Some parts of Kent will be in the world media today and over the forthcoming weekend, as Sandwich hosts The Open, a golf tournament that really is very special. It is a "major" and the Royal St Georges course will test players. In places it is like the uneven ridges & slopes of snow covered mountains, but it is lush green grass.It will also have some wind and maybe lots of it. The winner will be a deserving one. Lets hope its a European that claims the title-there are many of them that could. A Euro winner would be a great testimony to Seve Ballesteros, someone who won that trophy, but died this year. Seve was a major contributor to the success of European golf over many of the recent years.
Kent, and Sandwich, are looking marvellous at the moment. Sadly the weather is not a great advert for the county at present, but it will test the golfers!
Anyway I am looking forward to it all......and the next stage of the Tour de France, after our cricketers won the Series over Sri Lanka, but sadly there were no Brits on the podium at Silverstone and Murray only got to the Semis at Wimbledon. Not to worry though Saracens are still Rugby Champions!
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Being busy is good
Since I had my major operation I have been through a pretty serious recovery process, with virtually three months inactivity, muscle loss and lethargy. Then 3 months trying to rebuild, and now three months trying to walk again and now I am in the phase of consolidation-ensuring I remain active, able and hopefully more agile. I have always been sporty to some extent or another and usually actively partaking in some sports or exercise. The latter years have basically been taken up with swimming frequently and during holidays and weekends some canoeing, scuba and paragliding-all NON walking or running activities. I have also done a bit of cycling. Having got one leg 3 inches shorter than the other and not very straight it was quite awkward. Now I have a straight leg from the op, but its still shorter-until the next op! But having done a fair bit of swimming and some work with weights over the last few months I decided I must cycle! Like all those Tennis lovers, they seem to play more, or only during Wimbledon fortnight, so as its Tour de France time I decided to cycle today! I had to take the love of my life-my Jaguar - to a specialist some 4 miles away, so I put the bike in the back and returned by bike. I had checked the tyre pressures and had a little journey the day before, so I felt that 4 miles or so would not be a problem, and I am swimming loads of lengths now and doing a good half hour of weights.
The start was agony. It was on a mild hill. I have 12 gears thank goodness. I got home and did it in less than half an hour-with a rest for about 10 minutes. I considered that pretty good. Then half an hour later I was gripped with pain. The two metal "plates" stuck in me felt like they did the first few days after the op. I swear I had two railway lines inside my leg, with one of them trying to get out at the hip area! I have been a bit tired and a bit pained today, but I do feel I achieved something and I feel the exercise was good.
I have a busy day of meetings-as a Councillor tomorrow-so I had better take it easy this evening.
Yes I am still busy, but it rewards me and its good for the soul or my health!
The start was agony. It was on a mild hill. I have 12 gears thank goodness. I got home and did it in less than half an hour-with a rest for about 10 minutes. I considered that pretty good. Then half an hour later I was gripped with pain. The two metal "plates" stuck in me felt like they did the first few days after the op. I swear I had two railway lines inside my leg, with one of them trying to get out at the hip area! I have been a bit tired and a bit pained today, but I do feel I achieved something and I feel the exercise was good.
I have a busy day of meetings-as a Councillor tomorrow-so I had better take it easy this evening.
Yes I am still busy, but it rewards me and its good for the soul or my health!
Monday, 4 July 2011
I'm too busy!
Its a month since my last jottings. That suggests I am busy-which is correct! I am not complaining about being busy, but it does have its ramifications-when you live with an ageing mother who depends on me for so much. Not that she imposes on me in a major way, but its the collection of small things that mount up and irritate me. For instance she always seems to be in my way or behind me:when she wants to go upstairs, I want to go down; when I want to make a meal (she rarely eats what I eat or when I eat it), she then wants to stand in front of the fridge or oven, and then moves in front of the sink, when I wash an item. She must waste so much energy doing this, yet says she is tired! Ill say no more on this subject for the time being!
So I've been busy. I've been to Le Mans for the 24 hr race-I went for 5 days. As usual I loved it-even though I think I have been over 30 times. Its real boys stuff for me and magic every time. It actually gets better. This year was the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E type so Jaguars were treated like film stars, my XJS was given special car parking several times! I got free food and wine too! The race was dogged by rain from Sunday, so I left early and decided to be a tourist and go to Brittany. I have to say the rain just continued and basically put me off Brittany; to me it was too British in certain ways and not French enough. It was like Dorset, Devon & Cornwall coastline, with towns that were even Torquay-esque and fishing boats that were from Padstow. Its even got moorland like Dartmoor and Celtic roots. As for the tourist attraction that is Mont St Michel, well its St Michaels Mount in Cornwall but bigger and with a church. I was not allowed to get anywhere near it though-they had banned cars, and I could not walk to it.
But I still love the rest of France! Le Mans was a great host, the people were so hospitable, and its a lovely City. It was a hazardous journey home too, with really bad rain all the way. I am now getting withdrawal symptoms.
Ive been to Whitstable too-love that place-one of my favourite places in the UK, but what traffic! Its so popular every weekend now.
I got a bad chill from Le Mans, and needed antibiotics for a couple of weeks to recover. It made me very tired. So I have also rested a bit-and we've had dull and rainy days anyway.
Ive enjoyed Wimbledon on TV. As usual the BBC do a great job.
And I had tickets for four days at Goodwood. I didn't go every day, but I did spend some time there. This is another event that just gets better. And like Le Mans it celebrated Jaguars 50th anniversary of the E Type-in many ways. There was a gigantic sculpture made of steel tubing of an E Type. To get the right context I feel you should have viewed it from the side. You would then see perfect symetry and how beautifully contoured the car, and the statue, was. It was magnificent.
Every where you went you came across Jaguars!
The stars were many-the Jaguars of course, the Red Arrows and the Vulcan flight displays, a superb BMX and Motor bike display team and my personal favourite this year-Murray Walker. But Kris Meeke and the new Rally Mini was something-well Dave Richards and Prodrive do have a habit of being good at what they do! There was in fairness so much more-and the weather stayed good too.
Two generations of the Hill family was pretty good too-the legacy of one of the greatest men that has been associated with motor racing.
I have to say that I am always amazed by the organisation at these events. Le Mans is the French at their very best-with a few million to cope with, and Goodwood is a few hundred thousand I guess, but still so well organised. The parking and disabled arrangements are superb-with personal "taxis" from the car parking to the main arenas, and mobility scooters to hire. And in this day and age the catering is not a rip off, as can be found so common elsewhere!
I love Le Mans and Goodwood. Now the Tour de France is on! I am seeing Take That this week and hopefully popping over to France later this month.
Yes I am busy!
So I've been busy. I've been to Le Mans for the 24 hr race-I went for 5 days. As usual I loved it-even though I think I have been over 30 times. Its real boys stuff for me and magic every time. It actually gets better. This year was the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E type so Jaguars were treated like film stars, my XJS was given special car parking several times! I got free food and wine too! The race was dogged by rain from Sunday, so I left early and decided to be a tourist and go to Brittany. I have to say the rain just continued and basically put me off Brittany; to me it was too British in certain ways and not French enough. It was like Dorset, Devon & Cornwall coastline, with towns that were even Torquay-esque and fishing boats that were from Padstow. Its even got moorland like Dartmoor and Celtic roots. As for the tourist attraction that is Mont St Michel, well its St Michaels Mount in Cornwall but bigger and with a church. I was not allowed to get anywhere near it though-they had banned cars, and I could not walk to it.
But I still love the rest of France! Le Mans was a great host, the people were so hospitable, and its a lovely City. It was a hazardous journey home too, with really bad rain all the way. I am now getting withdrawal symptoms.
Ive been to Whitstable too-love that place-one of my favourite places in the UK, but what traffic! Its so popular every weekend now.
I got a bad chill from Le Mans, and needed antibiotics for a couple of weeks to recover. It made me very tired. So I have also rested a bit-and we've had dull and rainy days anyway.
Ive enjoyed Wimbledon on TV. As usual the BBC do a great job.
And I had tickets for four days at Goodwood. I didn't go every day, but I did spend some time there. This is another event that just gets better. And like Le Mans it celebrated Jaguars 50th anniversary of the E Type-in many ways. There was a gigantic sculpture made of steel tubing of an E Type. To get the right context I feel you should have viewed it from the side. You would then see perfect symetry and how beautifully contoured the car, and the statue, was. It was magnificent.
Every where you went you came across Jaguars!
The stars were many-the Jaguars of course, the Red Arrows and the Vulcan flight displays, a superb BMX and Motor bike display team and my personal favourite this year-Murray Walker. But Kris Meeke and the new Rally Mini was something-well Dave Richards and Prodrive do have a habit of being good at what they do! There was in fairness so much more-and the weather stayed good too.
Two generations of the Hill family was pretty good too-the legacy of one of the greatest men that has been associated with motor racing.
I have to say that I am always amazed by the organisation at these events. Le Mans is the French at their very best-with a few million to cope with, and Goodwood is a few hundred thousand I guess, but still so well organised. The parking and disabled arrangements are superb-with personal "taxis" from the car parking to the main arenas, and mobility scooters to hire. And in this day and age the catering is not a rip off, as can be found so common elsewhere!
I love Le Mans and Goodwood. Now the Tour de France is on! I am seeing Take That this week and hopefully popping over to France later this month.
Yes I am busy!
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