Suffocation

Today was one of those days where you just feel that the Gods have got it in for you, that they've decided to have a bit of fun at your expense. I haven't been seeing the funny side of it at all. It's been a miserable day. What should have been a simple task taking no more than an hour has taken me from 8am right through to 1am of the early hours, with just one short break - all down to software tools simply not working as they should, with no indication of why. There is nothing, simply nothing I find more infuriating than commercial software (from companies with billions of dollars at their disposal) telling you that there is an error. Just an error. Full stop. No detail. No help. Today, every method I tried to perform this one task threw up such undefined errors, a brick wall being moved around to block my every move. I got very wound up in my head, to the point where I could no longer think clearly. Eventually I found a way through and then another problem occurred, which actually was relatively easy to understand, but by this point my head was so muddled and mired in paranoia that I kept imagining much more complex issues than what was really involved. To mirror my dark mood, it rained almost all day, out of a uniformly grey sky. It was a muggy, airless day, and that's exactly how I have felt myself: muggy headed. But actually worse than that. I can best describe it by saying that my brain has felt increasingly suffocated all day. It's a horrible feeling.

Feeling the Pressure

The pressure is building towards going live in Scotland. I've been doing masses of work under the bonnet in respect to rewriting the code more elegantly and efficiently (with the wonderful benefit of hindsight), and these will be our first clients to use the application in its shiny new 'go faster' form. There is always a lot of last-minute debugging and configuration and I've been right in the middle of that today. As ever, too much to do and not enough time to do it in.

It was the last Under 17s league match of the season tonight, at Adel, and with so many of the lads on holiday No.2 son was persuaded out of his early retirement to play. I was late leaving the office, missed the train, and enjoyed a very fast ride out to Adel in exactly 40 minutes. Just what I needed. It was beautifully balmy, an evening made for watching cricket indeed. We won the game fairly comfortably (in the end) with No.1 son getting out cheaply but taking a couple of good wickets, and No.2 son taking a possibly match-winning catch on the boundary off a skier when Adel's No.3 was on 49 and threatening to take the game away from us single-handed. The game didn't finish until 9.30pm and I had forgotten that the nights are beginning to close in quite quickly now. I had an even more rapid return home, in time-trial mode (reminding myself why I don't do time trials!), in 36 mins. With my computer not working and having forgotten to charge up the Garmin, I'm intrigued to know what speed that was, but it was good for my head to have a real blast, before another late night working.

Scandalised

I'm writing this in the early hours of the morning at the end of another very warm and very long day. As ever, before going live with software, all kinds of issues have come out of the woodwork. It's been very intense but I've got loads achieved and I think we're looking good - although we have put the date back a day because of some anomalies found in the data given to us by the client. I still haven't found time to catch up with the blog entries from Ireland. I'm forcing myself to write this entry for today because if I get any further behind it may well be all over. There are so many things I need to do that the things I merely want to do are getting sadly neglected. However, I did get out for half an hour on the moor this evening, just after some heavy showers passed through. It was great to be out in the air, but I can't ever remember struggling so much to reach the cairn. The legs feel so very heavy. I can only think it is symptomatic of both playing and working very hard indeed this last couple of weeks. I hope so, because I really can't imagine doing much more running if it's going to feel like that! At least I was rewarded with some incredibly dramatic views up the Wharfe valley, the sun forcing its way through some dramatic storm clouds.

Before falling into bed there is one thing that I have to note here. I found today the most outrageous bug in any piece of commercial software I have ever used - in over 30 years. I came across it using this same application that I have already been moaning about on this blog, and which has given me one hell of a lot of grief this last couple of weeks since upgrading. It shall be named: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. The horribly clumsy and ill-conceived interface apart, this is a different league of problem altogether that revealed itself today. Put as simply as I can, I just wanted to delete a row from a table. The row is highlighted and a message warns me that the deletion can't be undone. The change is permanent. That's not a problem because the row I want to remove is unambiguously marked and I definitely want to delete it. I hit "Yes" to confirm that I wish to go ahead - to which the application promptly responds by deleting the row below the one that is highlighted, leaving the row I actually want to delete worryingly intact. I don't even know what row I have actually deleted, with no way of finding out either because it is irrecoverable. It kindly warned me about that! It's completely outrageous. Once I had deleted one row I knew I had to recover the data from backup so I tried again and the bug was completely reproducible. I had to show one of my lads just as proof that I wasn't somehow imagining it and going completely mad. I well understand that all software is buggy to some extent, but this is nothing short of scandalous. At least it makes me feel better about the relatively trivial bugs that I'm gradually eliminating from my own software.

Riding with the boys

Into the office again today, working on the Scottish system due to go live on Wednesday. The sun has been hidden most of the day, but it's been very warm still, too warm to be stuck inside. I have this feeling that summer is passing quickly by and I'm not making the most of it!

Following his heroics of yesterday, No.1 son has realised that he's actually fitter than he thought, but understands the importance of getting fitter still. He expressed an interest in doing some cycling so I bought him some enormous SPDs at the weekend so he could ride my winter bike - with the saddle raised a good 3 or 4 inches! It was Harriers cycling tonight, which I almost forgot about having missed the last 3 weeks for various reasons. I didn't expect to see anybody, but NT turned up to make it a foursome with my lads. We went to Askwith, up the hill, and back via Otley and Weston, about 14 miles round trip. No.2 son was still not himself and struggled a bit (more mentally than physically perhaps?), but No.1 son, although having to work very hard, really enjoyed the ride. He had so much fun that he was left wondering why he hadn't done this in some 2 years! I'm now harbouring hopes that this is something we can all share now on a regular basis. It felt really good to be able to enjoy this ride tonight with both my boys.

Glowing

Without doubt the best day of the summer so far. I wanted to get out with the Earlybirds first thing but I decided that I really couldn't squeeze that into the day along with everything else. Having been away for a week I needed to get some bug fixes sorted, so I decided to get up early to get stuck into that instead. That meant that I'd have more time to go out for a ride with No.2 son, before watching No.1 son play cricket in the afternoon.

After all the enthusiasm of last week I could tell that No.2 son wasn't really up for a ride today, but I ignored his protestations of tiredness. We'd been planning to go to Barden Bridge and do the big climb to Halton Heights, but just on the gentle spin out through Nesfield he was hanging back. I still find this difficult as a parent, trying to judge how hard to push the kids when they are not truly willing. It's a difficult balance. At Bolton Bridge I asked him what he wanted to do, and he decided that was to return home. I was disappointed, mainly because I knew he was now going to be down on himself and will not be feeling the same buzz tonight that he was enjoying last week. He wanted me to carry on though, not wanting to spoil my ride, and despite some misgivings I decided that would be best for both of us. Having missed out on a ride this morning I really wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather. You only get a handful of days like this all year ... if that. So, I headed to Barden Bridge, took the climb up from Skyreholme, across to Greenhow and back via Thuscross Reservoir and Blubberhouses. It was a stunningly beautiful day, with the Dales looking at its very best. I kept flipping between coasting along in the hot sunshine, enjoying the scenery, and putting in efforts, enjoying the toil. The legs have still not come back properly to life. The last hill onto the moors above Askwith was as hard as it usually is after a much longer ride. I was happy to get back after 30 miles and was actually quite thankful that I hadn't contrived to enter the Ryedale Rumble happening today not too far away. I think that would have been hell!

No.1 son had already informed me that he was opening the batting for the 3rd XI, which had been one of the reasons for putting some effort in, followed by another call where I was informed that they were fielding first, enabling me to ease off a bit. I grabbed a long drink before going down to the cricket club. My lad had been brought on unusually early so I only caught the last over of his first spell, which was apparently good but wicketless. When he came back on a bit later, much to my relief because the game was going a bit dead at that stage, things got quite lively. His fourth ball was a real ripper of an off-break, pitching on a perfect length, beating the defensive push and removing the bails. The next ball was spooned up in the air for a straightforward catch. The hat-trick ball hit the pads somehow but was a bit wide and was survived. Then, with the very first ball of his next over he delivers another ripping off-break which is a carbon-copy of his first wicket. That made three in four balls and the new batsmen was very lucky to survive the rest of the over. I'd been waiting to see my boy perform like this all year. Last season I was treated to a couple of such displays, but this season he just hasn't been given many opportunities, and that's when he's been playing at all, with the weather having been so bad. The innings was wrapped up pretty quickly thereafter and I wallowed in fatherly pride during the tea interval.

Just as I've not seen No.1 son take too many wickets this season, I've not seen him score too many runs either. I never get more nervous than when he's batting during a period when the runs aren't coming for whatever reason. He wants it so bad. And I want it so bad for him. I also know how hard it is. Cricket is a ruthless game. Just one moment of indecision and it's all over. Because he'd got a few wickets and would now take something away from the game regardless, I felt a little less concerned than normal, and he was more relaxed too - which meant that he started with a lot of fluency, the very first ball flicked off his legs for a perfectly timed boundary. I soon lost my nerves watching him because he looked so comfortable at the crease. I still find it amazing to watch my 16 year old do things I was never able to even aspire to do myself. The team were only chasing 137 so he had plenty of time. He was very patient and assured in defence, waiting for the bad balls to come along, which he dispatched with increasing confidence. It was such a pleasure to watch. I can't even begin to imagine the joy of being able to time the ball as sweetly as he did this afternoon. For a player of his natural ability it is odd that he'd never got a fifty before. I guess I was a little nervous when he got to 46 today, but he was gifted a full toss and it was despatched with disdain for a boundary and I was able to witness that first milestone in his career. I can hopefully look forward to seeing a lot more. By now, in the searing heat, he was clearly exhausted but he held his concentration well and carried his bat for 62 not out. The team only lost two wickets, but the other batsmen all said how hard it was out there and were amazed that my lad had kept going so well. Perhaps he is fitter than we both think! All I know is that I took more pleasure from that experience today than I have in any of my own achievements this year. I feel like I'm still glowing, with equal amounts attributable to the sun and to fatherly pride!

Guilty Summer Pleasures

It was Twenty20 finals day today. For the last few years I've happened to be away on some event for this weekend so this is the first chance I've had to witness the finals since its status has transformed from a bit of fun to possibly the most prestigious tournament of the year. I can well imagine that the players and administrators at the counties feel that way, even if they wouldn't admit to it publicly! It was also the deciding stage in the Tour de France. Would Cadel Evans, as expected, overhaul the lead of Carlos Sastre in the time-trial? It was a day of guilty summer pleasures, then, and a nod back to my childhood: a glorious summer's day to be spent mostly inside watching sport on the television.

Forty years ago it was the Test Match in black and white, with just one camera, the sound turned down with the radio commentary on. Now it is with Sky and countless camera angles and technology to support the action. Some of the players are even fitted with mikes. I'm not nostalgic for the old days. I've completely embraced the new and I absolutely love it. Cricket is just about the only thing that will keep me inside or in my seat on a beautiful day - although I did go cycle a fairly quick 25 miles to Burnsall and back before it started so that I wouldn't be pining for the great outdoors too much. It seemed a bit of a shame to be turning back for home at Burnsall, with the whole of the Dales beckoning, but I wasn't feeling very zippy. It could be the best cycling weekend (in terms of weather) of the whole year and I've gone and stuffed my legs!

So, I embraced a relaxing day and thoroughly enjoyed the cricket, culminating in a classic final where Middlesex beat Kent on the very last ball of the tournament. It was cricket at its very best, lots for the purists to enjoy as well as loads of twists and turns in the plot to keep everybody entertained. I feel very grateful to have fallen in love with this sport at an early age and been captivated by it all my life. And I'm very happy that No.1 son feels the same - and, in his case, fortunately, with the talent to actually play the game at a reasonable level. He finally got a chance to bowl for the 2nd XI today and picked up three good wickets. He was so happy to be able to come through the door and tell me about it. He had said not to bother come watch because he didn't expect to get a bat or a bowl.

The time-trial was great viewing. I've been a fan of Evans for some years now but after the Alpe d'Huez stage I switched my allegiance to Sastre. He has a far stronger team behind him, but the tactics, the desire and the application he showed on that climb were amazing. With the time-trial coming he had no idea how much time he would need to gain, but he laid it on the line and took as much as he could get. He gave himself a shot, albeit quite a long one, and it paid off today. From the first time check, at which point he had only surrendered a handful of seconds, it was clear that this was to be his day. Quite simply, deep down where it hurts, he wanted it more than anybody else. Fantastic to have witnessed.

Back on-line

I've been away from the internet for exactly a week. This is quite possibly the longest gap I've had without being connected to the world in around five years. I'm taking it as a good sign that I really haven't missed it at all. It's been wonderful not to have been troubled by the need to respond to e-mail ... or post my blog entry for the day! I've been able to turn my head off almost completely, but today it has been necessary to engage it again and that's been a bit of a shock to the system. Fortunately, not too much has come up in my absence, but one rather weird bug did need fixing urgently today and that took all afternoon to track down. It's going to be a busy few days now because we have another system going live next week and there is a fair bit to do in preparation. I also have to update this blog with a week of missing entries. I feel a certain obligation to keep this record complete now.

Went out on the bike with No.2 son again this evening, about 12 miles up Curly Hill, across to Langbar and back via Nesfield. The sky had clouded over since the sunshine of the day - which I had missed from being stuck in the office - but it was a wonderfully balmy evening. The route was my lad's idea. I've been feeling so tired today that I would happily have suggested a ride out to Bolton Abbey and back. He's really keen to get himself fit at the moment. I'm hoping we can build some momentum during the school holidays with the hope that we can keep it going through the autumn and into winter this year.

The Great Orme

The alarm was set for 3.45 am this morning to ensure that we weren't rushing to get to the ferry terminal at Dublin for 8.15. As it happened the drive at that time of day took less than 3 hours so there was loads of time to spare - a rare event for M and myself! We're both getting better at this - and enjoying being less stressed by that ticking clock!

We passed through quite a bit of rain in the central plain of Ireland and the crossing was rather grey, but once in Wales the sun was out and when we stopped briefly outside Holyhead we enjoyed that extraordinary experience of being physically assaulted by the temperature, something you only normally feel when leaving the air-conditioned terminal buildings of continental airports after having flown from the UK. It's a sign of how miserable our summer has been that a genuine summer's day was such a shock to behold. It really was as if we had forgotten what it felt like.

We stopped off at Llandudno on the way back to pick up M's mother, which gave us an excuse to have a run on the beautiful limestone peninsular of the Great Orme. M thoroughly enjoyed showing me one of her regular routes on what is a very special place for her. We were out for about an hour at a gentle pace, soaking up the sun and the incredible views, covering about 6 miles I guess. I was aware that the left calf is not feeling right, although not in a significant enough way for me to rule out simple paranoia! During our run I realised that it was 30 years since I'd last been here on the Orme, when I organised a New Year's caving tour of this part of North Wales, staying at Youth Hostels and travelling around by bike - heavily laden with all our pot-holing gear. My only clear memory of that entire holiday was of having to abandon the proposed route one day because the snow was too thick on the road, and waiting for a train with totally frozen hands. The crazy things you do when you are young!

Made it back home just before 6pm to be greeted by No.2 son in ebullient mood. He'd been getting out on his bike, very much inspired by the Tour de France, and was really full of himself. He couldn't stop talking! It was such a lovely warm evening that I suggested we go for a ride, and he was up for that. We just went out to the top of Askwith Hill and back, but at a good pace. I could see that his bike fitness was returning fast ... and his enthusiasm. He was on a real high for the rest of the evening. I know that feeling well.

Mallaranny and Achill Island

Westport

Rest Day

Western Lakes Polka Dot Challenge

Following the the Joyce Country Challenge and what must have been a good 20 miles of running, jogging and walking yesterday, the legs felt a little achey on waking up this morning. It was really good not to have to rush. The event start was only 3 miles from the cottage that Esroh had found for us, which meant that we had until 9.30 am to get ready for a gentle spin out to Ballinrobe for the start at the very civilised time of 10 o'clock. The expected numbers had been depleted by a clash with a road race scheduled at short notice for the same day so only around 40 or 50 riders were signed on. It was to be a mass start, with a motorcycle escort. I first thought that the escort was just to get us safely through the town, but he was actually to accompany us for the whole ride. The roll out was at an easy pace and we pretty much stayed together for the first very flat 10 miles. This was the longest stretch I had ridden without a hill all year! I was thinking that I could get used to this kind of cycling, chatting away to people without stress or strain. It was all remarkably sociable and non-competitive.

The pack only started to break up on the first climb. The lack of a competitive feel to the event made me a little uneasy about pushing too hard on the climb, so I kept well within myself in a small group just behind the leading riders. I really had no idea if there was an observed etiquette or not. The climb of Lally's Hill to about 300m was wild but actually rather gentle compared to the hills I am used to in the Yorkshire Dales. We seemed to be over the top very quickly and were rewarded with spectacular views over Lough Mask, to which we descended at the village of Toormakeady. I felt something distinctly odd about the bike handling on the way down, and it finally dawned on me that I had a soft back tyre. I should really have stopped to check it out but it's so hard to break your rhythm and momentum when descending. On reaching Toormakeady I did finally stop to be able to confirm that I did indeed have a slow puncture. I didn't want to lose the little group I was with so I quickly pumped it back up and carried on. I was hoping that it would be slow enough to avoid having to stop to fix it completely. Past experience suggested that could take me a long time!

The road from there climbed back up again, offering more wonderful views over Lough Mask, before reaching the main feed station. This caught me a little by surprise, firstly because the time had gone so quickly, but also because it felt so relaxed. Instead of riders dibbing, quickly collecting food and water, and whizzing straight out, everyone was sat down, drinking tea and soup, and generally taking their time over eating their sandwiches and cake. It was a proper lunch stop. It was great because I was able to have a couple of mugs of tea and some food before changing the tube in the back wheel. I was assured that people wouldn't leave without me! Because I felt no pressure of time and wasn't in a panic, it was all done very quickly. Or perhaps it's just that I'm finally getting the knack!

As the riders I was with earlier started to drift out, I decided to join them and found myself in a group of four. We were soon over the little climb and past the point from which we left the road yesterday to begin those many miles of trackless wandering. It didn't seem possible it was only yesterday that we were running along here. But another day, another event, and a whole different tempo. We were into the wind beside the beautifully wild and wonderfully named Lough Nafooey and we silently shared the work at the front. I had the rare experience of having those on my wheel struggling to keep up and when we came to the short climb (see picture) which led up to the where the feedstation from yesterday's event was situated, I began to pull away.

The climb from the head of Lough Nafooey

A great descent followed and then a right turn to take us down towards Lough Corrib. Here we picked up a bit of a tailwind and having overtaken a few riders on the descent I was starting to feel a little competitive. The road ahead was now a more major affair with some straightish sections where I could see other riders ahead. I upped the pace and started to pick people off. A few latched on to my wheel and I rather enjoyed being the lead man. Suddenly, though, I found myself on my own and it was only later that I found out that people had decided to stop for a pint at a bar! It was hard not to think that perhaps they have the right idea about events over here!!

Meanwhile, quite oblivious to this very relaxed approach going on behind me, I was on a bit of a roll, enjoying the tailwind and the fantastic scenery, but mostly taking pleasure in my fitness and feeling strong despite the rigours of the day before. The route was well marked and it wasn't too long before I got my bearings and was in familiar territory, following the road to Clonbur and then Ballinrobe. I chased down a couple more riders, but they were getting thin on the ground now. I arrived back at the cycling centre just under 5 hours after starting, just catching another rider as we entered the town. I was amazed to find that only one other person had already returned. The informality and lack of fuss was very refreshing. I had a quick bite to eat and then reversed the course to see how M was doing, taking pleasure in cheering through quite a few of the riders I'd been chatting with earlier, including Esroh. At Clonbur I decided to stop for a break and shortly after saw the broom wagon pass through. I was told that M was with two other ladies and would be with me soon. It turned out that M had enjoyed a very long and civilised lunch stop indeed with her two new friends, and I escorted them all back to the finish, now beginning to properly feel the accumulated tiredness from a long weekend. By the time I'd got back to the cottage I'd completed 100 miles for the day.

As it turned out, M and I were the only two people to complete Esroh's double challenge. I'm trusting that these two visitors from faraway shores will now be written into local legend - and function as a spur to get more local people to take this on. They should, for it really did make for the most wonderful weekend. Esroh's sportive route was stunning, although, I have to admit, not as hard as I was expecting. The hills are beautiful here but nothing like as demanding as the ones we have back home. Which isn't a problem at all. Not every event has to be a killer! For something a little different, to be integrated into a holiday, I can thoroughly recommend this event and would love to see others travelling to have a go next year. I'm pretty sure I can guarantee the same fabulous hospitality that we received.

The Joyce Country Challenge

Ireland

Pre-holiday Panic

Going Live

I carried out the update of the software late last night and did some testing in the early hours of this morning. Going live with software always gives me anxiety. No matter how much testing you do, users always seem to find new and unexpected ways of doing things. As it turned out there were no major issues today and that was an enormous relief. I fixed a few minor bugs which were spotted as a result of analysing the live data, but they didn't impact upon the use of the system. I honestly didn't expect it to go this smoothly!

Countdown Day

The final countdown day before going live with a shiny new version of my software in Bradford. This is always a stressful time. The nearer you get to the crunch, the more the mind becomes focussed, the more issues you discover to check out, and therefore the more problems you find. But the dress rehearsal eventually went okay and everything was in place for the changeover following the last clinic tonight. That was done smoothly and all seemed to test fine. I guess I will only find out for sure tomorrow.

Met up with our Libyan friends again today. Following a visit we made to Tripoli at the beginning of last year, they are very keen to deploy the software over there, the little issue of producing an Arabic interface aside! They are such truly wonderful people. They arranged a trip to the desert for us last time and I acquired a bit of a reputation by going for a long run across the dunes and then back to the hotel. Now they want to take me even further into the desert! Their hospitality is fantastic.

Got back from the office feeling very weary but it was a pleasantly warm evening so I tried to persuade No.2 son to come out for a short ride on the bike. Neither of us really wanted to get out, but I finally convinced him that it would good for both of us to get some air. He's caught in that bind of not being very fit at the moment and knows that he's going to struggle for a while before the fitness kicks back in. But, actually, I was surprised by his speed and strength - in short bursts anyway. We just went out through Askwith to Weston and back, about 10 miles, and he had me working very hard in places! And we did both feel so much better for it. I made him remember that feeling afterwards so that I can remind him about it!

Come back legs!

The legs felt very tired after yesterday's ride so it wasn't inconvenient that the day was full of work commitments. I did manage to get out for a gentle run with M, a loop of about 5 miles out through Cottingley Woods and back via a variety of ancient field paths and tracks around Wilsden. It's always refreshing to explore somewhere a little new, and the calf felt fine, but the running legs are still missing! I really hope they come back soon.

Park Rash

Last week, having missed out on the Three Counties and not ridden with the Earlybirds for a while, I suggested to El Cid a route for today, one of my very favourite longer rides, but one that I'd not done all year: going up Park Rash from Kettlewell and then a circuit around to Pateley Bridge. With El Cid having been hauled away to attend a wedding this weekend, I wasn't sure if there would be any takers, so it was good to arrive a few minutes after 7am to see both Stefano and MS at the meeting point, for I knew then that I'd have a good ride! A group of five headed up the valley on a lovely morning (again the Weather Gods are shining on me). We lost one at Barden and another at Kettlewell, before the three of us climbed Park Rash, which many consider to be the hardest climb in the Dales. It was impossible to dispute that today, for I had to dig deep to stay in touch with the other two. It's unrelenting for a long while. I suspect I found it difficult because I think I push myself a lot harder on these training rides than I do in the longer events (where I'm more concerned with conserving energy), and also because I'm riding with other, stronger people and I'm wanting to keep the pace up. But it might also have been because I was a little out of sorts with myself. I actually had very little energy riding out to Burnsall and if I'd been on my own I think I would likely have turned back there.

Somehow the climb of Park Rash woke me up a bit, and I really enjoyed the exhilarating descent down Coverdale. I love this part of the route. Virtually traffic-free lanes and a real sense of remoteness. We crossed to the other side of the valley at West Scrafton, through Coverham to East Witton and then started climbing again, up the hill to Ellingstring and over to Leighton Reservoir and then up again and over into Nidderdale at Lofthouse. The pace had been good and my legs were starting to get quite weary. From Lofthouse Stefano picked up the tempo along the valley to Pateley from where we took the vicious climb up to the top of Heyshaw Moor, with the sun now out. It was actually beginning to feel quite warm. From there I was on auto-pilot, just hanging on really. We got back to Ilkley in exactly 5 hours for the 74 very hilly miles. It was gratifying to realise at the end that the other two were fairly stuffed as well. It had been hard. After feeling rather lethargic this last week I really felt like I needed this ride today.

In the afternoon I cycled over to Burley to watch No.1 son play in a 3rd XI cup game, one that had been postponed from a wash-out while he was in Peru. Apart from the fact that the weather was truly beautiful (finally another little teasing taste of summer), I wish it hadn't been rearranged. My lad was run out from a direct hit without facing a ball, and in a rather dire low-scoring game, he didn't get a chance to bowl either. In a team which is there - or so I thought - to foster the development of the younger cricketers, it made absolutely no sense to me that he didn't get a few overs to try to make something happen in the game. He was really fed up at the end. And I was fed up for him. I love cricket with a passion, but it can be awful when things are not going your way. If nothing else, it is at least offering him some valuable lessons in life!

Playing Catch-up

Having more or less lost the last two days of work I had to spend the first day of the weekend playing catch-up. At least my head was a lot clearer and I made good progress. In between spells at the computer I spent some time hanging out with the boys. It feels like I've not had much quality time with them recently. It felt good to have them both at home again, and although they are quickly back to needling each other - which is what siblings like to do - I think the two spells they've had apart have actually brought them closer together. There seems to be a bit more care and respect about each other - albeit in a very subtle way. They would never admit to it!

Early evening I decided I really ought to get some air and headed out on to the moor for a jog up to the cairn. The chance to get out the previous three evenings was completely scuppered by the heavy showers. I took it very easy, although I didn't seem to have much choice in that because I seem to have lost my running legs. There was no spark there at all. I felt very unfit! But I survived the couple of miles without mishap. I couldn't detect any tightness and no aches or pains afterwards so I should be happy. It's just upsetting that I felt so slow! More catching up to do.

Another gritty day

I was hoping for a better day today, but it didn't work out like that. It was the same story all over again, this same application causing me to question my sanity even further. I was faced with a situation where I was being shown something that just didn't make sense. I could apply no reasoning to explain it at all. In the end, with some much needed help, I was given a perspective on the logic behind the weird behaviour I was witnessing. It was all about assumptions. And I'm becoming increasingly aware of how often it is that I assume something which seems perfectly reasonable (to me), only for it to be proved invalid, and thereby rendering whole chains of thought invalid at the same time. It's worrying that I can be so at odds with the world, but I think today was a case where the designers made their own assumptions - and it is those which are invalid rather than mine. Writing this now, with a bit of space, I can understand most of the weird behaviour of the last few days, but I contend that my assumptions about behaviour were reasonable enough, particularly since they were based on how the previous version of this application worked. I think I was right in my expectations. I feel like I shouldn't have to get my head into other people's assumptions. If it was a one off it could be excusable, but all Microsoft software seems to be like this. The interfaces are always clumsy and counter-intuitive. They are an easy target, I know, but it's hard not to believe that they don't make that extra bit of effort simply because they don't have to. And it makes me thoroughly fed up when it ruins my day.

There was an Earlybirds meet in town tonight for a drink. I wasn't feeling very sociable but I made the effort to go and I had a great evening. I think I really needed a few beers. With Cacophony laid up with his broken wrist and with Gizzajob and Harry Quinn having both completed the Etape du Tour, in what sounded like horrible conditions, things have been a little quiet of late so it was good to catch up with everybody's news.

A day to forget

I don't feel inclined to write much about today. I've been stuck at the computer from first thing this morning until early evening and feel like I've achieved nothing. There have been moments when I've questioned my sanity. I've found a small design flaw in my software and because of the pressure of time decided to take a short cut rather then sort it out properly. I should know by now that that is always a bad idea. In the end I wasted loads of time, although in fairness to myself that was mainly because of design flaws in some Microsoft software, a new version of which I was using for the first time. The old version was idiosyncratic enough, but this new version just seems to be a whole lot worse. I know a lot of this is down to me being used to working in a certain way, but I still can't help but think that an interface which leads someone to think they are losing their mind has to be considered badly designed.

No.1 son at last got some cricket in tonight. Opening the batting he scored a quick 30, including a majestic straight-driven six, before getting caught in the deep going for another big one. He hit the ball really hard, and inflicted a bit of damage on a couple of the fielders along the way. It was great to see him timing the ball so well, especially as he hadn't had a bat in his hand for some 3 weeks. A big score was there for the taking so I guess I was a little a bit annoyed with him - as he was with himself - for getting perhaps a little carried away, but it was also the right thing to do in the context of a 20 over game. In the end, the heavens opened again before the game was over, and for the second successive evening I cycled home in a deluge.

Holme Moss Revisted

I needed to meet No.1 son off the plane at Manchester Airport this morning so it made sense to cycle over there to get a ride in - to make up for what is likely to be otherwise a barren week. I was planning to leave at 5.30am but somehow that didn't happen, and in the end, after one false start (forgetting my bum-bag with some key essentials), I didn't set off until a bit after 6am. I think I must have been half asleep because I suddenly realised that I was going to have to ride a bit damn quick to make his 9.20am arrival time. Climbing up the hill out of Cottingley, down to Thornton, and then all the way up to Queensbury, I chose a great route to Brighouse, avoiding Bradford completely, but it was hard work. Perhaps it was simply down to the very early start, or that I was pushing the pace, but I didn't seem to have any power in the legs at all. Nevertheless, I made good time to Huddersfield, only to have great trouble finding the road on from there to Holmfirth.

It really annoys me that signposting is so bad in towns. If you want to find the nearest motorway or city there is no problem, but if you want to find a nearby small town it can be hopelessly difficult. I found myself heading out on the wrong road, having to turn back and resort to asking a few locals, who were no help at all, before eventually finding a road which I recognised from a few weeks back. It was a relief to be heading away from the town and into the hills, and rather exciting to catch a glimpse of the TV mast on the top of Holme Moss. It was a long way up! I had lucked out yet again with the weather. It was cool, but dry and windless, a wonderful change after all the wind and torrential showers of the last few days. From the top it felt like it would be all downhill to Manchester, but I only had an hour before the flight was due to land. I really didn't want him to be standing at the arrivals gate wondering where I was.

So, short on time, I made the decision to avoid the scenic route through Glossop and Hayfield and take a more direct line. I'm not sure how wise this was because I really hadn't accounted for the heaviness of the traffic, which was hard to fight through - and the endless sequence of traffic lights. Again, the signposting was far more geared to getting people on to the motorways, but although - having now looked at the map in detail - I didn't take the optimal route, I managed at least to avoid making any bad mistakes. I took in the delights of Hyde, Stockport and Cheadle, before picking up the road to the airport. The best clue to the direction I needed was the planes themselves, which were coming in ever closer over my head! I eventually got to the airport half an hour after the scheduled landing time at 9.50am. My lad was there already. I was very relieved to be told that he'd just walked through the gate 30 seconds before! What timing. If it wasn't for the bizarre signposting for cyclists at the terminal, which seemed to direct me into the dead-end of a loading bay, I would have been there on time.

It was good to have the train ride home to talk about his trip to Peru, although we both felt exhausted. He had really missed his cricket, and hadn't really got the travelling bug. He'd had a great adventure, but was very, very happy indeed to be home. He had an under 17s match in the evening, but as if on cue, the rain started up again late afternoon, and after a brief period of respite - just long enough to entice us all down to the ground in the hope of being able to play - the heavens opened once more, which set in for the rest of the evening. I felt really bad for my lad that yet another game had been lost to the rain. I am also amazed at how lucky I continue to be with my cycling. Just like the trip back from the airport a few weeks back, I managed today to hit the only little window of calm amidst a run of bad weather. Uncanny!

Precious Time

One of those days today where I was always short on time. I don't think I've ever felt it to be a more precious commodity than right now. Trying to balance the commitment to family, friends, work, and one's own fitness, is sometimes an almost overwhelming challenge. It wasn't actually that hard today, but I always felt too rushed, never quite able to completely focus on the immediate problem in hand for having half an eye open to all the other things going on. It's good when those commitments can be combined ... which is the plan for tomorrow morning.

Slippery Slopes

No training again today (blobbing on the Harrier's Cycle Run), but it's somehow been a good day nevertheless. Still very cool and miserable for July, with more heavy showers punctuating the overall drabness of the weather - and I'm still not quite right with this cold - but I'm finishing the day on a bit of a high. Got a lot of software bits and pieces sorted out, so there is a feeling of things coming together despite the massive pressure that's on me right now. Also, got caught by the rain on the way to the station from the office in Bradford, so ran half a mile to avoid getting completely soaked - a test for the calf that was passed without any real problem.

Late in the evening, catching the last of the light and inspired by Graham Napier's antics for Essex in the 20-20 quarter against Northants (if any player has ever been so completely in the zone then it is this man at the moment), No.2 son wanted to throw a ball around for half an hour. I did quite a bit of running back and forth, again without a problem. Haven't done much of this with my lad this summer, but it was a lot of fun. And I'd forgotten just how well he can catch, and how well he can throw. A dislocated shoulder from a bike fall a few years back has done my throwing arm in, but at least I can still catch ... although I dropped a few tonight, something I never used to do. I've an awareness that my reaction time and coordination are not what they used to be. Another slippery slope I find myself sliding down!

Wimbledon

I've not left the house all day. Not even to pop out to Tesco. It was raining when I woke up this morning and it never really stopped until lunchtime, since when we have 'enjoyed' some really heavy, inundating showers. It's been an odd feeling, incarcerated in the house by the weather, thinking of loads of my friends, some cycling the 3 Counties, some doing the Etape du Tour in the Pyrenees, others running at Kettlewell, all braving this horrendous weather. There is that mixture of emotions again, part thankful to be warm and dry, but part envious of that battle against adversity that makes us feel so alive.

I got a lot more work done this morning, but I feel a bit down. Not very alive. It's a feeling of anti-climax I suppose. It's probably essential to have the odd blobby weekend, but I didn't enjoy just hanging out so much today. I think I'm only really good for one day like this at a time! But then, it was a pretty good day once more to binge in front of the TV. I've never been much of a Formula One fan, but I've got drawn into it this year by No.2 son's interest and the British Grand Prix today was exciting to watch, with a great result for Louis Hamilton.

That was then followed by the men's final from Wimbledon and what a match it was - even better than last year's epic. It was fantastic to see a great match where the big points were won by amazing winners rather than lost by unforced errors. The fourth set tie-break brought back memories of Borg v McEnroe in 1980 and that match still seems so fresh in the mind it was almost frightening to realise that was all of 28 years ago. This is when I really feel old, having a sports nut as a dad and therefore having watched the big sporting occasions from my very tenderest years, when Wimbledon was an amateur tournament and the few professional players like Rod Laver were barred from taking part. Is that really in this same lifetime? It seems scarcely possible.

I have to admit that I was rooting for Nadal today. There was a sense of destiny about it. They both wanted this title so very much, but perhaps Nadal, in the end, wanted it more, the sheer physicality of Nadal's strokeplay eventually winning out over Federer's guile and finesse. It felt like they were playing for more than the Wimbledon title too. This was to decide which of the two is the best player in the world right now. And the longer the match went on the more there seemed to be at stake. The greatest thing was that instead of their games falling apart under the pressure, they both seemed to be able to raise yet further and further on the really big points. It was almost certainly the most spectacular match to watch in the game's history. It had everything.

It's hard to imagine seeing anyone breaking through their hegemony for some while, so I'm hoping for and expecting a re-match next year. Better try to keep that weekend free. I think Andy Murray has some work to do to join this very top league. I wonder how he felt watching that final today? It must be somewhat daunting. Or perhaps inspiring?

TV Binge

I let the 3 Counties Challenge go this weekend. A decision was made for me by RT, whom I was planning to go up with tonight with his son, HT. He told me I shouldn't do it, since I wasn't feeling quite right, and also with having to leave No.2 son on his own again. It was the right decision because I felt a great sense of relief for it being made. It was also made easier to come to terms with by the weather being thoroughly miserable today, and the forecast not great for tomorrow either.

So, I took the advantage of working in the morning, watching the torrential rain with some smugness, and thinking of poor M and her mates at the Triple-T at Kettlewell, getting thoroughly soaked. In the afternoon No.2 son and I settled down with our laptops to indulge in a bonanza of sport on television: the 50 over semi-final between Yorkshire and Essex, the women's singles final from Wimbledon and the first stage of the Tour de France. That was then followed with the last in the current series of Dr.Who. It was actually quite a lovely way to spend the day with my youngest.

Just before dusk, with the rain more or less gone, I decided that I had to get a bit of fresh air, so took another walk/jog to White Wells, this time about 40:60. I enjoyed a couple of spells where it felt like I was running properly, and still felt no niggles. I'm getting there.

Tour of the Moor

I've definitely come down with No.2 son's cold, although it's quite low grade, at least for the moment. It's one of these weird bugs where I develop the cough almost before the onset of any other symptoms. So, I'm working at home again and on my own since my lad decided he was well enough to go to school today. Had a problem to sort out at lunchtime so I went for another walk/jog on the moor to give myself some space to think about it and find the best solution. I decided to make my regular pilgrimage to the cairn, realising that it was a very long time since I'd last been up there ... perhaps my longest ever gap since coming to Ilkley. I even got up there on crutches a week after I broke my leg! I began to realise how much the cycling has taken the place of the running, and although it was very gentle it still felt really good to be back in the old familiar rhythm. I was fine except for one moment on some rocks where I felt a little twinge. It didn't trouble me again but it was reminder enough that I've got to be careful.

My problem was solved on the run - something which often happens - and it was good to remind myself of the importance of taking a break. After an intense afternoon I was more than ready for another break come the evening. No.2 son, feeling much more himself, had gone down to the lido with some mates, so I felt free to get out on the bike. I was going to be soft and take out the Scott, but bizarrely I found that I'd acquired a rear puncture - the first I think I've ever had on this bike. So it was out with the winter training bike on a beautiful summer's evening. It felt so good to feel the warmth of the evening air. There seems to have been so few hot days this summer. I decided on a favourite route which I hadn't done all year, what I call my tour of the moor, a circumnavigation of Ilkley Moor, hugging the edge as much as possible. I decided on the clockwise tour, because anti-clockwise means having to go straight up the Cow & Calf from outside the front door! Clockwise gives a run out along the A65 before turning up to Addingham Moorside, left along Light Bank Lane, down Brunthwaite Hill and then straight back up the horrendously steep climb from Howden Park before descending to East Morton and then back up to the edge of the moor again, past Dick Hudsons and returning via Burley Woodhead to finish with the great descent down from the Cow & Calf. I can freewheel the last mile right to my door. The 20 miles round trip was completed in 1.20.50. The breathing was a bit wheezy but the legs felt ok. Part of the reason for doing this tough route was to help decide whether or not I should be doing the 3 Counties this Sunday. With the legs good, but the breathing a bit dodgy, it hasn't really helped make my mind up at all. There were times on this ride when I felt like last weekend's DLMC had nothing on some of these hills. I can't work out whether that is just me not feeling right or simply that on a short ride you attack the hills a lot harder?

Urban Legends

I think I may be coming down with No.2 son's cold. He's felt better today, but has now developed a hacking cough which kept him awake last night. Poor fellow. A few weeks back I was hatching a tentative plan to do the short course of the Three Counties Challenge with him, but that has now been long abandoned.

It felt good to be back working on my core software today after a long gap, although it hasn't been easy picking up the threads again. It's been somewhat slower than I would have liked. Went up to White Wells again for another walk/jog, this time about 50:50 of each. I felt nothing while I was jogging, but did just feel a bit of tightness while walking back from town this evening. I don't think it's anything to worry about but it does suggest that the caution I'm applying is appropriate.

With so much time on his hands at home I've managed to get No.2 son into this blogging lark. He has problems with spelling (inherited from my mum I think), but has a good way with words. He's quite surprised me with his turn of phrase and the depth of his thinking. In one of the entries that he wrote today he referenced this 'fact' that we only use 3% of our brains. I picked him up on calling this a fact and I'm happy to report that he took that on board and changed the wording. Some such percentage figure is often to be seen quoted in respect to the capacity of brain power that we actually use - totally without a hint to any kind of context or evidence - to the extent that it has entered into our culture as some kind of received wisdom. But it belongs to the realm of urban legend. By being quoted and repeated so often, it starts wearing a counterfeit cloak of authenticity It really bugs me that people accept this kind of thing with so little questioning. I told my lad that his mother may use only 3% of her brain (because I think he picked this up from her), but I certainly use 100% of mine, on a good day anyway! He thought that was funny. And he thought that his mum would find it funny too!! I hope to have made a point that will stick.

Danefield

No.2 son is still unwell and off school. I was supposed to be heading up to Scotland today, to train our new users in Fife, but there was no way I could leave him on his own feeling the way he does. Fortunately, my partner was able to shuffle a few things and go in my place. So, I worked from home today and finished off the very last few bits and pieces ready for this new release. It was a relief to finish. It seems to have taken a very long time, and used up a lot of energy.

Took a 20 minute break in the afternoon to walk/jog up to White Wells, about 60:40. Experienced no problems and if felt really good to be out on the moor. Beginning to feel optimistic about getting running again before too long.

My lad felt considerably better this afternoon, so, with his permission, I took advantage of being here instead of Scotland to escape for a few hours to support the club in the Danefield Relay, a favourite event of mine on the Chevin. I've had some good runs in this over the years and would have loved to have been running myself, but it turned out to be good fun to watch. I went over on the mountain bike and got a few circuits in on the bridleway, seeing the runners disappear into the woods and then reappear again as they zig-zag around the course. M (the master planner) had organised a bit of a do afterwards at the Cheerful Chilli, which proved a great success. I'd heard a lot about the food and it didn't disappoint. This could become a bit of an annual institution! It felt good to cycle back afterwards (for a total of almost 20 miles) in order to work off the fairly extreme excesses of the evening's dining!

Beginning Rehabilitation

Set the alarm with the intention of being an Earlybird this morning. With Cacophony out for a while, and Gizzajob and Harry Quinn possibly tapering down before the Etape next weekend, I felt I should try to make an appearance this week to give El Cid some company. As it happened there were a few people out on what was a rare beautiful summer morning, including Gizzajob, still getting in the miles. We enjoyed a steady run out to Cavendish and then back via Langbar and Conker Hill, getting ever warmer in the sunshine. The legs didn't feel unduly tired, although there wasn't much power going up Langbar trying to keep up with Gizzajob.

Had a client meeting in the morning where we went through all the new functionality and enhancements I've been working on this last few weeks. It went very well. Lots of plaudits, gratefully received, and good spirits all around. I came away on a bit of a high.

Tried a little bit of jogging today and that was fine. It was only a matter of a few hundred yards or so, but I felt nothing amiss at all. My running rehabilitation has begun.