Light at the end of the tunnel,

although it feels like a very long tunnel....................

One of my philosophy's in life is doing things for the future, whether that be working hard to get that promotion at work, saving to go on holiday, training to lead a healthier lifestyle or just planning for the up and coming weekend so as a family we make the most of it. The light at the end of the tunnel signifies I'm hoping to have eradicated our families sickness bug sometime soon so we can get back to some kind of normality. Since the start of the year its been really tough. Sickness has plagued the whole family and the last couple of weeks have been no different. Nikki and Nyah started on Friday with the sickness and diarrhoea bug that they had some two weeks ago which lasted till Sunday afternoon. Thinking that was it and we were over the worst, I came down with awful stomach cramps and sickness on Sunday night along with Ciara in which I am in bed now writing this still not feeling great. The doctor explained that last time when we all had the bug, we hadn't got rid of it fully and as a result this is why it has made a second appearance. He advised that to let nature takes its course and take no Imodium or sickness medicine so we got rid of it fully. In doing this the last 48 hours have been pretty tough but touch wood we are all over the worst of it. One positive, this six pack is coming on treat!

Nikki has been brilliant. She has looked after the three of us while we have been ill and still kept the fortress running. Non stop all day feeding, entertaining, cleaning and washing.

Im really hoping to feel back to normal within the next couple of days and in doing so getting back into a routine. Spring feels like it has arrived as the sun has been shining bright the last couple of mornings, the temperatures have jumped upto around 10dgc and the nights are getting a bit lighter.

Light at the end of the tunnel

To the end of the sickness bugs and the cold winter days

Have a good week and avoid the bugs.

The start of 2009 has been quite different to the start of any other year that I can remember. Myself and Nikki have very active lifestyles and what with work and looking after the kids, we are also very conscious of eating healthy for the whole family to maintain that health and avoid sickness. In saying that, the whole family has been plagued by sickness at the start of the year.

I'm still feeling sick myself after starting with a sickness and diarrhea bug on Saturday. I haven't felt or suffered with a dose of sickness like this for a long time. My actual sickness has now turned to just feeling very tierd, weak and lethargic. I hate feeling like this, its not much and very frustrating. When I start to feel like I am feeling better after been on my feet for 10 Min's, I feel beat, although I do feel like I am moving in the right direction. To be honest, from how I felt on Saturday and Sunday I feel like I am on top of the world! I spent most of the weekend either sat or over the toilet (not going into to much detail). Really intense stomach pains and going hot and cold didn't really make for a pleasant time. I guess this is what happens when you double your family size over a couple of years. Nyah has started going to nursery and interacting more with children her age and older which increases her chances of catching infections and Ciara is in the process of having her first injections, all I guess add to the risk of us all catching things.

Before this all started we had a lovely Friday evening with our friends Dash and Nat. I cooked for the first time (and no it wasnt my cooking that made me ill and everyone else was ok!) Sirlion Steak medium cooked for the boys and Salmon for the girls with veg and potatoes. It went down really well.

Also recieved notiftication through the post for my entry for the Great North Run in August which I am excited about. The training has been on and off over the last couple of weeks due to sickness and the weather but when I have been training I have felt great and have really been pushing myself. I will be looking to include more CV training and gaining more miles under my belt over the coming months. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, this years training is all about sustainability in delivering results.

I am hoping to be back at work for Wednesday and building up my strength with a view to training at the back end of the week. Im also hoping that thew weather is going to improve. We have had some serious amounts of snow and freezing temperatures which has resulted in ice so hoping this will clear to enable me start on those running miles.

Have a good week and hope you dont catch the traveling sickness bugs!

Twycross Zoo

The weekend of the 24th was sprent down in Coventry with the girls godparents Ben and Anoushka. We set off on Friday after work and arrived down there about 7pm. I had been feeling ok during the day but by the time I got down there I was suffering with a few tummy pains. They stayed with me and I must have past them onto Nikki as we seemed to both have them for the weekend and into the start of the following week. The weekend was fantastic. Ben and Anoushka had arranged to take us to Twycross Zoo which was excellent, not just for us adults but Nyah loved it. They have everything at this zoo, Lions, Gorrilas, Monkeys (and lots of them!) Giraffes, Penguins. The place is huge and it looked like they were extending aswell. We arrived there just after 10:30am and didnt leave till gone 4. Nyah walked all day and was shouting out all the names of the animals, even little Ciara loved it.

I was in my element with my camera. I was using my 80 to 300mm lenses and some of the shots I was getting froma distance of the lions in particular, I was really pleased with. Thanks for a great weekend guys, really enjoyed it and cant wait to do it again!

TENNIS - 1st Feb 2009

Mens Final - Australian Open

WOW, We had plans for this Sunday to get up and visit Atkinsons Fencings to order a Pergola and some sleepers for the garden. I am made up with the garden but before we started the whole extension I had a vision in my head of how I wanted the garden and its not quite there yet. I want it to be an extension of our kitchen / dining room with a seating area and under cover area so I wanted to go and order the parts so I could start on it next weekend.

That all went to pot when I switched on the TV this morning and the Mens Australian Open Final was on between Nadal and Federer. It started about 9am (9pm Aussie time) and finished at . I have never seen a tennis match like it before. When I was younger I used to play alot of tennis, training three times a week and playing in competitons in and around the north of England in which I represented Yorkshire. One of my sporting highlights of the year when I was younger was watching the two weeks of Wimbledon. The likes of Edberg, Mcenroe, Lendal, Bates, Graf, Navratalova and Chang to name a few were all great to watch.

The mens final betweeen Federer and Nadal was just amazing. Federed was playing to equal Pete Sampras record of 14 major wins while Nadal was playing for his first Australian Open title.

Nadal came out the eventual winner but the level of performance was just something else. Points were won as apposed to unforced errors. Total point won Nadal 173 versus Federer 174 over the duration of the game which goes to show how close the two players are. They are both amazing athletes, physically and mentally. The game was just awesome.

Training has been pretty poor over the last week and a half. No excuses really apart from been busy at work. I have been doing PDR's and meeting which has take up so much time. One thing I am happy with is my diet and the fact I have only had 2 bottles of beers this year so far, and dont really fancy any either. Next week, I am back into more of a routine which I have set myself a target of training a minimum of 4 nights. I feel that the increased focused on my diet will really help in my training and I really cant wait to get back into the routine.

We have been plagued with really bad weather over the last week with snow and freezing temperatures. One positive came out of it, Nyah loved it!