Warney

I've talked a bit about Shane Warne, the world's best spin bowler in the past on this blog. Here's the evidence:

Swimming

Due to my weekends now being planned out until the beginning of the summer, I've had to abandon my Saturday front-crawl clinic at the Bristol Uni pool. I fully accept that I will never be a great swimmer, but the lessons have been most excellent, and I wish I could carry on. I got to a point where I can actually swim from one end of the pool to the other - and breathe. Several things have struck me in this endeavor. Firstly, learning a complex physical skill is actually quite hard as an adult, which has opened my eyes and I feel humility and respect towards the number of friends I've dragged up and down the ski slopes over the years with claims that it's really quite straight-forward, honestly. Secondly, it's effing hard work, almost certainly as a consequence of my rubbish technique. One lap in the pool feels harder than a 10k run - I don't seem to be able to swim in a relaxed fashion.

A new gym has opened very close to work, with the added bonus of a swimming pool. It's only 20m, but that's perfect for me to paddle up and down at lunch times trying to put to practice the lessons I've had.

Weekends

Weekends are too short to make up for the suffering that is the working week. Spending the last few nights on an air mattress in near arctic conditions, my dreams were remixing the Arn Saga - which has been my commute companion for the last few weeks - and several of the angst-ridden projects running at work. Most peculiar.

The Truth

We were driving up the motor way towards Leicester when Sarah suddenly exclaims:

- I love the fact that you're Swedish. It's a challenge compared to an ordinary boyfriend.

What can you say to follow that?

Friday

It's Friday again.

On the news this morning there was the astonishing revelation that the secret to staying fit and healthy is to eat a healthy diet, do exercise, cut down on booze and fags. If nothing else helps, cosmetic surgery. A new magazine has been launched to that effect. Another magazine is to be launched based on the observation that bears do indeed shit in the woods. Plans are afoot for the one-legged duck swims in circles edition.

Elsewhere it was revealed that the UK is the worst country (just after the US) in the western world for children to grow up. Sweden came in second after Belgium of all places.

Ski trip is drawing closer. Snow situation still iffy, but plenty of 4k peaks available from where we're based. Can't wait.

Gold

If you're of a certain age, you may remember the seminal New Romantics Spandau Ballet. All frilly sleeves and gold jackets. Moves are afoot to make their perhaps most loved creation, Gold, be the new National Anthem for the UK.

If you're a UK resident, support the petition here.

Valentine

So, Valentine's Day - the height of imported commercialism. Just Say No. Sarah and I are going down the wall for a spot of climbing, hopefully reaping the benefits of everybody else being out, thus having the wall to ourselves.

Had some good friends over for dinner last night, and W told a story from the front line of the anesthetist's working day. A colleague had been trying in vain to give a pregnant woman an epidural, but she was thrashing about making the procedure dangerous.

- Now, if you don't hold still, I might miss your spine and stab the needle in the baby's eye.

She held very still after that.

House of Cards

How's this for freaky coincidences - spotted the 'House of Cards' box set on a friend's book shelf the other day and borrowed it. Been enjoying it over the last few evenings, and then today it's reported that Ian Richardson has passed avay suddenly.

House of Cards is a masterful display of Machiavellian cunning and political scheming of the highest order. Ian Richardson is (was) superb as Francis Urquhart, Tory Chief Whip, in the post-thatcher years. Used to shady back-room deals, he decides to take on the PM by fair means or foul. Mainly foul. He is an obviously evil man, but with the weird charm and charisma of a Greg House or Richard III. What he doesn't know about wielding power is not worth knowing.

Yet another outstanding BBC production.

Strength, power, power-endurance and endurance

It's difficult to train for all-round climbing, as the demands are sometimes conflicting. Become stronger, and you'll lose your endurance. Train endurance and you'll end up weaker. But the sticking point is almost certainly 'power-endurance' - that is, being able to do moves repeatedly just under your max without pumping out. The hardest boulder problems I've done are aeons harder than anything I've ever encountered on a route. There are of course other components playing into this - a long trad background has lead to an aversion to anything but onsighting, and I've had to actively repurpose my brain to a sport-climbing mentality. But I've never attempted anything harder than UK Tech 6a on a route, say about V1 or V2, yet bouldered up to V6. That's an astronomical difference, and I'm not even a boulderer.

I can only conclude that I probably have sufficient power, but lousy power endurance. Or, somewhat less palatable, maybe I'm simply too scared to climb to my limit on trad, and too lazy to work sport routes?

Jonny come lately

The Six Nations' Rugby Tournament is upon us again, and no one expects England to achieve much. English Rugby is in turmoil with the manager being forced to resign after a disastrous result since - well, since the last World Cup, let's be fair. A host of world class players retired, a feud broke out with the club game - and God's gift to Rugby, World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson has been injured for three whole years. Until now. To many's surprise, Jonny is actually fit, and even more surprising, new coach Brian Ashton named Jonny in the starting XV in the opener vs Scotland. Most pundits were pouring scorn over Aston for putting his faith in someone who hasn't really played at all for three whole years.

However, class is something that transcends form, and Jonny is a real class act. Now, three years ago you would have expected England to pile 50 points on Scotland. This year the bets were even. To an astounded sold out Twickenham it must have seemed like a time warp; like the three last years never happened. Golden boy was on fire, just like that day some three years ago in Australia. Sure, the opposition was weaker yesterday, and harder games are yet to come, but to claim Man of the Match after three years' absence is nothing short of staggering.

It's also a damning indictment of the state of English Rugby that it couldn't produce a credible contender at number 10 in the mean time.

Twickenham gave Jonny a well-deserved standing ovation as he left the field.

TFI Friday

Weekend starts here! Or, weekend starts after another five hours of project meetings. We're very Agile in our approach to project management. Heading for sunny Twyford this weekend to meet up with the usual suspects. The following exchange took place:

Chris: Who's coming for a run with me on Saturday morning?

Cath responds with:

Plan for weekend (and yes it does resemble a military operation):

Fri-

Nana arrives after work (with invitations, car keys and make up bag!!)

Nana and Cath make invites, Dave cooks dinner

Chris arrives on last train from London (Cath and Dave will likely be in bed but will leave back door open - go thru gate at side of house assuming Nana doesn't want to stay up)

Sat -

6am Dave leaves for work

8am Cath to stables

Nana and Chris amuse themselves/make invites (Nana do you want me to get some cream paper so you can use our computer to do the insides??)

Chris goes for run

14:30 - Dave back from work Cath back from stables

Sarah and Stef arrive hopefully before

16:00 Eng v Scotland (Super 12 if Eng game is appalling)

18:00 Cath to stables to put horses to bed and collect take away on way back (mainly because I can't see how I'm going to fit shopping for food in!)

Sun -

6am Dave leaves for work

8am - Cath to stables (to ride horse no1 and muck out)

10am - Cath back from stables

10:30am - Nana, Sarah and Cath appointment with dressmaker (she has confirmed she can see us just waiting to hear back from her re time)

11:30am - Sarah and Cath to stables to ride other 2 horses

13:00 Juniors arrive

13:30 - Sunday lunch at Green Man

14:30 - Dave back from work

15:00 - depart for various homes (or stay to watch Ire v Wales)

16:00 - Dave takes Nix and Shane to Heathrow

Simple really!!!

Let me know if any comments etc

Chris: I'd really hoped for more of a structured weekend.