Another October Sunday. Another Marathon.
This time it was Yorkshire's turn.An early start a drive down to an old airfield for the park and ride for the run. A double decker bus full of excited runners , the pungent aroma of Deep Heat strong enough to make your eyes water, a sprint across the campus to the start and I was off down into York.We ran past York Minster as the bells were ringing and out into the countryside we went. At Stockton On The Forest , I high fived the Vicar as he stood by the roadside in full Sunday regalia as he intoned " God bless you all". Well its part of this marathon's story.
The run went well and it was my fastest in this post 50 series at 4:46:44. Maybe God did bless us all?
Monday, 10 October 2016
Thursday, 22 September 2016
RIP BIlly Franks
Another hero dead. Billy was the force behind The Faith Brothers in the 80's He continued playing and recording, his last album "Far Cry From Sunset" released only a few months ago.
Always passionate always political and positive despite his health.
Always passionate always political and positive despite his health.
Monday, 1 August 2016
One Year Later
I thought it must be a year since I last posted anything and it is over a year. Setting up this Blog was my way of telling the world what I wanted to say and to act as a sort of documentation ( a Diary if you must) of my life as it changed when my eldest went off to Uni.
Fact is I ran out of steam after a couple of years and once the motivation is gone it is hard to get it back. Also the rather sad realization had dawned that my life is fucking boring and what talent as a writer I thought I had was exhausted in those first two years.
Anyway, things are still very much the same. Music wide it has been a busy year (for me). The Wedding Present, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, The Manic Street Preachers,Bryan Ferry and Paco Pena. Got Explosions In The Sky to look forward to and Teenage Fanclub too.
Still running. Paris Marathon in April. My time was my worst ever at 5:50. Shouldn't have run it really as I had been quite ill for a few weeks leading up to it with a cold/flu/virus and a niggling knee injury. But I did it anyway and enjoyed the occasion.
Peterborough United have been both frustrating and poor but I still go as often as I can afford. we got a new dog, another Patterdale. The house was too big and empty without a dog.
My daughter is six months into a trip to Australia. We both miss her but Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp mean we are in daily contact.
Work wise I'm back in the West End of the City after a 17 year absence. This is the most multi cultural part of the Town and the only part that in anyway resembles London. I only live 1 and a half miles away from where I work and my area is pretty mixed but here in Benwell it is like a different country. Poor and scruffy and neglected but you can buy food and products from across Eastern Europe and the World. As a Londoner in exile for 25 years its a bit like coming home.
Fact is I ran out of steam after a couple of years and once the motivation is gone it is hard to get it back. Also the rather sad realization had dawned that my life is fucking boring and what talent as a writer I thought I had was exhausted in those first two years.
Anyway, things are still very much the same. Music wide it has been a busy year (for me). The Wedding Present, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, The Manic Street Preachers,Bryan Ferry and Paco Pena. Got Explosions In The Sky to look forward to and Teenage Fanclub too.
Still running. Paris Marathon in April. My time was my worst ever at 5:50. Shouldn't have run it really as I had been quite ill for a few weeks leading up to it with a cold/flu/virus and a niggling knee injury. But I did it anyway and enjoyed the occasion.
Peterborough United have been both frustrating and poor but I still go as often as I can afford. we got a new dog, another Patterdale. The house was too big and empty without a dog.
My daughter is six months into a trip to Australia. We both miss her but Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp mean we are in daily contact.
Work wise I'm back in the West End of the City after a 17 year absence. This is the most multi cultural part of the Town and the only part that in anyway resembles London. I only live 1 and a half miles away from where I work and my area is pretty mixed but here in Benwell it is like a different country. Poor and scruffy and neglected but you can buy food and products from across Eastern Europe and the World. As a Londoner in exile for 25 years its a bit like coming home.
Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Six Months Later
Where is the year going? A difficult six months. First off the election. Tories back in, on their own. Who would have thought that? And then there is my wife's redundancy. End of September so not long to go.
Music wise, saw Placebo. They were good but too much from their latest album which isn't my favourite.
I have a new puppy, I missed my last dog too much and eventually gave in to the wife and daughter. Another Patterdale but a black and tan one who isn't as vicious as his predecessor.
Work wise it's tedious, I am hanging around for redundancy now.
I ran the Prague Marathon in May in 5:15 but made good friends with a guy who lives near me who was running as well. I did Gateshead 10k last Sunday in a very disappointing 60:54, over
3 minutes slower than 2013.
Football wise I didn't see Posh at all last season will do better this season coming.
I'll also try and post some more
Music wise, saw Placebo. They were good but too much from their latest album which isn't my favourite.
I have a new puppy, I missed my last dog too much and eventually gave in to the wife and daughter. Another Patterdale but a black and tan one who isn't as vicious as his predecessor.
Work wise it's tedious, I am hanging around for redundancy now.
I ran the Prague Marathon in May in 5:15 but made good friends with a guy who lives near me who was running as well. I did Gateshead 10k last Sunday in a very disappointing 60:54, over
3 minutes slower than 2013.
Football wise I didn't see Posh at all last season will do better this season coming.
I'll also try and post some more
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
First Aid Kit
Hello and a belated Happy New Year.
After a pretty barren 2014 music wise I have decided that this year I will go to a few gigs.Last night,accompanied by my daughter I saw First Aid Kit at Newcastle City Hall.
It was an excellent gig, good venue for the vocal harmony soft country rock they play.The light show was impressive.Support was from Kimberley Anne who wad good in a Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman way. The audience was a mix of young bearded hipsters, old uns like me and young professionals.What you'd expect really.
They played their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's America and my own favourite, their own song Emmy Lou.
All in all I had a great time. No new ground was being broken but to hear good honest well played and sung music is always a joy. Next up for me ,unless something else catches my eye, is Placebo at O2 Academy
After a pretty barren 2014 music wise I have decided that this year I will go to a few gigs.Last night,accompanied by my daughter I saw First Aid Kit at Newcastle City Hall.
It was an excellent gig, good venue for the vocal harmony soft country rock they play.The light show was impressive.Support was from Kimberley Anne who wad good in a Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman way. The audience was a mix of young bearded hipsters, old uns like me and young professionals.What you'd expect really.
They played their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's America and my own favourite, their own song Emmy Lou.
All in all I had a great time. No new ground was being broken but to hear good honest well played and sung music is always a joy. Next up for me ,unless something else catches my eye, is Placebo at O2 Academy
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