A bit better...

The results are in, out of 244:
Swim 61st
Bike 174th
Run 115th

Overall 140th

(The winner finished in 1 hr 5 mins 4 secs and the last finisher in 2hrs 41 mins 20 secs - question: who made the greatest effort, eh?)

Now, I must learn how my bike shoes do up and undo...

Very happy...

Yes, it is over and I finished well! Total time 1 hr 34 min and a bit. It's a fascinating head journey, I find, when doing these things. You're up, you're down, you believe, you lose faith in yourself one minute, you regain it the next...

The swim was good, under 7 mins, but I clambered out feeling exhausted - oh dear, what have I done? I've still got the bike and the run to go! I've only just started and I'm done for...but then I got to have a slight rest as I couldn't remember how my bike shoes undid! Ha, ha! Anyway, this has to be one of the most beautiful bike routes - through the New Forest, avoiding ponies (cattlegrids are a bit scary on a bike in the rain I can tell you...). Onto the bike and it was fine (flat course, this one) - I kept my cadence up which may have helped. Also I knew where I was in the ride by checking my time, at Salisbury I felt all over the place and thought it would never end. Just over 1 hour and I was back at the transition area, this time trying to figure how to get the shoes off! Starting the run felt bad, really hard and I decided that I would just keep going, NO stopping. As it progressed, though, it got easier and easier ending up in me being surprised that the finish came so quickly :-)

The two pictures are the same Triathlon, one in 1995 and today.

13 years difference! 13 years! Wow, you know you're getting older when you can say that ;-)

Southampton Triathlon...

...is in the morning! Can't wait :-)
I'll be in the water at 9:25 and should be well finished by Monday.

Pascal's Prayer

“Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little,
since I do them with Your power;
and little things as though they were great,
since I do them in Your name.”

So...

Frederick Beuchner wrote:
"Intellectually we all know that we will die, but we do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as though it were true. On the contrary, we tend to live as though our lives would go on forever."

Francis Chan, "Crazy Love, Overwhelmed by a relentless God."

You shall go to the ball...

I believe my knee is better, hurray! This being the case I'll be hurting myself again this Sunday morning taking part in the Southampton Fast Twitch Triathlon. Love the name, eh? Fast Twitch, referring to muscle fibres that make you go fast. Hmm... I'm nervous even thinking about it! Well, nervous and excited at the same time...

400m swim, 18 mile bike, 3.5 mile run, no problem. Oh, unless there's any sort of hill on the bike in which case I nearly grind to a halt, or the organisers fail to put up CORRECT SIGNAGE ON THE RUN SECTION AND SEND ME THE WRONG WAY EVENTUALLY HAVING TO ASK A RANDOM OLD LADY HAVE YOU SEEN A LEISURE CENTRE AROUND HERE ANYWHERE WHITE OAK I SHALL SAY NO MORE.

And relax.

Nerves are funny things, they make you visit the bathroom before the race with a particular sense of urgency, and in this I am not alone. It's the only time I see a queue for the gents!

Nowadays we associate emotions with the heart but the Greeks, I think, held that the liver was where it's at feelings-wise. This makes much more sense, it's in the intestines if you ask me (proof is in the previous paragraph!). After all, we talk about having the "guts" to do something or not, don't we?*

Anyway, enough wibble for now, I need to go and, erm, pay a visit...

Oh, still no sign of Boots the cat and the sighting was another cat that looked a bit like him :-(

*It's just occurred to me that St Valentine's Day cards possibly wouldn't carry the same appeal with images of intestines on them, would they??

And here we go again...

A while back I posted here about exam grades and golf clubs. And here we go again, this time with A levels. In light of Universities having to reject record numbers of students with three A grades there will be, wait for it, an A* grade. So now the grades chunk down one step as with GCSEs.

I actually heard someone on Radio 4 in support of this saying that those who in future got A grades wouldn't feel as though they'd done any worse than those who got A*. Eh? What are you talking about?? The current A will become a de facto B. There can only be one top grade! Let's count it: one.

It seems to me that the examination process serves two main purposes:
a) Students achieve something tangible. Good for them.
b) We differentiate between students according to their attainment. Good for us.

Problems come when we want all the students to not only achieve something, but achieve everything. When I was a Secondary School Maths Teacher I saw a continuum of ability in my pupils. No really, I did. You may not like it but some were very bright, some were very, erm, challenged and most were in the middle. It's just the way it is.

Why are we trying to pretend that we're all the same? So you got a B, that's because you didn't do well enough to get an A. Tough? Probably, but the alternative is what we have each year as the results come out: more and more bunching at the top leading to the inability to differentiate between the best.

I see the sense in criterion referenced testing for some sort of entrance or medical exam where a definitive standard needs to be achieved, but what's the point with GCSEs and A levels?

I don't suppose there'd be any point suggesting a return to normative assessment? No, didn't think so, it just wouldn't be fair...

Where's he gone?

And while we were away Boots has done a runner. I hope. Socks is here but no Boots. I asked at some houses in our road and may have a sighting, I'll investigate.

I do hope we find him :-(

Back en Engleterre...

Ah yes, to be back in Blighty is great. The holiday was however, also, great! Two Gites (I think that's French for Cottages...) with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, well you can't complain can you? I have a very nice tan now, although I fear it may fall off some time soon, although even my shins are far more presentable now than before I went. The highlights? Well. the final visit at the end of the French adventure to St Michel's Mount took my breath away! Even from afar as we approached I just needed to keep looking at it. Once atop this great edifice I was nearly overcome with vertigo, however, and just wanted to get back to terra firma - it was soooooo high up!

Also, a Chateau we visited was simply amazing - built just to show off!

I enjoyed being able to speak a little French: "Avez vous Wifi?" and "Pardon" and "Merci" etc...

There were too many flies and little or no web access - Mark and I had to drive to a "weefee" equipped bar and then nag them to get it working - we got there in the end, however, and managed to Send and Receive eventually.

For me, it was very good to feel a measure of detachment from what I do each day/week and take stock of things. To return with an invigorated vision and reassessment of the tasks in hand.

We shall see what fruit this produces forthwith.

En France...

We are off to France for two whole weeks tomorrow! Au revoir to both of you, I hope that you find something else to read in the meantime that bouys you in a similar way.

I will, of course, update you on my knee upon my return. I know you're all very concerned.

Oh, hopefully I can get web access out in the sticks in which case, fear not, I'll keep you informed :-)

Oooh, my knee...

My knee is injured. On the third and last lap of the Triathlon running (again, I use this term in its very broadest sense...) up a short dirt hill I felt a sudden pain in my right knee. As you know, I finished the race, it didn't feel too bad. Until I played golf and then it was! I may need to miss the Southampton Tri (my local one! I'll probably need to alert The Echo to my possible absence...), oh well, I am 39 and next year I'll be a Veteran...

Next year I want to do an open water swim in the wet suit my brother's passed on to me, so I'm not about to saddle myself with an ongoing knee problem. This being the case, I shall persevere with the stretchy bandage thing and the meds and confine myself to swimming lots.

White Oak Triathlon...

Well, I've just seen the results of the race on Sunday. For Salisbury I was about halfway up (down?) the field and I was hoping to improve on that at White Oak but, alas, I came 175th out of 253.

My brother, Pete, came 9th. No exclamation mark there, as when he ran past me he looked like a Gazelle in full flow, a study in balance and peak physical conditioning. The backdraft almost knocked me over. (He recently did a half Ironman in Switzerland so White Oak is a bit like walking to the shops. And maybe back. For me, it's a test of ultimate physical endurance...). Oh, and whilst we were walking (OK, he was walking, I was limping...) away from the Sports Centre I said, "Erm, is your back brake rubbing?", and indeed it was. So, my little brother came ninth whilst cycling with the rear brake on! ("I don't know what it was, maybe it was the wind, I never really got into the bike..." Bro, your back brake was on...)

Now, in my defense, towards the very end of the "run", and I use the term in its very broadest sense, there was a sign issue which led me and about five other guys to go the wrong way. And get a bit lost. The right turn sign said, "Bike route". We were clearly not on bikes, we were running, so we went straight on up the hill for a while. When we realised we'd all missed the turning someone asked an old lady if she knew where the Sports Centre was...ever so slightly annoying. I reckon this added at least a quarter of an hour to my time. Maybe an hour. At least. I could have WON IT!

Anyway, it was a total but painful joy to complete another "Sprint" Triathlon and I shall wear the T-shirt with pride.

And, lest I forget, last December I was a fat man in despair. God put Michael Winner and his book in my way at just the right time* and here I am, at 39 taking part in Triathlons after an approximate "rest" of 13 years - a minor miracle!

To finish, I quote 1 Tomothy 1:8, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

* God's timing amazes and thrills me. The same thing at the wrong time leads to nothing, but He knows the time, the season, the very moment for life change. He is able to draw us to Himself at just the right time. Romans 5:6. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

So you see, you really can't help much...

Read this article.

You may not like it. You may not like it because, as I've postulated before, what we fear the most is impotency in the face of Climate Change.

Avoid standby mode on your TV if it makes you feel better.
But that's all you'll achieve.
Sorry.
Deal with it.

"I understand that this tattoo is permanent and will last the rest of my life"

That's what I had to sign at the tattoo shop, I like that! Here it is:

What can you say?

This brought tears to my eyes...

Romans 1:16...

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of going on HTB's Worship Pastor Retreat at Malshanger in Basingstoke. It was a truly great time - Monday to Thursday with 19 other (musical) worship leaders from around the world (and others staffing it) in a country house on a beautiful estate AND full English breakfast every morning! (I allowed myself some "holiday eating" btw :-D).

It was run by Tim Hughes and Al Gordon but was excellent nonetheless, heh, heh ;-)



Our time was very balanced, split between worshiping*, teaching, discussion, praying, waiting on Him, football outside, watching a film, walking, chatting, eating, explaining cricket to the Americans...explaining it again...and again...giving up...explaining custard**...

Anyway, my "moment" came when we'd been praying and waiting and I stood forward for breakthrough. I'd felt a glass ceiling of some sort but didn't know what it was. Some prayed for me for a time and said a couple of (good!) things over me, then I felt Jesus was asking me if I was ashamed of Him? Ashamed of Him?? No way!! Am I?? Am I? The thought broke my heart and I was in tears. Part of me obviously was, and this came as a real surprise to me. He dealt with something right there and I feel different now.

And, just this week I had a meeting with a friend in Starbuck's, was telling him about this and the tears came again, which was another surprise! (I don't know what they thought Neil had said to me...??) So this is clearly not over, but very exciting, bring it on!

And that's why I'm going to get "Jesus" tattooed on my arm, I'm just choosing the font...watch this space!

* I use the word "worship" here in it's musical sense, worship is, in reality, "our occupation with God Himself, with the greatness of His being." and not confined to song!

** On seeing one of us pouring custard on sponge pudding: "Erm, why are you putting pudding on your cake?"

Triathlon...

Lots to tell from the last week but I'll start with my first Triathlon in about 13 years.

Last Sunday morning at 9 o'clock I was in Salisbury starting my swim. Now, I had been observing the previous wave (no pun intended) in the pool clambering out as they finished. They seemed to be struggling to even get out of the pool! Pathetic, I thought, but all was to become clear - the swim finished at the deep end, hence you couldn't "jump" out of the pool - I thought I'd never get out! It took all my strength to drag myself up and out :-D
So, off I ran out of the pool into the rain (which wouldn't stop for the whole race...) and across to the "transition area", a.k.a. muddy field, where I'd left my bike earlier. But I couldn't find my bike. A fellow competitor had left his bike shoes on my bag and so I ran straight by. Twice. Oh well! I did find it in the end - shoes, number, helmet, bike and go. 20 miles later I arrived back in the mud and then couldn't find where my stuff was. Again. Oh well! So, change shoes, switch number to front, cap and shades on and......hey, what happened to my legs!! Where are they?? I know I have legs because I can see them but can I feel them? Nope! I'd forgotten that particular feeling, legs like numb bricks. Still, I managed to "run" (the word "run" here is open to broad interpretation, including: "squatting whilst wiggling legs and moving along slowly in great pain", for example...) the 4 miles to the finish and savour the achievement of finishing, hurray!

I came 101st out of 200 and my brother (who came 5th at Sevenoaks) says he's very proud of me :-) I do not think he's being funny.

You should notice that I have added "Triathlete" to the bit about me now.

Lessons for next time are pretty obvious - make sure you know where your bike is!

Oh, and apologies to the man who was next to me who now has no goggles. I do now have two pairs, but it wasn't me and I didn't do it. I hope you find a good deal on some new ones.

God the artist...

(Comment on Gene Simmons another time, still trying to crystallise a sensible comment...)

Just been watching Newsnight Review again and I found myself asking the same questions I do each time I watch. Here we have the great(ish) and the good(ish) discussing a film/play/book in, what seems to be, absolute terms.
From whence does the criteria for excellence arise?

Well, of course, as a Christian I believe that all creativity comes from God and hence (as all of us are created in His image) we have an innate recognition of this creativity as an expression of God the Creator.

What makes me wonder is this: what makes one thing "good" and another "rubbish"? Take films, for example, and I love watching films - big screen, surround sound, full immersion experience. But films are easy, aren't they? That film was "good" or that film was "rubbish". Theatre, it seems to me, is another ball game as are books . Listening to Newsnight Review I'm left thinking that these people claim a grasp of something that slips through my fingers - the way they talk so earnestly about, in this case, a play and seem to know whether the production was right or wrong, good or bad, absolutely.

Take Jackson Pollock. I look at his paint dribbles and think, hmmm, not so tricky? But if I tried it would look like a preschool accident (you may think JP's work does indeed look like this!), and yet there really is something there.

In my case, take the song writing process: what makes a melody line or harmony or lyric right or wrong? Opinion? Something much deeper, I think.

A reflection of God as Creator placing a part of creation in each of us - when we hear it or see it we just know.

Come on!

A new low this morning - 72.8kg.

So, that's (since mid December) 17.7 kg or 2 stone 11 lbs gone or nearly nine 2 litre bottles of (Diet) Coke.

20% of me has disappeared.

Ta daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

"Shrink Wrap" new series...

I just caught the last half on Dr Pamela Connolly's "Shrink Wrap" with Joan Rivers.

I've blogged about these programs before here and here - the new series is absolutely no less enthralling than the last. Why do I find these programs so fascinating? A good question. I think it's, for me, because the human condition is revealed, in all its weakness - and these sessions are very revealing.

I'm reminded, as I watch, of the earlier Michael Parkinson interviews when I was younger. He'd have on his program, say, a Hollywood star and he's interview them, just them, for long enough to find out something new about them, something that revealed a facet of their character as another human being - not the "Celebrity" persona. When his show was brought back, that had all gone, replaced by short chat sound bite irrelevancies. Shame. Big shame.

Dr Pamela's program is amazing. The participants are genuinely stunned at her perception and her ability to show them things about themselves they didn't expect or know.

Next week it's Gene Simmons of rock supergroup KISS, I can hardly wait!