Thursday 31 July 2008

Golf Day

Took a days leave today as I was playing in a charity golf day in aid of The Thomas Devlin Fund
Tee off time for our 4 ball (Ricky, Chris, Martin and of course Me) was 11am, and it was a nice morning as I hit my DDH about 30 yards.... "It can only get better from here I said to myself" It didn't....
The rain started and just stayed on. It was hard to believe it was the summer.... Look on the bright side, it was lady's day somewhere.... Apparently GOLF stands for Gentlemen Only Lady's Forbidden (Don't believe that for 1 minute)

Wednesday 30 July 2008

Got There!

Well, I got there tonight, my thirteenth award......

6 and a half stone off... What a feeling....

I know some close concerning friends of mine are worried that I'm going to far... I can see it in their eyes when they say "You don't need to lose any more, stop now"
Well I can assure them they are worried about nothing, I'm eating loads and have no concerns myself, but I do thank them for their concern.
I can tell you it's been such a long long time since I've felt this good about myself and Slimming World has done this for me. It's a plan... A plan that has really worked for me.....A plan that has transformed me.... I eat the food I love with great results and never go hungry... If you need to, you've got to try it for yourself. You control it.

The last target I'm going to set is 7 stone, and I have no doubt (God willing that is) I'll reach it.
We have booked a holiday to Florida at the end of November and it will be such an experience to visit the Orange County... 7 stones lighter....

This Time 31 Years Ago Today

It's amazing the things you remember..... I can actually remember back 31 years. I was staying overnight in my LSD's house (On the couch of course, 29th of July)
We got engaged that morning and we then headed off to Dublin with her parents for the day. Can't believe that wonderful day was 31 years ago .... Thanks Kid....

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Wet Start

Had intentions off getting up early and going for a swim before work. Alarm clock went off I heard the rain and turned over... (There's always tomorrow, if there's not, no harm done)
Had my swim at lunch time and the weather turned great. LSD Junior rang again to say they were heading off to Typhoon Lagoon

Wait until I have my holiday, I'll get my own back

Monday 28 July 2008

New Week

Started off this week with a swim... Need to keep focused as I would like to have some weight off to get me nearer my target of 6 and a half stone. Think I may have over done it with the cycling as I'm sore in places I didn't even know I had places. Decided to do a bit of pruning tonight when I got home from work, think I went a bit overboard (Must have been the sun) but I ended up having to dig some scrubs up as I'd over cut them....

Sunday 27 July 2008

Summer Is Here

Another beautiful day. Sitting out on our new patio my LSD and I are having brunch when the phone rang. It was only LSD junior informing me her and her hubby were sitting in Cracker barrel having breakfast before heading off to the Magic Kingdom....
It somehow made my day seem somewhat damp

Saturday 26 July 2008

Opp's, Lovely Day

Got out of bed this morning to a glorious day. Sun splitting the trees, so true to my word out came the bike and off I set to collect my parcel. Not bad I was nearly wrote off only twice on the way to the sorting office. I don't know if it's because I've lost the weight that some car drivers can't see me on the bike or their eyes are just painted on. (I wish I drove a large vehicle I could get my own back on the car drivers)...(Oh that's right I do, and I do)
After picking the package up I went for a swim at the gym (Hey, poetry or what) after the swim I felt great so it was time for the long trek home (All up hill). Cut onto the heel and ankle, near the junction with Agnes Street the traffic was building up. This people carrier (DLA car) passed me with it's window open and flute band music at the top volume, followed by a boy racer in his red 1.1 corsa with his window open and bass music also at top volume, I'm sure his doors were going in and out. I have to say It took my mind off the traffic and the hill, but I have to admit It made me go that little bit faster as I thought the driver of Shankill Road True Blues noticed me laughing....

Friday 25 July 2008

Late Post

Remember when the post used to arrive as you would be having a boiled egg or something else for breakfast, and the lovely postman used to leave the larger packages around the back of the house that wouldn't fit through the letter box. Not anymore. Those were the days when you had the same posty everyday, now you're lucky if you have the same one every week let alone at the same time everyday. I know with all the thieving scumbags knocking about today it's more than their jobs worth to leave a package unattended before they have your signature for it. They also used to try next door to get your neighbour to sign for it. Not anymore. They would rather you put more pollution into the air by making you travel to the sorting office to collect it....
I may get the bike out tomorrow and cycle to collect it. The only problem is it's all up hill on the way back (Hopefully it will rain tomorrow and I'll have to take the car)

Wednesday 23 July 2008

Surprise Surprise

Back from my weigh in at Slimming World I've stayed the same after my antics of last week (Lucky or what)

(STILL) 6 st 5 and a half lb off

Going to try and get to my 6 and a half stone target by next week (Fingers crossed)

Tuesday 22 July 2008

Time Out

I took a week long break. Weather was awful, so not a chance of getting the exterior painting that needs done finished or any of the jobs done around the garden. It was a real lazy week, I even stayed clear of blogging (I'm sure nobody noticed)
We did get out shopping though. Let me tell you about Thursday .... Carol and I were asked to do an interview for a local radio programme (About our weight loss) so it was arranged for Thursday. After it was done and dusted, went into the Victoria Square and decided to hit the Oyster bar. Had some oyster shots and a couple glasses of bubbly... (Oh dear, my LSD wasn't partaking in the beverages so she was the self elected driver for the day) Went to check out the Cathedral Quarter for drinkies and eaties for future reference...
First stop The Merchant (In fact, we stayed there and had dinner).. The meal was fantastic and the service exceptional.. (As was the wine list) This great night was finished off with a visit to the John Hewitt (And a couple more glasses)...
Friday it emptied down and so we went to Ballymena to check the shops out (Why, I've know idea) with umbrella at the ready off we went. Had lunch (Open prawn sarny) then the weather seemed to pick up when we got back so we had a BBQ for two.
Saturday we had friends over for a great dinner (Cooked by the best chef I know, my LSD) we saw the sun rise at 4.45 as we were heading to bed.
The down side to all this high living is that I may have weight on tomorrow night and my Slimming World group, but hey, I'm re-focused now so that's what matters

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Out Of My Teens

Back from my weigh in at Slimming World with another 1 and a half lb off. This is very special to me as I've now crossed over yet another stone barrier. I'm now in my 12 stone area and now for the second time in my life out of my teens (First time it was age, now it's weight) lol. I really can't remember the last time I was this weight.
When I got on the scales tonight it flickered between 13 st and 12st 13 and a half lb, but then settled at 13.
I fired off my shirt, it was a half monty (Suprised onlookers, and myself) but it worked and I'm now 12st 13 and a half lb (OFFICIAL)

6 st 5 and a half lb off

Monday 14 July 2008

My Trip Away

What an experience I've had. Going to the Slimming World Man of the Year finals made me realise how lucky I really am in life.
When I arrived at Slimming World HQ (Near Derby) first I was weighed, then my height and waist measurements were taken. Then it was off to a photo shoot, had my photo taken with Kym Marsh (Michelle from Corrie Street) then it was off to meet the other guys at the finals. 86 guys in total from a mere 6000 Slimming World groups with a combined weight loss of 486 and a half stone.
We broke off into smaller groups and had to tell our story about why we wanted to lose weight and what we think about food optimising etc. I felt really humble when I heard the stories from the other members. Between life saving health reasons and tragic events in peoples lives my weight loss journey was a breeze compared to them. 12 people were selected to go forward for a final group. In the end the guy who won had 15 stone off, congratulations to him .... In all honesty, everyone present was a winner in their own right ... Well done guys....
At lunch the food was fantastic with everything marked red or green for us food optimising people. We were presented with a bottle of champagne and a framed certificate each.

Friday 11 July 2008

Holiday Eve

Today is Holiday Eve.... I'm off from end of play today for a week. Tomorrow I fly off to Derby to take part in Slimming World's Man of the Year Finals ... Really nervous I have to say....
Next week I'll be having a day here and there (Maybe), nothing planned other than that.
If the weather picks up I may get the garden done and some long overdue painting around the outside of the house done.

Thursday 10 July 2008

What A Gas

Today was a gas. Workmen nearby our office fractured a gas mains in Bedford Street, and the gas fumes smothered our work place. We were advised to evacuate the building and told we would not be able to return....
Had to take sanctuary in a local hostelry...... It's a rough world

Will I Live To Be 80?

Recently a man turned 65 and had to choose a new primary care physician for someone of that age. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, the doctor told him he was doing 'fairly well' for his age.
A little concerned about that comment, he couldn't resist asking him, "Do you think I will live to be 80?" the doctor asked: "Do you smoke tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages?
"Oh no," he replied. "I don't do drugs, either."

"Do you have many friends and entertain frequently?" he said, "No, I usually stay home and keep to myself"
Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"..."No, my other doctor said that all red meat is unhealthy!"
"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, tennis, sailing,hiking or bicycling?" "No, I don't," he said.
"Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?" "No," he said. "I don't do any of those things."

The doctor looked at him and said, "Then why worry?"

Wednesday 9 July 2008

I'll Have a Half

Well, tonight at my Slimming World class I had another 1/2 lb off

6 St 4 lb off so far

Arachnophobia

While I was out, the call of nature was just too great to ignore so I had to quickly find a gents. I'm so fussy when it comes to using toilets outside my own environment. No time to be fussy this time...
Yee old church hall was readily available. Nothing much to look at while sitting on the throne, well nothing much that is, until I spotted this climbing up the tiles ......

I had no problems with constipation I can tell you.......

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Blocked Drains

If you drive into Belfast's Clarence Street West (Oh, hold on, you can't) the construction of a new hotel means the street is blocked off daily from around 7.30am until around 5 ish Monday to Friday. The cement lorry's etc arrive and through the day the roadway becomes covered in an over spill of cement. This has been going on for a lot of months.
The road gets hosed down and guess where it goes .... yes, down the drain. Now, is it just me or am I right in thinking if you hose enough cement down the drains eventually it will harden and block the drains? I cant wait until the hotel is up and running to see how many times the street gets dug up to fix the blocked drains. I took this photo this evening hours after the rain had stopped .... looks like the building inspectors should have gone to Specsavers.......

Monday 7 July 2008

Blues Brother

I was sitting in the petrol station on the heel and ankle waiting on my LSD paying for my fill up. A people carrier came into the station (Through the exit) with the kids not strapped in. He (Yes it was a guy) got out of his car and I wish I was in the fashion police. He was wearing a full Linfield track suit (He looked as athletic as a hippo with piles) best was yet to come .... He went to the ATM, put his hand in his rear pocket and pulled out .... (Yes you've guessed it)... a Linfield wallet .... (Must have need the cash to replenish the Buckfast stock.

Friday 4 July 2008

Cyclists Driver

Went to Omagh today. The amount of Richard Cranium drivers I met on the road today was just that little bit more than usual. The prize of the day went to the driver in the silver 4x4 with a roof cycle rack on it. He was driving like a cyclist, you know the ones who think because they are on a pedal cycle, road signs, road markings don't apply to them and friar tuck everyone else on the road.
Not many people know this.... BUT while driving on the highway, a large vehicle must leave a lot more room from the vehicle that is in front of it.
This is called BRAKING DISTANCE. We are not keeping a space for the Richards who just can't wait until there is a safe place to overtake..... Get the message?

Thursday 3 July 2008

Water or Wine

A friend of my sent this remarkable thought, I think it's been around for ages but just in case you haven't seen it, read on.

As Ben Franklin once said: "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria"
In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of dung. (So i'm told)
However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting. Remember: Water = dung, Wine = Health .
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of dung.



There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service

Wednesday 2 July 2008

It's Still Going

Please to say I weighed in this week with another 3 and a half lb off making it

6 Stone 3 and a half lb

New Photo

A work colleague decided to enhance my blog photo, seeing as I've lost six stone. (Bless him)
I got to thinking, I'll put it on my blog and see if anyone comments on it, and if (It's a big if) they like it maybe, just maybe I'll use it to replace the old one.
I'm touched and it's really nice that someone has taken time doing this. I don't mind for one second people enhancing any photo of me, as long as they realise and except they may be repaid in full ........ Watch this space!

Tuesday 1 July 2008

Buzz Off

Did you hear the one about the truck loaded with 12 million Bees that turned over in Canada ......

Read all about it!

I was thinking, I hope they were able to catch the ones that escaped, the other thing is how the hell did they know there were 12 million of them. (Who did the counting)
I got stung by a bee last Christmas ........ £5.40 for a very small jar of honey.......