I'm sorry, what did he say he'd done!

So, we sit in doors most days now, listening to each others moans and groans, kids mainly. The birds outside have never sounded so happy.

Nature, it would seem, is thumbing its nose at us poor souls stuck indoors.

What can we do with ourselves during this time, hobbies we thought long lost to having to much 'important' stuff to do? Maybe, maybe not. Some of the past hobbies have long since been discarded, or sold in my case; I can hear my family and close friends telling me,”told you you should have kept that stuff”, yeah, whatever.

I have dragged up a couple of previous hobbies, long thought lost to being to busy. Painting, and writing to name them both. Past a happy hour or three painting over the past few days, which was nice.

There has been another form of painting done too, one I'm not quite so, ahem, keen on.....walls and skirting boards. Good god I hate decorating, which anyone who has lived with me during the past, erm, entirety of my life, would be only to happy to vouch for.

I was tasked with decorating the living room around 18 months ago, which means at that time we went out and bought all the stuff, so, when this natural reset happened the old, we cant really go out and buy it excuse wants going to cut mustard. Bugger it.

The thing with the living room wasn't just the painting, oh no, there was wallpaper involved. Now I'm no painter and decorator so I really wasn't looking forward to that part.

So, after, I think it was, 4 days, the room was done, well, as done as it was going to be. So now what? Lock-down means those jobs we didn't have time for before are suddenly doable; its a living hell for someone as, how can I put this nicely, ah yes, bone idol as I am.

The dining room needs decorating too, if you fancy it? We have the paint for that.

Now, in normal times there would be about 3 years between rooms, this was looking like there wouldn't even be 3 days.

Well, as hard as this might be for some to grasp, I did it, I painted 2 rooms in the same year, no, scratch that, the same month, THE SAME MONTH, and you know what, they both look pretty groovy.

Well, I think that will do for today's update, back to pondering stuff.

Oh God, what have I done now.

A couple of weeks ago a friend, renowned for getting others involved in activities posted an ad on her Facebook page; it was to enter and be trained in, The Great East Swim 2020.

Signing up includes a 12 week open water swim course, entry to the event itself, access to physio  and fitness and nutrition class, it also includes wetsuits use. 

It's for people who dont train very much, and are not fit. I, over the past couple of years, have managed quite easily, to fit into both those groups. 

The induction for the course is towards the end of March when I need to prove to the trainer that I can swim two lengths of a pool. At the moment it will be close, and not pretty. I cant swim far at all doing the breathing technique, I'm all head out of the water and thrash, its bloody ugly to be honest. 

This chap has the unenviable task of turning a two length thrasher into a 34 length side breather, he'll deserve a medal.

Anyway, I'll keep you updated with my progress, minus any pictures of me in the wetsuits, after all, to see that you need only Google seal pictures.

He shoots .....He saves

I used to be, once upon a time, a goalkeeper. Not of any particular note but I like to think, had I had a father influence in my younger years, to nurture me along, I might, just might have been, half decent.

I also dream, although I can very rarely remember any of the detail. Most of the ones I do remember are just plain wired. I can safely say, apart from the falling dream where you jump, I never ever act them out, until last night.

I was playing in goal, not in any particular team or tournament,  just a game of football. It may have been an important fixture but I can't remember that part.

A cross swung in from my right, waist height towards the edge of the 6 yard box. So, not on target but a cross to be attacked. I dived out and stopped the ball with my left hand and pulled it to the ground, still in one hand. I spotted an attacker sliding in and therefore needed to secure possession by grasping the ball with both hands. I slapped my right hand down onto the side of the ball, or what I was dreaming was the ball. I had in fact taken possession of Nicki, my partner. One hand was rested on the back of her head and the other, taking control of the ball, slapped down the side of her face. Needless to say, we both awoke with a start, and a moment of puzzlement. Fortunately I'd not bought the right hand down with a huge amount f of force, just enough to wake a sleeping partner.

The moral of this sorry tale.
It's a good job I'm not a continental keeper or, I may have punched it clear..