Not doing very well

This was going to be the week that I started getting some sleep. But I had a very late night last night when I started updating the stats on the Isle of Man Bank Hill league at about 9.45 pm and after a long day of running, working and doing some other things at home, it was almost 24 hours late that I returned to the website.

The website is up and running but I'm down and out.

Too many nights out

We haven't been out socially since Thursday evening and it is just as well. Apart from the almost constant desire to sleep the extra social activity, 10 nights out 30, has caused it has left my newspaper pile pre-dating many an international crisis that his since been solved.

There was no cottage cleaning on Saturday although I did fill the car with yet more leaves and greeted the incoming guests at 9 am to the property I had cleaned the previous week. I then had a chance to take to take Robbie to Ramsey for his favourite run, the Park Run course, for the first time for several months.

Time was starting to slip by the time I made it home though and I dashed back into the house to tidy up the website and plan where the photos and video of the hill race would sit. I only arrived at the venue with ten minutes to spare and an hour or so after the commencement of the race I was back uplifting photos and editing the video.

Sleep finally won its battle late on Saturday afternoon but it lost again early on Sunday when I managed to extend my morning run from 9 to 12 miles for the first time since before the Parish Walk. Slightly longer than 12 miles if you allow for being blown to the other side of the road on the Marine Drive.

I couldn't face more video on Sunday at the walking league but I was fairly happy with the selection of 300 photos I managed with both hands at my disposal for a change. I had a bit of time to get some of the papers ready for recyling yesterday and took advantage of the extra light this morning to run through Summerhill Glen for one of the last times this year. I was almost late for work after working on the feature on Kevin Deakes in between my other early morning activities.

I've been trying to keep away from the site tonight as I have been busy with a "once in a lifetime" project involving scanners, some athletes but no athletics. Just tried to loosen the aches caused by too much time in front of a computer a walk with the dog.

Isle of Man Bank Hill League 1

Some predictions

I didn't need a weather forecaster to predict that I was going to get very wet when I went for my run this morning. But I was still grateful for those drivers, along the road between Braddan Bridge and Quarter Bridge, who didn't drive in the gutter and add to my soaking. As to those that did, I predict that they will be sort of people who will be complaining all day about the weather but walk no further than the distance where they park they four wheel drive in the underground car park and take the lift to their office.

And, rather sadly, I predict that somebody is going to be killed on the pedestrian crossing on Woodbourne Road near to Hilary Road. Over the years I have seen dozens of drivers go over it when people are using it correctly and last night was one of those times when somebody did it to us. 

We were on our way to the Gaiety Theatre for the show, featuring some of the classic acts from the young farmers concerts, in aid of the Isle of Man Agricultural Benevolent Fund. And they had their own weather forecaster in the form of Paul Watterson (below) standing in for Colin Gartshore!

I predicted whilst I was running that Marie would not be keen to take her dog out this morning. I was right and so I went out in the rain for a second run.

As soon as I fell in front of press photographer Mike Wade in the cross country last Sunday I predicted I would receive some teasing from sports editor John Watterson. It came when I met him last night and he said he would send me the photo.

I predict I will get him back if he runs through the mud at Cringle Reservoir tomorrow,

Networking

I've been out for my normal morning run and the weather was no as bad as I was expecting. Maybe partly because I had shelter around Tromode Park.

The storm reached inside our house last night as I became more and more frustrated with our network. Out has gone the expensive router I bought a couple of years ago and back in has come the standard issue model. Bit by bit I got everything working but the difficulties were not helped by the fact that I had used fixed IP addresses on some devices and the range was different for the other router.

In the middle of it I messed up a holiday booking, used the wrong name for someone I was writing to and discovered that I had brought home the key for the courtesy car I had used from the Toyota Garage yesterday.

It was just as well that my voice was unplugged.

Microgaming Cross Country Round 1 Ramsey

Caught with trousers down

I remember a lecturer many years ago stressing that for communication to be effective there has to be a sender and a receiver.

No matter how much information we publish on our websites, if people are going to take it in they have to read the content to receive it. Sometimes I get frustrated when people don't read what we spend time making available to them and ask questions that have already been answered.

But in the last few days I have been the guilty one. Until Friday I thought I was going to be running today at Ballanette and not at Crossags. I hadn't read the publicity for the Microgaming Cross Country League. Then I rushed out of work thinking I was going to be late for signing on on Friday night between 5 pm and 6 pm. I got there with what I thought was two minutes to spare but was actually two minutes early.

And today, I stood on the start line when Steve Kelly gave the pre-race briefing thinking I had three laps to run and not four. The ultimate in bad race planning.

When I went to the cottage yesterday I was much better prepared. I had a pair of jeans that I would wear while clearing the wet leaves and then I would change them when I went inside for a dry pair of trousers and wash the dirty ones with some of the washing at the cottage. I took the wet ones off but proceeded to start the cleaning in my boxers whilst I cooled down.

And then Nigel Armstrong and Paul Curphey appeared at the door before I was dressed and revived stories of chambermaids in London Hotels.

Its been an incredibly hectic, but enjoyable weekend. We went to Phl Motley's 60th birthday party last night, I took Robbie and Marie's mum out in the car this morning and we drove around the south stopping at the Sound. Having been to Ramsey in the car this afternoon we are about to set out for dinner in Bride tonight.

However you dress that up its a lot of miles for the Isle of Man.

I'd like to blame Facebook again

After a call from Parish Walk publisher Deermot O'Toole delayed me for half an hour this evening I made it, via Robbie's place, soon after the start of the Veteran club's autumn 10km run tonight (but missed the 5km walk).

I had some early problems with my camera and flash but then most of the photos came out quite well given the darkness. that was, until I photographed the top three, Bryan Masterson, Moira Hall and Keith Green. These photos were over exposed so I took one without the flash that looked ok. But it wasn't on the SD card when I got home. I even loaded some software to recover deleted files. It found 1500 or so others but not the one I wanted.

I soon had the other photos uploaded, a little feature on the website and a couple of photos on Facebook. That was all finished a couple of hours ago but I'm still here going against everything I said all today as I fought sleep that I would get some some at a reasonable hour tonight..

Every year I produce three "products" for Christmas using my own photos and I always order them from Photobox at about this time when they have special offers. Two hours last night choosing photos for my mother-in-law's family calendar and another with Manx views, and the same time tonight with the Christmas card. I always get a few things wrong before I finish the jobs..

But I might have been a bit quicker had I not dipped into Facebook a few times.

Here is the March page from the calender.

I could blame Facebook

I finally joined the club a week or more ago and started using Facebook outside of the Parish Walk. And its everything I expected it to be - a wonderfully easy way to share information but a very easy way to loose time. Why do we feel its so important to respond to comments so quickly - especially when we are commenting on a photo from 100 years ago?

Although I committed a fair amount of time to the website at the weekend, particularly editing the video of the Isle of Man Bank Junior Fell Running Championships, I was also out on both Saturday and Sunday evening and had lots of things to do with the family so my computer and desk are a bit out of control at the moment.

It was particularly good to meet Andy Fairweather Low after his show at Peel on Sunday evening. And although I wasn't Wide Eyed and Legless that night I had never felt older than when I went for my run the next morning - for it was my 57th birthday.

I've had far too much to eat and drink in recent weeks a trend I continued last night. I was stuffing myself with  goodies as we listened to virtually all of the debate about the role of the Minister for Health on the kitchen radio. I wonder how many people who post derogatory comments on forum actually listen to all points of views like that?

So who do I blame for not updating the website yesterday, apart from the photo of Gail Griffiths? The politicians of course. Isn't everything their fault? I blame them for giving us one of the best economies in the world. We certainly can't blame for Facebook for that.

welbeck One Hour Walk

Contingency fund

We provided for a few contingencies last weekend which didn't include going out for dinner the following Saturday - but that is what we did!

As I gave the Welbeck Hotel and Restaurant a plug I thought we had better give a test tonight to ensure that it is still up to its normal high standards.

It took me much longer to produce a video of the fell running championships than it did to record it - which is why I sometimes question whether I will continue to produce videos. I left it uploading before we went out and it finished processing just a few minutes after we got back.

I used a bit of Amen Corner on the soundtrack given that Andy Fairweather Low will be performing a stone's through from Peel Hill tomorrow night.

And yes - the Welbeck is still up to scratch. One of the things we like about it is that you can try yourself to some unhealthy food, but unlike so many some even expensive restaurants, you have your quota of healthy stuff too - you always get plenty of vegetables.

Junior Fell Champs

Bend me, shape me

I've got a pretty active weekend coming up for I am back at the cottage tomorrow, I'm taking Robbie out, we are out socially twice, I want to cover the Welbeck One Hour Walk for the website and, if I can manage it, also cover the Isle of Man Bank Junior Fell Running Championships.

My running has taken a nosedive in the last couple of weeks, some of my slowest running ever. I am hoping to run in the first round of the Microgaming Cross Country League but to do so I need some sleep at some point.

I'm expecting my weekend to peak with a trip to see Andy Fairweather Low in Peel on Sunday. 45 years now since he was on Top of the Pops with Amen Corner singing Bend Me Shape Me.

Looking back a little less, its taken me a week to realise that Them Beatles played in different outfits for their first sets each night last week.

Photos from the Mount Murray Hotel on Friday and Saturday last by Mike Lambden

Indulgent

After a good few weeks of  working towards last weekend, I've been a bit indulgent tonight and been watching the video.

Wattie no camera

John Watterson and I are usually either in opposition to find the best camera positions or helping each other when the other one is not there. Neither scenario existed on Saturday night. We both left our cameras at home and relied on Mike to take the one above.

No doubt he will be on Peel Hill on Saturday afternoon for the Isle of Man Bank Fell Running Championships. I am not sure whether I will be there or not yet as I am back on cottage cleaning duties this week and it depends upon the time this week's guests leave.

I managed a good solid four hours sleep on Friday and Saturday nights but as soon the alcohol was withdrawn I had a wretched night on Sunday when my itches and rashes returned! Finally went to the doctor yesterday, a runner of course, and going for blood tests today. I could be wrong, but I don't think I have ever had a blood test in all of my near 57 years.

As we celebrated at the weekend (first track played at the parties) - Life's Been Good to Me so Far.

On time and in budget

Them Beatles photos by Mike Lambden

Its been well reported that the Steam Racket Company have reduced their debt. When the time came to book Them Beatles and their van with all their equipment, it felt as it we had single handedly done the job for them.

That was the only time that the finances for our weekend of parties went off track. We had to resort to a simple accounting trick, revise the budget and come up with so more cash. We weren't going to cut corners elsewhere.

Quite a few people were amused with our style of such a detailed timetable for a party. I found that everyone from the band to the caterers enjoyed the precision knowing exactly what was to expected from them. My big worry concerned the different entertainers sharing the stage and the sound system.

But it went perfectly on Friday and I was much more relaxed on Saturday. So much so, that with twenty minutes before the band were due to go on stage we couldn't find them and nobody knew how to switch the sound on without them! And in that panic we didn't get the lights on for the deemsters.

On stage, Them Beatles are incredibly authentic. Off stage they lead much healthier lives than the real thing ever did. I don't remember John Lennon running 10km on a treadmill as Clark did before the show.

The original plan had been to have a single party at the Villa Marina but we didn't like one or two of the details there. The switch to two nights at Mount Murray was one of the best things we did. Seeing so many people before and after the show and even sharing breakfast with a good number of guests was wonderful for us.

There were so many people we would have like to have added to the guest list and there were lots of people we invited who weren't able to attend. But the question I ask myself was who should we not have invited?

We were particularly keen to include people who have been supportive towards us with Robbie over 15 difficult years. Without such support, both professionally and private encouragement, there would not have been any parties. Through that time Ben transformed from an average student to a doctor at Nobles Hospital. We have lots of people to thank for giving him the opportunities as well as those that continue to help Marie's mother and supported mine during her demise.

At 3 am in the bar at Mount Murray yesterday I was asked which I preferred, running or walking. It was a question I avoided answering.

But to my own question as to who we should not have invited the answer is quite simple - nobody.

So we were on time, in budget but out of room to invite everyone.

Sgt Pepper's Sweaty Club Band

All of our visitors have left now.

Only just say it

After four hours sleep and enough talking in 48 hours for a year, I could barely get the words out but I just to Marie: "When we first came up with the idea, I didn't think it would be that good."

With The Moptops

I was watching Them Beatles rehearse earlier. They are doing the whole of the With the Beatles on their winter tour and there are four songs they have never played before.

Great excitement in the hotel for their next appearance on stage. With The Moptops.

Plenty of buffet

We had plenty of food to spare last night and it looks as if we will again tonight as we've had a few people pull out today. Thanks for messages which in various forms which I am not replying to individually.

Had a leisurely late lunch with Nick and Paula Percival today and things are so much more relaxed today than for the first night.

I'm worrying in case I have offended anyone we haven't in invited and if anyone else wants to pop along tonight we might be able to squeeze you in. In case you don't know what I am referring to go to www.themparties.com and email party@murrayandmarie.com in the next couple of hours.

200 wonderful friends

Following a fire alarm, just back to our room after a brilliant night.

Them Beatles performance was fantastic, Simon, James, Paul and Dave made the night.

This time last night I was worrying about whether the band had made the ferry. This short night will be relaxing = apart from my throat which feels as if it has been sandpapered.

If tomorrow night is half as good it will be special.

Sound check at Mount Murray

George Harrison has a mohican hairstyle

Just checked into the Mount Murray Hotel for the weekend. Saw George Harrison going into the gym.

Not illegal immigrants

The group above look like refugees to me. The photo was taken nearly 40 years ago (I'm double checking my sums as I type) in Port St Mary on a Geography field trip. The guy on the right went to the Dogs Home after school a few months later, as he often did, to celebrate his 18th birthday, and disgraced himself when he arrived home at 10 pm very sick in a teetotal house. It had happened several times before but had never been seen!

Three years later I went to the Norfolk pub in Chatham Street in Stoke one Friday lunchtime to celebrate my 21st and was ill by 3 pm.

So I've never been very sociable on birthdays. I ignored calls to celebrate my 40th and did my best ever hill training session instead. Deciding that a trip to Amsterdam on my own for 50th birthday might be mis-interpreted, I went to Cardiff on my own instead and ran the Cardiff Marathon the following day in 2.45.01. Still pretty anti social.

Marie and I weren't very sociable either when we were married 29 years ago. 13 guests were enough at our wedding. And we like to keep our family events to ourselves.

But living in what I think is the best place in the world, our lives are enriched by a circle of friends from many walks of life.

Despite our intention to demonstrate some appreciation for those friendships, we know far too many people to include them all. So although you might see some photos over the next few days of people we are entertaining, I am afraid we have a long list of people we had to leave out.

I wouldn't swop it to be a Nowhere Man but I wish I could do every friendship justice.