down A5. How they are going to make this a 'cycle superhighway' into London is a mystery as the road is appallingly poorly maintained and the bus lane stop/start as do the buses so you have to keep popping out into the main traffic. 39.5km in 1hr50mins. Shower at work, felt really good and energised by the ride. Ride back wasn't as much fun. Seemed uphill, a headwind and nasty potholes to avoid. Stopped for coffee in Stanmore. 2hr5mins for 38km, Lovely hotub, then cleaned bike.
Mon - Took BMW via country roads and A10 via Downham Market for bacon butty and cup of tea, to Kings Lynn for Auntie Ethel's funeral, the last matriarch if you don't count Auntie Val. Everyone was very friendly. Brought back recent memories of Mum's funeral. I have decided dress at my funeral will be NO ties but shorts. I was told I need to make sure I die in a hot summer.
Sun -We all slept on the flight, back home at 8am. Stoker went to gym, I pottered around doing DIY repairs. Cooked roast chicken and veggies, yum. Tandem ride in afternoon to Stalker's house. "Is anybody there" the traveller said "knocking on the door" (apologies to Walter De La Mare). No, because she was out at the footie! 18km round trip, lovely weather, felt good. Took up garden chairs to Jon's London flat for roof terrace, had cup of tea watching the London Eye as sun went down. Then home, just watched TV, drank a bottle of red wine and nibbled nuts. Bliss.
Sat - Checked in online and put us all together in one row - nearly all flight seats already taken. Pool in morning followed by bacon & sausage brunch (for O from Qatar). I then did nothing whilst others went into City Mall & Seef area, Fort etc. O took taxi to airport, we went to Country Club for a meal. Took J to airport, then drove the rest with hire car to airport for 01:40 flight. Yawn.
Fri - Thanks to neighbours, found a team member for the swim leg, and O. said he would do the run. Left at 6am to go down to Al Jazera Sailing Club. Weather was cloudy, which was nice, but windy, which wasn't. K. swam well and came out about 1/3 in the field. The cycle was 3 loops, one way into an increasingly stronger headwind, then a easier cycle back. You can see the effect in the profile:
I was knackered and the legs really felt the pushing on the outward leg. O. ran really well, 44 mins for 10km, again half was into the wind. Support team chatted to neighbours, whose girls won the mixed team. Back for quick bacon (to give O. a pork hit as he hasn't had any in Qatar), then off to Golf Club for brunch. Drove back via No 1 Oil Well, F1, and villages where we paniced when in a convoy of 20 riot police land cruisers. Lazed around and dozed rest of day, but took L&O into JJs for an evening of clubbing. We went to bed though.
Wed - Overcast and dismal. Train and Brompton into work today. Dinner at The Gate with Stalker and partners.
Tue - I am mad. Out at 6:20 to cycle into work. It started off cold so I wrapped up. Missed a turn in Oxhey and added 1/2 mle to the route, but it all went well to Stanmore, then down A5. How they are going to make this a 'cycle superhighway' into London is a mystery as the road is appallingly poorly maintained and the bus lane stop/start as do the buses so you have to keep popping out into the main traffic. 39.5km in 1hr50mins. Shower at work, felt really good and energised by the ride. Ride back wasn't as much fun. Seemed uphill, a headwind and nasty potholes to avoid. Stopped for coffee in Stanmore. 2hr5mins for 38km, Lovely hotub, then cleaned bike.
Mon - Took BMW via country roads and A10 via Downham Market for bacon butty and cup of tea, to Kings Lynn for Auntie Ethel's funeral, the last matriarch if you don't count Auntie Val. Everyone was very friendly. Brought back recent memories of Mum's funeral. I have decided dress at my funeral will be NO ties but shorts. I was told I need to make sure I die in a hot summer.
Sun -We all slept on the flight, back home at 8am. Stoker went to gym, I pottered around doing DIY repairs. Cooked roast chicken and veggies, yum. Tandem ride in afternoon to Stalker's house. "Is anybody there" the traveller said "knocking on the door" (apologies to Walter De La Mare). No, because she was out at the footie! 18km round trip, lovely weather, felt good. Took up garden chairs to Jon's London flat for roof terrace, had cup of tea watching the London Eye as sun went down. Then home, just watched TV, drank a bottle of red wine and nibbled nuts. Bliss.
Sat - Checked in online and put us all together in one row - nearly all flight seats already taken. Pool in morning followed by bacon & sausage brunch (for O from Qatar). I then did nothing whilst others went into City Mall & Seef area, Fort etc. O took taxi to airport, we went to Country Club for a meal. Took J to airport, then drove the rest with hire car to airport for 01:40 flight. Yawn.
Fri - Thanks to neighbours, found a team member for the swim leg, and O. said he would do the run. Left at 6am to go down to Al Jazera Sailing Club. Weather was cloudy, which was nice, but windy, which wasn't. K. swam well and came out about 1/3 in the field. The cycle was 3 loops, one way into an increasingly stronger headwind, then a easier cycle back. You can see the effect in the profile:
2-9 April: Full House
Thu - Easy swim again in morning. Picked up O. at 8pm from Qatar, then met up with J, J & P at outside sisha/lebanese restaurant near Ramada in Adliya. Had dips and various nibbly plates, J took J&P to airport and back to villa. Straight to bed as early start for bike leg in Olympic Tri tomorrow!
Wed - Easy swim again, Stoker going to gym later. I went to the gym in the late afternoon. Went to see the sun go down and have a sundowner at the Hamala Beach Resort. Total failure on both counts - the sun went behind a cloud, but much worse, they have been stopped from serving alcohol a couple of weeks a ago. What is the Shura Council trying to do, destroy all of Bahrain's tourist attractions? So its good bye to:
Meat Co in evening outdoors on roof terrace. Then took H. to airport.
Tue - Easy 30 lengths swim with Stoker before work. Afternoon tea at Ritz. Teppanyaki dinner at Bushidos.
Mon - Gym before work with Stoker. Met Stoker, L&H for a lunch time coffee at the Coffee House in Muharraq and looked around Sheikh Isa's house:
Buffet in evening at Lanterns Indian.
Sun - 40 lengths swim with Stoker, then dropped off at Alosra to pick up hire car and into work. Dentist in afternoon for a broken filling that turned into a temporary crown with permanent to be done in a couple of week - by end of evening mouth was back to relative normal feeling.
Sat - Up early and out of house at 6:15 to tandem to Awali, join Seana and friends to cycle down to Zallaq, Al Areen then Costa for Coffee. Back home by 10:00 after 54km. Both feeling tired, more from early rising than the cycle. Usual tourist tour of the island (Tree of Life, No 1 oil well, Banyan Tree for the usual slowly served drink and snack). Trader Vics in evening where we sat outside, v. nice.
Fri - Early and late trips to airport to pick up kiddies and their friends. We now have 8 in the house. Golf Club Cafe for late breakfast butty i.e. lunch. Lazed around pool during day. Thai beef salad for evening meal, yummy.
Wed - Easy swim again, Stoker going to gym later. I went to the gym in the late afternoon. Went to see the sun go down and have a sundowner at the Hamala Beach Resort. Total failure on both counts - the sun went behind a cloud, but much worse, they have been stopped from serving alcohol a couple of weeks a ago. What is the Shura Council trying to do, destroy all of Bahrain's tourist attractions? So its good bye to:
Meat Co in evening outdoors on roof terrace. Then took H. to airport.
Tue - Easy 30 lengths swim with Stoker before work. Afternoon tea at Ritz. Teppanyaki dinner at Bushidos.
Mon - Gym before work with Stoker. Met Stoker, L&H for a lunch time coffee at the Coffee House in Muharraq and looked around Sheikh Isa's house:
Buffet in evening at Lanterns Indian.
Sun - 40 lengths swim with Stoker, then dropped off at Alosra to pick up hire car and into work. Dentist in afternoon for a broken filling that turned into a temporary crown with permanent to be done in a couple of week - by end of evening mouth was back to relative normal feeling.
Sat - Up early and out of house at 6:15 to tandem to Awali, join Seana and friends to cycle down to Zallaq, Al Areen then Costa for Coffee. Back home by 10:00 after 54km. Both feeling tired, more from early rising than the cycle. Usual tourist tour of the island (Tree of Life, No 1 oil well, Banyan Tree for the usual slowly served drink and snack). Trader Vics in evening where we sat outside, v. nice.
Fri - Early and late trips to airport to pick up kiddies and their friends. We now have 8 in the house. Golf Club Cafe for late breakfast butty i.e. lunch. Lazed around pool during day. Thai beef salad for evening meal, yummy.
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