Been quiet for a couple of weeks. Back in UK for mum's funeral and sorting things out, went as well as can be hoped for. Am working from the London office til I go back on 9 Jan (with stoker for a week) to Bahrain.
For some silly reason I decided to try cycling to work (Mayfair) from Chorleywood on Wednesday 15 Dec. This just happened to be the first snowy day of the winter. Going in it was dark and cold, but getting lighter. Coming home was cold, wet and dark with sleet near Watford. 23 miles each way in 2 hours. Only to be repeated on a long warm summer's day.
20 - 26 Nov: End of a family chapter
Thur -
Wed -
Tue -
Mon -
Sun - Not a day to remember with joy. Colonoscopy in the morning, clean bill of health so next test in 5 years. Then throughout day increasingly negaive news about mum who has just had an operation. She died this afternoon so we are flying back to UK tonight.
Sat - Lazy start to day, then tandemed 14km to Hamala where we had a drink overlooking the 'sea front'.
Fri - Stoker failed to wake up, so I went alone to follow the office team on the Bahrain Relay Marathon. Parked at Awali and cycled 45km, hopping along the 3km stages. Nice weather, team did well, bettwe position than last year and most did personal bests.
Wed -
Tue -
Mon -
Sun - Not a day to remember with joy. Colonoscopy in the morning, clean bill of health so next test in 5 years. Then throughout day increasingly negaive news about mum who has just had an operation. She died this afternoon so we are flying back to UK tonight.
Sat - Lazy start to day, then tandemed 14km to Hamala where we had a drink overlooking the 'sea front'.
Fri - Stoker failed to wake up, so I went alone to follow the office team on the Bahrain Relay Marathon. Parked at Awali and cycled 45km, hopping along the 3km stages. Nice weather, team did well, bettwe position than last year and most did personal bests.
13 - 20 Nov: Looking forward to Stoker arriving
Thu - 21 mins swim, it felt chilly getting in, so I asked caretaker to turn on the heating, he said he would.
Wed - Only 20 mins swim, lost count of the lengths. Spin/abs tonight with Whalid, it was tough and I sweated buckets.
Tue - Mandal has bought a bike, never having ridden in Bahrain, so with him we went out at 6am from Jeff's place, over Hidd bridge and coffee at Starbucks in Juffair. Only 16k in 45mins but a lovely ride in the cool of the morning. Showered and changed at Jeff's then into work. Choir this evening to start practising for the Christmas concert.
Mon - 60 lengths in 26 mins before work. Spin/abs in evening, See goes through the routines and stretches a little bit to fast for my liking.
Sun - Slept through till 7! Must have been the adrenaline drop after the concert, but I still felt mentally tired. Decided to kick start myself with a 2.94k "run" in 23:48 mins. Absolutely pathetic pace but for me it was good to get round without stopping (in my MBT trainers!).
Sat - Up at 5:45 to take final guest to airport, then round to Jeff's with bike in back of car for 7am. Rode across Hidd bridge to Amwaj, around and back. Had coffee in Starbucks in Juffair. 42km in 2 hours. When got back, after shower went to bed for a "little snooze" and woke up 6 hours later, just in time to have some soup and go to bed again. Bahrain lost 0-1 to NZ so no world cup for them this time round.
Fri - Big day. Rehearsal in morning 10-1pm, then drove guest oboists around the sights of Bahrain, concert 6:30-11pm, took some folks to airport, then back to party in Juffair. Lovely indian food, and still no booze for me. In bed at 2am. Great concert, everyone was very happy.
Wed - Only 20 mins swim, lost count of the lengths. Spin/abs tonight with Whalid, it was tough and I sweated buckets.
Tue - Mandal has bought a bike, never having ridden in Bahrain, so with him we went out at 6am from Jeff's place, over Hidd bridge and coffee at Starbucks in Juffair. Only 16k in 45mins but a lovely ride in the cool of the morning. Showered and changed at Jeff's then into work. Choir this evening to start practising for the Christmas concert.
Mon - 60 lengths in 26 mins before work. Spin/abs in evening, See goes through the routines and stretches a little bit to fast for my liking.
Sun - Slept through till 7! Must have been the adrenaline drop after the concert, but I still felt mentally tired. Decided to kick start myself with a 2.94k "run" in 23:48 mins. Absolutely pathetic pace but for me it was good to get round without stopping (in my MBT trainers!).
Sat - Up at 5:45 to take final guest to airport, then round to Jeff's with bike in back of car for 7am. Rode across Hidd bridge to Amwaj, around and back. Had coffee in Starbucks in Juffair. 42km in 2 hours. When got back, after shower went to bed for a "little snooze" and woke up 6 hours later, just in time to have some soup and go to bed again. Bahrain lost 0-1 to NZ so no world cup for them this time round.
Fri - Big day. Rehearsal in morning 10-1pm, then drove guest oboists around the sights of Bahrain, concert 6:30-11pm, took some folks to airport, then back to party in Juffair. Lovely indian food, and still no booze for me. In bed at 2am. Great concert, everyone was very happy.
6 - 13 Nov: Messiahering
Thu - Visitors asleep - do they really exist? - when I left. 60 lengths in 33 minutes. Big last rehearsal tonight, that will be enough exercise for the day.
Wed - short 15 minute swim. Had to prepare villa for 2 visitors who are in the orchestra for the Messiah. As it was, I didn't see them all day, but they do exist. Spin/pump in evening with Whalid.
Tue - Thought I was going mad - Was just going to do a swim, but decided to try a run first to get training for the Dec tri. Well, could I find my MBT trainers? I looked everywhere, no luck. I knew I had worn them back from HK, so they were somewhere. Very worrying, was I becoming a Thora Hird? Pulled on normal trainers, and did 2.9km in 23 mins around the back of the compound. I didn't walk, a slow pace but its a start. Then had a 15 swim to stretch. Felt good, except my mind was puzzling over the trainers. As I left for work, I passed the door to the back garden ajar, and 'click!' I remembered that I had put them out when I got back into the sun to dry them out as they were a little wiffy. They had been there for 10 days. No harm done and lots of relief. Ah, these small things do dominate the mind unduly.
Rehearsal in evening. A lot left to do and only 3 days to go.
Mon - 30 mins swim, then spin/abs in evening. The King's Uncle has died (after being very quiet for 7 years in ICU in Awali) so all music is banned for 3 days. Weird spinning in silence. Popped into Dilmum Diving for dinner afterwards.
Sun - 30 mins swim.
Sat - 48k to Riffa Fort, then golf club for bacon sarnie. Popped into Awali hospital to see Richard who is recovering from a broken femur, caused when he fell off his bike at 2mph doing a U turn due to slippery road. Spin/abs with See in evening, legs felt good.
Fri - Jeff from work wanted to get his bike going again (He hasn't cycled for 2 years and then only a few time before then in NY), so he came over and I took him for the usual 58km to Banyan Tree in 2:48hrs. Now Jeff is a youngster, very fit, works out everyday and doesn't drink. He was knacked and almost collapsed after getting up the Banyan Tree hill. I felt fine, legs are strong. So at least I'm cycling fit! Stopped for coffee and cakes at F1 Costa Coffee. Messiah rehearsal at 5pm then C&L's delayed flat warming party at Amwaj tonight, so don't know how I'll be in the morning.
Jon's brithday today, congratulations my boy for getting off to a good start in your new job.
Wed - short 15 minute swim. Had to prepare villa for 2 visitors who are in the orchestra for the Messiah. As it was, I didn't see them all day, but they do exist. Spin/pump in evening with Whalid.
Tue - Thought I was going mad - Was just going to do a swim, but decided to try a run first to get training for the Dec tri. Well, could I find my MBT trainers? I looked everywhere, no luck. I knew I had worn them back from HK, so they were somewhere. Very worrying, was I becoming a Thora Hird? Pulled on normal trainers, and did 2.9km in 23 mins around the back of the compound. I didn't walk, a slow pace but its a start. Then had a 15 swim to stretch. Felt good, except my mind was puzzling over the trainers. As I left for work, I passed the door to the back garden ajar, and 'click!' I remembered that I had put them out when I got back into the sun to dry them out as they were a little wiffy. They had been there for 10 days. No harm done and lots of relief. Ah, these small things do dominate the mind unduly.
Rehearsal in evening. A lot left to do and only 3 days to go.
Mon - 30 mins swim, then spin/abs in evening. The King's Uncle has died (after being very quiet for 7 years in ICU in Awali) so all music is banned for 3 days. Weird spinning in silence. Popped into Dilmum Diving for dinner afterwards.
Sun - 30 mins swim.
Sat - 48k to Riffa Fort, then golf club for bacon sarnie. Popped into Awali hospital to see Richard who is recovering from a broken femur, caused when he fell off his bike at 2mph doing a U turn due to slippery road. Spin/abs with See in evening, legs felt good.
Fri - Jeff from work wanted to get his bike going again (He hasn't cycled for 2 years and then only a few time before then in NY), so he came over and I took him for the usual 58km to Banyan Tree in 2:48hrs. Now Jeff is a youngster, very fit, works out everyday and doesn't drink. He was knacked and almost collapsed after getting up the Banyan Tree hill. I felt fine, legs are strong. So at least I'm cycling fit! Stopped for coffee and cakes at F1 Costa Coffee. Messiah rehearsal at 5pm then C&L's delayed flat warming party at Amwaj tonight, so don't know how I'll be in the morning.
Jon's brithday today, congratulations my boy for getting off to a good start in your new job.
30 Oct - 5 Nov: "normal service is resumed"
Thu - 25 min swim before work.
Wed - Medical results at 10, so booked for spin/abs 8:30 session for a change. Ole back for it. Medical OK.
Tue - 20 mins swim in morning. Choir in evening, only 10 days till Messiah amd lots to cover.
Mon - 20 min swim in morning. Spin/abs in evening.
Sun - Medical & work
Sat - Cycled to Hamala Beach Resort and swam the length of the inlet (15 mins so probably 750mish). 15km cycle in total, SE wind for a change. Then spin/abs in evening - tough session with Whalid. I have my 'executive medical' tomorrow so no alchohol, and nil food after 9pm.
Fri - Back to Lamia Garden by 9:30pm. Feeling spaced out, but managed to do washing, read books, get up to date on internet, replenish food supplies. In bed by 9:30pm
Wed - Medical results at 10, so booked for spin/abs 8:30 session for a change. Ole back for it. Medical OK.
Tue - 20 mins swim in morning. Choir in evening, only 10 days till Messiah amd lots to cover.
Mon - 20 min swim in morning. Spin/abs in evening.
Sun - Medical & work
Sat - Cycled to Hamala Beach Resort and swam the length of the inlet (15 mins so probably 750mish). 15km cycle in total, SE wind for a change. Then spin/abs in evening - tough session with Whalid. I have my 'executive medical' tomorrow so no alchohol, and nil food after 9pm.
Fri - Back to Lamia Garden by 9:30pm. Feeling spaced out, but managed to do washing, read books, get up to date on internet, replenish food supplies. In bed by 9:30pm
23 - 29 Oct: Hong Kong reunion - 2000th run of LH4
Fabulous week in HK. 3 runs, a ball at Cricket Club, celebration meal at Aberdeen Boat Club, dinner at Sai Kung, meals out with Graham (and George) Harris, shopping and sightseeing. HK has got better - cleaner, more friendly, up market trendy western but also the same local colour in places.
We will return.
We will return.
15-22 Oct: More visitors
Thu - Swim before work, off to airport in evening to go to Hong Kong.
Wed - Swim before work, and spin/pump afterwards, though Stoker opted to run in gym instead of spin.
Tue - Swim before work, Messiahering in evening - sang through all of Part 2
Mon - 30 mins row and 40 lengths swim before work, spin/abs in evening, popped into Diving to pay our dues.
Sun - Swim before work, Stoker gymed and swam
Sat - Recover, Muharaq houses, La Fontaine and City Centre Mall for Lunch at Totally Fish. Took visitors to airport for 21:00pm
Fri - All change - S, N & T from Qatar can for the weekend, so today was Tour 1 around island. In evening the Migrant Workers Charity Ball.
Wed - Swim before work, and spin/pump afterwards, though Stoker opted to run in gym instead of spin.
Tue - Swim before work, Messiahering in evening - sang through all of Part 2
Mon - 30 mins row and 40 lengths swim before work, spin/abs in evening, popped into Diving to pay our dues.
Sun - Swim before work, Stoker gymed and swam
Sat - Recover, Muharaq houses, La Fontaine and City Centre Mall for Lunch at Totally Fish. Took visitors to airport for 21:00pm
Fri - All change - S, N & T from Qatar can for the weekend, so today was Tour 1 around island. In evening the Migrant Workers Charity Ball.
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