Rome wasn't built in a day...

... and in a similar vein, I'm not going to lose weight overnight either! But at least today saw a step in the right direction with me going for a lunchtime run, or perhaps jog would be a more appropriate word for it.

I did a 16 minute 37 second stint along the beach at Swansea bay - one of the pleasures and advantages of working just a stone throw away. I didn't particularly enjoy it, not because it was hard (it wasn't) but because I knew I was starting out all over again. This was a journey I'd already undertaken back in January 2006 and I'm annoyed to say the least that I've left myself go (albeit to not quite such a lump).

No doubt being back in work after a week long holiday didn't help my overall mood either but at least with it still being Easter half-term in these parts, lots of people are still off - which ultimately means some spare time to play catch-up on other bits of work.

DDWT Junior finally got his Apollo Moonman bike today after it finally arrived in stock at our local Halfords store.

18 stone

Yes it's true my weight has now rocketed back up to 18 stone. It hurts to think how I've drifted back into my old habits i.e eating junk or lots of food in general and not exercising.

It really does make me feel sooooo down in the dumps, not because I weigh that much, but because I've left myself get to that point - having only last year shed a lot of weight to get to 16st 3lbs (which made me feel more than great at the time).

Feeling sorry for myself isn't going to help though, getting off my lazy backside and being stronger willed (in terms of food) are the only things that are going to get me out of this rut I seem to be currently stuck in.

On a brighter (well magnolia in fact) note, I've finally finished painting our downstairs hallway. Now there's only the downstairs loo, and upstairs landing to do!! Still it looks good and when I've tidied up the coving/skirting boards, it'll really look the mutts nuts I'm sure.

Painting at last

Having laboured away on our wallpaper removal project at home for quite a few weeks, it was with great pleasure (relief?) that I finally put brush to paint today and did the very first coat of magnolia on our hallway walls.

It took me far longer than I'd hoped/envisaged, but at least with the weather being pants outside it meant that I didn't feel aggrieved to be indoors. Besides, at least being indoors meant I could listen to the Swans commentary on Swansea Sound.

So it's been a good day all round, I painted, the Swans won 3-1 at Hartlepool and now I'm seriously considering going to Carlisle a week Tuesday!

Only one downside really, the house now stinks of paint. Now where did I put those onions...

Legoland Windsor

Day 1 of our 2 day visit to Legoland has been a busy affair with us going on - the hill train, pirate falls, dragons apprentice, the dragon, longboat invader, viking river splash, orient expedition, boating school, wave surfer, dino safari and dino dipper!
Needless to say we got rather wet but we had sooo much fun :-D
Roll on tomorrow that's what I say.


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Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

Reading

No not Reading as in book, but Reading as in Berkshire.
We stopped off there - well the Oracle shopping centre to be precise - on our way to the Hilton Bracknell. Why such a random visit? Well we're off to Legoland tomorrow and for a £106 two night stay at the hotel we thought it was worth a punt.
From what we saw of Reading we were impressed - with the riverside development having am Amsterdam 'esque feel to it. It's a very modern place and one which we'd happily visit again when (if?) the Swans play Reading.

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Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

Stiff as a rake

You can tell I haven't been running for ages, as I feel as stiff as a rake after the run yesterday. People usually say you feel it on the 2nd day after the exercise, seeing as I'm a day earlier, it says a lot doesn't it!

With the Swans playing at Bristol Rovers tonight and me working on the PC, I decided to try following the game online for a change as opposed to tuning into the Swansea Sound match commentary. I opted for the Soccernet coverage in the end and I must say it was great with both text and graphical information about the game - even showing where the shots were taken from and by whom! Whilst obviosuly this wasn't as good as the old radio, it made it more nailbiting ;)

Whilst on the subject of the Swans, I got my Gillingham ticket today as this is the next Dieters Bar Jacks away game on April 12th. If my maths and crystal ball serve me right, it *should* be the game that the Swans clinch promotion to the Coca Cola Championship.

We decided to see how tall DDWT Junior was today and he now stands at 108cm tall. Somehow I think he's following in my footsteps and won't be far off my 6ft 4" height when he's finished growing, unless he ends up being even taller of course!

Lets try again

Bloody hell has it been that long? That was one of my reactions after going on my first training session since December 17th last year!! Yes that's how long I decided to keep off the exercise due to the knee ligament problems I've been having.

So my first exercise stint of 2008 was a 17 minutes 27 seconds run, which amounted to no more than a couple of miles. Thus far I haven't had a reaction apart from some slight stiffness in my right knee, but I'd expected that. The next few days will be the real indicator of how the injury has healed (hopefully).

DDWT Junior has his Easter concert today and from what I've seen (and heard!) on the video recording he was on top form - and top of his voice as well! I knew he liked music and often sings along be it in the house or car, but even I was taken aback by the gusto he put into the concert. It seems as thought "Hooray for Jesus" is his favourite!!

Swansea v Tranmere Rovers

Yet another night of frustration at the Liberty, with the Swans squandering another 2 points by conceding a sloppy last minute goal against Tranmere.

I wouldn't say we've got the promotion jitters yet, but another couple of games like this and I think we'll all start twitching - especially if Carlisle and Doncaster keep winning. The once upon a time lead of 14 points (between 1st and 3rd) is now down to 7 points, so I'm sure there'll be lots more twists and turns before the season is out.

As for the game tonight, well it was quite literally a game of two halfs - the Swans dominating the 1st half (with Alan Tate's spectacular volley putting us 1 nil up at half time) and Tranmere getting the honours (and 90th minute goal Grrrr) in the 2nd.

We look nervous at the moment, a lot of which stems from a lack of confidence in a back four missing Mr Reliable - Gary Monk. We also seem jaded and off the pace, especially as the game wore on tonight. Are the numerous FA Cup replays and LDV games beginning to take it's toll on top of a hectic league schedule?

With 3 tough aways games coming up on the bounce, I've a feeling the next 14 days will either cement an automatic promotion place or put us in the play-off dog fight. I sincerely hope it's the former, as there's no way I can face another play-off lottery a la 2 seasons ago.

Still we've got to be positive, we are top of the league and have lost once in 20 league games so I'm keeping the faith, even if my palms are getting ever so slightly sweaty :-)

Swansea v Millwall

Well I suppose the Swans had to lose sometime, but doing so against Kenny Jackett's Millwall at home just makes it all the more disappointing. With the 2-1 defeat also goes equalling the previous best of 19 league matches unbeaten, which was set in the 1970/71 season.

The game itself was pretty much the same old story of our recent home games - we created plenty of chances but lacked the quality finish in the final 3rd to kill teams off. Darren Prately in particular was guilty of misses 2 good chances from no more than 8 yards out. Defensively, we weren't up to the usual high standard tonight - the absence of Garry Monk only served to highlight what an important cog he is in the Swansea wheel. I also think this is the last season we'll see Kristian O'Leary in a Swans shirt, as on the evidence of recent games he simply isn't up to the required standard any longer (which is a shame as he's been such a loyal servant to the club).

Oh well, it's a disappointing start to the weekend, but we're still 11 points clear at the top of league one and who know's that lead might not be cut tomorrow after all - fingers crossed it won't be anyway.

Huddersfield Town v Swansea

Am now back home after my 530 odd mile round trip to watch the Swans extend their unbeaten run to 18 games with a super 1 nil win at Huddersfield.

I'll give a lowdown on the day's events tomorrow - with plenty to add after yet another eventful Dieters Bar Jacks away trip.

St. David's Day

Today is a very special day in the Welsh calendar - it's St David's Day our patron saint. So I hope you've all donned on your daffodils and leeks?

As for me, well I'm heading up north to the Galpharm stadium in Huddersfield, to see the Swans in action and at least make one part of Yorkshire Welsh for the day. Hopefully there'll be lots of other Welshmen and women there to!