Moved to myspace!!!

Because of the added features, I've now moved my blog to: www.myspace.com/stuntfrog

Monster day out!

Many thanks to Debbie for arranging my belated birthday outing in London. We went to Madame tussards, Fire and Stone (pizza), and the new Lord of the Rings musical at the Theatre Royal. It was a fantastic show with amazing costumes, music and stage design. Click on the link to see for yourself: http://www.thelordoftheringsmusical.com/production_popup_1.php.
If you'd like to see our photo's from Madame tussards join www.facebook.com and link to me as a friend.

Donation page now Live!

I've just set up an on-line donation page that pays Cancer Research UK directly. I thought it would make things allot easier for everyone who wishes to sponsor me on the epic 270 mile cycle marathon. Training is going well I'm getting much fitter now, my average speed is up, my weight is down to 14.12 stone (from 16.3) and I've clocked over 400 miles so far. I'm aiming to do 100miles a week now as time is short until the big ride, just a month left. We want to do a group day ride before we go as a dry run with fully ladened bikes (tents, sleeping bags, cloths etc.) I'm sure it's going to be allot tougher going once we are weighed down with kit.

http://www.justgiving.com/stuntdove

Thank you for giving, we may all benifit from what CRUK are doing one day.

Big News!

It's offical, Debbie and I are getting married on the 22nd of August 2008!!! We've booked a venue St Pauls in Letchworth. On monday we went round to the Vicor's house to fill in some forms and have a chat. Just need to sort out 'calling of the bands' (don't ask) because I don't live in the parish of St Pauls. We've also booked the reception at Fanhams Hall in Ware. Sorry in advance if you don't get invited to the reception. It's not because we didn't want to envite everyone but we only have limited places. Good news is all (that know us) are invited to the wedding at St Pauls so please come along and give your support. We'll post the times when it's been given.

Charlie's Aunt

Had a great time on Saturday. Debbie and I went with her dad and his friend to see “Charlie’s Aunt” with Stephen Tomkinson at the Milton Keynes Theatre. I feel confident in recommending this production of an old classic, very funny and Tomkinson plays a hilarious 'Monty Python' style man/women. It was a really nice day out and lovely weather too but best of all we had pizza!!!

stuntdove.com

Ok it's up! some refining will be done asap but the gist of it is there. What am I talking about? Well myself and Adam who is also going on our A5 cycle ride have been working on an adventure website designed to provide a light hearted record of our exploits past, present and future and to help and encourage others who wish to follow in our footsteps. I hope you'll all be checking to see what we're up to next. I've put a link on the right hand of my blog but you can also click here: www.stuntdove.com

St Elmo's Fire

My mate Dan (bass player) is in a band called St Elmo's Fire. Me and Debbie went to see them a while back and they rocked. Here is a live video of them in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iej8Mdrju94&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyspace%2Ecom%2Fstelmos It makes me want me to start playing agian!

Cycle update

The cycling has been going well. At the weekend I went to Kimpton and back 20miles, and today was my first consecutive commute to work (Royston 18miles each way) and although my legs felt it on the hills, it went ok. I've managed to clock up 189miles so far despite a virus that put me out for two weeks. I've also gone from 16.3stone to 15.8 already. I plan to do a longer ride over Easter, probably to St Albans and back which is a 36mile round trip. Sponsorship is going ok too. I've handed out some extra forms to friends and family and my form at work has got up to £113. Please keep the money coming in!

Ride2Work!

Buy tax free bikes and cycle to work with the Ride2Work programme! Did you know that a Government scheme exists that can save you around 50% off the price of a new bike? It's called the Green Transport Plan, and it aims to make cycling more attractive and more accessible by taking advantage of some unique tax incentives. Many Cycle shops have developed the Ride2Work programme to help you take advantage of the benefits of the Green Transport Plan. This allows you to buy bikes via your employer at a massive discount!
http://www.evanscycles.com/ride2work.jsp;jsessionid=51BE56E7AA374672C5F3A689271862C8.tomcat2

I love it when a plan comes together!

Greg and I finally managed to get his fence finished on Saturday. He has kindly agreed to help me finish off my kitchen so hopefully it'll go better than the last time he helped as I drilled straight through a water pipe and haven't done much in the kitchen since repairing it.

Armadillo's!!!

Adam, Phil, Neil and I had an 'A5' planning meeting last night (down the pub of coarse) to look over some of the finer details of our trip. Any way one of the things that came out was to set up a designated web site devoted to our adventures. So hopefully with the help of the very talented Adam, and not to far in the future I'll be posting a link to that very site. After a late night down the pub I got home motivated and charged with energy so decided to get up early and ride to work (first time since the dreaded virus). I've never found it easy getting out of bed at the best of times, least of all at 6.45 after a late night out, but that I did and I was soon on my way to Royston. Disaster nearly struck as I climbed out of Wallington, I heard a faint click, click, click as the wheel rotated so I stopped to examine the tyre (of which I've only just replaced after the last mishap). Sure enough a tiny piece of sharp flint was patroding out from the back tyre. Gutted, and expecting a Pissssstt sound, I pulled it out but the Specialized Armadillo tyres had done their job and the kevlar belt had prevented any tube damage. Harrah for Armadillo's!!!

New posts

I've been helping Greg put up a new fence. We made a slow start last week but hopefully it'll get finished tomorrow. Read how we got on in Greg's blog... http://gemars.blogspot.com
Just seen the verse of the day “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,” That should be our motto Greg!
(James 1:12)

98 miles sponsored 182 miles to go

Well done, 98 miles gets us to about Coventry, please keep the donations coming in. Starting to feel better now after that nasty virus. I went to choi last night for the first time in over a week and although I was very short of breath I got through the class. I will be trying to build my fitness up again now so I'm going again tonight. I'll have a bit of a rest at the weekend (apart from finishing Greg's bottom fence and hopefully back to my training program next week.

How many places have you visited?

I've visited 6: Canada, UK, France, Spain, Czech Republic & Austria. Lets see who's got the most then I'll make a map with every country we've been to between us.







Make your own map if you want by clicking here:
http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedCountries

Under the weather

Not feeling to good today. I went to Choi last night and I was burning up and sweating like a pig. I think I may of picked something up, like a virus or cold? Really gutted because I've spent allot of time getting fit and I won't be able to do any Choi or Cycling now until I'm better. Hopefully it will go away soon and I won't lose to much fitness.

Blomming Tractor

Ok I've given in to temptation and brought a new road bike. I had a look at my friends old bike which he said I could borrow but knew I'd never keep up with them on their ultra light weight new racers no mater how fit I get. The bike I really liked (scott speedster s60) cost over £500 which is well out of my price range but I managed to find the exact same bike which was last years model and had streight handle bars for £200 less so I was well chuffed. I already had some money that I was saving for a better mountain bike so with that, my overtime and birthday money I thought well it saves me £4 petrol a day too, so why not?

I cycled to work on it today but it went 'Pete Tong' just after Kelshall about 13 miles in to the ride. A tractor had been up the road and left the road covered in mud and stones, to many to avoid and sure enough I earned myself my first puncture on my new bike. Realising I still had 5 miles to go and less than an hour to get to work I new walking wouldn't be fast enough so I managed a faux march (run,walk,run) to Royston town centre where two serious racers with (carbon fibre bikes) and broken spokes soon joined me outside the bike shop waiting for it to open. I left my bike with the shop to be fixed and was only 10minuites or so late but very tiered. I am probably going to train it home tonight because 2 punchers in one day is likely to kill my moral. Next time I will walk my bike through stoney mud but hopefully there will be rain to wash the mud away soon.

Made it...

I made it to work today on my bike. I left a change of cloths at work yesterday so I wouldn't have to carry anything with me. The trip went ok though getting out of bed that bit earlier is a struggle and it was a bit nippy to start with though I soon got a bit to hot. I have to say that although the first bit is rather unpleasant and a bit of a shock to the system it's really enjoyable being out in the country and watching the sun break through the clouds and brighten up the day. I road past a pheasant that was only about 8 feet away and it didn't even flinch (probably thought 'nutter'). Everyone at work seems to think I'm insane which I have to say I quite like. I'm going to try and do some sponsorship forms at lunchtime today while people are taking such an interest at work.

Debs came up with a good suggestion so I rang Cancer Research UK and ordered their fundraising pack. We'll get proper sponsorship forms and possibly tee shirts too. Makes it more official and also saves me the work.

Spurred on by the prospect of not having to wait for a late train and saving £5.20 on a ticket I mustered the will to ride home. Leaving work at 5.30 prompt I shot off through Royston town and out towards the golf coarse. A sharp left takes you up a never-ending hill towards Therfield, which took me real determination to keep the momentum going. The rest of the ride was ok though the light was fading fast and by the time I got into Baldock it was pitch black. I choose to go though Willian but it was very hard riding with bike lights as the only source of light making dogging potholes and twigs almost impossible. Next time I shall drop down onto the 505 at the bypass roundabout and stay on it home. I drove today as riding both ways a total of 36 miles over hilly terrain took allot out of me and I'm going to Choi tonight. Hopefully I'll be recovered enough to ride to work tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes it's that time again, time to reflect on whats gone and whats to come! Unfortunately my dad's having an exploratory op to look at his kidney today so I'm not in much of a party mood. I'm seeing him later then Deb's and I are going for a meal which I'm looking forward too very much.

38 miles sponsored 242 miles to go!

The Royston bike ride was almost suspended due to Greg needing help moving his new concrete fence posts and gravel boards, which eat up the entire morning. Under pressure to complete the ride, and get home for an evening out with Debbie at her friends’ birthday meal I left my house at 2.30 on the nose. Passing heavy Saturday traffic I found riding the back way to Willian a good choice and didn't feel the burn until the first testing hill coming out of Willian. Then took a right across the A1 (roundabout) and down into Baldock. The next bit I knew would be more challenging so after negotiating the bridge and bridle way over the Baldock bypass I stopped for water and to check the map. It had taken half an hour to get to this point and I did consider turning back 'but no' I got back on and peddling hard made up another taxing hill and down into Wallington. I started to get into a good rhythm after this point and soon found myself passing Sandon, Kelshall (where I was soaked going through water across the road) and Therfield. Passed Therfield is an exhilarating drop down to Royston where I managed to reach 35mph before having to break for a junction. Royston train station soon appeared and I'd covered 18.04 miles taking me 1.35 hours. I was pretty shattered and needed to get home fast so I court the train back. Over all I was pretty pleased with how it went for a first run and considering I was on my very cheap Halfords mountain bike I should be able to make a reasonable dent in that time when I'm on a road bike and a bit fitter. I think this ride is commutable on a week day, at least in the morning as the evenings still get dark pretty early so I'm hoping to give it a go again later this week.

Now sponsored for 38 miles that's enough to get me Dunstable please keep the money rolling in.

First bike ride

I saw Neil one of the other guys who is going on the A5 ride last night at Choi and it occurred to us that we havn't got that long until May. I've decided to get some time in the saddle tomorrow morning. I've been thinking about the possibility of riding to work one day a week so I've planned out a back way route from Hitchin to Royston that I'm going to try tomorrow and see if it is do-able in a reasonable time without getting lost. As it's somewhere between 15-20 miles one way I may be catching a train home from Royston.

10 Miles sponsered- only 270 to go!

Thanks to Jonny his payed for 10miles that will get me past Burnt Oak near Edgeware. Another 10 miles will get me to St Albans, can anyone help?

Can anyone help me find a cycling machine to borrow untill the end of May to train on when the weather isn't good enough to be out on the bike? Please ask around as I'm sure someone must have one stuffed up in there loft gathering dust.

Sponsored bike ride

I've been hard at work finishing a big brochure for one of my clients. He is planning a bike ride up the A5 (Marble arch in London to the coast in Holyhead) with two guys from his company who I know through Choi. He has asked me if I'd like to come to and I've provisionally said yes. The dates set for May 26th-29th and it's about 280miles so we will all need to be extremely fit. I'm aiming to raise £280 (£1permile) for the on-going work of Cancer Research which is close to my heart as Debbie's mum died from cancer last year and my dad has had it but thankfully survived (I can think of many more too). Unfortunately there aren’t many people now days that don't know someone who's had cancer. Please sponsor me for as many miles as you can afford whether that's 1mile or 10miles or whatever you like. Please note 100% of proceeds will go to the charity (this isn't one of those "pay for me to have fun" events). Feel free to give me your donation or donate directly using the link below (if you donate directly please let me know how many miles so I can keep track of how it's going). Thanks for your support.

https://donate.cancerresearchuk.org/donate.asp?id=7

Check out my photos...

www.ringo.com/i.html?i=162010447x359100

New Album

Congratulations to Jonny Moore-Crispin for getting his songs on yet another children's album. You are a very gifted man! His songs are 'I worship you Lord Jesus Christ (Tk 1)', and 'Jesus, How I Love You (Tk 10)'. Also, on the kingsway website you can purchase the sheet music.
http://shop.childrensministry.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=746
Please let us know the other albums your songs are on (especially the ones we played at Easter People, they rock!). Good luck with the studies in Vancouver bro!

London Marathon

No not me (I wish I was that fit) my friend John Geaney. He is running the London Marathon (again) to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital who are providing care for his daughter Caitlyn. Please dig deep in your pockets and sponsor him. The address is www.justgiving.com/johngeaney.

This ones for Debbie

Will you be my Valentine xxx

The Road Back

As many of you know I've been doing Choi Kwang Do since 2003. Though after an injury which tore a tendon in my foot and other commitments I've been a lot more off than on for the last year. Anyway I've decided now is a good time to make a come back and start training again. I went along to a grading yesterday to show my face and give my support to the people grading. I don't know what it is about being in the room with the instructors lined up behind a table at the far end of the gym but it always makes me apprehensive and I wasn't even grading. I could see them staring at me but they didn't acknowledge me which at the time I thought was a bit weird. At lunch they have a recess so I went up and introduced myself and it was quite funny because they hadn't recognised me until they saw me laugh. I had a good chat with all the instructors and they were really pleased to see me and said it would be fine to start training again and as my insurance is still valid I'm going tonight. Hopefully I've not forgotten to much but I know it's going to take a while to get my fitness and flexibility back. It's really gutting seeing the people who used to be several belts below me now several belts in front. I'm a blue belt but used to train far above my grade and know every thing up to black belt doing both Junior and Senior classes 3or4 times a week and training to be an Assistant Instructor. This time I've decided to concentrate on flexibility and technique for this year and fixing the things that have frustrated me in the past especially my reverse swing kick which never had the power it should. Hopefully I will survive tomorrow without passing out or getting my arse handed to me by a newbe. I'll let you know how I got on tomorrow.

The morning after and I'm a bit stiff today. Training at Hitchin club went ok considering and I was surprised to see quite allot of new faces and most of the old ones. I'm glad I waited until after the grading to come back because they go through your syllabus for your next belt also the class is a little less intense physically while you learn new techniques. I managed to collar and instructor after class to go through my old patterns/combinations and refresh my memory. I was pleased to find it all come flooding back as I was doing it. Phew, I wasn't shore how much I'd retained but it's all still there. Just need to concentrate on my fitness and flexibility. My belt kick is downwards kick (axe kick in Karate) so it's important to get your leg as vertical as possible so there's greater momentum/force coming down so I'm going to work on that. My belt hand technique is rising palm strike, which has changed slightly since I done it last. I need to work on bending my fingers back out the way, which I find hard to do. They've also changed a kick, the names of some other things and added an extra defence drill but everything else is the same. Can't wait to go again, I'm going to train at Stevenage club on Wednesday (Yeah I know it's Valentines day but we're going to a show in London on Thursday as Debbie has a short day and Friday off).

New brochure

I spent the whole of last weekend rebuilding the fence that blow down in the storms. It was quite exhausting getting the old posts and concrete out and the new ones in, but I'm ready to put the panels on this weekend and fix a nice sturdy gate which my neighbour Bob kindly sold me second hand.

Work has been hectic too, this week I've been overseeing a photo shoot of the new products that will be featured in our 2007 brochure that I'm currently designing. I feel pretty shattered but very happy that I got the shots I wanted. Can't wait to finish it and have it sitting in my hands. There's a massive sense of achievement and relief you get when all that hard work and late nights come together in the finished product.

Hair today, gone tomorrow!

Yes, I've finally plucked up the courage to shave my hair off. Well actually Debbie done it, but you know what I mean. I got feed up trying to cover up my reseeding hair line so

buzzzzz...all gone! As a reminder of my beautiful mop I thought I'd post a pick of me when it was nice and long. I will post a pick of how I look now asap (please no references to Shrek, Grant or fights with a lawnmower lol).

Austria

Austria was amazing this year although unlike last year it had been warm thus there was very little snow on the lower slopes. We arrived in Kirchdorf at midday on Saturday and headed straight to the ski hire shop ahead of the crowds. Getting up early, on Sunday, came as a bit of a shock (If you want a relaxing holiday, don’t go skiing!). After getting kited up Debbie, Jane, Nick and I wadded down to the Ski School in our ski boot’s (not easy). We got there eventually and were issued with our lift passes and told that we had to ski in front of the instructors so they could divide us into groups. Nick went first Woshh - straight in the top group, which put the pressure on big time as I wanted to be with him and I was up next. Unbelievably they put me in the top group which I think may of had more to do with Nicks pleading with the instructor than with my ability. Debbie and Jane were put in different groups but thankfully ended up as the week progressed. After that they took our group to St Johan which is about 10 minutes on the bus. Skiing there was really hard going because it was quite soft and lumpy. After a few easy runs our instructor Ernie (a local from Kirchdorf) made us go to the very top which I found pretty scary. I didn’t really enjoy the morning and seemed to be spending far to much time on my backside to the amusement of the group. For a time I thought ‘what am I doing in this group’ but after lunch I was doing much better so I stuck with them. Being in Ernie’s group defiantly made me a much better skier than I would have been in an easier group. Ernie pushed us all the time and just as you thought you’d nailed something he’d take it up a gear. The next day we went to the Stighn Platter, which I’d been to last year. After a few blue and easy red runs he said ‘right where going to the top!’ and I’m thinking ‘Gulp! Not up there surly!’. By the end of the day it was ok, it’s amazing what you get used to. He even sent us down a Black run and I didn’t fall though some did including Melvin who managed to do the whole thing on his back headfirst. After a few more days at Stighn Platter we went to Fieberbrunn, which is the highest Mountain I’ve been on and stands over 2000 meters. On the Friday the ski school always organises a slalom race at Kirchdorf which I hadn’t planned on doing this year but everyone else seemed to want to do it so I got talked into it. Last year I got Silver, but when you’re a beginner you only race the people in your group (about 10). This year I was an Intermediate so you have to race against all the other Intermediates in 4 groups (about 40 people). I tucked down low and tried to carve as close to the poles as possible. I got Silver!!! (sorry Nick). We all wanted to bet a bloke in our group called Tony who seemed to be taking it all a little to seriously. He seems to win every year and seeing that his been skiing for 20years it’s hardly suppressing. But just to make sure his got his own ski’s and even gets them waxed the day (We all called him Swiss Tony by the end of the week!). At the presentation I got pretty tipsy and poll danced again. (Though thankfully they didn’t turn the shower on this year). I’ve just found out that Nick showed the video to his parents. Is that revenge for my Silver Medal?

Happy New Year

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and a good start to 2007. I'm back at work today and hoping this week flys by as I'm off to Austria on Saturday with Debbie and friends Jane & Nick for 7 fantastic days of skiing.

Christmas was mard by being apart from my beloved Debbie, who was called away to keep her Gran company in Cornwall. Not the best time of year to start comfort eating so inevitably I've suffered, as most, from a some what expanded waist line. Which reminds me did anyone make any new year resolutions? I started to think of a few but lost count after double figures. I don't know if all this is totally unrealistic but I think its good to have something to aim for.

1. Exercise to some extent everyday (sit ups and press ups minimum)
2. Work on my ability to kick (yoga stretching exercises minimum)
3. Read a book or blog at lunchtime instead of surfing the net
4. Make sandwiches at home instead of buying them from a shop
5. Make a concuss effort to become more organised and plan ahead
6. Make time for Guitar practice once a week
7. Go to Church at least once a month
8. Go back to Choi on 12th Feb and go at least twice a week when possible
9. Stop swearing
10. Make time for Spanish once a week

It was good to catch up with Jonny who has been working and studying in Romania for the past year for his Masters in Divinity coarse. A definite highlight was heading to Cambridge on Christmas Eve to attend the Nine Lessons at King's College. This service is probably the world's most famous carol service so inevitably its pretty hard to get into! I went with Jonny and we arrived at Cam at 9 for a service at 3 (Had we arrived half an hour later I don't think we would have got in!). After finding out at 10 that we had made the final 600 cut, Jonny and I queued for a further 5 hours which was actually quite a good laugh as we befriended those around us. Some of the people that we spoke to had come over from the US just so that they could attend the service! When we finally got in we enjoyed the highly impressive architecture, and then a very peaceful and awe inspiring celebration of the Christmas story through Scripture and song. All in all it was well worth the wait, and the day was rounded off nicely with an all you can eat Chinese back in good old Letchworth. 'All the best for your final year in Vancouver Jonny!'