4:11 am and the clock goes tick-tick-tick Musings

I found this, which reminded me of the problems associated with the insomnia musings about being able to shrink smaller and smaller.



I'd thought about the atoms of oxygen needed and set aside the weight issue.

Sadly it seems I'm not the only one with time on my hands in the dark of the night .

Labour and Socialism - lurch left.

I don't vote Labour or left wing. Never have. Doesn't mean that I can't have an opinion on what might make me vote for them though, or ideas that might appeal to a broader range of people that may bring them back to power.

Alone. Not in some cockamamie coalition of "we're all left wing therefore a vote for anyone one of us works" way, that ends in tears of disappointment and compromise.

Good socialism, don't get distracted by dolphins, or oil drilling, they fall in to place when you have the minds of the people .

Don't get me wrong they are important but they'll fall into place when people have security, and a future to look forward to.

Idea one:

• Promise to build state houses, say in blocks of 20 - 50. Make the local councils free up the land that they are banking or planning to sell off for profit.


• Approach local or national business and ask them to be on board a community project, this will swing the right-wing business for profit business in behind an altruistic effort - good for them, good for the economy, good for the people.


• Build sensible housing, of course terrace or row housing,  because modern and spacious can be achieved with modern methods.


• Appoint a community guardian or caretaker.


• Make them small communities, perhaps include growing plots for vegetables etc.


• Make sure that the busses stop at the end of the street, and do so regularly. .


• Make sure that community services people visit regularly.


• Make sure you deal with people who want to to buck the system and not join in.


• Make the tenancy reviewable and renewable by review, up or down, you might have to move house. In a mixed occupancy community this shouldn't be a problem.


• Part of the rental payable could be placed in non-fee bearing but interest bearing accounts in trust as statutory saving to get people out of state and into own home ownerships


• Run this policy in conjunction with and parallel to kiwi-build.

Idea two: KiwiSaver from birth. And now I'm winging it on the financials, of course, but it's an idea.

• From birth the government contributes $1 per week into a fee-free kiwi-saver account.


• The $1 increases to $2 in year 2, $3 in year three and so on.


• For year 16 this is a contribution of 832, and in a non-interest bearing account would therefore be $7,072.  Not being a financial wiz I have no ice how this would work under a compound or interest bearing account. I would image than it would be more then $7,072.


• The contribution amount could be adjusted as required to make sense in a changing economic environment. If the kiwisaver contribution amount changes then the contribution amount to kid-kiwisaver should change. Pointless ending up in 16 years with enough money to buy a cup of coffee.


• Funds would be available for either education fees, or home-ownership.


• Start this for all children regardless of age and at the level of contribution appropriate.  People might complain they're disadvantaged, but that's the wrong view, they're being advantaged by the policy, and sure significant numbers might not achieve any benefit in the first decade. It's long term thinking


• Roll KidKiwiSaver into KiwiSaver if you start work and don't take the money for education, it's shouldn't be considers a grant or money available at 17 or 18 to get your party on, the money is only invisible in education, housing, or continued investment in Kiwisaver

I own my own house, I don't have children that would benefit under the KidKiwiSaver idea. My thoughts then are that if you can get people thinking about people, and all people thinking about the growth of the economy then this must be good for the proposing government in the short and long-term. The injection of money into the economy has to be good too. I'll agree that this will not solve any house pricing issues as that of course is a sliding bar, supply and demand, but Kiwi-Build addresses affordable housing, right? They're just ideas, not very good ideas possibly, but ideas that I'd be happy to support and vote for.

4:05 am and the clock goes tick-tick-tick Musings

Having, sort of, got my head around the speed of light thing, but perhaps not, the next part is the travelling to a new planet or star, somehow.

These are the current questions I muse on as I meditate myself to sleep.

How many of you are there on this journey?

If speed of light travel, or near to s-o-l travel is  possible that would still mean that something 2 light years away would take 2 years to get to? Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf about 4.24 light-years from the Sun, that's a 9 year round trip?

Could be nothing there when you got there.

The one with the 'award'

Award, pronounced awkward. - Welcome to the the "Very inspiring Blogger Award"

I'm pleased people visit my musings and ramblings, and I enjoy the feedback and interactions I have on here of course.

So I was surprised and at the same time miffed when I got a comment that I'd been listed, as part of the rules, for the VIB to pass on the baton, as it were.

Restaurant Critic #6 - The Foodstore - Auckland Viaduct

Occasionally I get the opportunity to be taken out to dinner, for work purposes.

Happened that this happened on Tuesday this week.  We'de been sitting in the SkySport bar Grill having some of their fine craft beers when it came time to eat. Now we could have had the burgers and fries but since it was only the two of us I suggested something else.

So The Foodstore it was.

Based at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, is New Zealand's first unique live food entertainment experience. With the country's only true "open" and "interactive" kitchen you will get up close and personal with NZ's best chefs as they create their culinary magic

Indeed they have the kitchen based in the open in the restaurant for all to see, and there is even a camera training on one station so that you might catch a glimpse of you dinner being served on one of the TV screens dotted around.  Seems kind of odd to have a quality restaurant and TV's playing.

It was a quiet night out at the Viaduct, even though the weather has been fantastic and so sitting wasn't a problem and we sat outside under a heater.

Wait staff were attentive and there were a lot of them around.

Drinks. Well I'd been on beer, and I'd had enough so I had a cranberry juice that wasn't very pleasant, thin and watery. The Whiskey wasn't available either that my visitor wanted, so he opted for something generic.

Starters:

Them :  Goat's cheese ice cream and beetroot salad. Served raw with fennel and balsamic dressing.

Me: Crispy pig's head terrine, with shallot, sultana and caper dressing on a a celeriac puree

Theirs was visually stunning! Mine was nice, but not spectacular.

Mains:

Them: pumpkin gnocchi, with roast pumpkin puree, char-grilled peppers, goat's feta, red onion and chilli

Me: Fiordland crayfish linguine, with a saffron and cream sauce.

Theirs was very orange, and "not what I expected" but they ate it all. Mine was served in what I thought was a strange way, in like a dessert bowl, and the portion seemed small.  Seemed a little undercooked, but wasn't, really moorish and took me no time to polish it off.

Dessert:

I think I won this with : The Pineapple Lump. Dark Chocolate marquise with honeycomb and pineapple sorbet.

They had chocolate hazelnut cheesecake, with Frangelico ganache, sour cherry compote and creme fraiche.

Mine was visually stunning, the sorbet was astounding and this was the dish of the night for me

Their's was served in a glass, again something I thought might have been strange

We were there a couple of hours chatting about this and that, I finished the night fed and happy, not over full, and not wanting to stop of a maccas on the way home.

Would I go again? Yes I think I'll take MrsPdubyah there.

Should you go? Well of all the places on the Viaduct this is near the top of the list of places you should stop at, it's interesting there is a lot going on and they know their stuff.

 

4:04 am and the clock goes tick-tick-tick Musings

I was watching some youtube things, and you know how that ends up, normally pictures of cats right. Well not in my case.

Hollow Earth Theory : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Earth

Hollow Earth. Hidden entrances at the North and South poles. Hitler sent expeditions! The claim was that the earth’s crust is only between 8 miles and 200 miles thick

Gravity? Well there is a micro start in the center providing gravity for those on the outside. Not sure how those on the inside get on, perhaps they’re squished to the ground flat, living in 24-7 sunlight

Oh this is where UFO’s come from too.

Which lead me to Expanding Earth Theory http://hollowearththeory.com/articles/expandingEarthAnimation.asp

But before that how NASA made up UFO’s so they could launch loads of satellites and space weapons, and how they use chemtrails to fly holographic aircraft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemtrail_conspiracy_theory

http://www.disclose.tv/forum/chemtrails-and-holographic-planes-t37043.html

Which lead me to a video about how the human race is an Alien Experiment….

I’m not judging but the most plausible was the NASA one., well not the holographic chemtrail thing but.

I could expand on that by saying there are many possible scenarios of life on other planets

1. There is life on other planets.


2. Life on other planets is at a similar stage of development to that on Earth


3. Life on other planets is more primitive than that on earth

Now because we don’t perceive or have an explanation for things that can travel Faster-than-light, or an understanding of worm-holes that may or may not get us from one place in the universe to another doesn’t mean they don’t exist or are not feasible.

But the question is that begs is how would you detect life on the 3^rd rock from the sun  at the edge of a spiral arm we call  the Orion Arm, which is about two-thirds of the way from the center of our galaxy to the edge of the starlight?

It was a slow night

The less of me - the more I write the less I am

Well.

Today I stood ont he scales. at 88.0kg or 194lbs, or 13 Stone 12lbs, all those things work.

Which is a long way from 105Kg, 231lbs, or 16 1/2 stones, which is where I started at 15 months ago

And so I continue to be on-track at a 1kg a month weight loss. My new goal was only 85kg by June

I've walked / jogged a total of 941 kms, or 585 miles so far.

I set myself only a 5km or 6km walk/run expectation, and 5 would be the minimum or most regular distance.

This year I did really push the boat out

• Went 8km in one burst,


• Went 5 minutes 01 seconds for a 1km stretch


• Went 8 minutes and 55 seconds for a whole mile


• Went 5km in total for 30 minutes and 10 seconds (my immediate goal is under 30:00

The downside to all this is that shirts are all baggy and ill-fitting.

Upside is joints don't ache, I sleep better, and of course eat better.

Eating better by way of less things like potato and meat. Eating more fruit and vegetables, and of course smaller portion and better portion control.

Does not stop me drinking beer at all, or having indulgences like chocolate and cheese.

Feeling ok about this .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant Critic #5 – One3One Bar Kitchen Cafe - Paeroa

We had dinner at one3one in Paeroa.

131 refers to it's street number

It was on the site of  a pub called "The Fathers Tavern" and let me tell you that used to be an experience. The last time we went their with some friends we walked in, and in the wild west cowboy style the bar went quiet as strangers walked in, true story, we ordered a couple 'jugs' of beer, brought the barman a drink and everything became sweet-as. True Story.

Wind the dial on a few years, there is now a Maccas in town, but there isn't a roundabout and nor is there traffic lights. Something shouldn't change.

One3One. A modern establishment. Central island bar set up, to the left high tables, the right 4 top tables, a couple of booths. Wallpaper like wooden fence paling, menu's kept in beer crates.

Let down by the industrial quality carpet on the floor to be honest when wood or polished concrete might have been better.

In a major change the one beer garden has been sacrificed for more floor area, and the smokers and other outside dwellers get a concrete corridor. I don't smoke so no loss to me.

Dinner:

Two people chose the  CHICKEN BREAST 
Oven roasted chicken breast stuffed with basil & wrapped in streaky bacon, served with herb roasted potatoes and topped with a tomato & herb sauce

I had  LAMB SHANKS
Slow cooked tender lamb shank on creamy mashed potatoes with a rich gravy & kumara wafers

And one of us had  LAMB AND FETA SALAD 
Sliced marinated lamb rump with feta, cherry tomatoes, caramelised pumpkin & salad greens, dressed with minted yoghurt

Lets cut to the chase and critique this.

The biggest biggest problem by far was that the main meals had no seasonable vegetables on the plate.  OK if you  colour me me stupid that the menu description din't call this out, but you know that the whole experience would have been magnified to great if the plate had a carrot or a floret of broccoli on it.

Sides are called out on the menu, but these weren't offered up by the wait staff.

Specifically calling out the lamb shanks that I had, these weren't browed before cooking. One of them stringy and tough, the other soft and fell off the bone. The gravy was watery and insipid.

Calling out the lamb salad as looking awesome!

One3One has a couple of things going for it, and in no particle order:

• The RailTrail Cycleway that passes by


• It's very new, clean and tidy, and will have broad appeal to the locals


• The pricing isn't outrageous


• The menu has something for everyone


• It'll do a cracking trade on the battle of the streets motorcycle racing weekend

They could improve things here and there of course, to suit me, but this sets a new standard in Paeora and the others need to take note.

Honda Accord NT - a quick drive around the block

Those nice people at Honda New Zealand can't help themselves, they keep calling and asking if I want to drive their new cars.

This time it was for the Honda Accord. I could take a pick of the V6 or the 4 cylinder.

to be more exact the 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder, 16 valve, EarthDreams i-VTEC, chain drive DOHC, which I really did choose over the 3.5 litre, 6 cylinder, 24 valve, EarthDreams i-VTEC, belt drive SOHC.

Because, well in the event that I was going to have a new car it would be the more normal 4 cylinder one.  The actual cost difference between the two is only $5,000 though, $55 as opposed to $60,000.

So what were the 'bells and whistles'? The ‘NT’ name for the top-specification Accord stands for Navigation and Technology.

Included in the technology package is Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS).

This is a bundle of things including adaptive cruise control (which works between 30-180km/h),  You set a cruise speed, and then a distance to the vehicle in front, the car then brakes or accelerates to match the object in front. It's like magic.

There's also something called Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS) with audible/visual alerts and initial braking activation. I activated this once on an on-ramp manoeuvre, got a few beeps and some yellow flashing lights.

Best though is the Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS). The car recognises the lane markings, on the motorway, for instance, and then keeps the car in-between those lines. Steering itself. Like magic. Seriously you could take both your feet off the pedals and hands off the wheels, the car would continue as usual.

You'd be daft to do that, but in the interest of a test I did. Weird experience a car steering itself, and then accelerating to keep a gap, or breaking, it would do both things.

However, the lane keep thing only works where there are clear lanes to keep to.

There is also a unique blind spot monitoring system that shows the view from the left-hand door mirror in the centre-console colour screen that is displaying the sat-nav map.

The centre-conole display also changes to the reversing camera view too, but it's worst feature is on start up and a warning that you're supposed to be responsible and makes you click a button before it changes into something more useful.

I believe the steering is a fly-by-wire affair, which would make the LKAS more probable.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="6468,6469,6470,6471,6472,6473,6474,6475,6476"]

Anyway, I had the car for an hour. It was magnificent. It's comfortable, quiet, and it accelerates a dream. the technology works, I'm sure the technology I didn't use works like the BlueTooth connection.  The user manual would be an interesting read.

Funniest thing? The mag with curb damage.

Annoying things? The connection for  your media device is in a cubby hole, very design, but not the best.

Interesting thing? Keyless start, you can keep the key in your pocket, the car detects it. No idea how it works if someone else jumps in the car and drives off, does the car detect that the key isn't in or near the car and stops? I'm sure the Honda boffins have thought that through. However if the keys aren't in your pocket they're a bit awkward a shape nd size to put in the centre console. Nit-picking.

Completely enjoyed this car, the multi-adjustable seats through the flappy-paddle gear-box with both sports and normal settings. You can have sports and eco at the same time it seems.

It also has Driver and Passenger specific air con settings, which is handy, and the quite ride might be due to  the Active Noise Cancellation technology

Fuel consumption says 8.1 car said 10.1 and it wasn't being driven gently, or as gently as you would if you owned it.

Would I like to own it, I really would. Would I spend $55,000 on a car? That's the doubtful thing, and I have no real idea of what comparable cars in this price bracket there are. But then I'm not looking for a new car at the moment.

Would I encourage you to drive this car. Absolutely. It really is a stunner. So many technology things in one car, so much car, so much fun.

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The one with the Tooth Fairy.

I found the today when I was looking for something else.

It's a note from my daughter from many years ago to the Tooth Fairy about a tooth that had fallen out, but that she had been playing with, which had then become lost.

Yes it's in purple, yes that's a picture of the tooth that was lost. Note that this isn't to scale.

This folds in the middle and here is a 'front' page, it's like a miniature card.



There are some things you just can't buy.

(she slept with this under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy to find, she did get her gold coin).

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The one where you confuse Columbo for Banacek

One of the tv channels has been showing Columbo re-runs, or perhaps they're premiers on this particular channel, recently. This and "The Sweeney" have been my recent tv addiction, but I can give or take "Minder" -'ere leave it out 'Tel

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"] Lieutenant Columbo (Photo credit: ostromentsky)[/caption]

I've been watching Columbo weekly with anticipation and enjoyment, honestly I have. drives MrsPdubyah spare. the stories are simply told in three acts, the setting, the investigation and the reveal. Everything was much simpler then.

There's a murder laid out for you, then Coloumbo investigates, and it ends when he says "And so you did it", and the bad guy effectively shrugs his shoulders and says "fair cop" and that's the end.

I have however been waiting for two particular episodes that I have memories of.

Patiently waiting

Then it's at some point that I realise that Columbo is a homicide detective, and I've been waiting for two stories that do not have a murder as a thing. It's not going to happen.



I'd realised they were not  Kojak or Streets of San Francisco episodes, again murder and 'gritty' crime based, I remember that much (and they're showing on the same channel, I've been watching them too), which meant I had to start to figure out what it was that I was expecting to see.

Seems I was looking for Banacek all along.

Banacek with the "Polish proverbs" that used to make my (Polish) father frown and moan.

The episodes in question are/were

• The one where a gridiron player disappears from the field of play.


• The one where a computer completely disappears 

So I have a few hours of entertainment for when I'm giving it the big on the spin bike in the next couple of months whilst I recuperate and repair.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="75"] Ironside (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Who knows next it might be a bit of Jack Lord in Hawaii 5-0 just for old times, and we haven't even got to Longstreet, the blind detective, or Ironside, the one with the chap in the wheelchair or some of the other gems.

No one ever said I was complicated. ..... Who loves ya baby.

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The Spin Bike, the Garage and the Knee - And so it continues

Well

I have some minor health issues, Psoriasis related, but it meant I had to go get some further advice

You see Psoriatic Arthritis tends to get you down after a bit, and I have it in one knee and both ankles to a greater or lesser degree.

Having taken to exercise in the last year to combat weight gain I've been a bit up and down with pain management.

Result is that now I'm on some new meds that have some benefits and of course some side effects, but what started out as me wanting less meds has ended up with me on more.

One of the things I have been advised on is less impact exercise, so that's the running,  which means the spin bike will get a work out :-) about time too.

Also and more alarmingly, might have to drink less beers, or limit my beers to three days, Friday, Saturday and possibly sunday if I'm parched, because there is some liver side effect that the new meds might give me, and possibly it's a good thing to drink slightly less.

I'm sure this ends well, with better skin, less aches and pains, and less hobbling.

Stand by for spin bike updates......

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4:03 am and the clock goes tick-tick-tick Musings

This being awake bit is a bit tedious :-)

So I moved on from Super Powers and  the question became  "What's on the opposite side of the earth from me"

Which it turns out is pretty easy to look up.  http://www.freemaptools.com/tunnel-to-other-side-of-the-earth.htm

For me that would be somewhere near Marbella in Spain. Nice.

Then, of course, the question became, what about I dig a tunnel to there?

Then, of  course this leads to some other interesting thoughts and dilemmas and wonderings, as you do.

If you (I) dig straight down then for at least 50% of the journey you're going downwards, you get to the middle and you have to start tunneling\digging upwards?, the floor (?) becomes the ceiling (?)

Does that mean the stuff you chip away at on the upwards bit falls out through the long tunnel hole you just made on the way down?

Or I guess that it just congregates at the middle point, neither up nor down.

Can you imagine if you've nearly completed you're upwards leg and you chip a bit off and it flies out the starting point hole like a shot from a cannon. Can't imagine getting a resource consent for that.

At some point too, halfway you're top must become bottom and your bottom top? Perhaps not, if you were making a 'floor' to drive on then perhaps this would end up being the roof at the other end? But as it's straight down, perhaps now, you'd just have to adjust the one/off ramp bit at either end.

Would you need brakes to slow you down or could you coast all the way through?

On the matter of digging to the other side I Came up with some fun #Facts about the Earth

• Radius of the Earth  is  give or take 6,350 km, that's about half way, depending on where you are though the Earth bulges a bit in the middle, like the most of us.


• Diameter then is, give or take, 12,750km


• Earth has a mantle (crust) that is 2,890 km thick


• The Deepest Known trench is around 11 km deep - that would be the Mariana Trench.


• Deepest Well ever drilled is 10.7km


• Mt.Everest is 8,850 meters tall


• Deepest cave is about 2km - Krubera Cave

So a few technical problems and other observations.

• We've managed to drill less than  0.004% of the way into the Earths Crust?


• We've found all the oil at this depth and much much less?


• We can't have used all the oil? IT must surely be just more difficult to get out?

I might try to think of something else.

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The one with the new car

It came to that time that the old car had to be replaced. Because it was 10 years old, had 180k kms on the clock and because there didn't seem to be a need to have an SUV any longer, not an AWD, 2.0 litre one for the number of kms that MrsPdubyah was making in the last few years.

So away went the Airtrek  and hello new (to us car)



The Airtrek has been with since just about new, we've never owned a new car,  and has done us well, ferried all sorts of things to all sorts of places, but at 10 years old it was looking a bit dinged and dented, and as much as it's sad to see it go, it was time.

To be replaced with this. a 1.6 litre Ford Fiesta. Which is very sprightly indeed. Also has a bunch of new features that will confuse and delight MrsPdubyah

including BlueTooth connectivity for her phone. Might have to get a phone with BlueTooth.  MP3 Connectivity. Might have to get her am MP3 player, and a radio that seems to have heaps of pre-set saved radio station options. She only listens to one of two.

Also has Cruise control. Ideal for the 7km journey to work.

This on the same day that the Holden Cruze had a meltdown with the Engine Immobiliser warning  suddenly appearing, this after not starting, then starting again, being driven with the light on



MrsPdubyah parked the car nose-out 'just in case'. When I went to retrieve it, having dropped off the new MrsPhilMobile, it didn't start, the bit lid popped open, the dashboard did a disco display the radio changed channels a few times and the hazard light just came on and stayed on.

The tow-truck man came along, made out like it happened all the time and to much better cars and took it away.

The Holden Garage says they'll try to get a look at it in the next couple of days, if I'm lucky. I'm not that lucky.

I've had issues with this car before, and this time

Oh and I don't think I wrote about the ABS warning sensor on both front wheels needing replacement, the dodgy radio that sometimes has a display and other not.

I'm hoping that it's just a new battery. It probably isn't

A day of much conflict and contrast.

In other news:

These arrived. Nike LunarFly 4 , This picture doesn't do them justice, the soles are also a pale blue. Might take my frustrations out on these and the pavement.



Or I might have a beer.

 

Updated:

The Holden Cruze immobilizer - it was the battery causing all the drama and setting off all the lights and bells, ended up costing me twice as much as just a battery would since the technician spent an hour plugging in the computer diagnostics.

So far then, Left and Front side ABS sensors have broken of their own accord, Both interior chrome door handles replaced after the chrome flaked off and ended up cutting MrsPdubyah on one occasion, Brake Rotors, Brake pads front and rear, new battery, not bad for a car with only 90K Kms on it. Must nearly be time for 4 new tyres.

The Lunarfly 4's are awesome!

The beer has been a mixed bag.

 

Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #10

Took the camera on the stroll around the point at Mataragi. It was low tide and it's somewhat more accessible.

It's getting more popular too which isn't a bad thing.

You might see variously in the pictures, Me, MrsPdubyah, a Dotterel, Some Oyster Catchers, a Pine Tree, some fallen over trees, couple odd signs in an odd place, sand, sea and sun.

I didn't edit the pictures, that would be taking up sitting int he sun relaxing time :-)

[gallery type="thumbnails" ids="5950,5951,5952,5953,5954,5955,5956,5957,5958,5959,5960,5961,5962,5963,5964,5965,5966,5967,5968,5969,5970,5971,5972,5973,5974,5975,5976" orderby="rand"]

Did stop for a beer at the end of the walk at the Golf club, where the pricing was reasonable but the patronage poor. This would be for a couple of reasons, one of which is the historical nature of the welcome that was given, even though now it's changed hands, and another would be that at the beach house, holiday home, you tend to drink and socialise at home. The restaurant does a cracking trade though.

I think that I reached "Beach Max" yesterday. This is the limit of time I can spend with the in-laws, and leads to bickering and surliness. So today will be the last day and we're leaving tomorrow to go home.  It's all about how I manage my time with them now, and it's not just me MrsPdubyah is at the end of the tether too.

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The Less of Me, December 2012 edition

13 runs for exactly 69 kilometres, I have no idea how it got the be an exact number but the OCD in me thinks this is a great success.

Weight did dip below 89kg, but sadly in celebration I had chips. Then of course we had christmas, then of course I have no will power.

I did run on the 24th, 25th took a day off for the 26th then ran 4 days straight, with another day off for NYE.

[caption id="attachment_5913" align="aligncenter" width="474"] The less of me - December 2013[/caption]

Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #7

It's still really nice here, weather is behaving itself by and large.  To be honest I don't know how I haven't got a tan going on, it's been mostly sunny.

Although some things have changed at the beach it's always pleasing to note that the sign in the front garden of the neighbours house is still as vibrant as ever. I'd have to check if anyone has stopped to ask if they are open today, it has happened.



I was pleased with yesterdays efforts at bread making, so I'm giving it another crack today. Focaccia style, again. Bread rolls are the other go-to recepie but they get snacked on and grazed over to easily, best not let temptation get in the way of a good intention.



The Focaccia was really nice with the barbecue chicken that I cooked last night, toasted a bit of on the barbecue,added some stuff,  just the thing. Chicken was in a lemon and herb dressing, I'm told.



I just do the cooking.

We had an impromptu drink thing with some of the neighbours last night, those are the best type of evenings. Tonight being New Year Eve we're off to a communal drinking party, or gathering, after dinner, so everyone has eaten, less catering and faffing about by the hosts. Tonight it's at 'diggers' place, he's the self-appointed 'Mayor' of the beach. I'm sure he's more diligent and trustworthy than the one we have in Auckland, although he does like to put it about at bit, but that's not a secret.

In other news  was made to brave the 'big smoke' we all know as  Whitianga. Didn't seem to be busy or full of touristas as it has been in the past. We didn't stay long.

Did however stop of Kuaotonu for a coffee at the always excellent black jack coffee place.  Hasn't really improved my mood though. Woke up today with a sore calf, and sore ankles. Exercise on the unmade roads is really a bit tricky for an old fella like me, so I have to take a day off. On the plus side did buy two local beers which I'll enjoy (hopefully) a bit later.

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Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #6

Well here we are then. At the beach house. this is the view, well this is the view when you hold the camera up a bit higher than eye-line, but you get it.

The local Fauna are really really noisy. We have Tui, Fantails, and Califonian Quail, Pheasants, the local Kingfisher and sundry other things all chipping in.



This was yesterday afternoon when we arrived. You really can see the beach (in the red rectangle) the trees and bushes are all growing up and the glimpse is getting glimpser.



Annoyingly the automatic lighting thing on the barbecue still works, couple of clicks and it's away. We've had this thing for many years now, and it still keeps going. It doesn't get a lot of use when I'm not here though, the in-laws aren't that fussed on cooking on it, apart from the occasion smoked fish.

Because it's still a bit murky the Gentleman Fishing Club has been put on hold. I'm sure I'll get on this later.

Already had a beer, well last night had a beer. We've also, MrsPdubyah and me, been on a mooch down the end of the beach and back. It was a bit bracing. Saw some of the younger neighbours who'd been partying for at least an hour being clowns, I should go see how they are today.

Had a couple of exercise walks, yesterday afternoon after the drive here, and this morning. Lordy this morning everyone was out jogging/running/cycling/mooching. All adults mind, no teenagers, funny that. It was was however 8am and what do you expect?

Today then, well I've done some exercise, MrsPdubyah was leaving as I got back, and FIL has gone for a meander. MIL is in bed, having been up at 7am putting a load of washing on, probably onto her second, it's her thing.

Suddenly it'll be 10am, I'll have to make some bread, there will be coffee and then the house will settle for an hour before lunch.

It's all go!

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Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #5

Sunday then.  Today would be the day that we are finally getting our act together to get to the beach. It's taken a while.

MrsPdubyah just went out to get staples, and discovered that it was only Sunday and all the special coupon things start tomorrow.

Wet weather has arrived and there is a fair amount of surface flooding in the roads to where we are going.

But we will be there, and we will not be in the city.

And there will be fishing.

I'm sure I can survive the running commentary that is the in-laws. I shall give it my best shot.

Or I'll retire to the sanctuary of books.

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Getting from A to B

Now there's a thing. In a calendar year I managed by one way or another to achieve over 700km of exercise.

Couple of off months when injury and inclement weather took over, but I did go 12 straight months and of each time I did at least 5km.

I have no ambition to 10.  I have no ambition to do a 1/2 marathon, or a whole marathon. None. Don't ask me. Actually I will get to 10km at least once, just because.

What progress in 12 months?



4th of January 2013. 5 Km. Wearing Nike Free shoes, because they are my shoe of choice at this point.



Wearing New Balance shoes , I make that 13 minutes faster over the same distance.

I've just about worn out the 2nd pair of Nike Free shoes, the blue ones they've got 284km on them and look a bit sad.  I retired the black ones at 268km.

I've got a just worn in 148k on some NB Minimus and only 62km on the Yellow NB shoes. Spread it around a little. It'll be a shame to see the Nike shoes move to the shelf and retire. Might invest in some new ones in the new year, I think the 2 pairs of NB shoes will carry me

I'd set a goal too of losing weight, I did start the year at nearer 105kg. I got down to 88.8 just before christmas and have been reminded why was 105kg,  overcoming my will power I've had far to much of the everything, and even a couple of kilo's makes me fret a little. Still 91 is better than 101, and better then 105.

I haven't given up as much of things as you'd think, aside from packets of snack crisps, a chips, pies. I still have cheese and crackers, I just got portion control in control. I still drink beer, more than is prudent, but I'd rather drink and be happy than gaunt and miserable.  I ear breakfast more times than I skip it, and I enjoy better lunches than I used to.

I still eat muffins with the coffee with MrsPdubyah when we're out, it's a thing.

To 2014. Well I can get to 88 briefly,  I can get to 85, which seems my next sensible goal I think. No point in being stupid about it.  I want to be happy and engaged with losing weight not a slave to the stupidity of points, shakes, fasting, caveman, et al. I'll do it my way. I may or may not seek advice from a nutritionist, probably will, and I might get some running coach input into my running action. Probably won't.

Without the Nike+ Sportswatch none of this would have happened by the way, no better motivator than passive aggressive watch nagging :-)

Probably will buy more Nike shoes, probably in Orange :)