Triathlon...
I've decided to enter my first triathlon in September - 800m swim in a pool, 40km bike ride, and a 8.5 km run. I know I can do all three individually, I just have to put them all together and hopefully complete it all in well under three hours.  But my main aim in my first race is just to complete it. I've been going to the gym for three months now, and I've just started swimming 96 lengths twice a week, but I can only do breast stroke which puts me at a disadvantage to start with (I hope to learn freestyle over the winter). On Saturday I bought a new racing bike, with shoes that clip in the pedals,  a cycle helmet and a few accessories. It's only five weeks until the race, and I will be away next week on an Open University summer school, and unable to do any training. I tend to perform better when I train hard over a short time.

I'm looking forward to the OU geology summer school in Durham next week - I've started to catch up with the course work and hopefully the field trips will make me understand it all more. 

- posted by Bill @ 4:18 PM

 
A day out in London...
We had a day out in London yesterday for Herself's birthday. The day itself was alright, but mutter, mumble, far too expensive. We made the mistake of going by train - the tickets were £70.00 for both of us, because we were travelling peak time, apparently. We had planned the day to go on the London Eye, and Madame Tussaud's, booking timed tickets online to prevent queueing.

The train journey to Paddington was OK, and then on to the tube to Waterloo for the London Eye. It started to rain when we arrived, but stopped by the time we went on. It's an impressive view of London, and I was interested in the design of the wheel and how it works.

Madame Tussaud's was OK, but very commercialised, and not as good as I was expecting. London always wears me out, whether I'm there for work or leisure. But I find it fascinating as there's always so much going on.
- posted by Bill @ 7:49 PM

 
Diving in Malta
I had another excellent diving holiday in Malta for a week in June, I really enjoyed the break. We went back to the same resort as last year and I did 6 dives - my underwater photography is slowly getting better, I've put some diving pictures on my website. My only regret is that it was over too quickly, we will definitely go for two weeks next year, and also I haven't done enough diving in between holidays. I hope to join a local club soon to get some dives in.

My fitness training is going well and I've decided to train for a triathlon, possibly my first race will be in September. I need to get some swimming in, and get a new bike. I've almost lost a stone in two months, and I feel a lot stronger, but the gym can get monotonous so I'm planning on some longer road running and cycling sessions soon.

I've neglected my geology course for a while, but I'm starting to get back into it this weekend as I start the second assignment. I'm looking forward to a weeks summer school at Durham university in August. I've had the result of my S193 Fossils short course - 94%, which I'm pleased with.
- posted by Bill @ 5:33 PM