10 - 16 Sept: Back to "work", and "Couch to 5K" week 1

Sat - Got up late, did washing, admired new patio and garden.  Walked into vill, coffee @ Rootz, and bought tuna from Catch of the Day.  Swept up leaves, mowed lawn.  A general catch-up day.  Tuna was fab for evening meal, accompanied by "local produce".

Watched Last Night of Proms and usual QI.

Sun - Collected Nigel for a coffee and yummy lemon drizzle cake that Mrs M had made.  Planned next set of vacations, taking us almost to end of 2012!  First will be in a couple of weeks with a short break in Seville, Cordoba and Granada.  Went round to Hs for tea and cake before going to see Sarah's Key @ Rex

A good film, but was unbelievable towards end with her obsession in tracking down Sarah and relatives, and a bit obvious.  Back to Hs for Cava, cheese and biscuits, and coffee.  A delightful evening in great company.

Mon - Awoke to find Lulu had come in from Espana and gone to Newbury in the night.  Miserable weather, allegedly 'sunny intervals' but grey sky, drizzly rain and wind.  But its the start of my new plan to build up to the June 16 Windsor Tri with the NHS Couch to 5K Run so printed off program, posted in  fridge, and will start around lunchtime.  Watch this spot!

Around noon the sky cleared and turned into a very blustery sunnyish autumnal day, so I kitted up for my first outing of week 1 being 30 secs run, then 90 secs walking for 30 minutes.  The running bit covered .94km.  It did not feel easy!

Risked death and fitted drain leaf covers in the gutters.  Friends of CW Common committee meeting in the evening, I said I would prototype a website.

Tue - Lovely clear (cool) morning.  Had a couple of letters to deliver so for exercise (and to save the postage!) decided to cycle via Burtons Lane to Sarratt. 12.4 miles in 59mins.  Hot tub, the  walked into vill for shopping.  Rang up an ad in the newsagents for a tandem, and walked up to Stag Lane to take a look - a very nice 10 yr old hardly used Dawes Super Galaxy being sold because the cycling fanatic was getting too old with a heart condition and he had too many bikes.  Sadly I don't think there is either need or space for it in my stable.

Chorleywood Common was being mown and the grass bailed up, looks pristine now.

First choir in the evening, went well - Bach B Minor Mass on 16 March 2012.  I'll be missing a few rehearsals with holidays but I'm not too worried...famous last words.

Wed - Cycled on MTB to deliver post to the The Hatch, then back along Long Walk, Lodge Lane and along the last part of the track from Amersham/Chenies Manor.  Delightful views across the Chess Valley, seemed like I was in the country...hopefully it will stay that way even with the draconian planning deregulation (which is a complete short sighted stupidity by the Coalition).

Then I went for my Week1 Run 2 (10X60 secs run, 90 secs walk) around the Common.  The run part worked out at 1.35km.  Hotub, then walked into vill.  Saw Nigel going for a walk with Pablo and chatted (as much as its possible) to him, he seemed a little better.  There is filming at the Memorial Hall, renamed Doris Pitman Memorial Hall, and I recognised a fat actor, Richard Griffiths.

Thu - Looking like a good day, so we decided to Brompton to Liverpool Street, cycle to see the Olympic Park (looking good!), then along Greenway (flat) to Woolwich Ferry (delightful views), Thames Path via O2 and Greenwich (lots of path closures and messy diversions) to shop at Decathlon in Canada Water and back on Jubilee Line (crowded).  20 miles including the ride to/from CW station.

Waiting to change trains at Harrow on the Hill

On Greenway (a covered Bazelgette sewer!)

Woolwich Ferry looking towards Thames Barrier & Canary Wharf

Outside Greenwich Naval College

In evening to Georgina's for a new Kitchen christening bbq/party.  I let my red wine barriers down .

Fri - W1/R3: 1.39k in 10 mins for the run part.  Filming still going on, its a TV pilot of a comedy called George and Bernard Shaw.  New bike arrived so I spent a few  mins unpacking it and drooling, daren't ride it as its for Mrs M.  In evening to CW Bookshop talk by Sir Mark Tully, not inspiring as he was to hopeful about India's future without facts or reasoning to back him up.