Getting really hacked off....

with self centred people who are only interested in themselves, and their own sense of self worth.
People who think that the place will crumble and grind to a halt without them, that ask you something, yet don't listen to you when you answer.

Fuck them.  Fuck them all.

Thoughts on the clearout

I've posted before about my neverending clearout, and yesterday had a moment of clarity.  I'd recently bought some ebooks for my kindle, and got an email from Amazon saying that they were giving me a voucher for a free ebook as a result of my recent purchases.  There were about six books to choose from, but the only one I'd have had any interest in was Stardust by Neil Gaimen, which I already own.  I took it anyway.
This meant I could now pass on/sell/trade my dead tree edition of the same book.  Which got me thinking "Get rid of all of them except the signed one" - Smoke and Mirrors in case your interested - and replace them with ebooks.
This makes sense, as it clears up space, and lets someone else get pleasure from the physical books.  I've already done this with Terry Pratchet's books.  I've twice now, cleared out all the TP books I had, under the reasoning that, although I love them, I need space, and let's face it, they'll never go out of print, so I can replace them anytime.  This is currently happening, as my reading pattern lately is one serious book, one TP for light relief.  This works really well, and I'm getting to enjoy TP all over again.  I think once I'm done with the Song of Ice and Fire books, I'll start replacing the Gaiman books with ebooks and clear up more space.

I love my ebook reader, and while I do like a physical book, there simply isn't the space on the shelves to keep buying on not clear out.

The Dalai Llama once said that accumulating "things" isn't a problem in itself, it's when you form an attachment that won't allow you to let go, that's when there's a problem.  This is my chance to downsize and still have an extensive library, albeit in electronic form.

Obviously I'll be keeping some books, and there will always be the odd purchase.  But I plan to make about 90% of my reading, on the kindle.

Wild

Just before Christmas I was doing some random browsing in Waterstones, and came across Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  After reading the blurb I thought "Yeah, this sounds pretty good, I'll give it a go", and today at lunchtime, I finished it.

You know how every once in a while you get a book so good that you don't want it to end?  Well for me this is one of those books.  This is one that despite my ongoing/never ending clearout, I'll be keeping.  Other books that I've felt the same about are Born to Run, Into the Wild, & The Kite Runner.  Strange that considering how much I love SF and Fantasy, I can't think off-hand of any books in those genres that I wouldn't consider ditching if it came to it.

Anyway, if you have a love of the outdoors/adventure and want a really good read, this tale of one woman's voyage of self discovery on the Pacific Crest Trail, is one I'd recommend.

Reviewing the resolutions

Last year I wrote some resolutions down for this year, and posted them online.

I'm pleasantly surprised with what I managed to do.

1. Have a clearout and stop buying stuff I don't need. - The clearout has been ongoing (and still is).  So yeah.  As for not buying stuff, I think I've bought very little this year.  

2. Run again. For fun - Yes, I did manage this.  I've been running at least twice a week, and did a 5k and a 10k to gauge how I was coming along, and was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Still managing to not re-join a club, so I'm managing to keep it a pleasurable activity, and not get obsessive like I was in the past.

3. Go climbing again. - I've bouldered a few times.  We have a small wall at work now, so I've just used that the odd lunchtime.  Found that while it's pretty fun, it was obviously the company of the people I climbed with that I enjoyed more than the challenge of climbing itself.

4. Stop buying overpriced coffee.  Buy good coffee and make it myself - Managed this one easily.

5. Cycle to work as often as the weather allows. - Done it in spades.  The weather hasn't even been an issue unless there's a really strong wind.  The only day I haven't been cycling is a Tuesday, when I have karate after work, and I run the 5 1/2 miles to work instead.

6. Do another munro - Now I didn't do a munro, but I did do a fair few smaller hills, so I'm sort of claiming that one.....sort of.

So overall, I managed to pretty much nail my resolutions.  Now I need to (a) keep it up, and (b) come up with more for next year.

Avoiding getting lardy over winter

The weather lately hasn't been great for using the bike to commute to work.  The rain isn't an issue - someone went and invented waterproofs to deal with that - it's the wind.  Gusts threatening to blow you under a bus, or a headwind where you basically are peddling to stay still, are not much fun, so with one eye on the weather forecasts, the cycling has been reigned in a fair bit.

I've not managed to get out running much either.  My excuse being that when I get up in the morning, Pollok park is pitch black.  Same when I get home from work.  I've now got a wee headtorch that I actually bought as a second light when cycling through the park, but it can double up for running as well.

With the ever looming threat of becoming a couch potato again, I re-joined the gym, which being in my work, is really handy.  Oh, and I get a decent discount for being staff.  So while running on the treadmill isn't my location of choice, it's better than nothing.  The fact I have a locker in the gym and always keep some running gear in it, means I can get in a wee run up at Sighthill Park, or along the canal to Firhill at lunchtimes, if the weather is ok.

I spoke to one of the fitness instructors about getting a programme made up, and he's come up with three different routines, which is perfect, as I'm planning to go in three times a week. The first in muscles, upper and lower body, which is great, as all my exercise is lower, so I need to do some upper body work.
Next is cardio, so I won't loose out over the winter, and have breathing issues etc when I get out to run properly.
Finally something which will help with karate, a core session.

He's also recommended some classes to compliment the above - insanity, circuits, and spin - which I'll have a look at and give a go.  I also think I'll see if there's a yoga class that fits in with the time I'll have available.

On a roll

So, fixing the tv meant I could take an old crt tv to the recycling plant, along with two old BT Homehubs - that BT claim they can't recycle - so that's cleared a bit of space, especially in the spare room when the tv I fixed had been taking up floor space.

Next to get a going over was my books.  I basically had a quick look and on first glance, books I knew I wouldn't read again went in a bag.  This included a wee pile of Ken MacLeod and Iain M Banks.  I have kept a couple of books by both, as they're signed.  The rest now have a new home with a friend, who also got some Alistair Reynolds.

I've since decided that the China Mieville books can go as well, except for the one he signed and dedicated for me when I met him at a convention in London.  The rest WILL be replaced, but on the Kindle.

Clive Barker took a pounding as well.  All my Barker books (again apart from one signed one) are now in a bag and waiting to go to the charity shop.  Again, these may be replaced at some point by Kindle versions.

Initially, getting rid of books was hard.  I'm a hoarder, and I love the look of a shelf full of books, but seriously, keeping them for the sake of having them, when I know I probably will never read them again, is just plain daft.  The best thing to do is pass them on and let others get the pleasure from them that I got.

Broken broadband and knackered tv's

A while back our Samsung tv started switching itself off and on when you initially switched it on.  Gradually the problem got worse.  From a few seconds of on/off/on/off to minutes, before finally staying off.  So, my wife went out and got us a new (non-Samsung) tv.

We hadn't got rid of the old one yet, as we weren't going near the recycling plant, which was fortunate, as a friend told us they had had the same problem, as had a lot of people, and help was online.
One Google search later, and it appeared that this was a worldwide issue.  In the States, it appears that the company were offering repairs, but no so in Europe.  Help though was at hand.  On youTube there are literally hundreds of people posting videos of what components need replace (only four capacitors).  Having worked in electronics when I first left school, I'm a dab hand with a soldering iron, so problem components identified, and out they came.  Replacements were ordered, and last night I popped them back in, and RESULT.  The tv is once again working.

Then there's broadband.  Last week I got a new phone.   At home I tried to connect it to the wifi network with no joy, so took it back to the shop, where it connected to their wifi no problem.  I tried the guest network in work, and you guessed it, it connected to that too.
Back home and the laptop seemed to be not connecting either.  So I tried the netbook with the same predictable result. So, I called BT.  Over an hour on the phone, and they told me the hub wasn't faulty, but my laptop.  I asked how they explained  the fact that my phone and netbook weren't connecting either, and apparently they were obviously faulty as well.
This wasn't explaining the fact that the network map showed that my laptop WAS connecting to the hub, but the hun was not connecting to the internet.
I demanded a replacement hub, and they proceeded to tell me how much it would cost.  I pointed out that it was going to be a free replacement, as I was out of contract, and wasn't going to pay for something that I could get free just by simply switching provider.  Suddenly my free replacement was going to be in the post next working day.

I set it up this morning, and surprise surprise, it works.  And yet according to BT it was laptop that was at fault....

The lesson for today is, if you KNOW what the fault is don't be fooled by a someone from a call centre who is reading from a script.

(Not) the new bike

A combination of factors mean there's no new bike for the moment.  The main factors were, (a) there were two bikes I fancied.  Both had exclusive distribution deals with a major chain.  So in I popped.  There were none in stock, the advice was "Decide what one you want.  Order the biggest frame size, and we'll get it in."

Erm.....no.  Would you buy a car without a test drive?

So I went looking again, and found another that I liked, although it wasn't a cyclocross, but a road bike.....decisions......

Back in the major chain for something unrelated, and I got talking to one of the guys, who explained that there was a stock issue with one of the bikes, and the other was so new he hadn't seen it yet, but he could get both bikes in, in my size, so I could compare them and decide if either was for me. (see the difference a decent sales person can make?) So now I have a real dilemma.  Do I still want a cyclocross - and if so, which one - or do I go for the road bike?

If there's one thing worse than no choice, it's too much choice, so I've put the decision on hold until I'm 100% sure what I want.

To put it in perspective, I was initially intending to get a mtb for off-road fun and games, so you'll see why I'm not prepared to rush into things.

As for my current bike?  It just got a free service courtesy of Dr Bike, and is running like a dream.

Cycling

Looks like I may be about to buy another bike.  I blame the invention of the Cycle to Work schemes.
Since I already have a hybrid (a Giant Escape M1), I'm looking at cyclocross bikes.  Speedier commute, and still able to do rough tracks and mud.  It's a win/win.  

Update type thing

With the weather forecasts all saying that this week was going to range from mince, to utter shite, I wimped out and got a weekly pass for the train.  Turns out the only hellish day so far has been Tuesday, because of the wind, so I could have cycled/ran to work.

So today after looking and seeing "intermittent light showers", I opted for the bike.  Made sense, as after work, I'm going straight out to meet up with Karen for a curry, before we both cycle home.  Thing is, it looks as though the "intermittent" showers have chosen now to be intermittent.

Hopefully they'll clear before I have to leave.  If not, hell, that's the reason I bought waterproofs.

Postcard from the revolution

On Sunday there was a rally in George Square.  Labelled "Hope Over Fear", the aim was to have a family friendly day (fairground rides and face painting for the kids) with speakers talking about how to carry on the momentum from the YES campaign, and fight for a better deal for Scotland (ok, ideally everyone attending, still wants independence, and my own opinion is that now the "promises" are being seen to be lies, and the lies told by the Better Together campaign are being shown up for what they are, then it's not a case of IF, but WHEN).

The speeches were interspersed with bands, and the atmosphere was very upbeat.  Figures put the attendance at 6ooo in the square at any one time, with a total of about 10000 people in total, having attended.

Some quarters have made cynical comments about the fact that the whole thing was organised by Tommy Sheridan and his Solidarity party, as Tommy is pretty much persona non grata in certain political circles, but personally I don't think it's an issue.  I'm not one likely to vote for Tommy, although I do think he's a great speaker.  He know's his stuff, and doesn't rely on an autocue or script, like most of the more mainstream politicians.

The square was a sea of saltires, and YES flags.  There were the usual mix of stands, with pretty much every flavour of socialism being represented (apart from Labour, but hey, they haven't been socialist for a long time now), and CND.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and probably the highest profile speaker was Naomi Wolf

The bands were a great mix, with my personal favourite being the Trongate Rum Riots who were superb.  I need to check them out when they're playing again.

So, the genie is out the bottle and it's not going back any time soon.  As I say, it's not IF we get independence, it's a matter of WHEN.

Thoughts on the revolution

So it's been two weeks since Scotland voted to remain the in UK (55-45%), and a week since I got back from holiday.
When I woke up on the 19th and realised what the result was, my initial reaction was a mix of despair and anger.  I wanted out of the country, and fortunately I had a flight that afternoon to Crete.

While on holiday I managed to mull things over, and since I got back I've realised that what probably swung it for the NO side was the success of their campaign of fear, which actually included figures like Danny Alexander coming out with outright lies on live tv debates.  For example, he said that in the event of a YES, Lloyds bank would move their HQ from Scotland to England.  He had no response when it was pointed out to him that their HQ actually WAS based in England.  This was just one example of the many lies told.  Others included "You won't get your pension as you'll be in a foreign country".  Well, just how do ex-pats living in (for example) Spain get their pension then?

Now I'm back, I've calmed down, and I've realised, we lost the battle, not the war.  The various pro-indy groups are still fired up, and the pro-indy political parties have found their memberships swelling.

Watch this space, it's not over yet.

Travels

In case anyone has been living in a cave and totally cut off from civilisation, there's a referendum on independence taking place in Scotland next week.
To be honest I'll be glad when it's all over, and to that end, once I've voted (YES in case you're wondering), I'll be heading off to explore Crete for a week.

Taking the walking boots with me, and a timetable for the local buses, and just getting out and exploring.
Of course, there will be plenty of sampling of the local vino.  It would be rude not to.

First 10k in five years.

On Sunday, I took part in the Paisley 10k.  The first 10k race I've done in 5 years (and only the 2nd race since I started running again).  To say I was nervous was an understatement.

Previously, before a race, I was a bag of nerves, and probably a real pain in the arse to be round.  This time was no different.  Prior to lining up, I was in the square with Karen, stomach a knot of nerves, asking her to remind me why I was doing this.  Her reply - "Because you love it once you get started."
She's right.  Once the race actually starts and I'm under way, the nerves give way, and I really enjoy myself.

For part of the race, I had caught up with a friend Rhona, who runs for Westies, and it was good to run along with someone I knew, until I dropped back a bit, going along the cycle path, back towards the town.  She warned me about a 1/2 mile incline prior to getting back onto the main street, and the finish in the square, so I wanted to make sure I didn't burn out and end up walking part of the route.  I had to prove to myself that I could race 10k again after my long lay-off.
I was happy to find that I did manage to run the whole way, and had enough left in the tank for a pretty decent sprint finish, that brought me in with a time of 52:52.  almost 13 minutes slower than my pb, but there has been a 5 year gap, so I've totally cuffed with my time, and it gives me a benchmark to work from and improve on.

If everything goes right, I'm planning to re-join my old club Bellahouston Road Runners, once I get some more regular longer runs under my belt.

Paisley sunsets

Took another walk up Glennifer Braes last night.  Really love it up there, easy to get to and miles of walking/running/biking potential.

Anyway, on the way back to the car, the sun was going down, and the sun setting over the trees was, well, stunning.

More running

Ran to work again yesterday.
I didn't do the lap of the campus, as (a) the gym was open when I arrived and (b) it only adds a couple of minutes and not a lot of distance to the route.
Regardless, I was really happy with the time (45:45).  I felt like I had been struggling a bit on the way in, and had put that down to the bottle of wine I drank on Sunday night - which to be honest, probably didn't help - but it seems that it felt harder because I was running faster and pushing myself.  So, *happy dance* it is then.

Only going to do a wee run in the park between now and the 10k in Paisley on Sunday.

Back to running

So the foot stopped giving me gip, and I decided that instead of cycling to work I was going to run in.  According to Map My Run, door to door was just over 9.5k.  So, the plan was that when I got to work, I'd do a lap of the campus to take me up to (and just over) the 10k I was looking to do.

Well, I set off early, given that I didn't know how long it would take (it's been 5 years since I ran that far), and I wasn't sure if the foot would decide to play up, so I wanted to give myself time in case I had to walk/hobble in.  Turns out I gave myself way too much time, and got in before the gym opened, and had to stand around for 10 minutes before I could go in and get a shower and change into the clothes I'd left in my locker the day before.

I was happy with my time considering (a) the length of time it's been since I last ran 10k, and (b) I'm crap at pacing myself if I'm running alone.  I managed 52 mins, and since I had told myself that for a first, anything under an hour would be acceptable, that was a pleasant surprise.
What also surprised me (and also slightly disappointed me) was that according to MMR, adding in a lap of the campus only upped the distance from 9.5k to 9.85k.  Now I know for a fact that a lap of the campus is not only 350m, so I'm not sure what the hell happened there, so I'm claiming the full 10k.

Regardless of that, it's looking positive for my first 10k race since at the end of the month.  At least I'm confident I'll get round, and pretty sure it'll be an acceptable time that I can then work on improving.

Running update

I only managed out for one run in the last week, as I'd done something to the muscles in my foot, and it was a wee bit achey, so I decided to listen to my body and rest it till it was ok.

In the meantime, I plotted the route I cycle to work, on Map My Run, and it's 9.5k.  Since my longest run so far has been 8.5k, and I've a 10k in two weeks, and need to up the mileage, tomorrow, instead of cycling to work, I'll be running.
In preparation, I've dropped off a bag with a change of clothes, in my locker in the gym, so all I have to do is run in, get showered and changed, and that's me set for the day.  At night, depending on the weather, I can either get the tube to Ibrox and walk through Bella park, or if the weather isn't too good, I'll just jump a train.

Either way, I'll have upped the milage, and that's all to the good.

Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games have (and at the time of writing, still are) taking place in Glasgow.  The atmosphere in the city has been amazing.  There has been a massive influx of visitors, and there's a really happy vibe about the place.

Prior to the opening ceremony, I had posted online regarding the uniforms the Scottish athletes would wear for the opening ceremony, and how (to me) they resembled a dodgy flashback to some acid casualties take on Brigadoon (or words to that effect).
Later when I won tickets to the boxing, I got called a hypocrite and two faced.  What, because I didn't like what they were wearing for the opening ceremony?  If fact, it would be fair to say I got pelters.
I stand by what I said.  The tartan is bad (or at least a bit garish), but I have seen worse.  But the shirts and the dresses........ seriously, they were, and still are, horrible.  That material/pattern is seriously bad.

Anyway, people seemed to think I was anti-games, which I was certainly not.  In fact, the boxing was amazing live, and I went down to Pollok Park to watch the marathon, and yesterday I went to the Trongate to see the time trials.  Add watching the swimming, gymnastics, and loving the athletics, and it's fair to say that I have really enjoyed the games, possibly more so than the Olympics, but that's probably down to them taking place where I live, and the fact that I've been able to enjoy not just the events on tv, but the whole atmosphere and the brilliant vibe that is engulfing Glasgow at the moment.

Finally, a quote from a lassie working in the merchandise tent on George Square - "The town is going to seem really weird and quite once this is all over".  And you know, she's right.

Funny how your opinions change

Back when I first took up running, and was in Bellahouston Road Runners, I didn't like running on my own, in fact I hated it.  It bored me to to the point that I couldn't push myself, and if there was a little twinge - a stitch, legs feeling tired, whatever - I used it as an excuse to stop and walk for a bit.  Something I never did when running in a group, so it's not like I couldn't continue, it just seems (looking back) that I didn't want to.
I never found that zen state that a lot of people went on about.

Now though, things seem to have changed.  The girl I go for lunchtime runs with, hasn't been able to run lately due to injury, and I've been heading out on my own.  This time round, I "get" it.  I'm enjoying running for it's own sake.  It's not a case of slogging away and having a hellish time, all for the endorphin rush when I finish (although that's nice to get), I'm not enjoying my own headspace while I run, and it's good to be aware of how I'm feeling while I'm running, something that running with a partner distracts me from.

I'm not saying I prefer running on my own, I enjoy sharing the experience, and having a chat on the way, but for some reason, now, I can enjoy my own company while I run, something I never could before, and that is a huge milestone for me mentally.