OK, it appears a little experiment I tried last week went totally wrong and many regular readers received a notification to read my last post from May! So I'd like to apologise to anybody confused by reading 3 month old news!!

It also served as a timely reminder that its been quite a while since I posted, and what a busy time its been!!

Training for the forthcoming Coast 2 Coast Bike ride has been going... well, OK.  Not 'amazing' or 'brilliant'.  Just ok. Im feeling quite nervous about it to be totally honest, but Im determined to see it through however long it takes me.  I did have a lovely long weekend back at the old favourite guest house in Grasmere (Banerigg, 015394 35204 ) with a few great rides around the most beautiful scenery and incredible hills.

Me looking forward to the ride back down

Since then Ive been working on my pace rather than distances, I can now average around 14mph on hour long rides which Im pleased with, just got to work on the distances now - although Im cycling from Lincoln to Skegness and back over 2 days a week tomorrow which is 110 miles round journey - so we will see how that goes.

Also since I last updated Ive been away a couple of times, once again it was great to have a few days back in Spain with my great friend John.  On the way back I was contacted to let me know that one of the club sponsors at Sheffield Wednesday had actually offered to pay for me and the kids to join the Club Pre-Season Tour to Malta, obviously recognising the difficult year that we all had with being ill and the ridiculous legal action that was taken by the previous incumbents.

Unfortunately Gina was unable to go due to Work Experience commitments, but Daniel and I attended and had the most incredible time.  Dan was 14 while we were there and had a real birthday to remember, not just being mascot for the team, but getting to watch the game from the bench, lift the trophy Wednesday won in front of the crowd, join the squad photo, attend all the team training sessions and travel with the team on the team coach. He even had a kickaround with the new Chairman and Manager at the training ground one morrning. (I tried not to be jealous)

I have thanked everyone involved but would like to do that again, publicly right here. Nothing was too much trouble, it really was the most incredible week.

Heres me throwing some shapes (whatever that means) on one of the many nights out we had there!

I dont look drunk do I?

And heres another...

Not sure what I was measuring.. :-)

Anyway - the football season is here now, I've attended every fixture so far including a 600 mile round trip to Plymouth in one day last Saturday, and an evening trip to Newcastle a few weeks ago.  Newcastles away seats are up 14 flights of stairs - Im delighted to report that of our party I was the only one to run the whole way to the top 2 stairs at a time (although Gina was a very close second - well done sweetie).  On the way out I was approached by someone who's been reading the blog who shook my hand and said how nice it was to finally meet up - thank you for doing that.

And just a couple of weeks ago I fulfilled another ambition by attending u2's gig in Sheffield - and what a night that was.

As you can no doubt see - its been a busy time, and the next few weeks don't look like slowing down either.  Hope you are all well, I can't believe how many people are still visiting this blog.  Last month was the second busiest month for blog readers ever (2990 readers) - which is amazing considering it hasnt been updated for so long.

I'd like to end this installment by wishing someone all the best - he's going through exactly what I went through last year and so far he's had his op and is awaiting the start of the radio/chemo.  All the best and good luck, you know who you are.

Will probably logon and update just prior to the Coast 2 Coast now  - as of course i will be looking (once again) for some sponsorship.

Thanks for dropping by

Nigel xx