Mutterings for the Minority

Three’s a crowd

The lunchtime run today took on a completely different focus as we were joined by another member of the cycling/running fraternity from work - and as such the competitive streak levels of each of us rose considerably.

As it transpired we were all of level pegging at the end of the 3 mile run (in some 23 minutes) and we didn’t actually learn a great deal about whom was the ‘fittest’. Still it made for a refreshing change in terms of the challenge and it’s good to mix up the training now and again with an ‘unknown quantity’.

All the more pleasing was the fact that I felt so good and in control after the gruelling ride yesterday as well. It really is testament to the months of hard work I’ve put into my fitness since the start of 2006 - and long may it continue.

Pleasure in my performance

As Thursday is always our ‘hard’ bike training session day I knew that I’d have my work cut-out even before I realised how strong the wind was outside!

Thankfully I was prepared and had my high 5 bars and energy drink ready for the 22 mile ride around Swansea Bay, Bracelet Bay, Caswell, Langland, Murton, Fairwood Common, Killay, Derwen Fawr and SA1 (just for the sheer hell of it!). Well actually the SA1 bit was in order to measure our running course accurately - although in retrospect this was a bad move as the wide open spaces made us an even easier target for the gale force winds.

I did however take great pleasure in my performance, which I personally felt was the best to date (for a Thursday ride) and managed pretty much to keep my training companion in my sights for the vast majority of the course - unlike previous sessions.

So I’m getting there slowly and I really do wonder how much difference a proper road bike would make, as opposed to my mountain bike with slicks on!

Hairy attraction?

A day off from the training and a cracking home made beef curry for tea - what more could a man ask for from life!

Seriously though, it was a nice change, just to re-charge the batteries and at the same time give my body a break in readiness for the usually tough and demanding Thursday lunchtime ride. It certainly does make a huge difference to your performance when you take some time out, which invariably means that your training sessions are actually that much more beneficial as well.

We had the most bizarre conversation in work today, the subject matter being hairy men. It all started when one of the girls mentioned the waxing of legs at which point all of us fella’s cringed - we then duly arrived on the subject of whether or not hairy men were sexy (hairy in the sense of body not the head). Opinion in the office was split - with some not liking much hair (i.e. chest yes, back no) to others liking lots (hairy chest, back, hands, feet). I was left somewhat bemused by it all to be quite honest and had never really given it much thought….until now.

So DO YOU like a hairy man?

Driven by goals

Lunchtime time today was spent running around the SA1 development in Swansea - for training purposes I hasten to add - for about 24 minutes in the driving wind and rain. Quite frankly I enjoyed every minute of it - as I always do when training in the rain. It’s cool and wet, which is great - as opposed to being hot and sweaty in the blazing sun, which I hate.

What drives me to do such things during a lunch hour? Well quite simply it’s the goals that I set myself every few months. With a 62 mile bike ride planned for December being the next goal on my agenda, the one after that is the Llanelli Duathlon in April 2007 - which has been enough to see me re-kindle my appetite for running the last couple of weeks.

Not a 99 in sight

I was back on the bike trail lunchtime today with the usual Monday trip down to Forte’s ice cream parlour and back - without stopping for a ‘99‘ I hasten to add. The 11 mile ride in very overcast and windy (averaging 15.8 mph) was in stark contrast to the almost summer feel of yesterday’s car journey and walk to the same destination. So hello autumn!

Mrs DDWT was majorly disappointed today to learn that her swanky (and very pink) new GT Aggressor 2007 moutain bike won’t now be delivered until January 2007! Which is a wee bit later than the October 7th advertised when we bought it from Evans Cycles. Worry not though, for as you read this an email is winging it’s way across the internet to Evans Cycles customer services to demand a refund.

I’m also pleased to report that I had some success over the weekend selling some unwanted bits and bobs (aka junk) on Ebay. I’m always amazed at what people buy on there - not just from me - I mean who would want to buy some Boot’s money off coupons, a Jack Daniel’s bottle opener or an inflatable beach ball (yes I have sold these on Ebay in the past!). It is indeed a case of “One man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure”.

Tale of the scale

Today’s tale of the scale was once again a pleasant sight with me touching base at 16st 9lbs - a 1lb down on last week and a continuation of the 1lb yo-yo weight pattern!

I decided to stick with my decision of not training today in order to recharge my batteries and I must be honest - I feel a darn site better for it. I’ll be glad to get back in the saddle tomorrow though, for what is a planned easy session of around 10 miles or so.

So with some spare time on my hands, I mowed the lawn and chopped up some wood we had stored up - which incidentally is now free (it you come and collect it) to anyone who wants to get a bonfire sorted for November 5th! I left Mrs DDWT and DDWT Junior have the dubious honour of going to Tesco’s on a Sunday, which is always a bad move as EVERYONE seems to be in Tesco’s on a Sunday.

The afternoon was spent in much more pleasant surroundings with us going down to Swansea Bay and Mumbles for a spin in the car and walk on the beach. I took quite a few snaps (as usual) and thought I’d share a few of them with you.

The Swansea to Cork ferry in full flow…..

The lighthouse at Mumbles Head, which (when googled) revealed that it was built 1794 to guide ships into Swansea Bay and was originally lit by coal braziers, then by oil lanterns. The lighthouse was automated in 1934.

The new grandstand at St. Helen’s rugby ground - famous for many a great rugby and cricketing occasion. Those of you who remember the old grandstand will be sad to think that so many sporting memories symbolised by it have now gone.

And finally, the sun setting over Bracelet bay - what a fitting end to a glorious day.

Two hundred up

Today shall go down in the history of my blog as it signals my 200th post - who’d have thought I’d get this far eh. I’ve a long way to go to catch up with the serious bloggers out there in cyberspace though but hey what the heck, it’s all relative.

As Saturday’s are virtually always a non-training day - usually due to watching the Swans and doing my weekend jobs around the house, it was a nice change to pop along to Ynystawe park with DDWT Junior and Mrs DDWT and enjoy the unusually warm October sunshine.

The abundance of leaves around illustrated that autumn is with us - despite the very mild start to October. It was however in stark contrast to our last visit to the park back in March - with the daffodils almost in full bloom.

The rest of the day was spent lazing around the house and playing with DDWT Junior’s various cars (with him of course) - in between watching ‘Max and Ruby‘ on Nick Junior 2. I also listened to live commentary of the Spireites of Chesterfield v Swans game on Swansea Sound, which thankfully the Swans won 3-2 - otherwise I would have been well grumpy for the rest of the day/weekend!

Dreaming of a fall

I was in a much better mood getting out of bed this morning, even if I still felt like I hadn’t been there all night. This was probably becuase I kept dreaming that whilst I was walking down the catwalk I tripped and fell, much to the amusement of the 100+ women in attendance who consequently fell about laughing at me!

Anyway, any further thoughts about ‘my trip’ were banished when I remembered that today was a lunchtime ‘run’ day - so the thought of pain, rather than embaressment became the focus of my thoughts. Having said that, the lunchtime run - some 2.5 miles or so - went better than I had hoped with my training partner and I trotting out the course in some 19 mins 40 secs (25 seconds faster than Tuesday’s effort!).

Unfortunately as the afternoon wore on, my hamstrings began to complain about the pounding they had quite literally taken this week and my thoughts immediately turned to being concious of how I was walking around the place (i.e. like I’d been riding a horse all day). I’ve already decided to take a the weekend from biking/running to give my legs time to recover. I did reach an important milestone today though - this was my 100th lunchtime training session this year!

Mrs DDWT and DDWT Junior joined me after work for a stroll around the shops and in particular the M&S mid season sale - which quite frankly wasn’t up too much, or we’d missed the boat as it started yesterday. The Mrs did pick up a tidy pair of ‘Autograph’ jeans though so at least that was something. We also took the opportunity to do some reconnaissance for Christmas gifts and came up with plenty of ideas for the whole family - so it’s now time to do some high street v internet price comparisons. I do this every year - not because I’m tight (with money) but becuase I’m careful.

But the most significant thing about today was that DDWT Junior reached the 33 month old mark - which hadn’t dawned on me until this evening (shame on me). It really is amazing how quickly kids grow up and in some ways it makes me sad to think that he won’t ever be a baby again. I suppose that’s why I feel that every minute I spend with him is so special. Anyway, before I reduce myself to tears, here are some paintings that DDWT Junior did yesterday when his Nana came to visit.

Male model?

Do you ever get one of those days when you instinctively know that you’ve got out of bed the wrong side and you could fight with your shadow? Well I’m afraid I’ve just had one of them. You can call it sleep deprivation or whatever, but it really sucks the big one as literally everything about the day seems to go pear shaped.

From brushing my teeth (and getting toothpaste on my tie) to dropping everything bar my trousers. Even work or rather the noddy emails I was getting were of the ‘Gawd what is wrong with you people’ type.

Hopes of my lunchtime bike ride improving my mood also went down the pan - my lethargic attempt to keep up with my companion over the 20 mile ride (County Hall - Gowerton - Dunvant - Forte’s route) made sure of that. Afterwards it just made me realise how tired I was and the importance of getting a good nights sleep!

On a far brighter note, I was asked this afternoon is I would like to be a model at the Lady Mayoress of the City and County of Swansea Fashion Extravaganza on November 14th at the Liberty Stadium.

I was very flattered and immediately said yes! It’s quite ironic really as Mrs DDWT was in attendance at last year’s event - so it’ll be of even more interest this year now. I don’t know what I’ll be modelling yet, but as long as it’s not swimwear or underwear I’ll be happy!

So if you fancy a laugh (at my expense) but at the same time helping charity - give the ticketline a call on 01792 637554 and quote DDWT’s blog whilst your at it, you might even get a discount *smile*

Web accessibility workshop

I was fortunate enough to attend a web accessibility workshop today being run by the Shaw Trust and CDSM. The workshop content proved to be a very interesting and thought provoking, with the user testing sessions very beneficial.

Although the automated tools such as ‘Bobby‘ or ‘Cynthia Says‘ (and many others for that matter) are extremely useful, it was blatantly obvious from today that they really do only tell half the story in terms of true web accessibility. One tool that was recommended to us was a browser plugin (for IE only) called ‘AIS - Accessibile Information Solutions‘ which was very handy for checking the accessibility (from various aspects) of your web pages.

The user testing sessions today were conducted by people whom had various disabilities - dyslexic, colour blind, blind and limited movement (thus requiring various assistive technologies). It was fantastic to hear what these people had to say about accessibility and I learnt quite a few very valuable lessons.

In terms of technical bits, there were several areas which really needed attention, namely:

• Don’t use italics - dyslexic people find it VERY difficult to read;
• Colour contrast is more important that the colours in terms of colour blindness;
• Always use heading tags etc - it helps screen readers read the content (and search engines too!);
• Ensure that the tab index is always in a logical order;

There were plenty more, but the above were the less obvious ones (well to me they were anyway). The session has certainly given me plenty of ideas on how to improve the various sites that I manage. But perhaps more importantly it has given me a real insight into the world of web accessibility - which until I actually saw disabled people using my site I really didn’t appreciate. So thank you guys - you really have made me sit up and take notice *smile*