Exercised!

Started with a gentle 5 mile run at 9.48 per mile. Followed this up with 13.6 miles at 16 mph. I thought I'd done very well, especially as strava had me down as having achieved 7 personal bests. However, I then checked for information about power. The notification said I had averaged around 130 watts during the ride and I thought that sounds impressive. I learnt that you then divide that by your weight in kg to give power stat which could be compared to other riders.

It all sounded simple enough and it was - I came out as 1.55w/kg and could compare myself with others. The most elite riders, the ones who win the big tours have stats of over 6w/kg. I can live with that. Looking down the list, and I did have to scroll down, I come out as a 'novice' rider. A novice!

Just shows that getting on the bike now and again and having a fairly gentle run regularly are far from effective in pushing you on far in terms of being good at these activities, if by good one means efficient and effective.

I was just interested in this and certainly not disappointed because I am pleased with my levels of fitness and am enjoying running and cycling without feeling I have to be so much better at them. It certainly gives me pause for thought in considering just how fantastic the elite athletes are and what they must have to do to make the progress they need to compete at the highest level. Amazing what human beings can achieve.

Sunny Monday

Lovely start to the day with a fresh feeling chill in the air as I walked the dog.

Having rested my achilles heel for the past two days, I took to the road again and ran 5 miles at 9.41 which was not too bad. I could certainly feel the pain in the heel but not too badly. Great to run in the sunshine and with little wind to disrupt.

Alison and I got on with lots of jobs around the house which included clearing the bathroom ceiling of mould. Having cleaned the surface, I painted the ceiling with ronseal anti mould paint which should help avoid further problems for a few years.

After some homemade soup, it was down to Crane Valley for a quick 9 holes but it was  my worst round for some time with a 43 which included 3 double bogies and just 2 holes at par. Struggling with the driver in trying to hit it too far. And just when I thought I'd got it sorted!

Huff Duff

Alison and I walked 5 miles this morning round the New Forest starting at Moyles Court. Beautiful walk which took us to Robin Hood's clump and on to a WW2 directional finder station, Huff Duff. Nearby were the remains of the old air raid shelter too. Very interesting to see but no match for the wonderful scenery.

On the way we'd stopped briefly at Blashford and seen hundreds of sand martins feeding up prior to migrating to Africa, similar numbers of coot and many heron, cormorants and great crested grebe. I saw the Great White Egret for the first time and a water pipit was patrolling the shore line. During our later walk we were lucky to see several stonechats, as well as kestrel, jay and skylark.

Retirement fun

We have been bust with so many different projects including gardening for others and sorting out the utility room, decorated and subject to a clearout, that fitting leisure activities in has been difficult. However, we went out to Blandford last Friday and enjoyed a walk along the river. It was a little short but nevertheless it was of interest with plenty of ducks and a couple of little egret on show. The town itself is small but there were several unusual shops, especially a bookshop taking you up three stories via a steep wooden staircase. The books were incredible and there were many clocks and other objects steeped in history.
From there we went to a nearby garden centre where we managed to get a bird bath for the front garden and, like the bookshop, it was an idiosyncratic place, the shop stretching out into unseen rooms, sucking you further inside. Slightly creepy in fact, as was the higgeldy-piggeldy nature of the nursery of plants. An amazing place which managed to entrance and confuse at the same time.
On the way back we walked the woodland trail at Kingston Lacy before finishing at Stewarts garden centre for soup and a browse.

We've had Joseph's birthday, his seventh, over the weekend, the highlight of which was the Harry Potter themed picnic at Moors Valley. I ran to and back from the party, 10.3 miles, and was shattered afterwards. The children had a great time and Bridie had done a fantastic job in making wands and small 'familiars' for them all. Quite a day to follow their trip to Harry Potter studios the previous day when I had watched football all day!

One more photo is of a garden by the woods down the road where two deer posed for me as I took Maisie for a morning walk. Lovely.

September weekend

We had family over for a Saturday evening dutch oven meal which was lovely, followed by some time in front of the wood burner. Earlier I'd done my fastest 10km run for nearly two years - just over 58 minutes.

The sad thing was that Joe was later sick and Alison ill all day on Sunday due to drinking too much. That left Sunday dinner a lot more subdued than planned. Bridie had also cancelled due to hangover! I'd done lots of yorkshires which actually worked. The nut roast was also tasty and there were masses of roast potatoes too.

We then went to the local church flower show with Joy. Very beautiful displays on the theme of remembrance given the centenary of the end of WW1. 

Christchurch and a swim - Avon beach

Quite a day. Up early and able to get a 5 mile run completed before 8.30 and our trip to Christchurch. Alison and myself were collecting Bridie and Joy for a morning out starting with a swim at Mudeford. I have wanted to swim in September for some time but school has always got in the way. Having retired, have I mentioned that recently, I could now take advantage of the sunny morning and was the only person in the sea at 10.30. It was actually quite warm, certainly better than early summer, before the sea has warmed up. We had a coffee at the Noisy Lobster cafe and drove the short way to Christchurch.
It seemed we went into dozens of charity shops, as well as others, but that was most likely me feeling very hungry by lunchtime and desperate to find some food. We went to a sit down chippie and I got myself pea fritter and chips. Alison had homity pie. The waitress was great and clearly knew nothing about the pie. When asked how big it was, she replied it was pie-sized! She wasn't sure what was in it either.
On the way back to the car I watched a peregrine falcon and raven battle it out over the priory. It was an incredible site.
The lovely day continued with a walk round the goat farm and with a spaghetti bolognese using green lentils and porcini mushrooms. Very tasty and Joseph and Maria ate all their spaghetti, although without the sauce.
Maria and I took Maisie out again in the evening and spent some time in the conservatory with Alison.
Bridie has applied for 4 jobs and seems positive about the change in plans and Kate has a new job which is fantastic news to go with Joe's promotion. With Glen's work going well, it's been a good week.

Thurs 6th Sept

Another step learning how to adapt to retirement started with a 4 mile run to Verwood and a morning in the garden mowing the lawn for Joy, trimming back a bit of hedge and checking the growing veg. There is some progress to report with radish, lettuce and spinach making an appearance.

Alison and I then spent the early afternoon in our own garden taking down the apple trees a little, mowing the grass, bit more hedge trimming and general tidy up. All  looking good

I went for a walk round Remedy Oak golf course and spent several minutes watching a pair of nuthatches feeding high in the trees. There were 5 magpies feeding in the sheep field, so some silver for me today.

Weds 5th Sept

So, it is beginning to sink in, I am no longer working. The children were back at school today after the various INSET days in the early part of the week and that meant 6 hours and more of 'freedom'.

I had a run, just over 4 miles, and then took a trip to Blashford Lakes and saw plenty of different birds including lots of herons.

• heron
• cormorant
• gadwall
• mallard
• coot
• lapwing
• great tit 
• blue tit
• nuthatch
• jay
• blackbird
• robin
• woodpigeon
• chaffinch
• great crested grebe
• shoveler
• black headed gull
• herring gull
• little egret
• sandmartin
• mute swan
• canada geese
• tufted duck

On the way home I had a quick 9 holes of golf at Crane Valley hitting 554455447 which is 10 over at 43. Very disappointed with the final hole which I have been getting better at, as well as the 7th and 8th which are par 3s. I got a 4 on both when I usually get par 3.

It was lovely to be able to collect both the children from school. Maisie got plenty of admiring looks and strokes as we waited at the middle school. From there it was time for home and a meal of aubergine lasagne, patatas bravas, runner beans and salad, followed by fresh cherries.

I could get used to this! 

Higher Trevaskis camp site

We've had a great time camping at the end of the summer holiday. We drove down to Hayle, near Connor Downs, and spent 5 lovely nights, essentially rain free, in the company of Julie, Andy, Peggy and Fergus, as well as Plymouth family.

Loved cooking with the dutch oven, bolognese, curry and so on. Tasted fantastic and fed the crowds.

Trips to Godolphin and St Michaels Mount using National Trust membership were enjoyable. The gardens in both locations were stunning and the views from the latter were wonderful in the sunshine.