WEEK SEVENTEEN 23/04 -- 29/04

THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD WEEK.

The week began with the 2nd Annual RikCon. For the unwashed this is an event organised by fans of the late Rik Mayall. Taking place in Hammersmith on Friday and then moving onto The Pipeline in E1 for a night of fun, games and drinking. 

Had a couple of days at work which was uneventful, and also a trip to the Dr's which was good in that I have lowered my blood pressure significantly and also confirmed that I'd lost another 8lb in weight so will enjoy updating those figures in the next week or two. 



Was then off work from Wednesday for the rest of the week and that was to allow me to enjoy a few days out. Wednesday was another annual event, a trip to Ascot races with my Brother and Nephews. 



I have covered that on another blog of mine and although the weather was not the best it was an excellent day out with a few winners, a few drinks, and being asked by one female race-goer if I had appeared in the TV show Gavin and Stacy ... no really, I think they'd had a few too many Pimms. 

Thursday I had a wonderful day out to Brighton. Having pre-booked train tickets for the princely sum of £5. Was very busy and we had the best of the weather too. 

Plenty of walking around town, to the pier and then took the electric railway that runs along the beach to the marina. A nice walk back along the seafront then it was time for a spot of lunch so managed to find a lovely quiet pub in the back lanes and stopped there for about an hour to rest. 

Seemed to pass by so fast that I was home before I knew it but really enjoyed these few days off, some company might have been nice but I had fun all the same. 

Friday? Well would have been out with a friend but they couldn't make it so it's a trip to Windsor or London, if my legs have recovered enough. Will update later ... 

It's my birthday tomorrow so will complete that update on the rest of the long weekend next time. Right now I'm just enjoying life, having some fun, trying to look forwards and also delighted with the news that I've got my blood pressure down and lost over a 1.5 stone in weight. 

WEEK SIXTEEN 16/04 -- 22/04

Yet another mixed week which started fairly badly but soon came back and feeling better. The achievement is to not dwell on the bad stuff, put it away in a box (so to speak) and move on, which I managed to do again. 

Didn't get out as planned at the beginning of the week, thought it was personal, probably wasn't so just moved on and got busy with other tasks so that was Ok in the end. 



I have been busy at home and did a few things locally, trying to ensure I keep using more weights at home. 6+ sets of 10 reps each day/evening and feeling the benefit as I do try and push a few more reps at the end when usually I would have given up. 




So onwards with the week and aside from the highlight of being paid (hurrah I have money again) It's my nephew's birthday too this week, Happy Birthday David, 16 already !! Where did that go? Hope you have a wonderful day cheeky man. 

Lots of work to do and that helps the week pass nicely, the evenings are lighter and we doing more walking after work, listening to a bit more varied music too. Hopefully going to get myself back into music again, I've some keyboards and software to use that I really want to spend more time with and always wanted to get myself a new Bass Guitar which might happen after my birthday as a gift to myself. 

In fact I will make that into one of my goals for this year, as I reach some milestones in terms of weight loss and health / happiness I can treat myself to a few new things. 

Away for a few days next week, day out Wednesday to Ascot races and then off to Brighton for the day on Thursday, hopefully will have the rest of the week planned out too. Then soon it will be May, that's another month flown by, so time to begin formalising plans for these summer breaks.

As the week comes to a close I'm feeling much better, which is good. Next week will be a really good one I can feel it.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO HAVE A LAUGH ...

"There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing. They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him.

And now he's died for real. Without me. Selfish b------."

Ade Edmondson. (Aka Edward Hitler)





Rik Mayall was a comedy legend and we lost one of the greats almost two years ago. What came out of that was a new community of Riklets (otherwise referred to as 'twats' (and much worse)) and next weekend on April 23rd will host the second annual RikCon convention in Hammersmith, London (where else). 

Fans are coming far and wide, the event is being organised by a wonderful person from Norway (thanks Penny x) and it's an event that will feature fans and friends, lots of comedy, lots of drinking, and maybe a few tears too. 

I'd had the pleasure of seeing Rik and Ade (Edmonson) several times in various comedy scenarios, from the early days in the Comedy Store, their work as The Dangerous Brothers which led to such classic work as The Young Ones and Bottom including the live shows too. Basically if it had these guys in you were going to wet your pants laughing.

Will leave you with an excellent scene from their live show. And then lets raise a glass of Ouzo, Pernod, Marmalade and Salt (otherwise known as an Esther Rantzen -- why? because it "Pulls your gums over your teeth") and say cheers. 

And remember people, Love IS the answer. 

WEEK FIFTEEN 09/04 -- 15/04

Another weekend started off well as I'm counting days down to my Birthday at the end of the month and having a few days off then to get out and about, up to that point there's not a lot going on so just making the most of the time. 

This week I enjoyed the Grand National at Aintree though I didn't have anything on the winner RULE THE WORLD (33/1) and then headed over to see my god-daughter and her family for The Voice final on TV. 

Friends will be friends, When you're in need of love they give you care and attention. 

Friends will be friends, When you're through with life and all hope is lost 

Hold out your hand cos right till the end - Friends will be friends

Now reality TV like this is not something I'm really into, but much like Strictly come dancing it's fun to join in with Annie and her folks and watch the fun unfold, plenty of shouting at the TV hoping our chosen contestant wins. My personal gripe at this sort of "karaoke" contest is that it's they are all the same, at least last year you had an amazing Opera Singer, the X Factor sometimes finds a Susan Boyle but they are <1% and the rest are very average people who have to shout rather than sing. 

If you want to create an original talent show, find us the new Rolling Stones, or The Who, or talent such as Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan the list is endless and lets be honest if any of these had turned up on this contest no one would have turned as they don't have this boring style that they clearly all looking for. 

The best thing I can say about the Voice is that I don't have to see Paloma "punch me in the face" Faith any-more, god what a terrible drama queen, even Boy George was embarrassed having to sit with her.  Well it's over now and well done to Kevin Simm ex Liberty X singer for getting another chance to not have a career. Cody Frost should do ok if Boy George stays involved and gives her encouragement in her career, and William (spell your name right) had already signed up his act and doing a free gig later in the year so they'll be ok for a bit perhaps. 

---------------------------------------

Sunday was a relaxing day (as you can see above) and took the time to do some weights at home, forget about the things that were bugging me and also updated my weight and measurements to see how we are doing after the first three months of this year. 

Opening Weight at 1st Jan -- 23st 6lb 

Measurements (inches) 
Neck -- 22
Chest -- 54
Stomach -- 57
Waist -- 48
Thighs -- 27
Biceps -- 14


Revised Weight now as at 15th April -- 22st 10lb 

Measurements (inches) 
Neck -- 21
Chest -- 53
Stomach -- 55
Waist -- 46
Thighs -- 26
Biceps -- 15

Not a big amount of change elsewhere but the waistline is going down as my clothes are much looser especially in the trousers, in fact have binned a couple of pairs that are too big and replaced these with two new pairs for work that are the next size down too. So that's very good news and happy to see progression with tops also too big for me now and down another size there too.

WEEK FOURTEEN 02/04 -- 08/04

PLEASED TO SAY THAT I HAVE HAD A MUCH BETTER WEEK THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. 







Kicked off things with a day out around Richmond and Twickenham on Saturday, always good to just sit down in the park or by the river and watch the world pass by for a little while. 


Richmond was very busy, hard to get a spot on a seat on the green so went for a nice walk instead. 

Picked myself up and after a nice walk around Richmond, and a short bus ride found myself in Twickenham which was a lot less busy (apart from the people trying to force EU leaflets on you). 


Grabbed a coffee first then took myself down by the Thames opposite the Eel Pie Island. It's not quite as peaceful as my usual escape to Hanworth Crematorium gardens but there is something really calming and relaxing about being down by the riverside. Enjoyed an hour here, then moved onto grab some lunch and head home. 

The rest of the week was great, nothing special but so much happier and busier than the one before, despite a minor wobble in the middle of it but that was nothing, in fact I think I got over it well given the past. 

Next week we'll have another weigh in and I will update my measurements, I am hopeful that I'm still doing ok cos I've had to bin 2 pairs of trousers that literally fall off me now and drop down a size. Cool. 

WEEK THIRTEEN 26/03 -- 01/04

Easter weekend kicked off this week, nice to have 4 days off work, though the first few days just sucked badly.


Still really anxious, I tried writing down my thoughts and just made things worse, no money, no friends, no interest in anything else that's going on out there. On top of all this I still can't sleep, I have aches and wounds that bleed all the time it's just not fair, and all those that do care and try to help really don't have a clue, it's not as easy as "cheer up". 



How does someone so low manage to turn it around? 

Really just seems like I am existing, not living, just carrying on for no reason. What's it all about. 




Am struggling to even take heart from others that seem to be having a great time, there are no small wins any more. This blog was never meant to be about me feeling so awful, the intention was to be positive and pick up on the good things, but as I want to write as honestly as possible then this week at least there has been nothing positive to say.

Didn't want much out of life
Not bothered about marriage, kids, and all that crap
Just wanted to be happy, occasionally
Clearly that's not going to happen
Depression and ill health sucks
Death will be such a welcome release

#killmenow