i bought a bike!

I went to see a Maurader this evening and it was in good nick. The engine sounded good, no scratches, so i made an offer and it is being delivered tomorrow. How cool is that!!!!

So I will be a real biker as of tomorrow!

Sweet!

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery

As part my recovery (attempted recovery) from patella tendonitus I was in the gym today.

I did leg extensions (30kg for 1 leg, 50 kg for 2) and leg press with the same weights. I did some chest and arm work followed by some sit ups and stretches.

I plan to do some leg raises tonight and possibly some squats and see how i get on.

New Bike Update

I am going to view a 05 Maurader today. My mate Bren is giving me a lift over on his real bike. I think the colours are slightly off on that pic, but that is his bike.

Luckily Bren knows about bikes especially the mauarder which he used to ride.

In memory of running (2)

After yesterday's posting about patella tendonitus I've gotten a few ideas.

Firstly my former yoga teacher suggested arnica oil as an anti-inflamatory. And Sarah (wife to be) suggested leg raises to strengthen the quad and standing on one leg (your good leg) and hold your thigh of your bad leg out at 90 degrees. This will also strengthen the quad muscle.

I also got a message from a doctor about Active Release Technique which I will look into today.

I will try the exercises along with the stretches and a small amount of weights in the gym and report back on my progress.

In memory of running

Back in 2004 I ran my first marathon, with about 6.5 months training I did the Dublin Marathon in 3.59.59. Every second counts! I continued training and in May 2005 I did the Belfast Marathon in a thoroughly bad time of 4.50 something the website is not working at the moment so I can't find the exact time.

Later in 2005, I fell running for a train in Oslo and I badly sprained my ankle.

I wanted to get back training so I went to a physio and have been over 20 times between now and then and the longest I have run since is 12 miles. And in the last 6 months I have not been able to run 1km.

Firstly I was given orthotics to correct my gait, which then threw off my left knee and I have developed patella tendonitus.

I've had patella tendonitus for over 6 months now and I have completely stopped training and have been to the gym rarely to do some upper body work but it's hard to be motivated when you can't run or cycle.

I do every stretch I have been asked to do, every exercise, worn every strap. Nothing seems to help and I have gone from having a slight twinge in my knee after 12 miles to an almost constant pain and an inability to run.

I would like to run another marathon to do one justice but it is lookin more and more unlikely.

Getting Older

I was at a meeting out in a business park in the wilds of Dublin where I met an old college friend. I left college about 8 years ago now so we are growing older and becoming respectible members of the community.

I sent my friend a mail saying how it is strange how we are becoming responsible adults but are still idiots on the inside and this is part of his reply...

" 'Tis indeed scary Pat, that we're becoming adults with the minds of children. When I was younger, I often wondered if I'd carry my love of The Simpsons into adulthood, or was I required to mature and stop finding such matters mirthful. I'm delighted to report that I still find the same stupid things funny that I always did. But this suspension of maturation has come at a high price. For example, my mother still bathes me, which I've found more and more awkward as the years have rolled by. Especially as she does so - not in the bath - but in the kitchen sink, regardless of whether we have company. "

Thank you Alan for that!

Peru Highlights

I was in Peru In August - September 2006 for a 3 week holiday including walking the Inca Trail. I am going to put up some of my favorite pictures.

This Shopping Centre was on the first day of the Inca Trail. There was no door, what you see is the whole shop. I bought probably the most needed coca cola of my life there.

You can check my picture site for more of Patrick & Sarah's Travels

Oh Jesus...

Well, Hollywood has sorted it all out, there is to be no more confusion. Who do we have to thank...

James Cameron used DNA evidence to confirm the tomb of Jesus and his family

Read all about it.

Buy my bike

My bike has been for sale on a website for a week now and nothing not one interested party. I have added it to a more popular website so when that ad appears I hope to offload it.

I am going to view a Suzuki Maurader in the next day or too. I could be a real biker by the end of the week

Wedding Fair

I went to my first wedding fair today. It wasn't as scary as I expected. It was a small place, some free champagne, a few stands, ate some free cake and watched a fashion show.

All in all it took a couple of hours and it isn't bad entertainment. So if anyone out there is looking for a cheap date bring your next first date to a wedding fair! What woman wouldn't like that eh?

Sunday Work

Working on a sunday, what is wrong with me! But I don't get too much free time to work on my "projects". I finished helping my friend with his site. So if you ever want Accommodation in Bergen you will know where to luck.

Now I can turn of the laptop, safe in the knowledge that the work is done for yet another day.... until i come back later of course!

Working on a Saturday

There is nothing worse for a monday to friday guy like me to do any work on a Saturday. It makes me feel unusual.

I was helping a friend of mine with a content management system for his website. It's something I threw together myself. It works nicely. I will keep adding to it.

Luckily I didn't work to long, Ireland were beating England at rugby and that sure had to be watched.

New York, New York

I was in New York last week and got in to JFK right in the middle of an ice storm. We thought we were having a bad day waiting 2 hours on the run way and another hour and a half waiting for them to unfreeze the doors to unload our bags.

When we got to the hotel thought a blizzard it was all over the news about the delays at the airport and the unfortunate people who were stuck for 11 hours on an outbound flight to Cancun!!!

Our delay didn't seem so bad.

Check out our pictures

A long Friday

I got a good price for a new Maurader from the good people at megabikes. So I think I might be getting myself a new bike but I will have to have a think about it.

Banned Books

We were wondering why it was ok to eat a cow but not a horse (well in Ireland anyway) and I thought if there was a show about a crime solving cow "Black Betsy", would we still eat cows?

It did wonders for Black Beauty...

Then I learned from Pat in the office that Black Beauty was banned in South Africa for it's use of the word Black. Check out the list

a great scam

I got a great scam email today... if only he could spell

From . Mr. Gabriel Duarte.
Date: 22-02-2007.

Kindest Attention:

My name is Mr. Gabriel Duarte. I am from Portugal . I
have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has
defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now
I have only about a few months to live, according to
medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life
so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even
myself)but my business. Though I am very rich, I was
never generous, I was always hostile to people and
only focused on my business as that was the only thing
I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know
that there is more to life than just wanting to have
or make all the money in the world. I believe when God
gives me a second chance to come to this world I would
live my life a different way from how I have lived it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given
most of my property and assets to my immediate and
extended family members as well as few close friends
.I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul
so, I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations and those in Need, as I want this to be
one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I
have Distributed money to some charity organizations
when I was well. Now that my health has deteriorated
so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once
asked members of my family to close one of my accounts
and distribute the money which I have there to charity
organization in United States, Asia, Middle East &
Europe, they refused and kept the money to themselves.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not
to be contended with what I have left for them. The
last of my money which no one knows of is the huge
cash deposit of Ten Million United States Dollars
($10, 000, 000.00) that I have with an Asset
Management / Vaulting Company Abroad. I will want you
to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to
charity organizations and use it to help those in Need.

N/B:Kindly note that 40% of this funds must go to
victims of Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina , Hurricane
Wilma and South Asia Earthquake , 55% to other Charity
Organizations around the World and 5% for your effort and time.

I cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health
situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer to
communicate with you. You should respond to this
e-mail if you are interested in carrying out this
assignment on my behalf.

God be with you.

Mr. Gabriel Duarte.

Upgrading the bike

At the moment I am a sad excuse for a biker. I have a moped, a wonderful yamaha aerox, so good in fact that you can buy it.

I want to take the next step and get a bike that will not be passed by cyclists on a main road. (It really did happen, I was going over 50kmph i swear).

As soon as I sell up I will be out to buy a Suzuki Maurader and get out there. I will be able to pass through roundabouts and not be beeped at in traffic.

Well let's hope!

My first blog

It's something I have always thought of doing but always shied away from. I've got a lot of opinions and I thought I would share them with the ether. Some of them may make sense, some may not but wish me luck.

PS, I will think of something good to write about tomorrow....

Promise