Wow! Last night a few friends and I went to Bradford, to see a band. This band was Glenn Hughes and John Lee Turner, old rockers and boy, has Hughes got a voice. Turner, however, came across as a right old puffta trying to fit in. Dunno why Hughes has hooked up with him, as his own voice is megatastic pop pickers!

Mind, there were a few puffy type comments from both, so maybe they are an item? Lol. Whatever, it was loud and the sound mix was dire but, as it was the first time I have seen Hughes, I was knocked out by the sheer power of his vocals. They really were astonishing.

Tired but happier! posted by Bloggy on 5/4/2004 at 07:35 GMT

It has been brought to my attention, and quite rightly so, that I have seemed a little, shall we say down, recently. I would like to apologise to all my regular reader (note singular!) for this small glitch in the joy that is my life. Hence forth, I shall only blog good stuff, like the olden days. Ah, I remember it well, 6/8 posts a day, bit of humour and so on.

Anyway, had a busy but fun weekend. Played twice (Friday and Saturday) so am a bit knackered. Then went to scout camp Sunday morning to help pull down tents and pack up. Frankly, that made me even more knackered!!

Still, I got £50 pledged on Saturday night for the marathon which is now - YIKES!!!! - a week on Sunday, bloody hell!!.......slips into mad panic mode......................well, time will tell if I get around but it's all for a cracking cause so a bit (ahem - you mean a lot Russ?) of discomfort will be fine.

School holidays too, so traffic should be quieter on the way to the office too. We shall see.

Well my good friends, thats all I have time for today but I will start anew in the morning, promise.

You all have a good day now!!

Well, what a great week so far! posted by Bloggy on 31/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Jesus H Christ, I am surrounded by hypocrisy.I am very, very pissed and unhappy. Not drunk. Very, very pissed.
Question. If you are not enjoying something anymore, what should you do? Change it? Leave it? Tell it?
Leave a note for me please. I need to hear from you.
You know, if there is one thing designed to make me very, very angry, it's hypocrisy. Do as I say, not as I do. It revolts me.
And then you know what they do? Get upset with you because you are pissed off.
Motivation - to help, hinder or kick?

Oh buggar it, I can't be arsed.

Welcome Back Old Friends posted by Bloggy on 26/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Well what do you know? After confessing yesterday, of my deep shame at my blog gap, I have welcomed back a couple of old friends that I haven't seen in ages and who, quite frankly, when we parted felt I never would. (If I'm honest, when we did part, I never did want to see them again, after what they did to me).

Still, I always think lets let bygones be bygones and try and start again, right?

Life Update posted by Bloggy on 25/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Hi folks. Firsly, an apology. It is some 7 days since I updated. I am deeply, deeply ashamed of myself. In fact I am going to confession later today about this. (NOTE: This involves more than your average confession, as I am not currently a Catholic so must go through that process first and I have never, therefore, been to confession. So it's a big deal, ok?)

The reason is that I have such a lot happening at the moment, that I have found it very difficult to allocate time to blog. Sadly. But, here I am!

So, how are things? Well, the training for the Marathon (which is now 3 weeks on Sunday - tremble) is going well. Did a nice tough 8 miler last night with my neighbour (the one who got me into this!) and feel pretty good this morning. My colleagues at work have had mixed fortunes.

Mr M, lets call him, has been training well and has reported excellent times (Mmm.....) and no problems.

Mr D, however, has had all sorts of problems. He injured his lateral ligament in his foot which suspended training for some 3 weeks. Then he started again.
His lady (and this is the amusing bit!), told him on Tuesday night that he should not be running. He couldn't even do a half marathon at this late stage, she said.

"Right", says our man and promptly goes out and runs 12.5 miles in a cracking time. That shut her up, apparently!
Mind you, he was hurting bad yesterday and he will be bad today as well but he has done it, thats the point.

Me? I have a few odd aches on runs but - touch wood - nothing lasting..........yet!

The rest of my world is busy, busy, busy with some interesting business deals going on. I may yet acieve my ambition of working from home for myself. Long way to go but I can now see a possibility.

Cheers all and thanks for coming back and reading me as often as you do.

The Budget posted by Bloggy on 18/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Well, what a strange Budget, I thought. Lots of spending, lots of people losing their jobs and being told

Having asked the Treasury to investigate in greater historical detail, I can now report that Britain is enjoying its longest period of sustained economic growth for more than 200 years...the longest period of sustained growth since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

That must be why I feel safe walking the streets of our citys or why I know that when I am ill, I will be able to get treatment quickly and efficiently. Or why our kids at school are so well educated that they all can read and write. Or why PC helps and doesn't hinder the smooth working of life. Or why our transport systems are failing. Or why our manufacturing industry, what is left of it, is on its knees and. So. On.

Yes, all in all, a good budget I thought.

NOT!

Bush Knew posted by Bloggy on 15/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Read this. It is astonishing.

Thanks to Lisa in London for the heads up.

Marathon Update posted by Bloggy on 15/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

On 31 January 2004, I ventured out for my first training run for the London Marathon. Yesterday, some 6 weeks later, I went out and ran 15.2 miles.
Now, I am not saying that I expect to win, just that training is going ok. I must confess, that a hill at 14.5 miles caused me to walk and I had a light headed moment, just before then, but I got around.
The time? Well, it is, of course, largely irrelevant. Or is it? When I first said that I would do this, I simply wanted to get around. Now, I fancy coming in under 5 hours. My time yesterday, was 2 hours 48 minutes and 34 seconds. The seconds are vital, of course, over such a long distance! That equates to an overall time, of under five hours.
Of course, there is the small matter of the further 11 mmiles to run, over and above yesterday - BUT - London is very flat, yesterday most certainly was not!
Also, there are lots of people to cheer you on, all the way around London, apparently. Yesterday, apart from the odd cow and sheep, it was very lonely.
In fact, the problem yesterday, was more mental. I got bored after 10 miles. There were some nasty hills too, in th elast 5 miles.
How does yesterday leave me feeling?
In awe of the day itself. And a little scared? No, thats not the right word. Respectful of the distance. Thats probably a better way to put it.
This morning, the only thing that really hurts, is the top of my left foot which I have had before. It usually goes after a day or too. My legs, at the moment, feel ok.

One massive, massive upside to all of this running, is that I am shedding wait like never before and yet eating what I like! :)
So, from a purely selfish point of view, it is worth it!

Anyone for any more sponsorship please?

Cheers

Weeknd Madness posted by Bloggy on 13/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

It has been some weeks since I published on a weekend, apologies folks. I decided this time, to put up a series of links on subjects I stumble across.

1. This is madness. I agree six billion per cent with Melanie. Read it all. It will drive you nuts, maybe! .

2. Welcome to the holiday camp that is your "punishment." Would sir care to vote?

I have to link to this ladies blog, it is so spot on. Read it. For me, it hits the spot.

4. "In a keynote speech at Labour's spring conference in Manchester, the prime minister will say "Britain's winning". "

Winning what? You tell me, because I cannot see what we are winning.

Only Western Deaths count? posted by Bloggy on 12/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

The events in Spain yesterday were a complete outrage, unforgiveable and unacceptable. Our sympathies should go out to the families and friends of the deceased.

Let us also not forget the ongoing killings in Iraq. On both sides, yes but the civilians there did not ask for the war.

At the end of the day, what is war all about? Land? Religion? Revenge? If it is for land, then surely life can go on elsewhere. If it is in the name of religion, then people are deluding themselves, God cannot be on all sides. If Bush believes his campaign to be about good against evil, he must surely see the same argument from the other side? No, of course he does not. And that is one of the major difficulties. The inability to see a problem from the other side.

If it is about revenge, then it can not, surely, be about religion as well, whatever the claims?

Whatever it is all really about, it saddens me hugely, that we, as a race of human beings, continually put down and kill our fellow man. Yesterday was another very sad day on planet Earth.

Hating this posted by Bloggy on 11/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

You know, the more I see about what the US are doing worldwide, the less I like it. Guantanamo Bay is a classic example. Oh, I know lots of people have written lots of things about the place, in a much more interesting and informative way than I ever could. Nonetheless, I do think, very strongly, that what has happened here is a complete injustice of major proportions.

Yes, we know that 11 September was horrific and we know how many Americans lost their lives. That does not give the US the right to do what the hell they like and ignore International Law. Forget the fact that the war in Iraq was illegal (cue comments about how great it is that Saddam has gone, etc from Americans), the detention of anyone, as has happened at this place, is unacceptable. Whether they are guilty or innocent, they cannot be held as they are.

The fact that our own government is doing nothing, saying nothing is, itslef, unacceptable. Mass murderers, rapists, etc, have to be tried before being imprisoned. Not so the detainees in Guantanamo Bay. If any are guilty, then prove it by bringing them to trial. If you have no evidence, then you must let them go. Not to do so, amounts to State kidnapping, doesn't it?

I am absolutely sick of spin, spin, spin. When will people, including politicians realise, that they cannot be right all the time. If mistakes have been made, say so. Move on.

Time to boycott US goods?

I got the blues in me. posted by Bloggy on 09/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

For some reason, I feel brassed off with everything at present. Ho hum.

Would the silent majority, please sit down? posted by Bloggy on 09/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

So, here I am, Monday night, thinking about how I can get my blgging back on track. Then it comes to me. My old friend, political correctness. What a waste of time, effort and money that is! Now, before you all go running off thinking Bloggy is a Nazi, let me assure you, that I most certainly am not. No.
What I am though, is increasingly more and more pissed off about the crap I read, see and hear about "the right thing to do". For who? Oh, I am sure there are millions of you out there, who think it helps. I don't, it just causes irritation. If someone is black, they are black. If someone is white they are white. Facts.

Friend of mine works in West Yorkshire in the NHS. He has been told he has to go on a gay awareness course. A what? Yes, a course to learn about gays and how they feel about this that and the other (pardon the pun on "the other" there please!).
Has anyone told him, ever, that he must go on a hetrosexual awareness course? An Irish awareness course? A middle aged, stuck in a rut awareness course? No, they bleeding well have not. See what I mean?

Now don't go thinking that Bloggy is anti gay (uncle?) cause I am not. I actually get on very well with gays. Find them very nice people, kind, considerate, tolerant, helpful. That doesn't mean we need to have their needs rammed down our throats. (oh damm, done it again, sorry!). Just live and let bloody live please.

Life, the universe, et al. posted by Bloggy on 09/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Do you ever wonder why we are here? No, I don't mean at Blogmans pad, I mean - HERE. What the hell we are doing milling around on this blob called Earth? I often muse about how we invent things to make our lives, really, really complicated and stressed.

Try this one. We all buy a car, if we can. Then, we drive a couple of miles to a gym, spend a small fortune being a member, sweat our nuts (or the ladies equivalent - what is that, I wonder? Tits? Whatever) off and then drive home.

Now, you tell me, why we didn't just walk or run somewhere, for free, rather than go through that? No? Me neither.

Baked Beans posted by Bloggy on 09/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

You know, we often overlook the positive benefits of food and I for one, swear by a tin of baked beans. Plenty of fibre in them, thats what makes you fart so much. But, they are very good for the, er....shall we say, the exit system? as in, keeps you regular, you know?

I love to eat them cold, straight from the tin. You know what? Heinz, which are more expensive than most others, are not as nice cold, as their cheaper Asda rival which are deliciously sweet.

Go on, try some, you may well enjoy them, if you can only discard the feeling of doing something common!

Hey, what do you know? posted by Bloggy on 05/3/2004 at 07:35 GMT

Well, I am impressed! Sometimes I make judgements of people and they turn out to be wrong. Mark, over here, called for a truce yesterday,

"Can we agree that we are both somewhat arrogant, somewhat pompous and somewhat self righteous and call a truce?

Absolutely no problem with that. So, hello new friend Mark!

Oh, and hello to all my old friends too! Leave me a comment would you folks, otherwise I feel I am talking to myself (again!)

Gay Marriage? posted by Bloggy on 04/3/2004 at 21:35 GMT

There is a lot of talk in Blogland, about whether same sex marriage should be allowed.
My stance? Well, as a hetrosexual male, very happily married, what do I care?
Will allowing same sex marriages start, stop or change the way people behave already? No. Live and let live, eh?
Let 'em do what they want, as long as it doesn't interfere with my life, who cares?

To Recycle or not? posted by Bloggy on 04/3/2004 at 21:35 GMT

Over at Claire potters place, there is a discussion developing over whether recycling is a waste of time.

My new "pal" Mark suggested that it was a myth, dispelled by the Swedes. However, it seems he is anti recycling if the Government push him into it.

Personally, I think if people want to do it, they should be encouraged but no one should be forced to do anything they don't wish. So, can I stop paying tax and N.I. please?

Training update. posted by Bloggy on 04/3/2004 at 21:35 GMT

I thought I had better update you all on my training regime for the London Marathon, as I have not told you a great deal about it all.
Basically, I have agreed to run, as had one of my colleagues at work, for Teenage Cancer Trust. Then, three spaces came up, with people dropping out, so we managed to find two mates of my colleague and another guy in the office to stand in.
My schedule tells me what to do each day and I especially like the days were it says "rest". :)
When it doesn't say rest, it varies between - blimey, that looks like hard work - to - christ! How far?!!!
On sunday I am supposed to run 18 - yes 18 - miles. frankly, there's fat chance of that! Well, ok, I may do but it is bound to hurt!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Ok, lets get this blog on the road. posted by Bloggy on 03/3/2004 at 21:35 GMT

Well, I owe my readers a big apology. Why? Because I have pootled along aimlessly for several weeks now and they have all probably been thinking about taking me off of their read lists.

I had another read of Blognerregis tonight. You know what? I find myself agreeing with a lot of his views and comments! Now, I have to confess, that I have spent the last week quietly hating him. I had him down as an arrogant, pompous, self righteous git.

Didn't help when he called me a tosser.

Now? Well, I agree with some of his views, especially those that dislike government intervention.
He is still all those things above mind.

Stand up and be counted please. posted by Bloggy on 03/3/2004 at 16:35 GMT

Ok, sometimes I get very lonely, sitting here in cyberspace. So I wonder if you would do me a small favour, anyone who visits today? Can you leave a comment and just tell me what you like or dislike about this blog. Could you do that for me, huh? Thanks.

Grrr. posted by Bloggy on 03/3/2004 at 16:35 GMT

Does anyone else get wound up by old people? Walking around York at lunchtime, two old people seem to be able to get as wide as a bus. Coming towards you on the pavement, side by side, they expect you to step onto to the road as you pass them.
They block the pavement at the bus stop when the bus arrives, milling around in a mild panic about whether they will get on it or not.
But, the mother of all annoyances, is that they push in. Yes, forget anyone else, they must get to the front of the queue and then pathetically say "oh, is it all right?", as though they have a right to do what the heck they like. NO. Why should they. Makes me cross it does.

Do we make a difference? posted by Bloggy on 02/3/2004 at 07:00 GMT

You know, reading the various blogs around the web, one thing strikes me, right between the eyes. How very different they all are.For example, The site of Claire Potter - LibDem Councillor obviously represents a view on life, politics, etc which she absolutely believes in.
On the other hand, this guy seems to hate all that anyone else stands for. Though I'm sure if he reads this, he will come back with a supposedly witty and cutting remark, instead of explaining to someone who is genuinely interested to hear his views on where he sits in the Minarchy scale. But I guess I will never know. Maybe I should ask him to complete my personality of the week? Mmm, that would be interesting.
Course, I could go on and list more sites which are totally diferent but I am fascinated by the diversity of sites and subject matter covered on the web.

Hey, I'm ok!! posted by Bloggy on 01/3/2004 at 16:35 GMT

I had a scare last night. thought me old ticker was on the way out. Doc says I have pulled a muscle in my chest wall, thats all. Hurrah!!

Total creeping up. posted by Bloggy on 01/3/2004 at 07:00 GMT

My total pledge amount is now over the £500 mark which is nice. Still low though. Unfortunately, the directors at work seem reluctant to let me write to clients for sponsorship.

I have no comment to make, do you?

Whats up with Bloggy?. posted by Bloggy on 01/3/2004 at 07:00 GMT

Sorry my blog has been quiet of late. I am in a rather odd frame of mind. Dunno why but just very, very, kinda - "whatever" - if you know what I mean?