Life-Cycle

Brie moves on

2009-05-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Brie passed away on Wednesday morning 6th Mayat 8.30 a.m. in much the same way as she lived her life, with dignity, grace and peacefully. It didn't take away the pain we suffered for her loss as she had added so much to our lives in the happy 7 years that we have owned her. Judging by the many heartfelt calls, cards and visits we have received it is obvious she had an impact on the lives of many others too and we should like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes, it helps us to cope with the adjustment necessary to not having her physical presence with us any more.
When I go for a walk she is with me.
When I wake in the morning she has slept with me.
May she enjoy the reunion with her friends in heaven as much as she did her short stay on this earth.
With much love. You are in our hrearts forever.

Utility Warehouse - The journey begins

2009-04-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Team!
I have just come in from learning all about vintage cameras and binoculars (35 mins) and signing up my 12th Customer (5 mins)!
This is my journey since 2nd February - Do nothing for 9 days and then sign up as a customer. Do nothing for a further 16 days and sign up brother so I can get a hosted website.Another week and then sign up an ACE distributor who immediately goes out and attends the training and COE4 business before me and signs up 6 customers.
63 days after being in the business 2 customers (including me!) and 1 distributor. Then I attend Stephan's event. The next day I phone to have a chat (dreading this one as I know I haven't deserved his help yet!) Got what I expected - told to get qualified so I could actually earn something off Chris. Read the book he gave me overnight (and 2 others by the end of the week to be safe) , got off my backside at last and decided to follow his advice of 2 per week. Thought I ought to aim a little higher as my goal card said 12 by 30/04/09 and it would be nice to get my £199.75 back anyway.
So here I am tonight with a grin as broad as a Cheshire Cat who's had the cream! The flag is now being hoisted for the first time (Chris will understand when he looks out of his study!) and my first significant step on to the lower rungs of the ladder to NMD within 4 years. I have learnt an excellent lesson - I will advise my downline not to do it my way!!
Thanks to Stephan for his inspiration, Sharon for keeping me in the loop and being such a wonderful local hero, Chris for raising my competive spirit (it never goes altogether even though I am trying to be a little less) and my good friend Mike for bringing me in to this exciting place. The latter 2 are invited to tea and cake at our place over the weekend just let me know when you can make it. Actually Stephan and Sharon would also be welcomed if they could make it!
Have FUN!

The Slight Edge

2009-04-18T03:03:00.000-07:00

What an amazing book this is! It made me realize the true meaning of the definition of success that I like the most "The progressive realization of a worthy ideal". This book reminded me of the benefits of consistent application of doing just a little that compounds over time.

One of my most significant achievements that filled me with pride took 7 years to attain. Boy was it worth it, you bet it was. The journey had many ups and downs, as life does, and finally , without any super human effort it happened.

So with that in mind I shall set off on my day again with the intention of doing my little bit to help improve my life and those I meet along the way on this WONDERFUL DAY! (Another day of complete and utter wonder).

I hope you are having fun on your journey, wherever you have decided to go.

The Four Ingredients to Success

2009-04-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Determine what you want.
Decide what you are willing to reschedule or give up in order to get what you want.
Associate with people who will help you get what you want.
Have a plan that works; work your plan.

Border Weekend

2009-03-31T12:48:00.000-07:00

Well we made it, or at least some of it for some of us! Which is more than can be said for many people who wouldn't even put their foot out the door on Friday and Saturday.
Thank God we had a sunny , windless Sunday to help lift our spirits and get us home safely.

My thanks to Neil for coming to join us and showing us some magnificent scenery on Saturday and loaning me his projector and screen. To Simon also who helped bring the bags nearer to home and saved me a couple of hours trip. It appears he had a bit more misfortune trying to meet up with us today but I am sure his run of bad luck is over and look forward to seeing him out again soon.

And a BIG THANKS to all of you for supporting the weekend and your company. It was my pleasure to do my little bit to make it happen.

Although we didn't manage to have a fines session I should like to make some awards:-

Andrew - Most gutsy rider who persevered despite not quite being at peak fitness yet. (I was hoping he would crack on Saturday so I could accompany him back early , alas he didn't and survived the toughest day, in my opinion)

Jeff for doing some lion's share on Day 1 in to the headwind across the moors

Dave for best veteran. (yes he is even older than me!) A solid reliable ride and getting stronger towards the end.

Mark Mc G for pointing me in the right direction for the Chatton bunkhouse (Hope you have a fantastic Birthday this week)

Mark H for not cutting through my tubes after my little slip when I lost my rag ( my sincere apologies)

Gareth & John for helping out when we needed it most and for taking Mark away to take the sting out of his too strong legs on Saturday

Sue for bringing my shoes up and the wonderful chocolate cake . I hope you feel better soon and look forward to seeing you out on the bike as fit as ever.

Brian for not breaking wind when I was sleeping beneath him on the last night!

Derek for being the best newcomer and a strong steady reliable rider throughout.

Austin for at least making the effort to start on a very hard day despite not being fully recovered from his recent illness.

Gordon for his usual straight talking and enthusiasm and for helping me with a big decision that I have recently made about my own future at work

Well that's it folks must go as I feel like a good sleep is called for.

Thanks again to one and all. Without your support this event wouldn't have happened.

Cheers and keep smiling summer has now begun!

P.S. Anyone fancy a trip to Pudsey and back later in the year for Children in Need? My aim is raise over £1000 this year, if you'd like to take part please let me know.

Happy Biking

Roy

Spring is in the air!

2009-03-21T08:41:00.001-07:00

At long last we seem to be having some good weather, consistently unlike the usual 'one hit wonder!' I shall have to get the prayer mat out so that it lasts, at least until next weekend and the Border Raiders cycle trip.

It was a good turnout today for our last Saturday morning ride before we set off next Friday towards Scotland and our sortie o'er the Border. Jeff and Neil are well prepared with their runs for Friday and Saturday and I hope to find an interesting way back on Sunday. All in all it will be a great adventure and I just hope Mark's knee and Brian's back get better so that they can make it. Someone said it could just be tactical as they don't want to get a pasting from the early crew! If I ride as well as I didn't today they have nothing to fear , however watch out for half wheeling Dave who is peaking at just the right time. I think I'm bottoming! Still it will be fun I'm sure and I am looking forward to a couple of nights chilling out in the Percy Arms after our days efforts.

Well must dash I have a route to plan and a bike to get ready (I'm sure the back wheel was catching today - my feeble excuse)

Winning and losing

2009-03-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

Over this weekend I have had a number of conversations about this topic and have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as failure. If things don't turn out as I expected then I pick myself up, dust myself down, and start all over again with a different action. In turn I have found I always get a different result. Eventually after many attempts , in some cases!, I get the result I was expecting in the first place.

Wheely exhausted

2009-02-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tyred.

Poaching pan!

2009-02-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

Well at long last I managed to retrieve my PP from my mother's home. Since her 'moving on' last November at a mere 92 years and 11 months, it had lain in her kitchen gathering dust. It is one of the few bits that I wish to keep and put it to good use by conjuring up my speciality for my brother. It had become a regular Friday lunchtime visit to her home and make her something which she enjoyed, although I actually think she just preferred to have the opportunity to see me and have a chat.
My brother thoroughly enjoyed the snack and has even ventured out to buy his own. He is now looking towards me for help on how to use it. The Friday fixture was almost the same for me, a good opportunity to meet up and have a chat with my Big Bruv. It makes me realise the importance of staying in touch with friends and family and for this reason I am inviting each and everyone of my friends to pop round anytime for poached eggs on toast, although not all at once please as there are only 4 little plastic cups! So give me some notice if you can, although it doesn't really matter, I will still be pleased to see you anytime.

The Border Raiders and their endearing qualities:

2009-02-21T23:39:00.000-08:00

The gang:-

Jeff Graham - A good organiser (C2C2C & 1944 to name but 2)Steady, reliable, competitive (ask him about when he represented GB in London to Paris - he actually swam the channel!) a really great guy with a superfast son who could be riding the 2012 Olympics - remember I told you first.
Dave Miller - A power house. I still can't make up my mind about his triangular tubes but he makes it fly
Mark Mc Govern - Strong and steady. He is always there and is good to have around on a hard day
Mark Herbert - I only usually get to see the back of him. A different class, but he is a very helpful guy and managed to drag us all across the finish line in time on the infamous 1944 ride
Simon Hughes - Mr Entertainer. He is a real power house when he stops telling himself how he isn't fit any more. Believe me this guy is fit and fun to be around.
Gareth Huxley - Quiet and going through a change of life (career that is). He is also extremely fit and is just what we need to help when it gets a bit tough. i.e. C2C2C when it is getting dark!
Sue Chester - Steady and sensible because she is a woman. By the way I mean that sincerely , apparently women are more intelligent than us guys so I'm glad she's coming along.
John Cann - The other half and a very steady , reliable wheel to follow (one I shall be certainly looking out for)
Gordon Dunsmore - Pedal snapping, humungously strong, he should have been in the GB Team Trial squad.In fact he still could be!
Austin Burrell - Unsung heroe of last Saturdays' blowy ride. He helped the many newcomers at the back. He is flying at the moment as I found out to my cost a few weeks ago on the run-in to Belsay!
Andrew Kane - Another quiet chappy who is very enthusiastic and will be a great addition to the weekend. He will be there at the finish, mark my word.
Brian Little - The man from Vegan! Super fit and friendly. He's a bit odd like me ( our eating habits I am meaning) and he was one of the powerhouses with John & Gareth on the C2C2C.
Deryk Nolan - A dark horse, but I reckon a very capable rider. Definitely one to watch.

Local sportives 2009

2009-02-21T23:35:00.000-08:00

I have updated "2 wheels R good" with a list of local challenges over this summer. I shall be entering some of these and hope to see some of my pals along the way!

Keep those wheels turning and stay upright!

Saturday's ride 21st February

2009-02-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well it was one of the best days so far except somebody kept blowing at me so I had to tuck in and hide most of the day. From my sheltered spot in the middle of the peleton I could watch brave souls battling against the odds. I did feel a bit uncomfortable watching the brave young girl/lady on the front and almost felt a chivalrous moment to relieve her. It soon passed once I realised how hard it was so decided to give her some encouraging thoughts at least.

It is hard to say how everyone is going on such a hard day but Jeff stood outi nmy book as being on the front far too long and making it look quite easy. He amost won the Belsay sprint but was up against some young whippersnapper (one of those Uni students) who are naturally fit.

I have noticed that as I have matured my natural fitness only seems to return after a lot of hard work!

Still this isn't my plan for the Border Weekend which will be a leisurely fun weekend , in good company, some good food and entertainment (thank God Simon is going!) I have some other ideas to liven things up and will share these when we get together.

The library was booked next Saturday so I shall have to think up another venue. Somebody suggested the Trinity Church so I think I'd better pop in and say a few prayers.

Believe

2009-02-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

Your playing small doesn’t save the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Nelson Mandela

First blog

2009-02-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Well here goes at long last I am dipping my toe in to the blog world!