Eclipse of the Moon 21st Dec 2010, 07:50

Total Eclipse of the Moon, where the Sun, Earth and Moon align was a "bit spooky to watch"

New Speedlights

Bought 2 Nikon SB800 Speedlights, which hopefully with give me more scope for capture images outside of the studio. However this image of a rose was shot in the home,

Bob in the snow!!

Went to the park with Bob, the snow is still very deep and will be around for a while yet...

Winter running

Ran today from Beverley, to "Grannies Attic" Market Weighton, took just under 2 hours in the snow, feel frozen to "the core"........

Barracuda Awards Evening, 2010

Annual Club Awards Evening, good to meet up with friends before the winter sets in!! Roll on "springtime"

Coffee at Wilsons, Hull

Went for a 11 mile run followed by coffee and breakfast at Wilsons by Hull Marina this morning......

First shot with new Nikon D200

Black Redstarts

Black Redstarts, digiscoped at Spurn Point

New lens

Bought today a new Sigma 50-500mm lens "oh toys for boys" looking forward to the weekend!! The wind is howling today with 85mph winds forecast overnight........

Enjoying the rest....

Went to Spurn Point today, with the intention of Birdwatching, and ending up taking "Photos"

Had a few weeks with little training!!!

Have felt fatiqued for a few weeks and my body is demanding rest!! So taken a few weeks to recover, the problem is the mind is 21 and the body is 50+......will start again on tuesday the 9th of November!!!

Digiscoping and "birding"

Went to Spurn Point today, equiped with my new scope (Nikon ed82mm) and digiscoping camera (Nikon p5100) the weather was sunny and cold...winter is on the way! Todays birds included:

1. Rough Legged Buzzard (New Bird for me!)



2. Mealy Redpoll



3. Northern Bullfinch (New Bird for me)



4. Jack Snipe

Northern Bullfinch

Weekend Birding

Spent the day at Easington, and the "fall" of migrants was quite exceptional!

Nursing Standard, wow!!

Have been "cited" in the Nursing Standard, and this is the photo used within the article.....makes me feel "well chuffed"

Rain, rain and even more rain!!!

The weather is pants, it has now been raining for 18 hours very little chance of getting out today, so ran on a treadmill for an hour...........see what tommorow brings..

Fine "Shrike" day

Returned to Spurn today and got good views of a barred warbler and even better views of a Great Grey Shrike. These birds are migrating south for the winter, and have a taste for "flesh" observed this individual chasing and catching a Siskin, then taking it to a thorn bush hanging its victim on a thorn then eating it, pretty grusome,,,,,,,

Autumn

Autumn is now well on the way! soon the leaves will be gone and the cold and the frosts will return....

Feels Like Summer has returned!!!

Went to Spurn Point today, the sun was shining, no wind and clear skies, "Bliss" well NO. The mozzies where out in force got bitten and my left lower leg has swelled to twice its normal size, time for antihistimines......Great to see the bird migration in full swing, particulary the "fall" of Siskins, they flew in of the North Sea and where very hungry, Yellow-Browed Warbler & Red Breasted Flycatcher where the highlights of the day....

Just about the daftest thing I have done, to date!!!

I have done some pretty daft things in my life but swimming the Humber "takes the buscuit". There was a huge swell on the river ending with all the swimmers been rescued. Well live to tell the story but never again......

Shoot its been a long time since my last BLOG!!

It has been a while, my how time passes, spent the day out today at Spurn Point. The weather was blissfully hot, making a great day out. Went to Spurn in the hope of catching up with a rare bird migrant, a Barred Warbler

Swim Cancelled

Swim Cancelled due to strong winds and rough sea. Made up for it with an imprompu photo......

Humber Swim

Video.......pre Humber swim.

The "Big G"

Early start today, out of bed for 5am, and off for a 2 mile swim. The water was very, erm...refreshing, to say the least. Followimg the swim I set of to ride the Big G. The Big G is a local "cycle sportive covering 70 miles taking in the major hill climb. Needed less than 4hrs 15mins for "Gold" I completed in 4hrs & 1min!!!!!! YES. Humber swim tomorrow.......?

10k recovery run

Had an easy run today felt relaxed ave heart rate 125 bpm

brick sessions

Ran 10k followed by a 35 mile bike then a 5k cool down run felt very good 2565 calories burnt!!

Rest Day!!

Sporting my "new haircut"

Having a rest day today, so Angela and I took a drive into the country, visited an "art gallery" and did "lunch" very nice until I found a huge piece of plastic in my meal....Supporting a new hair cut!

Long Bike today

Biked 57 miles and swam 1800 mtrs, time to start acting my age! Completly knackered, must take a rest day tomorrow. The weather is very very hot, 31 degrees in the garden, 19 degrees at night

I need a rest day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Boy oh boy", do I need a rest day, ran 6 miles this morning, should have stayed in bed struggled to get my heart rate up, legs felt like lead route took 7 mins longer this morning...

New PB on the Bike Course

Rode my 32 mile "hilly" bike course today, felt knackered before the ride, but felt I needed the miles.

Last time I did this route:

1. 1:55:05 ave ride speed 16.32 mph

Today:

1. 1:48:05, ave ride speed 17.78mph (and in strong wind)

Improvements are coming will be happy when the ave ride speed over the hills is >18.5mph

Wow a big day!!!!!!!!

Following my day of rest, I ran this morning and felt "amazing" PB for the 6 miles was 50mins 50 secs, TODAY 48mins 50 secs!!!

Noticed that my weight has not shifted over the last 2 weeks, only have myself to blame, far too much wine & cake.....

Swam this evening, again without a wetsuit..

Sunday, a day of rest!!!

Slept to 08.30 today, felt totally knackered!! Slept during the day decided today is a good day to rest....

Bike & Swim

Rode to Billabong (32 miles) noticed that I was biking with a high cadence! Felt good, swam without a wetsuit, water temp 22 degrees.......

TFI Friday!!!!

Its Friday and the weekend is here, the sun is shining the weather is very warm, "life does not get any better than this"...BBQ tonight with large amounts of red wine!
After work ran 6 miles, felt extremly tired at work, started the run very slowly, my "achillies" is slightly sore, slackened off on the run, and was able to pick up the pace, finished strongly, although took 53 mins to complete the run...

Turbo

Did the classic "10-20-10" turbo session this evening, will need to work on the turbo ave Hr was 120 bpm.

Bike Run

Rode with my good mate "Pete" today, covered 50 mile, nothing especially great about the distance, what is supprising is Pete has a "broken Collar Bone".....dedication???? Followed the bike with a 10k run...

Time trial.....

Did a road race time trial tonight, foreign ground for me. Very apprehensive, did not want to be last!! And I was not, ave ride speed 22.25mph, not bad for a start......

Starting to notice good changes in my fitness

Biked 36 miles this evening and swam 2400mtrs. Big changes on the bike not only am I quicker, but the hill I used to "fear" now seem no more than gentle slopes.. It seems as my body weight continues to drop my performance improves....

Club Tri

Today is the day of the club tri, as I am not "fit" at the present I offered to take photos, great day enjoyed by all......

Bike Swim

Felt a lot better today, biked 32 miles and swam 2400mtrs, noticed big improvements on the bike and swim......

Ran, but knackered

Ran this evening, BIG MISTAKE totally knackered should learn to to have a rest day when I feel tired.......

Class of 2010

I was asked to photograph a group of young ladies in their "prom dresses" very relived when all went well.....

Barracuda Winter Tri

Run Swim

Went for a pool swim today, God it was "boring"!! However did 5 x 400mtr reps and felt strong. Ran 6 miles tonight in the heat, when I ran this course on Tuesday it took 52 mins 10 secs, today 50min 50 secs, well made up. The weather is so hot tonight we are having a BBQ.......Tomorrow is a well earned "REST DAY" Took "Bob the Dog" for a run.....

On a different note My new Lee Filter "10" stop big stopper has arrived today, looking forward to using it this weekend........

Weight loss this week

Lost 3lb this week weight now 15st 10lb, heading in the right direction. Swam this evening 2400mtrs, open water......

It's my BIRTHDAY.........

It's my "birthday" today.....Things came in 3s

1) ran this morning 6 miles, in 52 mins 10 secs felt very good, best run to date! Ave HR 147 with a maximum training effect & 970 cals in the Bank.

2) Its my Birthday

3) Got new wheels for the race bike, real "Bling"!!!!!!!!!

Over the hills, today

Rode over the hills today and the strength to my legs is returning, whimped out of my intended 50 mile ride and rode 32 miles, but reduced the ride time by 7 mins. Noticed it is a lot easier on the hills and my herat rate is rising, Ave HR for this ride today was 139 bpm....last ride same route Ave HR 121 bpm.........

Went swimming

Weather is "PANTS" cold wet and totally miserable, could not face the normal bike to Billabong this morning, drove there instead. Raining on arrival, surely no one would be "daft enough to swim today......Wrong 43 people swam, the water was a lot warmer than the ambrient temp. Swam 3 & 1/2 laps.

The Sun is Shining.....

Ran 6 miles today, felt "jaded" was very ward on the run, the "poppy fields are amazing this time of the year........

Sunrise..........

Worked hard on the "lawn" this year

Must be getting "old" starting to tkae a real pride in my garden. The front lawn was full of moss and looked like crap last year. Spent the spring feeding and weeding and sanding the lawn and the results are starting to show..........