I’ve been a bit slack at updating this with things that have made me happy recently, which I am glad to report is not because I haven’t been happy, but just life and other stuff getting in the way.

I have spent the last few days camping and assessing a group for their Duke of Edinburgh expedition, and it has been fun to briefly meet them and be with them as they successfully complete this challenge.
The weather on the first day was rather very wet, but on the other days I have had some very nice relaxing moments sitting on a hillside looking out over the Peak District and enjoying the view.
I have also had some reading time while I have been waiting, and I am very much enjoying my current book.. (Anthem by Neal Stephenson)
I have watched one nice pastel sunset.
Spent time chatting with the other leaders, discussing how we were robbed at Sky Camp, and other stories.
While I didn’t take any pictures with my proper camera, I did enjoy taking some snapshots with my camera phone..
Some of which may even get posted here eventually.
I enjoyed a strawberry milkshake in Bakewell, although I still think that the shop has the wrong logo.  It was called Ice Cream Dreams, the logo was a dropped ice cream cone.. which is more of an ice cream nightmare in my opinion.

Anyway generally things have been good, sure there is room for improvement, and I know that next week is going to be stressful.. but for now I can relax and try and take some of this positivity with me.

Another busy weekend, so another bumper update..
Well not that bumper, as I’m struggling to think of things..So in no particular order.

1) A round of mini golf out at the Adventure golf place on the A20, not as good as the Elmers End one, but still enough to find amusing.
2) Taking some time to watch some more of “Chuck”, I’m about halfway through season 4 so still quite a long way behind.  But it was good to unwind, even if it is getting even more predictable.
3) Getting my company accounts sorted out.  Took me most of Saturday, to get things up to date and ready for the end of year reporting that has to be submitted.  It is another of these jobs that I should just get on with rather than let them hang over me.  Anyway, all done for another year, so that is very good.
4) Getting a tour of H’s current work place and meeting a few of the people she talks about..  She needed to do some overtime data entry, so I tagged along to helped out, was nice to have to focus on a grunt job.
5) Sunday lunch out with some of H’s old work mates.. Food was ok, the chat was better.

It has been a long week, and I have let myself get overwhelmed by it and some of the deadlines that I am managing get to me.  A few people in the office have noticed that I have been not quite my normal self.
However today is Friday and I have done much better to work on the things that I can control and worry less about some of the things that are out of my control.

1) Mapping out one of my new projects in MS Project, it is software that I normally seem to be fighting against rather than it being the useful tool that I know that it can be.  However today it seemed to flow and work with me which was a very good feeling..  This is a job I haven’t been looking forward to for a little while, so it is also a bit of a weight off my mind.
2) Seeing a chap in Dulwich kit smoothly and quickly woosh around the roundabout at the Museum of London as I walked up to the station.  Wasn’t quite quick enough to be able to shout “go Dulwich”, but never mind.
3) Saw Dara O’Brien at the Glamoursmith Apollo.. I don’t care what they are trying to call the place now, it will always be the Glamoursmith Apollo.
Many moments of uncontrollable laughter, which is really what you want from a comedy gig.  A great end to a stressful week.

1) The news that they have fixed the showers at work.*  I get the impression that the office building doesn’t want people to use them, as we will now have to sign a key out at reception, if you hand the key on then you lose shower privileges. 
Don’t think that this policy will last as soon as there is a group of sweaty cyclists and runners stood about in reception making the place look unprofessional.
2) Tail wind while cycling home, so parts of my ride felt really wooshy, which was helped by a long run of green traffic lights around Elephant and Castle. It did make me miss my track bike, but I will start to get her rebuilt over the weekend.
3) Chips for tea, I like the chippy at the end of the road.  It is a bit of a success that I don’t eat there more often.

* Quite sure that you don’t want me to go into detail about the alternative option

1) The central heating kicking in this morning.  I was mighty cold out, so having it come on to take the chill off was very nice.  Didn’t help with the getting up and going to work bit, but hey that is a different problem.
2) Made it out of the office at lunchtime for a short walk.  I should do that more often, as it does help to break up the day.  I am well aware that continually working through does nothing for my productivity.
3) Getting back out on the velodrome again this week.  Unfortunately I got cramped, so had to retire slightly early from the session, but still it was 20 ish miles in just over an hour, so a good training session.  I’m going to ache in the morning, but this will help me get my fitness back.
a) An extra one from yesterday that I forgot to mention:  Being told that I looked 8 years younger than I really am.