My Heart Will Go On

It's that time again.....

Click Here to see !

Current things happening:-
Sky+
Training Hard in prep for L2B
My Broadband is back on (5 weeks on 56k is not good)
Exhausted with new job (but it's acually OK)
Played on a Wii for the first time (Good innit)

Current things not happening:-
tasks on www.before40.co.uk

Oops

Road To Nowhere

So here we go again, the early 'pre' application was succesful & training for the BHF London To Brighton Bike Ride 2008 has begun in earnest. Event date - Sunday 15th June 2008.

I was in two minds whether or not to go for it again after last year, but i just gotta "Beat The Beacon" & so will be focused not only on getting to the finish line, but also climbing the Mother of all hills, Ditchling beacon without stopping to get off & walk (It's very, very steep).

You may also note the ridiculously early start time this year. Those in the know however would say "Well Done" - No issues with traffic & bunching up at junctions etc. me thinks.

Talking of all things 'Bike', here's me from a 1982 local press cutting (I'm the one in the middle with the dodgy blonde hair)

The guy doing the "Bunny Hop" is none other than Andy Ruffell - BMX Freestyle champion of the 80's era, & in a later life, founder of the MoBo Awards no less.

See more about him here AndyRuffell.com

So just when am i going to complete another task......................?

Motorcycle Emptiness

As is the norm at the moment, not much happening at Before40 towers in terms of tasks completed. No rush, I've still got 874 days to go = 1 task a month.
The new house decorating is progressing somewhat slowly, and has become my current distraction. Every room has it's own unique challenge. The living room is virtually done. Spotlights have been installed (12 in total; that gives you a rough idea just how god damn big the living room is!), just a fireplace to go in & a bit of sanding & polishing on the parquet flooring.
Whilst that is going on, the wallpaper is off on the hallway (Well the downstairs part anyhow). That in itself has allready presented problems. Underneath the anaglypta wallpaper is lining paper. Under that is a layer of paint that is flaking off, & all needs to be scraped off bit by bit. 6 months work to finish the hallway decor is my early guesstimation.

Want to know the Best 80's T.V. programme?
&, definately the best T.V. theme tune? (IMO):-

Nailbiting stuff:-

+
Let's celebrate! - Mercury is no longer in Retrograde! (Ended Feb 18th) - Bet you all feel better now? Maybe I'll be cursed now? - I broke the rule of this that says "Do Not sign Any Contracts". Oops. I also sarted a new project during retrograde. Double Oops!
Also,
Loving this blog by the super talented Jem (From the band Frost) http://www.thenewcube.blogspot.com/ - Why can't all bands do this sort of thing?
Finally, a Quick hello to my friends over at www.before30.co.uk Go check 'em out.
I have now counted at least 40 x "Forty Before 40" lists/blogs on the net. Seems like Google loves me the best still though! - Type in "Forty Things to Do" or "Forty Before 40" or "The Big 40" or "40" & you'll find me there, right there waiting for you at the top of the listings. Go on, Come & find me!

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.before40.co.uk

I Predict A Riot

Well, if only i had a task as one of the 40 "Change my Job"!. After 17 and a bit long years i finally got out of the rut & got myself a new job. A big decision to make, but to move on & move forward definately the right one.
I'd been dreaming about handing my notice in for many months, and how i'd do it etc., but in the end once i'd received confirmation it was just a quick drive upto HO with a letter, a hastily arranged meeting with my boss, a quick explanation of why & where i'm off to & then drive back home. (Definately won't miss that horrible drive on the M3 & M25 motorway that's for sure.!)
I'd got an agreement/arangement that i would not announce the resignation until Tuesday 12th, as it would be best to announce it to all my reports (17 in all!) in one go.
So there is a prepared statement just waiting to be read.
The new job is back at the place where i started in 1986. Some say you should never go back, but 21 years on & now i go back as the big boss!
..........Just need to sort out this ridiculous 3 month notice period. I mean, just how do you keep focused in a job when your mind (& career) is somewhere else?

The Way I Are

......More apologies for not updating the site recently. I could list here many reasons why i've not been able to complete some more tasks recently, but that would make boring reading.

The main reason however would be the energy that moving into this place has taken out of me. It has all been worth it though as the peace & quiet here is something else!
I am currently writing from the new abode, again with illness (Man Flu). That means time of work, & a chance to update this!
2007 has definately been one for illness & aches:-

• Frozen shoulder
• Man Flu (x 2)
• Wrist injury
• Back Pain
• Migraine (4 weeks!)
• Sprained Ankle

On refelction it looks like i have spent half of the year in some sort of discomfort. What a waste!

So 2008 will have to be better!. The main cause of injurues = 5-a-side football, so that means i've obviously passed my peak & need to retire from the beautiful game! On the plus side, i've never been fitter than i am now, & my weight/diet is under stricter control than ever before!

I've had many emails from 'fans'? of the site, & it's been an inspiring pleasure reading these; I always try & respond where possible, so please keep the comments coming (Good & Bad).

The site also got a mention on a popular blog in Italy. Grazia.blog.it I tried to translate the site using the google translate service, but it made no sense to me. If anyone knows of the site, or can translate Italian into 'proper' English or indeed know of the blogger, please drop me a line!

I am getting loads of spam mail, not sure if that means i'm popular (likely), or i have been a little lazy in my filtering of such trash (unlikely)?

That reminds me:-

Saw a guy promoting his book on TV recently. It's all about his annoyance of spam emails & how he got revenge by "Spamming the Spammers" - Brilliant!. So if anyone is after a good Xmas gift idea for me this year here it is:-

Available at all good bookstores. & Amazon.com i'm told.

The 'Secret Website' Task continues to baffle all. If the truth be known, it hasn't quite worked out as expected, so plans are afoot to replace this back to a completely different task that was part of the original '40'. As alway's if you want to know where the website is email me (no Spam eh!) & i'll send you the link.

Updates on previous blog posts:-

Remember how I waffled on abouth the Wispa bar coming back to our shelves? (Wispa Blog) Well, they finally came out in October but it took me ages to finally source one locally. In November i got to taste one again having found them in a local newsagent. Brilliant. Had about ten of them since, but now i'm bored.

I had a "Top 10 Crisps" (Crisp Blog) blog where i told you all of my top 10 crisps of all time. Well i'm sad to say that No.10 in the list, the Pom Bear crisps have cheated us. Slightly.

There are less crisps in the packets now. Approx 30% less. My kids are quite upset by this. So am I.

In August's blog i mentioned Justin's site one red drawing pin & his ambition to trade up from a red drawing pin to something much more useful.
Well it seems he hasn't progressed very well. Not well at all. Done nothing. But it transpires the idea isn't that unique. Searching round the web, it seems there are quite a few similar themed sites. Looks like we're all out of unique idea's these days!

Talking of which - John Boileau, the main inspiration of the Before40 website has vanished! - He hasn't updated his thoroughly enjoyable beforethirty website for what seems a lifetime. Let's hope he's well & that we get an update soon. Email me if you know his whereabouts?

It's been a pleasure. Be safe this Xmas & see you in 2008 somewhere!

Purple Haze

With everything in my world at 100 MPH at the moment (House Move, Car change, Work projects, School Holidays etc.) it's very easy to forget what's been achieved over the past year since this whole Before 40 thing began. So let's take some time out & have a quick refresh......

Cycling/Fitness - Last September, i upgraded my 'daily' 2 mile ride to work & back to include a Sunday morning ride around my local village, approx 5 miles. I was so proud of my achievement! Each Sunday i would then cycle a little further. Then i brought a 'proper' bike. By Xmas i did my first 25 mile ride - Then completed the amazing & emotional London To Brighton Bike Ride under my target time 0f 4 hrs. 10 months on, I ride 75+ miles every week, and can manage a 100km sprint in under 4 hrs. The spare tyre round my waist has gone, belly is reducing, Bum is super toned & I've lost over 18lbs in weight & no longer use an inhaler. Generally, i feel a lot better & sharper mentally & quality of sleep has improved. Above all this I realise that cycling really is great for self esteem and motivation, it rewards the effort put in too. I have found an exercise i really enjoy.

Poo - The Colonic Hydrotherapy has help me discover that in fact i eat quite healthy after all & most of the time my Veggie poo is good poo. Even if it does stink a bit.

Eyes - As feared, i need to get glasses or lenses. Six months on from my test i still haven't sorted this. Will my sight get worse if i don't get this sorted?, or now I'm aware of the situation will i be able to strengthen my eyes & train them around the problem? We Will 'See'.

Hair - I have less of it now. Barbers are a thing of the past. Annual saving = £100 (35 pints of lager) as i simply shave it myself once a month. It feels quite liberating, I have one less routine to adhere to & I spend less time in front of the mirror = more time to watch TV/sleep/facebook etc. Most people have got used to it & the jokes have ceased.

Charity - Got a real sense of pride & achievement out of raising loadsa cash for charity on some of the tasks. Gonna make this a new feature of my life from now on, helping out others & raising cash for others more needy that me.

So - even if the task list ended now 3 years early, I feel that I've achieved so much mentally, physically & emotionally that it has all been worthwhile. That said, i don't plan to give it up & so watch this space for some more completed tasks coming soon!

Peace and love to everyone, no matter the colour of your nose!

99 Red Balloons

Come across an interesting website recently; simple, but one of those great internet type ideas.

- It may not be original, But looks like a bit of fun.

So i've added my two penny's worth, so let's see how it goes from here. (& remember where you heard it first!).

www.onereddrawingpin.com

Other news from Before 40 towers:-

• Bust my ankle playing footy. Looks like the Bristol to London ride will be a no go, but there is another 100mile ride coming up in Sot'on in September! - www.tourpourlamer.com


• Before 40 towers has been sold, & looking to relocate (After 14 years!) to a bigger place nearby (Let the stress begin!).


• Planning the next task for September - Winchester Pub Crawl.


• Weight loss task going very well.

Happy Holidays!