Thursday, March 31, 2011
Drat
Wiggle didn't have the stem I wanted so now I have had to cancel the order for the matching handlebars because I can't find the stem anywhere. Back to the drawing board now (well back to trawling the internet for 130mm 6 degree rise stems with matching 44cm shallow drop bars).
Other peoples arrangements
This morning I took the Aygo to get the summer wheels put back on which took about 45 minutes last time. I planned to spend 45 minutes looking at the new cars, reading The Economist and having a cup of coffee.
This time she spiced things up a bit by asking them to repair a (very very small) stone chip in the windscreen at the same time. The result was that I spent 2½ hours sitting around a Toyota dealership. Not all that interesting although I think I may have decided that when the Mazda 6 is to be replaced we may have to get one of these instead. It has 2 seats that fold out in the boot, uses less petrol than the Mazda and costs half as much in road tax (£200 per year less!!)
This time she spiced things up a bit by asking them to repair a (very very small) stone chip in the windscreen at the same time. The result was that I spent 2½ hours sitting around a Toyota dealership. Not all that interesting although I think I may have decided that when the Mazda 6 is to be replaced we may have to get one of these instead. It has 2 seats that fold out in the boot, uses less petrol than the Mazda and costs half as much in road tax (£200 per year less!!)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Århus
I am away from home for the first time in a while tonight. I am staying in Århus having spent the day testing our solution for a customer at their office.
I have also ordered my new bars and stem and signed up for a racing license again. I am fairly proud of myself for not falling into the trap of buying uber expensive carbon fiber parts despite the enormous temptation...
Monday, March 28, 2011
Antibiotics
MK and I have both had pretty sore throats for the last couple of days and after another bad night we went to the doctors together this morning. After a quick swab and some tests, he said that we had a strep infection and he has put the entire family on antibiotics for a week.
We then took DK to get some new shoes and finally for a check up at the hospital to see how his tummy is doing. She was very happy with him and says there is no need to worry about his nocturnal crapping and to take our time with the potty training.
The sun is shining, I have plenty of pain killers and I am still 3 kg lighter than I was 10 days ago so the world looks fine until I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to drive to Århus.
We then took DK to get some new shoes and finally for a check up at the hospital to see how his tummy is doing. She was very happy with him and says there is no need to worry about his nocturnal crapping and to take our time with the potty training.
The sun is shining, I have plenty of pain killers and I am still 3 kg lighter than I was 10 days ago so the world looks fine until I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to drive to Århus.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Belated Happy Birthday
I lost track fo time yesterday so I didn't get around to calling Ben to wish him a happy birthday. I hope he had a good day. The same goes for Rose although I hadn't planned to call her, maybe in a couple of years...
The diet is going well, I have now dropped an amazing 3kg since last weekend and I am looking forward to my day off tomorrow although I don't plan on going mad. I have actually been eating more or less an Atkins diet because I can't get myself together to cook any beans or lentils but I don't seem to be too hungry and now I am getting used to it, it is OK.
Tonight I will make some lentils and try to make sure there are some left over for tomorrow. We can also eat the remains of the monster ratatouille that I made yesterday.
The diet is going well, I have now dropped an amazing 3kg since last weekend and I am looking forward to my day off tomorrow although I don't plan on going mad. I have actually been eating more or less an Atkins diet because I can't get myself together to cook any beans or lentils but I don't seem to be too hungry and now I am getting used to it, it is OK.
Tonight I will make some lentils and try to make sure there are some left over for tomorrow. We can also eat the remains of the monster ratatouille that I made yesterday.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Stuff
The diet is going well and I have got passed the sugar addiction problem now so that I am not craving sugary things all the time or more especially after meals. I seem to have dropped 2,5 kg or 5lb since I started last saturday and I am looking forward to something resembling a day off this saturday as I am apparently supposed to do.
Breakfast of eggs and bacon or eggs and smoked salmon is actually quite nice with a cup of tea, not the only real problem is finding something I want to eat in the evening.
Before the bike fit the only thing I could find in the supermarket that I could eat and fancied was carpaccio which I ate with my fingers in the car (including the parmasan and olive oil!)
DK is back in nursery today. The drain has fallen out of one of his ears and we are hoping that he will not have to have it replaced when we go to the ear doctor for a check next week. Yesterday he decided to be potty trained with little input from us. It's odd that he can manage the peeing part, but seems to pooh in the bath every time he has one for quite some time now.
Breakfast of eggs and bacon or eggs and smoked salmon is actually quite nice with a cup of tea, not the only real problem is finding something I want to eat in the evening.
Before the bike fit the only thing I could find in the supermarket that I could eat and fancied was carpaccio which I ate with my fingers in the car (including the parmasan and olive oil!)
DK is back in nursery today. The drain has fallen out of one of his ears and we are hoping that he will not have to have it replaced when we go to the ear doctor for a check next week. Yesterday he decided to be potty trained with little input from us. It's odd that he can manage the peeing part, but seems to pooh in the bath every time he has one for quite some time now.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Bike Fit
I spent 3 hours sitting on my bike on a trainer (roller, not a person) last night to get my bike fit done. The guy did some basic checks on me first to check that my legs are mroe or less the same length and that I am flexible enough.
The next step was to attached velco pads to my feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists to which he then attached some light things for a special 3D camera to trace. Then I did several sessions of riding whilst the camera and a computer watched me. He said my initial fit was not bad, my saddle hieght wa correct but it needed moving forward by 5mm and my handle bars were a little low and close so now I have another 5mm or so of spacers under my stem and I need to get a stem that is 10mm longer. He has also suggested getting a shallower drop bar but I am not sure whether to do that or not at the moment as it will move everything that he has just put in place and they are (of course) expensive!
I'll put up the pictures when he mails them to me.
Not me
Still not me
The next step was to attached velco pads to my feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists to which he then attached some light things for a special 3D camera to trace. Then I did several sessions of riding whilst the camera and a computer watched me. He said my initial fit was not bad, my saddle hieght wa correct but it needed moving forward by 5mm and my handle bars were a little low and close so now I have another 5mm or so of spacers under my stem and I need to get a stem that is 10mm longer. He has also suggested getting a shallower drop bar but I am not sure whether to do that or not at the moment as it will move everything that he has just put in place and they are (of course) expensive!
I'll put up the pictures when he mails them to me.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Bike Fit Day
Tonight I am off to get my bike fit done. I'm looking forward to going through the process and interested to see if he makes any significant changes to my set up. I already have wedges in my shoes to change the angles of my feet and I hope that my saddle and bars are in more or less the right place. I'll have to wait and see.
The estate agent has suggested that we have an open house on Sunday afternoon so we can spend the weekend tidying and cleaning in the off chance that someone wants to come and see it. The worst that can happen is that we have a clean tidy house so there isn't much to lose.
The estate agent has suggested that we have an open house on Sunday afternoon so we can spend the weekend tidying and cleaning in the off chance that someone wants to come and see it. The worst that can happen is that we have a clean tidy house so there isn't much to lose.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dieting
The hardest part of this so far has been getting over my sugar addiction, but I think that is starting to pass now. I had fallen in the habit of eating sweet things after dinner most evenings and I still get serious cravings after meals for something sweet.
I have stuck to the rules over the weekend which included a birthday party without cake and a 3 hour bike ride on only the scrambled eggs I'd eaten for breakfast. I have since found out that I could have eaten some carbohydrates while I was cycling, but I survived and oddly enough I was 1,6 kg lighter this morning than yesterday morning although I am well aware that I have not dropped 3lbs in 24 hours.
I am working from home today which is a good thing because I had a call from nursery at lunchtime to say that DK had a fever so could I pick him up. He is now snoring away on the sofa and will hopefully feeling better when he wakes up.
I have stuck to the rules over the weekend which included a birthday party without cake and a 3 hour bike ride on only the scrambled eggs I'd eaten for breakfast. I have since found out that I could have eaten some carbohydrates while I was cycling, but I survived and oddly enough I was 1,6 kg lighter this morning than yesterday morning although I am well aware that I have not dropped 3lbs in 24 hours.
I am working from home today which is a good thing because I had a call from nursery at lunchtime to say that DK had a fever so could I pick him up. He is now snoring away on the sofa and will hopefully feeling better when he wakes up.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Breakfasts
I have eaten cereal with milk for breakfast more or less every day of my life since I started eating solids and the prospect of having to find something else is daunting.
Apparently eggs are the answer, but how much fun is a boiled egg without soldiers or a poached egg without toast? Not much in my opinion, but I'll give it a go. I have been recommended to try poached eggs with salmon, scrambled eggs with vegetables or mackerel or omelet with spinach and ham or chorizo.
I guess this will be OK at the weekends, but it will take some effort during the week.
Apparently eggs are the answer, but how much fun is a boiled egg without soldiers or a poached egg without toast? Not much in my opinion, but I'll give it a go. I have been recommended to try poached eggs with salmon, scrambled eggs with vegetables or mackerel or omelet with spinach and ham or chorizo.
I guess this will be OK at the weekends, but it will take some effort during the week.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Famous iDave diet
So it is now only 15 weeks until the Marmotte (bike race up and down mountains in France) and I have started training again with some sort of enthusiasm. I am having a bike fit done on Tuesday next week to sort out why my knees are hurting when I ride and I suppose things are falling into place.
Except for the one big issue that I have been avoiding. My weight. I have gained a few kg since my back problems last year and I need to get rid of them (plus a few more ideally) so I need to get cracking on the diet front.
I am going to have a go at this one and see how it goes.
Basics
• NO bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc
• NO drinks with calories
• NO fruit
• NO Cereal
• NO Dairy
• As in NONE. Just don’t do it, even a bit
As much as you want of …….
• Vegetables
• Beans/lentils
• Lean meat
• Eggs
• Seeds/nuts
• Lots of water
• Coffee
• Red wine with meals.
One day a week eat what you want
It is based on controlling insulin development and the guy who told me about it has coached many successful athletes from Tour de France stage winners to world champions so hopefully it will work. The main problem is that it is a big departure from my current eating habbits. I have eaten cereal for breakfast for my entire life and I don't think that will be an easy habit to break, but I'll give it a try and just MTFU.
Except for the one big issue that I have been avoiding. My weight. I have gained a few kg since my back problems last year and I need to get rid of them (plus a few more ideally) so I need to get cracking on the diet front.
I am going to have a go at this one and see how it goes.
Basics
• NO bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc
• NO drinks with calories
• NO fruit
• NO Cereal
• NO Dairy
• As in NONE. Just don’t do it, even a bit
As much as you want of …….
• Vegetables
• Beans/lentils
• Lean meat
• Eggs
• Seeds/nuts
• Lots of water
• Coffee
• Red wine with meals.
One day a week eat what you want
It is based on controlling insulin development and the guy who told me about it has coached many successful athletes from Tour de France stage winners to world champions so hopefully it will work. The main problem is that it is a big departure from my current eating habbits. I have eaten cereal for breakfast for my entire life and I don't think that will be an easy habit to break, but I'll give it a try and just MTFU.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Bike Fit
Having finally managed to start riding my bike again I am really happy to report that my back is absolutely fine. No back pain at all. However, my knees are significantly less happy than they used to be.
I rode for 2½ hours on Saturday and then for another hour on Sunday and I am in terribly bad shape. I can't imagine every being fit enough to race again, but I suppose it will come back if I work at it and start to improvc my diet again.
I rode for 2½ hours on Saturday and then for another hour on Sunday and I am in terribly bad shape. I can't imagine every being fit enough to race again, but I suppose it will come back if I work at it and start to improvc my diet again.
One of the problems of increasing training though will be that my knees are also out of practice when it comes to cycling and given my problems in the past, I have decided to get a proper bike fit done using the Retül system (which originates in Boulder, CO) in an effort to minmise my risk of injury.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Spring may be coming
There is a certain springy quality in the air at the moment, it isn't so cold, there are snow drops and some yellow flowers scattered around the garden and I managed with only a long base layer, long sleeve jersey and a jacket for my bike rides this weekend. Maybe I'll be able to ditch the hat and change the jacket for just a thick jersey in a week or two.
We had a lovely relaxed weekend with pancakes, home made pizza and cousin A's birthday party yesterday. Now we just need to get the clocks moved fowards and we'll be well on the way to getting past the worst season of the year.
We had a lovely relaxed weekend with pancakes, home made pizza and cousin A's birthday party yesterday. Now we just need to get the clocks moved fowards and we'll be well on the way to getting past the worst season of the year.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Nocturnal habits and floaters
DK and J are still sleeping in the same bedroom as we haven't had a chance to move the furniture back yet. J seems to be able to sleep through almost anything so it hasn't been a problem that DK has not slept well for the last couple of nights.
Strangely (and hopefully not as a sign of problems for the future related to his bowels) DK seems to rarely fill his nappy during normal waking hours. There wasn't much action at the beginning of the week in that department and then he has filled 2 or 3 or even 4 nappies during the night for the last 2 nights. On each occasion it needs to be dealt with immediately and there is total hysteria if MK is changing him and he wants me (rare) or vice versa.
On top of that he felt the need to lay some cable in the bath that he was sharing with J last night. At least J has learned not to drink the bath water now...
Strangely (and hopefully not as a sign of problems for the future related to his bowels) DK seems to rarely fill his nappy during normal waking hours. There wasn't much action at the beginning of the week in that department and then he has filled 2 or 3 or even 4 nappies during the night for the last 2 nights. On each occasion it needs to be dealt with immediately and there is total hysteria if MK is changing him and he wants me (rare) or vice versa.
On top of that he felt the need to lay some cable in the bath that he was sharing with J last night. At least J has learned not to drink the bath water now...
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Grammar
I am getting to the point with my Danish that I am being hindered by my total lack of knowledge of English grammar. I have trouble identifying the subject of a sentence and please don't ask me about main and sub sentences!
I suppose that I just have to battle through it, but life is going to be quite bland if I avoid the issue by never using adverbs or possesive pronouns...
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Now to move the furniture back
It has been great to have M&J visiting for the last week and the timing was prefect to help look after DK whilst he had chicken pox.
I delivered them to the airport this morning accompanied by DK and we have now returned home for me to do some work and him to continue not being at nursery. We are expecting him to be back tomorrow though so that we can get back to the office. I also have to do a lot of Danish homework before my next lesson tomorrow...
I delivered them to the airport this morning accompanied by DK and we have now returned home for me to do some work and him to continue not being at nursery. We are expecting him to be back tomorrow though so that we can get back to the office. I also have to do a lot of Danish homework before my next lesson tomorrow...
Monday, March 07, 2011
Back again
I haven't blogged for a few days because we've been busy, DK has chicken pox and J&G are visiting.
DK had to miss his gymnastics display on Saturday morning becuase he is covered in pustules. J did his, but I was home baby sitting and then MK did hers in the afternoon and it was great!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
The Pox is back
This time it is DK who has been struck with chicken pox so he is home today with T. Cousin A also caught chicken pox from J whilst we were skiing so she is at our house for the day as well. They both seem to be in good spirits without too many belmishes so hopefully it will be over and done with fairly quickly.
At the weekend we were at a Fastelavn party. I am not really sure what all this pagan stuff is about but it involves the kids dressing up and then hitting a barrel (a cardboard box these days) with a cat in it (sweets used now unfortunately) until the barrel breaks and the cat falls out.
At the weekend we were at a Fastelavn party. I am not really sure what all this pagan stuff is about but it involves the kids dressing up and then hitting a barrel (a cardboard box these days) with a cat in it (sweets used now unfortunately) until the barrel breaks and the cat falls out.
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